FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 19, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11
Advocates unite around Renewable Rikers legislation
BY MAX PARROTT
mparrott@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
A coalition of environmental justice advocates and
criminal justice reformers came together last week to
rally for the plan to make Rikers Island into a hub of
renewable energy.
Th e newly assembled coalition of New York Lawyers for
the Public Interest, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance,
JustLeadershipUSA, were joined Astoria Councilman
Costa Constantinides, who unveiled a suite of three
bills in June that would start the process of transforming
Rikers Island into a symbol of environmental justice.
“Th e planned closure presents a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to turn this island of shame into a showpiece
of sustainability,” said Eric A. Goldstein, New York environment
director at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
In June, a panel of advocates envisioned goals for a
Renewable Rikers like building solar panels that could
provide enough energy to shut down Queens’ three
power plants, a new wastewater treatment facility, investing
pension funds in renewables, and building marijuana
greenhouses on the island.
Th e bill package would transfer control of the island
from the Department of Correction to the Department
of Environmental Protection, study its renewable energy
capacity, and assess how much wastewater can be diverted
to the island.
“Th ese bills are done in partnership and following the
leaders who have done so much of the work in getting
Rikers closed,” Constantinides said.
Th e bills have been picking up steam among environmental
advocates since this summer. Th e New York
League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) recently added
the Renewable Rikers bills to its scorecard for the coming
year. Th e group uses this metric to grade City Council
members on their support for environmental priorities.
“Relocating the wastewater treatment plants away from
environmental justice communities and into the island
Photo: Max Parrott/QNS
is also a means to combat the historic environmental
burden that many of these neighborhoods have borne
for decades,” said Adriana Espinoza, NYLCV’s program
director.
Great rates like ours are always in season.
6-Month
1.70%
CD or IRA CD APY1
$5,000 minimum deposit
12-Month
CD or IRA CD 1.85%
APY1
$5,000 minimum deposit
To qualify you must have or open any Flushing Bank Complete Checking account2 which provides you
with access to over 55,000 ATMs, ATM fee rebates, mobile banking and mobile check deposit. Plus, you
can qualify for additional cash bonuses of up to $300.3,4,5
For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch,
call 800.581.2889 (855.540.2274 TTY/TDD) or visit www.FlushingBank.com.
Small enough to know you.
Large enough to help you.®
1) New money only. APY effective December 2, 2019. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of
$5,000 is required. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. For new IRA and rollover accounts, the minimum deposit balance is $5,000. Premature withdrawals
may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. 2) New money required for new checking accounts only. A Flushing Bank checking account
with a $5,000 minimum balance is required to receive the advertised rate. Certain fees, minimum balance requirements and restrictions may apply. Fees may reduce earnings on these
accounts. A checking account is not required for IRA accounts. 3) New Complete Checking account with new money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. A new
checking account is defined as any new checking account that does not have any authorized signatures in common with any other existing Flushing Bank checking account(s). An existing
checking customer is defined as anyone who currently has or has had a Flushing Bank checking account within the last 24 months. New money is defined as money not currently on deposit
with Flushing Bank. 4) The Cash Bonus is limited to one (1) account credit per new Complete Checking account. To qualify for the Cash Bonus, a new Complete Checking account must be
opened with a minimum opening balance of $1,000 or more. The Cash Bonus credit will be based on the monthly average account balance of the first three (3) full months after account
opening. The monthly average account balance tiers and respective account credits are as follows: Tier 1: $1,000 - $4,999 a $10 account credit, Tier 2: $5,000 - $9,999 a $50 account
credit, Tier 3: $10,000+ a $100 account credit. The Cash Bonus credit will be posted to the account on or about the end of the subsequent month following the account’s three (3) month
anniversary. A 1099 will be issued in the amount of the account credit. The new Complete Checking account must remain open, active and in good standing for six months. If the account
is closed prior to six months or prior to receiving the credit, the account credit will be forfeited. Other fees and restrictions may apply. Notwithstanding the Cash Bonus offer, a minimum
deposit of $25 is required to open the Complete Checking account. 5) This offer is limited to one Complete Checking account per household. Minimum deposit required to open a new
Complete Checking account is $25. No minimum balance required to be eligible for the Bonus. Direct Deposit– You will receive $100 for signing up for and receiving a recurring direct
deposit. Each direct deposit must be $250 or more. Tax refund checks do not qualify as direct deposit. Direct Deposits must be completed prior to 90 days after the account is opened.
Debit Card Purchases – You will receive $50 for the completion of 5 debit card purchases. Each debit card purchase must be $25 or more. Online Banking bill payments – You will receive $50
for completing 5 online banking bill payments via Flushing Bank’s Online Banking portal. Each online bill pay must be $25 or more. Debit Card Purchases and Online Banking bill payments
must be completed prior to 60 days after the account is opened. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ANY CUSTOMER CAN RECEIVE IS $200. The compensation will be credited to the checking
account on or about the end of the month following the completion of the above qualifying transactions within the required time after account opening. A 1099 will be issued
in the amount credited to your account. Other fees and restrictions may apply. The promotion and offer are subject to change and termination without prior notice at any
time. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
/WWW.QNS.COM
/www.FlushingBank.com
link
/www.FlushingBank.com
link
