FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2013
No. 120
MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION TO ASSIST HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES RECOVERING FROM HURRICANE SANDY
Remarks by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws
“The first three of nine bills before me today relate to our Administration’s continued response to Hurricane Sandy and our efforts to protect New Yorkers and get businesses affected by Sandy back on their feet.
“Introductory Number 1017 is sponsored in conjunction with our Administration by Speaker Quinn and Council Members Reyna, Chin, Recchia, Lappin, Arroyo, Mealy, Koo, Eugene, Vallone, Barron, Cabrera, Comrie, Greenfield, James, King, Koslowitz, Lander, Mark-Viverito, Mendez, Nelson, Palma, Richards, Rose, Vacca, Vann, Halloran and Ulrich.
“We are all acutely aware of the extensive damage left after Hurricane Sandy hit New York City on October 29, 2012. The storm caused heavy flooding, power outages, and widespread damage to vast areas of the City. Thousands of businesses were impacted, causing significant disruption to individuals, families, neighborhoods and the City’s economy. Restoring these businesses and the jobs they create is a critical part of the City’s overall recovery from Sandy.
“Introductory Number 1017 will allow businesses that were operating on or prior to Hurricane Sandy in any of the severely impacted areas to qualify to have certain fees waived through the end of the year related to the repair and reconstruction of their businesses. Any business that has already paid these fees will be eligible for a refund.
“Introductory Number 1007-A, sponsored by Speaker Quinn and Council Members Ignizio, Oddo, Comrie, James, Koo, Williams, Wills, Lappin, Arroyo, Rose, Halloran, Ulrich and Lander establishes regulations for the elevation of homes.
“In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy one method for protecting a home and complying with insurance requirements is to elevate the home to a desired flood elevation and it is incumbent upon the City to ensure that this important work gets done properly.
“Introductory Number 1007-A requires construction plans to clearly state whether a project will involve home elevation work, contractors to give forty-eight hours notice to the Buildings Department before elevating a home, home elevation work to be done under the supervision of an approved special inspector, and requires the Consumer Affairs Department to provide education to the public regarding the types of work home improvement contractors can do and the licenses and permits needed by such contractors to do different kinds of work.
“Introductory Number 1016, sponsored by Speaker Quinn and Council Members Oddo, Vallone, Recchia, Mendez, Ignizio, Ulrich, Rose, Arroyo, Chin, Comrie, Gentile, Greenfield, King, Nelson, Palma and Halloran increases penalties for crimes committed during a local state of emergency.
“The City’s experience during Hurricane Sandy brought to light the need to address the fear that many home and business owners feel when directed to evacuate their premises – the fear that criminals will exploit the situation. While we saw a reduction in major crimes committed during the week beginning October 29th compared to the prior year, there were some local spikes in burglaries committed in areas directly affected by the storm. The more widespread and significant danger came from the fear of burglary, leading people to fail to evacuate when they should have.
“Introductory Number 1016 addresses this fear by enacting new civil and criminal penalties specifically targeting those who commit despicable acts when their victims are at their most vulnerable. The crimes articulated in the bill are those which would most likely be associated with a state of emergency, and the two-tier system of penalties reserves the most serious punishment for those who commit these acts in a mandatory evacuation area during a mandatory evacuation period.
“I would like to thank Counselor to the Mayor Michael Best, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri, Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz and New Business Acceleration Team Executive Director Robinson Hernandez along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs for their work on these bills. I would also like to thank the City Council for approving this legislation.”
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Contact: Marc LaVorgna/Evelyn Erskine (212) 788-2958
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2013
No. 121
MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION TO ASSIST VETERANS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT
Remarks by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws
“The next three bills before me assist the City’s veterans in seeking employment. Introductory Number 1014 is sponsored by Speaker Quinn and Council Members Gonzalez, Chin, Comrie, Eugene, Gentile, James, Koo, Koppell, Lander, Mark-Viverito, Mendez, Nelson, Palma, Rose, Vann, Williams, Recchia, Dromm, Rodriguez, Crowley, Jackson, Mealy, Reyna, Richards, Halloran and Ulrich. Introductory Number 1019 is sponsored by Speaker Quinn and Council Members Wills, Cabrera, Chin, Eugene, Gentile, James, Koo, Koppell, Lander, Mark-Viverito, Palma, Rose, Mendez, Recchia, Dromm, Rodriguez, Crowley, Jackson, Lappin, Mealy, Reyna, Richards, Halloran and Ulrich.
“In an effort to provide support for veterans seeking a trade license from the City, existing law allows veterans who served in the Korean conflict and Vietnam war to apply their military experience towards the licensing requirements, even if that experience is unrelated to the license, so long as they’ve acquired a minimum one year’s experience related to the license before serving.
“Together these two bills allow equivalent military service to qualify as experience in a trade for purposes of attaining a license from the City and updates the law to apply the existing military experience credit to current and future military conflicts. Agency heads issuing the licenses will have the discretion to determine if additional experience is necessary.
“Introductory Number 945-A is sponsored by Speaker Quinn and Council Members Eugene, Comrie, Fidler, Gentile, Gonzalez, James, Koppell, Koslowitz, Mendez, Nelson, Palma, Rose, Williams, Wills, Rodriguez, Dromm, Mealy, Recchia, Crowley, Jackson, Lappin, Reyna, Richards, Halloran and Ulrich.
“Introductory Number 945-A requires the Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Affairs to include on their web site employment resources for veterans including a link to the federal job bank and links to federal and State web sites that offer employment services for veterans and translation of military occupations to civilian jobs. MOVA will also link to web sites posted by the City’s Department of Small Business Services and consult with the City’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services to identify military jobs with skills that translate to qualifications for competitive exams.
I would like to thank Commissioner Terrance Holliday from the Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Affairs along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs for their work on these bills. I would also like to thank the City Council for approving this legislation.”
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Contact: Marc LaVorgna/Evelyn Erskine (212) 788-2958
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2013
No. 122
MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION AMENDING DISTRICT PLANS FOR THE MYRTLE AVENUE AND HUB/THIRD AVENUE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS
Remarks by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws
“The next two bills before me amend the district plans for the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District and the HUB/Third Avenue Business Improvement District.
“Introductory Number 964 is sponsored at the request of the Administration by Council Members Recchia, Arroyo, James and Koo and amends the district plan of the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District to add services and modify existing services.
“Introductory Number 965 is sponsored at the request of the Administration by Council Members Recchia, Arroyo, Cabrera, James and Koo and amends the district plan of the HUB/Third Avenue Business Improvement District to add services and capital improvements, modify existing services, change the method of assessment upon which the district charge is based, and increase the maximum total amount to be expended for capital improvements in the district.
“Business Improvement Districts, also known as “BIDs,” are voluntarily formed community organizations that promote business development and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods across the City. Established by local law, BIDs are self-funded by local property owners and are overseen by the City’s Department of Small Business Services.
“BID assessments provide a variety of services, including sanitation, security, marketing and landscaping. The services provided to the community are essential to ensuring that small businesses, and the neighborhoods in which they operate, attract even more business owners, visitors, and residents.
“I would like to thank Small Business Services Commissioner Rob Walsh and his staff for working together with the Myrtle Avenue and HUB/Third Avenue BIDs to help strengthen and expand services in the community. I would also like to thank the City Council for approving this legislation.”
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Contact: Marc LaVorgna/Evelyn Erskine (212) 788-2958
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2013
No. 123
MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION REQUIRING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANNUAL REPORT ON YOUTH THAT ARE SEXUALLY EXPLOITED
Remarks by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws
“The final bill before me is Introductory Number 866-A, sponsored by Council Members Fidler, Gonzalez, Ferreras, Barron, Brewer, Cabrera, Chin, Dickens, Gentile, Jackson, James, Koo, Koppell, Koslowitz, Lander, Mendez, Palma, Recchia, Rose, Van Bramer, Vann, Williams, Wills, Rodriguez, Nelson, Levin, Foster, Mark-Viverito, Garodnick, Vacca,, Arroyo, King, Dromm, Lappin, Crowley, Eugene, Mealy, Reyna and Richards.
“Introductory Number 866-A requires the Administration for Children’s Services and Department of Youth & Community Development to submit an annual report to the City Council documenting the number of youth who identify themselves as or who the agencies determine to be sexually exploited. This data will be disaggregated by age, gender, agency contacted and services provided and will better enable these agencies to target services to this vulnerable population.
“I would like to thank Administration for Children’s Services Commissioner Ronald Richter and Department of Youth & Community Development Commissioner Jeanne Mullgrav along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs for their work on this bill. I would also like to thank the City Council for approving this legislation.”
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Contact: Marc LaVorgna/Evelyn Erskine (212) 788-2958
