In March of this year, Carl E. Heastie was appointed to Co-Chair the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment by Sheldon Silver, the Speaker of the Assembly. The Task Force is assigned with the duty of preparing research and statistical models to accomplish the redistricting of Congressional and state Legislative districts that is required once every decade.

The Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment was established by Chapter 45 of the New York State Laws of 1978 to research and study the techniques and methodologies to be used by the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of the Census in carrying out the decennial federal census. The Task Force aids the Legislature by providing technical plans for meeting the requirements of legislative timetables for the reapportionment of Senate, Assembly and Congressional districts. It also conducts research projects relating to the collection and use of census data and other statistical information.

To produce these district maps many considerations need to be accounted for to ensure that the districts are drawn to meet constitutional requirements and legal obligations like the Voting Rights Act. This Task Force is very important as it works to establish an electorate that is representative of the people that live in that area.

Assemblyman Carl E. Heastie has secured financial assistance through the Local Initiative Program for the fiscal year 2007-08 for:

Baychester/Edenwald Senior Center - Financial assistance provides for meals for the elder community.

Bridgefield Civic League, Inc. - Financial assistance provides for materials and supplies for summer day camp activities.

St. Luke’s Food Program - Financial assistance provides transportation and supplies to offer food to the local community.

Bronx Youth Uptown Developers Coalition - Financial assistance provides for materials to hold an annual basketball program. The UDC provides an SAT prep course and pre-college orientation and guidance.

East 233rd Street Senior Center - Financial assistance provides for materials for Senior Program and activities.

47th Precinct Community Council - Funds will be used to purchase supplies for a project that will create safer streets and neighborhoods by utilizing volunteers to patrol the community and assist the local authorities with logistics.

NAACP (Williamsbridge Branch) - Financial assistance provides for math and science materials for the tutorial program.

Tilden Towers Senior Center - Financial assistance to provide project director for recreation activities and health/educational seminars.

Y.W. Conservatory of the Arts - Funds will be used to purchase materials/supplies and supplemental instruction for the community dance program. This program offers an opportunity for young adults to receive instruction in the arts of dance and performance.

Mind Builders Creative Arts Center - Community Folk Culture Program Funds will be used to purchase materials and supplies for the Community Folk Culture Program. This program offers an opportunity for young adults to have hands-on experience with shared cultural arts and activities while documenting and archiving this heritage.

The Math Club, Inc. - Funds will be used to purchase materials and supplies to run the program. This program offers youth an opportunity to practice and excel in mathematics.

Unity Neighborhood Center, Inc. - Funds will be used to purchase materials and supplies to expand services in P.S. 87 and P.S. 21. This program provides instruction in dance, drawing, and painting.

Theatre International, Inc. - Funds will be used to provide an after school theatre arts program. The funds from this grant will be used for the purchase of materials to run this program from Richard R. Green Middle School.

Boy Scouts Troop 111 - Funds will be used to purchase materials and supplies to provide education trips through the Boy Scout Cultural Outings Program.

New York Public Library - Funds will be used to purchase books for the Eastchester, Edenwald, and Wakefield Branch Libraries.

Victory Martial Arts/After School Program - Funds will be used to provide after school care and martial arts to families whose financial hardship prevent them from qualifying for alternate care.

Gun Hill Youth Football and Cheerleading Program - Funds will be used to purchase materials and supplies to conduct football and cheerleading youth program.

The New York City Housing Authority will be implementing a project funded by Carl E. Heastie in the sum of $250,000 through Community Capital Assistance Program funding to upgrade the basketball court on the north side of "Building 8" of Edenwald Houses and the play areas between Buildings 31 and 32 on the south side of the grounds. The improvements include new basketball stands, new chain link fences around the gates to the courts, and two new play structures with a spray shower at the play area.

The funds will also be used to create a new play surface, lay new asphalt, purchase trash cans, benches, and other site amenities. "The children of our community deserve new and safe recreation equipment," said Assemblyman Heastie.

In Governor Eliot Spitzer’s first proposed budget he has made giant leaps forward in comparison to his predecessor George Pataki. Governor Spitzer’s proposed budget adequately addressed the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, Higher Education assistance funding, and many other areas that have been very contentious with the previous administration. After some moderate negotiations, the Governor, Senate and Assembly came together and passed an historic budget on the deadline of April 1st, 2007.

Assembly Members Carl Heastie and Ruben Diaz join Bronx residents while they lobby the state Legislature in Albany.

"The budget was negotiated where the two houses and the Governor came to a bipartisan consensus to enact a budget that will provide for the neediest of New Yorkers and create a strong foundation for New York’s future. Our budget compromise gives our citizens the resources they need to live healthy and successful lives. It will provide vital health services and protect our already-fragile health care industry. This year’s budget will continue to pave the way for New York’s future competitiveness with successful job-creating programs," explained Assemblyman Carl E. Heastie.

The Bronx Business Alliance provides local business development initiatives for the Northeast Bronx. This program has been restored to the State budget for the 07-08 fiscal year as the result of Assemblyman Heastie’s efforts. The restoration of this program’s funding in this year’s budget at $153,000 will help the Business Alliance to continue to serve the businesses in our community. The Bronx Business Alliance has been a tremendous success since its launch on July 17, 2003, providing business assistance to local small business owners.

The Bronx Business Alliance is a great source for FREE business advice for small business and aspiring entrepreneurs in the Bronx.

The Bronx Business Alliance’s mission is to assist the small businesses in the North Bronx. Through their vast number of linkage partners, they are able to help small businesses in many areas. They will assist those who want to start a new business with the necessary start up tools. The Business Alliance offers the following assistance and more:

• Start-up Assistance
• Business Plan Development
• Identifying Financing Opportunities
• Marketing Assistance
• Financial Management Assistance

Assemblyman Heastie has successfully secured continued funding for The Doe Fund’s "Ready, Willing & Able Program". Since 2003, the Doe Fund has had a work crew along White Plains Road from Gun Hill Road to 236th Street, Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, that collects trash and keeps the sidewalks and streets clean.

The busy commercial corridor of White Plains Road between Gun Hill Road and East 236th Street is litter free through the hard work of the people of the Doe Fund’s "Ready, Willing and Able" initiative. The Doe Fund is a not-for-profit homeless service organization that provides permanent solutions to homelessness through paid work and a host of other social services.

"White Plains Road is a wonderful place to live and shop, but like many neighborhoods in New York City, keeping a handle on the litter problem can often be a challenge," said Heastie. "With the Ready, Willing & Able Crews working every day along White Plains Road we have the clean streets that the community deserves."

Assemblyman Carl E. Heastie secured $50,000 in funding for the Doe Fund Inc. during the 2007 Legislative session to continue this highly successful street cleaning and community beautification project in the Northeast Bronx.

The Bronx YMCA will continue "The Virtual Y Program" at P.S. 68 as the result of public funds secured by Carl E. Heastie. This program is designed to assist New York City public school children by practicing literacy skills to reinforce what is taught during the school day. The Virtual Y Program offers an enriched after school program consisting of a variety of academic, recreational and values based activities, all infused with experiences that enhance literacy. The operating cost for this program is $26,000 per school, each year.

Assemblyman Heastie, in conjunction with the Bronx YMCA, plans to open an additional "Virtual Y" program in the Northeast Bronx this year.

Assemblyman Heastie has authored a piece of legislation (A.3386 Heastie/ S.1922 Robach ) that would permit a judge to release a tenant from their lease obligations in the event that they are victims of domestic violence; have a restraining order; and, are in danger if they were to stay in the residence. This law requires certain levels of proof that the victim is in danger for them to be released from their lease agreement. This legislation also has provisions to protect the financial interests of the landlord or property owner.

This bill would allow victims of domestic violence the option of leaving their dwelling in order to ensure their safety without breaking a lease agreement. When a person’s safety is threatened by a stalker or former partner, a person may wish to move away from their residence. These individuals often can not because they are bound by a lease agreement. This bill permits these individuals to find a safe place to make their home.

This bill was passed by the Assembly on May 7th, 2007 and passed the Senate on May 15th, 2007. This bill was signed into law on June 4th (Chapter 73 of 2007) and will take effect on August 3rd, 2007.