Queens Lawmakers On The Move March 20, 2018

Katz, Peralta Laud Cuomo’s Queens Addiction Recovery Center

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Woodside) yesterday lauded Dov. Andrew Cuomo for allocating funds for a community-based addiction recovery center in Queens.

The nearly $1 million allocation establish four new addiction support centers, known as youth clubhouses, in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island. The clubhouses will provide addiction prevention and recovery services to young adults struggling with substance abuse.

“The impacts of addiction are devastating and we will continue to provide addiction and recovery services to all New Yorkers in need until the fight against this epidemic is won,” Governor Cuomo said. “I am proud of the work we have done in providing addiction services across the state and these clubhouses are yet another tool we can utilize to help these individuals lead healthy, substance-free lives where they can reach their full potential.”

Under the initiative, the Elmcor Youth and Adult Activities Center, 107-20 Northern Boulevard in Corona will receive $250,000 to run the clubhouse.

“Clubhouses provide a secure, safe environment for young adults struggling with substance abuse. As a society, we have the responsibility to ensure we offer them services and tools to fight their addictions in non-clinical surroundings. I want to applaud Governor Cuomo for his efforts to help young people combat addiction, especially for selecting Elmcor Youth and Adult Activities, located in the district, to establish one of the four clubhouses that will offer prevention and recovery resources,” said Peralta.

“The substance abuse epidemic is a critically serious problem and demands a coordinated and comprehensive response. The establishment of these four youth clubhouses, including the Queens clubhouse that will be run by Elmcor Youth and Adult Activities, is a key part of that response and will help many young people achieve long-term recovery from addiction,” said Katz.

Lancman, Dromm Hold Committee Hearings On FY ’19 Preliminary Budget

Council Members Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows, Briarwood, Cunningham Park, Flushing, Kew Gardens, Kew Gardens Hills, Richmond Hill) and Daniel Dromm (D-East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights) will chair committee meetings today on the Fiscal Year 2019 preliminary city budget.

Dromm, who chairs the Finance Committee, will have the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before his committee at 10 a.m.

Lancman, who chairs the Justice System Committee, will have his committee hear testimony from the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ), the Office of Civil Justice (OCJ), and members of the public starting at 2 p.m.

Dromm’s meeting is at City Hall, while Lancman’s meeting is across the street at 250 Broadway. Both locations are in LOwer Manhattan.

Gillibrand Outraged Congress Drops Congressional Harassment Reform Act

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) yesterday expressed outrage after reports that House and Senate leadership stripped her Congressional Harassment Reform Act language from the omnibus bill.

Among its provisions, the act requires that members of Congress personally pay for sexual harassment settlements when they are found liable. Currently, lawmakers can tap taxpayer funds to settle with victims. Also, unless the victim opts for privacy, under the act, settlements would automatically be made public, thus lifting the veil of secrecy around the process.

“I am appalled that House and Senate leadership removed provisions from the omnibus bill at the last minute that would have finally brought accountability and transparency to Congress’s sexual harassment reporting process. It begs the question: Who are they trying to protect? I can’t think of any legitimate reason to remove this language other than to protect members of Congress over taxpayers and congressional employees,” said Gillibrand.

“Nothing about this should be controversial at this point; the Congressional Harassment Reform Act has broad bipartisan support in the Senate and these provisions already passed the House unanimously. I demand that Senate leadership bring my legislation to the floor for a vote immediately.”