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State Senate Republicans agreed yesterday to a power sharing arrangement with five dissident Democrats led by Jeffery Klein. Instead of being run by a majority leader, the body will be led by a revolving presidency held by Republican Dean Skelos and Klein. Leaders of the GOP and the Democratic group would have “joint and equal authority” over bills, committee assignments, appointments and budget negotiations. Some legislation the coalition is likely to back includes a minimum-wage increase and more lenient marijuana laws. Mayor Bloomberg's spokesman called the coalition “an example of bipartisan cooperation at its best,” but some Democrats criticized the arrangement a "coup." The other four Democrats are Malcolm Smith, Diane Savino, David Valesky, and David Carlucci.

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On November 6th, voters elected a majority of Democrats in the Senate, because of the failure of the Senate Republicans to reform our legislative process and advance the progressive agenda that most New Yorkers support. It would be tragic if a ‘coalition’ of Republicans, party-switchers and ‘independent’ past failed leaders thwarted that agenda. Right now, it all just looks like another Albany backroom deal to empower a select few Democrats while forestalling the Senate Republicans’ inevitable fall from power . We know what the coalition members got for making this deal, but it remains to be seen what, if anything, New Yorkers will get.

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The New York Post reported this morning that state Sen. Malcolm Smith will join the Independent Democratic Caucus the group that has pledged to help keep Republicans in charge of the chamber.

Smith was Senate Majority Leader in 2009 when Senate Republicans staged a coup with the help of two renegade Democrats, which left the Senate in chaos for weeks. 

The Independent Democrats, created and led by Bronx state Sen. Jeff Klein, supposedly left the Democratic confernece because of the infighting and absurdity that took place when Smith was "in control" with the Democrats. Smith, however, looks to be setting himself up for a run for New York City mayor on the Republican ticket.

Klein bolted the Democratic conference when Minority Leader John Sampson replaced him as head of the New York Senate Democratic Campaign Committee in 2010. Democrats lost a number of seats under Klein's watch in the 2010 elections. But Klein and his followers got some perks from Republicans in 2011 while rank-and-file Democrats saw their budgets and staffing slashed. 

This year, Democrats have picked up at this moment an undetermined amount of seats — likely enough that if all Senate Democrats were on board they would be back in the majority.

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Faith leaders working with Occupy Sandy on Hurricane Sandy relief efforts plan to converge on the residence of Mayor Michael Bloomberg to demand that the city provide temporary housing for those displaced by the storm or those living in unsafe conditions.  

The rally in front of the mayor's office is expected to begin at 11 a.m. today.

As we reported Monday, elected officials say FEMA is considering renting empty apartments and housing those in need of safe refuge because of damage done to their homes by Sandy — especially in neighborhoods in the Rockaways.

Housing conditions are deteriorating in the communities on the peninsula as mold continues to grow unchecked in many homes, while still others remain without heat and power. 

Grassroots groups have been protesting the lack of temporary housing for weeks now and the movement seems to be growing.

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Gov. Cuomo says he's optimistic about his meetings yesterday with the White House and Congressional leaders where he pressed for aid to help rebuild from Superstorm Sandy. Congress and the president are currently trying to agree on how to avoid a possible fiscal crisis next month. The disaster aid will most likely be tied to those talks. Some in Congress have suggested the aid be offset by cuts elsewhere, a move that would put the money at risk. This is the first time Cuomo has visited Washington since being elected. Mayor Bloomberg made a similar visit last week. New Jersey is also seeking about $37 billion in aid.

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As politicians begin taking more seriously the possible construction of a sea barrier, Gov. Cuomo will travel to Washington today seeking over $40 billion in aid -- a large chunk of which will go towards protection from future storms. The Washington Post backed up similar thinking, calling big spending on preparation well worth it. But of course, planning will be difficult, and it's much more complicated than just walling of the city from nature. Future development should come into consideration; like new plans for Flushing Meadows Park in Queens. Some say the park's role as natural buffer against flooding would be compromised by the proposed stadiums and malls. And then there's the gas pipeline planned for construction under The Rockaways. Environmentalists say flooding in the area threatens its stability.

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Hypothermia, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning on the Rise


Following Hurricane Sandy the City has seen a rise in carbon monoxide poisoning and hypothermia cases due to city residents living in unheated homes, or simply living on the street. The New York Times reports that the number of cold-exposure cases tripled after Sandy as compared to the same time frame last year. The City Health Department issued a letter warning doctors and health care providers of the issue. Carbon monoxide poisoning was 10-times higher the week of Hurricane Sandy and continued at an elevated rate due to people heating their homes with unsafe alternative methods. The findings seem to give further weight to recent pleas from advocates for the city to deploy temporary housing in areas hard-hit by Sandy. 




In the Press...

Bloomberg Lobbies Washington For Storm Aid (NY Times)

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The numbers Gov. Cuomo used to argue that Sandy had more of an impact than Katrina left some room for debate. In 2006, HUD put the number of damaged homes in Louisiana at 515,249, not 215,000, as the governor had implied. That brings the damage close to the final count of 550,000 damaged homes they expect to find in New York. There were also many times more businesses impacted by Katrina than the figure Cuomo used. And of course deaths caused by the Southern storm were staggering compared to the loss of life in the New York area.

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In an effort to regulate how pedicabs set fares, the City Council passed legislation today that would require pedicab drivers to set their rates based on the duration of rides. 

If the bill becomes law, drivers of pedicabs, popular in tourists spots like Central Park and Times Square, would be required to use a timer during all rides.

The timer would have to be fastened within clear view of the passengers, along with rates charged.

“Our legislation will bring increased legitimacy to the pedicab industry and will ensure customers know what they’re paying to go on a ride – without being taken for a ride," Council Speaker Christine Quinn said in a statement.

Intro. 0597 - 2011 was championed by Councilman Dan Garodnick, the chair of the committee on consumer affairs.

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Gov. Cuomo said Hurricane Sandy affected more people than Katrina in his plea for nearly $42 billion in federal aid. He noted many more died in Katrina, but that the economic toll of Sandy was higher, reaching almost $33 billion in clean up costs. The aid request from Cuomo grew from his previous plea for $30 billion.The aid would be used to cover damage and restoration, but $9 billion of it would be used to prepare for future storms. Mayor Bloomberg is making his own plea for nearly $10 billion in aid. State health officials are also asking for almost a half-billion dollars in special Medicaid funding for hospitals, nursing homes and clinics affected by the storm.

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Weeks after Hurricane Sandy hit, the stories of people unable to stay in their apartments because landlords have yet to make repairs are still commonplace.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to put an end to that and is pushing landlords to act and wants to make sure they know the city is offering them the resources to make their apartments liveable again. 

As we reported last week, groups in the Rockaways are concerned about the number of displaced residents who may be at the mercy of the increasingly cold weather and say they are concerned about hypothermia and other conditions that are exacerbated by exposure.

“As the weather gets colder, we cannot stress enough the importance of making sure those who are living in homes or apartments without heat get to a warmer place,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley in a statement. “Prolonged exposure to cold is not just uncomfortable, it is dangerous, especially for infants, the elderly, and people with chronic diseases.”

The Bloomberg administraion reminds landlords they have two options to repair their properties: 

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Gov. Cuomo's response to Superstorm Sandy has earned him high approval ratings, despite some mistakes -- such as his failure to reform the state-controlled Long Island Power Authority since he took office. But he has begun making up for another misstep, and will meet today with the state’s Congressional delegation to discuss his request for federal recovery aid. He had been criticized for not coordinating with them. Meanwhile, the state will use a federal grant to hire over 5,000 unemployed New Yorkers in temporary positions to help clean up after the storm. Also, Cuomo has said he won't raise taxes to cover losses resulting from Sandy.

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today an effort to provide Thanksgiving dinners to those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. 

As we continue to recover and rebuild from the devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy, our City will do everything we can to bring some of the comforts and traditions of Thanksgiving to families in our hardest hit communities,” said Bloomberg in a statement. “We are grateful for the many generous community and corporate partners for their commitment to helping our City get back on its feet during this holiday season.

 

Here is a list of places and times people can get meals this week:


NYC Food Distribution Sites

Through a partnership with the Red Cross and a contract the City entered into with Whitson’s Culinary Group earlier this month, prepared lunches and hot meals have been available in the hardest hit sections of Queens and Brooklyn. The expansion to providing on-site prepared foods, including hot dinners, consolidated the massive food distribution effort that had been in operation in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. To date, the City, working with FEMA, has distributed more than 2.7 million meals and close to 700,000 bottles of water to those impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

Over 17,500 Thanksgiving meals prepared by Whitson’s will be distributed at the following sites from 11 AM – 3 PM on Thursday:

Brooklyn
MCU Park (Coney Island) (Parking Lot): 1904 Surf Avenue (@ West 19th Street)
Fine Fare Supermarket (Coney Island) (Parking Lot): 2901 Mermaid Avenue (@W29th)
Searise Houses (Coney Island) (Courtyard): Neptune Avenue and 37th Streets

Queens (Rockaways):
Waldbaum’s (Parking Lot): 112-15 Beach Channel Drive (@ Beach 112 Street)
Thriftway Mall (Parking Lot): 20-52 Mott Street (btw. 20th & 21st Streets)
Key Food (Parking Lot): 87-15 Rockaway Beach Blvd. (btw. Beach 87th & 88th Streets)

Additional Holiday Dinners

The Mayor’s Office is working with community organizations in impacted areas to host Thanksgiving dinners, with support from the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City at the following locations:

Wednesday Dinners
Brooklyn – Miccio Community Center in Red Hook with a food donation from Fairway Market
Staten Island – The Vanderbilt at South Beach in partnership with Borough President James Molinaro and with support from the Stephen Siller Foundation and the Mannix Family of ShopRite
Staten Island – The Excelsior Grand in partnership with Borough President James Molinaro and with support from the Stephen Siller Foundation and the Mannix Family of ShopRite
Staten Island – The Grand Oaks Country Club in partnership with Borough President Molinaro and with support from the Stephen Siller Foundation and the Mannix Family of ShopRite

Thursday Dinners
Brooklyn – El Caribe in Mill Basin on Thursday evening in partnership with Councilman Dominic Recchia. Transportation will be provided from the MCU parking lot in Coney Island.
Brooklyn – Miccio Community Center in Red Hook with a food donation from Feeding NYC
Queens – Beach 41st Street Community Center with a food donation from Fairway Market
Queens – IS 53 in Far Rockaway in partnership with Councilman James Sanders
Queens – St. Francis de Sales Parish in Belle Harbor with support from the Stiller Foundation

The City is also providing assistance and support for additional Thanksgiving dinners at the following locations:

Wednesday Evening
Queens – Hammel Houses in Rockaway Beach

Thursday Evening
Queens – St. Francis de Sales Parish in Belle Harbor
Queens – St. Helen’s Church in Howard Beach
Queens – Ocean Bay Community Center in Far Rockaway
Queens – Redfern Community Center in Far Rockaway
Staten Island – New Dorp High School
Staten Island – Pepper Jack Grill for Evacuees at the Mt. Manresa shelter
Staten Island – Baily Seaton Hospital Shelter

Over 2,400 turkeys and over 3,000 Thanksgiving sides sponsored by the Mayor’s Fund, Gristedes and Fresh Direct, were distributed to elected officials and religious and community organizations including the Alive Ministries, the Beth Abraham Nursing Home, the Calvary Baptist Church, the Coney Island Gospel Assembly, Congregation White Shul, the Cooper Square Committee, the Hamilton Madison House, the Miccio Community Center, and the Visitation Rectory. In addition, through a partnership with the Department of Homeless Services and the Department of Housing, Preservation and Development, the Red Cross is providing targeted food assistance to families that evacuated through the City’s emergency shelter system and have been placed in hotels in every borough.

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A new report brings the problem of food insecurity back to the table, citing new record highs even before Hurricane Sandy.

The number of New Yorkers living in households without enough food has hit an all time high of 1.4 million, or one in six, according to the report released earlier today by the New York City Coalition Against Hunger.

In the Bronx alone, 533,825 people, or 40 percent of the borough's residents, struggle against hunger, the report said. One in five over the age of 60, and over half of all Bronx children live in food insecure homes. Meanwhile, 90 percent of food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the Bronx reported an increase in the number of people served before the storm. Advocates believe that number has likely risen since Sandy.

"The devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy has had a tremendous impact on New York residents, especially those who are low-income," said Annabel Palma, chair of the New York City Council's general welfare committee, in a statement. "While we as a city will continue to rebuild after the storm and volunteer to assist storm victims, it is important to remember those for whom food insecurity and hunger were issues long before the hurricane."

From 2009 to 2011, nearly 474,000, or one in four children in New York, did not get enough food, the report said. That number is up 31 percent from 2006 to 2008, when 363,000, or one in five children struggled.

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Representatives of Occupy Sandy say they are in desperate need of one resource this Thanksgiving in their effort to help residents of the hurricane-ravaged Rockaways recover: Volunteers.

"We just need bodies," says Kei Dowea, a volunteer who has been helping out with the recovery effort in the Queens community for about two weeks. "We have had such an incredible response it just needs to be maintained. I've seen a slight decline in turnout in the last few days and what we really need are people in vehicles or in groups."

Dowea says volunteers can head to Saint Jacobi Lutheran Church at 5406 4th Street in Brooklyn where Occupy Sandy has a supply station to pick up goods and bring them out to the Rockaways.

Don't have a vehicle? Dowea says that isn't a problem.

"We just got two semis that delivered supplies to the church, so people are welcome to buy things and bring them out, but what we need desperately are the things we already have to be brought out there," she says. "Just come up here and we can get them a ride out to Queens."

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Thousands of barrels of biological evidence in criminal cases were damaged by Sandy flood waters in Brooklyn warehouses. Each barrel can contain several pieces of evidence such as bloodstained clothes and bedding. Hundreds of cars and motorcycles held as evidence were also inundated. Thousands of bicycles were as well. It's unclear how many cases will be affected. It could depend on whether damage is done to exclusive evidence needed to prove a case. Often, evidence in storage facilities has already been processed.

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Many city hospitals are still struggling to recover from the storm, and may be for a while. Bellevue won't reopen its emergency room until at least December, Coney Island Hospital fully operational until January, and the reopening timetable for NYU Langone Medical Center nor the Veterans Affairs Hospital is still murky. The extended shutdowns are stretching the resources of other hospitals, which are running at near capacity. Over 3,000 patients in the city had to be moved to other facilities due to the storm.

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that a new free shuttle service dubbed the H train will begin providing service to residents of the hard-hit Rockaway Penninsula at 4 a.m. tomorrow.

“The A train tracks from Howard Beach to the Rockaways were almost completely destroyed by the storm, and replacing them is a tremendous undertaking,” Cuomo said in a statement. “While that work continues, this new shuttle service will help improve travel for people in the Rockaways who are still recovering from Sandy’s effects.”

According to Cuomo's office, the cars that make up the new service were trucked to the Rockaways after the A train tracks were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. 

“MTA New York City Transit has responded with unprecedented creativity to restore subway service to Rockaway customers,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph J. Lhota. “This partial restoration of service is an important step for the Rockaways, but our work won’t be done until the A train is fully restored.”

The Rockaways are still in need of basic relief aid like shelter, food and heat.

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About 200 homes that are so damaged they endanger public safety and other buildings nearby will need to be bulldozed, the Buildings Department said on Sunday. That is in addition to that 200 houses already destroyed by the storm. They are also inspecting nearly 500 other damaged structures the could be razed as well. The department said that “only a very small number” of the buildings slated for demolition were at risk of being razed without notice. Officials offered “as much assistance as possible” to homeowners, including aid for demolition costs. The homes slated for removal are located in Breezy Point, Belle Harbor and Rockaway Beach in Queens; South Beach, Midland Beach and Fox Beach on Staten Island, and Gerritsen Beach in Brooklyn.

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Gas Crisis Abates


Lines for gas have mostly disapeared in New York City and Long Island thanks to 1970s-style rationing as well as emergency deliveries. The relief comes just before the major Thanksgiving travel week. Damage from Hurricane Sandy left normal gas distribution systems in ruins and ports dysfunctional but officials have put together a distribution system that brings gas in from out of state and that has been supplemented by supplies from Federal and State agencies that have supplied gas stations with $2.3 million gallons of gas to help them stay open. 




In the Press...

Flooding Damaged Equipment for Bike Share (NY Times)

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