10 The Courier sun • march 20, 2014 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com politics DSNY commish stepping down BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com @CristabelleT After more than half a century working for the city’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY), Commissioner John Doherty is stepping down at the end of the month. Doherty, a holdover from the Bloomberg administration, was kept on through the snow season. He started with the department in 1960, and is only the fifth person in its history to rise through its ranks to become commissioner, Photo courtesy Rob Bennett for the Office of Mayor Bill de Blasio Mayor Bill de Blasio at the Sanitation Department’s Operations Office with outgoing File photo KATZ MAKES PRECINCTS A PRIORITY BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA in recent years. ctumola@queenscourier.com/@CristabelleT The 105th Precinct covers Queens Village, Cambria Heights, Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Borough President Melinda Katz is pushing for more Bellerose, Glen Oaks, New Hyde Park and Floral police presence in Queens as part of a list of proposed Park, with the station house located in Queens Village. expense priorities for the city’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget. The 116th Precinct would be in the southern part of Two of the ideas unanimously approved by the the existing command in order to improve response Borough Board last week would divide the 105th time, according to a spokesperson for the borough Precinct and create a police sub-station in Flushing president’s office. Meadows-Corona Park. “The budget priorities that my office have prepared Elected officials and Community Board 13 members, and that the Borough Board have approved outline among others, have been advocating for the new precinct a meaningful approach to solving some of the longstanding If You’re Ready to Buy a Home,We are Ready to Help. The State of New York M ortgage Agency offers: Up to $15,000 Down Payment Assistance 1-800-382-HOME(4663) for Housing www.sonyma.org challenges faced by the borough of Queens,” Katz said. In 2012, State Senator Tony Avella proposed legislation that would subdivide the 105th as well as the 109th Precincts, saying they were too large both geographically and in population density. The call for a sub-station in Flushing Meadows- Corona Park follows recent concerns over park safety. Despite a recent decline in crimes in other parts of the city, major felony crimes were up 18 percent last year in 31 of its largest parks compared to 2012, according to published reports. according to DSNY. Doherty first headed the department from 1994 through 1998, then again starting in 2002. He faced criticism during his tenure, including over the 2010 blizzard and this year’s bout of snow storms. Despite those issues, Mayor Bill de Blasio praised him in a statement announcing his replacement. “We are so grateful today for the service these past two and a half months — and the 51 years prior — of our outgoing Commissioner John Doherty,” de Blasio said. “His integrity, his spirit and his capacity for the superhuman have driven this department for decades. As I have time and time again this winter, I thank John for everything he’s done for this city.” Doherty will be followed by Kathryn Garcia, the current chief operating officer of the city’s Department of Environmental Protection. Garcia will be starting her new job April 1. “This is an incredible department, but we won’t rest on our laurels,” Garcia said. “I am committed to strengthening and expanding DSNY’s programs to deliver these critical services to every resident and business in every neighborhood.” Commissioner John Doherty. Vallone Jr. joins Cuomo administration BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com @CristabelleT Former Queens Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. is using his experience in politics and the law in a new gig for the Cuomo administration. Vallone, who represented the 22nd District from 2002 to 2013, has been appointed as the special assistant assigned to the commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Gov. Andrew Cuomo welcomed Vallone’s appointment, and several others he made on Thursday, March 13, saying the new appointees come with “dedication to public service, proven records of success, and years of experience in providing help and care to New Yorkers across the state.” “I am confident that these new additions to our administration will continue to improve New York State,” he said. Vallone, who lost the Democratic primary for Queens borough president to Melinda Katz last year, said he had numerous opportunities after leaving the City Council, which included returning to his family’s law firm. Before being elected to the Council, Vallone was an assistant district attorney. “But public service is in my blood and I was really excited to get this offer from the governor,” he said. During his three terms as a councilmember, Vallone served as public safety committee chair. He said he is going to be bringing that public safety experience toward fixing issues affecting corrections, including the problem of releasing sex offenders back into communities. Residents can be part of budgeting process BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com @CristabelleT Residents of three Queens City Council Districts will soon have a chance to decide what projects they want funded in their communities. Launched in 2011 in four Council districts, participatory budgeting allows locals to determine how to spend at least $1 million of their councilmembers’ capital discretionary funds. This year’s round of projects is up for a vote from March 29 to April 6 in eight districts, including Councilmember Mark Weprin’s District 23, Councilmember Donovan Richards District 31 and Eric Ulrich’s District 32. The process begins in the fall at public meetings where residents can suggest ideas and choose budget delegates. Those selected volunteers then come up with proposals based on those suggestions, which are presented to the public ahead of the vote. Last spring, approximately 13,000 people voted, an increase of about 7,000 from the previous year. Each voter can chose up to five projects. “I am excited to make full use of the Democratic process and offer our district the opportunity to decide where $1 million of my budget should be spent,” said Councilmember Richards, who is participating in the process for the first time. “It’s important that we all understand how our local government can and should improve our communities.” Among his district’s projects are education, youth, public safety and recreation related improvements. They include upgrades to the Far Rockaway Campus High School, Farm Rockaway and the installation of Argus surveillance cameras in various areas of Far Rockaway. Residents in Weprin’s district will be able to vote on $1 million in projects ranging from library security upgrades, park improvements, school technology needs and $100,000 in portable security cameras in the community. Ulrich’s district was still finalizing its list of $2 million in projects as of press time. For more info, visit http://pbnyc.org.
SC03202014
To see the actual publication please follow the link above