During this past session, Assembly Member O’Donnell introduced bills that were passed by the Assembly that will protect consumers, expand health coverage options for domestic partners, and help prevent discrimination. These bills still need to be acted upon by the Senate in order to help those they were designed to protect.

During the last week of the legislative session, the Assembly passed A.2030, the Wireless Telephone Service Consumer Protection Act. This bill, discussed in detail in the March newsletter, has been introduced in the Senate but faces strong opposition there from the wireless industry. The legislation would provide specific protections for consumers, including the right to cancel service without any termination fees within 15 days after the customer’s first wireless telephone bill has been issued. This provision would give a meaningful remedy to the customer who receives a bill that is much higher than expected or advertised. Other protections include: upfront disclosure of monthly fees, taxes, surcharges and additional charges for using the cell phone, a formal customer complaint process at the Consumer Protection Board, and disclosure of the availability of E911 service.

A.3251 would allow small employers to offer health insurance coverage to domestic partners of their employees, and requires insurance companies to make that coverage available when an employer wants to offer it. Large employers can already offer coverage to their employees’ domestic partners; O’Donnell’s bill will give employers with fewer than 50 employees the same option.

A bill that would help prevent discrimination in employment and other areas, A.1607-B, was passed by the Assembly in late June. This bill would ensure that certain court records are sealed and do not become available to private investigative services and credit reporting bureaus. Under current law, when a person is convicted of a non-criminal offense, all fingerprint-related records are sealed, but the court records are not. Court records are now computerized and can therefore be used for employment and credit checks, facilitating discrimination. A.1607-B would seal court records so that they cannot be used for such discriminatory purposes, restoring the original intent of the sealing laws. The bill has been introduced in the Senate, and Assembly Member O’Donnell will continue to work with the Senate sponsor, advocacy groups and the District Attorneys Association in an effort to have the bill passed by both houses.

¡Atención!

La oficina de la comunidad del asambleísta Daniel O’Donnell ahora tiene empleados que hablan español para asistir al público tiempo completo, lunes a viernes de 9:00 AM a 5:30 PM. La oficina de la comunidad está localizada en el 245 West 104th St., y la calle Broadway. También pueden llamar a la oficina en horas laborables al (212) 866-3970.

Nuestro noticiario ahora está disponible en español, para obtener una copia favor de llamar a la oficina del asambleísta Daniel O’Donnell al (212) 866-3970.

On June 19th, the Assembly spoke out for equality when 85 members voted yes to allow New York State to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Introduced in the Assembly on May 21, 2007, the Marriage Equality Act, A.8590, had a record 56 sponsors, and it garnered a ground-breaking 85 votes when it came to the floor on June 19, 2007. As the bill’s prime sponsor, Assembly Member O’Donnell led the debate on the Assembly floor, fielding questions and providing the evening’s final statement. The ideals of freedom, equality, and happiness were evoked; they drove the debate and moved many of O’Donnell’s colleagues, some of whom had expressed reluctance or fear of retaliation, to vote yes on this historic bill. The Senate’s corresponding bill, as introduced by Governor Spitzer, did not move forward.

Last summer, Assembly Member O’Donnell and his partner of 27 years were plaintiffs in the same-sex marriage case decided in the Court of Appeals, where, over a strong dissent by Chief Judge Kaye, the Court declined to find a constitutional right to marriage equality for same-sex couples. Instead, the majority opinion placed responsibility on the legislature to protect the rights of same sex couples and their families. In May, Governor Spitzer followed through on his campaign promise to support marriage equality and introduced his same-sex marriage program bill. For the next month, O’Donnell persuaded reluctant colleagues, or those afraid of conservative reprisal, to vote in favor of equal civil rights for gay and lesbian couples.

The Marriage Equality Act would establish equal treatment under the law for all married couples, regardless of the sex of the parties. In consideration of the religious beliefs of clergy members, the bill also provides that no clergy member or religious institution would be compelled to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony. Civil marriage is a legal circumstance with over 1,300 state-level rights, responsibilities, benefits, and obligations that lesbian and gay couples cannot currently assume. Under current law, partners unable to enter into a civil marriage-and their children-lack legal protections taken for granted by married couples in such areas as property ownership, inheritance, health care, hospital visitation, taxation, insurance coverage, and pension benefits. Same-sex couples should have the right to legally ensure that each partner, and their children, will be protected in the case of illness, death, or the difficult times from which no family is exempt. This bill would redress those inequities.

Assembly Member O’Donnell’s energy will now be focused on getting this critical civil rights legislation passed in the Senate.

From 11:00am - 3:00pm

• Free information about important health issues including nutrition, domestic violence prevention, diabetes, and cancer from local community health organizations
• Free screenings for dental/oral health, bone density, glucose, cholesterol, HIV/AIDS, children’s vision and blood pressure
• Become a blood donor and help your community

Please call Assembly Member O’Donnell’s community office if you have any questions.

A congestion relief plan for New York City takes a critically important step forward with the establishment of a 17-member, bi-partisan commission to review plans to reduce traffic congestion and approve a plan that will result in the same level of traffic mitigation as the plan that was submitted by the Mayor to the U.S. Department of Transportation in June. On Thursday, July 26, the Assembly passed A.9362, establishing the commission and requiring the development and submission of a traffic congestion mitigation plan. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on July 26.

The commission is required to consider both a congestion pricing plan and an array of alternatives that may have the same effect as a fee to drive into certain areas of the city. In accordance with the new law, the Mayor submitted a plan to the commission, and by October 1, 2007, Metropolitan Transportation Authority and NYS Transportation Department must comment on the Mayor’s plan, along with submitting analyses of the capital funding needed to implement the plan, the way in which revenues generated by the plan will be used, and the impact of such revenue on the MTA’s budget and NYSDOT’s budget.

Last month, the commission’s membership was finalized, with representatives from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, and it will now proceed with conducting public hearings and reviewing the city’s plan as well as other traffic mitigation proposals. It will develop a comprehensive plan that will then be submitted for consideration. The commission is required to vote on a plan by January 31, 2008 and the Legislature to act on the plan by March 31, 2008.

Environmental Advocates of New York, a nonprofit government watchdog organization, recently released the names of NYS legislators who supported all four of the environmental community’s "Super Bills", priority environmental legislation for the 2007 legislative session. Assembly Member O’Donnell was recognized as an environmental leader for supporting the following pieces of legislation:

• The Community Preservation Act gives localities the power to vote on preservation funding without prior approval of the Legislature.
• The Clean Water Protection/Flood Prevention Act, or "wetlands bill" closes a giant loophole in statewide wetlands protection.
• The Bigger Better Bottle Bill updates the state’s recycling program and earmarks unclaimed deposits for NYS’s Environmental Protection Fund.
• The Climate Change Solutions Act & Fund dedicates funds from NYS’s auction of carbon dioxide emission credits to support clean energy and increase energy efficiency.

As residents and neighbors of Park West Village continue to experience the noise, dust, and fumes of ongoing demolition and construction at all related sites on Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues between 97th and 100th Streets, Assembly Member O—Donnell continues to advocate for their safety, health, and well-being. On July 25th, a retaining wall collapsed at the construction site of 808 Columbus Avenue, and all residents of 784 Columbus Avenue were evacuated until inspections of the buildings ensured their safety. Residents of the "p line" of apartments, those closest to the collapsed wall, were lodged elsewhere for several days until engineers certified the stability of these apartments.

Though Department of Buildings issued a Stop Work Order for 808 Columbus Avenue, Assembly Member O’Donnell repeatedly urged Commissioner Patricia Lancaster to stop work at all related sites on Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues between 97th and 100th Streets until the cause of the collapse was ascertained. He also exhorted DOB to regularly communicate with community residents about each site’s current permit status, as well as what practices people should expect to observe at the sites. In the wake of a traumatic and potentially dangerous event such as the wall’s collapse, information is crucial to the local community’s well-being and peace of mind. On August 30th, the Stop Work Order for 808 Columbus Avenue was lifted. O’Donnell protested this action to DOB, since the cause of the wall’s collapse remained unknown.

Recent additional actions taken by Assembly Member O’Donnell to protect and advocate for the neighbors of these projects include contacting Department of Environmental Protection about the proliferation of mosquitoes in standing water at the site; advocating on the behalf of the P.S. 163 community to DOB, DEP, and NYC Department of Education; and continuing to press the developers to include the community in developing solutions to its serious concerns. O’Donnell remains committed to the safety, health, and well-being of the community during these massive-scale projects. If you experience excessive dust, noise, or fumes, or if you believe you have observed an illegal demolition or construction practice, please contact 311 and then O’Donnell’s district office, and his staff will swiftly follow up on the complaint.

Assembly Member O’Donnell wishes to thank all those who participated in his spring book drive. The community’s response was incredible; over 1,200 children’s books were donated for NYC public school classrooms. They will be distributed to teachers by Project Cicero, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing and encouraging reading. "This shows an incredible level of commitment from this community to quality education for all children," said O’Donnell. The book drive was a part of O’Donnell’s Fourth Annual Community Reading Challenge.

According to the New York State Department of Health and Human Services,

• Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women in New York State.
• In New York State alone, about 13,800 women a year are diagnosed with breast cancer and at least 3,000 will die from this disease.
• About 150 men a year are diagnosed with breast cancer in New York State.
• About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are believed to be inherited. If there is history of breast cancer in your family, please inform your health care provider.

In order to successfully treat and detect breast cancer, the Department of Health and Human Services is urging all individuals to routinely receive mammograms and perform breast self-examinations. These examinations are crucial in the early detection of this disease and may save your life.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, the following resources are available at the statewide level as well as in New York City:

1501 Broadway, Suite 704A
New York, NY 10001
www.sharecancersupport.org

Breast Cancer: (212) 382-2111
Toll Free: (866) 891-2392

Toll Free: (800) 877-8077
www.adelphi.edu/nysbreastcancer

For more information on breast cancer visit the New York State Department of Health and Human Services website at: www.health.state.ny.us/statistics/cancer/registry/abouts/breast.htm.

Assembly Member O’Donnell is pleased to announce the distribution of member item funding to the following 501(c)(3) charitable community organizations:

American Red Cross • Anti-Violence Project • Bailey House • Ballet Tech • Booker T. Washington (MS 54) • Broadway Mall Association • Children’s Aid Society, Frederick Douglass Center • Community Service Society • CONNECT • Friends of Morningside Park • Institute For Reproductive Health Access • Landmark West • Legal Information for Families Today • LGBT Community Center • Maurer Foundation Breast Health Education • Metropolitan NY Coordinating Council on Jewish Poverty • Momentum • Morningside Retirement And Health Services • New York Classical Theatre • North River Community Review Board, Inc. • NY Public Library • NYC Kid Fest • One Stop Senior Services • PS 163 • PS 166 • Quality Services for the Autism Community • Riverside Park Fund • Roundabout Theatre Company • SAGE • Services Program for Older People • Shalom Tenants Alliance • SHARE Symphonyspace • The Theatre Museum • Uptown Dance Academy • Westside Crime Prevention • YMCA Grosvenor Neighborhood House.

Blood is in constant demand for treatment of accident cases, cancer victims, hemophiliacs, and for use during surgery. In fact, nine out of ten of us will need blood at some time in our lives. Nearly 2,000 people need to donate blood every day in order to meet this demand. Supplies are critically low in the summer and early fall due to vacations, holidays, and heat. City and regional organizations are seeking donors to help avoid this potentially life-threatening problem.

For information about donating, eligibility, and volunteer opportunities:

New York Blood Center
(800) 933-BLOOD
www.nybloodcenter.org

American Red Cross
(800) 448-3543
www.DonateBloodNow.org

New York City Department of Parks and Recreation is asking for assistance locating open tree pits, including address and cross street, if possible. The agency is also accepting suggestions for new Greenstreets, where paved, vacant traffic islands and medians are converted into green spaces with shade trees, flowering trees, shrubs, and groundcover. If you can recommend any locations for either of these important quality of life initiatives, please contact Assembly Member O’Donnell’s office at (212) 866-3970 and he will convey your suggestions to the Parks Department.

New York City Department of Parks and Recreation is offering free swimming classes for tots (ages 3-5), children (ages 6-14), and adults (ages 18+). Classes begin this month. For registration dates, locations, and information, call (718) 760-6969.

The New York State Police offers a rewarding and challenging career opportunity for individuals who meet basic eligibility requirements. NYSP is actively recruiting candidates for their next round of applications, due December 1st. NYSP is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity.

For more information, please call (917) 492-7126, email NYCRECRUIT@troopers.state.ny.us, or visit www.nytrooper.com.

The NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse has announced their toll free information and helpline is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you or someone you know needs help, referrals, or has questions about prevention, treatment, and recovery services, please call 1-800-522-5353 or visit www.oasas.state.ny.us.

Assembly Member O’Donnell and Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito, in participation with New York-Presbyterian Hospital, are hosting a free flu shot event for adult and senior community residents.

Thursday, November 8th
Grace United Church, 125 W. 104th Street
From 10:00am - 1:00pm

If you are interested in receiving a free flu shot on this date, please register in advance by visiting O’Donnell’s community office at 245 W. 104th Street or by calling (212) 866-3970. Supplies are limited.

Additionally, New York City’s Department of Health will administer flu vaccines to New York City residents who request them. Priority will be given to those over 65, who have chronic diseases or who have conditions that put them at risk for serious flu complications. Uninsured patients will receive shots at no cost.

For more information on locations where you can get a flu shot, you can call 311.