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."

Work 'Til We Die - YouTube

Check out www.worktilwedie.org to join the fight


Seven Principles:


1) Social Security did not cause the federal deficit; its benefits should not be cut to reduce the deficit.


2) Social Security should not be privatized in whole or in part.


3) Social Security should not be means-tested.


4) Congress should act in the coming few years to close Social Security’s funding gap by requiring those who are most able to afford it to pay somewhat more.


5) Social Security’s retirement age, already scheduled to increase from 65 to 67, should not be raised further.


6) Social Security’s benefits should not be reduced, including by changes to the COLA or the benefit formula.


7) Social Security’s benefits should be increased for those who are most disadvantaged.

The First Guess: Lotto Nation by Keith Olbermann - FOK News Channel

Watch original...

Keith Olbermann's latest at The FOK News Channel -- The First Guess: Lotto Nation:

Three-time Murrow-Award Winner Keith Olbermann is the "K" in "Friends Of Keith" and "Friends Of Keith" is the FOK in the not-for-profit FOKNewsChannel.

Queens Residents File Suit Challenging Biased Denials of Social Security Disability Benefits

Queens Office Has One of Nation’s Highest Benefits Denial Rates

Class Action Suit Seeks To Disqualify Biased Social Security Administration Administrative Law Judges, de Blasio files Amicus Brief in Support

Eight disabled Queens residents filed a class action lawsuit today charging systematic bias against low-income disabled individuals seeking Social Security Disability benefits in Queens. The suit against the U.S. Social Security Administration seeks the disqualification of five Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) at the Queens Office of Disability Assistance & Review (ODAR) because of their persistent denial of claims based on glaring and intentional legal and procedural errors, thereby depriving thousands of eligible claimants of benefits they need to survive.

The Queens ODAR has the third highest benefits-denial rate in the country and the highest benefits-denial rate in the New York region, based on data covering decisions from 2005 to 2008. Almost all of the ALJs named in the suit rank high on the national list of top claims deniers. On appeal, the Queens ODAR suffers one of the highest remand rates in the country.

The lawsuit brought by the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project and the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, details a history of persistent and intentional denials by the ALJs of disability claims, and provides compelling evidence of their anti-claimant bias. These errors have persisted despite repeated warnings and reversals by the federal court in Brooklyn. In prior rulings, that court has used various phrases to describe the problem with ALJs from Queens ODAR, including:

• Proceedings that were “a far cry” from the required standards;
• Conduct that “raises the possibility that the ALJ was not seeking to neutrally develop the record, but rather to find support for the conclusions he had already formed”
• Analysis that was “deficient” and “incoherent”
• Delay that was “particularly egregious”
• Rationale that was “plucked from thin air”
• Analysis that “trivializes plaintiff’s impairments”
• Overall conduct that demonstrates “serious negligence and could possibly even suggest bias”

While these findings came in individual cases over three years, this is the first lawsuit to weave those findings together, and with other evidence of bias, as a basis to seek the disqualification of most of the members (5 of 8) of a local Social Security hearing office.

Eve Stotland, Director of the Mental Health Project, Urban Justice Center, said “We hope this lawsuit will bring an end to the well-known and flagrant bias our clients face every day. These ALJs have used any and every rationale to deny claims for many years. We look forward to the day when bias against disabled claimants is no longer tolerated.”

“Many of these individuals are living in dire poverty while these ALJs repeatedly to refuse to apply the law,” says Emilia Sicilia, Senior Attorney at the Urban Justice Center. “Attempts to appeal these cases are almost always futile because even when errors are found on appeal, the cases are typically remanded back to the same ALJ and always to the same hearing office.”

"Any time the rights and needs of the vulnerable are disregarded, we must stand up for them,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, whose office has filed an amicus brief in the case. “For years, administrative law judges have been wrongly denying disabled New Yorkers the social security benefits they deserve. My office will file our first amicus brief to help restore benefits to these victims and reform the way these judges do business,”

The five ALJs at the center of the lawsuit are Hearing Office Chief Administrative Law Judge David Nisnewitz, and ALJs Michael D. “Manuel” Cofresi, Seymour Fier, Marilyn P. Hoppenfeld, and Hazel C. Strauss. All have presided over thousands of cases, making the potential class of affected persons enormous.

Jim Walden, a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, said, “Federal law does not permit this kind of bias in any form or fashion. Although this lawsuit is ground-breaking in the relief it seeks, it is firmly grounded in established precedent and statutory and Constitutional imperatives.”

Ian F. Feldman and Emilia Sicilia are counsel for the Mental Health Project, Urban Justice Center.

Oliver Olanoff, Tyler Amass, Sharon Grysman, Daniel Harris, Adam Jantzi, William Moriarty, Karin Reiss, and Abraham Shaw of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP are also working on the litigation on behalf of Class Plaintiffs.

The case is Padro, et al, v. Astrue, and has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

It's Time to Fight for Social Security by David M. Quintana - Leader-Observer/Queens Chronicle

It s time to fight for Social Security - LeaderObserver

Save Social Security - Queens Chronicle

Saving Social Security - Forum South

Dear Editor:

America is a community. We look out for each other as a nation. We build schools for our children, fund police for our safety and provide a secure retirement for our seniors. We don't toss aside our most vulnerable citizens when they need our help the most.

Instead, each generation of American workers invests in the Social Security Trust Fund under the guarantee that someday when they retire or get too sick to work, that Social Security will be there for them.

Now, our community and that safety net is coming under a fierce right-wing attack..

Republicans in the House are chomping at the bit to gut Social Security, threatening to raise the retirement age and cut benefits that millions of seniors depend on to survive. Claiming Social Security is in crisis is simply not true, but that doesn't stop these mendacious Republicans from saying it. Even with no changes to the system, reports show Social Security can pay out full benefits until at least 2037.

That's why cutting benefits now, including raising the retirement age, must remain completely off the table. Social Security is the economic backbone of a retirement free from poverty and homelessness for aging and sick Americans no longer able to work. Raising the retirement age is a job-killer for young Americans while cuts to benefits will force the elderly to choose between food and rent. That is not the America we believe in and we must do everything in our power to stop cuts from happening.

But stopping cuts should not be good enough. We can do much better.

Right now, Bill Gates doesn't pay the same percentage of his income into Social Security that most Americans pay. Neither does Derek Jeter, Mayor Bloomberg or for that matter even President Obama. The reason why: the Social Security payroll tax is capped at $106,800 per individual costing tax payers billions of dollars in lost revenue from the people most able to invest. The cap risks the long-term health of the program while currently giving wealthier Americans a tremendous tax cut.

It's never been more important to stand up and fight than now. Scurrilous right-wing Republicans are willing to lie and to do anything to tear down Social Security. They're talking about shutting down the government, holding the debt ceiling hostage. Whatever it takes to destroy Social Security and prop up big banks, insurance companies and Wall Street, they're going to do it.

I believe in a robust community that will keep Social Security strong for future generations of Americans and we all need to stand up and be heard to make it happen.

I urge every working class American to deliver a message that we are unified and standing strong against cuts while fighting for improvements. It's time to send Congress and the President a strong clear message about the Social Security Trust Fund.

Join me in calling your member of Congress to keep Social Security safe, stable, and secure for generations to come.

Sincerely,

David M. Quintana

Social Security: Keep The Promise - The Campaign for America's Future

President Obama has said that he: * Won't cut benefits * Won't raise the retirement age * Won't cut the cost of living adjustment (COLA)

In effect, the President has said: Keep Social Security's Promise! We agree.

Visit: www.strengthensocialsecurity.org/

Senator Reid Stands Strong on Social Security - Bold Progressives

Sunday on Meet The Press, Senator Harry Reid was asked if America should "fundamentally change" Social Security to deal with the national debt.

Many other Democrats have flubbed this question, but Reid hit it out of the ballpark. He said:

"One of the things that always troubles me is when we start talking about the debt, the first thing people do is run to Social Security. Social Security is a program that works...Stop picking on Social Security."

Please sign the thank you card to Reid (Click here). We'll deliver it to him personally.

During the Bush years, Dick Cheney famously said, "Deficits don't matter."

But now that Democrats are in charge, Republicans are using deficits and debt as an excuse to slash the most critical government programs.

As Reid said, Social Security is "not in crisis" -- it has a surplus. Cutting benefits and raising the retirement age "is something that's perpetuated by people who don't like government." He added, "There are a lot places we can go [to reduce the deficit]...Social Security is fine."

Americans agree. Our post-election poll asked voters how we should reduce the debt. 43% said tax the wealthy. 23% said cut wasteful military spending. Only 12% said touch Social Security.

As one DC news publication wrote about our poll, "Republicans, Democrats and independents agree that cutting Social Security is the least acceptable option."

Statement from NYS Senator Addabbo on Social Security Administration Announcement on Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) Freeze

State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., reacted to yesterday's official announcement from the Social Security Administration on a COLA freeze for 2010 and 2011.

“I’m very discouraged by Thursday’s announcement from Washington. I recently joined with other local elected officials and civic leaders to call on Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue to scrap the agency’s plan to cut off cost-of-living allowances for two years despite rising costs.

For many seniors who call my office, their Social Security check is on a par with their rent, if it’s rent-controlled, and then they also have to pay for their phone, food, and utilities. A lot of older adults in my district live in small apartments in private homes, not subject to rent control. Even those that do live in rent-stabilized units have to face annual rent increases; they just got hit with a 6 percent increase earlier this month. For so many seniors in my district, it’s a Catch-22 situation. They collect Social Security so they can’t apply for public assistance and food stamps because they’re considered to be ‘living above poverty level. In New York City, the cost of everything has risen, from Medicare prescription drug plans (up 7% monthly) to food prices (up 1.4%) and milk, to riding mass transit (up 10%). Our seniors need a regional cost-of-living adjustment. It is not a luxury, but a necessity. Seniors should not have to choose between eating, paying their rent or getting their medication.

If President Barack Obama can bail out banks, insurance giant AIG and the auto industry, he should do better than his recent call on Congress to approve a second round of $250 stimulus or recovery payments for over 50 million Social Security recipients.

As a member of the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Aging, I believe it is important to raise awareness of this critical issue, since the official freeze on Social Security payments for the next two years really puts New York City seniors under a heavy burden, particularly in the weak economy,” said Addabbo.

Gulluscio, Weiner, Pheffer Rally to Fight Social Security COLA Freeze for Seniors...

Unveil Petition Drive to Sign Up Supporters

District Leader Frank Gulluscio, Congressman Anthony Weiner, and Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer blasted the plan to deny Social Security recipients cost of living adjustments (COLA) in 2010 and 2011. This would be the first time since 1975 that there wouldn’t be an increase to Social Security payments.

Additionally, Gulluscio, Weiner, Addabbo and Pheffer are kicking off a petitioning effort calling on Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue to reassess the proposed freeze and support a regional cost adjustment and a true COLA for Social Security recipients.

“For many seniors, Social Security is a lifeline,’ Said District Leader Gulluscio. “Even in this recession, the cost of living is on the rise. In New York City, the cost of everything from medication to milk has risen. Our seniors need a regional cost of living adjustment; it is not a luxury but a necessity. Seniors should not have to choose between eating and paying their rent.”

Weiner said, "To say that the costs for seniors will not go up for two years is to pretend that the laws of economic gravity don't apply to older people. Rent is up. Food prices are up. Bus and subway fares are up. Healthcare costs are up. The purpose of the COLA is to help seniors keep up. The Social Security Administration seems to have forgotten that mission."

Both the Obama administration and the Congressional Budget Office are forecasting that Social Security beneficiaries will not receive any cost of living adjustments in fiscal years 2010 or 2011 because of the pronounced recession in the US. The net result of no 2010 COLA means that the millions of Social Security recipients will see their monthly benefit check remain flat.

Regardless of the recession, New York City seniors have been hit with growing costs:

• Seniors signing leases in rent-controlled apartments got walloped with a 6% increase.
• Food prices in NYC area have gone up by 1.4 % in the last year according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
• Premiums for the Medicare prescription drug plans will increase 7% from an average monthly premium of $28 in 2009 to $30 in 2010.
• The cost to ride a bus or subway has risen by 10% for seniors.

“Protecting our seniors is vital." Said Assemblymember Pheffer. “Social Security must allow for increases in the cost of basic essentials. Seniors are paying increased co-pays for doctor visits and medicine, increases in rent, taxes, food and transportation. Social Security must keep up with these cost of living increases, anything less is unconscionable.”