Heroic Effort by Nydia Velazquez for 9/11 Heroes - Rachel Maddow Show

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A true progressive hero - Nydia Velazquez...

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Brooklyn May Revive the Streetcar - WNYC

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The Bloomberg administration is finally ready to begin a study of whether it makes sense to bring streetcars back to Red Hook.

The Department of Transportation announced it has hired a consultant, the URS Corporation, for the $300,000, five month study. It will determine whether streetcars are needed, which routes would be best and who would pay for the service. Department of Transportation Secretary Janette Sadik-Kahn says the agency is using a federal grant to fund the study.

Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, who represents Red Hook, secured the money five years ago. Bloomberg made the study part of his platform for re-election last year, as a means of bringing more transportation to waterfront neighborhoods.

The city had originally planned to undertake the study last fall.

A spokesman hasn't responded to a request to explain the delay.

In Softball, Press Corps Beats Congressional Women - First Read - msnbc

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Related article: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Shows Softball Is Not Just For Lesbians Anymore

After a five-run rally in the top of the seventh inning that invoked the “mercy” rule -- forcing the side to retire with only one out -- the Washington D.C. women’s press corps softball team defeated the Congressional women's squad 13-7.

They let the members play the bottom of the seventh (of a seven-inning game) even though technically they couldn’t have tied the game without also invoking the mercy rule they use, which says a team can't score more than five runs in an inning.

Star players on the losing congressional team in the second annual congressional women's softball game were pitcher Kirsten Gillibrand (photo to left), slugger Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Jean Schmidt, and Linda Sanchez. The congressional women are 0-for-2 in two years. Last year, they lost 14-8 to a staffers of the national committees.

The victorious scribes were led by MVP Trisha Turner of Fox and Dana Bash of CNN. Spouse John King was seen on the field in anchorman suit and tie trying to argue with the umpire about the mercy rule.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Yankee fan justice Sonia Sotomayor, Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and other fans were in the stands.

Photo credit: Lez Get Real

Rep. Weiner and 27 Members of Congress Call on Agriculture Secretary to End Fingerprinting for Food Stamps Applicants...

Practice is Unnecessary, Discourages Program Participation and Wastes Money

Following reports that more New Yorkers went hungry in 2008 than the year before, Representative Anthony Weiner (D – Brooklyn and Queens), a member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee and 27 Members of Congress called on Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to end the practice of fingerprinting food stamp applicants.

New York, Texas, California and Arizona require fingerprinting for all new food stamp applicants. Despite claims that this protects against fraud and duplicative benefits, according to the most recent USDA data, payment errors were actually higher in the 4 states that fingerprint. Meanwhile, participation rates for all eligible people in those states that fingerprint were lower. In addition, fingerprinting deters many people in need from applying. According to a March 2007 report by the Urban Institute, fingerprinting led to a 4.3% reduction in food stamp applicants because of the stigma associated with such a practice.

In a letter to Secretary Vilsack, Representatives Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Jose Serrano (D-NY), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Bob Filner (D-CA), Ed Pastor (D-AZ), Diane Watson (D-CA), Al Green (D-TX), Pete Stark (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX), Sam Farr (D-TX), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Charles Gonzalez (D-TX), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), George Miller (D-CA), Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Michael Honda (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Gene Green (D-TX), Howard Berman (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) wrote: “Eliminating finger imaging would remove significant barriers for residents of these states who need help feeding themselves and their families, which is particularly important during these economic times.”

Rep. Velázquez Hails Passage of Economic Recovery Bill - Press Release

Measure Will Create Jobs, Bring Relief for New York City Families

Washington, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives today approved the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” to create or save 215,000 jobs in New York State, including 8,400 in the 12^th Congressional District alone. The comprehensive legislation makes investments in urban areas that will strengthen public housing, mass transit, education, and provide other important resources for New York City’s hard-working families. Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) hailed the funding and tax cut package as the best way to get people back to work while investing in the long-term health of the City.

“We need this economic recovery package to stop the cycle of job loss that has crippled New York City and the entire nation. Only if we get people back to work and help them afford their basic needs, will spending start up again and our economy begin to recover,” said Velázquez.

Infrastructure projects and other targeted spending will get New Yorkers back to work and jump-start the economy. The State is expected to receive $2.7 billion to fund public schools, $1 billion for highway construction projects, $1.3 billion for mass transit, and $403 million to help seniors and families reduce energy bills by weatherizing their homes. In New York City, the public housing authority can expect $390 million to modernize and improve the safety of its buildings. In addition, 95 percent of workers and their families – totaling 7.1 million people in New York State – will be eligible for a tax cut of up to $800. The extra money will show up immediately in workers’ paychecks.

“This bill provides a major investment in New York City – from renovating public housing buildings to making sure our schools are equipped with 21^st Century technology,” said Velázquez. “We are focused on creating a bright future for our children, and putting New Yorkers to work now making the improvements.”

With New York City’s unemployment rate above 7 percent, the recovery package also takes steps to help out-of-work New Yorkers make ends meet as they search for a new job. The legislation expands unemployment benefits, and helps the recently unemployed maintain health care coverage that was offered by their last employer. To feed the hungry, the bill increases food stamp benefits by more than 13 percent.

“Our workers and small business owners are the ones who can lift us out of this downturn. By supporting their hard work and innovative ideas, we will get things moving again and see our communities thrive,” said Velázquez.

As Chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business, the Congresswoman worked to ensure the bill gives small firms access to affordable credit and new capital. The Small Business Administration will provide guarantees on new loans and refinance past loans to make payments more affordable for business owners. In addition, tax credits will help ease the burden on entrepreneurs and allow them to meet payroll, stock their shelves and expand their businesses.

Comptroller Picks Manager of His Mayoral Campaign by Michael Barbaro - NYTimes.com

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William C. Thompson Jr., the New York City comptroller and a fixture of the city’s Democratic political establishment, has appointed a longtime adviser and confidant, Eduardo Castell, to run his campaign for mayor.

Mr. Castell, 44, has worked with Mr. Thompson for more than a decade, running his unlikely bid for comptroller in 2001, a bruising and at times nasty Democratic primary that catapulted Mr. Thompson into citywide elected office.

Since then, Mr. Castell has overseen government and community relations for the comptroller’s office, which is charged with rooting out wasteful spending by city agencies. Mr. Castell will take a leave of absence from his city job to be campaign manager.

In an interview on Monday, he said Mr. Thompson had the financial expertise and compassion to manage a city at the epicenter of a worldwide economic crisis.

“You need someone who can lead the city during these tough times, who has the understanding and sensitivity of what folks across the city are going through right now,” Mr. Castell said. “I think Bill Thompson is that person.”

In a jab at the wealth of the mayor, who is running for re-election, Mr. Castell added: “We are not sure that Michael Bloomberg has shown that sensitivity.”

Mr. Thompson, a former president of the New York City Board of Education who worked briefly as an investment banker, is seeking to portray Mr. Bloomberg as being out of touch with the city’s working and middle-class voters, and has cited the mayor’s decision this fall to withhold property tax rebate checks for weeks (he eventually sent them) and raise property taxes.

Last week, after Mr. Bloomberg proposed a 2009 budget that included raising the city’s sales tax, Mr. Thompson accused him of trying to “balance the budget on the backs of working people.”

Mr. Bloomberg has defended the actions as prudent and fair, calling the sales tax a last resort.

The Thompson campaign, which will participate in the city’s campaign finance system, has hired Marla Klinger as a fund-raiser, Andrew Grossman as a political consultant and Blue State Digital — the company used by President Obama — to oversee its Web site and social networking.

Mr. Castell, who has deep ties to the city’s Latino residents and organized labor, has worked for two New York City representatives.

In the mid-1990s, he served as district manager and chief of staff for Representative Nydia M. Velázquez. Before that, he was legislative director for Representative Ted Weiss.

Mr. Thompson is likely to face off against Representative Anthony D. Weiner in this fall’s Democratic primary. On the Republican side, his opponent could be the grocery chain owner John A. Catsimatidis. Mr. Bloomberg has not yet decided whether he will run as a Republican, an independent or both.

Senate Rumors Churn As Hillary Gets Tapped by Brian M. Rafferty - Queens Tribune

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After weeks of speculation, President-elect Barack Obama named U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton as the next Secretary of State. Once she is confirmed by the U.S. Senate she will resign her position and Gov. David Paterson will name her replacement.

The names swirling around of potential replacements change from day to day, and will likely continue to do so through the time that the Governor makes his pick, which is not expected to happen until late January at the earliest.

Several names related to Queens have been discussed as being directly or tangentially affected by the Governor’s choice. The names of possible direct replacements have included U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria), who said Tuesday that she would be thrilled if her name was considered.

“I certainly have worked hard for the district that I represent,” she said, noting that her district carries the two largest mass transit projects in the nation – the Second Avenue subway extension and the East Side Access project.

Other local politicians on the potential list also include U.S. Rep. Nydia Velasquez (D-Ridgewood) and U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights), as well as Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who grew up in Jamaica Estates.

Maloney authored the 9/11 Health Bill, was co-chair of the 9/11 caucus, serves on the Financial Services Committee and chairs the subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.

A longtime advocate for women’s rights, Maloney recently published a book titled “Rumors Of Our Progress Have Been Greatly Exaggerated,” which highlights the rolled back opportunities for women, especially during the Bush administration.

Ultimately, Maloney knows full well that the decision for the next Senator from New York will come solely from Gov. Paterson.

“In New York State we have many talented leaders, and I believe we need someone who would work hard and be successful in helping the State of New York,” Maloney said, adding that if she were selected, “I’d be incredibly honored to have the opportunity.”

There has been speculation if Cuomo replaced Clinton, Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) could fill the Attorney General post. Gianaris declined to comment on the speculation.

U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Kew Gardens) said the day after the November election that he would rather stay in the House of Representatives or be mayor of New York City.

Political insiders have said it is likely that Paterson would appoint a woman, a minority or an upstate representative to fill the role.

No matter who ends up being selected to fill Hillary’s important Senate shoes, her other colleagues from Queens unilaterally wish her well.

“It’s hard to imagine a person who comes to the job as Secretary of State better qualified than Sen. Hillary Clinton,” Weiner said. “She not only has the experience dealing with world leaders from every part of the globe, having been first lady and now as Senator, but also having represented New York whose diversity is renown. We’re not losing her – we’re just sharing her with the rest of the world.”

Congressman Crowley shared a similar belief.

“President-elect Barack Obama’s ground-breaking nomination of Senator Clinton to Secretary of State speaks volumes of his desire to put the United States relationships with international community back on track,” he said. “It has been an honor and pleasure to work with her on behalf of the people of New York and while we will be losing her as an advocate for our state, the entire United States has gained an extraordinary Secretary of State who knows the world at-large.”

Queens Small Biz Hurt By Credit Crunch by Joseph Orovic - Queens Tribune

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Retail stores in our borough are filled with “Sale” signs and car lots have seen more tumbleweeds than buyers. But for the last four months, the credit crisis’ impact has been intangible.

Finally, a numerical measure has been taken and the results are as distressing as you would expect. Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-Kew Gardens) and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn) released data collected from the United States Small Business Association (SBA). The City’s small businesses suffered a nearly 40 percent drop in guaranteed loans in comparison to last year. Queens took the biggest hit of all five boroughs with a 45 percent decrease. It represents a $48 million drop in funding for entrepreneurs in the borough.

“Access to loans is essential, and in many cases, literally makes the difference between a business that floats and a business that sinks,” Weiner said at a press conference. “These funds need to flow so we can restore confidence in the economy and create jobs.”

In an effort to ease the flow of money, the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department announced a $200 billion dollar program targeting consumer asset backed securities – essentially bundles of debt such as student, car and small business loans guaranteed by SBA. The Fed will lend holders of these securities up to $200 billion and take the debt off companies’ books. It is the Fed and Treasury Department’s first effort in the Federal bailout saga to ease small business woes.

“More needs to be done, but this a move in the right direction,” Velazquez said in a statement reacting to the plan.

But organizations like the Queens Chamber of Commerce remain uncertain about the plans’ prospects. According to the latest Federal Reserve Senior Loan Officer survey, over 75 percent of lenders have raised small business loan standards and over 90 percent have increased the cost.

“If this unloading of securities can free up the credit market, then it’ll certainly help small businesses get funding,” Vice President of the Chamber Jack Friedman said.

Until then, the Chamber and Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) are helping businesses find money from a myriad of sources.

Among them, both organizations are helping entrepreneurs prepare when applying for a loan. Making their business plan and model as attractive as possible may be what makes or breaks a loan deal for many.

“Loan officers are human beings and they go by their gut as much as anything else,” Friedman said.

Both organizations also encourage the use of microlending to give entrepreneurs a booster shot in these difficult times. The loans of up to $50,000 can be a short-term fix until the economic waters grow calmer.

Finally, the QEDC has launched its third annual Start-Up Business Plan Competition. The top-nine winners will share a pie of $29,000. First place gets $15,000, and on down.

“It may not seem like a lot of money, but for a small business getting started it can be a big chunk,” the QEDC’s Entrepreneurial Assistance Program Director Franklin Mora said.

Neither Mora nor Friedman sounded optimistic about the near-future for small businesses in Queens.

No, “Going Out of Business” sales haven’t become omnipresent. But uncertainty is still king.

“We’ll really see the effect of all this in the coming quarter,” Friedman said. “Businesses will fight through the holidays. What happens in January and February, we’ll just have to see.”

Musical Senate Seats? by Matt Hampton - Queens Chronicle

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With President-elect Barack Obama seemingly putting together a Lincoln-esque “team of rivals” in his cabinet, one New York name that has unsurprisingly popped up is Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is reportedly being vetted by a team of attorneys to be the next secretary of state.

If she is tapped for the position and accepts, it will leave a gaping hole in New York’s Senate delegation that Gov. David Paterson will be forced to fill in short order.

Several candidates have been discussed, including current Brooklyn/Queens Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez and New York’s sitting Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

One interesting consideration should also be given to the current make-up of the United States Senate. With the resignation of Obama last weekend, the nation’s highest governing body is currently absent any African-American representation.

Paterson, New York’s first African-American governor, has certainly never been motivated by race in his previous appointments, but the opportunity to essentially legislate diversity at such a crucial period in American history is undoubtedly tempting.

U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks and New York City Comptroller William Thompson Jr., are both viable replacements for Clinton, and well known members of the African-American community. Both have years of big-time experience and proven track records in office.

Selecting Meeks would be an easy transition, as the congressman’s 10 years of Washington experience would allow a relatively seamless switch.

When asked about the possibility, Meeks’ office referred to a recent appearance Meeks made on MSNBC’s Hardball, where Meeks told host Chris Matthews that “my main focus is serving the constituents of the Sixth Congressional District, but if I am asked I will answer the call.”

For Thompson, an appointment to the Senate would mean he gets to avoid what has become a very crowded mayoral field, and a battle against a tough incumbent.

It’s unlikely that Paterson would select a current state senator for the position, considering the delicate balancing act that’s currently taking place with the Democrats’ newly christened majority, though Malcolm Smith’s name has also been mentioned.

Ex-Hillary Clinton Aide Leecia Eve Could Take Over as Senator by Kenneth Lovett - NY Daily News

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Leecia Eve, a former aide to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, is the latest name to surface as a possible replacement if her ex-boss becomes secretary of state.

Former Hillary Clinton aide Leecia Eve may wind up replacing her former boss in the Senate. Putrock for News/Joe Putrock/Daily News

A source close to Gov. Paterson, who would appoint Clinton's successor, and two Democratic operatives say Eve entered the mix in the last two days.

Eve, who is from Buffalo, ran for lieutenant governor in 2006 with the backing of top Harlem pols, including Paterson's father, Basil, and Rep. Charles Rangel.

The daughter of longtime deputy Assembly Speaker Arthur Eve, she dropped out when Eliot Spitzer picked Paterson, then Senate minority leader.

The source said the governor would like someone from upstate - every statewide elected official is from downstate - who is a woman and preferably Hispanic.

Eve could not be reached for comment.

"Leecia has support from Rangel, is someone [senior Sen. Chuck] Schumer could work with, and she was Clinton's counsel so she knows the Senate," a longtime Democratic operative said. "She's seen as a smart pick."

A former Spitzer aide questioned whether Eve has the gravitas to be a senator.

"She speaks well, but we said no as lieutenant governor because we didn't think she was heavy enough or informed enough," the former aide said.

Other upstaters in the hunt include Rep. Brian Higgins of Buffalo and Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, a former Clinton aide from Saratoga Springs.

Downstate New Yorkers mentioned include Rep. Nydia Velazquez, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Rep. Steven Israel of Long Island and Rep. Carolyn Maloney of Manhattan.

klovett@nydailynews.com

Rep. Nydia Velazquez is Front-runner for Senate Seat if Hillary Takes Cabinet Job by Elizabeth Benjamin - MY Daily News

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Rep. Nydia Velazquez, whose district includes parts of Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, is one of the top contenders for Hillary Clinton's Senate seat if she becomes Barack Obama's Secretary of State. Antonelli/News

Rep. Nydia Velazquez is the front-runner - for now, at least - to replace Hillary Clinton if she becomes the next secretary of state, a source close to Gov. Paterson said yesterday.

There are two other top contenders: Rep. Brian Higgins of Buffalo and Rep. Steve Israel of Long Island. Each would help Paterson with key constituencies when he makes his first run in 2010 for the post he inherited from disgraced Gov. Eliot Spitzer - upstaters in Higgins' case and suburbanites in Israel's.

Velazquez offers the tantalizing possibility of killing two political birds with one stone by appealing to Hispanics and women - both critical voting blocs.

"They think she's a twofer," said the source close to Paterson, who would get to pick Clinton's replacement. "She's a woman and a Latina and therefore a home run. He's feeling tremendous pressure in western New York, which he has to win to win the general election. But the closer pressure he's feeling right now is from the Hispanic community."

Picking Velazquez might help Paterson win favor with two members of the so-called Gang of Three who are withholding support from current state Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith and preventing him from becoming the majority leader.

Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. and Sen.-elect Pedro Espada Jr. have made it clear they are upset over the lack of Hispanic representation among the upper echelons of state government. Espada has even floated himself to be majority leader instead of Smith.

In 1992, Velazquez became the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the House. She is the only member of the state's congressional delegation who represents parts of three boroughs: Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.

Velazquez was an outspoken Clinton supporter during the Democratic presidential primary and urged Barack Obama to pick Clinton as his running mate as a means to woo Hispanic voters.

There has been rampant speculation about who might replace Clinton since she emerged last week as a contender to be a member of Obama's cabinet. Paterson can even pick himself, but that is highly unlikely.

Although Paterson Sunday refused to "speculate on something that's not real," he did share some general thoughts with the Daily News about picking a Clinton replacement.

Paterson insisted "no one is in and no one is out." He touted the "great credentials" and Washington experience of his potential 2010 rival, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who was Bill Clinton's housing secretary.

The governor rejected the suggestion that if he did choose Cuomo, it would be to benefit his election chances: "I don't see Andrew as any prospective challenge to me; he's told me time and time again he doesn't want to run against me."

He also said a "qualified upstater" would be valuable "because we don't have a person from upstate that's in our statewide government structure right now."

The governor denied recent claims by Diaz and Espada that he said he would prefer to see a Hispanic Senate majority leader rather than Smith, who, like Paterson, is African-American.

Paterson did say, however, that he felt "at some point it would be a very good opportunity to have a person of Hispanic descent as a city or statewide leader."

ebenjamin@nydailynews.com

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Term Limit Plan Called Totally Un-American by Jonathan P. Hicks - City Room - Metro - New York Times Blog

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Some New Yorkers seem thrilled about the prospect of extending the terms for city officials. Others, however, are unhappy about the idea being proposed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to extend to three, from two, the number of terms a city official can serve. Some are even angry about the proposal.

United States Representative Nydia M. Velázquez falls firmly in that latter category.

“It is totally wrong. It is totally un-American. It is totally undemocratic to overturn the people’s will that has been expressed clearly in two different referendums,” Ms. Velázquez said in an interview outside of Brooklyn Borough Hall this morning. “I reject the notion that, because of the fiscal crisis, we should use this as an opportunity to overturn the people’s will.”

She continued: “New York City is one of the most resilient cities in the nation. It was shown after 9/11, when Giuliani wanted to use the attack as an argument to turn back the people’s will. This would be wrong. It’s morally wrong. And I will pose the question: Is it legal?”

More specifically, Ms. Velázquez said that any changes enacted by the City Council after the two referendums would have to be approved by the United States Department of Justice’s civil rights division, since three of New York’s boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx — are protected under the federal Voting Rights Act.

“I would certainly call into question the validly of any changes that may occur by the City Council without the approval of the Department of Justice,” Ms. Velázquez said. “A change like that would certainly lead me to call into question the potential of the disenfranchisement of minority voters in New York City. And we will be looking into that.”

Ms. Velázquez is a Democrat who represents the sprawling 12th Congressional District that covers parts of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. The district she represents is one where minority residents make up a majority. In fact, her district is nearly 45 percent Hispanic, about 17 percent Asian and just under 10 percent black, with about 27 percent white.

Ms. Velázquez said she is personally opposed to term limits, saying that she believes voters should be able to decide when they no longer want a public official to serve. But she said that the fact that on two separate occasions New Yorkers approved a two-term limit on city officials should have made the views of any one politician irrelevant.

“This has nothing to do with how effective Mayor Bloomberg has been,” she said. “He has been a good mayor. But this is not about one person. This is about what is right.”

EPA Commits to New Series of Tests at Newtown Creek

Newtown Creek Closer to Being Designated a Federal Superfund Site - Weiner and Velazquez Declare Victory

New York City – Representatives Anthony D. Weiner (D-Brooklyn and Queens) and Nydia Velázquez (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens) today announced a significant breakthrough in their efforts to cleanup Newtown Creek, home to the largest coastal oil spill in American history. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has committed to a new series of tests at Newtown Creek, taking any additional necessary samples at four priority sites. If the data demonstrates high levels of toxic chemicals, the entire Newtown Creek area could be designated a federal Superfund site and may be eligible for federal funding of up to 90% of the cleanup costs.

The Superfund program is the federal government's principal program to cleanup the nation's hazardous waste sites. Despite containing an oil spill one and a half times as large as the Exxon Valdez spill, Newtown Creek is not a part of the federal Superfund program and has never been tested by the federal EPA for admission into the nation's Superfund program, until now. Specifically, the EPA has agreed to examine existing data on the four sites and gather the data to fill in any gaps required to consider if the sites should enter the Superfund program, and determine where the site should rank in priority on the Superfund list.

Rep. Weiner, a member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, the House panel with jurisdiction over the Superfund program, together with Subcommittee Chairman Gene Green (D – Texas), Vice Chairwoman Hilda Solis (D – California) and Rep. Velazquez, released a letter to the EPA in July identifying four sites along Newtown Creek for priority federal review, including two former hazardous waste facilities, a former copper smelting plant, and a former coal gasification complex.

Working with the EPA, Reps. Weiner and Velazquez identified four sites as the highest priorities for federal environmental testing in consultation with Riverkeeper, Inc. on the basis of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Attorney General records. State tests have found the following toxic chemicals and heavy metals in the area: cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and mercury, petroleum-related hydrocarbons, an underground plume and/or tanks containing polychlorinated biphenyls and petroleum waste, and up to 70,000 gallons of PCB-laden waste oil and additional amounts of solvents.

To date, an estimated 9.4 million gallons of oil have been cleaned at Newtown Creek. Between 17 and 30 million gallons were spilled over an area which covers 55 to 60 acres. Estimates indicate it will take until at least 2026 to finish the remediation.

“The resources of the EPA will prove indispensable in protecting the creek and its surrounding communities from a legacy of toxic dumping,” said Basil Seggos, Riverkeeper's Chief Investigator. “We owe a debt of gratitude to our congressional representatives for driving this forward. A restored Newtown Creek is within reach."

Rep. Weiner said, “The commitment made by the EPA to test the sites is a big win for Newtown Creek residents. These tests will help us find answers to basic questions about the spill’s health and environmental risks, giving this environmental disaster the national attention it deserves.”

Congresswoman Velázquez said, “The residents around Newtown Creek have had to live with the consequences of this spill for years while the oil companies have lagged in their cleanup responsibilities. The EPA should begin to quickly review these sites and not delay in designating Superfund status to begin remediation. Thirty years is a long time to wait for what should have been a prompt and thorough response to this environmental disaster.”

In 2007, Weiner and Velazquez released the findings of an EPA study of Newtown Creek, which found that the spill may be larger than originally estimated, but left many questions unanswered.

House Reps Explore Ridgewood Reservoir by Jeremy Walsh - Howard Beach Times - YourNabe.com

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U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (r.) descends into the third basin of Ridgewood Reservoir with a rope during a tour of the site Tuesday. Photo by Jeremy Walsh

Opponents of the city Parks Department's plan to convert one basin of the abandoned Ridgewood Reservoir into a ball field got an infusion of federal support when U.S. Reps. Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn) and Edolphus Towns (D-Brooklyn) toured the site Tuesday.

The representatives were enthusiastic about developing the area as parkland, but favored leaving the thick growths of trees at the bottom of the basin intact.

"This community deserves a park like Forest Park, Prospect Park and Central Park," Velazquez said. "I want to make sure this gets done the right way."

"This is an opportunity we should not take lightly," Towns said.

The trip came after City Comptroller William Thompson in June rejected a contract by the city Parks Department to develop one of the three basins into sports fields.

Thompson turned down the $3.3 million contract with architect Mark K. Morrison Associates "to allow additional time for [the] agency to respond to concerns pertaining to potential scope changes due to environmental review certainties and for administrative issues," according to a letter to the Parks Department.

The city plans to retain the 50-acre reservoir's first two basins as a nature preserve.

The electeds were scheduled to be joined by U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Forest Hills), who sent a representative from his office instead. Some 20 members of the public and various preservation groups also attended the tour, joining the politicians as they descended by rope to the bottom of Basin 3.

"We could hear the birds down there. It's just beautiful," Velazquez said after climbing back out. "To think that we could fill that up to make it a ball field amazes me."

In his letter to the Parks Department, Thompson warned the $50 million renovation could damage the reservoir's natural habitat and that the traffic created by the 27,500 truckloads of dirt required to fill the site could cause major congestion.

Borough President Helen Marshall also joined critics of the Parks Department's plan in June, saying the reservoir is currently an excellent place to enjoy nature.

"It's becoming a cadre of elected officials that believe in the Reservoir Alliance's plan and not the mayor's," said Ed Kampermann, who is on the alliance's board of directors.

The reservoir was built in 1858 to supply water to Brooklyn. It was abandoned in 1989 and the 50 acres soon reverted to wetlands and forest.

Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e-mail at jwalsh@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.

Congressmembers Tour Ridgewood Reservoir by Marianne Nash - Queens Courier

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Congressmembers Nydia Velazquez and Edolphus “Ed” Towns visited Highland Park on August 12 to tour the Ridgewood Reservoir, which fell out of use in 1989 but has since developed a diverse variety of species and reverted to woods and wetlands. The two were joined by reporters, community organizers and activists, several of whom were led down into two of the three basins by Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski and the park’s Natural Resources Group Chief Naturalist Mike Feller.

A debate has arisen over whether to preserve the three-basin reservoir or build public ball fields in the third basin, which lacks the diversity and indigenous species of the other two. Mayor Michael Bloomberg's PlaNYC 2030, which allocated $50 million for the Ridgewood Reservoir alone, aims to transform eight underdeveloped park properties into athletic facilities.

“One of the key goals of PlaNYC, the Mayor’s far-reaching plan to fight global warming and create a more livable city, is to ensure that every New Yorker lives within a 10-minute walk of a park or open space. Highland Park in Queens is one of eight large parks being redesigned to help achieve this goal. As with all of these projects, the City holds listening sessions with community residents to incorporate their input. The design of this great park is in the beginning stages - we have not been able to begin the design process or do an environmental assessment without the design contract," said a Department spokesperson.

The Parks Department's design contract was rejected by Comptroller William Thompson, who urged them to consider the environmental implications of the proposal. Thompson also co-wrote an op-ed piece for The New York Times with Robert Kennedy Jr. last May, favoring preservation. Other city politicians have rallied behind the preservation cause, including Borough President Helen Marshall, who testified at a City Council hearing on whether to preserve the reservoir.

Congressmembers Velazquez and Towns supported preserving the three basins, though Velazquez has also called for improvements such as fences and lighting.

“We learned about this in 2007 when the mayor said the city was allocating $50 million for a development project. I was contacted by community residents from both boroughs,” said Velazquez, whose district covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens. “Some people do not want to destroy the ecosystem, so they immediately contacted me and [Towns]. They want the money to improve Highland Park so that it can be used. For the past 20 years, much of Highland Park has fallen into disrepair. Only a small fraction is being used right now.”

Velazquez cites concerns about public safety, there being no working lights neat the reservoir, despite walkers and joggers.

“The city administration should use the funding to preserve and improve the park without destroying the natural ecosystem. The point is to make this reservoir a tourist destination, as well as an education center where schoolchildren can come and learn about the species of birds and trees. There is so much potential for this incredible forest.”

The community organizers on the tour included Paul Kerzner, president of the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association.

“It reinforced what I already knew, which is that the area is pristine. I would like to see the Parks Department build a comfort station, fix the lights and the walking areas. On the Northeast side, there should be another comfort station and parking area. If the Parks Department did just that, that would be the first stage in getting people to use this natural setting.” It was too early, he added, to consider building sports facilities, an idea he called “atrocious.” Instead, he suggested, the reservoir “should be fixed up and brought back to its original splendor.”

Forum News: Officials Tour Reservoir and Push to Preserve Wilderness by Nicole Turso

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A forgotten reservoir reclaimed by the wilderness has become a natural wildlife and flora preserve where residents, community groups and elected officials gathered on Tuesday for a tour and to petition for its integrity.



The Ridgewood Reservoir, on the Queens and Brooklyn border, was decommissioned in 1990 after serving as a back-up water supply from 1858 through 1959. Once the three basins were drained, decades of neglect allowed for natural forests, fields and wetlands to form—now home to at least 127 species of birds as well as mammals, reptiles and a variety of native plants.

In 2004, Mayor Michael Bloomberg transferred the 50 acres of wilderness to the city Parks Department and a $50 million “renovation” project was put into place, which would convert more than 20 acres of land into athletic fields and recreational facilities for the neighboring communities.

However, many community activists and government officials believe the reservoir would serve better as a nature preserve for environmental study in an urban area that does not have such natural luxuries. Some argue the money would be better spent renovating existing ballfields at adjacent Highland Park.

“We have a gem here in the reservoir that many people in the community, as evidence here, want to preserve,” said community activist David Quintana.

Highland Park, located directly across from the reservoir, is equipped to provide the same recreation planned in the renovation project—with two baseball fields, several basketball and volleyball courts and picnic areas.

According to the Highland Park/Ridgewood Reservoir Alliance, the park is in desperate need of renovation and repair—an issue the alliance and activists have brought to the attention of city officials.

Congressman Edolphus Towns (D-Brooklyn), Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn/Queens), Queens Borough Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski and representatives of Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-Queens), Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum and State Senator Serf Maltese (R-Glendale) attended the reservoir tour on Tuesday to survey the basins in their current condition.

“This park here contains an ecosystem that we must protect, we must enhance and we must preserve,“said Rep. Velazquez, “We must come together to work to make sure that we do what is right on behalf of the community and behalf of the park.”

“There are a lot of parks here that can be upgraded [that] have been for too long neglected,” she explained. “I can tell you that if the city, the state and the federal government come together, we can assure you that we will fight to get the resources that we need to have the parks that we can all be proud of.”

The group set out to tour the reservoir and was informed that in order to reach basin three, one of three basins at the reservoir, the congressional representatives would have to repel down the side of the basin on a long, rather thin rope.

“I hope that rope is strong,” Rep. Towns joked.

A flash of apprehension crossed Rep. Velazquez’s face before her descent, but she, along with nine other members of the party made it down safely and arrived back at the top of the basin, triumphant looks on their faces.

As the group toured the rest of the basins, which were drained in the 1960’s through the 1980’s, it was given an idea as to what renovations must be completed to make the reservoir into a useable facility. Both basins one and three have become natural forests, while basin two, though drained, fills with water as a natural marsh.

Broken lampposts—shattered—with shards of what used to be lighting fixtures, poison ivy coiling around trees and original wrought iron fences, and uninviting entry ways make the reservoir unappealing to onlookers—but a secret garden of sorts for those inside.

“You just cannot buy this—the experience,” said Rep. Velazquez. Renovation ideas tossed around between the elected officials and Parks Department personnel along the walk included taller lampposts less prone to damage and vandals and the use of solar energy as a more eco-conscious way of lighting paths at night.

Three design consultants created conceptual plans for the renovation and redesign of the reservoir based on preliminary analysis for the city. A contract with Mark K. Morrison Associates Ltd. (MMA) was submitted by the Parks Department as a project to help combat raising rates of childhood obesity and focused on developing athletic fields.

However, the contract was rejected by city Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. and returned to the Parks Department with concerns about the environmental impact, increased truck traffic and the vendor selection process. Parks is now reportedly working on a contract with a different firm, EDAW, which prides itself on balancing “aesthetic, environmental and social goals.”

Also supporting the preservation of the reservoir as a natural area are local community boards in both Brooklyn and Queens, the Queens Civic Congress and a number of community organizations.

Even with the overwhelming support to preserve the reservoir’s wilderness, Rep. Towns is still calling on the surrounding communities and their residents to continue their efforts, despite obstacles.

“It’s going to require working together, and it’s going to require a lot of talking and a lot of meetings, and of course it’s going to require some negotiating,” Towns explained, “I’m committed to working with you to make certain that we have the resources to do this, there’s no question about it.”

Towns summed up the feelings of many residents fighting for the preservation of the reservoir when he addressed the crowd. To a chorus of applause and laughter, representative Towns shared an anecdote: “I received a phone call asking me ‘Where are you? I’ll call you from the park.’ I said, ‘I live in Highland Park, I’m already there.’”

Photo: Congressman Edolphus Towns and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez discuss the future of the Ridgewood Reservoir during a recent tour.

The Forum Newsgroup/photos by NICOLE TURSO

Highland Way: Leadership To Rebuild - Rep Nydia Velazquez and Rep Ed Towns Visit Highland Park and Ridgewood Reservoir...

Rep Nydia Velazquez and Rep Ed Towns visited Highland Park and the Ridgewood Reservoir with community leaders, residents, environmentalists, education/school advocates and Parks Dept officials...

Rep Nydia Velazquez speaks to the tour participants...(from left Rep Ed Towns, Dennis Moore, Rep Velazquez, me, Roger, William McDonald and Alphonso Cater)

Rep Ed Towns talking to the crowd...from left Paul Kerzner, Rep Ed Towns, Debbie Kuha, me & Rep Velazquez....

Photo from left Ed Kampermann, Ed Town, Carlos Bristol, me, Dennis Moore and Nydia Velazquez...

From left...Gene Burch -Senator Serphin Maltese Community Laison -, me and Randy LaFargue - Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum Community Laison...

Darma Diaz - Assemblyman Darryl Towns - Community Laison

Tony Mammita, Ed Towns and Dennis Moore...

Repelling into the Reservoir basin...

Within Basin 3 confines..from left Mike Feller - Parks Dept Chief Naturalist -, Joel Kupferman (Attorney, New York Environmental Law and Justice Project), Rep Velazquez, Gary Comorau, Rob Jett and Darma Diaz...

Group photo at the end of the tour...

You Tube Video by Samihighlander...
Photos by William McDonald and Evelyn Cruz (date-stamped pics)...

Highland Park/Ridgewood Reservoir Tour by Congressional Delegation of Rep Velazquez, Rep Towns and Rep Weiner - Tuesday August 12th - 9 AM

Three members of the local congressional delegation will be touring the Ridgewood Reservoir located in Highland Park on Tuesday, August 12^th at 9am with the Highland Park/Ridgewood Reservoir Alliance, local community members, environmentalists and community leaders...(See attached Press Release from member of Congress Representative Nydia Velazquez)

The local members of the House of Representatives attending will be Representative Nydia Velazquez, Representative Edolphus "Ed" Towns and Representative Anthony D. Weiner...

Click on image to enlarge

Press Release: Weiner, Velazquez Call for Newtown Creek to be Designated as a Federal Superfund Site

Newtown May Be Eligible for $15 Million in Federal Funding - Up to 90% of the Average Cleanup Costs

Lead, Mercury, Cancer-Causing Agents, Heavy Metals among Chemicals Cited

New York City - Newtown Creek, home to the largest coastal oil spill in American history, could soon be designated as a federal Superfund site and receive federal clean up support, according to Representatives Anthony D. Weiner (D - Brooklyn and Queens) and Nydia Velazquez (D - Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens). The Representatives released a letter to the federal Environmental Protection Agency today, calling on them to conduct preliminary tests at Newtown Creek. If these environmental tests find high levels of toxic chemicals, the entire Newtown Creek area could be included on the federal Superfund list and may be eligible for federal funding of up to 90% of the cleanup costs. Based on the average Superfund site cleanup cost, this could be up to an estimated $15 million in federal funding.

The Superfund program is the federal government's principal program to clean up the nation's hazardous waste sites Despite containing an oil spill one and a half times as large as the Exxon Valdez spill, Newtown Creek is not a part of the federal Superfund program and has never been tested by the federal EPA for admission into the nation's Superfund program.

To date, an estimated 9.4 million gallons of oil have been cleaned at Newtown Creek. Between 17 and 30 million gallons were spilled over an area which covers 55 to 60 acres. Estimates indicate it will take until at least 2026 to finish the remediation.

Rep. Weiner, a member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, the House panel with jurisdiction over the Superfund program, together with Subcommittee Chairman Gene Green (D - Texas), Vice Chairwoman Hilda Solis (D - California) and Rep. Velazquez, today released a letter to the EPA identifying four sites along Newtown Creek for priority federal review, including two former hazardous waste facilities, a former copper smelting plant, and a former coal gasification complex.

The designation would trigger a lengthy four-point process. First, the site would undergo immediate stabilization, which includes a one-year clean up to stop any immediate threats to the community, if necessary, such as erecting a security fence or repairing a hazardous waste storage unit. Then the EPA would perform a comprehensive investigation of the site and analyze cleanup options Traditionally this takes months to years. The EPA would then work to develop a plan to clean up the site On average this takes 2 years. Finally, the EPA would clean up the site, or force responsible parties to clean up the site. On average, the cleanup process takes 8-11 years.

The federal Superfund program, created in 1980 in response to the presence of chemical waste in the groundwater and even basements of neighborhood homes and an elementary school in upstate New York, gave the government the authority to take direct action to clean up uncontrolled hazardous chemicals that are endangering public health or the environment. Superfund also provides the government with the authority to compel responsible parties to clean up contaminated sites.

Funding for the Superfund, however, has dropped from a recent high of $3.8 billion in 1997 to only $178 million in 2007. The drop in funding is the result of expired taxes on the oil and chemical industries as well as an expired corporate environmental income tax in 1995.

In order to be considered for the Superfund program, the EPA performs preliminary tests to decide if the site poses a threat, and where the site should rank in priority on the Superfund list While some parts of the Newtown site are being addressed by state Superfund cleanups, there has not been any federal testing or consideration to date for admission into the federal Superfund program.

Working with the EPA, Weiner and Velazquez identified four sites as the highest priorities for federal environmental testing in consultation with Riverkeeper, Inc. on the basis of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Attorney General records State tests have found the following toxic chemicals and heavy metals in the area: cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and mercury, petroleum-related hydrocarbons, an underground plume and/or tanks containing polychlorinated biphenyls and petroleum waste, and up to 70,000 gallons of PCBs-laden waste oil and additional amounts of solvents.

Rep. Weiner said, "While the oil companies lag in their cleanup responsibilities, the health and safety of Newtown Creek's residents hang in the balance. Testing these four sites will help us find answers to basic questions about the spill's health risks and give this national environmental disaster national attention."

"It's time for the EPA to acknowledge what the people who live here already know: the contamination of Newtown Creek is nothing short of a human tragedy," Congresswoman Velázquez said "The EPA should use its strongest tools possible to begin remediation The time to act is now."

"Riverkeeper continues to fully support Congressman Weiner's and Congresswoman Velasquez's efforts to ensure a comprehensive cleanup of Newtown Creek," said Basil Seggos, Chief Investigator and Hudson River Program Director. "Listing Newtown Creek as a Superfund site would undoubtedly bring us closer toward realizing our shared vision for cleaner waterways and greener communities."

In 1978, the Newtown Creek spill was originally estimated at 17 million gallons - one and a half times larger than Exxon Valdez. Evidence of the spill has been found across 55 acres, seeping into the Creek and settling under homes and businesses in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

It is the single most polluted waterway in New York City, a legacy left by more than a century of heavy industrial activity.

In April 2008, the House of Representatives passed language to fully map the Newtown Creek oil spill. The provision requires new field testing and will create a three-dimensional study of the plume location, detailing - for the first time ever - the extent of the Newtown Creek's groundwater, soil, and vapor contamination. Pending Senate passage, the study, the biggest, most comprehensive data
collection to date, would also be completed by the EPA.

In 2007, Weiner and Velazquez released the findings of an EPA study of Newtown Creek, which found that the spill may be larger than originally estimated, but left many questions unanswered.

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