6605 Fort Hamilton Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11219 718-232-9565 839 Legislative Office Building Albany, NY 12248 518-455-3053 Dear Neighbor, While in Albany, my focus is always on the residents of my district and making sure that the government works for them. With the passage of this year’s budget, I believe we have made great strides in education and keeping our city affordable. You will find in this newsletter some of the issues my staff and I have ad- dressed that, no matter how big or small, have a huge impact on our everyday lives. Whether it’s taking on a government agency that has unfairly raised costs or taking steps to ensure that our streets are made safer by getting traffic signals in- stalled at dangerous intersections, you can be assured my efforts are always focused on improving life for the people I represent. As always, please feel free to con- tact me at either of my offices if you should need assistance of any kind. Sincerely, Peter J. Abbate, Jr. Member of Assembly 49th Assembly District, Brooklyn Spring 2018 NEWS FROM NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYMAN PETER J. ABBATE, JR. Assemblyman Abbate Contact Information Funding For MTA Action Plan All New Yorkers know that our subway and bus systems have been in crisis for some time now. The R, N, and D lines in our community have been getting worse with everyday commutes turning into nightmares and long-term reconstruction creating even more havoc. As the N-Line continues its multi-year renovations with stations being closed, my of- fice has received numerous complaints about unreliable service and delays. In South Brooklyn, my constituents have to depart their homes sometimes two hours early in order to arrive at their jobs in mid-town Manhattan. This is entirely unacceptable and both the City and the State need to consider creative ways to get us out of this crisis. [email protected]The N-Line upgrades have been going on for years and are approximately halfway completed. Since the proj- ect was proposed, I concluded from community lead- ers and residents that opening up a second exit for the 8th Avenue Subway station on the 7th Avenue side is something greatly needed. Most of the N-Line corridor stations have two exits; one at the front of the train and one at the back. Since this station is one of the busiest in our district, I have asked the MTA to put the reopening of this exit into their plans. Despite a lack of movement to begin working on this project, I have received word this exit will be reopening and I will continue to advocate for its development and urge its prompt progression. Since millions of New Yorkers rely on bus and subway services to travel around the city, this year the Assembly made funding the MTA a priority. The 2018-2019 NYS Budget fully funds the Metropolitan Transporta- tion Authority’s (MTA) Subway Action Plan, for a total of $836 million, to make emergency repairs and enhance subway performance. New York State and New York City will share the responsibility of funding this initiative. We have to ensure that traveling in New York City is easily accessible to everyone. This plan will also expand bus services throughout NYC so residents and visitors can get around much easier and reach their destinations on time.
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6605 Fort Hamilton ParkwayBrooklyn, NY 11219
718-232-9565
839 Legislative Office BuildingAlbany, NY 12248
518-455-3053
Dear Neighbor,
While in Albany, my focus is always on the residents of my district and making sure that the government works for them. With the passage of this year’s budget, I believe we have made great strides in education and keeping our city affordable.
You will find in this newsletter some of the issues my staff and I have ad-dressed that, no matter how big or small, have a huge impact on our everyday lives. Whether it’s taking on a government agency that has unfairly raised costs or taking steps to ensure that our streets are made safer by getting traffic signals in-stalled at dangerous intersections, you can be assured my efforts are always focused on improving life for the people I represent.
As always, please feel free to con-tact me at either of my offices if you should need assistance of any kind.
Sincerely,
Peter J. Abbate, Jr.Member of Assembly
49th Assembly District, Brooklyn Spring 2018
NEWS FROM NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYMAN
PETER J. ABBATE, JR.
Assemblyman Abbate Contact Information
Funding For MTA Action Plan
All New Yorkers know that our subway and bus systems have been in crisis for some time now. The R, N, and D lines in our community have been getting worse with everyday commutes turning into nightmares and long-term reconstruction creating even more havoc. As the N-Line continues its multi-year renovations with stations being closed, my of-fice has received numerous complaints about unreliable service and delays. In South Brooklyn, my constituents have to depart their homes sometimes two hours early in order to arrive at their jobs in mid-town Manhattan. This is entirely unacceptable and both the City and the State need to consider creative ways to get us out of this crisis.
The N-Line upgrades have been going on for years and are approximately halfway completed. Since the proj-ect was proposed, I concluded from community lead-ers and residents that opening up a second exit for the 8th Avenue Subway station on the 7th Avenue side is something greatly needed. Most of the N-Line corridor stations have two exits; one at the front of the train and one at the back. Since this station is one of the busiest in our district, I have asked the MTA to put the reopening of this exit into their plans. Despite a lack of movement to begin working on this project, I have received word this exit will be reopening and I will continue to advocate for its development and urge its prompt progression.
Since millions of New Yorkers rely on bus and subway services to travel around the city, this year the Assembly made funding the MTA a priority. The 2018-2019 NYS Budget fully funds the Metropolitan Transporta-tion Authority’s (MTA) Subway Action Plan, for a total of $836 million, to make emergency repairs and enhance subway performance. New York State and New York City will share the responsibility of funding this initiative. We have to ensure that traveling in New York City is easily accessible to everyone. This plan will also expand bus services throughout NYC so residents and visitors can get around much easier and reach their destinations on time.
Highlights from the 2018 NYS Budget
Education The NYS budget ensures every student, regardless of where they live or what barriers stand in their path, have ample op-portunities. The 2018-2019 State Budget builds on the Assembly’s commitment of ensuring every New York student receives a quality education by providing a total of $26.6 billion in education funding. That’s an increase of $914 million — or 3.6 percent — over the previous year, and a 36 percent increase since 2012.
The spending plan also restores $23.8 million to college opportunity programs, such as the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP). These Opportunity Programs help students to connect and excel at the college level. This year’s budget invests in these critical programs to ensure young New Yorkers have the resources they need to succeed at the college level and secure good-paying jobs after graduation.
Supporting Our Youth To ensure the youth of NYC and NYS have every opportunity to succeed, the NYS Assembly fought to fund the Advantage After School Program by pledging $5 million more than the Executive bud-get proposed; for a total of $22.3 million. This will provide structured activities to our children to enable them to succeed. Supporting programs such as the Neighborhood Improvement Association (NIA), the Federation of Italian Americans, the Chinese Planning Council (CPC), and the Brooklyn Chinese Association, who are our local benefactors, is es-sential to maintain.
Protecting Public LibrariesNew York City’s library system, especially the Brooklyn Public Library, is an exceptional asset to those who rely on their services. Whether they are providing tutoring help for students or ESL classes for adults, the work they do is vital to our communities.
This budget continues New York’s commitment to local libraries, providing a total of $96.6 million, an increase of $1 million over last year. Libraries not only lend books but also offer resources ranging from adult literacy classes to job search resources and provide a community hub for everyone from young children to retirees. In addition, the budget provides $34 million to support library capital projects across New York State.
Higher Education Since their inception, SUNY and CUNY schools have provided an affordable, high-quality education for generations of New York-ers and have been a point of pride for New York State. That’s why this budget provides these academic institutions with the tools they need to continue shaping New York’s future leaders.
The 2018-19 NYS Budget invests heavily in SUNY and CUNY schools, such as Brooklyn College, Kingsborough Community College, and many community colleges across the State. This plan allocates $12.1 million to SUNY, and $6.3 million to CUNY, to increase community college base aid by $100 per full-time equivalent (FTE) student, bringing the total rate to $2,847.
Tax Breaks for Working Families It’s hard to believe but your tax rate will go down and more relief is coming. This budget continues phasing in middle-class tax cuts which are projected to save families $4.2 billion annually by 2025. The plan reduces the state income tax rate from 6.45 percent to 5.5 percent for those earning between $40,000 and $150,000 and from 6.65 percent to 6 percent for those who earn between $150,000 and $300,000. Families will see average savings of $250 this year and, when fully phased in, six million New Yorkers will save $700 each year. This budget also continues the local property tax relief credit which will provide an average reduction of $380 to 2.6 million taxpayers in 2018. Next year, the tax credit will offer an additional $1.3 billion in property tax relief and save the average New Yorker $530.
Assemblyman Abbate in the Community
Update on the Angel Guardian Home SaleThe location of the Angel Guardian Home is much more than a brick and mortar building. As an orphanage for many years, and now home to the Narrows Senior Center, this building has provided much-needed services and has been a second home to many. I, as your Assemblyman, have been very active in the process of ensuring that whatever the property becomes, that the patrons have input and the community’s needs are met. When I recently rallied with concerned seniors and my colleagues in government, I called on all stakeholders to come together and not make decisions in secrecy. In a letter to the sellers, I urged them to open up the process to guarantee the community has input. Our community needs additional schools, afford-able senior housing, and outdoor space, and the seniors who have made the weekly, all day center their home want stability. As this matter progresses, I will continue to recommend that the process open up and become more collaborative. I will also continue to inform the community as more updates become available.
Fighting Back Against Homelessness in our CommunityMy office has received an increasing number of calls with concerns and complaints about a rising homelessness crisis in our neighborhood. Walk along the 62nd Street N-Line tracks or the overpasses near the Belt Parkway and you will notice this issue is right in our backyard. While every New Yorker should have a roof over their head, the unfortunate reality is that many people throughout our City and State do not have a place to call home. Therefore, they are forced to relent to the unpredictable New York weather on a regular basis. Look no further than our own community to understand the breadth of this issue. Homelessness is a crisis in New York which is why this budget continues the State’s affordable and homeless housing and services initiative. This funding will continue to support the creation and maintenance of the program’s 100,000 units of affordable housing and 6,000 units of supportive housing.
In honor of Women’s History Month, I am happy to announce the 2018 Women of Distinction, within our community. This is a great way to show our appreciation and recognize these remarkable women who inspire us and continue to go above and beyond to strengthen Southern Brooklyn and create a brighter future for all.
The approved budget also includes the establishment of a homelessness pilot program for families and individuals in New York City who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Under this program, individuals and families would be offered a shelter supplement up to 100 percent of federal fair market rent for four years.
Announcing Our 2018 Women of Distinction
This year’s award winners are Public School Principals from around the District. These exceptional women have been an important part of our community and have been edu-cating our youth for many years. This year’s Women of Distinction recipients are:
• Johanna Castronova Principal, PS 105
• Yuqing Hong Principal, PS 310
• Jaynemarie Capetanakis Principal, PS 69
• Liz Culkin Principal, PS 176
• Louise Alfano Principal, PS 112
• Bayan Cadotte Principal, PS 186
PRSRT STD.U.S. POSTAGE
PAIDAlbany, New York
Permit No. 75
New York State Assembly • Albany, New York 12248
Assemblyman
Peter J. Abbate, Jr.
Reports To The People
Combating the Opioid Crisis
New York State Bans Guns from Domestic Violence Abusers
Across the country, the misuse of prescription drugs has sky-rocketed. Opioid addiction is an epidemic that has affected our community and countless families in Southern Brooklyn and Staten Island. It is not only in our backyard, but throughout the country.
To combat the opioid epidemic and create a road to recovery, the NYS budget makes investments in prevention, treatment, and recovery services, including establishing a stewardship fund. This fund will be supported by a fee paid by manufactur-ers and distributors registered to sell and/or distribute opioids in our State. The State budget also allocates nearly $250 million in funding to address the heroin and opioid crisis. This includes an increase of $26 million to support the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) for improving education and awareness campaigns, prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and residential service opportunities.
Domestic violence is malicious, the ultimate betrayal of trust and a scourge on society. The statistics are startling, with nearly three women murdered every day by an intimate partner. It is clear that one of the critical steps in preventing these brutal tragedies is making sure abus-ers do not own or have access to a gun. I am proud to have helped pass the Domestic Violence Escalation Prevention Act as part of the Assembly’s continued efforts to keep guns out of the wrong hands and prevent gun violence in New York State. This new measure prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a domestic violence crime from purchasing or possessing a firearm. Thoughts and prayers will never be enough — they will not bring victims back and will not keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. I will continue to take action to keep our families and kids safe and to save lives.
If you or someone you know needs help: Call 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) OR
Text HOPENY (Short Code: 467369)
All calls are toll-free, anonymous and confidential.
The New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Addiction Treatment Centers offers FREE training sessions on opioid overdose prevention and the administering of the overdose medicine Naloxone (a lifesaving drug that can counteract overdoses). Contact an Addiction Treatment Center to learn how you can enroll in a training ses-sion near you. Upon completion of the training, participants will be certified to administer Naloxone and will receive a FREE Naloxone rescue kit.
For more information call the South Beach Psychiatric Center on Staten Island (718-667-5202) or Kingsborough Addiction Treatment Center in Brooklyn (718-453-3200).
