Dear Lucas,
I wanted to take a moment to wish you a happy Thanksgiving and update you on some of the things that I've been working on in the City Council recently.
I've been working with seniors and advocates from across the city to protect core services for seniors. As has been described by both NY1 and the Wall Street Journal , the Mayor's proposed cuts to the Department for the Aging would be devastating.
I'm also still working on pedestrian safety issues. The Daily News recently ran a cover story that highlighted my bill to require that the city post traffic data on crashes involving pedestrians, fatalities, and moving violations. The New York Post wrote about my successful efforts to change the Taxi and Limousine Commission's rules that allowed unsafe cab drivers to postpone hearings seemingly indefinitely.
My bill to bring truth in advertising to anti-choice, limited service pregnancy centers is continuing to move through the legislative process. We heard nearly six hours of testimony both for and against the bill during a hearing in the Women's Issues Committee on November 16. That hearing received coverage in the Wall Street Journal .
Like many local residents, I was stunned recently by the incomprehensible decision to remove bus shelters at 72nd Street using jackhammers at 1:30 in the morning last weekend to make way for Second Avenue Subway work, as reported by NBC . I'll be following up regularly with the MTA to ensure that they do everything they can to be good neighbors during the construction.
Lastly, I wanted to let you know that Council Member Garodnick and I are hosting our annual holiday party. This year, the party will be on Tuesday, December 14 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Regina Peruggi Room at Marymount Manhattan College. Marymount is located at 221 East 71st Street between Second and Third Avenues. If you'd like to attend, please RSVP by December 10 to 212-980-1808.
I hope that you have a plentiful Thanksgiving full of the warmth and love of your friends and family.
Sincerely,
Jessica Lappin