Subject: January 2011 Community Update
From: "Assemblyman Jonathan Bing" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:57:19 -0500 (EST)

In this Issue:
• Reflecting on the Tucson Tragedy
• Panel for Education
Policy Approves Upper East Side Rezoning
• Assemblyman Bing Introduces
Affordable Housing Legislation
• Bing Receives Women's Bar Association
Award
• YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program
• Access-A-Ride Pilot Program
Commences
• Kindergarten Admission Has Begun

Reflecting on the Tucson
Tragedy

The January 8 murder of six Tucson, Arizona residents and the
wounding of more than a dozen others, including Congresswoman Gabrielle
Giffords, was an event that shocked the nation.  In the wake of this
tragedy, President Barack Obama and others have eloquently called for a
restoration of civility in our country's partisan politics.

The events
of January 8 have raised a number of issues in my mind.  I was in Tucson
just two months ago for a conference. I have thought of the beauty of that
city and the liveliness of the University of Arizona juxtaposed with the
infamous, heinous crime that was committed.  I have heard, and agree with,
the calls for stricter gun control laws on a federal level to raise the
floor of what states are required to do to try and keep guns out of the
wrong hands.  I have recalled that we are not immune in New York to
rhetoric that goes beyond decent conversation, with candidates for high
office threatening to 'take out" members of the press and appeals for
votes that attempt to prey on fears that people may have of those who may
look or believe differently.  I have also thought about my own personal
safety and that of my staff as we try to make ourselves accessible to my
constituents.

Yet, more than anything else, I have focused on President
Obama's words regarding the youngest victim of the tragedy, nine year-old
Christina Taylor Green.  The connections between Christina and New York
are stark; she was the granddaughter of a former Yankees and Mets manager
and was born on September 11, 2001.  Christina was attending Congresswoman
Giffords's public event because she had just been elected to her school's
student council and was interested in a future political career.  At the
January 12 memorial service, President Obama challenged Americans to live
up to Christina's expectations to make our democracy as good as she
imagined it to be.

New York's democracy at this time in our history is
not as good as Christina or any nine-year old would want it to be nor as
good as New Yorkers deserve.  Scandals involving current and former
legislative colleagues of mine and years of quick fixes rather than
long-term solutions to our state's structural problems have made New
Yorkers distrustful of government.  Despite this malaise, and often
without press coverage, our state government sometimes does what is right
and I'm proud to have been involved in some of these successes over the
past eight years.

As we approach how to close a $10 billion deficit in
next year's budget, the rhetoric on television and in print media has
already began to ratchet up.  We are just at the beginning of a cycle of
months of commercials and e-mails which will advise you to "tell Albany"
what to do.  I hope that New Yorkers continue to recommend what I and my
colleagues should do to get us through these difficult economic times.  I
also hope that the tone and the words of the discussions remain civil.  We
must be able to disagree on the issues of the day without letting it spill
over into name calling or even violence.  That is the world any nine
year-old -- and my own three-year old daughter -- should expect and what
all New Yorkers deserve.

Panel for Education Policy Approves Upper East
Side Rezoning

After many months of public meetings with Community
Education Council 2 (CEC) and numerous zoning proposals from the
Department of Education (DOE), Upper East Side public schools have
established a successful rezoning plan. The unanimous approvals of the
rezoning by the CEC and the citywide Panel for Educational Policy are
great successes for the families of the Upper East Side and a wonderful
step toward alleviating overcrowding and kindergarten waitlists.  The
linchpin for the rezoning was the granting to PS 151 of a permanent
facility in what is now Richard R. Green High School at 421 East 88th
Street. 

Assemblyman Bing submitted testimony to the PEP at its January
19 meeting in support of the rezoning and has been working with the DOE,
CEC, and neighborhood parents to arrive at the best available solution for
our community. While the process was difficult at times, it has resulted
in a rezoning plan that fairly addresses the needs of the community.
The need for quality education options will continue to be a focus for
East Side families in the coming years. While the new rezoning plan is a
great first step to solving overcrowding and waitlists, these challenges
are not completely solved.  However, by the fall of 2012, the East Side
will see an addition of 1,000 elementary school seats due to the
renovation of PS 59 on East 57th Street, the creation of a new PS 267 on
East 63rd Street in the former MEETH building, and the reinstitution of PS
151 into a permanent facility.  Assemblyman Bing has been involved in the
efforts behind these three schools, particularly with regard to PS 59
where he authored the legislation necessary to provide adequate funding
options for the educational complex and was involved in the negotiations
to put the deal in place. 

If you have questions regarding the
rezoning, please contact Assemblyman Bing's office at 212-605-0937.   You
can view the map of the rezoned schools at District 2's Community
Education Council website, www.cecd2.net.

Assemblyman Bing Introduces
Affordable Housing Legislation

As the 2011 legislative session begins,
Assemblyman Bing has introduced a package of legislation aimed at
preserving and maintaining affordable housing in New York.  As the
cost-of-living in the City continues to increase, Assemblyman Bing has
authored legislation that would provide important protections for tenants.
•	High-Income Decontrol (A.1221) The current thresholds for high-income
decontrol  -- $175,000 total household income and $2,000 rent -- were
established in 1997 and have not been updated to reflect changes in the
cost-of-living.  Assemblyman Bing has introduced legislation that passed
the Assembly in 2009 to adjust the thresholds to account for cost of
living increases.  Assemblyman Bing's legislation would increase the
income threshold to $240,000 for two consecutive years and the rent
threshold to $2,700.

•	Exempting Social Security from the SCRIE
Calculation (A.1231):  The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)
is a New York City program that protects senior citizens by exempting them
from paying rent increases in rent regulated apartments.  This program
allows one of New York's most vulnerable populations to stay in their
apartments and protects seniors, many of whom are on fixed incomes, from
rent increases.  Assemblyman Bing has authored legislation, which has
passed the Assembly in prior years, to increase the eligibility for the
SCRIE program by exempting Social Security payments from being included in
the calculation of income.

•	Disabled Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE)
(A.1899):  Similar to SCRIE, the Disabled Rent Increase Exemption protects
disabled tenants from rent increases in rent regulated apartments.
Assemblyman Bing's legislation would simplify the DRIE requirements and
make it easier for disabled tenants to utilize the program.

•
Mitchell-Lama Tenant Protections (A.1222):  As former Chair of the
Assembly Mitchell-Lama Housing Subcommittee, Assemblyman Bing has been a
strong advocate of protecting tenants in Mitchell-Lama apartments.  He has
re-introduced legislation that would require city and state agencies to
remediate violations in Mitchell-Lama buildings.  The existing law
empowers agencies to act, but does not require them to do so.

Bing
Receives Women's Bar Association Award

On January 29, Assemblyman Bing
will be honored by the New York State Women's Bar Association for his
leadership in authoring the groundbreaking No-Fault Divorce law of 2010.
With this law, New York no longer has the unfortunate distinction of being
the only state in the nation without a no-fault divorce policy. 

Before
Assemblyman Bing's No-Fault Divorce legislation was signed into law, a
divorce in New York could only be procured by alleging fault such as cruel
and inhuman treatment, adultery, or abandonment. Yet, many people divorce
for reasons that do not fall under these classifications. The parties in a
divorce case many times had to invent false justifications to legally
dissolve their marriage. Such false accusations often led to conflict
within the family and were harmful to the emotional well-being of
children.  With No-Fault Divorce now enacted, many families will no longer
have to endure the emotional pain and suffering caused without having this
option available.

YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program

The YMCA of
Greater New York has designed a Diabetes Prevention Program to help
individuals who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This program
works with high risk individuals to reach goals such as eating healthier,
increasing physical activity and losing moderate amounts of weight.
Research has shown that minor modifications toward living a healthier
lifestyle can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by up to 58%.
The program is a 16 week classroom course and is lead by a trained
lifestyle coach who will teach the skills needed to successfully change
your lifestyle. The program is free of charge for qualifying individuals.
For more information about the program or to see if you qualify, please
contact Judy Ouziel at 212-912-2524. 

Access-A-Ride Pilot Program
Commences

Beginning this past December, the MTA, in partnership with
JPMorgan Chase, has launched a 90 day pilot program for Access-A-Ride
customers. Access-A-Ride provides transportation to individuals who are
disabled or unable to use the public bus or subway system. This program is
designed to lower the costs of Access-A-Ride while continuing to provide
this needed service. Access-A-Ride customers who volunteered to
participate in the pilot program will use a provided pre-paid Chase Visa
Card to pay for taxi services that would have been provided by
Access-A-Ride vans. Participating customers will be able to hail any
yellow cab to take them to their regularly scheduled, pre-planned
destinations. 

The MTA expects that this service could reduce
Access-A-Ride trip costs by nearly 70% and provide customers with
increased independence. The pilot program is set to expire the beginning
of April and at that time the MTA will evaluate the results of the pilot
program to determine if it should be extended or expanded.

Kindergarten
Admission Has Begun

The application process for 2011-2012 kindergarten
admission has officially started. 

Families with incoming
kindergartners must submit their applications to their zoned school to be
considered for admission. It is very important that families are aware of
each step in the process and adhere to deadlines. The outcome of the
admission process will determine where your child will attend school in
the fall. Below are key dates that will help you navigate the process:
•	January 10-March 4: Submit applications for admission to schools.
Families may submit application materials at their zoned school and at
other schools where their children are eligible to be considered for
admission. 
•	March 21-March 25: Schools will notify families about
assignment offers. 
•	March 28-April15: Pre-registration at schools.
In an effort to assist parents and to answer any questions families have
regarding the admissions process, the Community Board 8 Youth and
Education Committee will hold meeting on Thursday, February 10, at 7 p.m.
at the New York Blood Center located at 310 East 67th Street.  A
representative of the Department of Education will be available to answer
any questions families have regarding the kindergarten admission process.
Assemblyman Jonathan Bing
360 East 57th Street, Mezzanine
New
York, NY 10022
(212) 605-0937
(212) 605-9948 (fax)
[email-masked]
www.assembly.state.ny.us
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