On May Day, Senator Gillibrand Blasts Arizona Law, Renews Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform...

As New Yorkers and people across America hold May Day demonstrations, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement deploring Arizona’s discriminatory immigration law:

“I stand with thousands of marchers across the country today who are expressing their outrage over the abhorrent law passed in the state of Arizona.

“America, and particularly New York, was built by the contributions of immigrants, and our diversity only adds to the greatness of this country. I think that we must take action on balanced, comprehensive immigration reform that treats immigrants with dignity. Arizona’s harsh and unreasonable law seeks to criminalize undocumented immigrants and to turn local police forces into immigration enforcement agencies. This abhorrent law undermines basic civil rights by inviting profiling of both lawful immigrants and U.S. citizens. It is a step in the wrong direction for our nation and is yet another example of why we need a federal solution for our broken immigration system.

“I am committed to working with my colleagues to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill that treats immigrants fairly, gives them a path to earned citizenship, and improves border security.”

Potential Candidates Start Their Engines by Lisa Fogarty - Queens Chronicle

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Election season is in full swing.

Despite the still-meager number of public announcements that have been made by candidates planning to run for a chance to unseat Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) and state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), the air is buzzing with possibility and the names of several potential contenders.

Nick Comaianni, a small business-owner and the president of Community Education Council of District 24, said he is definitely in the running to challenge Miller in the Democratic primary for the 38th District Assembly seat. Comaianni has been down this road before — he attempted to run for the position last year after disgraced Assemblyman Anthony Seminario pleaded guily in a corruption case, leaving the seat suddenly vacant. But the Queens Democratic Party chose Miller as its candidate, cutting Comaianni’s shot short.

“This time around it’s not going to be a select few people deciding for thousands,” he said. “This time let the people decide.”

Comaianni said he remains faithful to the same issues he vowed to work on last year, including helping small business owners and senior citizens and education.

“We stand to lose 8,000 teachers in New York City,” he said. “The Assembly wants to cut that to 4,000. I say there should be no cuts — education is the last thing you want to cut.”

Comaianni, a member of the West Queens Democratic Party, is being supported by Farouk Samaroo, an Army soldier who also ran for the Assembly seat and was vocal in his belief that the special election process was racially biased. Fellow Democrat Albert Baldeo, who also ran last year, could not be reached for comment.

Another familiar player, Donna Caltabiano, who was the Republican pick to challenge Miller, has officially announced her candidacy. Caltabiano is the executive director of the Forest Hills Senior Center and says she knows what the community wants, since seniors at her center hail from all over the district, and that quality of life issues are their biggest concern. “They don’t think anyone is responding to their needs,” she said.

Caltabiano added that every day she sees examples of the government’s misuse of funding. “I see five or six Access-a-Rides coming to pick up five or six seniors. There is a lot of waste.”

While the Queens GOP endorsed Caltabiano, the Queens County Conservative Party got behind Miller, something they’ve done again.

“We unanimously endorsed him in March again,” said Thomas Long,chairman of the Queens Conservatives.

As for the senatorial race, Long said he’s heard quite a few names tossed around as potential Republican candidates who may run against Addabbo, but that nothing is certain. Among them: former Councilman Anthony Como, former 30th District Assembly candidate Anthony Nunziato and Councilman Eric Ulrich.

“I have no intention of being a candidate for office this year,” said Ulrich (R-Ozone Park). “I’m very happy doing my job. I do think Joe will have a tough race — this is a swing district. It’s going to be very challenging for Democrats.”

Ulrich, who is also a local district leader, said several candidates have expressed interest in running against Addabbo and that the Queens GOP will announce a candidate shortly.

Meanwhile, Nunziato said he would keep an eye out on the field, but that he has no plans to run against Addabbo.

Como, however, was far less resistant to the idea.

“I haven’t made up my mind 100 percent, but I’m leaning toward it,” he said.

The attorney and former counsel for state Sen. Serphin Maltese won the June 2008 special election in District 30 and served as councilman until December, when he was defeated by Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village). He said that while his tenure in the council was short, he achieved a great deal.

Among his accomplishments, he said, were starting up the Ridgewood Historical Register after the project had been stalled, helping a constituent keep her home from foreclosure and securing millions of dollars to fund nearly every school in his district.

As of now, no Democratics have been named as possible candidates to challenge either Addabbo or Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Ozone Park), according to several sources.

Long said he has heard rumors that Rockaway Republican Gerald Sullivan, who ran against Pheffer in 2008, may be interested in challenging her again. Sullivan was unable to be reached for comment or confirmation.

Shops at Atlas Park Struggles to Survive with Summer Sale and Search for Tenants by Nicholas Hirshon - NY Daily News

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Key players in Shops at Atlas Park include City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, attorney Paul Millus, former development director Damon Hemmerdinger and former manager Michael Mattone. Noonan, Hirshon, DelMundo for News

The Shops at Atlas Park will unleash a new weapon during its summertime battle for survival.

The foreclosed Glendale mall - which is expected to be sold at auction next month - has hired a prominent agent to lure tenants ahead of a crucial shopping season for the open-air complex.

The entry of CB Richard Ellis, one of the world's largest commercial real estate firms, ends a 14-month management by Michael Mattone of the Mattone Group, whose contract recently expired.

Next in the Atlas Park saga: a highly anticipated sale - as early as June - that could determine the long-term success of the Cooper Ave. center.

It's also possible that a pact might be struck before the auction date, as teams and players often do prior to drafts in sports leagues.

"It's kind of like the draft," said Paul Millus, the court-appointed lawyer who controls the mall during foreclosure. "Sometimes you have a deal before you start."

Millus said several people have "expressed some measure of interest" in purchasing the mall, though he would not name them.

Community leaders have long figured the mall's founders, the family of former Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger, would bid on the mall they conceived.

Hemmerdinger's son, Damon, who was the mall's development director from its opening in 2006 through early 2009, declined comment.

A group of Israeli investors is also in the running, with hopes to shape the mall in the mold of the Tanger Outlets on Long Island, said City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village).

Crowley herself wants the City University of New York to offer classes at Atlas Park - a spot she thinks would be convenient for students in southern and western Queens.

Crowley said she will raise the possibility with university bigwigs after the city passes its budget this summer. CUNY officials did not return calls seeking comment.

Whether CUNY would even be welcome at Atlas Park depends on the philosophy of the mall's next owner.

The Hemmerdingers initially billed Atlas Park as a "lifestyle center" with specialty retail stores that many residents bashed as too upscale for the middle-class area.

CB Richard Ellis declined comment on its approach to leasing out the mall. But Atlas Park store owners hailed the entry of the renowned firm, which was the first of its kind in the Fortune 500.

In Queens, the company once leased the Bulova Corporate Center in Jackson Heights and Gertz Plaza in Jamaica. It opened an office last year in Long Island City.

"They're very reputable," said Boris Sorin, an attorney who has represented multiple Atlas Park stores in rent negotiations. "With a new team in place, it's going to bring in new energy and vision."

Mark Gallagher, owner of the mall's Manor Oktoberfest restaurant, called the firm's introduction "absolutely the most positive thing" for Atlas Park.

Gallagher hoped that CB Richard Ellis might sign up a small department store to attract customers - who then might dine at his eatery.

Millus said he is working on bringing a supermarket and "other smaller tenants" to the mall. A Subway franchise and school uniform store are set to open soon, he added.

But the prospective co-owner of a Cuban eatery said he is pulling out after troubles with management. He said he would leave his business partner to go it alone in the critical coming months.

"It's the last chance for the mall," said Kathy Masi, president of the Glendale Civic Association. "I wish it would survive."

Police Evacuate Part of Times Square - NYTimes.com

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Crowds of tourists and theatergoers were cleared from Times Square as the police investigated a “suspicious vehicle” there on Saturday evening.

Officials were investigating a sport utility vehicle parked at 45th Street and Seventh Avenue that was emitting smoke. A bomb squad was sent to the scene.

Broadway was closed between at least 43rd and 46th Streets, and the police also appeared to be closing off part of Eighth Avenue.

Paul J. Browne, the Police Department’s chief spokesman, told Reuters that a vehicle had been left in Times Square and that a small fire was extinguished.

“We’re just trying to determine if it was anything other than a car fire,” Mr. Browne said. “We don’t know yet if it’s anything more than that.”

Onlookers crowded against the metal barricades encircling the area, taking pictures with cellphones and video cameras, although only a swarm of flashing fire trucks and police cars was visible.

Many people stayed to watch after being shut out of Broadway shows or prevented from getting back to their hotels, trading rumors about what was happening.

The Toys “R” Us, between 44th and 45th Streets, was empty.

Gabrielle Zecha and Taj Heniser, visiting from Seattle, had tickets to see “Next to Normal” at the Booth Theater on 45th Street but could not get into the 8 p.m. show because the area was blocked off. But they made the best of the spectacle. “It’s a whole different kind of show,” Ms. Heniser said, adding, “It’s almost the equivalent of a $150 show.”

In December, the police closed Times Square for nearly two hours as they investigated a suspiciously parked van, delaying the rehearsal of the New Year’s ball drop. However, the van turned out to contain nothing but clothing.

Times Square Bomb Investigation: Car Fire Prompts Emergency Response After Suspicious Package Found In Back Seat

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Times Square has been shut down and the NYPD bomb squad is investigating a suspicious package, reports WCBS.

Car and pedestrian traffic has been blocked off between 44th and 46th Streets, from Broadway to Seventh Avenue while police use a robot to inspect the package found in the backseat of a burning car.

The square was evacuated around 8 pm.

No injuries were reported.

For live footage from the scene, click HERE.

Keep checking back for more...

Thousands of Birds, Like the Hermit Thrush, Make a Pit Stop at NYC Parks During Spring Migration by Amy Sacks - NY Daily News

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A hermit thrush, one of thousands of birds migrating north for the summer, stops for rest at Bryant Park in midtown Thursday Vitalia Shklovsky

The rare sighting of a tiny yellow songbird this week gave hundreds of enthusiastic birders in Central Park something to tweet about.

"We don't get many [birds like this] so it's always very exciting," said avid birder Starr Saphir as she spied a lone prothonotary warbler by the Ramble during one of her daily early morning bird walks.

The flamboyant songbird - with blue-gray wings and tail covering a yellow belly - is among the thousands of birds making a pit stop at city parks and marshes throughout the month during their annual spring migration.

Hundreds of species of colorful birds will soar above the city and sing from the treetops as they make their way from South America to breeding grounds in the north.

Some stay for a night or two, some stay longer.

Earlier this week, naturalist and educator Gabriel Willow spotted one of his favorite birds, an American woodcock, as it hunkered down on vegetation near the Mid-Manhattan Library in Bryant Park. But the next day, the shorebird was gone.

"It was probably hunting for earthworms, and wondering where it was," said Willow, who leads free bird-watching tours for the NYC Audubon and other local bird groups.

The urban jungle is a natural attraction for birds who travel thousands of miles over water down two migratory flyways along the coast. The trip is arduous, and lush greenery in the parks and marshes lures them in, offering a rich bounty of insects, buds and seeds to feed on.

"Take a lunch break and look up," suggested Willow, who also co-created an iPhone app that tracks bird sightings available at www.thewildlab.org.

In Central Park, the varied habitats of the north end and the Ramble offer the top places to spot birds, among them hummingbirds and orioles feeding on trees, and thrushes that "sing ethereal songs from dawn to dusk," Willow said.

Brooklyn's Prospect Park has one of the city's largest populations of spring migratory birds. Also, the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is a prime birding spot for thousands of shorebirds, waders, waterfowl and dozens of migratory songbirds that feast on the eggs of the horseshoe crab during its mating season.

Still, migration can be risky. The trip is not only exhausting, but the birds travel over unfamiliar territory, and have to endure natural and manmade threats along the way.

Backyard cats, power lines and windows pose the greatest threats - and many birds die en route.

The ever-expanding skyline also makes the journey difficult.

"The city's erection of glass buildings makes it a challenging passage and many birds collide or get confused and crash," said Rita McMahon, a wildlife rehabilitator who runs the Wild Bird Fund (wildbirdfund.org), which last year treated more than 1,000 injured birds.

New York is the only top 10 U.S. city without a dedicated wildlife rehabilitation center. Therefore, injured birds are treated at Animal General, a veterinary hospital on the upper West Side, and in McMahon's home.

McMahon and other wildlife rehabbers, however, are working hard to get funding and support to establish an independent center.

Those who find an injured bird should place it in a dark box and call the Wild Bird Fund at (646) 306-2862 or find a local rehabber at www.nyswrc.org.

For a list of birdwalking walks, bird-a-thons and bird events, go to New York City Audubon at www.nycaudubon.org.

Bloomberg Makes a Term-Limits Joke by Azi Paybarah - The New York Observer

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It's too bad the joke is on the citizens of New York City...

Michael Bloomberg's new deputy mayor, Steve Goldsmith, who is a former mayor himself, said he won't seek office again.

"I said that too," Bloombeg said, to much laughter.

Iconic Photo of the Fall of Saigon - 35 Years Ago Today...

35 years ago today the Vietnam War ended after the last Americans scrambled up to the rooftop of the US Embassy to get in the last chopper out of Saigon.

Hugh Van Es, a Dutch photojournalist who covered the Vietnam War and recorded the most famous image of the fall of Saigon in 1975 — a group of people scaling a ladder to a CIA helicopter on a rooftop.

h/t: Michael Moore

Senator Addabbo and Assemblyman Miller Team with AARP to Make Our Streets and Sidewalks Safer

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Senator Joe Addabbo and Assemblyman Mike Miller meet with AARP Safe Streets campaign official and volunteers, a nearby school's parent reps, along with older adults from nearby senior center at Thursday, April 29 press conference at Woodhaven Blvd. & 89th Ave. intersection. Senator Joe Addabbo and Assemblyman Mike Miller show gathered press corps and Safe Streets campaign supporters from AARP and the Woodhaven community a listing of fatalities in the 15th Senate District of people over age 50. A Senate District 15 map showing dangerous crossings also was displayed at the press conference.

NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., announced today that he is joining the AARP in a campaign to survey crosswalks and intersections and take action to make our streets and sidewalks safer.

Senator Addabbo was joined by NYS Assemblyman Michael Miller, Community Board 9 District Manager Mary Ann Carey, Forest Park Senior Center President Donna Caltabiano, representatives from local schools, and others, at the intersection of Woodhaven Blvd and 89^th Avenue in Woodhaven.

This location was highlighted by Senator Addabbo because within a two-block radius there is the Forest Park Senior Center and PS 60 (pre-K through grade 5) with over 1200 students and PS 306 (pre-K through grade 2) with over 220 students. Both seniors and students have to cross 10 lanes of traffic to reach either schools or their senior center.

This effort is part of a broader statewide campaign, “Complete Streets Week: Making New York Walkable for All Generations,” which will survey hundreds of dangerous roads and intersections across the state. Several factors will be taken into account including if there are adequate traffic and crossing signals, if crosswalks are properly marked, and if there is enough time to cross the streets.

The results will be used to make improvements and develop legislation to ensure that streets are safe and accessible for individuals of all ages.

Senator Addabbo said, “This location highlights a dangerous intersection in the district. If a senior or student needs to cross Woodhaven Boulevard, they have to cross 10 lanes of traffic in a very short time. Additionally, the islands separating the lanes are very narrow, where there is no space for a wheelchair, walker or baby stroller to fit without putting a pedestrian at danger. I am proud to work with AARP to bring attention to this problem and to the need for Complete Streets in our neighborhood.”

“We need a Complete Streets policy that recognizes older residents to make our community safer, healthier, and a better place to live. Keeping the walkways free of cracks and potholes will prevent injuries. By increasing the amount of time you have to cross streets and decreasing speed limits at major intersections, we can dramatically reduce pedestrian fatalities. I have made our quality of life a top priority since taking office and will continue to fight for improvements. This plan is good for our seniors and good for our community,” said Assemblymember Miller.

Community Board 9 District Manager Mary Ann Carey said, "For the last 20 years, accidents around both Woodhaven and Jamaica as well as the surrounding intersections have been a serious issue. Too often those accidents include fatalities and involve senior citizens. We need to take a serious look at these intersections and how we can improve them for the safety of everyone."

“Complete streets are vital for older residents to maintain an independent lifestyle,” said Lois Aronstein, AARP New York State Director. “That is why AARP has organized this statewide initiative to evaluate the most dangerous roads and intersections in New York so that we can help community members document the problems in their neighborhoods. Complete Streets legislation would help New Yorkers age in the setting of their choice because their community will be more livable and meet their growing needs.”

“Senior Centers are vital for the community and considered safe havens. We need to ensure that all seniors can safely reach their senior centers,” said Donna Caltabiano, the president of Forest Park Senior Center.

The neglect of pedestrian safety falls harder on older adults. According to the 2009 report, Dangerous by Design by Transportation for Americans, New York ranks 3rd in the nation for pedestrian fatalities for people age 65+. An AARP report finds that two in five Americans age 50 or over say their neighborhood sidewalks are inadequate, and nearly half cannot cross main roads close to their home safely, preventing many from walking, cycling, or taking the bus.

From 2006 thru 2008 there were 6,731 automobile accidents with 94 fatalities. In Senate District 15 alone, there were 15 fatalities, of which seven were individuals above 50.

By 2025, people age 65+ will comprise nearly 20 percent of the population. Yet two-thirds of transportation planners and engineers say they have yet to begin addressing older people in their street planning. Complete Streets policies direct transportation planners and engineers to design streets and roads with all people in mind including pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation users of all ages and abilities.

Complete Streets legislation has been introduced in the New York State Assembly and Senate by transportation and aging policy leaders in New York State. Senator Addabbo is a Co-Sponsor of this legislation. Complete Streets legislation will ensure that all new roads constructed have to provide the same consistent level of safe travel for all motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and public transportation users regardless of age or ability.

“We need this legislation to ensure that our streets that we construct in the future provide the same level of safety for all residents of New York State regardless of age. Our streets should not be ones that our seniors or any pedestrians are afraid to cross,” said Senator Addabbo.

Port Authority Chief: Tear Down Queens' LaGuardia Airport by Doug Feiden - NY Daily News

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Aerial view of LaGuardia Airport in Queens. Watts/News

Port Authority boss Chris Ward said Tuesday that LaGuardia Airport should be torn down - and then completely rebuilt as soon as money is available.

The facility that whisks millions of travelers on their not-so-merry way is a chaotic and unwieldy mess that's not fit for the 21st century, Ward argued.

"LaGuardia should not be the gateway for domestic flights into New York City," Ward told a Crain's New York Business breakfast forum. "It should fundamentally be torn down and rebuilt again."

The stark comments from the PA's executive director seemed to startle business executives at the Grand Hyatt. Demolishing the 72-gate, 680-acre facility has never been publicly debated.

"LaGuardia was built over decades, and it's not the kind of integrated aviation facility that the 21st century really demands," he said.

"On top of that, we've layered in post-9/11 security, and because of that you have an experience for the air traveler which is unnecessarily chaotic and difficult to manage."

Like the subways, LaGuardia is part of most New Yorkers' DNA - even though it's an ugly, unmanageable horror show that conjures up the romance of aviation for almost no one.

Ward said the PA lacks the cash right now to dismantle the airport but disclosed that the agency has hired planning consultants to "reimagine" the modern, state-of-the-art launch pad that will one day take its place.

The total teardown wouldn't happen overnight, PA officials say: It would be phased in over time so operations could continue while airport demolition is underway.

"I think candidly, over time, building piece by piece, LaGuardia has to be completely redone," he said.

"It will improve aeronautical efficiency, get more flights in and out, improve gate utilization - and give the flying public a state of the art terminal that they really deserve."

Natural Gas Pipeline Foes Have New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Their Side by Daniel Edward Rosen - NY Daily News

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Rockaway residents are "breathing a sigh of relief," officials said Tuesday, after a key gatekeeper vowed to veto proposals for liquefied natural gas terminals off the Atlantic coast.

But the companies that want to build the terminals aren't sailing away just yet.

"This community really has a fear of this project. It does not serve a purpose for us or for the city," said Jonathan Gaska, district manager of Community Board 14 in Far Rockaway.

He and other local officials hailed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's pledge last week to oppose LNG terminals near the shorelines of New Jersey and New York.

Christie, who along with Gov. Paterson, has veto power over such projects, said LNG terminals "are not the answer for New Jersey's needs."

"I remain unconvinced of the need and efficacy of these facilities, or their ability to lower prices," he said.

Christie's pledge renders such projects "dead on arrival," said Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens and Brooklyn).

"Let's not waste our time - pull the plug now," Weiner said.

The Atlantic Sea Island Group, BlueOcean Energy and Excalibur Energy have been courting state officials in both states to build these terminals.

The Atlantic Sea Island Group wants to build a man-made island 15 miles off Rockaway. A terminal there could deliver up to 2billion cubic feet of gas per day through an underwater pipeline connected to the mainland in Nassau County, according to planners.

Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer said she wasn't sure why Gov. Paterson has not rejected the terminals himself.

"We thought it would be good if our governor took the initiative and said 'no' right away," said Pheffer (D-Rockaway Beach).

But Joel Baskin, a spokesman for the administration, said the governor has been silent on the proposals because he has "yet to receive a proposal for any LNG terminal."

Gary Lewi, a spokesman for Atlantic Sea Island Group, said the company had not given Christie a detailed report on its terminal and hopes to do so "before there is a final decision on the project."

Senator Addabbo Brings Pearle Vision to Forest Park Senior Center to Provide Free Eye Exams to Woodhaven's Older Adults

Senator Addabbo with Woodhaven's older adults who turned out for free eye exams at their Forest Park Senior Center.

NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., brought his once-a-month series of free eye exams by Pearle Vision's Ozone Park staff to the Forest Park Senior Center, 89-02 91st Street, Woodhaven, 718-849-2222, on Thursday, April 22, from 11 AM - Noon.

Thirty older adults out of 40 attending Forest Park Senior Center that day took advantage of getting free vision screenings. Pearle Vision's professional staff included optometrist Dr. Jeanette Cooper, optician Bill Roussis and Pearle Vision-Ozone Park general manager Joanna Tonchuck. An auto refractor was used to determine range of vision/prescription and a CT machine detected warning signs of glaucoma.

Pearle Vision’s staff also cleaned and adjusted eyewear, gave out goody bags containing lens cleaners, cloths and cases for glasses and provided one pass with each screening result to have a free, comprehensive eye exam done at Pearle Vision's Ozone Park location, 102-22 Atlantic Avenue. Pearle's professionals also presented a 20-minute lecture and give out literature on the symptoms of chronic dry eyes, macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic eye problems, followed by a Q&A with audience.

New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and State Leaders Launch Campaign to End Government Use of Styrofoam...

Campaign Kicks off with Rally at Public School Featuring Parents, Students, and Piles of Styrofoam Trays and Cups Collected from Schools and Government Buildings

On Earth Day, New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, State Senator Liz Krueger, and Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh launched a statewide campaign to end government use of Styrofoam. The campaign kicked off with an early morning rally at a Manhattan public school featuring parents, students, and piles of Styrofoam trays and cups collected from schools and government buildings.

As part of this campaign, de Blasio, Krueger, and Kavanagh are recruiting elected representatives to sign the Stop Polystyrene And Revitalize the Environment (SPARE) Pledge, which calls on leaders in State and City Government to eliminate use of Styrofoam food service products in office operations and at their events. The SPARE Pledge will build momentum for a state and city legislation to eliminate government use of Styrofoam

“New York City and State government should be leading by example and ending their age old dependence on Styrofoam,” said Public advocate Bill de Blasio. “Everyday, our City’s schools alone discard 850,000 Styrofoam trays, doing tremendous damage to our environment. Hopefully by recruiting elected leaders to join our coalition and pushing legislation on the State and City levels we can make New York completely Styrofoam free.”

“I am proud to be a part of this coalition of City and State Leaders that have banded together to end the use of Styrofoam in our offices and at all of our events," said Senator Krueger. "There is no reason that anyone should continue using a product that is so toxic to our environment when there are more environmentally sound alternatives available. Today, in honor of Earth Day, I pledge to help build our coalition of local and state leaders who will lead the way in ending the use of Styrofoam.”

"New Yorkers have a right to expect that their government officials will make sensible, environmentally responsible choices when buying products with taxpayer funds," said Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh. “Unfortunately, the cups, plates, trays, and other food service items made of Styrofoam that we routinely see in the cafeterias of public hospitals, schools, and universities just don't meet this standard. A child might spend 5 minutes drinking from a Styrofoam cup before tossing it aside, but unfortunately that same cup might remain with us on this Earth 500 years from now. Today on Earth Day and in the coming year, let's finally agree to put an end to our misplaced reliance on Styrofoam."

The SPARE campaign is providing support for City legislation that Public Advocate de Blasio will be introducing which would prohibit city agencies and reasonable sectors of the food industry from using Styrofoam and also for state legislation, S2832-A/A428 (Krueger/Kavanagh), which will replace Styrofoam with recyclable and compostable products throughout government Statewide. The state legislation A428-A passed the Assembly on April 20th as part of the Earth Day package, and is currently progressing in the Senate.

Track Supervisor Who Died on Rockaway Shuttle Line Shouldn't Have Been Working in the Rain by Clare Trapasso and Pete Donohue - NY Daily News

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Family and friends of James Knell mourn the death of the track worker killed after slipping and falling on to a third rail while doing track work in East Rockaway, Queens. Marino for News

The track supervisor who tripped and fell to his death on a third rail Monday apparently shouldn't have been working in that morning's wet weather, union officials said.

NYC Transit safety regulations state workers shouldn't be near the electrified third rail if it is raining or the area is rain-slicked, as it was when track supervisor James Knell died along the Rockaway Shuttle line, according to Transport Workers Union Local 100 President John Samuelsen.

The scene on the tracks of the Beach 90th street Station where an MTA employee was electrocuted. Pictured here are ground clips attached to the uncovered section of the third rail. Costanza for News

"How could this happen?" father-in-law Gregory Odette said. "They shouldn't have been working in the rain. I don't understand. Somebody made a mistake."

Track workers twice were pulled from tracks during heavy rainfall before the 4:30 a.m. tragedy, sources said.

It was unclear if the rain had completely stopped or if there was a light drizzle when Knell fell at about 4:30 a.m. NYC Transit declined to comment during an ongoing investigation.

Sources said track workers toiled on and off through rain during the overnight shift.

The power was turned off for the project but was restored so a test train could come through the area around Beach 90th St.

Knell was a track crew member before being promoted nine years ago to crew supervisor. He was represented by the Subway Surface Supervisors Association, which declined to comment on rules and regulations Tuesday.

"We're just concerned with the grief of the family right now. There will be another day for that, if necessary," association President Tony Gamma said, adding the tragedy does highlight "the everyday dangers of the job that our members do."

New York & Atlantic Railway to Spend $1 Million to Curb Train Emissions in Glendale by Lisa L. Colangelo - NY Daily News

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Glendale residents living next to the Otto Road rail yards got some good news Tuesday when New York & Atlantic Railway announced it will spend $1 million to cut emissions on its 11-unit fleet.

Neighborhood and environmental activists have long complained about noise and pollution from diesel engines idling there.

Railway officials said the work, which will "lower its carbon footprint by 35%," should be completed by the end of the year.

Most of the funds will come from a U.S. Department of Transportation grant through its Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program. The railway will kick in about 20% of the cost.

Queens Borough President Helen Marshall said the change will "dramatically reduce emissions and lower noise related to idling engines."

Railway officials said the trains will be retrofitted with devices that monitor the temperature of the water in the engines. They will also ensure the water is heated, reducing the need to keep the engines idling. Currently, they are kept running so their temperature does not drop below 38 degrees.

Residents of Glendale, Middle Village and Maspeth - neighborhoods bisected by the railroad tracks - have said the CSX and New York & Atlantic Railway trains are a ongoing source of problems in their areas.

They formed a group called CURES - Civics United for Railroad Environmental Solutions - to address the issues.

Some Middle Village residents have said the noise and stench from trains carrying trash in the early morning hours make it impossible to get a good night's sleep.

And Glendale homeowners who live alongside New York & Atlantic's Otto Road facility said noise and pollution are a constant headache.

Railway officials said they have worked hard to improve air quality along its 269-mile freight route.

"This is a step in the right direction," said Mary Parisen, a founding member of CURES. "But we want them to address other issues, such as scheduling of these trains. People are hearing trains banging [from trains coupled] at all hours of the night."

Robert Holden, president of the Juniper Park Civic Association and a member of CURES, hailed the latest effort, but noted it "doesn't solve the quality of life problems for people living near the tracks."