Presentation on Resident Voting Rights at the Jewish Center on May 12th

Thursday, May 12th - New Vision Club Meeting on the Resident Voting Rights Campaign 

Open to All, please mobilize your community at the Jewish Center in Jackson Heights 37-06 77th Street at 8 PM

The NYC Voting Rights Restoration Act of 2010 also known as Intro 410) was introduced into the NYC Council on November 18, 2010. The main sponsor is Daniel Dromm (D-25), who is the Chair of the NYC Council Immigration Committee. At least twenty other co-sponsors have already signed on, including Gale Brewer who heads the NYC Council Government Operations Committee, which has authority over election related legislation.

Text of the legislation can be found here

Chair of the City Council Immigration Committee, Daniel Dromm (D-25) says: 

“It is time for our evolving democracy to embrace voting rights in local elections for all residents. We are all stakeholders in our community and should have a say in important local issues. In the words of the Revolutionary patriots who put their lives on the line for the freedoms we enjoy today, ‘No taxation without representation.’ ”

The Coalition to Expand Voting Rights continues to work with legislators and community partners to win passage of this legislation in 2011. For more information go to www.ivotenyc.org

Karen Koslowitz Will Get Council’s Economic Development Chair by Chris Bragg - City tHall News

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Queens Council Member Karen Koslowitz will take over the Economic Development Committee chairmanship, left vacant by the death of Tom White in August, two sources with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed.

Koslowitz currently serves as chair of the Consumer Affairs committee, which is likely to be filled by Manhattan Council Member Dan Garodnick, one of the sources said.

Koslowitz’s office declined comment. Garodnick did not return requests for comment. Nor did the speaker’s office.

The Economic Development committee, once one of the Council’s more prominent, saw less action in recent years because of White’s health issues and poor attendance record. The Economic Development chairmanship carries a $10,000 lulu, the same as the Consumer Affair’s Committee Koslowitz is leaving.

The Technology Committee also carries a $10,000 lulu, though Garodnick refused it earlier this year.

Consumer Affairs would be a step up for the Manhattan lawmaker. Many had expected Garonick to land a higher-profile committee than Technology last January when chairmanships were doled out.

Council Member Gale Brewer, the former Technology chair, who co-chairs the Manhattan delegation with Garodnick, said she had not heard whether he was taking the Consumer Affairs chairmanship. Brewer said she hopes whoever would take over the Technology seat, assuming Garodnick does not remain there, would continue the improvements they helped bring to the committee's operations in recent years.

“I hope it would be somebody who is intelligent and competent with technology, because that kind of background is needed to lead that committee,” she said. “Certainly, Dan is somebody who had that.”

Though several Council members expressed interest in the Economic Development gavel, the seat was reserved for a member from Queens under the deal that made Quinn speaker in 2006, sources with knowledge of the situation said.

A lack of interest in the chairmanship from some of the senior members in the delegation had led to speculation that Ruben Wills, who was just elected to fill White’s seat, might chair the committee.

But a source close to Wills said he had not been offered the position. Wills is, however, seeking a spot on the committee. Wills, who won his race in a special election and will face re-election next year, is expected to focus on constituent services for the time being, the source said.

Meanwhile, Wills’ political opponents are also continuing to foment controversy about Wills’ potential residency issues, though they appear unlikely to derail his swearing-in.

Koslowitz, in her second stint on the Council after being term-limited out in 2001, is known for her commitment to constituent services, though not necessarily for tough oversight as a committee chair. 

She generally keeps a low profile.

One lobbyist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Koslowitz was among a several potential choices from Queens who likely would not offer much resistance to Council Speaker Christine Quinn or Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the position.

“They want someone in there who is not going to rock the boat,” the lobbyist said. “I couldn’t think of a better successor to Tom White.”

Officials Slam 'Callous' Dept. of Homeless Services Program That Uses 200 Families as Test Subjects by Tina Moore - NY Daily News

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Single mom Angie Almodovar, who lost her job in 2008 and is at risk of homelessness, called the program like 'Russian roulette.'

City officials called for a halt Tuesday to a "callous" Department of Homeless Services experiment that uses 200 struggling families as test subjects.

"Just when you think you've heard it all," said City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan). "It's inhumane. How cold-hearted and callous."

The Daily News revealed on Tuesday that the study randomly split 400 families in two groups - the "haves" and the "have-nots."

One group gets rental assistance, job training and other services through a one-stop program called Homebase.

The second group is barred from Homebase for up to two years and must find help on its own at other agencies. Researchers will track the families to see find who finds services and who winds up in shelters.

"It's bizarre. It's like they're being cast to the wind," said Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan).

The 400 people comprise about 5% of the 7,700 people who use the program every year.

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer called for an end to the "cruel and heartless experiment," and Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) promised to work with the Bloomberg administration to "ensure families are not placed at risk." She declined to say if the test should be stopped.

Councilwoman Annabel Palma (D-Bronx), who heads the General Welfare Committee, said she'll call for hearings.

DHS Commissioner Seth Diamond defended the experiment, saying it was needed to evaluate the program and is similar to one underway at the national level.

"There are some people who have questioned the effectiveness [of Homebase]," he said. "The city's [Independent Budget Office] said you can't tell with present data whether prevention programs are effective."

Sharon Lee, a spokeswoman for City Controller John Liu, said the study "practically screams for closer examination."

Homeless prevention groups are fielding an increasing number of calls from families in the "have-not" category, said Louise Seeley of the nonprofit group Housing Court Answers.

"While there are other resources for people facing eviction and homelessness, they are extremely limited and hard to reach," she said.