Assemblyman Colton. works to improve public safety in our neighborhood. As a result of a swastika found at 1402 West 4th Street and in other areas, the Assemblyman organized an emergency meeting in his community office, inviting religious and community leaders, to discuss how best to combat the growing number of hate crimes. It was at this meeting that Colton discussed his proposed legislation that would make it a Class E Felony to vandalize property with a swastika or burning cross. “We must send a strong message that this type of vandalism is unacceptable in our community. No one in our neighborhood should continue to be threatened, intimidated and harassed by these cowardly acts”, stated Assemblyman Colton.

In addition to fighting hate crimes, the Assemblyman has also supported legislative proposals upholding public safety, which have now become law. One of the laws he sponsored changes notification procedures under the sex offender registration act (Meagan’s Law) to mandate the issuing of a photograph and description of a designated level two sex offender to communities vulnerable to the acts committed by the offender (schools, day care centers, etc.).

Another law sponsored by the Assemblyman makes video voyeurism a Class E felony. This is meant to protect the public from high-tech peeping toms who prey on people in their most private moments. Prior to this law, video taping was prohibited in bathrooms and dressing rooms but nothing protected people from being secretly videotaped in their private residences.

“People who prey on others, whether it be through intimidation with hate symbols, exploitation or acts of violence, should not be free to do so”, said Assemblyman Colton.

Assemblyman Colton Helps to Combat West Nile Virus

It’s that time of year again, when mosquitoes start biting and fears of West Nile Virus return. West Nile virus is a mosquito borne disease that can infect humans, birds, and other mammals. People mostly contract the virus by the bite of an infected mosquito. Most people who are infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms or experience mild illness such as fever, headache and body aches before fully recovering. Some people may also develop a mild rash or swollen lymph glands. People over 50, particularly those over 65, have the highest risk of severe illness.

Assemblyman Colton encourages everyone to take a few simple steps to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Assemblyman Colton’s Community Office is available to assist you in reporting areas of standing water to the City. Call 236-1598 or visit the office at 211 Kings Highway, between West 10th and West 11th Streets.

Assemblyman Colton and Adeline Michaels with others at a local electronics recycling day. -Photo by Harvey Trachtenburg

Assemblyman Colton applauds the resumption of recycling on a once a week pick-up of recyclables. As Chair of the Legislative Commission on Solid Waste Management, Colton has advocated for more effective recycling to mitigate the high disposal cost of garbage. Recycling plays an essential role, especially with dwindling landfill space.

Assemblyman Colton also has promoted the fostering of “hubs of recycling industries” in underutilized industrial areas of the city. Colton’s idea for “recycling hubs” taps into a developing market creating new jobs, saving the environment and lowering costs for transporting the garbage out of state. “Recycling can not only save money, but can be profitable for not only the city but for businesses as well,” said Colton.

Last year Assemblyman Colton fought against the MTA fare hike that affected many working New Yorkers, as well as millions of others who use the MTA. Now Assemblyman Colton continues the fight, trying to prevent new hikes in metrocard prices and to hold the MTA accountable for its spending and fare hikes.

The MTA is now proposing to increase monthly Metrocard rates, raising the monthly rate from $70 to $73, and the weekly price from $20 to $23. This proposal is, in reality, a tax hike.

Millions of workers use the MTA, whether it is the New York City subway or bus. These workers depend on the services of the MTA to bring them to and from work. Imagine if everyone in New York City drove to work instead of using public transit. Public transportation is essential to the economic and environmental health of this city. Placing a further tax on a service used by millions of New Yorkers to get to and from their jobs is absurd.

Assemblyman Colton is sponsoring legislation to hold public authorities such as the MTA more accountable to the public. This legislation, which has passed the Assembly, would create an independent budget office to review and report on the spending of public authorities.

“People are still coping with the burden of the last fare hike, especially since the MTA failed to prove that it was indeed necessary”, stated Colton. “We must ensure that this and other public authorities use the public’s money to the benefit of the public.”

Assemblyman Colton’s Community Office is available to help seniors with a wide variety of concerns. Recently the office has started offering a service to easily and quickly determine if a senior is eligible for as many as 11 cash-saving programs. This service is provided confidentially and determines whether a senior qualifies for certain tax breaks, food stamps, prescription medicine savings and other programs. Seniors can come to Colton’s Community Office at 211 Kings Highway, between W10th and W11th Streets, and the staff will assist them with this valuable new money saving tool.

Assemblyman William Colton received the Distinguished Legislator Award from the Council of Jewish Organization of Flatbush at the 26th Annual Community Breakfast. Over 700 COJO members, dignitaries and community leaders were present to hear Senator Chuck Schumer give praise to Assemblyman Colton. The Assemblyman was especially recognized for legislation he introduced to increase penalties for vandalizing someone’s property with hate symbols (e.g., swastikas or burning crosses).

Assemblyman Colton is echoing the community’s frustration over the lack of action to reverse the deterioration at Lafayette High School. This school, once known for excellence, recently has been fifth on the list of the ten most violent schools. The school has serious safety and academic problems. Colton has been calling on the Department of Education to include Lafayette High School as a school to be redesigned.

The Department of Education has created a system in which each high school receives a report card on it’s academic performance, safety, graduation rates, and a number of other areas. The Department’s own statistics show that this school has been declining in standards. Compared to other schools in Bensonhurst, Lafayette’s numbers are way down. For those students in school for four years through 2003, only 42% of students in Lafayette graduated while 62.4% of New Utrecht students graduated. The number of dropouts in Lafayette is 26.7% while the number for New Utrecht is 18.3%. Even more shocking, while Lafayette has a total enrollment of some 2,200 students, only about 200 of them have progressed sufficiently to be classified as seniors.

Another startling statistic is the category of major crimes. At New Utrecht High School, for every 1000 students there were only 0.8 instances of major crime, while Lafayette had 7.2 incidents for every 1000 students in the school. All these statistics have led many parents to put children, who would have gone to Lafayette, into other high schools. This results in neighboring high schools being overcrowded, at over 130% of capacity, while Lafayette is only at 79% of capacity.

The Assemblyman proposed Lafayette be redesigned into three smaller, safer schools within the same building, each with its own principal and academic specialties. In order to get action, the Assemblyman has begun a petition campaign. The petitions, which are now available at Colton’s community office, demand the Department of Education act now to make Lafayette a school where our children will have the opportunity for a quality education.

Assemblyman William Colton and City Councilman Simcha Felder sprang into action after learning that schools in Bensonhurst were lacking classroom flags. The officials donated 50 flags to PS 121, a school that had only three flags. “Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in our classrooms gives children a sense of belonging to something larger, a sense of patriotism. What does it say to our children when they are pledging allegiance to a piece of paper or a tattered, discolored flag?” stated Colton. Assemblyman Colton and Councilman Felder have started a campaign to raise money to put flags in all classrooms in our community.