Reports to
the people
of the
81st Assembly District

Assemblyman

Jeffrey
Dinowitz

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, Congressman Eliot Engel and members of the 52nd Precinct are shown at the launching of the Program for Pediatric Preparedness at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center. It will focus on the treatment of children in case of bioterrorism or other monumental disaster.

It is more important than ever that carefully planned growth and renewal take place in the Kingsbridge shopping district, especially now that a new shopping mall is being built on West 225th Street. The centerpiece of such a rebirth could be a large tract of land, currently a city-owned parking lot, just north of West 230th Street and east of Broadway.

While no plans have been put forth, the potential of this site is huge. I envision a mixed use, consisting of an office building with significant commercial space and a parking garage. The potential of bringing a large number of jobs, especially professional jobs, could have a dramatic effect in improving and uplifting the Kingsbridge and Marble Hill areas. This location, sandwiched between the West 231st Street/Broadway shopping area (which is covered by the Kingsbridge Business Improvement District) and the soon-to-be-constructed shopping mall in Marble Hill, would actually be the heart of a newly revitalized commercial district that runs from West 225th Street to West 238th Street.

It is my hope and intention that through thoughtful planning we can use this site for the long-term benefit of the entire community. We should not underutilize this land by building facilities here which could be located elsewhere. We should not squander a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We must think big!

I am pleased that Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr. has appointed a task force, which will include local elected officials and various community groups and city agencies. They will be charged with addressing how to best develop the West 230th Street site as well as examining alternative locations for a much-needed EMS garage. We need this EMS garage, we need the Bailey Avenue Firehouse to be rehabilitated, and we need major commercial development to take place on West 230th Street and Broadway.

The express buses are a lifeline for many people in our community. That’s why over 600 people turned out to a Town Hall Meeting and Rally that I sponsored, along with our other elected officials and the Association of Riverdale Cooperatives, to demand that weekend express bus service not be eliminated. The community spoke out loudly and clearly in opposition to this ill-advised decision by the City. Yet, the City’s recent budget modification removes the City’s subsidy that makes possible weekend express bus service on Liberty Lines. The ending of weekend express bus service would be a disaster for our community and seriously impact our quality of life. Over 7,000 riders use the express buses on weekends.

The City would save very little money as a result of this action. Many, many people use the express buses on weekends to go to work, medical appointments, shopping and the theatre. Most of these people will not or cannot drive. Most of them will not or cannot take the subway to get downtown. I have asked Mayor Bloomberg to change his mind and help us keep this vital service. I am hopeful that by the time you receive this newsletter the Mayor will have changed his mind.

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection still wants to build a water filtration plant in the Bronx. The community forced them to abandon efforts to build in the Jerome Park Reservoir. I blocked State legislation that would have allowed them to build in Van Cortlandt Park. They are now focusing on two sites, one in Westchester and the other north of Fordham Road next to the Major Deegan Expressway. I still believe that the best way to ensure clean water from the Croton Watershed is to take steps that will enable us to avoid filtration.

Meanwhile, the DEP abandoned its efforts to construct several diesel-fueled pumps at the Jerome Park Reservoir, across from the Bronx High School of Science. I objected to this construction, as did many community leaders. DEP’s claim that it was necessary because of the drought didn’t make sense. Fortunately, community pressure forced DEP to back down again.

Governor Pataki signed into law a bill I wrote that would include Familial Dysautonomia (FD) within the legal definition of developmental disability. The new law will raise awareness of the disease and make it easier for families to receive needed services from government entities and service providers.

FD is a very rare genetic disease that afflicts only Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jews. Its symptoms include lack of tears while crying, decreased ability to feel pain or temperature sensation, inappropriate fluctuations of blood pressure and body temperature, difficulty with feeding and swallowing and developmental delays. I am gratified that this important legislation is becoming law. I am hopeful that those who suffer from FD will now be in a better position to receive every service available to them.

In another victory for our community, the owners of Koo Koos abandoned their efforts to reopen their nightclub on Broadway, across from Van Cortlandt Park. Senator Velella and I contacted the State Liquor Authority to ask them to revoke Koo Koos Liquor License. Councilman Koppell and I, along with several community leaders, testified at the hearing of the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals that Koo Koos is a threat to the quality of life of the community. Several violent incidents took place there during the spring. We asked the Board to deny Koo Koos application for a variance that would have allowed them to have a cabaret license.

Our victory over Koo Koos is largely a result of our elected officials and concerned community members working closely together on an issue that could have had a major impact on our community.

As we approach 2003 it is clear that New York State will face a gargantuan budget gap. I have consistently advocated for the return of the commuter tax. I voted against eliminating this tax in 1999. Unfortunately, my concerns then proved to be well-founded. We need this important source of revenue.

The size of the deficit we are facing will mean that tough choices will have to be made in the coming months. I will fight against some of the counterproductive cuts that the administration has supported in the past. We must balance the budget, but we must not allow essential services, such as education and health care, be decimated.

Assemblyman Dinowitz presented a new American flag for P.S. 207 to Interim Acting Principal Caterina Ditillio and P.S. 207 students.

Once again my flu shot program was a major success. My office arranged for over 2,500 flu shots at ten sites with New York Presbyterian Hospital and the Visiting Nurse Service. Councilman Oliver Koppell and State Senator Eric Schneiderman co-sponsored these events with me. I would like to thank Helen Morik, Director of Government and Community Affairs at New York Presbyterian Hospital; Julio Batista of the Office of External Relations; Andres Nieto, Director of Community Health Outreach and Marketing; Lorelei Fredheim and the staff of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York; and many volunteers from the community. This collaborative effort was a huge success and will keep thousands of people healthy in the coming months.

Please bring two forms of identification, at least one with your photo and signature, if you would like to have your signature notarized.

The Governor has signed into law a piece of legislation I had pushed for several years. The new law bans the sale of certain dangerous articles of clothing for young children. Clothing for small children that contains drawstrings can no longer be sold in New York. I wrote the "drawstring bill" in response to reports that a number of small children were accidentally strangled when wearing clothing with drawstrings. This law will save lives.

My 2002 food drive was a huge success. Hundreds and hundreds of cans and packages of food were donated by people throughout the community. The students of PS 24, PS 7, PS 81 and MS 141 brought in so much food it could hardly all fit in my office. Many other people from the community helped as well. All of the food was donated to two food pantries in my district: St. John’s in Kingsbridge and St. Francis of Rome in Wakefield. Thank you to everyone who generously donated.