the Residents of the 41st Assembly District
Helene E. Weinstein
I strongly believe that one of my most important responsibilities is to listen carefully, answer questions and help solve your problems. Along with my experienced community office staff, I can assist you with a variety of important services and help to resolve community problems.
After many unsuccessful attempts at renewing his Parking Permit for People with Disabilities, Mr. P. enlisted the help of Assemblywoman Weinstein. Phone calls were placed to the Department of Transportation who tracked down his application and were able to expedite the renewal.
Cutting Bureaucratic Red Tape
Assemblywoman Weinstein assisted Mr. and Mrs. K. after the New York City Department of Finance mistakenly canceled all of their property tax exemptions and overbilled the couple $8,000 in property taxes on their home.
Mrs. K. a single mother and asthma sufferer with two young children came to the Assemblywoman’s office for help in increasing her insufficient foodstamp allowance of just over $200. The Assemblywoman reached out to the Office of Temporary Disability Assistance and requested a recalculation resulting in a doubling of her benefits.
Sidewalk Issue
Assemblywoman Weinstein visited with Mr. A. at his home to survey the sidewalk damage that the City claimed was his responsibility to repair. The Assemblywoman reached out to both the Department of Transportation and the Department of Design and Construction who ultimately agreed the City was responsible for half of the work involved, saving the constituent hundreds of dollars.
Overtime Overlooked
Mr. B. asked for the Assemblywoman’s help in his unsuccessful battle to get overtime pay from his former employer for work done in 2012. The NYS Labor Department was contacted, an investigation launched, and just a few months later, a grateful Mr. B. called to let the Assemblywoman know he had received his overtime pay.
Protecting the Insured
Ms. K. was having a difficult time arranging for medical treatment payments through her insurer following a settlement in a no-fault auto collision. The Assemblywoman was able to call the insurer, who was under the assumption that her medical treatment was no longer necessary. They corrected the matter and are continuing to pay for these vital services.
License Plate Returned
Ms. S. contacted Assemblywoman Weinstein’s office for assistance with getting her license plates back from the New York State DMV to retrieve her vehicle from an impound lot in New Jersey. The Assemblywoman contacted the DMV on Ms. S.’ behalf and was able to resolve a related issue allowing for the quick return of the plates and her vehicle.
Gift Card Gaffe
Mrs. N. had purchased a high price gift card from a large retail store. Some months later when she tried to use it, the store informed her that the card was empty. Assemblywoman Weinstein helped her fill out a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and a short time later all of the money was replaced on the card.
Longer Meter Hours
Mr. S. a local restaurant owner, sought Assemblywoman Weinstein’s help to extend the time allotted to customers on muni-meters in front of his business from one hour to two. The Assemblywoman reached out to the NYC Department of Transportation and soon thereafter the city approved and changed the limit.
While on a tour to publicize the expansion of NYC’s Universal Pre-K programs, Assemblywoman Weinstein visited with PS 251 Pre-K students to read from “Sugar Would Not Eat It.”
It has been close to 2 years since Superstorm Sandy hit New York shores, destroying homes and disrupting life for hundreds of thousands.
I continue to work with those in our community still struggling to restore their homes and lives, and with my colleagues in Albany to advance legislation that will ensure our residents and businesses are protected and gas station shortages are avoided should we ever experience another storm like Sandy. We’re making great progress:
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As of April 1st 2014, most gas stations located within a half mile of highway exits or hurricane evacuation routes are required to have a transfer switch installed and to deploy and install a generator within 24 hours of losing power during a fuel supply or energy emergency. By 2015, 30% of chain gas stations must meet the same standard.
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Eligible homeowners who rebuilt or repaired their homes as a direct result of Sandy, and had their assessed values lowered in 2014, will receive a much needed break on their real estate taxes through an abatement enacted in Albany to freeze their taxes at the pre-storm, fiscal year 2013 amount.
During Superstorm Sandy, ten damaged boats washed ashore at the empty lot at 2501 Knapp Street. The boats, never claimed by their owners, quickly became a dumping site and a persistent eyesore.
After constituents complained, the Assemblywoman observed the boats, which sat on city owned property, and immediately started negotiations to ascertain who was responsible. After months of exhaustive communications with the New York City Department of Sanitation and the Department of Environmental Protection the DSNY was able to visit and clear the site on June 10th.
A recent investigation co-authored by Assemblywoman Weinstein found that the foreclosure crisis continues in New York State, with nearly 30,000 homes currently facing possible foreclosures.
The Assemblywoman, in conjunction with Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, is working to pass legislation that would force banks and lenders to upkeep properties before and during the foreclosure process. Abandoned or vacant homes, often called “zombies,” can pose serious safety risks to residents living nearby, and often become havens for drug dealers or targets of vandalism. Worse yet, the market value of neighboring homes - and the entire neighborhood - decreases as these properties deteriorate. An estimated 15 percent of foreclosed homes in New York State are “zombie” properties.
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Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein often works with the NYC Department of Transportation on issues reported by constituents, to repair and improve dangerous and hazardous street conditions that negatively impact the quality of life and safety of you and your neighbors. Some examples of the improvements made after intervention from the Assemblywoman this past year are:
- Installation of dual left turn signals at the accident-prone intersection of Glenwood Road and Kings Highway
- Installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Avenue U and Batchelder Street
- Installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Avenue K and East 31st Street
Types of conditions we can help with include:
- Prohibiting parking at street corners; improving visibility at intersections
- Traffic signal and stop sign installations
- Speed-bump installations
- Sidewalk re-inspections
- Street light installation and repair
- Pothole and street repairs
You can report hazardous conditions by contacting Assemblywoman Weinstein’s community office.
