assembly member kellner's december 2012 newsletter

7/30/2019 Assembly Member Kellner's December 2012 Newsletter

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December 2012 - In this issue:

Assembly Member Kellner Brings Another Lawsuit to Stop the East 91st Street Marine Transfer Station Solutions to New York State's Election Day Problems The Co-op and Condo Tax Abatement The Fight Continues Against Hydrofracking in New York Increasing the Minimum Wage for All New Yorkers Happy Holidays! A New Assembly District in January Apply for a Community Grant through Citizens Committee for New York Free Monthly Legal Clinic for Tenants

Visit my website: www.MicahKellner.com Follow me on Twitter: @micahkellner

Assembly Member Kellner BringsAnother Lawsuit to Stop the

East 91st

Street Marine Transfer Station

Assembly Member Kellner announcing his new lawsuit to stop the Marine

Transfer Station

Last month, I announced that I am the lead plaintiff along with Councilmember Jessica Lappin andothers on a new federal lawsuit challenging theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers' permitting of MayorBloombergs ill-conceived East 91st Street MarineTransfer Station.

When Superstorm Sandy hit on October 29th, thearea around the East 91st Street Marine TransferStation flooded, damaging Asphalt Greens facilities

with waters reaching as far as First Avenue. This

new reality of frequent extreme weather should bwake up call for the Army Corps of Engineers, Bloomberg administration and the City Councithat building a Marine Transfer Station in FloZone A is a disaster in the making.

Our new lawsuit exposes the fact that the U.S. ArCorps of Engineers violated the requirements of Federal Clean Water Act along with its oguidelines in granting the final permit necessary

begin construction on the East 91st Street MarTransfer Station. The Army Corps of Engineers corners in issuing its permit in July. It failedthoroughly evaluate all possible alternative sites, true long term environmental impact on this denspopulated residential neighborhood and whetconstructing a Marine Transfer Station at East 9Street is truly in the public interest. That puts community, and the tens-of-thousands of people wuse Asphalt Green each year, at risk.

This new lawsuit will give us yet another avenuefinally stop the construction of the East 91st StrMarine Transfer Station.

Solutions to New York State'sElection Day Problems

Many New Yorkers - myself included - experienlong delays when they tried to cast their ballotsElection Day. The long lines, broken ballot scann


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and lack of competent poll workers illustrated justhow antiquated New Yorks election law is. Clearlyour current election system could not handle thenumber of New Yorkers who attempted to cast aballot. We need to institute a voting process that iseasy, efficient and secure as possible.

Assembly Member Kellner voting on Election Day -- after waiting anhour and a half

I believe mail-in balloting is a solution that NewYork State should study. It has proven to be aneffective and secure method of voting in other states,such as Oregon and Washington. It provides voterswith the same capacity to make their vote count withconvenience and without the human or technicalerror that New Yorkers faced in this last Presidentialelection. Vote-by-mail elections improve the

accuracy of voter registration and also simplify theelectoral process.

Oregon's voting is done 100% by mail. Their ballotmarking program allows voters to mark, review, andprint a ballot for return. Washington State also votesprimarily through mail-in ballots. Ballot materialsare mailed or made available to voters at least 18days prior to an election. The ballots are completedby the voter and placed in an inner securityenvelope. That envelope is then placed in the outer

return envelope where the voter signs an affidavit toensure a ballots authenticity, making mail-in votingsafe and secure. Signed envelopes are then mailed nolater than Election Day.

I have also signed onto legislation which establishesearly voting in New York State. This legislationwould enact a number of fixes to help alleviateproblems our state may face in future elections. Allregistered voters would be able to cast their ballots

as early as two weeks before a general election and

one week before a special election. Also, at lefive polling places would be required in each of 62 counties. I think these are much needed stepsthe way to reforming our entire elections process aI look forward to making this legislation a reality.

New Yorkers deserve a voting system that is bothsimple and convenient.

The Co-op and Condo Tax Abatement

Many condo and co-op owners on the Upper ESide, Yorkville and Roosevelt Island have been ato remain in the city due - in large part - toproperty tax abatement making it affordable. Ttax abatement expired this year and, unfortunatethe legislature ended its session without agreement to extend it for co-op and condo owneThose who are worried about receiving a higher

bill next month have nothing to fear. The New YCitys Department of Finance will send estimated tax bills as if the abatement is stillplace. When the legislature reconvenes in Januaour first priority is the vote to reauthorize program retroactively. It is important to me continue to fight keep this abatement in place so tNew Yorks property owners will not be priced of their homes.

The Fight Continues AgainstHydrofracking in New York

For several years, there has been an effort underwto allow drilling for natural gas in upstate New Ythrough a process known as hydraulic fracturicommonly referred to as hydrofracking.

Hydrofracking uses a mixture of nearly 6chemicals, many of them kept secret from the puband millions of gallons of water, which are blas

underground in order to destabilize rock and shaleextract natural gas.

I have opposed hydrofracking from the vbeginning because it is not yet proven that it candone safely and without poisoning our water causing other environmental damagHydrofracking poses a real danger to our state anlast year - I sponsored a bill in the Assembly to bit entirely.


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Over mine and other advocates' opposition,Governor Cuomo has directed the State Departmentof Environmental Conservation (DEC) to draftregulations to permit hydrofracking to move forwardin New York State. Recently, he announced that theDEC would be extending its public comment periodon the draft regulations for hydrofracking to allowfor a review of potential adverse health affects fromdrilling. I have been advocating for a broader healthimpact study of hydrofracking for over a year, and Iam very pleased to see this extra step in place beforeNew York jumps into hydrofracking without fullyunderstanding its ramifications.

I encourage all New Yorkers to take the time tomake your voices heard by commenting on theDEC's website at www.dec.ny.gov.

The new end date for the comment period is now

January 11, 2013.

Increasing the Minimum Wagefor All New Yorkers

Since 2006, the minimum wage in New York Statehas remained stagnant at $7.25 per hour. Ourworkforce deserves better.

When Congress first implemented a minimum wagein 1938, it was intended to ensure that low-wageworkers would earn a livable wage. However, theminimum wage has fallen decades behind thegrowing rate of inflation.

According to the United States Bureau of LaborStatistics, the nation's minimum wage peaked in1968 at the 2010 equivalent of $9.60. If the 1968minimum wage of $1.50 had been indexed to keepup with inflation, it would have had the purchasingpower today of $10.03. Here in New York, if our

state minimum wage had been indexed to keep upwith inflation it would be approximately $10.80today.

New York's current minimum wage is not nearlysufficient enough to meet the rising costs of food andshelter, let alone provide for the costs of healthcare,transportation, child care and other necessities thathard working New Yorkers and their families faceevery day.

In 2010, there were over 264,000 people in NYork State earning at or below the minimum wamany of whom are right here in the five boroughs

With cost of living well above the national averagis vital that our wage standards here in New Yreflect this fact. The guarantee of a livable wbenefits not only workers and their families; it is aa direct benefit for New Yorks overall economy.

Under a bill Ive sponsored, our minimum wwould go up to $8.50 per hour - still well belwhat it would be if it had been indexed for inflatiThat increase would make our minimum wamong the highest in the nation second onlyWashington State. I am confident that when we hback to Albany after the New Year we can comean agreement with our colleagues in the Senatepass this legislation immediately.

Happy Holidays!

My wife and I wish you and your families a haphealthy and safe holiday season.

Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas and a joyoNew Year!

Just a reminder: I will be joining with my East Selected colleagues to host a holiday party

Tuesday, December 18th from 6:30-8pm Marymount Manhattan College's Great Hall locaat 221 East 71st Street (between Second and ThAvenues).

We are asking for donations to New York Cares 2Annual Coat Drive, which is more important thever in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

A New Assembly District in January

Since 2007, I have represented the 65th AssemDistrict, stretching from 60th Street all the way up95th Street on the East Side. Following New Yorredistricting process this year, I will now representing the brand new 76th Assembly DistriThe district will shift a few blocks in some spots, I will still represent most of the old 65th distrincluding Roosevelt Island.


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The new 76th Assembly District

My staff remains in place and on hand to help you

and your families with any community issues youhave.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at (212) 860-4906.

Apply for a Community Grant throughCitizens Committee for New York

Citizens Committee for New York City awardsmicro-grants between $500 - $3,000 to resident-ledgroups to work on community and school

improvement projects throughout the city. Groubased in low income neighborhoods and Titlpublic schools are given priority.

Recent awards have enabled neighbors to cotogether to make healthy food available in thcommunities, transform empty lots into commungardens, organize tenants to advocate for behousing conditions, and start school recycling driv

Download the application at www.citizensnyc.orgThe deadline is January 31, 2013.

Free Monthly Legal Clinic for Tenants

I am pleased to join with Eviction InterventServices to offer a free monthly legal clinic tenants. If your landlord is harassing you threatening you with eviction, or is refusing to ma

necessary repairs, and you can't afford to hirelawyer, come consult one of our volunteer attorne

The clinic is held the first Monday of every month1233 Second Avenue (between East 64th and 6Streets) with appointments from 6:30 p.m. to 8p.m. The next clinic will be on Monday, Janua

7th.

The clinic is by appointment only.

Please call my office at (212) 860-4906 to schedan appointment.

Contact My Office:

District Office of Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner1365 First Avenue New York, NY 10065

T: (212) 860-4906 F: (917) 432-2983Hours: M-F 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Email me: [email protected] my website: www.MicahKellner.com

assembly member kellner's december 2012 newsletter

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