Information from Catherine Nolan Helping Our Community Spring 2019 DISTRICT OFFICE: 47-40 21st Street, Room 810 • Long Island City, NY 11101 718-784-3194 • EMAIL: [email protected] Albany Update 2019-2020 State Budget Overview The final budget provides for greater funding in our schools and communities, and for common-sense criminal justice reforms. These funding increases include: Dear Neighbor: • A total of $27.8 billion in education funding, increased this year by $1 billion, including $618 I am pleased to share million in increased Foundation Aid funding, which will total $18.4 billion my newsletter with you. • $6.1 million to CUNY to increase community college-based aid by $100 per full-time equivalent Please find updates (FTE) student, bringing the total for students to $2,947 from Albany and our community. If you have • $8 million increase for the Office of Rent Administration, which works to enforce rent regulations, any other questions as well as $5.5 million for the Tenant Protection Unit or concerns, do not • $15 million increase for the Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program, which offers hesitate to call, drop by non-medical in-home services, such as personal care and housekeeping, for a total of $65.1 million our office, or send me • $26 million increase for child care subsidies, bringing the total to $832 million. The budget also an email at nolanc@ includes $334,000 to support SUNY and CUNY child care nyassembly.gov. Have a wonderful spring! • $1.5 million for the Youth Development Program to support programs which build up the relationships between children and their communities Sincerely, • $2.45 million for settlement houses supporting educational, recreational, and social services within our communities • The budget restores $2 million for New York City’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Catherine Nolan Specialists program, which provides support services for school-aged children. Member of Assembly Other measures in the budget include: • Legislation lowering the statutory standard for elevated blood lead levels to reflect the most recent guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which sets a more stringent standard to protect our children • A law establishing early voting during a nine-day period before any general, primary, run-off primary, or special election to make voting more accessible Advocating for School Discipline Reform I joined a press conference organized by the Urban Youth Collaborative, which brought Civil Rights activists to stand alongside these young advocates who came to Albany to demand that the Legislature pass the Judith S. Kaye Safe and Supportive Schools Act, which seeks to correct racial disparities in student discipline outcomes. Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, alongside student advocates from the Urban Youth Collaborative and Integrate NYC. Starting from the left, Khadija Dramé of District 70 , Leanne Nunes of District 82, Kadija Kone of District 35, Yousof Abdelreheem of District 32, Marucs Alston of District 54, Tiffani Torres of District 55, Edward Skelly of District 65, Devaun Longly of District 11, and Jenny Bueno of District 49. ALBANY UPDATE (continued) Supporting Strengthened Housing Laws I have heard from a number of community groups that advocate A4349: would prevent preferential rent adjustments until a unit for stronger rent regulations in New York. The bills, which have is between tenancies, closing a loophole which allows large, become the centerpiece of these advocacy efforts, have been referred unanticipated increases of rents in stabilized units. to as a ‘Universal Rent Control’ law, and include the following: A5030: would create more stringent requirements for a landlord A167: would create parity between rent controlled and stabilized to evict a tenant from a building which is not both owner-occupied unit rent increases, which would prevent disproportionate and and smaller than four units. excessive increases to rent controlled units’ rents. A6322: would prohibit Major Capital Improvement (MCI) increases A1198: would repeal the portion of the rent law which allows to rents, and would retroactively remove from rents those MCI ‘Vacancy Decontrol,’ and would serve to protect current rent increases which were applied in the past 7 years. stabilized housing stock. A6465: would repeal the law allowing the rent of an individual A1620: The Home Stability Support bill would create a statewide apartment to be increased (IAIs) following improvements to that rent supplement program to assist families and individuals who apartment by the landlord. are eligible for public assistance benefits, and who are at risk of As I have co-sponsored these bills, it is my hope that many more losing their housing. constituents will contact my office with their views before the A2351: would repeal that portion of the rent law which allows a current rent regulation laws expire on June 15th, as these bills may landlord to raise the rent on a stabilized unit by 20% each time be voted on by the Assembly before that date. that unit is vacated. Meeting with Fostering Youth Alliance I was happy to meet these amazing representatives for FYSA, who visited my legislative office in Albany. We must continue to support the efforts of groups such as the Fostering Youth Alliance, which works to keep foster students in college. Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan with intern Aissata Moussa, Fostering Youth Success Alliance Assistant Director Keyla Espinal, and student advocate Melanie Thompson. AROUND OUR DISTRICT Educational Summit Hosted by Gantry Women’s Event at Parents Association LaGuardia Community College This was a wonderful opportunity to hear from students, parents, Each year at LaGuardia Community College, I have the privilege and residents at Hunters Point Middle School. I look forward of joining Dr. Gail Mellow to be in the great company of so many to continuing our advocacy for more school seats, improved women who have made a positive impact in their communities. infrastructure, and support for all of our students. Thank you to our honorees, and to Dr. Mellow and LGCC, for making this event a success each year. Lisa Deller, Land Use Committee Chair, Queens Community Board 2; Assemblywoman Nolan; Edgar Rodriguez, Principal, Hunters Point Middle (L to R) Claudia Coger, President, Astoria Houses Tenants Association; School; Julietta Valero; Kadie Black, Past President, Gantry Parents Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney; Icema Gibbs, JetBlue; Melissa DeRosa, Association. Secretary to the Governor, New York State; and Assemblywoman Nolan. AROUND OUR DISTRICT (continued) Assemblywoman Nolan Meets with Students at Grover Cleveland High School It was a pleasure to visit my alma mater Grover Cleveland High School to speak with a group of student leaders in academics and athletics about their dedication to, and priorities for, their school and to hear their plans for the future. Katie Jedrlinic, Director of State Legislative Affairs, NYC Dept. of Education; Assemblywoman Nolan; State Senator Joseph Addabbo; Jasmine Gripper, Alliance for Quality Education; and students with Principal Marc Pascente. Queens Patrol Borough Tenants Rally in Ridgewood North Command Thank you to Chief Morales, and Sergeants Brown and Maiello for visiting us at my district office. (L to R) Diane Ballek; Assistant Chief Martin Morales, Commanding Officer, Patrol Borough Queens North; Assemblywoman Nolan; Sergeant Carlene Brown and Sergeant Frank Maiello, Patrol Borough Queens North. Assemblywoman Nolan pictured with Evelyn Cruz, District Director, Office of Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez; and Assemblyman Michael Miller at a Ridgewood Tenants Union Rally on Madison Street in Ridgewood. St. Pat’s For All Sunnyside Parade Congratulations to Brendan Fay and the Parade Committee for 20 years of St. Pat’s for All. The parade is a great tradition, a celebration Plumbers Local No. 1 of culture which reaches out to the broader community for all to be included and welcomed. It is a pleasure each year to see so many friends and neighbors together for the day in Sunnyside. Assemblywoman Nolan pictured with Rob Basch, President, Hunters Point Assemblywoman Nolan with members of the Plumbers Local Union No. 1 Parks Conservancy. of New York City. WORKING FOR YOU Mobile District Office Hours It is my pleasure to announce another year of Mobile District Office hours, where constituents can stop by their local libraries to receive assistance from my office. I hope to see you there. Thursday, 21st Street 37-44 21 Street 5:00–7:00pm May 23 Long Island City Long Island City, NY 11101 Thursday, 25-01 Jackson Avenue 5:00–7:00pm Court Square June 6 Long Island City, NY 11101 Thursday, 43-06 Greenpoint Avenue Noon-2:00pm Sunnyside July 11 Sunnyside, NY 11104 Thursday, 54-22 Skillman Avenue Noon-2:00pm Woodside July 18 Woodside, NY 11377 Thursday, 20-12 Madison Street 5:00–7:00pm Ridgewood August 1 Ridgewood, NY 11385 New York State Assembly, Albany, New York 12248 PRSRT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Albany, New York Assemblywoman Permit No. 75 Catherine NOLAN Helping Our Community Spring 2019 Mobile MetroCard Bus in Sunnyside Please know that my office will continue to arrange for the MTA MetroCard Bus to stop in the Sunnyside community on the second Thursday of every month from 10 a.m. – noon. It is located near or around the intersection of 41st Street and Queens Blvd. The bus will provide many services including applying for or refilling a Reduced-Fare MetroCard, buying or refilling a regular MetroCard, or asking a MetroCard-related question. For more information please contact our district office at 718-784-3194..