Blog
By Edward McAllister
(Reuters) – A final hearing on proposals to lift a ban on drilling for natural gas in New York state drew a crowd of protesters on Wednesday opposing further energy development there.
New York City hosted the last of four hearings to discuss the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) new rules that could open the state’s borders next year to a controversial drilling technique known as fracking.
New York has had a three-year moratorium on fracking, which involves blasting chemical-laced water and sand into gas-rich shale rock deep underground.
The technique would allow drillers to tap potentially huge reserves of gas in New York’s share of the giant Marcellus shale formation. But environmentalists say fracking could contaminate drinking water for millions of residents.
As at previous meetings across the state this month, protesters, including actors Debra Winger and Mark Ruffalo, gathered in downtown Manhattan to express concern about the safety of water supplies, holding signs saying “Governor Cuomo, don’t frack it up” and “Don’t frack with New York”…
…”Evidence from other states demonstrates that there are significant environmental risks associated with hydrofracking,” State Senator Liz Krueger said in testimony to the DEC on Wednesday. “Every few months a new incident highlights the risk.”
By Jill Colvin
DOWNTOWN — The Department of Education has cautiously reopened the door to a plan that could alleviate overcrowding at a Kips Bay school.
P.S. 116, on East 33rd Street between Second and Third avenues, is currently at 120 percent capacity, according to advocates. To ease the strain, parents and elected officials want the city to start kindergarten classes for nearby P.S. 281, which isn’t scheduled to open until 2013, this fall so that some P.S. 116 students can go to school there.
Since no physical space yet exists for P.S. 281, which will open at East 35th Street and First Avenue, parents are eyeing the Meeth School on East 63rd Street between Second and Third avenues as a potential site for the so-called “incubation” school, which would house the classes temporarily, beginning this coming fall…
By David Freelander
Manhattan State Senator Liz Krueger sent out a fundraising email earlier this week that features what may be called an “anti-Host Committee.”
On the space on the invite where it is usually listed which high rollers are putting it on, Ms. Krueger writes:
“Please do not join: The Koch Brothers, Karl Rove, Pedro Espada, Carl Paladino, Rudy Giuliani, Herman Cain, Eric Cantor, Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney, Michelle Bachmann, Pat Robertson, Rick Perry, Dean Skelos, Grover Norquist, Rand Paul, Glenn Beck, Ron Paul, Sarah Palin, Hiram Monserrate and all members of Rupert Murdoch’s family”
If nothing else, this invite shows what low esteem Sen. Krueger has for her former Senate Democratic colleagues Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada; this may be the first time the former Amigos have been included in the same breath as the Koch brothers and Sarah Palin.
By Mary Johnson
KIPS BAY — Parents and teachers are angry at the Department of Education for rejecting a plan to help ease overcrowding at a Kips Bay school and vowed to continue the fight despite the setback.
P.S. 116, on East 33rd Street between Second and Third avenues, is currently at 120 percent capacity, advocates said. To keep that number from rising, parents and teachers proposed starting kindergarten classes for P.S. 281, a new school currently under construction, before its building at East 35th Street and First Avenue is ready.
In an effort to ensure that East Side residents have an opportunity to voice their opinions on high volume hydraulic fracturing, also known as hydrofracking, Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh hosted a Speak Out on Hydrofracking on Wednesday, November 9th at Baruch College.
“The proposal to allow hydrofracking in the State of New York is one which could affect millions of residents throughout our state,” said Senator Liz Krueger. “Any risk to our clean water and air could affect everyone throughout the State. So it’s important that residents have as many opportunities as possible to voice their opinion, whether it be in support or opposition to the drilling.”
“Those present on Wednesday shared their perspectives with their elected officials and neighbors, and heard from experts on the proposal to bring enormous industrial drilling operations to New York,” said Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh, a member of the Assembly’s Environmental Conservation Committee, and a prime sponsor of the bill to extend the fracking moratorium. “It was clear that many East Siders have very serious concerns. We in the legislature need to continue to do everything we can to protect our environment, and particularly our air and water.”
Dear Neighbor,
With the growing shortage of affordable housing—for both renters and homeowners—there has never been a more important time to understand your rights and how current housing laws apply to you. There is not enough space to address all the pertinent facts, rights, and obligations so this newsletter covers the issues which come up most often in my District Office. You should be aware, however, that there are exceptions to many of the regulations and programs outlined here.