6 NOVEMBER 18, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
NYC’s #1 Source for Political & Election News
Hochul signs consumer protection legislative package into law
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Several Queens lawmakers are
lauding Governor Kath Hochul for
signing into law a legislative package
relating to consumer protection.
State Senator Michael Gianaris
and Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz
collaborated on a bill mandating a
consumer advocate have a voting seat
on the New York State Public Service
Commission (PSC).
“Too oft en, the Public Service Commission
serves the industries it regulates
rather than the public,” Gianaris
said. “A consumer representative on
the PSC will be a powerful step in the
right direction.”
The PSC is currently comprised
of fi ve members and regulates telecommunications,
electricity, steam,
natural gas and water service delivery.
Currently, there are no membership
requirements. The Gianaris and Cruz
legislation would mandate one member
have expertise in utility consumer
advocacy.
“With rising utility costs impacting
millions of New Yorkers on fi xed
incomes and others struggling with
low-wage jobs and unemployment, consumers
need regulators who represent
their interests, not the interests of their
utility companies,” Cruz said. “This law
will ensure there is a voice and vote for
ratepayers at the table.”
Photo by Kevin P. Coughlin
All members of the PSC are appointed
by the governor and confi rmed by the
state Senate. Hochul signed the package
of bills known as The Consumer Credit
Fairness Act, which will protect consumers
from abusive debt collection, as
many practices relate to old debts being
sued on, debt from credit card issuers
being resold to other creditors, and
minimal information being provided
to debt purchasers.
By increasing transparency, minimizing
gaps in state civil procedure
laws, and preventing extreme actions
such as wage garnishment and bank
account freezing, consumers are given
more time to act on burdensome debt
collection practices. Another provision
prohibits harassment from utility companies
when negotiating a complaint or
unpaid balance.
“When bad actors try and take advantage
of consumers, New York will
fi ght back,” Hochul said. “I’m proud to
be signing legislation that will protect
New Yorkers from unscrupulous
practices by debt collectors and utility
companies. These three new laws will
make New York a better, fairer place
for all consumers.”
State Senator Leroy Comrie was also
pleased to see the governor enact The
Consumer Credit Fairness Act.
“As our state continues to recover from
the pandemic, protecting consumers
remains a high priority for the Senate
Majority Conference, and this package of
legislation will do just that,” Comrie said.
Mayor-elect Adams announces offi cial transition team
BY MORGAN C. MULLINGS
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Before Brooklyn Borough President
Eric Adams is sworn in as mayor on
Jan. 1, his new team of executives,
labor and organizational leaders will
lead the vital transition process.
The full list of transition team members
hasn’t been released, but Adams’
team announced the co-chairs, such as
Goldman Sachs CFO Stephen Scherr, on
Nov. 10.
Prospective administration employees
and those wanting to get involved in
the transition can do so on Adams transition
website, adamstransition2021.com.
“I am excited to get started and to help
Eric make New York a safer, fairer, more
prosperous city for all New Yorkers,” said
Kyle Bragg, president of 32BJ SEIU and
co-chair of the transition team. Bragg
leads a union of about 35,000 members
in New York City.
The team of 10 co-chairs is led by Sheena
Wright, president and CEO of United
Way of New York City. Originally from
the Bronx, Wright is the fi rst woman to
lead United Way of NYC. She is a force in
the nonprofi t sector and will likely be in
charge of reviewing the slew of applications
for Adams’ transition team that
will arrive in the coming weeks. Wright
also began Together we Thrive, a Black
business network that provided technical
support to small businesses in the
wake of COVID-19.
“Over the next seven weeks, we will
task a dozen committees and dozens of
committed experts and advocates with
the essential work of preparing the Adams
administration to deliver for New
Yorkers,” the transition chair said.
Adams’ team did not respond immediately
to requests for comment on what
these committees will be.
Back in 2013, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s
transition team was led by Jennifer Jones
Austin and Carl Weisbro, the latter of
whom had a history in multiple mayoral
administrations before joining de Blasio’s
team. Austin had a similar background
to Adams’ chair — a history in nonprofi t
work with low-income New Yorkers.
The other co-chairs of Adams’ transition
team are Rich Maroko, president of
the New York Hotel and Gaming Trades
Council; Sharon Greenberger, president
and CEO of YMCA of Greater New York;
Steven Choi, executive director of One
for Democracy; David Lee, chair of the
League of Asian Americans of New
York; Charles Phillips, Infor CEO; Felix
V. Matos Rodriguez, chancellor of The
City University of New York; and Darren
Walker, president of the Ford Foundation.
Together, they cover diverse communities
of residents, the education community,
labor stakeholders and much more.
Mayoral candidate Eric Adams at a rally with union members before
election day on Nov. 1. Photo by Morgan C. Mullings
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