BENSONHURST'S PREMIER NEWS BLOG

• Democratic State Senator Diane Savino held onto her seat against Republican Lisa Grey in the 23 District, with 75.7 percent to 24.3 percent of the vote.
• In District 11, Republican Michael Grimm beat out Democrat Mark Murphy, 52.6 percent to 46.4 percent.
• In District 22, State Senator Marty Golden wins over Demorat Andrew Gounardes, 58.1 percent to 41.9 percent.
• Democrat Jerrold Nadler held onto his seat in District 10 against Republican Michael Chan, with 80 percent to 20 percent of the vote.

Update (9:52 a.m.):

• District 47′s Councilman William Colton beat Republican James Rippa, with 74.2 percent of the vote.
• Peter Abbate was uncontested and held his seat in the 49th District.

Source: Gage Skidmore/ Pete Souza via Wikimedia Commons

Senator Diane Savino and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis watched and rated last night’s Presidential debate together. Take a look at what they had to say to SI Live about the highs and the lows of the battle between President Barack Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney and see if you agree.

Malliotakis gave Obama a C.

Reason: On the defensive talking about what should be done, but he’s had four years.

Best moment: Saying he’s fond of the term “Obamacare,” making light of one of his administration’s worse moments.

Worst moment: He seemed flustered responding to Gov. Romney’s points on the economy and health care.

Romney got an A.

Reason: Knowledgeable, passionate and to the point.

Best Moment: Calling out the president for wasting two years on Obamacare instead of fighting for jobs.

Worst Moment: A bit too eager and overly agitated when responding to the president’s misrepresentations.

Savino gave Obama a B.

Reason: He was a little stiff in his presentation.

Best moment: When he spoke about the strength of the American people in spite of any adversity.

Worst moment: He allowed Romney to mistakenly say several times that he cut $716 billion from Medicare.

Romney got a B as well.

Reason: He did better than everyone expected.

Best moment: His critique of time wasted on Obamacare when the president should have been focused on jobs.

Worst moment: When he said he’d cut programs if it wasn’t worth borrowing money from China to fund them.

Did you catch the debates last night? How do you think they did?

Source: Jim in Times Square via Flickr

Senator Diane Savino, Assembly Members Alec Brook-Krasny, Steven Cymbowitz and Nicole Malliotakis and Councilman Vincent Gentile have come together to reexamine previously proposed plans for waterway transportation alternatives.

They are looking at the success of similar projects in communities with waterway access, such as the East River Fast Ferry. They noted that the East River Fast Ferry service transported more than one million New Yorkers in the first year.

That’s one million New Yorkers off of the congested subways and highways during peak driving and commuting hours.

“It has always been my goal to enhance our relationship with the water and the ways in which we can use it. Right now, our waterfront is a tragically underutilized asset hidden in plain sight…I’m excited to have my colleagues aboard,” Gentile said. “We need to find a way to revive these plans and reignite this spark. The time has come – it is much-needed and long overdue.”

The pols hope this service plan can be enacted closer to home at the the 69th Street pier. Coney Island is also in the running to become a Southern Brooklyn ferry site.

Borough President Marty Markowitz addressed the ferry issue earlier this year. He expressed a desire to “push for the expansion of city ferry service to connect Manhattan to Coney Island, Sheepshead Bay, the Canarsie Pier and the 69th Street Pier in Bay Ridge.”

“Lest we forget New York City was founded because of its access to deep navigable waterways, in these times of increased traffic and decreased funds for infrastructure improvements it behooves City leaders to follow your return to the traffic free blue arteries that have served New Yorkers so well for centuries and a million New Yorkers in the last year alone. These benefits can and should now be reaped by South Brooklynites,” said Savino.

Launching ferry service could utilize the waterways in a commuter friendly way and create alternative transportation options, relieving aging MTA infrastructure and jam packed highways.

No dates are set for any decision deadlines; however, it is possible that future New Yorkers could be more prone to wearing “I Heart NY” life jackets on their way to work.

Source: Matt H. Wade via Wikimedia Commons

When the news first broke of the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the measure, news channels were were reporting from opposite sides of the spectrum. The responses from local politicians were split as well, with most sticking to the political views of their parties.

Congressman Michael Grimm:
“President Obama has pulled the wool over the eyes of the American people and broke a fundamental promise by imposing on us one of the largest middle class tax increases in the history of the country. He cannot have it both ways. At a time when millions of American are out of work, he and the Democrats who fought hard for this economy-crushing tax, must be held accountable.”

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis:
“Today’s ruling sets a dangerous precedent for the power of the federal government. By requiring everyone to purchase health insurance, we have taken another step toward socialism and rationed healthcare, which begs the question of what else the federal government can require citizens to purchase.”

Congressman Jerrold Nadler:
“The Supreme Court did not disgrace itself today and we can go on from here to legislate for the better welfare of the American people,” according to NY1.

Senator Diane Savino:
“There is no doubt that this is a huge political win for the Obama administration. And it’s a big personal win for Barack Obama. He staked his presidency on this… Reasonable Republicans will know that it’s time for people to put this issue to rest,” according to SILive.

City Councilman James Oddo:
“It was a divided country before the decision, and probably even more so afterward. The people will have their say in November. It underscores the stakes on Election Day.”

The Healthcare Act means a lot of new territory for healthcare providers, hospitals and citizens to wade through. Let us know, what are your thoughts on the Affordable Care Act?

Source: Bartosz Senderek via Wikimedia Commons

Senator Diane Savino’s bill to allow advertising on lottery tickets has passed in Senate.

Savino’s belief is that the advertising would bring in millions of dollars for education, without raising taxes. She is an advocate of money raised through advertising on governmental properties such as buses and bridges.

“In April, New York participated in a record $654 million Power Ball lottery,” said Savino to SI Live. Lotto officials estimated 137 million tickets were sold in New York state alone. Imagine if all those tickets had advertisements on them that could have raised revenue for New York state. That is less money we need from your pocket in taxes to run schools and colleges throughout New York.”

Savino is awaiting companion legislation action in the Assembly.

Source: CeCILL via Wikimedia Commons

In aftermath of the tragic death of young Leiby Kletzky in 2011, who was abducted and brutally murdered on his way home from day camp in Boro Park, 150 security cams will be installed all over Midwood and Boro Park.

The $1M Leiby Kletzky Security Initiative is the work of Assemblyman Dov Hikind. It is funded by a grant from State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.

Hikind has said that in addition to Kletzky’s death, the closed circuit television (CCTV) program is motivated by anti-Semitic incidents that have recently cropped in the areas.

Exact locations for the cameras have not been determined yet. Though, according to CBS New York, the cameras will be owned and operated by private community groups.

This is not Hikind’s first attempt at installing CCTV cameras. In 2005, Hikind secured $1.2M for the MTA for 120 cameras that were placed in subway stations on the D, F and N train lines.

Hikind also supported surveillance camera-based legislation last July. The legislation, spurred on by Kletzky’s case, was presented by Assemblyman Peter Abbate and State Senator Diane Savino.

It stated that a $500 annual tax credit would be granted to New York City property owners who buy, install, and utilize surveillance cameras on their property.

It was because of a few surveillance cameras that police were able to determine Kletzky’s location in the hours that led to his death. Police have previously said that the footage available on the security cameras was  a major break in the case and eventually led them to his killer.

Hikind has said in the past that if more cameras were available, perhaps authorities could have found the little boy sooner.

The surveillance initiative faces its fair share of criticism from residents as well.

“Yes, CCTV does help deter crime in some cases, but sometimes it is unnecessary. It could be overkill. What about people’s privacy?” says Rob C., a British transplant who grew up with CCTV cameras and has lived in Gravesend.

Other residents are concerned about a possible disparity of state funds for camera programs.

“What about other neighborhoods? I work in Brownsville and we have no cameras to protect women or the schoolkids there,” said Tonya B., a teacher living in Bath Beach. “What about other areas?”

Readers, share your thoughts about CCTV, is it too big brother for you or could it help save lives?

Seantor Diane Savino. Source: Thomas Good via Wikimedia Commons

The paradigm has shifted in schools across the country. Bullying is now taken very seriously as lawmakers and educational leaders continue to raise awareness and work on remedy techniques to help children who are victims.

State Senator Diane Savino doesn’t want it to stop there. She has co-sponsored a bill that aims to protect adults that are bullied in the workplace.

It is called the Healthy Workplace Bill S.4289 and Savino hopes the legislation will get a passing vote in June.

Workplace bullying is not uncommon. One in six one in six American workers are affected, according to WNYT.com.

Monday, Savino hosted a press conference describing the bill along with Maria Morrissey, sister of Kevin Morrissey, the editor who committed suicide due to workplace bullying.

At the meeting, victims of abusive work environments spoke out in favor of the bill.

“I continue to go through the trauma of gossiping, back stabbing, sabotage, false allegations about my work performance,” said Diana Whitaker, a US Air Force Veteran, RN and paramedic.

The bill aims to help employees who develop health problems because of workplace bullying by allowing them to sue the bully and hold the employer accountable. The legislation would also give employers the power to fire the bully.

Tell us readers, have you ever experienced adult workplace bullying?

Source: Rotational via Wikimedia Commons

Medical marijuana is legal in 16 states. Is New York on track to become number 17?

That could be the case as New York lawmakers are getting ready for a legislative push in Albany, where similar bills have been stalled before.

Co-sponsor of the bill, local Democratic State Senator Diane Savino hopes so.

The bill states that patients would have to be certified by a doctor for “serious medical conditions” only. The issued licenses would expire after a year. Also, the medical marijuana could not be consumed or displayed in public.

Savino’s support of the bill stems from watching her parents and grandfather die of terminal cancer.

“This is not about getting high; this is about getting relief,” Savino told the Wall Street Journal. “It’s incredibly painful. You only have morphine. You get to the point where nothing works.”

In 2010, Quinnipiac University ran a poll that showed a 71 percent rate of support from New York’s registered voters for medically prescribed marijuana usage.

Governor Andrew Coumo’s legislative session ends in June, allowing for only a small window of time for the bill to pass.

When asked by Capital Tonight about the possibility of passing the bill by then, Governor Cuomo replied, “I understand the benefits, but there are also risks and I think the risks outweigh the benefits at this point. I understand there’s more research and there’s more evidence and it can always be re-evaluated. I don’t think there’s going to be time this legislative session to analyze that issue.”

Readers, what do you think? Is this the way forward for New York?

While the phrase, “a rising tide lifts all boats” has often been used in defense of tax cuts for those with higher incomes, a newly released report concludes that a slight increase in income for New York’s lowest earners could add a significant boost to the state’s economy. Continue Reading »

(Image courtesy of Grace O'Malley)

New York State Senate members are currently seeking nominations for the induction of new honorees into the New York State Senate Veteran’s Hall of Fame.

State Senator Marty Golden sent out a press release this morning detailing the honors.

“The Senate takes this opportunity to honor the brave men and women who serve our nation and protect our freedom as members of the military,” Golden said in the statement. “The Senate Veteran’s Hall of Fame pays tribute to all who serve, but also singles out for special recognition those whose sacrifices and service have helped make our nation and our community better places to live.”

The New York State Senate plans to honor a distinguished military veteran from New York State at a May 22, ceremony in the state capital at Albany. The inductee’s name, photograph, and biography are to become part of a special online exhibit, which will document their contribution to the nation for posterity.

In order to nominate a deserving individual, residents may request a nomination form by contacting either Senator Golden’s or Senator Diane Savino’s office:

• Senator Golden’s office can be reached at (718) 238-6044, or via e-mail at golden@nysenate.gov.
• Senator Savino’s office can be reached at (718) 333-0311, or via e-mail at savino@senate.state.ny.us.

All nominations must include a biography of approximately 250 words. The short bio must include the nominee’s rank and file at his/her time of discharge or end of military service, as well as any relevant awards or achievements. The nomination form must be accompanied with a high resolution photograph. The deadline for nominations is April 23, 2012.