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14 The Courier sun • juLY 21, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com Queens women will receive more feminine hygiene products in schools, shelters and prisons By Brianna Ellis bellis@qns.com/@briinformed Three bills that will boost feminine hygiene products for New York City public school students, shelter residents and inmates were signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio on July 13. The mayor signed the legislative package that intends to increase the feminine products available citywide. According to a council statement last month, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) must provide free feminine hygiene products to students in school bathrooms from grades 6 through 12. Mature and younger women who reside in temporary shelters and detention facilities will also receive a supply of feminine hygiene products upon their request. The bill is backed by Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, Councilmen Ydanis Rodriguez and Stephen Levin, and Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). DCAS and the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) are responsible for offering these products. Furthermore, female inmates will receive their hygiene products at the New York City Department of Correction’s (DOE) expense. Individuals who have been arrested Your Homeownership Partner The State of New York Mortgage Agency offers: • Competitive, fixed-rate mortgages for first-time homebuyers • Downpayment assistance available up to $15, 000 • Special program for veterans, active-duty military , National Guard and reservists • Funds available for renovation 1-800-382-HOME(4663) www.sonyma.org and detained in DOE custody for at least 48 hours must be given the hygiene products at their immediate request. Councilwoman Grace Meng expressed her support toward the bills on Wednesday. Meng also sent a letter to the New York State Assembly Speaker and Senate Majority Leader in May, urging them to remove the New York State sales tax on feminine hygiene items. “The signing of these bills is a giant leap forward in our fight for menstrual equality,” Meng said in Wednesday’s press release. “These pieces of legislation will greatly improve access to feminine hygiene products and help remove the stigma associated with menstruation. I applaud Mayor de Blasio for signing these measures into law, and in particular I thank City Council Speaker Mark- Viverito, Councilwoman Ferreras- Copeland – and all the activists – for moving this issue forward.” “For students who will no longer miss class because they do not have a pad or tampon to mothers at shelters and women in prison who will have access to these critical yet often overlooked products, this package makes our city a more fair place,” Councilwoman Ferreras- Copeland said in a statement. Photo by Shutterstock/Roman Prishenko Feminine hygiene products will be increased throughout the city with three new bills, passed by Mayor de Blasio. Call Now & End Your Tax Nightmare! • Owe the IRS more than $10,000? • Being Audited? • Unfi led Tax Returns? • Wage & Bank Levies? Co-Author of the best selling book “Breaking the Tax Code” (T) 877-TAX-1040 (F) 718-894-4476 Salvatore P. Candela, EA, ATA, ABA Enrolled Agent - Tax Advisor scandela@thetaxadvocategroup.com www.thetaxadvocategroup.com


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