NYC Water Supply Update From Christine Quinn, Speaker, NYC Council

December 3, 2009

Dear New Yorker, 

We want to alert you about a troubling development for New York City’s water. 

 On September 30, 2009, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation released a document proposing new permitting procedures and regulations for natural gas drilling in our state.  In effect, this document has left an open path for an unconventional gas drilling technique, known as hydraulic fracturing, to proceed in the land areas that supply our City with its famously clean drinking water.  

We are deeply troubled by this prospect. As much as 90 percent of our City’s water comes from the Catskill/Delaware watershed.  Natural gas drilling, a heavily industrial activity, risks introducing highly toxic chemicals into the City’s drinking water.  If the water were to become contaminated, the City would have to spend an estimated $10 billion to build a filtration plant and $100 million annually to operate it – further increasing water bills that have already seen double digit increases over the past three years. 

If you care as deeply about the future of our City’s water supply as we do, please call or write Governor Paterson and ask him and the State Legislature to explicitly ban drilling for natural gas in the City’s watershed.  We’ve gone ahead and drafted a letter that folks can easily sign on to and send to the Governor via our website.  To access, click http://council.nyc.gov/html/action_center/drilling.shtml

Additionally, the State should extend the public comment period on the proposed regulations, which are found in a voluminous document called the “draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement.  The public comment period should be extended through February 28, 2010.  

Finally, please call or write your U.S. representative and U.S. senators and ask them to support the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2009, which would help protect drinking water supplies throughout the country from the serious risks that hydrofracking poses.  You can find your representative’s contact information by clicking here and your senators’ contact information by clicking here.  You can also call the Capitol’s main switchboard at (202) 224-3121. 

Thanks so much for helping us protect our City’s water supply.

Sincerely, 

Christine C. Quinn

Speaker

New York City Council

For the Weekend of December 5 & 6, 2009 Staten Island Family Fun Events

Go to www.siparent.com for a list of fun events for the family. Here are some ideas for this weekend:

Saturday, December 5, 2009

• Breakfast with Santa Claus to benefit SI’s Children’s Campaign Charitable Trust. 8:30-10am. Applebee’s SI Mall. Call 718 889-3029 to preregister.
• Breakfast with Santa. 10am-noon. Prereg. Seaview Auxiliary, Colony Hall, 718 317-3349
• Kids Workshop: Wagon. Do-it-yourself skills & tool safety. 9am-noon . Ages 5-12. Free at Home Depot.  www.siparent.com
• Holiday Nature Crafts. How to use pinecones, evergreens & other natural materials. 1pm. Blue Heron Park, UPR, 718 967-3542
• Music for the Cure. Benefit concert for young cancer survivors by pianist and brain cancer survivor, Matthew Zachary. 7pm at Veterans Memorial Hall, Snug Harbor, www.musicforthecure.org
• Kids & Kritters: Birds of Winter. Learn about winter birds & make a treat. Ages 5-7 w/caregiver. 11am-12:30pm. Blue Heron Park, 917 751-0071
• Workshop: Indoor Composting with Worms. Construct an indoor compost bin with the help of red wriggler worms. 12-2pm. Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Gdn, 718 425-3557
•  Krafty Kids: Decorate For Tmalshe Ani. Make a Lenape craft. Ages 4-10 w/caregiver. 1-2pm. Prereg. Blue Heron Park,917-751-0071
• Kettle Ponds. Explore Long Pond Park. 1pm. UPR, 718 967-3542
• Yoga. Strengthen body & mind. 10:30am-12pm. Blue Heron Park, 718 356-0106
• Kids’ Bible Adventure Club. Ages 5-12. “Travel” on an African safari and learn about gratefulness. 10am. Son Rise Faith Church, 917 453-5314
• Target First Saturday: Light Up the Season. Free night of music, dance & art-making classes that celebrate the seasonal festivals of light from around the world. 5-11pm. The Brooklyn Museum, 718 638-5000
• Saturday’s Tots. Singing, creating & sharing adventures.11 am. SI Children’s Museum, 718-273-2060
• Kids Workshop. Different project every weekend. 1, 2 & 3pm. SI Children’s Museum, 718-273-206
• Needlecraft Series. Knit & crochet-all skill levels. Instruction in English and Spanish. Bring own materials. 12:30pm (except 12/26). Port Richmond Library, 718-442-0158
• Tavern Concert. 7:30 & 9:30pm. Historic Richmond Town, 718 351-1611
• Yoga. 9:30-11am. Greenbelt Nature Center, 718 351-3450

Sunday, December 6, 2009

• Christmas in Richmondtown. Hear Carolers sing holiday songs, take a tour.  Home-made goodies available. 10am-5pm. Historic Richmond Town, 718-351-1611
• Tree Lighting Celebration. Meet Santa Claus & follow Caroler’s Parade to the Tree Lighting Ceremony. 5pm. Historic Richmond Town, 718 351-1611
• Herbal Holiday Decorations. Make easy table & gift decorations & more. 1-2:30pm. Prereg. Blue Heron Park,  718 356-9235
• Owl Prowl. 5:30pm. Long Pond Park. Protectors, 718 313-8591
• Knot for Nothing. Learn & practice some of the most basic & practical knots. 1pm. Blue Heron Park, UPR. 718 967-3542
• Natural Science Club: Natural Plastics. Make your own samples of plastics from other organic sources such as milk, gelatin & guar gum. Ages 8-12. 2-3:30pm. Blue Heron Park, 718 967-3542
• A Concert of Love & Hope: Inspirational & Holiday Music for the benefit of the Global Medical Relief Fund (www.globmed.org). 3-5:30pm at The Church of the Ascension, 1 Kingsley Ave, 718 442-4187
•  Jacob Marley’s “A Christmas Carol” Presented by Snug Harbor and Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre, 2:00pm. Call 866 967-8167 or visit www.sistny.org
• 12th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony5-7pm at the Carl Grillo Glasshouse, Snug Harbor. Live performances from Wagner College Theatre and St. Roch School’s Children’s Choir, sing-a-longs. RSVP 718 425-3516Reading. Participatory reading from “The Hobbit.” Come dressed as your favorite Tolkien character. 3pm. Prereg. Staten Island OutLOUD. Greenbelt Nature Center., 718-351-3450
• Celebrate Eid: Eid Pancakes. An Arabic festivitiy, celebration, recurring happiness and a feast. Call for times. SI Children’s Museum, 718-273-2060
• Hockey Clinic. Free ice hockey & ice skating instruction for S.I.  boys & girls ages 4-17 from 7-8am (except 12/27). S.I. Ice Hockey Association at the S.I. Skating Pavillion.  718-966-8708 or www.SIIHA.com
• Kids Workshop. Different project every weekend. 1, 2 & 3pm. SI Children’s Museum, 718-273-2060
• Tai Chi. 10-11:30am. Bring your own mat. Tai-Chi. Greenbelt Nature Center, 718-351-3450
  

 

Brothers Care, Inc. & Shaolin Ryders Present Their 2nd Annual Xmas Toy Giveaway

Brothers Care, Inc. & Shaolin Ryders Present Their 2nd Annual Christmas Toy Giveaway

Date: Monday, December 21, 2009

Time: 6p.m. to 9p.m.

Location & Address: West Brighton Community Center – 230 Broadway, Staten Island, NY 10310

Contact: Frank Sullivan (917) 423-5020

Email: Brotherswhocare@aol.com

They are accepting NEW TOY DONATIONS and MONETARY DONATIONS for this event.

Toys are for children from infant to 16 years old as long as supplies last!!

www.Brotherscareinc.com

“UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY”

Go to WWW.NYCSERVICE.ORG to Volunteer this Holiday Season!

From Christine Quinn, Speaker, New York City Council

Happy Holidays!

It’s the season of giving and I hope everyone will take a moment to donate some time to help those less fortunate.  To learn more about some of the ways in which you can help New Yorkers in need this holiday season, log on to www.nycservice.org .

The Good Food, Good Jobs Coalition: Reception 12/7/09 at The New School

The Good Food, Good Jobs Coalition invites you to a reception to celebrate exciting progress toward a more just and sustainable food system for all New Yorkers.

Come hear about new developments in the city’s Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH) program to bring good food and good jobs to communities. Also, hear about efforts to build on this initiative to make our food system healthy, sustainable, economically vibrant, and fair.

Monday, December 7, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Wollman Hall, The New School

65 West 11th Street

Speakers:

Christine C. Quinn, Speaker, New York City Council

Dan Barber, Owner, Blue Hill Restaurant

Bruce Both, President, UFCW Local 1500

Peggy M. Shepard, Executive Director and founder,

We Act for Environmental Justice

Nevin Cohen, Assistant Professor, The New School

Invocation by Lisa Sharon, Co-Founder & Executive Director,

NY Faith & Justice

Light refreshments will be served.

To RSVP please call 1.800.522.0456, ext. 274

or email goodfoodgoodjobs@gmail.com

Freezin’ for a Reason: Special Olympics NY POLAR PLUNGE – Saturday, December 5, 2009!

Special Olympics New York is having their

3rd Annual Polar Plunge on Saturday December 5th at NOON

The Plunge is on Staten Island at Gateway National Park at the intersection of Hylan Blvd. & Buffalo St. Satuday, 12/5/09 at NOON!

Please contact Elizabeth Forest if you are interested in volunteering at 212-661-5217 ext14 or eforest@nyso.org.

From SIMH & On Your Mark – Breakfast with Santa at Applebees at the Mall!

Join us for Breakfast with Santa at Applebees! 10$ per person (Adult or Child) Includes breakfast & visit with Santa.

Staten Island Mall location
Saturday, December 5th
and Sunday, December 6th
8:30am to 10 am
call (718) 889-3029 to buy tickets

New Dorp, Expressway Plaza
and Outerbridge Crossing locations
Saturday, December 12th
8:30am to 10 am
call (718) 983-3800

Advanced purchase only, no day of event sales.

100% of proceeds will be
donated to Staten Island
Children’s Campaign
Charitable Trust.

New Dorp – 430 New Dorp Lane

Expressway Plaza – 1451 Richmond Ave

Staten Island Mall – 2655 Richmond Avenue

Outerbridge Crossing – 2720 Veterans Road West

December 9th and 10th PS 373R Holiday Fair at the Main Site

Holiday Fair is Wednesday and Thursday, December 9th and 10th.

• Wed. 12/9 is for the Main/Mini, PS 861 and Petrides. 9a.m.-2p.m.
• Thurs. 12/10 is for the Main/Mini, PS 58 (except inclusion students and Pre-K students) and PS 65. 9a.m.-2p.m.
• Buses will come pick up the children at the off-sites at 9:30. They will arrive at the Main Site, have pix with Santa, juice & cookies, Crafts, and shopping and then leave after an hour. They will be back in time for lunch at their own site.
• HOLIDAY FAIR money envelopes have been distributed to all the sites. Please fill out the information and indicate how you want the money spent.
• Food Drive and Raffle tickets – 3 cans of food for the food drive = One Raffle ticket. I will pick up the cans as they come in from the off sites.
• Donations – are still being accepted for Raffle baskets items, gently used toys and white elephant items. THANK YOU! – Kirsten Rorke 718-816-8897 ext. 2511.

Ten Reasons to Give Thanks for Your Child With Special Needs

As if you need a reason! Parents of children with special needs know more than most that every child is a gift worthy of thanks, every one, the ones who thrive and the ones who strive, whether they become our legacy or we become theirs. But on those days when there doesn’t seem much to be thankful for, or others are suggesting that your child must be just a burden, or well-meaning charities suggest giving thanks for healthy kids, check this list for a smile and a little inspiration.

Link to the article: BE THANKFUL

Letter from Christine Quinn and Robert Jackson

November 19, 2009

Dear New Yorker, 

The City Council, together with parents and other elected officials, has been calling on the Department of Education (DOE) to increase the number of seats in the City’s public school system in order to help relieve overcrowding and address the future needs of our growing communities.  We’re pleased to report that the proposed amendment to the Five-Year Capital Plan released last week increases the number of new classroom seats by a total of 5,123. 

Many of these seats will be located in School Districts 15, 24, 29 and 30, which are among those that have been particularly hard hit by overcrowding in recent years.  The seats will not require any new funding but instead will be paid for by re-estimating construction costs and through the reallocation of existing resources.  To view the proposed amendment in its entirety, click here.

The details of this proposal need to be carefully examined, including concerns that the funding used for these seats could delay the construction of other seats elsewhere in the system.  However, we believe that this amendment is a step in the right direction, and we look forward to working with parents and advocates to expand the number of classroom seats even further.

As a concerned New Yorker, you have a vital role to play in this process.  The proposed amendment has been sent to every district’s Community Education Council (CEC) for public comment and review, which will occur primarily at December meetings.  After evaluating all public feedback, the DOE is expected to release a final amendment in February, which will then go to the Panel for Education Policy and the City Council for review and approval in the spring.

We encourage you to attend your local CEC’s public meetings and to share your thoughts and views about this proposal.  To find your CEC’s event calendar, click here.

The Council’s Education Committee will also be holding a hearing on the draft amendment in the near future.  Information about the hearing will be posted on our website at http://www.council.nyc.gov/html/home/home.shtml as soon as it has been scheduled.

Thank you.

Sincerely, 

Christine C. Quinn

Speaker

New York City Council

Robert Jackson

Chair, Education Committee

New York City Council