The 2011 Tour de Queens is Sunday July 10th - Tour de Queens Trailer

The 2011 Tour de Queens is Sunday July 10th
For more info: www.tourdequeens.org




Footage courtesy of Streetfilms.org from the 2009 Tour de Queens.

Deal Reached to Avert New York Teacher Layoffs by Fernanda Santos - NYTimes.com

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The threatened layoffs of 4,100 teachers in New York’s public schools were averted under a deal that the Bloomberg administration, the City Council and the teachers’ union reached on Friday night.

Details were still being worked out, but the agreement calls for concessions from the United Federation of Teachers and money from the Council.

Under the deal, the union would agree to suspend teacher sabbaticals for a year and permit teachers without a permanent assignment to be used more regularly as classroom substitutes. In addition, the Bloomberg administration would concede that 2,600 teachers would be lost to attrition, 600 more than estimated, saving additional jobs. On one hand, the resolution spares Mr. Bloomberg from becoming the first mayor in nearly 40 years to impose mass teacher layoffs. On the other hand, though, it threatens to undermine his credibility, given that he has declared for two consecutive years that layoffs were inevitable, only to see them averted in a budget deal.

The budget plan also allows the Council to keep open 20 fire companies that the mayor had ordered closed, and it may be able to restore at least some of the cuts he planned for day care services and librarians.

Still, it appeared that up to 1,000 city workers — many of them in health care jobs — would be laid off.

In a news conference at the Education Department headquarters in Lower Manhattan on Friday night, Mr. Bloomberg said he was disappointed he could not avoid all layoffs. Still, he said, “this is a budget that will keep our city strong, but it is also a budget that faces fiscal reality.”

Asked whether he thought his credibility had been hurt, the mayor defended his approach, saying the city faced extremely bleak and unpredictable economic circumstances.

The City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, standing by the mayor’s side, praised the deal. “New Yorkers can rest easy tonight knowing that our children will still have great teachers,” she said.

Mr. Bloomberg had taken an aggressive posture during the negotiations, emboldened over the past days by the victories scored in Albany and Trenton against public-sector unions and becoming more emphatic about his demands. But in the end, he and the teachers’ union, one of his most vociferous opponents, had to reach an agreement, helping to balance a $66 billion budget that had a $4.6 billion gap.

A different rescue proposal fell apart on Thursday, after the city rejected an offer from the Municipal Labor Committee, a group representing roughly 100 municipal unions, for $262 million to be taken from a health care reserve fund they jointly manage. By then, Ms. Quinn and the teachers’ union president, Michael Mulgrew, had been secretly meeting for days.

Once the other deal collapsed, talks between Ms. Quinn and Mr. Mulgrew moved into overdrive.

On Friday morning, officials of the city’s Education Department made their way to the union’s headquarters to determine what would and would not be on the table. By late afternoon, the two sides had come to an agreement.

Ms. Quinn, meanwhile, worked to sell the plan to Mr. Bloomberg, emerging as the crucial figure in the process.

The budget must be approved by the full Council by Thursday.

Javier C. Hernandez contributed reporting

Statement from William C. Thompson, On The Passage of New York’s Marriage Equality Legislation

“History will define today as a pivotal moment in the fight for equal rights for all.

I applaud Governor Cuomo, the State Senators and Assembly Members who recognized the tenor of the times and heard their constituents' voices, and the LGBT advocates and activists and supporters who served on the front lines of this long-fought battle to ensure equality for all.

Today is long overdue. The passage of time since marriage equality was unsuccessfully introduced a year ago has yielded more open minds and open hearts. I commend our leaders for employing not only common sense but courage, and a conviction to do what simply is right.

On this day, we all should reflect not just on our own lives and the privileges and rights we have, but those of our sisters and brothers, colleagues and friends, and realize that the playing field doesn't favor everyone. There are still challenges ahead. All too often we hear about anti-gay attacks in our city, state and nation. Changing the law does not necessarily change all minds.

My true hope is that today's action will create a wave of acceptance and a recognition that where you love should not be determined by where you live.

As a longtime supporter of marriage equality, I shared the pain endured by my colleagues and friends who could not get married in New York, and now share the joy of progress.

I am proud that as a New Yorker I live in a State that acknowledges that the people you love should not define the limits of your rights. Instead, through today's vote, our State leaders have shown that love and the law can go hand in hand.”

Tonight New York Made History - Bill de Blasio

Forty-two years ago at a small bar in Greenwich Village, New Yorkers took a stand against discrimination and the gay rights movement was born. Tonight, New York made history once again, becoming the largest state in the country to pass marriage equality.
This victory was only made possible because of the tireless dedication and advocacy of millions of New Yorkers, some gay, some straight, all fighting to ensure that every person in our state is guaranteed the same rights and privileges.
This historic day is also due in large part to the leadership of Governor Cuomo. I congratulate the Governor, the State Assembly and the State Senate for this historic step forward. I applaud those legislators who have fought on the front lines for years and also those legislators who courageously found it within themselves and in the voices of their constituents to vote 'yes' for the first time.
Sincerely,



Bill de Blasio
NYC Public Advocate

Statement from Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer & Dan Hendrick on Marriage Equality

"Today, New York made history.

"By lifting this barrier to equal rights, our state has made a clear and forceful declaration that there must be no second-class New Yorkers.

"Today has been a day when our greatest ideals were on display – ideals like 'liberty and justice for all' and the unshakable belief that 'all men are created equal.’

"This struggle has been long, and change is always difficult. We are proud that New York has debated this issue in an atmosphere of respect. But as evidenced today, the march toward greater freedom and fairness, toward true equality under the law, cannot be stopped until all of us are truly free.

"There was another kind of history made today as well – the kind recorded not in history books, but in family photographs and genealogies.

"For too long, gay and lesbian couples like us were forced to live in the shadows. No matter how long we lived together, no matter how much we loved each other, no matter how committed we were to one another, gay and lesbian relationships rested on a legal house of cards under New York law.

"Today, at last, our state government has caught up with the truth that our families, colleagues and neighbors have long known: GLBT citizens deserve the same rights, recognition and respect as every other New Yorker.

"This historic moment may never have arrived in New York if it weren’t for the leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo. History will recall his courage and determined support, along with that of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and those Assembly Members and Senators who stood up for what is right, particularly Senator Tom Duane and Assembly Members Danny O’Donnell and Deborah Glick.

"With today’s vote, New York has reclaimed its proper role as a beacon for civil rights and equality – a proud example that we hope may inspire our federal government and state governments around the country to follow suit."

--Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer & Dan Hendrick, Sunnyside, NY

Senator Gillibrand Statement on New York State Achieving Marriage Equality

Praises Democrats And Republicans For Coming Together To Uphold American Values Of Equality, Justice

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement tonight after the New York State Senate voted in favor of marriage equality for all New Yorkers:

“New York has always led the way for equal rights – from leading the suffrage movement, to Abraham Lincoln’s remarkable speech opposing slavery at Cooper Union - and we have done it again. I want to thank Governor Cuomo for his extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment to marriage equality which brought home this great victory. I also want to thank the committed advocates who worked day in and day out, and all of the New York State lawmakers - Democrats and Republicans - who came together to uphold the fundamental American values of equality and justice for all.


“New York State has sent a powerful message to the rest of the nation. The right to get married and start a family is a basic, human right that must be shared by all Americans. Every loving, committed couple in America deserves this right. And no politician should stand in the way of this fact.


“Marriage under the law is the foundation for strong families. I will continue to help lead the fight in Washington to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act so that all loving and committed marriages in New York are recognized by the federal government.”

New York State Lawmakers Approve Gay Marriage By Dan Wiessner - Reuters

h/t to: CrooksandLiars.com for the video

New York will become the sixth state to allow gay marriage after lawmakers passed the measure on Friday, a key victory for gay rights ahead of the 2012 presidential and congressional elections.

New York state senators voted 33 to 29 to approve marriage equality legislation introduced by Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat in his first year of office. New York will now be the most populous state where lawmakers approved gay marriage.

"New York has finally torn down the barrier that prevented same-sex couples from exercising the freedom to marry and from receiving the fundamental protections that so many couples and families take for granted," Cuomo said in a statement.

After Cuomo signs the bill same-sex weddings can start taking place in New York in 30 days and religious institutions and nonprofit groups with religious affiliations are not compelled to officiate.

"I have to define doing the right thing as treating all persons with equality and that equality includes within the definition of marriage," said Republican Senator Stephen Saland, speaking before the bill was passed.

Cheers erupted in the Senate gallery in the state capital Albany and among a crowd of several hundred people who gathered outside New York City's Stonewall Inn, where riots following a police raid in 1969 sparked the modern gay rights movement.

"It's about time. I want to get married. I want the same rights as anyone else," Caroline Jaeger, 36, a student, who was outside the Stonewall Inn.

But New York Bishops said in a statement that they were "deeply disappointed and troubled" by the passage of the bill.

"We always treat our homosexual brothers and sisters with respect, dignity and love. But we just as strongly affirm that marriage is the joining of one man and one woman," they said.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an advocate for gay marriage who lobbied state lawmakers in recent weeks, said the vote was an "historic triumph for equality and freedom."

"Together, we have taken the next big step on our national journey toward a more perfect union," he said in a statement.

ELECTION ISSUE

President Barack Obama, who attended a fundraiser in New York on Thursday for Gay Pride Week, has a nuanced stance of gay issues and could risk alienating large swathes of the electorate if he came out strongly in favor of such matters as gay marriage before the 2012 polls, experts say.

During the 2008 election Obama picked up important support from Evangelicals, African Americans, and socially conservative Latinos and Catholics -- who all oppose gay marriage, which has become a contentious social issue being fought state-by-state.

In California a judge last year overturned a ban on gay marriage, but no weddings can take place while the decision is being appealed. It could set national policy if the case reaches the U.S. Supreme Court.

Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage, and Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois and New Jersey approved civil unions. The first legal same-sex marriages in the United States took place in Massachusetts in 2004.

But gay marriage is banned in 39 states, according to the The National Conference of State Legislatures.

In New York a recent Siena poll found 58 percent of New Yorkers support gay marriage, while nationally the U.S. public is nearly evenly split with 45 percent in favor and 46 percent opposed, according to a Pew Research poll released last month.

New York's Democrat-dominated Assembly voted 80 to 63 in favor of gay marriage last week and again passed the amended legislation on Friday 82 to 47.

A key sticking point had been over an exemption that would allow religious officials to refuse to perform services or lend space for same-sex weddings. Most Republicans were concerned the legal protection was not strong enough, so legislative leaders worked with Cuomo to amend his original bill.

"God, not Albany, settled the definition of marriage a long time ago," said Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., a Pentecostal minister and the only Democrat to vote against the measure.

However fears of a slew of litigation arising from a possible religious exemption to New York's proposed same-sex marriage law are not borne out by experience with similar laws in other states, legal experts say.

(Additional reporting by Phil Wahba, writing by Michelle Nichols)

NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli Fracking Proposal Gets Strong Investor Support

Risk Disclosure Resolution Garners Solid Vote From Carrizo Shareholders

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s shareholder resolution seeking greater disclosure of the risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) garnered support from investors at Carrizo Oil’s annual meeting last week. The resolution received 43.7 percent of the vote, according to a company filing released today. DiNapoli filed the resolution as trustee of the $140.6 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund), which owns 324,994 Carrizo shares worth an estimated $11.1 million.

“We’ve seen what happens when companies sacrifice safety for short-term profits,” DiNapoli said. “This vote was a call for safer, sustainable earnings from our investments. Natural gas is a crucial part of the nation’s energy supply, but it has to be extracted the right way.”

“Hydraulic fracturing can potentially poison local water supplies, pollute the air and leave us with a waste management nightmare. Shareholders and the public need to be assured that Carrizo and other companies fully appreciate the regulatory, legal, environmental and reputational risks at stake. We can’t have a repeat of the BP disaster in New York.”

DiNapoli has requested reports on the potential consequences of fracking from seven companies: Chesapeake Energy Corp., SM Energy, XTO Energy Inc., Range Resources Corp., Hess Corp., and Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. Four firms—SM Energy, Range, Hess and Cabot—have agreed to provide disclosures on the potential consequences of drilling activities in response to DiNapoli’s requests. These agreements do not relieve the company of their legal or regulatory duties. The Fund has also voted in favor of disclosure resolutions filed by other investors at Chevron, ExxonMobil, Ultra Petroleum and Energen Corporation.

New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation is expected to release new gas drilling rules next month.

Public Advocate de Blasio Walks in Shoes of Childcare Provider

In the midst of Mayor Bloomberg’s threats to drastically cut funding for childcare services, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio spent yesterday morning walking in the shoes of Linnette Ebanks, a daycare provider who educates and cares for pre-school children at Little People's Retreat Group Day Care in Brooklyn.

Watch the video here:

“Seeing firsthand how childcare providers help our children learn and grow is all the evidence you need that the Mayor’s budget has the wrong priorities,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. “Today I was proud to spend a morning walking in the shoes of Linnette Ebanks and tomorrow I will continue to fight for her and the thousands of working families that depend on child care.”

The Mayor’s Executive Budget would slash $57 million from childcare services and close 110 daycare centers city-wide—including 55 in Brooklyn alone. A map of these daycare centers is here.

Gillibrand Blasts Ruling on Wal-mart Discrimination Case - Canandaigua, NY by Julie Sherwood- MPNnow

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U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today to overturn the lower court’s ruling that would have allowed more than one million women to proceed with a class-action discrimination lawsuit against Wal-mart.

“I am deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the lower court’s decision and deny the largest civil rights class action suit in our history from moving forward. Pay discrimination in the workplace is unacceptable and all too real. Women in this country will continue to face an uphill battle until Congress fulfills its obligation to level the playing field and close existing loopholes by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act. The time to end discrimination is now and I will continue to work with my colleagues to end this economic injustice"

Rep. Joe Crowley: Cuts to Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Programs Are "Penny-Wise & Pound-Foolish"

Congressman Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), released the following statement in opposition to the Republicans’ proposed cuts to nutrition programs for families, seniors and children in the 2012 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2112). This legislation includes a devastating cut of $650 million to one of our nation’s most important anti-hunger programs – the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). In New York State, this could mean almost 20,000 participants could be kicked off the WIC program. In addition, the bill slashes food aid for low-income seniors through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and help for food banks through the Emergency Food Assistance Program at a time when seniors, families and anti-hunger organizations are all struggling to get by. Congressman Crowley voted against the bill, which ultimately passed by a vote of 217-203.

“At a time when families, seniors and children in New York and around the country are relying on food assistance more than ever, the Republicans’ legislation would slash access to nutritious food, counseling on healthy eating and health care referrals for those who are struggling.

“This bill is penny-wise and pound-foolish. Republicans claim they are making these cuts to reduce the deficit and get our fiscal house in order, but this bill is not the way to make that happen. What will the costs be down the road as children grow up without a healthy start because they have a hungry stomach?

“Despite not being willing to end tax breaks for oil companies making tens of billions in profits and corporations taking advantage of overseas tax loopholes, Republicans are more than ready to cut programs on the backs of those who are struggling to survive in this economy. Our priorities should be about helping working families and those in need – not eliminating benefits that are already stretched thin.”

New & Notes from NYS Senator Joe Addabbo - 15th District

ADDABBO CO-SPONSORS BILL TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES GET VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDING

NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., (D-Queens) is pleased to announce that he is a co-sponsor of legislation (S.5587) introduced in the Senate by Senator James Alesi (R-Rochester) that would amend the state’s tax law to authorize the state to license six certified capital companies to raise $150 million in private venture capital from insurance companies in order to assist New York businesses that require funds not available from traditional commercial banks through all stages of development: pre-startup, start-up, expansion, or survival. In exchange for investing in qualified businesses, the insurance companies would get premium tax credits, with such issuance to be delayed four years. While the economic benefits of the program begin almost immediately, the delayed tax credits would have no fiscal impact to New York State until 2015.

In order to qualify for the tax credits, each certified capital company mustsatisfy a number of requirements in its investment portfolio, including:

• Two-thirds of its investment of certified capital must go towards qualified businesses located in under-served areas.
• Ten percent of its investment must be directed towards qualified seed funds, certified as such by the Superintendent of Financial Services.
• Fifty percent of its investments must go towards businesses focused on emerging technology products and services.
• No more than $15 million can be invested towards one individual company.

In addition, a certified capital company under CAPCO-6 would be required to return 15 percent of its net profits on qualified investments to the Department of Financial Services. This legislation also adds to the reporting requirements already present in previous CAPCO programs to ensure compliance with the requirements set forth above.

New York State last renewed its CAPCO program in 2005. The NY CAPCO was created by the Assembly over a decade ago to utilize a premium tax credit incentive to increase investment in venture capital funds focused exclusively on New York businesses. New York insurance companies can earn tax credits by making investments in small companies that have difficulty accessing traditional funding sources. Since 1998, five CAPCO programs have been certified. Through these five programs, $400 million of private capital has been raised, and the investment from these funds has created or retained over 2,000 jobs and will generate $412 million in tax revenue by 2016. Says Addabbo, “It’s a win-win for both small business owners and investors. Our current economic climate makes getting risk capital for small businesses extremely challenging. As elected officials, we must make every effort to help our small businesses.”

The bill has been sent for review to the Senate’s Committee on Investigations and Government Operations. After passage and signature by the Governor, the bill would take effect immediately.

ADDABBO SUPPORTS BILL THAT WOULD MAKE HOME INVASION ROBBERY NEW CRIMINAL OFFENSES

NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., announced that the Senate has passed a bill (S.3205) that would amend the penal law in order to establish the new criminal offenses of home invasion robbery, which takes place when a robbery occurs, and offenders threaten physical force.

The bill elevates the crime of robbery if the robbery occurs in someone's home, and

1) a person is guilty of home invasion robbery in the 2nd degree (a class C felony) and is aided by another perpetrator; and

2) a person is guilty of home invasion robbery in the 1st degree (a class B felony) when he or she, in the course of such a robbery: a) causes physical injury upon an occupant of the home; b) is armed with a deadly weapon; c) uses or threatens to use a dangerous instrument; or d) displays or appears to display an actual firearm capable of producing death or serious injury.

Explains Addabbo, "Incidents of home invasion robbery have been increasing in New York State and could happen in any community. They are not to be mistaken for burglaries, which usually occur when the homeowner is away. Home invasion robberies feature confronting homeowners as key elements of the perpetrator’s attacks, directly with force, false pretense or impersonation, then restrain the victims to steal the home's contents. This kind of crime needs an increased penalty and enforcement to assist in ensuring the safety of our residents."

This bill is currently being reviewed in the Codes Committee.

ADDABBO STATEMENT ON ETHICS REFORM BILL: THE PUBLIC INTEGRITY REFORM ACT OF 2011

NYS Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr., (D-Queens) released the following statement on the ethics reform bill passed yesterday:

The Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011 is a step in the right direction for ethics reform in Albany and towards restoring faith and public trust in our government. After advocating for ethics and campaign reform ever since I was elected to the Senate, I believe this is a good initial bill, but I know we can do more in the state legislature. Since the ethics issue is one that has traditionally plagued our state government, I will continue to promote the need for improved campaign finance reform and independent redistricting to create a more transparent and equitable government for the people of this state.

This ethics reform bill only allows for penalizing the state pensions for future elected officials convicted of crimes related to their government role. This bill should have included current elected officials in this category.

Did the desperate need for ethics reform set the standard so low that any bill, no matter how mediocre, would have been an improvement? Only time will tell with the implementation of the this Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011.

Wal-mart Continues To Try and Buy New York’s Love

Rather Than Coming Before The City Council or Community Board, Walmart Resorts To The Only Strategy It Knows, Spend $$$$

As Walmart continues to avoid answering hard questions to New Yorkers, the company has been spending significant amounts of money in political contributions and political-style advertising to try to buy New Yorkers’ love. Today, the company announced a charitable contribution in another attempt to buy their way into New York City.

An analysis of Walmart’s New York State lobbying data from the New York State Commission on Public Integrity shows it spent $1.85 million on lobbying (including political-style advertisements) in the first four months of 2011. In 2007 through 2010, the company spent $335,385.

A similar shift has occurred in political contributions. An analysis of data from the National Institute on Money in State Politics, shows that between 2003 and 2010, Wal-Mart contributed $562,877 to statewide candidates in New York. Overall contributions have grown dramatically each election cycle in advance of the company’s efforts to expand into New York City, beginning with a mere $4,020 in 2004 and reaching $273,000 by 2010.

The mega-retailer can’t boost its flagging U.S. sales unless it expands into the nation’s largest cities, so it’s trying to break its way into New York with new store formats and new products, and most importantly-- a new image.

“Walmart can’t be trusted. The company is embracing progressive values in its public relations campaign to avoid tough questions about its history of alleged discrimination and putting local mom and pops out business.,” said Stephanie Yazgi, spokesperson for Walmart Free NYC. “Walmart’s convenient contribution won’t distract New Yorkers from its track record: the company is facing the largest gender bias class-action lawsuit in U.S. history, it has sold more guns than any company in the United States, and it failed The Human Right Campaign’s national LGBT scorecard.”

Walmart Lobbyist Spending

Lobbyist	2007	2008	2009	2010	2007-10	2011
Law Offices of Claudia Wagner LLC	$32,000	-	-	$22,500	$54,500
Patricia Lynch Associates	$65,000	$65,000	$62,834	$61,752	$254,586
Manatt, Phelps and Phillips LLP				$22,500	$22,500	$30,000
Philip Serghini	$620	$203	$2,976	-	$3,799
Walmart Stores						$1,756,853
The Wright Group						$24,000
Hodes and Landy						$30,000
York Group Associates						$16,000
Total	$97,620	$65,203	$65,810	$84,252	$335,385	$1,856,853

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