Five weeks after inaction from the New York State Senate Republicans resulted in the shutdown of speed camera enforcement near 140 schools throughout New York City, the Governor and NYC Council have implemented a workaround for New York City to enforce speed camera violations using state DMV records. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz issued the following statement applauding the temporary solution and continuing his call for the State Senate to pass an expansion of the life-saving speed camera program:
“While the failure of New York’s State Senate majority to do their jobs has put children’s lives in danger, I am happy to see that Governor Cuomo and Council Speaker Johnson were able to come up with a temporary solution that will cause drivers to think twice before speeding near schools. A speed camera extension still should be passed through the state legislature to ensure longevity and to clarify any questions on legality, but I thank our local Councilman Andrew Cohen for his help in pushing for this compromise to protect kids right now.
However, I cannot ignore the blatant disregard by Republican State Senate leadership for the safety of our children in the Bronx and all over New York City. Their insistence on using life-saving speed cameras as a pawn is reprehensible and a dereliction of their moral and constitutional responsibility to protect the lives of all New Yorkers – regardless of political affiliation or geographic region.
The New York State Assembly passed two bills – one to extend the existing speed camera program along with several regional tax extenders and another to extend and expand the program (which I support and am a co-sponsor of). The Democratic State Senate conference, including minority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and deputy minority leader Jeffrey Klein (who also led the charge to create the original speed camera program in 2013) have lined up enough votes in the State Senate to pass a speed camera renewal. The only thing stopping this common sense legislation is the malfeasance of the State Senate majority who refused to even hold a vote before they adjourned for their summer vacation and their subsequent unwillingness to correct this mistake.”
EDITOR'S NOTE:
This sets an unprecedented situation which now usurps the legislative power of the State Senate and State Assembly if the governor can just make an executive order like this. This is exactly what Governor Cuomo says is being done by President Trump to bypass Congress and the U.S. Senate.
For a member of the State Assembly to approve of this measure to go around the State Senate and State Assembly says only one thing - that the State Senate and State Assembly are not needed and should be abolished because the state legislature can not do its job, and Assemblyman Dinowitz is saying that he approves of this.
Assemblyman Dinowitz since you are no longer needed as are your fellow members of the State Assembly and State Senate will you step down because all the governor has to do is sign an Executive Order.
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