Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a 63-point plan yesterday to achieve his goal of reducing traffic fatalities to zero. The plan, called Vision Zero, uses a combination of red lights, traffic cameras, and reduced speed limits. Enforcement is another focus, and de Blasio would increase the NYPD's Highway Patrol staff from 190 to 263 officers. He would also create an "enforcement squad" dedicated to cabbies. Another idea is to use technology like a "black box" to record whether taxi drivers speed. Some of the proposals - such as lowering the citywide speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph and the expansion of red light cameras - would require approval from Albany. Legislative leaders haven't commented on the plan yet. Getting hit by a car is the leading cause of injury-related death for children under 15 in the city.
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City’s Safety Net On Trial Over Baby Killed In '07 (NY Times)
Senators Oppose Paying Prisoners' College Costs (Associated Press)
Ethics Commission Returns To Disclosure Waivers (Albany Times Union)
Campaign Finance Reformers Take Hard Line (Albany Times Union)
NYPD Officers Rarely Use Interpreter Service (WNYC)
Eighth-Graders' Math Scores Trail Japan, Russia (NY Post)
Bratton: 'No Problem' With de Blasio Calling NYPD (Wall Street Journal)
New York Inches Toward Electoral College Reform (Capital)
Failure Of Inclusionary Zoning (Crain's)
Mayor Kills Funding For Industrial Business Zones (Crain's)
Mafia Is Down—But Not Out (Wall Street Journal)
Transportation Safety Head Calls For Signage, Cameras (Daily News)
Bill Would Charge Lazy Homeowners For Clearing Snow (Daily News)
Trash Piling Up After Snowstorms (DNAinfo)
>In a bid to reduce recidivism rates Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a plan this weekend for the state to once again offer college-level courses to inmates. Cuomo debuted the plan during a church service tied to the Black, Puerto Rican Asian and Legislative Caucus. The majority of prisoners in New York are African American and Hispanic. Cuomo said that it costs the state $60,000 a year to house an inmate while the recidivism rate is 40 percent. The administration estimates it would cost $5,000 a year to provide an inmate with college courses. "Giving men and women in prison the opportunity to earn a college degree costs our state less and benefits our society more," said Cuomo.
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De Blasio May End Weekly Call-In Radio Show (NY 1)
Emma Wolfe, Mayor De Blasio’s Secret Weapon (NY Times)
Lawmakers Question Cuomo Plan for Homeland Security School (Wall Street Journal)
De Blasio Administratio Cuts First Labor Contract (Daily News)
Poll: Support For Legal Marijuana Growing in New York (Daily News)
Teachers Union President Says Back Pay is Major Issue (Daily News)
De Blasio Downplays Pre-K Tax Plan in Albany (Wall Street Journal)
Staffing Choices Show Bill de Blasio’s Different Approach in Albany(Politicker)
Business Bemoans Paid-Sick Expansion (Crain's)
Will Waiver Save Hospitals? (Crain's)
Puerto Rican Day Parade Will Go on Despite Corruption Probe: Supporters (DNAinfo)
After 19 months of haggling, the Obama administration informally agreed yesterday to allow New York to reinvest $8 billion in Medicaid savings back into the state's health care system. The money will go towards revamping or replacing financially ailing hospitals and modernizing an outdated healthcare system. Gov. Andrew Cuomo had requested $10 billion. Waivers on Medicaid payments had been approved for other states months ago. The funds will be released to New York over five years and come on the condition that inpatient hospital beds be reduced by 25 percent. Although it will be a boost to struggling hospitals, particularly in Brooklyn, failing institutions will not be bailed out unless they are restructured. Long Island College Hospital may not be eligible for funds from the waiver, because it doesn't have a credible plan to reduce admissions. Mayor Bill de Blasio signaled possible support for turning LIHC into a combination of a free-standing emergency room, clinic, and affordable housing.
Other Stories We're Following
Mayor Criticized For Keeping Schools Open (NY Times)
De Blasio Defends Call To Police On Behalf Of Ally (Wall Street Journal)
Region Slammed By Storm (Wall Street Journal)
Another Round Of Snow To Hit City (NY Post)
Winter Weather Takes Toll On Budget, Roads (Crain's)
Upstate Politicians Reject de Blasio Pre-K Tax Plan (NY Post)
Homeless Hope For Better Days With New Mayor (WNYC)
City Airports Worst For Delays (NY Post)
Foreclosure Auctions On The Rise (Crain's)
Taxi Deal Awaits de Blasio Appointment (Capital)
A Highline For Queens? (Daily News)
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