Council Member Marjorie Velázquez - What's Happening in District 13

 

Dear Neighbor,

This week, hundreds of retirees and municipal workers joined us at City Hall to testify about Admin Code 12-126. We heard from people from all walks of life with varying needs, many with families or chronic illnesses that need specialized care. Healthcare is a human right, and we must ensure that our current and retired city workers have continued access to care.

We also heard the voices of thousands of nurses across the City on the picket line fighting for safer staff-to-patient ratios, fair wages, and better working conditions. I joined the nurses at Montefiore and listened to their stories and lived experiences. On Thursday, I was overjoyed when I learned that within three days of this historic strike, nurses at Montefiore reached an agreement that benefits everyone.

In this week’s email, you will find critical information regarding women’s health, Medicare rights, and next week’s public hearing regarding the Proliferation of Unlicensed Smoke Shops. Information about this hearing can be found in the ‘Legislative Corner,’ along with a link to register or submit personal testimony. The New York City Council also launched its FY 2024 Discretionary Funding Expense Application; to learn more, please scroll to the ‘Budget Corner’ section below. If you need assistance registering, a member of my staff will be happy to help you.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like to request an appointment with one of our Constituent Services Liaisons, please call us at (718) 931-1721 or email us at District13@council.nyc.gov.

Sincerely,

Council Member Marjorie Velázquez

Construction Advisories

On Tuesday, January 17 from 11 PM to 5 AM, the NYCDOT Division of Bridges will conduct electrical work on the Shore Road Bridge over the Hutchinson River, resulting in a full-bridge closure. A rain date is set for Wednesday, January 18.

The New York City Department of Design and Construction (NYCDDC), has also announced the below construction, which will take place through February 2023. Updates will be provided when made available by NYCDDC.

• Complete roadway restoration on Boston Road between Pelham Parkway Eastbound Main Road and North Service Road- work includes: instillation of new curbs, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps and islands, roadbase, and final pavement.

• Begin roadway restoration on Pelham Parkway North Service Road between Boston Road and Bronx Park East - work includes instillation of new curbs, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, roadbase, and roadway.

Sanitation Advisories

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on Monday, January 16, the New York City Department of Sanitation has announced there will be no trash, composting, or recycling collection. Residents who normally receive Monday trash, composting, or recycling collection should place their material curbside between 4 PM and midnight for collection beginning Tuesday, January 17. Residents should anticipate a delay in service, due to the holiday weekend.

New York State Opens First Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensary

On December 28, 2022, New York State opened its first official, adult-use cannabis dispensary in Manhattan, with more to follow later this year. Under the purview of the NYS Office of Cannabis Management, cannabis and cannabis-based products are now available. While the roll out continues, we need to make sure there is regulation and enforcement that holds bad actors accountable.

The legalization of cannabis in different states and cities across our country has invigorated economies and economic development, and now it's New Yorks's time to reap the same benefits. As Chair of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection, I will co-host a joint hearing on January 18, 2023; please refer to ‘Legislative Updates’ for additional information. I look forward to working with our city, state, and federal partners to ensure cannabis retailers are held to the highest standard.

If you see a cannabis dispensary, please check for a decal or poster indicating they are a ‘New York State Licensed Cannabis Dispensary.’ There is a scannable QR code on the decal, which can verify their CAURD status; when scanned, their business information will appear on the official cannabis.ny.gov website. If the QR code does not take you to this site or if a business is selling cannabis without the proper license, you may file a report by emailing OCM at licensing@ocm.ny.gov and our office at District13@council.nyc.gov with the subject line: Illegal Cannabis Sales. Please include the name and address of the business in the body of your email.

Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection

On Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 10 AM, Council Member Velázquez, Chair of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection, will co-host a joint-oversight hearing with the Committee on Health and Committee on Oversight and Investigations on the proliferation of unlicensed smoke shops in New York City.

Not long ago our community experienced the K2 (synthetic marijuana) epidemic, and lawmakers held businesses accountable and supported those impacted by K2. We must ensure our communities do not relive those heartbreaking moments.

If you know of a smoke shop selling cannabis without the proper license, we ask that you submit a report by emailing us at District13@council.nyc.gov with the subject line: Smoke Shop and the name and address of the business in the body of your email.

If you would like to testify or submit a written testimony, click below.

Register Here