Gillibrand Bill Targets Unemployed City Youth

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand met with a number of Bronx clergy leaders and local lawmakers last week to promote legislation she’s sponsoring to reduce the number of unemployed young people in urban areas.

Bronx Lawmakers Ask Obama to Halt Deportation Program

The federal government continues to implement a controversial deportation program despite intense criticism and the fact that three states, New York included, have already attempted to withdraw from participating in it.

Legislature Passes Gay Marriage, Rent Laws in Overtime

Lawmakers in Albany spent all of last week scrambling to address a long list of items on its agenda before breaking for the year, staying four days past the scheduled end of the legislative session and passing a number of high-profile laws in its final few days. Among the legislation was a historic bill to legalize same-sex marriage, which after days of intense lobbying in Albany from parties on both sides of the debate, was passed by the State Senate late Friday night.

Shelter Plan for Vacant Muller Center Blasted at Hearing

Father Richard Gorman ripped into the city's homeless shelter plan at a hearing las week. (Photo by Alex Kratz)

During his lengthy and impassioned testimony at a public hearing concerning the fate of the vacant Muller Army Reserve Center in Wakefield, Father Richard Gorman compared the Bloomberg administration to a) Josef Stalin and b) a group of slave owners (with Wakefield residents being the slaves). Gorman, the longtime chairman of Community Board 12, which includes Wakefield and Woodlawn, made those comparisons in the course of blasting the city’s controversial proposal to house a 200-bed homeless shelter for men in the Muller Center. The mayor’s office says the city’s homeless needs outweigh the desires of community residents and stakeholders.

Ethics Reform Aims to Heal Albany’s Trust Issues

Weeks before the furious finale in Albany that brought the legalization of gay marriage, slightly strengthened rent regulation and a property tax cap, the state legislature passed an ethics reform package that freshman State Senator Gustavo Rivera, who replaced Pedro Espada, says will help the restore integrity and credibility to Albany.

Armory Report: Long in Length, Short on Answers

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. has made it clear redeveloping the vacant 575,000-square-foot Kingsbridge Armory into a quality job-producing, vibrant community space, is a top priority of his administration. But a much-anticipated report created by an Armory task force he assembled was released with little fanfare earlier this month and appears to generate more questions than answers.

Cabrera Bill Would Make Nabe Crime Stats Public

Addressing a public safety issue raised by the Norwood News, Councilman Fernando Cabrera has drafted legislation to require the New York City Police Department to share neighborhood crime statistics with community boards and the general public on a quarterly basis.

As Deadline Passes, Legislators Continue Push for Stronger Rent Laws

Housing advocates and local elected officials are making a last-ditch campaign to strengthen the state’s rent laws, which expired on Wednesday. Governor Andrew Cuomo has vowed to keep legislators in Albany until an agreement is reached.

Senator Looks to Shed Pounds, Promote Healthy Living

Dressed in Rocky-esque training attire — hooded sweatshirt, jogging pants and sneakers — State Senator Gustavo Rivera walked into the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center and challenged himself to a weigh-in. Rivera was joined by Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. (sans workout attire) and numerous organizations, to launch the Bronx CAN Health Initiative.