THE NYS ASSEMBLY REMAINS INDIFFERENT TO THE CITY OF NEW YORK’S FIVE-CENTS PLASTIC BAG FEE

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW 
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York 

You should know that the Members of the New York State Assembly are apparently being indifferent and will allow the City of New York to impose a five cents (5 ¢) fee per plastic bag on its residents and shoppers.

This new law, approved by Members of the New York City Council, will affect senior citizens, the poor, the needy, shelter families, struggling families, and everyone who uses plastic bags when shopping for groceries.

As you know, there were only 10 Democratic Senators, together with myself, who joined the Republicans in the Senate to support a bill sponsored by Senator Simcha Felder, to reject the City of New York’s five cents (5 ¢)per plastic bag fee to shoppers in the five boroughs.  

These are the Democratic Senators who joined me and voted against the (5 ¢) per plastic bag fee: Joseph Addabbo, Tony Avella, Leroy Comrie, Simcha Felder, Michael Gianaris, Jeff Klein, José Peralta, Roxanne Persaud, Diane Savino, and David Valesky.

Thanks to our efforts, the New York State Senate voted in favor of stopping New York City from charging this five cents (5 ¢) fee. 

However, in order for it to be stopped, it is necessary for the Members of the New York State Assembly to follow the lead of the Senate and also vote against the imposition of this new tax.

It is very important for you to know that as of this moment, the Members of the New York State Assembly have been indifferent and have not even taken a vote, joining the Senate, to stop the City of New York from imposing this extra burden on our most vulnerable and needy people.

My dear reader, the irony of this story is that starting Wednesday, February 15, the day after Valentine’s Day, the residents of the City of New York will receive this post Valentine’s Day gift, unless the New York State Assembly takes a position to stop it, as the Senate already did.

I am Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.

Editor's Note:

It is hard to believe that State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. has no influence with the Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie who he and his son helped become the Bronx Democratic County Leader in 2008.

It is also hard to believe that State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. has no influence with Assemblyman Marcos Crespo who replaced Carl Heastie as the Bronx Democratic County Leader. 

It is also hard to believe that State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. has no influence with the new Bronx Democratic County Committee Chair Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner.

One might be able to believe that State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. has no influence with the former Bronx Democratic County Committee Chair Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz of Riverdale. 

So State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. where is your influence with the State Assembly since we know that you have no influence in the State Senate. 

And State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. the voters of the 18th City Council District should know that you will have no influence in the City Council. 

State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. has not been able to bring valuable resources to his district, and will not be able to bring any more resources to the council district than his predecessor. 

By the way State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. there are only three other Republicans in the New York City Council.

That is what the voters of the 18th council district need to know.