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.

I am pleased to announce that schools in my district can now access their share of the $500,000 in State funding that my office designated to elementary, middle and secondary schools for capital projects. All schools were asked to identify their own capital needs. Projects such as auditorium renovations, technology upgrades including computers and smart boards, as well as electrical upgrades for air conditioning will now move forward at P.S. 10, P.S. 39, P.S. 107, P.S. 130, P.S. 134, P.S. 139, P.S. 154, P.S. 179, P.S. 217, P.S. 230, P.S. 295, P.S. 321, M.S. 51, M.S. 88, Ditmas Junior High, and the secondary schools at the John Jay Campus. New Voices Middle School will also receive funding under a separate grant. The funds were appropriated two years ago and my office has guided the projects through City and State approvals. The Legislature did not authorize additional funding this year as a result of the State’s financial problems.