State Senator Kevin Parker Analyzes the State's First On-Time Budget in a Quarter Century
After months of hard work and
compromise, New York passed its first on-time state
budget in over 20 years. While I am pleased that we
finished our work before the beginning of the new
fiscal year, I do have concerns about issues such as
Campaign For Fiscal Equity (CFE) funding, Medicaid
reform and middle class tax relief that were left
unresolved.
The truth is, this budget was as much about process
as it was about substance. It was about fixing a
broken system that I have been critical of since I was
first elected to the Senate. It was about rank and
file members, like myself, being included in the
decision-making and state leaders finding a way to
compromise for the good of all New Yorkers.
This year in particular, it was important for state
government to show that it could deliver a sound and
balanced budget on-time. We did, and both the
Legislature and the Governor should feel satisfied
that we accomplished what we were elected to do.
With that said, there were several issues, large and
small, that had to be set aside in order to complete
this budget in a timely manner. Now is the time to
take up these issues and build on the spirit of
bipartisanship and good will that was forged during
budget negotiations.
I want my constituents to know that there are several
positive parts to this budget, such as a record amount
of state education aid â?? including an increased
share to New York City schools; an agreement to fully
fund TAP and keep college affordable for all New
Yorkers; and funding increases for dozens of worthy
programs that positively affect the quality of life of
New Yorkers. Some of the programs marked for funding
increases include our public libraries, Breast Cancer
programs, Legal Aid services for the poor, the AIDS
Institute, affordable housing programs, speech
therapy, mental health services and dental services
under Family Health Plus.
While I was pleased to see the Legislature add $840
million in education aid to our public schools, it
falls woefully short of the mandate set out by the CFE
court case. Our first priority must be to provide all
students with a sound basic education as ordered by
the court in the CFE decision. So in that sense, we
failed to serve the needs of public school children,
particularly the thousands of students in underfunded
schools in New York City.
Further, while I voted for a plan to cap the local
Medicaid costs for counties, the legislation did not
go far enough, nor did the budget include critical
cost-saving measures necessary for future solvency. I
joined Senate Democrats in supporting the takeover of
local Medicaid costs for counties and implementing
cost saving measures to bring mandate relief to local
governments and stem skyrocketing local property
taxes. It is unfortunate that the Governor and Senate
Republicans did not fully embrace our proposals. The
reality is that New York is merely putting off some
hard decisions that are going to have to be made in
order to keep Medicaidâ??s safety net in place for the
neediest New Yorkers.
I am also disappointed that the Governor and Senate
Republicans are adding millions of dollars to our
state debt and raising taxes on those New Yorkers who
can least afford it. I am particularly upset that the
Governor again reneged on his promise to eliminate the
state sales tax on clothing and footwear purchases
less than $110. Thankfully, we were able to add two
more tax-free weeks during the year and completely
eliminate the sales tax in 2006.
Hopefully, now that the budget has passed, my
colleagues in the Senate and Assembly will use the
second half of this yearâ??s session to come to
bipartisan agreement on other important issues facing
New Yorkers. It is a great opportunity for us to move
other reform issues front and center. I look forward
to a very busy and productive Spring in Albany.

Council To Introduce Endangered Species Bill
New York City Councilmember Yvette D.
Clarke (D-40th District) was joined by her colleagues-
Councilmember James Gennaro (D-24th District),
Councilmember John Liu (D-20th District) and
Councilmember Phil Reed (D-8th District) ˆat a City
Hall press conference on Tuesday, May 18 to announce the introduction of the New York Endangered Species Bill. This legislation, once passed into law, will make it illegal to buy or sell any product claiming to or containing an endangered or threatened species.
"I am delighted to join my colleagues today in
presenting this important piece of legislation," stated Councilmember Clarke. "There are two reasons
for proposing this law- one, no one in this city
should be brazen enough to buy or sell illegal
products, and two, this law will complement federal
and state endangered species law. Endangered species are widely brought and sold in New York City. They can be found in the pet trade, in furs and with
traditional medicines. I believe that human beings
were meant to be the stewards of the earth and not its
plunderers. And this trade must cease."
Illegal trade poses a major threat to endangered
wildlife throughout the world and must be curtailed in
order to ensure the continued survival of these
species. Under the proposed law, for example, it would
be illegal to buy or sell a package labeled or
described by a salesperson as containing tiger bone.
Anyone who violates this law would be guilty of a
misdemeanor and subject to a fine of up to $12,000.
"Not only is trading in endangered species disgraceful
but it‚s also a serious threat to the environment,"
said James Genarro, chair of the City Council's
Environmental Protection Committee. "This is because
wildlife species are the foundation of a healthy
environment and, if we lose species, the whole
environment is placed in jeopardy."
"We have a responsibility to stop the poaching and
illegal trade that continues today," stated
Councilmember John C. Liu, chair of the Council‚s
Transportation Committee. "There are people from many sectors and communities within our city who need to better understand that endangered species are not for human consumption- not as pets, not as clothing, not as medicine, not as food and not as ritual items."
Councilmember Phil Reed, chair of the Council‚s
Consumer Affairs Committee, stated, "This law closes
the loopholes that currently make prosecuting
offenders nearly impossible. With this legislation,
New York City will have an effective tool in the fight
against the illegal sale and use of endangered
species‚ products."
Despite numerous state, national and international
laws prohibiting or regulating much of this trade, the
illegal wildlife trade thrives. To gauge one small
sector of this trade, TRAFFIC North American (the
wildlife monitoring program of the World Wildlife
Fund) conducted a market survey in New York City‚s
Chinatown in the spring of 2003 to determine if, and
how frequently, illegal or regulated wildlife products
were being sold in traditional medicine shops. Of the
27 shops surveyed, 12 displayed medicines containing,
or claiming to contain, tiger bone or rhino horn. In
addition, all the stores were found to be selling
products containing bear bile, musk (derived from musk
deer) and leopard bone.
"This legislation would fill a gap in law
enforcement‚s ability to crack down on illegal sale of
endangered species," said Craig Hoover of TRAFFIC, the world‚s leading wildlife monitoring network. „TR AFFIC and the World Wildlife Fund will also be working
cooperatively with the traditional Chinese community
to raise awareness about the need to stop selling
illegal wildlife products.

Borough President Helps Clean-up Flatbush
Two weeks ago, Flatbush got a little cleaner. On Saturday, April 24th over 70 residents and local elected officials showed up to clean their streets and paint over graffiti. For the past three years, the Flatbush Development Corporation’s Anti-Graffiti Taskforce has organized this event. This year 10 out of 12 local Neighborhood Associations participated, spanning from Avenue H to Church Avenue, and Ocean to Coney Island Avenues. Several dozen mailboxes, light poles and fireboxes were painted over, as well four huge walls in the area. Residents also cleaned up garbage on their streets.
What has become an annual event, (always right before the Annual Victorian House Tour), also marks the start of the Taskforce’s Spring Season. This year the residents received a special helper. Borough President Marty Markowitz stopped by to lend a hand. The Borough President along with Assembly Member Jim Brennan made the first paint strokes on a graffiti’d wall on Cortelyou Road and E 17th Street. Residents were delighted when Marty showed screaming “Flatbush, Yeah”. “It’s a great opportunity to get everyone working together,” said Sandra Harris, the Taskforce Chair. “I’m excited with this year’s turnout, it gets bigger every year,” she continued, adding “Look, even Marty’s here”.
Just the day before the Taskforce scored another victory. At the Taskforce’s request the Borough President’s own Anti-Graffiti Program, responded by power washing several badly “tagged” stanchions in the area. “Marty really came through” said Harris. “And they look great” added Nicole Francis, taskforce member and Beverley Square East Team Leader, “It was a nice jump start to the day”.
Nathan Thompson an active Taskforce member, and Prospect Park Team Leader, was also excited “I can’t tell you how great it is to see all these people out” he said “Marty, Jim, all these residents, it really shows neighborhood pride.” Paint teams from the 9 Associations could be seen all over Flatbush, painting and cleaning.
Also on the Taskforce’s radar screen was the their Adopt-A-Spot Program “We hope many of these Mailboxes will be adopted today “said Harris. Referring to the Adopt-A-Spot Program that allows residents to adopt items like a mailbox, agreeing to keep them graffiti free.
Several residents were new to the clean-up, but were equally excited. “We received more calls than ever before thanks to an article in the Courier Life, we even got a call from Greenpoint. {Brooklyn,}” said Jumaane D. Williams, the FDC program director staffing the event. He added, “It’s been a great response, the associations did this individually for years on a smaller scale, now its magnified”
When asked of what she thought of the event, new participant Ingrid Stephens, President of the 125 E 18th Street Tenant Association replied. “It’s not that hard really, it’s a pleasure. “Just a few minutes and my community looks wonderful,” she added.
The elected officials who attended were Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assembly Members Jim Brennan and Rhoda Jacobs and District Leaders Booker Ingram and Jacob Gold. The Neighborhood Associations who took part were Prospect Park South, Ditmas Park, Beverley Square West, Beverley Square East, Ditmas Park, South Midwood, West Midwood, Midwood Park, Fiske Terrace, Caton Park and the125 East 18th Street Tenant Association.
The Taskforce meets the first Tuesday of every month, and paints the 3rd Saturday of every month. For more information on the Taskforce or any other FDC Program please call Jumaane D. Williams at 718 859-4868, or by email at williams@fdconline.org

Clarke Responds To Helicopter Crash
New York City Councilmember Yvette D.
Clarke (D-40th District) issued the following response
this evening after visiting the scene of the Channel 4
News helicopter crash, which took place in her
district:
“After personally surveying the crash scene, it is
quite clear that the pilot of this helicopter
heroically saved quite a few lives today,” stated
Councilmember Clarke. “It is miraculous that there
were not more serious injuries or fatalities. Visiting
the rooftop and looking down on the crash scene, I can
only imagine the skill it took to bring that machine
down without causing more damage than it did. The
residents of this community have a lot to be thankful
for tonight. This could have been a bigger tragedy.
Let us all pray for the speedy recovery of those in
the crash.”
Councilmember Clarke quickly left City Hall and
responded to the scene after hearing the crash took
place in her district. She was escorted by NYPD
officials to view the crash scene and to get details
on what precautions were being used to remove the
wreckage from the rooftop. Additionally, she received
assurances that displaced residents were being
properly cared for.
“Additionally, I must take a moment to point out that
the rapid response across the borough by our police,
fire and emergency services personnel was nothing but
spectacular,” stated Councilmember Clarke, chair of
the Council’s Fire & Criminal Justice Services
Committee. “Not only was the response to this accident
handled in a professional and organized manner, but it
was clear to me arriving at the scene that all
departments were jointly working together in unison to
deal with this crisis. I believe this is indicative of
the post-9/11 emergency preparedness training our
first responders have undergone. It is another example
of why we must make the funding and training of our
emergency personnel a city, state and federal
priority.”

Clarke Responds to Mayor's Budget
Last week Mayor Michael Bloomberg released his $46.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2005. The plan calls for a $400 property tax rebate for homeowners, $562 million in raises for the District Council 37, the city’s largest municipal union, and cuts to a number of city agencies. The Mayor and City Council must agree on a budget by June. District 40 Council Member Yvette Clarke offered the following response to the mayor’s proposed budget:
"There is no doubt that the citizens need a break on property tax. But homeowners were not the only ones affected by last year's 18.5% increase. Renters such as myself absorbed a lot of that cost too. If the mayor is going to try a political gimmick then he needs to add some measure that includes as many people as possible."
5/3/04

Precinct Captain Warns Against Identity Theft
At the Wednesday, March 17 Community Board 17 general meeting, Inspector Robert Boyce, captain of the 67th Precinct reported that identity theft is one of the precinct's leading crimes. According to Boyce, people are reporting that credit card applications are being stolen from their mailboxes.
Boyce also reported that Grand Larceny of Auto was a continuous problem. He urged everyone with a late 1980's or early 1990's Japanese made automobile to put an anti-theft device on their car.
He also explained that Operation Impact was very successful last year in the area near the Vanderveer complex. He reported that the anti-crime initiative was underway around Rutland Road, Winthrop and Church Avenues and East 48th Street. He reported, that to date, there were no shootings on Rutland Road and attributed it to te high visibilit of police officers in the area.

Clarke To FDNY: Ante Up!
The Committee on Fire and Criminal Justice
Services, chaired by Council Member Yvette D. Clarke,
today heard testimony regarding a divisive bill that
would mandate the departments of correction and fire
provide the Council with copies of their internal
policies and procedures, similar to the NYPD’s Police
Reporting Law.
“This bill makes sense because it enables the Council
to properly perform its oversight role and will reduce
the number of information requests these agencies
receive from the Council,” said Chairwoman Clarke. “My
staff has met with representatives of the FDNY and
Correction and I am aware of the concerns voiced in
these meetings, including the potential burden and
security issues relating to this legislation. Despite
this, I look forward to finding a mutually acceptable
outcome.”
In performing its oversight function, the Council
often requires updated information about the certain
procedures of a uniformed agency. Currently there is
no requirement for the FDNY or Corrections Department.
This measure would require the departments to provide
the Council with all updated brochures, manuals,
directives and regulations in both paper and
electronic format.
The departments however are in opposition to any law
that would mandate these checks and balances, citing
security concerns, for example, in previous private
meetings.
“In order for the legislative branch of government to
properly review the activities of city agencies in a
timely and continuous basis, we need all pertinent
information. When this administration departs, the
Council wants reassurance that the same cooperation
that we share with these current departments exists in
years to come.”
In other news, the committee also addressed a
resolution that calls upon the State to properly and
fairly fund the City’s departments of Correction and
Probation. The State has chronically under-funded the
New York City Department of Probation. Forty percent
of all probationers are on probation in New York City,
and 54% of all felons – who would otherwise be in
state prison at a cost of $32,400 – are on probation
in New York City.
Further, the City’s Juvenile Intensive Supervision
Program, which oversees 711 youths on probation, saves
the State $53, 325 through placement in this city
program.
Nonetheless:
• New York City receives only 26% of available state
funding for probation;
• New York City receives only $468 on average per
probationer, compared to an average of $647 for the
rest of the State;
• Nearly half of New York State counties receive a
higher reimbursement rate per probationer than New
York City.
Said Chairwoman Clarke: “New York City continues to
receive far less than other counties in the State even
though we carry a more difficult felony-skewed
caseload. The safety of city residents and the status
of the probationers in our care is all of the State’s
responsibility. For these reasons, it is time for New
York City to receive its fair share.”

Clarke Tours Slumlord Tenements
Councilmember Yvette D. Clarke (D-40th District) toured slumlord buildings within her district on Saturday, March 13 in an effort to bring attention to the sub-human living conditions that local residents are subjected to. This anti-abandonment building tour, which was facilitated by the Flatbush Development Corporation, allowed Councilmember Clarke to meet with residents and visit their apartments, where she viewed disparate living conditions, which included broken mailboxes, leaking ceilings, broken windows and cracked walls. Some tenants had broken stoves, no kitchen sinks and toilets that did not flush.
"The images that I have witnessed today have troubled me deeply," stated Councilmember Clarke. "It is the shame of the city that we have residents who are forced to live in these types of conditions. While we are all responsible for the quality of life in our neighborhoods, the immediate blame for the dilapidated conditions of these apartment
buildings lies directly with their slumlord owners. They have forced their tenants to live in unsanitary and dangerous apartments by ignoring or dragging their feet on much-needed repairs.
"It is my intention to shed light on this issue and assist these tenants in improving the quality of their living conditions. Whether through legal redress or other means, these landlords will live up to their responsibilities. By allowing these conditions to fester, they have shown no respect for the humanity of their tenants. I'm sure they would not allow these conditions if members of their families were living in these buildings, but they find no shame in allowing young children of color to suffer the humiliation of having water leak from a ceiling onto their heads while they use the toilet.
"Additionally, I will be sharing my findings with the city's Department of Housing, Preservation & Development and insist that they immediately visit these building and put pressure on these slumlords to repair their property. The tour that I undertook last weekend was an eye-opening experience and heart-breaking. No child should have to live under these conditions in the digital age. There's no excuse for it. And I'll be damned if I sit by quietly while this happens in the 40th Council District."
Councilmember Clarke toured apartments in the following buildings:
2017 Albemarle Road, Brooklyn
125 East 18th Street, Brooklyn
1912 Avenue H, Brooklyn
829 East 19th Street, Brooklyn
For more information about the Anti-Abandonment Building Tour, contact Flatbush Development Corporation at (718) 859-3800.

HHC: Diabetes Prevention Study at Kings County
Kings County Hospital is leading an international trial study to evaluate promising new drugs for diabetes prevention. The study which involves 114 centers worldwide including 25 centers in the U.S.A. is called the DREAM trial (Diabetes REduction Assessment with Ramipril and Rosiglitazone Medications).
"It is a 5-year program in which patients at risk for diabetes will be screened and if they have pre-diabetes, they will be offered an opportunity to participate in the study where 2-medications, Ramipril and Rosiglitazone are being tested for diabetes prevention," says Dr. Samy McFarlane, Director of the Fellowship Training Program in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension at Kings County Hospital Center, and head of the Brooklyn DREAM Center. "This will greatly impact treatment particularly because diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, lower extremity amputations and kidney failure where patients wind up on dialysis or require kidney transplants."
In a previous trial called the heart outcome prevention study, a medication called Ramipril, also known as Altace, commonly used for treatment of hypertension was being tested to see if it could reduce stroke, heart attacks and death from cardiovascular disease in high risk patients and it did. Additionally in that study, the medication Ramipril prevented the development of new diabetes by 34%. This finding increased "hope" that this medication could also be used to prevent diabetes in high-risk patients.
Rosiglitazone, also known as Avandia, is from a group of drugs called Thiazolidinedione that has been shown to prevent diabetes and is very helpful in unlocking insulin resistance, making insulin work better.
The Brooklyn DREAM Center is currently the largest among 114 centers worldwide. It is sponsored by Kings County Hospital Center, under the direction of Jean G. Leon, RN, MPA, the Executive Director of Kings County Hospital and Senior Vice President of the Central Brooklyn Family Health Network of New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.

Homepage of the Community Gazette for District 40
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THE OFFICIAL WORD FOR DISTRICT 40
State Senator Kevin Parker Analyzes the State's First On-Time Budget in a Quarter Century
(Apr 08, 2005)
Council To Introduce Endangered Species Bill
(May 20, 2004)
Borough President Helps Clean-up Flatbush
(May 09, 2004)
Clarke Responds To Helicopter Crash
(May 06, 2004)
Clarke Responds to Mayor's Budget
(May 04, 2004)
Precinct Captain Warns Against Identity Theft
(Apr 27, 2004)
Clarke To FDNY: Ante Up!
(Apr 14, 2004)
Clarke Tours Slumlord Tenements
(Mar 23, 2004)
HHC: Diabetes Prevention Study at Kings County
(Nov 04, 2003)
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