Dear Friend,

The upcoming 2006 Legislative Session will bring many new important and challenging issues for the State Legislature to address. I feel honored and look forward to representing the 55th Assembly district in this new frontier. My actions as always will be based upon the needs and best ideals of our great community. No matter what obstacles face our community this year, my office will continue to secure the resources that the people of the 55th district deserve.

This newsletter provides you with some of the recent developments in the State Assembly and in our district. My office wants to keep you the constituent informed, so that you may have a greater opportunity to help address the issues that affect our state.

Please always feel welcome to write, email, or call my office with any questions or concerns regarding the affairs of our district. Also, take full advantage of our community advisory council meetings held every second Saturday of each month starting promptly at 10 a.m. To my knowledge, I am the only Assembly member in the state that holds this type of question and answer information session. I look forward to hearing from you.

Assemblyman William Boyland, in collaboration with the City of New York, introduced bill A.7423 in the 2005 Legislative Session. This legislation extends the authority of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to make loans for neighborhood improvement projects, including commercial and community facilities.

The existing law stipulated that after June 30, 2006 HPD could only provide such loans to commercial corridors designated by the City of New York prior to June 30, 2004. As a result, HPD did not have the flexibility to designate new areas for revitalization.

Having the foresight to recognize this problem, Assemblyman Boyland decided to take effective action to make sure Kings County had every resource available for economic growth. A.7423 was passed unanimously by the Assembly, and finally signed by the Governor in early August.

HPD now will have the ability to designate new potential areas for revitalization until June 30, 2007 and permit them to be eligible for neighborhood improvement loans beyond June 30, 2009. The ultimate goal for HPD designated neighborhoods is to create an influx of public and private financing to generate affordable housing.

“This new law will help secure affordable housing and economic growth, to continue to revitalize our communities for decades to come,” Assemblyman William Boyland said.

ASSEMBLYMAN BOYLAND
RECEIVES NEW CHAIRMANSHIP

In an effort to strengthen the legislative process, by providing individual members a greater role in researching, analyzing, and debating various legislative issues, subcommittees have been formed for the 2006 Legislative Session. Assemblyman William Boyland was chosen by his peers to chair the newly formed Subcommittee on Outreach and Oversight of Senior Citizen Programs.

In continuation with his longstanding mission to increase the quality of life for all senior citizens, Assemblyman Boyland sees this chairmanship as the perfect platform to push forward a multitude of his senior-based initiatives. “This new subcommittee will help safeguard the quality of life that our senior citizens deserve,” said Assemblyman William Boyland.

Working closely with the committee on Aging, of which Assemblyman Boyland is a member, the newly created subcommittee will increase the role and impact of all Assembly members in the scope of senior citizen programs. The formation of new subcommittees is one aspect of internal reforms taking place in the state Assembly.

“By establishing a subcommittee structure, the Assembly is seeking to promote more deliberate and long-term discussions and solutions to challenges that can be complicated and far-reaching,” said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

ASSEMBLY LEGISLATION
CLOSES STATE ETHICS LOOPHOLE

Assemblyman William Boyland is pleased to announce that the assembly has passed legislation he sponsored closing a loophole that allows state and legislative employees to escape an ethics investigation by simply leaving their jobs (A.4975-A).

Assemblyman Boyland said the legislation would expand the jurisdiction of the State Ethics Commission and the Legislative Ethics Committee to include former state officers and employees, former candidates for statewide and legislative elected offices, and former political party chairs.

“This is yet another way the Assembly is working to reform state government,” Assemblyman Boyland said. “We need more accountability in Albany and this legislation is a step toward that.”

Assemblyman Boyland added that this year the Assembly has passed legislation reforming the state’s budget process (A.1, A.2, A.4630, A.4631), closing lobbying loopholes (A.9-C), reforming public authorities (A.5626), cleaning up New York’s campaign financing laws, and reforming the state’s judicial selection laws. The Assembly also implemented internal rules changes to dramatically improve the way the house operates.

FIRST ANNUAL FAMFLIX FILM FEST OF BROWNSVILLE

Assemblyman William Boyland Jr., wants to thank everyone who participated in the first annual Famflix Film Fest of Brownsville this summer and made the event a huge success. He looks forward to creating future venues to display Brooklyn’s emerging art renaissance.