News From Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL TO ESTABLISH SELECTION CRITERIA FOR MTA SUBWAY ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS

The fight for subway accessibility has taken one more step forward with the passage of legislation from State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz through both chambers this week. The legislation, A8127/S6430, would establish selection criteria for the MTA to use when evaluating which subway stations to prioritize for accessibility improvements.

Under the Fast Forward plan proposed by former NYCT President Andy Byford, the MTA had agreed to make accessibility improvements at 50 stations as part of the 2020-2024 MTA Capital Plan. An economic crisis brought on by COVID-19 has cast doubt on whether the MTA will still go forward with improvements at all 50 stations as they work to bring ADA compliance to all 472 subway stations citywide. Currently, the less than one-quarter of subway stations are fully compliant with ADA requirements.

The bill requires the MTA to fully develop criteria to determine how to best prioritize subway stations for accessibility improvement and to make both the methodology and the finalized criteria publicly available. The minimum selection criteria established by the bill are: citywide geographic coverage, transit transfer options, annual ridership volume, census tract data for senior and disabled populations and percentage of those populations in poverty, residential density of surrounding neighborhoods, and proximity to medical centers, schools, parks, business districts, cultural hubs, and senior centers.

The legislative pair views this bill as a first step towards full subway accessibility throughout the MTA system. This bill includes one element of a comprehensive subway accessibility bill that was unveiled in 2019. In addition to selection criteria, Assemblyman Dinowitz and State Senator Gounardes are working alongside advocates to require the MTA to include accessibility improvements during station closures or renovations longer than six months as well as the codification of accessibility goals established in Fast Forward.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D - Bronx) said: “The fight for progress is long and arduous, but I am very proud that we have taken one step closer to a fully accessible subway system. It is imperative that the MTA does not just pick subway stations that are easy or convenient in order to hit their target numbers, but instead that they pick stations which will have the biggest benefit for riders with disabilities and other mobility limitations. I am grateful to the hard work of so many advocates who have been fighting this fight for many years, and I look forward to continuing our push for full subway accessibility alongside them and State Senator Gounardes.”

State Senator Andrew Gounardes (D - Brooklyn) said: “We have a long way to go to make our MTA accessible but this is a step forward. Criteria for determining which stations will be made accessible is a hallmark of good governance and makes concrete action more likely. New Yorkers with disabilities cannot wait to have equal access to their public transportation network. Holding the MTA accountable for accessibility is more important than ever because of the current budget gaps. The MTA needs to prioritize, and it must prioritize its riders first.”

LEGISLATURE PASSES NEW CONSUMER PROTECTION TO LIMIT AUTO-RENEWAL CONTRACTS

Consumers are one step closer to having an easier time escaping from predatory promotional deals and notoriously difficult-to-cancel gym memberships with the passage of legislation through the Assembly this week. The legislation (A3173/S1475) was shepherded through the State Senate by State Senator Brad Hoylman in February and then the baton was picked up by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz in July. It is now waiting to be delivered to the Governor for his approval.

The legislation would require businesses making automatic renewal or continuous service offers to clearly present the terms of the agreement and would prohibit businesses from charging consumers without their affirmative consent.

Furthermore, and of acute interest to people who have experienced the immense difficulty of cancelling a gym membership, the legislation also mandates that consumers are able to terminate an automatic renewal or continuous service agreement online if that is how they originally signed up. Regardless of how the agreement was entered, all businesses would have to provide a cost-effective, timely, and easy-to-use mechanism for cancellation such as a toll-free telephone number or e-mail address.

The bill also includes requirements that any “free” giveaways (goods wares, merchandise, or products sent to a consumer) be considered an unconditional gift with no obligation whatsoever to the consumer, unless the business has obtained the customer’s affirmative consent to enter into an automatic renewal or continuous service agreement.

The Attorney General of New York State would be empowered to seek an injunction for violations and would allow the court to impose civil penalties for violations that were intentional and did not result from a bona fide error.

If signed, New York would join states such as California, Oregon, and Virginia in having comprehensive automatic renewal and continuous service laws. At least 25 states have some form of regulation of this type of contract.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D - Bronx) said: “As many of us know, it is nearly impossible to escape from some automatic renewal contracts such as gym memberships or predatory bait-and-switch offers. Far too often, consumers are left feeling powerless and taken advantage of, but by establishing the affirmative consent standard in automatic renewal contracts we are restoring power back to the people who worked hard for their money. This legislation makes clear that the consumer has control of how they spend their own money, not the business.  Thank you to State Senator Hoylman for his partnership on this legislation, and I urge the Governor to sign this bill into law when it reaches his desk.”

State Senator Brad Hoylman (D - Manhattan) said: “Exercising in the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult enough – New Yorkers shouldn’t have to jump through hoops simply to quit their gym. Too many gyms, subscription boxes and other companies use misleading offers and promotions to lock unwitting customers into long-term contracts that are ridiculously difficult to get out of. I’m grateful to Leader Andrea-Stewart Cousins, Speaker Carl Heastie, and my Assembly partner Jeffrey Dinowitz for supporting this strong consumer protection legislation that will save New Yorkers money.”

News From Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

ASSEMBLYMAN DINOWITZ STATEMENT ON COURT REJECTION OF ANTI-SCIENCE LAWSUIT

On Friday, a judge in New York’s state Supreme Court ruled against Children’s Health Defense and anti-vaxxers who had requested a temporary injunction against the non-medical vaccine exemption repeal which passed in June.

  Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) issued the following statement in response to today’s denial of a temporary restraining order against Dinowitz’s legislation (A2371/S2994) to repeal non-medical exemptions to school vaccine requirements. The lawsuit was brought in Albany County Supreme Court by Children’s Health Defense, an organization led by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. which raises money for anti-vaxx causes. The legislation was introduced in the State Senate by Brad Hoylman.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said: “I am glad that science has prevailed once more and that the public health will continue to be protected while our judicial system works through this lawsuit. My legislation is not and has never been about religion. It is about protecting public health. Those who are opposed to vaccinations should not be allowed to put the health of other people’s children at risk – end of story. Similar legislation has been upheld in California, and the policy has been in effect for many years in West Virginia and Mississippi. I am confident that my legislation will withstand this lawsuit and our children will be more protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.”

ASSEMBLYMAN DINOWITZ RESOLUTION HONORS 50^TH ANNIVERSARY OF MOON LANDING

The Assembly resolution commemorates a period in American history when the entire nation stood united by a common goal supporting science and the public interest.

 In honor of the fifty year anniversary of the moon landing, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz sponsored aresolution in the New York State Assembly to honor this historic achievement. On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 Project successfully landed two people on the moon after an intensive nationwide effort to achieve this momentous scientific goal.

The Assembly resolution was supported by a bipartisan coalition of 61 Assemblymembers, led by Dinowitz. The resolution notes that the moon landing resulted from a challenge issued by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 in response to the Soviet Union launching the first artificial satellite into space as well as the first person in space. Kennedy declared “this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth.”

Three astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, began the Apollo 11 mission on July 16, 1969 before the ultimate stage of landing the lunar module Eagle on the moon’s surface on July 20. Moonwalkers Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin left behind an American flag, pictures of human beings, recordings of a variety of languages, a patch honoring fallen crew from Apollo 1, and a plaque reading “here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon. July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.” The crew traveled 240,000 miles from the Earth to the moon in 76 hours.

The resolution goes on to note that the documentary Apollo 11, which debuted at Sundance, was partially produced at a shop in New York City, a partnering post production shop is located in New York, and the $5 commemorative coin will be produced in New York.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz  said: “As a child, I distinctly remember the awestruck inspiration I felt as I watched two American astronauts become the first people to ever walk on the moon’s surface. It was incredible as our country was unified behind this incredible scientific effort, and we felt like we could accomplish anything we set our minds to. With less computing power than a modern cellphone, we were able to send three human beings into space, land two of them on the moon, and return them all home safely. This is the mentality that we need to have again, as we explore solutions to climate change and other immense challenges that face our society.”

NEWS FROM ASSEMBLYMAN JEFFREY DINOWITZ

ASSEMBLYMAN JEFFREY DINOWITZ STATEMENT ON RENT GUIDELINES BOARD RENT INCREASE DECISION

On June 26, 2018, the Rent Guidelines Board voted to increase rents of stabilized units by 1.5 and 2.5% for one and two year leases, respectively.

  Following the adoption of Rent Guidelines Board Apartment Order #50 on Tuesday, June 26 which increased rents for the second consecutive year, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz issued the following statement:

“As New York City continues to suffer through an affordability crisis, where homelessness rates are rising amidst tenants being pushed out by ever-increasing rents, it has become even more necessary to ensure that all New Yorkers are able to continue to afford living in their homes. Property owners are making more money than ever before as real estate values continue to skyrocket and more rent-stabilized units are forced out of rent regulation.

There are already numerous giveaways to landlords in the form of unchecked Individual Apartment Improvement increases, permanent rent increases from Major Capital Improvements despite a mere eight or nine year amortization period, a broken preferential rent system where landlords can raise rents by substantial amounts, and many more. Landlords receive millions of dollars in tax credits each year, yet they cry poverty each year when the Rent Guidelines Board is deciding how much to increase rents on working-class New Yorkers.

If landlords really want to understand poverty, some of them need to look no further than their own tenants. Even small rent increases can make the different between whether a tenant is able to afford to stay in their apartment or if they are forced from their homes. What these tenants needed was a rent freeze, if not an outright rent reduction, but what they got instead was a bigger bill from their landlord. I am glad that the Rent Guidelines Board did not approve the landlord-promoted rent increase of 7.5%, but I am also deeply disappointed that many of our community members are less able to afford housing.”

STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES CRITICAL LEGISLATION STRENGTHENING ‘TRANSIT LOCKBOX’

Recently revived legislation from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Senator Martin J. Golden has now passed both chambers of the state legislature; advocates urge Governor to sign bill into law to promote fiscal transparency amid new MTA funding requests

   Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Senator Martin J. Golden have successfully shepherded legislation through a divided state legislature to require funding dedicated to public transportation systems (including the MTA) be used for their intended purpose. The bill also requires any legislation that diverts public transportation funding to include a diversion impact statement which reflects the amount of the diversion from each fund listed separately, the amount diverted expressed as current monthly transit fares, the cumulative amount of diversion from the previous five years, and a detailed estimate of the impact on service, maintenance, security, and current capital program.

For many years, the MTA has seen their operational costs increasingly used to pay debt service. The MTA’s debt service payments have grown from essentially nothing in the early 1980’s to over $2.5 billion in 2018. Despite this increasing cost burden siphoning much-needed resources away from a subway system in crisis, the MTA and other transportation systems have remained a frequent target of Governors who wish to use dedicated taxes to support transit projects to cover budgetary shortfalls in unrelated areas. The diverted funds are then replaced with bonds or loans that are backed by these same taxes, further adding to the existing debt burden.

Assemblyman Dinowitz has championed this bipartisan and common-sense legislation with State Senator Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn), resurrecting the bill as the MTA is once again in a state of crisis. A similar bill was vetoed by Governor Cuomo in 2013. Transit and good government advocates have hailed the legislation as a much-needed salve of transparency which will both hold the Governor and Legislature accountable when it comes to adequately funding public transportation systems in New York State. The bill (A8511/S6807) will next be delivered to the Governor, where it faces an uncertain future despite an estimated $38 billion in needed capital funding to meet the aspirational goals of the MTA’s ‘Fast Forward’ Plan to bring its transit system into the 21^st Century.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said: “As we examine every way to raise dedicated and sustainable revenue for mass transit in New York, it has become increasingly clear that we need to ensure that our promises to straphangers remain kept. If the people of New York are expected to continue paying increased fares and new taxes or fees to fix our subways and buses, then they should be confident that this money is being spent in the right place. I am proud of my colleagues for supporting this bill, and urge Governor Cuomo to sign this bill into law.”

State Senator Martin J. Golden said: “As the Senate Representative on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Capital Review Board, I know how important it is that resources dedicated to the MTA, stay with the MTA. The Executive should not be able to “sweep” monies dedicated for transportation and use them in other ways. This bill stops this shortsighted practice, and ensures that we have the funding needed to bring the MTA transportation system up to speed. This bill will help ensure that our transit system is efficient, reliable and a safe for commuters.”

NEWS FROM ASSEMBLYMAN JEFFREY DINOWITZ

STATEMENT FROM ASSEMBLYMAN JEFFREY DINOWITZ ON PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF SHSAT ADMISSION STANDARDS AT SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS

Assemblyman Dinowitz decries rushed process; emphasizes that long-term academic parity must come from broad-based improvements in all schools.

  Recent announcements from a variety of city and state officials have caused significant concerns for many parents that the admissions process for the eight schools which use scores from the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) will soon be changing. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) issued the following statement in response:

“There is no denying that the student population at our specialized high schools does not reflect the makeup of our public school system population. However, blaming this disparity on the existence of one test is a red herring which avoids a very real problem in our public schools. For many of our students, they are behind their peers from Day One – if not before. If we truly want to help improve academic parity among all students then we need to focus on improving education quality in all schools, from pre-Pre-Kindergarten to eighth grade and beyond. It is irresponsible to blame a standardized admissions test for uneven results when the inequity was present before anyone ever sat down to take it.

Proposed legislation to eliminate the SHSAT only lowers the bar for academic success. We should instead be raising standards, and helping all students meet these lofty expectations. In 2016, I was proud to help secure an additional $2 million in state funding to increase diversity in our specialized high schools - funding which to my knowledge doesn’t appear to have been used. This funding included money for test prep in underrepresented middle schools as well as funding for test prep targeting students on free- and reduced-price lunch. While these initiatives were a good start, we all know it isn’t enough to start helping students succeed only once they are teenagers.

I have previously proposed that the Department of Education provide free test prep for any and every student who wants it. In addition, I have suggested that the SHSAT test be an opt-out test, not opt-in, meaning that every student should take the test unless they specifically choose not to. That would undoubtedly result in many more students from underrepresented communities being offered admission to one of the specialized high schools. Furthermore, the city should create additional specialized high schools, as it did a number of years ago. These additional schools could have different admissions criteria that the eight high schools currently using the SHSAT, similar to the Fiorello H. LaGuardia school.

As an elected official, and a parent and proud alumni of New York City public schools, we cannot let impassioned outrage rule the day. It is our obligation to take the time our children deserve to look carefully at the root causes of inequality and work together to address them. I cannot support the proposed legislation which would lower standards for excellence without doing anything whatsoever to improve education quality for the hundreds of thousands of students attending non-specialized high schools throughout the five boroughs.”

Assembly Education Committee votes to support legislation to phase out specialized high school admissions test in favor of subjective process.

A proposal of significant magnitude to eliminate the specialized high school admissions test (SHSAT) has continued to progress at breakneck pace, as the Assembly Committee on Education voted in favor of an amended bill which was only introduced on June 1. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) issued the following statement in response:

“I am deeply troubled by the efforts to steamroll a proposal for legislation of significant magnitude through the Assembly, without public hearing and without adequate time to bring all interested parties into the process.

The proposal to eliminate the SHSAT admission standard flatly ignores the underlying causes of disparity in these test results which often begin from a very young age, even before a child enters school, and not in eighth grade as the Department of Education would like us to believe. We need to be focusing on education at all levels - from preschool to eighth grade and beyond - in order to achieve demographic academic parity. DOE would rather rig what should be an objective process so they can pretend the problem is solved instead of putting in the hard work to improve failing primary and middle schools.

By choosing to focus only on the SHSAT admission standard, DOE is ignoring 95% of high school students that don’t go to specialized high schools. They are ignoring the fact that many students have not received the necessary academic preparation by the end of seventh grade in order to succeed on a standardized test. By choosing to focus only on the SHSAT, DOE wants us to believe that if they can get a select few additional students from struggling middle schools into a specialized high school, that they have somehow solved disparities that affect hundreds of thousands of students in New York City. This is not a good way to ensure that all students in New York City have access to high quality public education, and to act like it does is disingenuous and is a disservice to the future of our kids.”

NEWS FROM ASSEMBLYMAN JEFFREY DINOWITZ,

Dinowitz Applauds DOT for Measures to make West 230^th Street Corridor Safer

  After months of continued urging from Assemblyman Dinowitz to implement changes on the West 230^th Street corridor, the Department Of Transportation(DOT) has agreed to implement a left turn signal at the intersection of West 230^th Street and Broadway. According to the 50^th precinct, the traffic corridor has one of the highest traffic incident rates in the area including incidents with serious injury and occasionally deaths. In total 131 independent incidents occurred in 2016 with 61 of those occurring on or near the exit/entrance ramp to the Major Deegan Expressway. Several weeks ago, a pedestrian was struck on Broadway and West 230^th Street as she crossed the street and she later of her injuries.

The intersection of West 230^th and Broadway has been particularly problematic given the awkward configuration of the intersection as it joins in an irregular shape with Exterior street making it difficult to navigate safely for drivers and pedestrians alike.

Assemblyman Dinowitz has called on the DOT to review the entire West 230^th Street corridor from Riverdale to Bailey Avenue. Just last week, the Assemblyman asked DOT to make specific changes at West 230^th Street and Broadway including possibly adding a “no left turn sign” for northbound traffic.

“While the change made is not a “no left turn sign” this is certainly a big improvement. I believe the entirety of West 230^th Street needs to be reexamined. Residents from all over the Bronx use the street to gain access to the Major Deegan and many of them deal with this hazardous situation daily. What happened on Broadway and West 230^th street was a tragedy that must never be repeated,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “While it is good that DOT has finally begun to take pedestrian safety on West 230^th and Broadway more seriously, the entire traffic corridor, not just that one intersection, must be examined and safety improved in order to prevent further senseless deaths.”

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz Applauds DOT/MTA Expansion of Transit Signal Priority, But Asks for More and Sooner

DOT and the MTA say they will add Transit Signal Priority to 550 intersections and 10 bus routes by 2020, and that TSP decreases travel time by 18%. Assemblyman Dinowitz says, “Let’s do more routes and get it done sooner.”

   Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Chairman of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions, responded to the NYC Department of Transportation’s Green Means Go: Transit Signal Priority in NYC report with both applause and a request to expand their initiative. The move reflects a request from Assemblyman Dinowitz and his colleagues in Albany contained in a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo dated May 10, 2017 to implement two basic changes that would dramatically improve service: expansion of Transit Signal Priority (TSP) and all-door cashless boarding technology. Transit Signal Priority enables communication between traffic signals and buses to extend a green light or shorten a red light by a few seconds to reduce the amount of time a bus is stopped along its route.

“I am glad that NYC DOT and the MTA arrived at the conclusion that Transit Signal Priority improves bus service. I am glad that they have decided to expand this great program to more routes and more intersections. I do not know why it needs to take until 2020 to make this change, and I do not know why only 10 routes were selected for expansion. Perhaps only 10 routes meet the criteria indicated in their report, but I find that hard to believe,” said Dinowitz. The DOT report said that TSP works best on two-way streets and intersections that do not have complicated cross traffic patterns in addition to streets with existing bus lanes.

Dinowitz added, “It’s good to see the beginnings of change happening in our bus system, which is so important in outer boroughs like the Bronx. Many people rely on buses to get around because they have difficulty using the subway system due to accessibility concerns. I hope that DOT looks at how to accelerate Transit Signal Priority implementation more quickly than 3 years for 10 routes, given that we already have a lot of the required infrastructure installed in our traffic signals.” The DOT report indicates that a new TSP system has been developed using the NYC Wireless Network and new signal controllers, as well as existing GPS technology on buses.

News From Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

Assemblyman Dinowitz and Senator Peralta’s Bill Requiring the MTA to Examine Lead Paints Levels at Elevated Subway Lines Passes Senate and Assembly 

  Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Senator Jose Peralta’s legislation requiring the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the New York City Transit Authority to conduct a study relative to the amount of lead paint in elevated subway tracks passed both the State Senate and the State Assembly. The bill is now at Governor Andrew Cuomo’s desk, and who will decide whether or not to sign it into law. 

  

The bill was introduced by Senator Peralta and Assemblyman Dinowitz on May 1st. Under the proposal, the MTA will have to submit a written report offering recommendations to eliminate any possible exposure to lead paint by falling chips form the elevated tracks of the subway system.

 “I am pleased that both houses of the legislature passed this important public safety measure. This bill requires the MTA and the NYCTA determine and report which areas of the aboveground transit infrastructure are plagued with hazardous levels of lead paint and which parts of New York City’s aging transit system must be immediately remediated before the thousands of New Yorkers who rely upon city transit become sickened or poisoned. We cannot expect people to live and work while being forced to use subway platforms coated in flaking lead-paint chips that may increase their risk of lead poisoning,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. “It is almost inconceivable in this day and age that people must put up with any lead-poisoning related dangers, yet this legislation will go some way toward ending this problem.”

“I am glad we were able to move this vital piece of legislation quickly through both houses of the legislature in order to protect New Yorkers. In a little less than a month and a half, it was possible for us to introduce and pass this bill in regards to the amount of lead paint in elevated subway tracks, including the 7 line. This subway line cuts across several hard-working communities in my district, and unfortunately lead paint chips are falling onto the streets and sidewalks,” said Senator Peralta. “We must ensure we remove hazardous lead paint from tracks, stations and trestles. The safety of New Yorkers comes first.” 

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Senator Marisol Alcántara Pass Bill Cracking Down on Illegal Non-Rental Fees

Bill Requires DHCR to Notify Rent-Stabilized Tenants of Which Non-Rental Fees Landlords can Legally Charge 

  The New York State Legislature passed legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Senator Marisol Alcántara yesterday, the last scheduled session day, which cracks down on illegal non-rental fees some unscrupulous landlords use to pressure tenants out of their apartments or trick them into paying more than they owe. Pending the signature of the Governor, the DHCR will now be mandated to provide the full list of legally allowable non-rental fees on the lease rider it issues for all rent-stabilized tenants. The New York Times recently brought to light this issue, which affects many low-income tenants. Often, fees will appear on the monthly rent bill or other correspondence without any explanation, which leads many tenants to believe that they must pay these fees in order to stay in their housing, which is false. Rent-stabilized tenants deserve freedom from arbitrary and in some cases illegal charges that burden an already rent-burdened population in a city undergoing a housing crisis.

“As a result of unscrupulous practices by landlords who insert various non-rental fees into lease agreements and monthly rental bills, we have passed legislation that would put vital information on the legality of these fees into the hands of the tenants they’re targeted at. Recently, some landlords have been attempting to pressure tenants, who may not know their rights, into paying for various legal fees, late fees, and fees for background checks by putting those fees directly into the lease agreement and monthly rent bills. DHCR has called into question the legality of some of these fees, and has put out Fact Sheet #44 to help tenants know their rights. Landlords will no longer be able to bully tenants into paying for things that they are not obligated to pay for,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “It is my hope that the Governor will demonstrate his support of tenants’ rights by signing this into law.”

State Senator Marisol Alcántara said: “Rent-stabilized tenants have the right to know whether the fees their landlords charge are legal. This bill, which I urge the Governor to sign, will close a loophole that has allowed unscrupulous landlords to take advantage of their tenants. This will be especially helpful for low-income and immigrant tenants, who may be more unfamiliar with the state’s rent laws and who are at particular risk of tenant harassment such as the use of illegal fees.”

News From Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

Dinowitz Urges Transit Revolution from Albany Following Latest Disas

Reiterates call on Cuomo to reinstate $65 million cuts to MTA operating budget

   Yesterday's F train nightmare was just one more reminder that we're operating on borrowed time. Those trapped commuters may have escaped unharmed, but what about the next disaster?

I have repeatedly called on Governor Cuomo to reinstate the $65 million in operating funds he and the MTA decided to cut. We are facing a major transit emergency that could put lives at risk and jeopardize the city's long term economic growth. We need to move beyond the empty rhetoric, cosmetic solutions and budget cuts. What we need is nothing short of a full blown revolution in how New York provides public transportation to 8.5 million people. Our city lives and dies by its buses and subway. It's time Governor Cuomo and the MTA step and give New York the transit system we deserve.

Assemblyman Dinowitz Applauds Kingsbridge Armory’s Long Awaited Release From Limbo

Mayor de Blasio recently announced that the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) will finally release the Armory’s lease to the Kingsbridge National Ice Center LLC (KNIC) once the $108 million loan earmarked for the Armory in the state budget is formalized.

The proposed project, to convert the armory into a massive multi-ice rink complex, stalled after the city placed the armory lease in escrow until KNIC was able to secure funding for the project. In turn, KNIC claimed not holding the lease diminished their chances of successfully securing investment in the project and essentially placed the project on hold.

The project seemed destined to remain in limbo until state leaders including Assemblyman Dinowitz broke project out of limbo by granting the project $108 million loan in the state budget and giving KNIC the push it so desperately needed to get off the ground, secure the lease from the city, and begin development of the project.

Dinowitz was one of the first and most prominent supporters of the plan to develop the Kingsbridge Armory into a community center or sports facility voicing his support in 2011 to the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, urging support for it when the ice skating project was still being contemplated among a number of other proposals.

“I have long believed that the Kingsbridge Armory should be used for the people of the Bronx and I am pleased that this project will finally proceed so that the Bronx can benefit. Having grown up just blocks from the Armory I am very familiar with its amazing potential. The Kingsbridge Armory is the largest in the world and the KNIC will be the largest ever ice rink complex. It will  greatly benefit people all over the Bronx as it can provide recreational and educational opportunities for thousands and thousands of Bronx residents and those beyond our borough. It also has the potential to create new businesses, particularly along Kingsbridge Road, that will bring provide many good to the community. I look forward to this project becoming a reality and to the positive impact it will have on Kingsbridge Heights, the Bronx and beyond,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz

News From Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz Urges DOE to Use Soon-To-Be Vacant School

  In a letter to NYC Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor Carmen Fariña, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz urged her to consider the use of the building located at 3120 Corlear Avenue to house students and alleviate the overcrowding issues plaguing schools in District 10.

In recent years, District 10 has dealt with chronic overcrowding issues at several schools, including P.S. 24 and P.S. 7 to name a few. The overcrowding problems at P.S. 24 were needlessly exacerbated last year by the DOE’s bungling of the lease-renewal for the Whitehall Annex. The subsequent loss of the Annex lost P.S. 24 over one hundred and fifty desperately needed seats at a time when poor decisions made at the school were already adding to the overcrowding problems.

In an effort to help the DOE redeem themselves in District 10, Assemblyman Dinowitz urges the DOE to consider using 3120 Corlear Avenue to house students from at least one of the overcrowded schools, if not several. The Tech International Charter School currently occupies the space, but failure to meet performance standards have forced the school to close. The building though, already suitable for educating students, should be available for use by September 2017 if the DOE acts now and seizes upon this opportunity to create additional space for students.

“It is indisputably in the interest of the NYC DOE to capitalize on this opportunity for the well-being and quality of education of the students in this district,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz.  “I firmly believe that the building could go a great way toward improving the education of those same students by providing them adequate space in which to learn. We have a large number of potential seats which could be ready in September. We would not have to wait several years for the DOE to construct a new facility.  It is urgent that the DOE act immediately”

Assemblyman Dinowitz Applauds High Turnout  in New York City Women’s March and Calls for Continued Action

  Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz along with Council Member Andrew Cohen and other local elected officials attended New York City’s Women’s March along 5^th avenue this past Saturday together  with an estimated 400,000 people. The march in NYC was only one part of protests and rallies that spanned seven continents and included millions of people from nations across the globe, with several million in the U.S. alone. The purpose of the marches was initially to stand up to Trump and to stand up for women's rights. But the purpose seemed to broaden to encompass issues ranging from support for women's reproductive rights, affordable health care, fighting climate change, immigration reform and more. Those who came out to protest believe these issues are in jeopardy.

                                                                                                       

In the spirit of this march and in preparation for the long fight against Trump’s tyranny, the State Assembly has already begun to take measures to insulate itself from any subversion Trump and the U.S. Congress might attempt against the progressive laws and ideals that New York has upheld for decades. Assemblyman Dinowitz helped pass in the State Assembly two critical pieces of legislation to strengthen and protect women’s reproductive rights. The measures affirm a woman’s right to an abortion in New York State (A.1748) and require insurers to continue covering contraception at no cost to the consumer (A.1378).

Assemblyman Dinowitz was extremely proud that New York City had such a great turnout for the event, believing that it reflects the spirit of resistance and New York values that will be sorely needed in the years to come. He urges not only opponents of Trump but everyone that believes in women’s equality, immigration reform, affordable health care and basic human decency not to quit now but to continue in their fervor to oppose him.

News From Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

Dinowitz Named Chair of Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

  Veteran Bronx Assembly Member tapped to lead influential committee tasked with oversight of Metropolitan Transportation Authority, state's telecommunications and energy infrastructure

 

Dinowitz pledges "full accountability" of MTA

 

  Looking to build upon ongoing efforts to improve the lives of Bronxites and all New York residents and hold government agencies accountable, Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz this week was named the Chair of the State Assembly's Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions. Dinowitz is pledging to use the influential new post to increase oversight and accountability of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which falls under the committee's purview, in light of the recent LIRR train derailment in Brooklyn, and ongoing concerns over limited public transportation options, particularly in the outer boroughs.

"I'm honored that Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie has entrusted me with this enormous responsibility," said Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz. "The work of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions touches the lives of every New Yorker, from the trains we ride to the phones in our pockets and the utilities we pay for. I intend to use this new role to ensure full accountability of the MTA and all the public entities we rely on every day."

 

Assembly Member Dinowitz received word of the new committee assignment as legislators gathered in Albany this month for the start of the 2017 legislative session. The Bronx official replaces outgoing Chair James Brennan, who in May announced his retirement. Dinowitz most recently chaired the Assembly's Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee.

 

As Chair of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, Dinowitz will have jurisdiction over the laws concerning private, not-for-profit and public corporations in the state. This includes both the Public Service Commission, which monitors New York telecommunications and utilities, and, most notably, the MTA and its many sub agencies.

 

Dinowitz' appointment comes at a critical time for the nation's largest transit system. The MTA continues to face criticism following the derailment of a Brooklyn-bound Long Island Rail Road train that injured more than 100 commuters last week. Meanwhile, the agency is weathering the fallout from a report late last month that the engineer involved in the deadly 2013 Metro North crash in Dinowitz's Bronx district was given a lifetime pension. In the aftermath of both incidents, Dinowitz is pledging to apply rigorous oversight to the MTA.

 

Dinowitz also intends to use the new post to address the persistent transit woes in the borough widely considered to be a transportation desert. A major component of the committee's work in recent years has been the oversight of the ongoing 2015-2019 MTA Capital Program. While the agency recently saw the successful on-time opening of Phase I of the Second Avenue Subway, questions linger about funding for future extensions of the line, as well as other big-ticket transit projects in the city.

Assemblyman Dinowitz Applauds Decision to Close Indian Point

            Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz(D-Bronx), a longtime opponent of Indian Point Nuclear facility, applauds the recent deal made with Entergy Corporation, the facilities operator, to permanently close it by 2021.

Problems and incidents have plagued the facility, located in Westchester, for years including one as recently as February 2016 when a leak in the facility was revealed after radioactivity was detected in the groundwater beneath the plant. Governor Cuomo was forced to make a statement that this leak posed no immediate danger to public health and had not migrated off site, but this incident was merely the latest in a string of mishaps and problems that have occurred at Indian Point since it began operating in 1974.

Assemblyman Dinowitz has long opposed the plants continued operation given the facility’s problems and its proximity to the one of the most populous metropolitan areas on the planet.  In 2012, the Assemblyman opposed Entergy being granted an exemption from fire safety requirements  by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission without a public hearing, and filed a brief in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

“I have never opposed nor do I now oppose the use of nuclear energy or nuclear power plants. However, the consistent problems that Indian Point has had, the proximity of the facility to New York City, and concerns over safety procedures have caused me to oppose the continued operation of the plant. I am pleased that Entergy has made the decision to close the plant,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz.

NEWS FROM ASSEMBLYMAN JEFFREY DINOWITZ

Assemblyman Dinowitz Calls on NY Senate to Close LLC Loophole

Legislation reduces the influence of big money in political campaigns

   Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz called on the New York State Senate to pass a bill reducing the ability of deep-pocketed special interests to make unlimited campaign donations. The legislation, which has already passed the Assembly overwhelmingly, would bring LLC’s in line with other corporations by creating a uniform law that restricts LLCs to the same $5,000 aggregate contribution limit. This would increase transparency in elections and accountability in government by protecting against individuals contributing above the legal limits.

Assemblyman Dinowitz said, “Currently, LLCs provide a loophole for special interests to make unlimited, and often anonymous, political donations that drown out the voices of ordinary voters. Closing this loophole will prevent the rich and powerful from skirting around contribution limits to unfairly buy influence and access.”

Under existing election law, individuals and corporations can make multiple contributions to the same candidate, political party or campaign committee by creating an unlimited number of LLCs. The law treats each LLC as an individual donor, even though more than one LLC can be controlled by the same individual. This makes it extremely difficult to determine the true contributor. Further, the Supreme Court’s 2014 ruling in McCutcheon v. FEC removed aggregate limits on individual donations, effectively allowing LLCs to make unlimited political contributions.   

Big money campaign contributions have a corrosive effect on our electoral system and a corrupting influence on our government,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “Candidates chasing large donations from well-heeled contributors looking for special access or influence are less able to represent all of their constituents. Our democracy will only suffer as a result. This legislation helps ensure that everyone is playing by the same rules when it comes to political contributions.  I am proud to co-sponsor this critical legislation.”

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Assemblyman Dinowitz Helps Pass Gender Protection Legislation 

     Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz announced that the Assembly passed legislation he co-sponsored prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity or expression - the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) (A.4558-B), sending the message that intolerance has no place in New York State.

“Across the country, transgender individuals are facing an assault on their basic human rights,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “From absurd laws dictating what bathrooms transgendered people can use such as in North Carolina, to giving health professionals the right to refuse treatment of LGBT persons, as they are trying to do in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Oklahoma; these laws are acts of ignorant bigotry, and clearly illustrate why New York must stand up to discrimination and lead the nationwide fight for transgender equality.”

In addition to prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity or expression, the GENDA Law, authored by my colleague, Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan), amends various provisions of the Penal Law and the Criminal Procedure Law to add "gender identity or expression" to the list of factors that constitute a crime a hate crime.

“Sadly, transgender individuals often experience housing and employment discrimination, are refused service, and in extreme cases, face physical violence because of how they express their gender identity. While New York already protects against discrimination on a number of bases, it has not yet extended this important protection to transgender people,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz.  “It’s time for the Senate to join us in extending protections to all New Yorkers.”