News and Notes from Rep Anthony Weiner (NY-9th)

Social Security Administration Targets Glendale Office for Closure

Weiner, Velazquez Call for Branch to Remain Open

On Tuesday, outside the Glendale Social Security office that is set to shut its doors on July 15^th, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D – Queens and Brooklyn), joined by concerned residents, senior citizens and representatives of local elected officials, called on the Social Security Administration to keep the Glendale office open, so that residents of Central Queens won’t be denied access to the vital services it provides

Today, with the Social Security office located in Glendale set to close its doors this summer, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D – Queens and Brooklyn) and Rep. Nydia Velazquez urged the agency to keep the Glendale office open, so that residents in large swaths of Central Queens won’t be denied access to the vital services it provides.

Two weeks ago, in what it described as an effort to save money, the Social Security Administration announced to local elected officials and community leaders that the Glendale office, located at 67-10 Myrtle Avenue, would be scheduled to shut its doors on July 15^th. In the process, thousands of residents who rely upon the office, including seniors and retired and disabled residents, would be left without access to many of the important services provided by the agency.

From assisting with claims for retirement benefits, to helping with Medicare enrollment and applying for Social Security, the Glendale office provides a vital service to those who rely upon it the most. The office ensures that thousands of residents in neighborhoods like Glendale, Ridgewood, Maspeth, Fresh Pond and Middle Village receive the benefits they not only deserve, but have earned over a lifetime of hard work.

Weiner is calling on the agency to forestall the closure of the Glendale office, so that the community’s large senior population as well as disabled residents will not be forced to travel all the way to Rego Park for another Social Security office.

Weiner is also committed to working with the agency to help find an alternative, easily-accessible location that would allow the agency to keep its presence in the Central Queens community and ensure that seniors and residents of Central Queens continue to have access to the essential services the office provides.

“My older neighbors rely on Social Security to be the impressive and successful program that it is, and accessibility to an office that provides information and help about their benefits is vital,” Weiner said in a letter to Beatrice Disman, Regional Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. “I urge you to keep the current office open or to find a new, easily-accessible location for an office in the area.”

“The Social Security office in Glendale is part of the community’s fabric. Closing it would increase the time it takes for citizens to resolve problems, have new claims processed and obtain approval for benefits,” said Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez.

As baby boomers continue to reach the retirement age, the number of seniors in neighborhoods like Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ridgewood and others who require assistance from the Social Security Administration, will invariably grow. Closing the Glendale Social Security office would only prevent the needs of thousands of residents throughout Central Queens from being met.

Full text of Rep. Weiner’s letter below:

May 12, 2011

Ms. Beatrice Disman

Regional Commissioner

Social Security Administration

26 Federal Plaza

New York, New York 10278-0004

Dear Ms. Disman,

I have been contacted by many of my constituents regarding the Social Security Administration's plan to close its office at 67-10 Myrtle Avenue in Glendale, which is the closest Social Security office to residents of Glendale, Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village and Fresh Pond.

This office provides essential services to many members of these communities, including many of my retired and disabled constituents. Removing it would reduce access to Social Security for those who need it the most. My older neighbors rely on Social Security to be the impressive and successful program that it is, and accessibility to an office that provides information and help about their benefits is vital.

I urge you to keep the current office open or to find a new, easily-accessible location for an office in the area. If a new location is necessary, I would be happy to offer my assistance in finding one. Thank you in advance for your prompt attention and reply to this matter.

Sincerely,

ANTHONY D. WEINER

Member of Congress

On AIDS Walk Day, Weiner, Gottfried & Advocacy Groups Call on FDA

to Permit Sales of Over-the-Counter Rapid HIV Tests

Nearly 300,000 Infected Americans Unaware of Situation

Outside of Beth Israel Hospital on AIDS Walk Day, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D – Queens and Brooklyn), joined by Assembly Member Richard Gottfried (D – Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, and representatives from advocacy groups committed to advancing HIV/AIDS prevention, displayed an easy-to-use oral rapid HIV kit. Weiner and Gottfried called on the FDA to allow the kits to be sold over the counter to ease access to testing for the thousands of New Yorkers who are currently unaware they are infected.

Yesterday, on AIDS Walk Day, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D – Queens and Brooklyn), Assembly Member Richard Gottfried (D – Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, and representatives from advocacy groups committed to advancing HIV/AIDS prevention, including Tracy Welsh, Executive Director of HIV Law Project, and Peter Pavich, Executive Director of Queens Pride House, called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve the sale of over-the-counter rapid HIV tests, which would ease access to testing for the nearly 300,000 Americans and thousands of New Yorkers who currently are unaware they are infected.

Rapid HIV tests are both simple and effective. Using a mouth swab or a finger prick, individuals can know their preliminary HIV status within minutes – with greater than 99% sensitivity. Currently, there are four FDA-approved low complexity rapid HIV tests commercially available in the United States; however, they all require a laboratory license in order to purchase them.

Weiner is calling on the FDA to make rapid HIV tests available to everyday Americans by allowing both over-the-counter sales and free distribution of tests directly to individuals. Rapid HIV tests would provide Americans the ability to conduct tests in the comfort of their home and encourage testing by offering privacy and reducing perceived stigma.

Even on the 30^th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic, the need for increased HIV testing has never been greater. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that up to 1.2 million people in the U.S. currently have HIV, and nearly 1 in 4 do not know they are even infected. In fact, two-thirds of new HIV infections are caused by people who are unaware they are infected.

In New York City alone, more than 107,000 New Yorkers are living with HIV – and thousands more don't know they are infected. According to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the AIDS case rate in the City is almost 3 times the national average, and HIV is the 3rd leading cause of death for New York City residents aged 35 to 54.

In a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg, Weiner said “Many medical professionals and HIV/AIDS groups support the approval of OTC rapid HIV tests, including the AIDS Institute, the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, and the National Minority AIDS Council. Given the critical need for increased HIV testing, it simply doesn’t make sense to keep OTC rapid HIV tests off the market.”

"It's vital for people who are HIV-positive to know their status as soon as possible, so they can begin treatment and avoid infecting others," said Assembly Health Committee chair Richard N. Gottfried.

While the Center for Disease Control claims that self-testing is not currently recommended because of counseling concerns, HIV/AIDS advocates and test manufacturers say that easy-to-read inserts in home test kits can educate users about HIV transmission, prevention, and the possibility of false positives and negatives. Additionally, a 24-hour 800 hotline can provide psychological and medical counseling to self-testers who receive HIV positive results.

Full text of Rep. Weiner’s letter below:

May 15, 2011

Dr. Margaret Hamburg

Commissioner

Food and Drug Administration

10903 New Hampshire Ave
Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002

Dear Dr. Hamburg,

I write to urge you to accelerate the approval process for over-the-counter (OTC) rapid HIV tests. There is a critical need to expand HIV testing in order to reduce the number of people who are unaware of their HIV status. Approving OTC rapid HIV tests would tear down unnecessary barriers that currently keep people from getting tested.

Rapid HIV tests are simple and effective. Using a mouth swab or a finger prick, individuals can know their preliminary HIV status within minutes. Currently, there are four FDA-approved low-complexity rapid HIV tests commercially available in the US. All are simple to use, show results in under 20 minutes, and have greater than 99.3% sensitivity. However, these tests can currently only be administered by a licensed organization or individual, creating an unfortunate roadblock to the goal of wider HIV testing. Even the sole FDA-approved “at home” HIV test requires individuals to wait several days before calling a laboratory to receive their results.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly two-thirds of new HIV infections may have been unknowingly caused by individuals who were unaware of their HIV status. The requirement that individuals must be tested by a licensed third party acts as a barrier to testing, even where anonymity is assured. Especially in smaller communities, anonymity does not necessarily ensure privacy. There is good reason to believe that some individuals who would otherwise test themselves for HIV avoid clinics and outreach centers because of the perceived stigma involved.

Studies have shown that individuals can both administer rapid HIV tests and interpret their results appropriately. Concerns about user education can be addressed by easy-to-read informational inserts in the test kits that inform about false negatives, false positives, and the need for confirmatory testing. Counseling concerns can be addressed by providing a 24-hour toll free hotline for psychological and medical referrals.

Many medical professionals and HIV/AIDS groups support the approval of OTC rapid HIV tests, including the AIDS Institute, the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, and the National Minority AIDS Council. Given the critical need for increased HIV testing, it simply doesn’t make sense to keep OTC rapid HIV tests off the market. I therefore urge you to accelerate the FDA’s approval process for OTC rapid HIV tests and set a firm deadline by which these tests will be available to the public.

Thank you for considering this critical issue.

Sincerely,

ANTHONY D. WEINER

Member of Congress

Weiner Addresses Roll Call of 112^th Precinct

On Monday at the NYPD’s 112^th Precinct in Queens, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D – Queens and Brooklyn) addressed officers during roll call, where he thanked them for their ongoing commitment to fighting crime and helping the community

Weiner, Nadler Introduce Legislation to Re-route Osama Bin Laden Reward Money to 9/11 First Responders, Families & Survivors

If Bounty Isn't Paid, Bin Laden Victims Should Get It

Outside of World Trade Center 7 on Sunday, Reps. Anthony Weiner (D – Queens and Brooklyn) and Jerrold Nadler (D – Manhattan and Queens), joined by family members of 9/11 victims, announced legislation to redirect the $50 million bounty for the capture of Osama bin Laden, which the White House declared will likely never be paid, to organizations that help 9/11 survivors, families and first responders.

On Sunday, Reps. Anthony Weiner (D – Queens and Brooklyn) and Jerrold Nadler (D – Manhattan and Brooklyn) announced legislation that would award the bounty of up to $50 million approved by Congress for the capture of Osama Bin Laden, which many news reports indicate may never be distributed, to be instead distributed amongst organizations that provide service or aid to 9/11 first responders, families and survivors.

The Rewards for Justice Program, established in 1984 and administered by the State Department, established a bounty of up to $25 million in 2001 to help bring Bin Laden to justice. In 2004, Congress passed legislation providing the Secretary of State up to $50 million to award at his or her discretion to those who provided information leading to the capture of Bin Laden.

Now, following his death, U.S. officials are unsure whether the bounty of up to $50 million will be paid because his whereabouts were pieced together from various bits of information, leaving no single person responsible for putting investigators on his trail.

Weiner and Nadler’s legislation would redirect the funds to organizations that assist first responders, families, and survivors who were affected by the tragedy at Ground Zero.

“If the bounty isn’t paid, Osama Bin Laden’s victims should get it,” Weiner said. “I can think of no better recipient than those organizations which have committed themselves to helping first responders, their families and survivors whose lives have been forever affected by Bin Laden’s actions.”

"Because there is likely no awardee for the $50 million bounty for Osama bin Laden’s capture, those funds should now be used in support of the thousands of 9/11 families, responders and survivors," said Nadler. "I urge the State Department to distribute the reward money to established organizations and institutions which provide services and programs to the 9/11 community."

NY Delegation Split On Tax Cut Vote by Liz Benjamin - Capital Tonight

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Members of the New York delegation were sharply divided on last night’s 277-148 vote to pass the tax cut deal President Obama brokered with the Republicans, with the more liberal members making good on pledges to oppose the measure.

Not surprisingly, the three lone Republicans – Chris Lee, Pete King and the newest House member, Tom Reed – voted “yes.” (They’ll soon be joined by five GOP freshmen, a number of whom have said they would have voted in the affirmative had they been given the chance).

All of the outgoing Democrats also voted “yes,” even if they lean toward the left, which I found interesting.

Here’s how the NY vote broke down:

YES: Arcuri, Bishop, Crowley, Hall, Higgins, Israel, King, Lee, Lowey, Maffei, Maloney, McMahon, Meeks, Murphy, Owens.

NO: Ackerman, Clarke, Engel, Hinchey, Nadler, Rangel, Serrano, Slaughter, Tonko, Towns, Velazquez, Weiner.

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, a Long Island Democrat, was one of eight House members who didn’t vote.

Police Badges of 29 NYPD Officers Who Died from 9/11-related Diseases Come to Nation’s Capital as Senate Prepares to Consider 9/11 Health Bill

Senator Gillibrand, NYPD Commissioner Kelly Unveil Week Long Exhibition

Leading Up to Historic Senate Vote, Gillibrand Brings 29 Police Shields of Fallen Heroes To Washington To Lie In Repose For One Week In Russell Rotunda

Lead Sponsor of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health Bill, Gillibrand Working to Secure More Republican Support This Week

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Jerrold Badler viewing the NYC police badges on display in Washington, DC

U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer, together with U.S. Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Peter King, Anthony Weiner, and New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly today stood with labor leaders and 9/11 survivors, family members and advocates to unveil a special exhibition of police badges belonging to members of the New York City Police Department who assisted in rescue efforts at Ground Zero and later died from 9/11-related illnesses.

The first exhibition of its kind, the 29 badges are intended to attract Republican support for the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which will likely be brought up for debate in the Senate this month. In partnership with the NYPD, Senator Gillibrand brought the shields to Washington, DC to highlight the human toll of 9/11-related illnesses and the importance of passing the legislation during the lame duck session.

“These badges are much more than a symbol of the men and women we’ve lost. These shields should serve as a call to action – a call for us to do what’s right and pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act now,” Senator Gillibrand said. “The men and women who lived through 9/11 and came to our rescue on that day were not Democrats or Republicans or Independents – they were Americans. Now we have a duty to provide them the health care and compensation they and their family need. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act fulfills our moral obligation to the brave men and women who did not think twice before risking their lives in service to our country. They were bound by duty and a love of our nation and a love of their fellow Americans. They joined hand in hand with heroes like them from every corner of America to come to our rescue and help us turn toward a path to recovery.”

The New York lawmakers were joined by leaders from the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association, Lieutenants Benevolent Association, Captains Endowment Fund, Detectives Endowment Association, the New York City Police Museum, and representatives of Community Board 1.

The badges, which come from the New York City Police Museum, will be housed in the Russell Senate Office Building next to the U.S. Capitol. This is the first time that such an exhibition has traveled outside of New York City. In addition to the shields, selected work from New York City courtroom artist Aggie Kenny, will also be on display. Kenny’s moving sketches depict the first responders who worked, lived, ate, and slept at the burning ruin of the former WTC site.

The 29 badges belonged to the following members of the NYPD:

Detective	Sandra Adrian	New York, NY
Police Officer	Thomas G. Brophy	Smithtown, NY
Police Officer	Madeline Carlo	Bronx, NY
Police Officer	Daniel C. Conroy	Smithtown, NY
Police Officer	Renee Dunbar	Hempstead, NY
Captain	Edward C. Gilpin	Manalapan, NJ
Police Officer	James J. Godbee	New York, NY
Sergeant	Claire T. Hanrahan	Whitestone, NY
Detective	Kevin A. Hawkins	Staten Island, NY
Police Officer	Robert B. Helmke	Hauppauge, NY
Detective	William J. Holfester	Mastic Beach, NY
Police Officer	Louise M. Johnston	Brooklyn, NY
Police Officer	Vito S. Mauro	Brooklyn, NY
Police Officer	Gary G. Mausberg	Floral Park, NY
Police Officer	Christopher S. McMurry	Orangeburg, NY
Lieutenant	Brian S. Mohamed	Mt. Vernon, NY
Detective	Michael P. Morales	Staten Island, NY
Police Officer	Robert Nicosia	Wantagh, NY
Police Officer	Patrice M. Ott	Pearl River, NY
Police Officer	Angelo Peluso	Staten Island, NY
Lieutenant	Gerald Rex	Staten Island, NY
Detective	Roberto L. Rivera	New York, NY
Sergeant	Michael W. Ryan	Smithtown, NY
Sergeant	Edward D. Thompson	Staten Island, NY
Police Officer	Ronald E. Weintraub	Holbrook, NY
Detective	Robert W. Williamson	Nanuet, NY
Inspector	Richard D. Winter	Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Detective	John T. Young	Highland Mills, NY
Detective	James Zadroga	White Plains, NY

“This powerful exhibit reminds us that the attacks of September 11th were, first and foremost, attacks upon America,” said New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. “Those who responded heroically that day and in the months that followed did so on behalf of the entire nation. And as a nation we owe them and their families our support.”

“In the past two weeks I’ve attended funeral services for two New York City police officers who died from toxic exposure while responding to the nation’s call on 9/11,” said Patrick J. Lynch, President of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. “More NYC police officers have now died since the attack than were killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center. Twenty-threeofficers died in the collapse and 30 have died since. And there are 84 more NYC police officers fighting gallantly for their lives as we stand here today. These men and women didn’t question or debate when their nation called them to duty, they responded. America owes them and their families a debt. It is time for the US Senate to stand up and do what is right and cast their vote in favor of the Zadroga bill.”

“The time to pass the legislation is now,” says Mike Palladino, President of the Detectives Endowment Fund. “Detective Zadroga was the first , but won’t be the last to succumb to a 9/11 related illness. Many first responders are counting on the medical monitoring and treatment this bill would provide.”

“Nine years ago local law enforcement was called upon to be the first line of defense for our country as the United States was attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001,” said Roy T. Richter, President of the Captains Endowment Association. “The days, weeks and months after September 11th were spent restoring order to our nation and searching for our colleagues and fellow citizens trapped in the wreckage of the World Trade Center. We worked in a toxic environment of airborne toxins, burning rubble and pulverized structures without adequate safety equipment. Today tens of thousands of first responders are dying from the exposure to these toxins having sacrificed their health for our country. Their sacrifice should not be forgotten by our country. I urge the Senate to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act to provide much needed care and coordination of medical treatment to those who came to the defense of the United States in its time of need.”

“Nothing should be more important to our elected officials than getting The James Zadroga 9/11 Healthcare and Compensation Act passed by the Senate," said Ed Mullins, the President of the New York City Sergeants Benevolent Association, whose 11,000 members make it the fifth largest police union in the country. "A total of 23 NYPD and 37 Port Authority police officers were killed on 9/11, but the number of police officers who are seriously ill or have since died from ailments associated with their rescue and recovery efforts is much greater than that. There is no end in sight to the ever-growing list of 9/11 casualties. While I applaud Senator Gillibrand and the other elected officials who have worked hard to get this bill passed, it is disheartening and downright disappointing to know that some of their colleagues are using these selfless heroes as political pawns. If there was ever a case for bipartisan politics, this is it. It's about time that everyone involved put politics aside and just did the right thing."

“The New York City Police Museum is honored to be sharing the heroism of the first responders and the important work they did in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001,” said Julie Bose, Executive Director of the New York City Police Museum. “Our entire nation is indebted to them for their service.”

“It is unconscionable that numerous responders have become ill and died during the period that this bill has languished,” said Catherine McVey Hughes of Manhattan Community Board 1. “For the sake of all responders and survivors sickened as a result of the WTC collapse, the US Senate must pass the 9/11 Health Bill in this session.”

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act in September with bipartisan support from 17 Republican Representatives. The bill was immediately sent to the U.S. Senate, where, at Senator Gillibrand’s request, the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid invoked Senate Rule 14 Process, which fast tracked the bill for floor consideration, bypassing the much longer and uncertain committee consideration process that the vast majority of bills undergo.

While this process does not guarantee consideration or passage, it does remove obstacles, including a lengthy committee process that can stall the bill for months, or kill it before it is brought to the floor.

**Out of the 29 badges displayed, 2 badges belong to officers from Queens who helped in 9/11 rescue efforts and later passed away. Their names are:

Sergeant	Claire T. Hanrahan	Whitestone, NY
Police Officer	Gary G. Mausberg	Floral Park, NY

Towns, Longtime Congressman, Will Run Again by Gary Buiso - The Brooklyn Paper

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Rep. Ed Towns is hoping 15 is his lucky number.

Surrounded by family, friends and lawmakers, Towns (D-Fort Greene) this week announced his re-election campaign on the steps of Borough Hall, his 15th such announcement in a decades-long political career.

At the event, presided over by his son and heir apparent, Assemblyman Darryl Towns (D–Bushwick), the refrain sounded straight out of 1982 — the year America fell in love with an alien with a taste for Reese’s Pieces.

“We want ET! We want ET!” the crowd chanted.

But the cheers were for a more human ET — Towns, who began his first term as representative of the 10th Congressional District just one year after the sci-fi blockbuster, a career critics charge has been largely unremarkable, but boosted most recently by his selection as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, a role that has given him national visibility.

On Monday, Towns was energized under a hot sun in a light gray suit and pink tie, pledging to unite a district that is home to the borough’s richest and poorest residents.

“We must come together!” Towns said.

Specifics were in short supply, but Towns said he planned to focus on promoting job growth, and pressuring banks that were rescued during the Great Recession to begin loaning money to businesses and individuals.

“Through this working-together-process, we can do better,” the lawmaker said.
Towns was introduced by former borough president Howard Golden, clad in a comfortable T-shirt and sweatpants. Back in 1976, Golden hired Towns to be his deputy borough president.

Colleagues heaped praise on the longtime lawmaker.

“He represents core Democratic ideals,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-Coney Island), who pointed to Towns’s “fighting for the most vulnerable” of his district by working to preserve affordable housing. “Change is a wonderful thing — sometimes,” Nadler said to laughs.

But his 2008 opponent was less generous.

“I am sure there was a time that Mr. Towns was an engaged leader in Brooklyn,” said Kevin Powell, the former MTV-reality star and community organizer who pledged to take on Towns again this fall. “He is still operating in an old paradigm of machine politics — that he will [one day] pass the seat long to his son. That is not acceptable and that is not democracy.

“He has been purposefully invisible in the district, except to the handful of voters he needs to get elected every couple of years,” Powell continued.

In 2008, Towns defeated Powell in the primary with 67 percent of the vote compared to the challenger’s 33 percent.

“You can’t be invisible for 25 years in a district and expect to be elected again and again — that’s just insanity,” scoffed Towns spokesman Julian Phillips, who pointed to Towns’s support of a $60-million renovation of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, support of health care reform, and gun control as proof of his boss’s keen ear for his constituent’s concerns.

Supporters said they appreciated Towns’s everyman quality.

“He is a congressman you can speak to,” said Bedford-Stuyvesant resident Cecil Bruce.

Critics Drill Gov. Paterson on Water Plan by Adam Lisberg - NY Daily News

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Protesters gather at City Hall Monday to speak out against Gov. Paterson's plan for natural gas drilling upstate. Stapleton/Reuters

Gov. Paterson should dump the plan to allow toxic natural-gas drilling upstate and take a fresh look at the risks it would pose to city water, critics said Monday.

'We believe that it is too risky - that it is wrong - to subject not just the water supply of New York City, but of surrounding areas and the entire state, to something this risky,' said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan).

The state Department of Environmental Conservation says new drilling techniques can unlock huge reserves of natural gas trapped in an underground rock formation called the Marcellus Shale.

It claimed last fall it can safely monitor the toxic chemicals and heavy environmental impacts of 'hydraulic fracturing,' which would generate billions of dollars worth of jobs and business - as well as millions of dollars in state taxes.

The critics say it would be unthinkable to allow that drilling in the city's upstate watershed that serves unfiltered drinking water to 9 million New Yorkers.

'This is gas drilling Rambo-style, and it has to be controlled by the federal government,' said James Gennaro, chairman of the City Council's environmental protection committee.

The state's plan devotes less than two pages to protecting city reservoirs and water tunnels upstate.

Mayor Bloomberg's administration has come out strongly against gas drilling, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contends Paterson's plan overlooks health risks.

Paterson's office said the DEC will carefully consider reactions to its plan, and said he 'is fully committed to protecting New York's environment and its drinking water.'

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.”

Rockaway Ferries to Chug Soon by Adam Lisberg - NY Daily News

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A new ferry service starting next week will offer Rockaways commuters a $6 ride to Wall Street - part of an expansion of ferry service that city officials hope will get commuters off the streets and onto the East River.

"It's going to replace hours spent in traffic with a beautiful ride along New York's coastline," Mayor Bloomberg said at a ferry dock in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. "Ferries are going to become an even bigger part of our city's transportation network."

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) earlier this year called for ferry service in all five boroughs and said new service to Long Island City, Queens, and South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, will begin in July.

Planners expect 250 riders a day will ride the boat to and from Riis Landing in the Rockaways, paying $6 each way on top of any bus or subway fares.

"This fare of $6 is probably the lowest ferry fare we've ever seen in the city," Quinn said. "Our goal here is to make this ferry service available to as many New Yorkers as possible."

Previous attempts to run ferries have failed because of high costs and limited schedules, but Bloomberg and Quinn said increased subsidies and a new push for transportation alternatives are making ferries more attractive.

"If nobody uses the ferries, they're not going to survive, no matter what anybody promises you. If everybody uses them, they will keep growing," Bloomberg said. "Society can't keep providing things that aren't used."

City Councilman Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) has pushed for Rockaways ferry service for years, squirreling away $1.1 million in the city budget to subsidize the two-year pilot program.

Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan) and Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan) also rounded up $4.4 million in federal funds to build new ferry docks in Greenpoint and North Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and on Roosevelt Island.

"This is an example of what you can do by the intelligent use of those great, terrible things called earmarks," Nadler said. "This money is earmarked money, which is to say, Congress earmarked it for this use, for ferries in New York City. And we are very glad that Congress did."

The Bloomberg administration has not always been so friendly to the idea of a Rockaways ferry. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn, Queens) won $15 million in federal funds in 2005 for Rockaways ferry service, but the money has gone unused as city officials said the route was impractical.

"Anthony Weiner deserves some credit," Bloomberg said. "We're not going to walk away from 15 million bucks."

Weiner was invited to yesterday's announcement, but skipped it to give a keynote speech to the state machinists union.

alisberg@nydailynews.com

NY Daily News...If Hillary Wins, N.Y. Politicians Prepare for Administration Jobs

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If Hillary wins, N.Y. politicians prepare for administration jobs

Listen carefully. Amid the clamor of the presidential campaign is the subtler sound of thousands of resumes being polished in New York.

Ambitious politicians are starting to realize that a Hillary Clinton presidency would do more than give the country its first female leader and return the Democrats to the White House. Her election could completely upend New York politics - including the 2009 mayoral race.

Clinton's move would, of course, open up her Senate seat. Lt. Gov. David Paterson and Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan), Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens) and Gregory Meeks (D-Queens) are all said to be interested in taking her place, an appointment made by Gov. Spitzer that would in turn open one of those spots.

That's just the beginning.

In a scenario that elicits heavy breathing in certain Democratic circles, the spree starts when Clinton begins to pick New Yorkers for administration jobs.

"It's such a ripple effect, it's almost hard to fathom," one elected official said.

Even if they're passed over to fill the Senate slot, Nadler, Maloney or Meeks could snag a Clinton appointment. So could Rep. Joseph Crowley, the Queens Democratic leader. How about that? Another opening that leads to another and another.

More intriguing is how a Clinton win could affect the next mayoral race. She would be rewarding friends and filling jobs in a little more than a year, just as the City Hall campaign picks up speed.

Some names to think about:

Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión has stumped for Clinton in New Hampshire and filled in for her at Hispanic events. He's thought about running for mayor or city controller, but he doesn't sound like he'd turn down a sweet offer from Washington.

"Whenever a President calls a person for service to his or her country, it is an honor. But at the moment this is all just speculation. Of course, I would be honored to work for President Hillary Clinton, someone who I hold in the highest regard," he said.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn hasn't just endorsed Clinton, she's embraced her - going to events and getting advice from her strategists. Not that Quinn is thinking about the future one bit: "Chris Quinn is intensely focused on her job as speaker," a spokesman said.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, an independent who has been mentioned as a possible mayoral candidate, served under a Clinton in the Treasury Department and as head of the U.S. Customs Service. The FBI directorship isn't set to open until 2011 - but Homeland Security chief seems like a nice fit.

It's not just New York City politicians getting excited.

Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings is close to Clinton and said to be hoping for a new job if she wins. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) wouldn't necessarily say no to a promotion.

And what about the Clinton allies we don't elect? Teachers union head Randi Weingarten - New York's biggest labor leader - might become president of the American Federation of Teachers, based in Washington. And gosh, if she's already there ...

Get to work on those résumés.

kdanis@nydailynews.com