Assemblywoman Helene E. Weinstein ![]()
Summer 2008
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A REPORT TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE 41ST DISTRICT |
Dear Neighbor, During the 2008 legislative session, as Chair of the Judiciary Committee, I helped craft this year’s State budget and many of our legislative accomplishments. This newsletter highlights laws enacted and legislation which passed both houses and is expected to be signed into law - to curb attacks against the elderly, protect children and domestic violence victims, curb bias incidents and help identity theft victims.
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WEINSTEIN'S NEW LAW PROTECTS NEW YORKERS
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein sponsored the new law to curb attacks by those who target the elderly. Seniors often appear as soft targets for criminals. Like all citizens, they must be afforded the protection to live safely, without falling prey to those who may cruelly exploit their age. This new law, increases the penalty for assaulting a person 65 years or older from a misdemeanor to a violent felony, meaning, these cowardly criminals can now face up to 7 years in jail, instead of the 1 year maximum sentence. Curbing Elderly Assault – Bill Signing
Assemblywoman Weinstein joins Speaker Silver and her legislative colleagues as Governor
Paterson signs into law the measure that toughens punishment for assaulting the elderly.
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WEINSTEIN HONORS 2008 GRADUATES
![]() Every year Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein presents a Community Service Award and U.S. Savings Bond to a deserving graduate at each local public and private school. Assemblywoman Weinstein presents awards to deserving graduates from P.S. 277 (on left) and P.S. 208. |
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PROTECTING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
Protecting Students From Sex Offenders In Schools
Improving Safety Recall System for Toys and Children’s
Products
PROTECTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS
As the leading state legislator strengthening laws to protect victims of domestic violence, Assemblywoman Weinstein sponsored long overdue legislation, now law, that would allow all victims of domestic violence the right to seek a civil order of protection. Orders of protection are an essential tool to help protect victims from future violence. By allowing greater access to family court, the safety of domestic violence victims will be greatly enhanced.
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LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS 2008 has been a productive Legislative year with many important new laws enacted – legislation which Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein sponsored include:
• IMPROVING PATIENT CARE – Ending
Mandatory Overtime For Nurses
• CURBING BIAS INCIDENTS – Anti-Noose
Law
• GUN BACKGROUND CHECKS – Mental
Health
• WEINSTEIN SUPPORTS CO-OP TAX
ABATEMENT EXTENDER |
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Good Shepherd Sports
Assemblywoman Weinstein joined participants of Good Shepherd Sports at the
Marine Park Groundbreaking.
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Weinstein Secures Traffic Signal
Assemblywoman Weinstein joins students and faculty from the Christian Heritage Academy,
Nieuw Amersfort President Steven Yamin and fellow board members to celebrate the installation
of a traffic signal that the Assemblywoman requested, at the intersection of Avenue J and East
42nd Street.
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PROTECTING SENIORS AND DISABLED FROM CREDITORS
The only source of income for 750,000 New York seniors is Social Security. It is important that when judgment creditors attempt to seize assets, that they do not leave the elderly completely unable to care for their most basic needs. Assemblywoman Weinstein’s bill, the Exempt Income Protection Act, closes the loophole that allows credit card companies and debt collectors to use “restraining notices” to freeze bank accounts of the elderly and disabled, even when all of the money in the account is direct deposited Social Security, disability payments, pensions and public assistance and is exempt from collection. This legislation which passed both houses and is expected to be signed into law, would also make it easier for account holders whose funds have been unlawfully frozen to get a restraining notice lifted from their account.
Last year, 19,319 New Yorkers experienced the crippling effects of Identity Theft and the difficult task of restoring their credit rating and clearing up their financial records. Assemblywoman Weinstein sponsored a new law that enhances privacy protections and programs to help people who are victims of Identity Theft. This new law will protect the misuse of personal information. It will restrict an employer’s access to an employee’s personal information; prohibit Social Security Numbers on ID badges, ID cards, or in files with open access. The law creates a state program to help victims repair financial and credit history.
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Weinstein’s Community Office is Here for You |
SKIP A TRIP TO THE DMV |
Join the hundreds of your neighbors who have already received their Non-Driver IDs at Helene Weinstein’s Community Office. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will be returning to Weinstein’s Office on: Thursday, September 4th, 2008*
Apply for a Non-Driver’s I.D. Card
*Appointments are requiredNo Walk-Ins! |
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Marine Park Groundbreaking
Assemblywoman Weinstein, Councilman Lewis Fidler and Assemblyman Alan Maisel
provided some of the funding for the new Marine Park Community Center, to be named
after community activist Carmine Carro. Joining in the Groundbreaking Ceremony were,
CB #18 District Manager Dorothy Turano, N.Y.C. Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe,
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, and Carmine Carro's family members.
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Community Board #17
At a recent Community Board #17 meeting, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein
discussed her legislative and community outreach efforts to help homeowners
protect themselves from predatory lenders and the sub-prime mortgage
foreclosure crisis.
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Community Concerns
At the Annual Major McCarthy Memorial, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein speaks to
63rd Police Precinct Clergyman Raphael Treitel and Jack and Evelyn Zelmanowitz about
community issues.
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OBTAIN A SENIOR HALF-FARE METROCARD Helene Weinstein Brings the Senior Half-Fare MetroCard Bus to the Community Office on the Third Thursday of every month.
Upcoming dates: 10:30 am to 12:00 noon Apply for the Senior Half-Fare MetroCard and receive one on the spot. Proper age I.D. (65 years & older) and photo I.D. are required. |
ASSEMBLYWOMAN WEINSTEIN HELPS YOU STAY HEALTHY! |
Free Cholesterol and Glucose Screening* Thursday, September 25th, 2008
*Appointments are necessary. |
FREE FLU SHOTS Call Weinstein’s Office for upcoming fall dates (718) 648-4700 |
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