BENSONHURST'S PREMIER NEWS BLOG

Source: Spoonchen via Flickr

After Hurricane Sandy, many gas stations around the city were closed. For the ones that remained open, gas lines were so long that a rationing system had to be enacted on November 9. To keep more gas available for motorists after disaster strikes, Senator Marty Golden and Assemblymembers Nicole Malliotakis, Jim Tedisco and Pete Lopez want to enact a tax incentive for gas stations to purchase and pay for generators.

According to the Legislative Gazette:

The legislation would provide a tax credit of up to $15,000 to encourage gas stations and convenience stores across the state to install commercial generators to keep gas flowing when the power grid is down. A commercial-size generator costs between $5,000 and $30,000 to install and up to another $8,000 a year to maintain, according to the lawmakers.

On his Facebook page, Golden wrote:

Today, I joined Assembly members Nicole Malliotakis, Jim Tedisco and Pete Lopez in announcing that we are drafting new legislation to help prevent the long lines and long waits for gas that occurred following Superstorm Sandy. The legislation would provide a tax credit of up to $15,000 to encourage gas stations and convenience stores across the state to install commercial generators to keep gas flowing when the power grid is down.

As we begin a new legislative session, the people of New York City and State will look to see how New York’s government will address, and thus take measures to prevent, a gas crisis like we saw following Superstorm Sandy. This tax incentive will encourage gas stations to take the necessary steps to be ready for such instances. A common sense solution like this will prevent the long lines, the arguments and give people peace of mind, knowing they will be able to get gas and subsequently travel.

This plan is one of many that have been presented to Governor Andrew Cuomo regarding effective disaster planning for the future.

Source: wallyg via Flickr

Tomorrow, the board of the MTA will cast their votes on raising tolls on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to a whopping $15 – and local pols are fuming.

State Senator Marty Golden, Congressman Michael Grimm and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis issued a joint statement to the board and its chairman, Joe Lhota, urging them to kill the proposal and grant Brooklynites and Staten Islanders a measure of economic relief.

The statement follows a letter sent by the trio on December 13. In it, they wrote:

This proposal will hit the pockets of all New Yorkers who traverse the Verrazano Bridge for the purposes of work, shopping, medical care, family visits, and more. It is just unacceptable that the most expensive bridge in the world, already at $13, has the potential to become more expensive.

… In these difficult economic times, the last thing New Yorkers need is the burden of additional travel expenses. The proposal now before the MTA will further strain the budgets of millions of New York’s families and cause a loss of revenue for countless businesses. This proposal is not only misguided, it is something New Yorkers are not willing to accept.

The current proposal calls for raising the toll $2, from $13 to $15. The increase would be $1.06 for those with E-Z Pass.

The three Republican legislators are not alone. Last month, Democratic Councilman Vincent Gentile stood before the board at its November 28 hearing and blasted the plan. He also demanded that the MTA extend the discount they give to Staten Island residents to Brooklyn residents as well.

Source: EyOne via Wikimedia Commons

The Metropolitan Transit Authority released a proposal earlier this week that outlines options for the fare hike that will take effect in March of 2013. The proposal is full of various combinations for increases in the single ride, weekly and monthly cards as well as proposed increases for toll bridges and buses.

Keep reading to see the proposal.

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?

The Great Bay Ridge Debate takes place next Tuesday, September 25, at 7:3o p.m. The debate is a chance to hear local pols go at it before the elections.

Xaverian High School at 7100 Shore Road will host the war of words, and audience are encouraged to attend.

The only unfortunate note to this civic event is that it falls on the eve of Yom Kippur.

Update (9/22/12 3:39 p.m.): Brian Hedden of Bay Ridge blog Bay Ridge Odyssey has informed us that the debate has been cancelled to avoid the Yom Kippur date conflict. No date is set yet for another debate.

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: The offices of Nicole Malliotakis

The following is a press release from the offices of Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis:

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R,C-Bay Ridge) is inviting members of the local media to engage in a conversation regarding MTA issues and how the agency will affect Bay Ridge residents and businesses moving forward.

She will be joined by her colleague, Senator Marty Golden (R,C,I-South Brooklyn), and MTA Board member Allen Cappelli, in a discussion regarding the next steps to continue to bring fiscal responsibility to the agency, resulting in better transit service.

The communities in South Brooklyn were hit extremely hard by the MTA’s last round of service cuts and Malliotakis and Golden have made service restorations their priority.

After last week’s announcement of restoring weekend service on the X27 and expanding service on the S93, the legislators have pledged to strongly advocate for improved local bus and subway service.

Media persons are welcome and encouraged to attend.

WHO:           Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, Senator Marty Golden and MTA Board Member Allen Cappelli

WHAT:         Roundtable discussion regarding future MTA issues and how they will affect Bay Ridge residents and businesses.

WHEN:         Friday, July 27, 2012 at 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:       District Office of Senator Golden and Assemblywoman Malliotakis at 7408 5^th Avenue, Bay Ridge

Assemblywoman Malliotakis and staff deliver supplies to Jack Semich (second from left), Executive Director of Project Homefront.

The following is a press release from the offices of Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis:

This morning, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R,C-East Shore) delivered items collected during her “July Re-Supply” drive to Project Homefront, a local non-profit organization charged with assembling and shipping care packages to military personnel from New York deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.

Items included drinks, snacks, toiletries, dog products, writing pads, and other supplies donated by individuals in the community and members of the Verrazano Rotary Club and Arrochar Friendship Club.

The drive came about after Malliotakis was informed that Project Homefront faces difficulty filling care packages during the summer months, due to the group’s heavy reliance on donations from students. She and her staff will be on hand tomorrow morning to assist with packaging.

“The generosity of our community never ceases to amaze me.  Patriotism and affection for our troops runs deep in Staten Island and Brooklyn, and we prove it though our actions.  It’s not just talk,” said Malliotakis.  “The members of our armed forces do some of the hardest work in the world, under the most extreme conditions.  It’s an honor to work with Project Homefront to make their time overseas a little more comfortable.”

The items will be packed tomorrow morning, 9:00 a.m., at New Dorp Moravian Church.

"Settle down, boys, or I swear I will pull this car over!"

Following our post yesterday about toll relief on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and the who-said-what-first sniping that’s popped up between State Senator Marty Golden, his Democratic opponent Andrew Gounardes, and Councilman Vincent Gentile (who, it appears, actually said it first), Republican Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis rang in today with her own bit of mischievousness.

“If the three of them could get along, maybe they can get a carpool discount,” she told Bensonhurst Bean.

Regardless of the discount, we would love to have a seat in that car, too. The exchanges would have to be better than whatever cruddy reality shows are coming out of Brooklyn these days (we’re looking at you, Brooklyn, 11223).

Jokes aside, Malliotakis also took issue with Gounardes’ assertion that “Golden is asleep at the wheel” when he failed to fight for Brooklyn drivers to be included as part of the three-bridge deal in Staten Island.

“We made sure when we did get that deal for the three bridges that it would also extend into Brooklyn,” Malliotakis said. “When he sent out this release saying that Staten Island is getting it and Brooklyn is not, he’s actually wrong.”

Under the deal, which Malliotakis and other legislators announced this month, the toll for enrolled E-Z Pass users with non-commercial plates shall be $4.75 per trip after three trips are completed within a calendar month at the Goethals Bridge, Outerbridge Crossing and/or the Bayonne Bridge. The change should take effect by September at the latest.

Golden, Gentile and Malliotakis were all among the local elected officials who asked the governor to extend the deal to Brooklynites after it was first announced for Staten Island.

All three, and Gounardes, are now demanding a similar deal for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

Source: The offices of Nicole Malliotakis

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Benevolent Association today announced their endorsement of Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis for re-election in the 64th Assembly District.  The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department is responsible for providing safety and security for the commuters and travelers who use the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and Staten Island Railway.

Assemblywoman Malliotakis has made restoring fiscal sanity to the MTA a priority of her first legislative term.  Notably, she was successful in urging Governor Cuomo to waive $50 million in bond fees that the MTA would have been required to pay to New York State.  Malliotakis is also drafting legislation to bring revenue generated by MTA police and other personnel, which has been diverted to the City of New York, back to the MTA.

Malliotakis has also been aggressive on law enforcement issues, including her support of legislation passed to expand the DNA database and penalize those that view child pornography or commit aggravated acts of domestic violence.  She has also fought to establish tougher penalties on repeat drunk drivers and criminals who attempt to lure children.

MTA PBA Executive Vice President and Legislative Chairman Michael O’Meara said: “Assemblywoman Malliotakis has proven to be a great advocate for the law enforcement community. She has a great respect for issues concerning law and order in her community, and the entire State of New York. The officers and members of the MTAPBA are proud to endorse Assemblywoman Malliotakis for re-election to the 64th Assembly District.”

“In order for a public authority like the MTA to provide my constituents with equitable service, we need to ensure that it’s receiving the money it’s rightfully due and spending it the right way.  If we don’t remove unfair burdens imposed by state government or fail to prevent the raiding of MTA coffers to fill budget gaps, we risk further service cuts and increases on tolls and fares,” said Malliotakis.  “I’m proud that the MTA PBA has recognized my efforts to restore financial soundness to the MTA and my commitment to availing our state’s law enforcement agencies of the tools they need to keep us safe.”

Assemblywoman Malliotakis was recently endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees – Local 2272, which represents the U.S. Marshals, as well as the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.