Community Magazine December 2012

New York Stands with Israel During the incessant rocket attacks on Israel and the Jewish State’s “Pillar of Cloud” campaign against the Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, New York officials and Jewish community leaders declared their support for Israel and its right to defend itself. Congress Members Rangel, Nadler, Maloney, Engel, Meeks and Congresswoman-Elect Meng, NYS Assembly Speaker Silver, NYC Comptroller Liu, Public Advocate de Blasio, NYC Council Speaker Quinn, NYC Councilman David Greenfield, Brooklyn District Attorney Hynes and Council Members Garodnick and Vallone Jr. met publicly with Ido Aharoni, Israel’s Consul General in New York, and spoke out against the recent unprovoked violence from Gaza and Israel’s justified efforts to protect her citizens from rocket fire. The event was sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY). Billions Needed for Sandy Repair New York City allocated $500 million in emergency money to make urgent repairs to schools and hospitals damaged by Hurricane Sandy, according to an announcement by Mayor Bloomberg. Repairs will include structural damage, new boilers and electrical systems, and roof repairs. The figure is only a portion of the spending required, but city councilors decided not to wait for federal aid money to come in before beginning repairs. Funds spent in the interim will eventually be recovered from Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) in the future. The worst damage occurred in the Rockaways, Staten Island and South Brooklyn. As of press time, 37 schools remain closed due to damage, and Bellevue Hospital Center, Coney Island Hospital and the Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility sustained severe damage. The total structural damage sustain in New York City alone is estimated at close to $10 billion. Greenfield Wants Standing at Hydrants to be Legal Councilman David Greenfield recently introduced legislation in the City Council that would allow drivers to stop at fire hydrants at any time, as long as their parking is temporary and they are ready to move their car in an emergency situation. NYC drivers are currently only allowed to stand temporarily at hydrants during daylight, but not in evening hours, so the new legislation would simply extend current regulations. Greenfield is working to update the city’s laws to improve traffic flow and increase parking spots. Drivers would be able to more easily use hydrant spots to drop off and pick up passengers, which would reduce car emissions by obviating the need to drive around looking for parking, free up parking spaces for other drivers, and reduce the incidence of double parking which causes congestion. As NYC’s population is expected to increase to 8.75 million by 2020, from a current population of 8.2 million, the Department of Transportation is challenged to improve travel times and air quality. City Council has already passed Greenfield’s legislation to outlaw the use of neon stickers for alternate-side parking violations. He also helped pass legislation that allows for a five-minute grace period when using Muni-Meters, and a law allowing the use of muni-meter parking receipts on different blocks. Simcha Felder Wins in Brooklyn Following a frenzied campaign, Simcha Felder has been elected to the New York State Senate from Brooklyn’s 17th district, winning a convincing majority from nearly every neighborhood and polling station. Felder was featured in Community Magazine’s October edition, and the encouragement to get out the vote appears to have worked, as he overwhelmingly won the Sephardic community’s vote. In Felder’s victory speech he reflected on the continuing struggle to recover from Hurricane Sandy, and the need for the government to help make our communities, schools and streets safe by using taxpayer money wisely. He made a commitment to reduce the community’s tax burden, and to fight for relief from high tuition through tax credits or vouchers. Felder was on the ballot as a Conservative and a Democrat, after winning the Democratic primary and winning the Conservative nomination as a write-in candidate. Life in the Big City 90 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE