Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz
Community
NEWS
from Assemblyman
Steven
CYMBROWITZ
Fall 2011

Dear Neighbor,

The 2011 Legislative session was one of the most successful in decades. We started off by not only closing a $10 billion budget gap with minimal impact on working families and no new taxes, but we did it on time. This session also saw the strengthening of rent laws, an expansion of the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to include Rabbinical students, a cap on property taxes (which doesn’t affect New York City residents), significant ethics reforms and the legalization of same sex marriage.

Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’
Office is Here to Help:

CALL:
718-743-4078

COME IN:
Monday to Thursday:
9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

WRITE:
1800 Sheepshead Bay Road
Brooklyn, NY 11235

E-MAIL:
cymbros@assembly.state.ny.us

Even with the demands of legislative sessions in Albany, I was back in Brooklyn to handle local matters and attend community meetings and events. Please read through this newsletter to learn about some of what has been going on in our community over the past few months, as well as a summary of what happened legislatively in Albany.

Your opinion is important to me. That’s why I am interested in learning how you feel about the issues affecting our community and State. I would also like to know if you have any ideas for legislation. Communication is vital, so please stay in touch.

Sincerely,
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Continues to Sponsor Monthly Health Screenings, Talks and Flu Shots

As he has in the past, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz scheduled free monthly health screenings and talks, as well as four days of flu shots. Please read through the calendar and either call or email Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’ office to make an appointment for any that you are interested in.

Health Screenings 2011-2012
DAY
DATE
OFFERING
TIME(S)
Monday
October 3
Flu Shots
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday
October 5
Flu Shots
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Monday
October 24
Flu Shots
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Wednesday
November 2
Flu Shots
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday
November 7
Tai Chi
3 Classes: 10 a.m.,
11 a.m., 12 noon
Wednesday
December 14
Cholest., Glucose & Blood Pressure
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Wednesday
March 14
Colon Cancer
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Wednesday
April 18
Prostate Cancer Screening
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.


May
Vascular Screening
TBA
Wednesday
June 13
Diabetes Screening
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Wednesday
July 11
Balance (Light Exercise)
3 Classes: 10 a.m.,
11 a.m., 12 noon
Wednesday
August 15
Living with Allergies
10 a.m. – 12 noon

APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED FOR FLU SHOTS, SCREENINGS & TALKS
718-743-4078
cymbros@assembly.state.ny.us

Summary of 2011’s Major Legislation

More Protections for Tenants: The rent laws that protect tenants living in over one million New York City apartments have not only been extended for another four years, but they have been strengthened. The new protections will keep more apartments under rent regulations meaning they will remain affordable for average New Yorkers. It also makes paying for capital improvements (i.e. a new roof or improved electrical system) more fair for tenants.

Ethics Reform: After years of the Legislature working to pass public officials ethics legislation, Governor Cuomo signed the Public Integrity Reform Act into law on August 15th. This law creates an independent, bipartisan commission charged with investigating violations in the legislative and executive branches of State government. The commission is charged with enforcing new, stricter financial disclosure requirements and monitoring lobbying activity in Albany. Public officials with outside employment are now required to disclose the names of clients who do business with the State and also disclose outside income. The commission will be required to make all financial disclosure statements available on the Internet. Penalties for ethics violations have been increased and public officials convicted of a felony related to their official duties face the loss or reduction of their State pension.

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Expanded to Include Rabbinical Students: Beginning in January of 2012, for the next spring semester, income eligible rabbinical students will be able to apply for TAP grants of up to $5,000 per academic year. The new TAP benefits will be open to students enrolled in all non-profit, federal aid eligible institutions in New York State offering programs of at least three years. These are outright grants and are the same amount as those provided to students who are enrolled in colleges and universities. For more information either call 1-888-NYS-HESC (1-888-697-4372) or email www.hesc.com/content.nsf/SFC/Questions_or_Comments.

Marriage Equality Act: Same gender marriages are now legal in New York State. The law makes it clear that members of the clergy are not required to perform any marriage ceremony that violates their religious beliefs.

Autism Insurance Coverage: With autism more common in children than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined, New York State now requires health insurance companies to provide coverage for conditions relating to autism spectrum disorder. The previous law did not provide sufficient clarity or an affirmative obligation for health insurance providers to cover the costs relating to autism often resulting in significant out-of-pocket costs for families.

Pedestrian Safety: Trucks and tractor trailers must have convex mirrors to enable the driver to see a three foot tall person one foot in front of the truck. This legislation, which was first introduced in 2004, passed the Assembly less than two weeks after a truck driver struck and killed a four-year-old child in Williamsburg whom he couldn’t see.

Safer Streets: We saw the danger of texting while driving in our own community last December, when a takeout food deliveryman was killed by a driver who was allegedly texting. New York State has now made texting while driving a primary offense. Police officers may ticket a driver even if his/her only infraction is texting. NYS law also prohibits drivers from holding such devices as, but not limited to, cell phones, PDA’s, laptop computers, and electronic games while driving.


Assemblyman Cymbrowitz is Working to Reduce Litter

Acknowledging that litter is a big and growing problem, especially given the Sanitation Department’s limited resources, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz has expanded his street cleanup program for the summer. Working with Susan Edwards of Lillian H. Rashkis High School, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz has students sweeping and changing the garbage bags along parts of Emmons Avenue and Sheepshead Bay Road, as well as under the Sheepshead Bay subway station. Joining with the Brooklyn Chinese American Association’s President and CEO, Paul Mak, he is encouraging shopkeepers on Avenue U to “adopt” their corner litter basket; eight merchants have already joined the Adopt-A-Basket program and Assemblyman Cymbrowitz will be working to expand the program. While these efforts will not make our community litter-free they do provide some improvement.

photo
Students from Lillian H. Rashkis High showing Assemblyman Cymbrowitz how they change the liners of baskets in Sheepshead Bay.
photo
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz and the Brooklyn Chinese American Association’s Paul Mak watch as Sanitation District 15 Superintendent Rosario Morrone signs up a shopkeeper for the Adopt-A-Basket program.


Consider Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’
Office Your Community Resource

Whether it’s a personal or community problem, a question about government services, an idea for legislation, or an opinion, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz and his staff want to hear from you. You can walk-in, call, email, or write the old-fashioned way, but know that assistance is there for the asking.

Here is a sampling of a few of the problems that Assemblyman Cymbrowitz and his staff were able to solve:

Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Warns
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Affects Everyone

photo
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz questioning a witness during the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee’s hearing on underage drinking.

Assemblyman Cymbrowitz, Chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, wants you to know that drug and alcohol abuse affects everyone. Cymbrowitz conducted a hearing looking into the problems of underage drinking last May and sponsored a statewide roundtable examining the abuse of opiate prescription drugs by adolescents in August. “So many of us believe we are immune from the problems of drugs and alcohol. The testimony presented at both my hearing and roundtable illustrated the growing incidence of underage consumption of alcohol and adolescent misuse of opiate prescriptions,” Cymbrowitz stated. Statistics show that 17 percent of all alcohol purchased in our State is by underage drinkers and that 10 percent of students in grades seven through 12 reported the non-medical use of prescription opioids. “Even if you don’t know a child whose behavior falls under these statistics, the fact that in 2007 underage drinking cost New York State over $3.5 billion and that most of us have unused, easily accessible painkillers in our medicine cabinets means that we should all be concerned and thinking about the abuse of drugs and alcohol,” Cymbrowitz explained.


photo
The Kings Highway Beautification Association showing its appreciation to Assemblyman Cymbrowitz for providing the funding for the new antique-style street lights on Kings Highway.

Kings Highway Gets New “Antique Lights”

Assemblyman Cymbrowitz has been working with the Kings Highway Beautification Association for five years to bolster the business environment of Kings Highway between Ocean Parkway and McDonald Avenue. At a ceremony marking the completion of the installation of antique-style lights that Assemblyman Cymbrowitz funded along this stretch of Kings Highway, he explained that, “This is how a community working with its elected officials can make a positive difference. These lights are a direct result of this community’s efforts to improve both the business environment and aesthetics of Kings Highway.”



Assemblyman Cymbrowitz is Collecting
Old Cell Phones to Combat Domestic Violence

Assemblyman Cymbrowitz is collecting unused cell phones in collaboration with District Attorney Charles Hynes. The phones will be preprogrammed to dial 911 and given to victims of domestic violence, who have often fled an abusive relationship, leaving everything including their cell phones. These phones will not only provide a sense of security, but also help restore victims’ independence. Domestic violence is a serious concern in New York City with Domestic Violence Hotline advocates fielding an average of 320 calls each day and police responding to over 680 domestic violence calls daily. Please bring or mail unused cell phones to Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’ office at 1800 Sheepshead Bay Road.

Assemblyman Cymbrowitz
Finds Solution to Parking Problem

The City’s Department of Transportation installed “No Standing” signs in the area of Brighton Beach Avenue and Corbin Place to ease the flow of traffic. Ambulettes and Access-A-Ride vehicles were forced to double park in front of the JASA apartments and senior center, and buses and trucks were having problems negotiating the turns into this area. The community complained to Assemblyman Cymbrowitz about the loss of parking spaces. After an on-site survey with Brooklyn Traffic Commissioner Joe Palmieri he found a solution that restored many of the parking spaces while alleviating the traffic flow problems.


Assemblyman Cymbrowitz in Our Community


Please Join Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’
Email Mailing List

If you would like to receive occasional email updates from Assemblyman Cymbrowitz, add your email address to his email mailing list (your email address will not be given to anyone else) just email him at cymbros@assembly.state.ny.us or call his office. Please be sure to include your name as well as your email address.


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