For years, New York City residents have been deluged with menus, fliers, and circulars left on their lawns, on their doorsteps, in their lobbies, and in their vestibules. In addition to causing the annoyance of having to constantly pick up papers from the ground and the proliferation of litter, unwanted advertisements can be dangerous. The plastic-wrapped circulars become safety hazards during rainy and snowy weather. When residents go on vacation, a pile of fliers and menus on the lawn represent a green light to would-be burglars.

With the new law, business owners are liable for leaving printed materials on private property. Any business owner who distributes advertisements in violation of a property owner’s sign may face a civil penalty of between $250 and $1,000 per violation.

Quality of life issues such as neighborhood cleanliness are important for communities across New York City. Mr. Weprin’s Lawn Litter Law is a big win for all residents who want a cleaner, safer, more livable city.

WINTER FITNESS CHALLENGE WINNERS REWARDED

Assemblymember Weprin and Winter Fitness Challenge participants on the field at Shea Stadium

Nearly one hundred elementary and middle school students and their parents joined Assemblymember Weprin at Shea Stadium after they were selected in a drawing from hundreds of students who completed the Fitness Challenge.

As he does every year, Mr. Weprin sponsored a Winter Fitness Challenge for local students. The goal of the program is to introduce creative incentives to promote physical fitness and a healthier lifestyle for students throughout New York State. Assemblymember Weprin, along with an organization called Nutrition and Fitness for a Healthy New York, works to encourage youngsters to participate in more physical activity, adhere to a sensible diet and develop an improved sense of wellness.

The Fitness Challenge yielded a fabulous response from students, who tracked their exercise during the winter months. Those who exercised at least three times a week during the months of January and February and recorded their workout schedules on Assemblymember Weprin’s form were awarded New York State Assembly Certificates of Merit. In addition, students whose forms arrived on or before the deadline had their names entered into a drawing for free tickets to the Mets game provided by Nutrition and Fitness for a Healthy New York, a New York based nonprofit organization.

The winners and their parents accompanied Assemblymember Weprin onto the field at Shea Stadium before the singing of the national anthem for a special acknowledgement of their accomplishment.

LOCAL 8th GRADER BECOMES
ASSEMBLYMEMBER FOR A DAY

Assemblymember Mark Weprin introduces Jennielynn Damiano on the floor of the New York State Assembly

Assemblymember Mark Weprin relinquished his role as legislator for one day to a student from a local school who won his annual “Assembly Member for a Day” Essay Contest. This year’s essay question was: Imagine you are the newly elected governor of New York State. Describe your daily schedule and your plans to make life better for all New Yorkers.

Contest winner Jennielynn Damiano, an eighth grader from St. Kevin School in Flushing, Queens, imagines herself as the “Undercover Kid Governor,” who inspects New York without anyone questioning her presence, focusing on the state of schools, living conditions, and public transportation.

As Assemblymember for a Day, Jennielynn visited Albany with her parents and her younger brother, Joseph. Her day included an interview with a Legislative Gazette reporter and a tour of the Capitol. During the legislative session, Assemblymember Mark Weprin introduced Jennielynn as her family watched proudly. Many Assemblymembers came over to congratulate Jennielynn on winning this year’s essay competition. To conclude the day, Assemblymember Weprin and Jennielynn recorded a radio and television interview in which a reporter asked them questions about the day’s events and the essay competition.

SHA NA NA’S “BOWZER” IS
PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY AT P.S. 188

Jon “Bowzer” Bauman (left) and Assemblymember Weprin (right) at P.S. 188Q

At the invitation of Assemblymember Mark Weprin, performer Jon “Bowzer” Bauman of Sha Na Na fame returned to his alma mater, Public School 188Q, located at 218-12 Hartland Avenue, Hollis Hills, to be Principal For A Day. Bauman, famous for his portrayal of “Bowzer” in the musical group Sha Na Na, grew up in Hollis Hills, Queens, and attended P.S. 188, The Kingsbury School. The Principal For A Day program mobilizes more than 1200 civic, corporate, creative and community leaders throughout the tri-state region to experience a day in the life of a New York City public school principal. Assemblymember Weprin has one son who attends P.S.188 and another who recently graduated from the school.

Each autumn, Assemblymember Mark Weprin visits elementary and middle schools across his district to officially install the newly elected members of the student governments and to present them with New York State Assembly certificates of merit. Mr. Weprin tells the young leaders that they are responsible for representing the interests of their fellow classmates, who elected them, and that participating in government can add interest and meaning to their academic experiences.

The Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park provides a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. Since 1974, more than ten million families around the world have benefited from the comfort provided by a Ronald McDonald House. Assemblymember Weprin, a longtime supporter of the Ronald McDonald House, visits regularly to meet with the staff and with the families who are staying there.

WRANGLERS REGAIN LEGISLATIVE TROPHY

Assemblymember Weprin, Coach Lomangino, and the Wranglers

The Wranglers’ strong hitting led to a 14-4 victory over the rival Powderpuffs. Strong pitching by Nicole Lomangino, who struck out twelve batters, along with great defense from both the infield and the outfield, kept the Powderpuffs at bay. Big hitters included Tiffany Ramos, Christine Ruffini, Emily Keenan, Angelica Titor, and Nicole Lomangino. With the coaching of Nick Lomangino, the Wranglers carried the day.

Assemblymember Weprin is proud to sponsor youth sports teams in four different leagues across his district.

Inside Broadway is a professional New York City based children’s theater company committed to producing Broadway’s classic musicals in a contemporary light for young audiences. The organization aims to pass down the rich legacy of America’s musical theater to future generations so that the magic, music, and universal themes of the genre are not lost, but rediscovered and made relevant for today’s youth.

As a consistent critic of the extreme emphasis on testing in our public schools, Assemblymember Weprin believes that programs like Inside Broadway are a critical component of a well-balanced education. The emphasis on testing is turning our schools into test-preparation factories that neglect physical education, art, music, and science in favor of rote test-preparation drills. New York City’s children are going to school in the cultural capital of the world, and focusing on test preparation limits opportunities for exploring the rich art, music, and civic experiences that the city offers. The narrow focus on specific test subject matter denies students access to a broader curriculum, and Inside Broadway is helping to bring live music and dance back to our schools.

Inside Broadway’s musical adaptations are presented in public schools throughout the city and in the Weekend Family Series for the public. Inside Broadway also offers related hands-on, in-school Teaching Artist Residency Programs that enrich core curriculum subjects through drama, dance, and music.

Through a state grant, Assemblymember Weprin brought the Inside Broadway program to elementary schools throughout his district. Some of the students wrote to Assemblymember Weprin to express their feelings about the program.

FIGHTING AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING
(Chapter 74)

The new law imposes a mandatory prison sentence for perpetrators who profit from prostitution by engaging in sex trafficking. It adds labor trafficking, which carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison, to the penal code. The measure makes it illegal for travel-related businesses to facilitate the patronizing of prostitution, adds sex and labor trafficking to the eavesdropping statute, and includes those convicted of sex trafficking on the sex offender registry.

Because human trafficking victims are often left helpless even after their captors have been apprehended, the law directs the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to coordinate the provision of services to human trafficking victims. In addition, the victims are now eligible for services from the Crime Victims Board. Finally, the law creates an interagency task force to report on the extent of trafficking and to make recommendations on improvements in the state’s response.

STRENGTHENING DWI PENALTIES
(Chapter 345)

The law creates the crime of aggravated vehicular homicide, a felony punishable by up to twenty-five years in prison. This crime applies to those who commit reckless driving, kill someone in a drunk driving crash, and also have at least one of the following: blood alcohol content of .18 or higher; prior DWI conviction within the last ten years; the crash caused the death of more than one person; the crash killed one person and severely injured another; or the offender was driving with a suspended or revoked license.

KEEPING GUNS AWAY FROM FELONS
(Chapter 235)

The measure eliminates a loophole that allowed convicted violent felons to obtain firearms licenses and possess weapons after being granted legal waivers. Previously, convicted violent felons could possess rifles or shotguns lawfully after receiving certificates of good conduct. Under the new law, violent felons who are issued such certificates may no longer obtain firearms licenses, and possession of a rifle or a shotgun by a convicted violent felon is a criminal offense.

OPEN GOVERNMENT
(Chapter 102)

The chapter requires each state agency that maintains a web site to post information related to the Freedom of Information Law and the Personal Privacy Protection Law. The posting must include contact information for the persons from whom agency records may be obtained, the times and places the records are available for inspection and copying, and directions for requesting records either in person, by mail, or electronically.