David I. Weprin
Assemblyman
David I. Weprin
Reports to the Community

Summer 2011

Dear Friends,

I hope you are enjoying the sunny days of summer and taking advantage of our beautiful white sand beaches and wonderful state parks.

This year’s legislative session in Albany was one of the most productive in history. We addressed the issues that New Yorkers demanded we tackle, and the results will be overwhelmingly positive for the people of Northeastern Queens. I helped pass an on-time budget with no new taxes, strengthened rent regulations, passed legislation to increase access to health care, worked to improve safety measures for people with developmental disabilities, and supported the growth of small business and job creation.

The 2011 legislative session highlights my commitment to the people of New York and to rebuilding and strengthening our communities, schools, economy, and government.

Thank you for your continued support and activism. My staff and I continue to receive your letters, calls, visits, and emails with great enthusiasm and work diligently to address your concerns. I urge you to continue to communicate with me on any issues of importance to you.

If you have any concerns or would like to know more about an issue, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at (718) 428-7900, or email me at weprind@nysa.us. Please visit my website at http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/David-I-Weprin/ for up-to-date information on my work in Albany and throughout New York City.

Be sure to enjoy the rest of your summer.

Sincerely,
signature
David I. Weprin
Member of Assembly

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Assemblyman Weprin joined his Assembly colleagues on a tour of the 9/11 Memorial led by Speaker Silver.


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Assemblyman Weprin with the members of the Glen Oaks Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The Glen Oaks Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. (GOVAC) was founded in 1973 to assure that a local community-based ambulance service would continue to be available to their neighbors. The corps services all or parts of the Northeast Queens Communities of Bellerose, Glen Oaks, Floral Park, New Hyde Park, Oakland Gardens, and North Shore Towers.



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Assemblyman Weprin joins a rally in support of disabled children who could not attend their neighborhood schools.

Weprin Advocates for
Individuals with Disabilities

Autism
Assemblyman Weprin understands the importance of diagnosing autism at an early age and for children to get the help they need to improve their quality of life.

Every day, thousands of New York families are faced with the challenge of caring for a child diagnosed with autism, and every day many of those same families worry that their child’s medical treatment may not be covered by their insurance.

Children with autism require special medical care and attention. These requirements can be very expensive and often place financial burdens on families. That’s why Assemblyman Weprin sponsored legislation that will require insurance companies to cover the costs relating to the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. This legislation—which passed the Senate and awaits the governor’s signature—will have a positive effect on the level of care we provide young people diagnosed with this disorder.

Under this new legislation, children who have autism may be diagnosed earlier, and thus be able to begin treatment at an earlier age. By receiving treatment at an earlier age, they would require less medical attention later in life, which will help insurance companies save money in the long run. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates the number of children currently facing autism in the country is 1 in 110. These numbers make autism one of the most common disorders affecting children today, so the importance of this legislation cannot be overstated.

Improving the performance and safety of state-run group homes
In June, I helped pass a legislative package aimed at improving safety measures in New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)-licensed facilities and programs. The Assembly passed the legislative package following a series of four public hearings statewide that examined allegations of abuse in group homes and institutions throughout the state.

Stricter penalties for offenders and standardized training for employees would result from the legislative package I supported. It would also create a prior-abuse notification system to prevent employees with a history of abuse from working with vulnerable individuals, ensuring that those with developmental disabilities are kept safe and healthy when under the care of the state.



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Pictured left to right: Ed Morrill of the Jamaica Estates Association, Community Board 8 District Manager Marie Adam-Ovide, Councilman Jim Gennaro, Assemblyman Weprin, Mike Simanowitz and Martha Taylor.

Weprin Encourages Residents to Protect Themselves from West Nile Virus

With the heat of the summer months upon us, the threat of West Nile Virus by mosquitoes is prevalent. Assemblyman David Weprin attended a press conference to encourage residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes and to stay indoors during spraying hours. For more tips and information on preventing the spread of West Nile Virus, you can call 311 or visit the NYC Department of Health’s website at www.nyc.gov/health.


Weprin Supports Local Agriculture Farmers Markets Strengthen Local Economy and Offer Families Fresh Choices

Farmers markets provide our communities with a great deal of benefits. From selling the freshest, locally grown products to creating vibrant public spaces that bring our neighborhoods together, these markets encourage residents of all ages to support local farmers, while helping to strengthen our area’s economy.

Help support our farmers and local economy by checking out a nearby farmers market:

Douglaston Greenmarket
(July 10 – November 20)
LIRR Station at 235th St & 41st Ave
Open Sundays from 8am - 3pm

Queens Botanical Garden Farmers’ Market
(July 1 – November 11)
Dahlia Ave off Main St., Flushing
Open Fridays from 8:30am - 4pm

Queens Hospital Center Farmers’ Market
(Year-round)
82-68 164th St., in front of Ambulatory Care Pavilion
Thursdays 7:30am - 4pm

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Assemblyman Weprin taking a donor’s blood pressure with the help of Donor Specialist, Ralph DiSalvo at a community blood drive in New Hyde Park.

Weprin Cares About Your Health

Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs

Every day, thousands of New Yorkers depend on prescription drugs to maintain their health. But the crush of difficult economic times, along with increasingly higher prescription drug prices, limits access to vital medication, especially for seniors. In order to help alleviate the burden of soaring prescription prices on our vulnerable residents and health care programs, Assemblyman Weprin voted for legislation that would establish the Prescription Drug Assistance Program to harness consumer purchasing power by negotiating rebates with suppliers (A.805). Those rebates would then be applied toward reducing prescription drug costs for participants, helping to make their medication more attainable.

Affordable, Quality Health Care

For New Yorkers who don’t receive health insurance through their employers or are still struggling to find work, trying to get reasonably priced, quality health care can be a daunting task. Assemblyman Weprin supported legislation that establishes the New York Health Benefit Exchange in compliance with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was passed by Congress last year.

Through this legislation, New York would be allowed to establish and operate its own health insurance exchange—a centralized marketplace that will provide consumers and small businesses with access to a variety of health care plans from different insurance providers and determine eligibility for and provide enrollment in public health plans.



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Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assemblyman David Weprin.

Weprin Votes for On-time State Budget with No New Taxes

The state budget passed on-time this year, for the first time in 5 years, closed a $10 billion deficit, and made restorations to education and vital programs, including those pertaining to energy, jobs, economic development, seniors, and family and social programs. Economic revitalization and development were key issues in this year’s budget. Assemblyman Weprin voted to create a permanent low-cost power program known as Recharge New York. The program is a sustainable and predictable energy program for businesses and not-for-profits designed to reduce costs, protect and create jobs and encourage new capital investments. This solution assures our local businesses, and new businesses looking to relocate to the state, that low-cost energy is here to stay and that New York is a vital, secure place to do business.

Protecting New York from Gun Violence

Assemblyman Weprin introduced legislation, signed into law by Governor Cuomo on August 3rd, that would amend penal law to further restrict the types of rifles, shotguns, and firearms felons may possess.

A little known loophole in penal law was brought to light after a spike in violence against police officers and civilians through the use of muzzle-loader rifles and shotguns in recent years. These antique guns, usually dating back to the Civil War era, are often viewed as collector’s items; but, placed in the hands of the wrong person, they can be used as a deadly weapon.

Weprin believes that this bill would restore the Legislature’s original intent to prevent individuals with previous violent criminal histories from lawfully possessing weapons and to protect our law enforcement officers and civilians.

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Weprin Supports Job Growth and Small Business

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Assemblyman David Weprin speaks at a rally to promote job creation throughout New York State.
Assemblyman Weprin and the NYS Legislature understand that our country, our state, and our communities are struggling to create jobs and keep our small businesses open. The New York State Capital Access Program (CAP) and the Innovate NY Fund (Ch. 103 of 2011) have the power to solve both of these problems while acting as a magnet to attract new businesses to the state.

New York is currently eligible for $55.4 million in federal funds through the State Small Business Credit Initiative, a new federal program intended to increase access to credit for small businesses and small manufacturers. The new law modifies New York’s existing CAP to ensure that more lending entities will be eligible to participate. This program provides loan-loss reserve pools at financial institutions that will help offset the risk that a small business might default on a loan.

The law also creates the Innovate NY Fund, an initiative that provides “seed money” to companies that have developed cutting-edge breakthroughs in emerging technologies and plan to create new high-tech jobs. This initiative will help attract new high-tech companies to New York and will help create jobs and spur economic growth.

Assemblyman David I. Weprin
56-21 Marathon Parkway
Little Neck, NY 11362
718-428-7900
827 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5806
Email: weprind@assembly.state.ny.us