Queens Lawmakers on the Move October 9, 2020

Queens County City Council News

Addabbo, Miller, Holden Cancel E-Waste Recycling Event Because of COVID

State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.
Assemblymember Michael Miller (photo from Assemblymember Miller’s Twitter)
City Council Member Bob Holden

State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., Assemblymember Mike Miller and Councilmember Robert Holden have decided to postpone their upcoming E-Waste Recycling event on Sunday, Oct. 11 due to the recent COVID-19 spikes in local neighborhoods. 

The event was scheduled to take place in the Forest Park Bandshell Parking Lot. That location is within one of New York City’s “Yellow Zones,” meaning all non-essential gatherings must be limited to 25 people maximum for both indoor and outdoor settings. The NYC Parks Department has been instructed to begin canceling permits for events, and alerted the elected officials of the zoning and suggested that they postpone this event until a later date.

The elected officials understand the need for their constituents to have a local place to safely and properly recycle their electronic waste, and did not want to fully cancel the event. They are working with the Parks Department and Lower East Side Ecology Center on securing a new date.

Any and all information on a new date for the E-Waste Recycling Event will be made public as soon as it is available.

Please contact Addabbo’s office at 718-738-1111 with any questions.

Gianaris Lauds House Judiciary Big Tech Antitrust Investigation Report

Senator Michael Gianaris

Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris issued the following statement as House Judiciary Democrats released their long-anticipated investigative report on the monopolistic practices of Big Tech companies. 

The report specifically highlighted the need for an abuse of dominance standard, which Gianaris has proposed in his legislation at the state level. 

“Our antitrust laws were written a century ago for a radically different economy and they are in desperate need of serious updates. Corporate power has reached unprecedented and dangerous levels, and we need powerful new laws to protect the public and our economy,” said Gianaris. “I am pleased this issue is gaining attention and I commend our colleagues in Congress, led by Rep. David Cicilline, for their thorough investigation.”

New York’s existing antitrust laws are more than a century old and are not equipped to regulate abuses in today’s world. In the meantime, market domination has led to new uncompetitive practices such as predatory pricing and leveraging a company’s dominant position to control adjacent markets. Gianaris’ legislation – the 21st Century Antitrust Act – would allow the state to take action against companies engaging in these practices, as well as allow for class action lawsuits. The Senate held its first-ever antitrust hearing on Gianaris’ bill in September.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Hosts Monthly Town Hall

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expects to be back in the district this month for her monthly town hall. 

Her next monthly town hall will focus on housing and environmental justice. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, whose district in Oregon has been impacted by the recent wildfires, will be joining the event. 

To attend the October monthly town hall, please sign up here. There will be live translation in Spanish.