The year 2011 brings our City, State, and Nation formidable new challenges. It is an honor and a privilege to continue serving the proud neighborhoods of Flatbush, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope, Midwood, and Boro Park. I am looking forward to working with Governor Cuomo to pass new ethics laws to affect State officials. But the State’s budget problems are extremely serious (see article below).

The rent laws are also expiring on June 15th of this year. I and my Assembly colleagues are preparing to pass a bill soon to extend rent stabilization and rent control, repeal vacancy decontrol, and provide for other tenant protections.

My offices stand ready to serve you. You can visit, call, e-mail, write, or fax us.

Many working New Yorkers are eligible for an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) but don’t know it. The Earned Income Tax Credit puts more disposable income into working people’s pockets. It is important that you check to see if you are eligible. If you were previously eligible but did not apply, you can still file for the past three years.

These credits are available to full or part-time working people—even those who don’t have to pay income taxes. You must file a federal tax return even if you don’t owe any taxes in order to qualify for this credit. To get more information on whether you qualify, visit http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=130102,00.html.

If you qualify for the federal EITC, you are probably also eligible for New York State and New York City earned income credits as well. File your federal return first and then file a NYS Form IT-215 along with a NYS tax return.