Senator Hoylman's July 2015 Community Report

July 2015

Dear Neighbor:

I hope you’re enjoying the summer.

Below you’ll find an update on my recent efforts across the 27th Senate District, including news of my legislation to ban the transport of game trophies through Port Authority-controlled airports, my op-ed in The Guardian on the Boy Scouts of America’s insufficient policy change on gay scout leaders, and the letter I sent with colleagues to General Electric (G.E.) urging the company to do a more comprehensive cleanup of toxic PCBs in the Hudson River.

I’ve also included information on tonight’s NYPD National Night Out events and how to find a cooling center near you during these hot summer days.

As always, please contact me at 212-633-8052 or hoylman@nysenate.gov if you have any questions, comments or ideas about how I might be helpful.

All best,

Brad Hoylman
State Senator
27th District

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Legislation to Ban Transport of Game Trophies

The killing of Cecil the lion by an American tourist in Zimbabwe outraged the world. Unfortunately, international airports in New York and New Jersey often serve as the gateway for transporting game trophies back to the United States. This week, I announced a partnership with New Jersey Assemblymember Tim Eustace, along with my West Side colleague Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, to introduce legislation in our states to bar the passage of the remains of threatened or endangered species through airports controlled by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which includes JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports. Read about our forthcoming legislation in the Daily News.

Continuing to Fight Public Corruption

With the federal conviction of two of my Senate colleagues just last week, Albany continues to earn its reputation as one of the nation’s most corrupt state legislatures. As the next session approaches, I will continue my fight to restore trust in our state government by pushing for measures such as limiting outside income for state legislators and campaign finance reform. You can also read about another  effort of mine to curb the use of campaign funds to pay for non-election related legal fees in today’s New York Times.

Commemorating Bea Arthur’s Legacy with a Home for LGBT Youth

On July 20, I was proud to join the Ali Forney Center, Cooper Square Committee, Councilmembers Rosie Mendez and Corey Johnson, and the Robin Hood Foundation to support the groundbreaking of the Bea Arthur Center, a derelict East Village townhouse that will be converted to a new residence for LGBT homeless youth in my district. In March, I helped secure an additional $2.1 million in the 2015-16 New York State budget for homeless youth shelters, and I look forward to seeing that additional funding make more beds available for the numerous LGBT homeless youth in our area.

Statement and Op-Ed on the Boy Scouts of America’s Policy Change on Gay Leaders

In my first month in office, I wrote to the leadership of the Boy Scouts of America and insisted that they remove any barriers to participation in the organization based on sexual orientation. As the only openly gay New York State Senator and an Eagle Scout (Troop 70, Lewisburg, WV), I'm pleased that the Boy Scouts National Executive Board voted last Monday to end its blanket ban on gay adult leaders but remain concerned that the new policy still gives local scout troops affiliated with religious organizations the option to discriminate. In an op-ed featured in The Guardian on July 29, I urged President Robert Gates and the Board to adopt a policy that doesn't allow religion to provide cover for bigotry.

Calling on G.E. to Commit to Full Cleanup of Hudson River 

Along with 24 of my colleagues in the State Senate, I wrote a letter to General Electric (G.E.) CEO Jeffrey Immelt calling on the corporate giant to commit to a full remediation of the Hudson River after its decades-long dumping of toxic PCB chemicals. We urged G.E. to go beyond its court-mandated obligations to help clean up the Hudson River by expanding dredging to include the Champlain Canal and other parts of the river in need of restoration. We argued that a failure to do so would result in economic, environmental and health-related hardships on the people of New York. My colleagues and I sent a similar letter to Governor Cuomo urging his administration to publicly support a full cleanup by G.E. of Hudson River PCBs. The State Department of Environmental Conservation is one of three “natural resource trustees” of the Hudson River. See copies of each letter here.

Calling on New York’s Hospitals to Protect Patient Privacy

On July 9, I stood at City Hall with the family of Mark Chanko, a patient at New York Presbyterian whose death was recorded without permission and featured on the reality TV show NY Med. Along with my colleagues Councilmember Dan Garodnick, State Senator Liz Krueger, and Assembly Member Edward Braunstein, I called on the leaders of New York Hospitals to bring an immediate end to filming activity in medical facilities. A bill that I co-sponsor (S.4622-A) that would require written consent for recording these private experiences is still making its way through Albany, so I applaud Councilmember Garodnick for leading the charge at the city level to make our hospitals take voluntary action. We need to ensure that what the Chanko family endured at the hands of a reality TV crew never happens again. Read about the issue of patient privacy and our efforts at the state and city levels in the Daily News.

Celebrating Wage Board Decision for New York’s Fast Food Workers

I applaud the Wage Board ruling on July 22 recommending a $15 minimum wage for fast food workers in New York to be phased in by 2018 in New York City and by 2021 in New York State. The fast food sector is a $200 billion behemoth in our national economy. The workers who are driving this profitable industry deserve a cut of the profits and the opportunity to provide for their families. I thank Governor Cuomo for his leadership in convening the Wage Board and bringing attention to this critical issue.

Supporting President Obama’s Plan to Curb Climate Change

I applaud President Obama for unveiling the strongest federal climate action plan ever proposed. The administration's new standards will aggressively cut carbon pollution, and represent the biggest step forward we have taken as a nation to combat global climate change. Here in New York, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) has provided demonstrable proof that environmental leadership can translate into economic growth as well as critical ecological and public health benefits. In the spirit of President Obama's call to action and as Ranking Member of the New York State Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, I urge the leadership of the New York State Senate to recognize and join the fight against man made climate change.

New Security Camera Upgrades Being Installed Outside Port Authority

In May, I wrote along with other local elected officials to the General Manager of the Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) to request additional external security cameras for the facility along 9th Avenue. Earlier this year, a constituent was assaulted outside the PABT, and I was alarmed to learn that the police were unable to attempt identification of the perpetrator due to a lack of security footage. I was pleased to receive a response from the PABT explaining upcoming plans to increase camera coverage for external areas, and to study where on 9th Avenue would benefit most from additional coverage. I am grateful to Congressman Nadler, Borough President Brewer, Assemblymember Gottfried and Councilmember Johnson for joining the letter to PABT and helping to ensure better safety measures for the area. See my letter and the Port Authority response here.

Divesting from Fossil Fuels

On July 9, I led a presentation in a webinar hosted by the Mayors Innovation Project and Elected Officials to Protect New York on our state's efforts to divest from fossil fuel companies. I co-sponsor the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act with Senator Liz Krueger (S.5873), which would require the State Comptroller to divest the Common Retirement Fund from all coal, oil and gas holdings by 2020. The state's pension fund has an estimated worth of $180 billion with over $5 billion invested in dirty fossil fuel companies that contribute to global climate change. Divestment sends a strong message that it is unacceptable for any institution to profit from activities that threaten the future of our planet, and begins the process of delegitimizing a business model that, while financially profitable in the short run, is socially and morally bankrupt. You can listen to the webinar here:

Fracking Officially Banned in New York

In December, Governor Cuomo announced that his administration would ban hydrofracking in New York State, citing risks raised in a public health review of the process by the NYS Department of Health (DOH). As the Ranking Member of the State Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, I’m thankful that last month, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) took the final step in the process to make that ban a reality by issuing its Findings Statement.

Any economic gains from hydrofracking are fleeting and cannot justify the long-term negative public health and environmental consequences. Even with the ban in place, however, it’s essential that we do more to protect New Yorkers from hydrofracking’s impact. That's why I’ve introduced legislation to prohibit wastewater treatment facilities and landfills from accepting fracking waste, the transportation of fracking waste through New York State, and the use of fracking waste on New York State highways and roads. I look forward to continuing to press my colleagues in the Senate to take up these issues next year.

NYPD National Night Out Events: Tuesday, August 4 – FREE

National Night Out is an annual community-building event that aims to promote police-community partnerships through social engagement, anti-crime rallies and mutual dialogue. Local businesses and civic organizations participate along with City, State and Federal agencies. 

Find your precinct here:

• 1st Precinct: 5:30-8 pm at Battery Park/North Cove Marina
• 6th Precinct: 6-8 pm at Father Demos Square (6th Avenue and Bleecker)
• 9th Precinct: 3-8 pm at East 5th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues
• 10th Precinct: 5-8 pm at Fulton Houses Park (17th Street and 9th Avenue)
• 13th Precinct: 5-8 pm at Peter’s Field Park (2nd Avenue between 20th and 21st Streets)
• 17th Precinct: 5-9 pm at Dag Ham Plaza (47th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues)
• 20th Precinct: 6-8:30 pm at West 72nd Street and Broadway
• Midtown North Precinct: 5-8 pm at PS 111 Playground (10th Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets)
• Midtown South Precinct: 5-9 pm at Dag Ham Plaza (47th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues)

Staying Cool

When the heat index is predicted to be dangerously high, New York City opens cooling centers in air-conditioned public community centers, senior centers and public libraries to offer people relief from the heat. Individuals who have no ready access to a cool environment, and particularly those at risk for heat-related illnesses, should use the cooling centers during a heat wave.

Call 311 (TTY: 212-504-4115) or contact 311 online during a heat emergency to find the location of a cooling center or pool, or use OEM’s online finder to choose a cooling center near you.