Executive Budget Hearings will begin on Monday, May 14th 2012, and conclude on Wednesday, June 6th, 2012. I encourage the public to come and join us on the last day of hearings to offer your insights and experience so as to better inform the City Council during our decision-making process. Please keep checking back to the website for summaries of the hearings and indications of next steps.

Sincerely,

Domenic

Schedule of Executive Budget Hearings

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Statement by Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Chairman City Council Finance Committee, Regarding Mayor Bloomberg’s Executive Budget

CITY HALL– In response to the Mayor’s executive spending plan for fiscal year 2013, the Councilman’s statement is below:

“The decreases in forecasted revenues highlight the continued weakness of our economy. In this context, we need to make prudent budgetary decisions and plan for the long term.

At the same time, it is imperative that we keep the quality of life for New Yorkers at the forefront of our decision-making process. The cuts made to out-of-school time, childcare, and our firehouses have me particularly concerned.  Under the leadership of Speaker Quinn, I’m confident that we will once again strike the right balance between fiscal prudence and protecting the vital services that New Yorkers rely on.”

If you reside in Gravesend, many of you are aware of the water main break that occurred on Wednesday on Ocean Parkway and Avenue U. I wanted to update you on what National Grid has discovered and what this means for those who have been affected.

The break affects the area stretching from Avenue T to Avenue Z from East 7th Street to Ocean Parkway and from East 2nd Street to Neck Road.  An overflow of water went into the gas line so these areas are without water and gas.

The National Grid team deployed over 300 workers to the neighborhood and made significant progress Wednesday night and all day Thursday. Many sections within the affected area are cleared of water and are ready to be turned back on. Remember, once gas is turned back on, representatives from National Grid’s customer service team will need to go door-to-door to restore full service. If you are a Shabbos observer, National Grid will be respectful and accommodating should they need to enter your home on Friday.

If you are not at home, National Grid will leave a notice on your door.  Use the phone number on the notice to call them directly- 718-643-4050 - and National Grid will send someone out right away.

National Grid has restored service to about 467 of 1189  homes that were affected.

Friday morning, I met with officials from National Grid to ride through the areas that were impacted,

Friday morning, I met with officials from National Grid to ride through the areas that were impacted paying special attention to the areas where 680 homes have not yet had service restored. I’m looking to have some more questions answered.

As always, if you need any assistance, please call my office and my staff is happy to help: 718-373-9673, 212-788-7045. Thank you for your cooperation and patience.

Sincerely,

Domenic

New York City’s Annual Tax Lien Sale is getting underway. What is a lien? A lien is a legal claim against real property for unpaid property taxes, water, sewer or other property charges, as well as the interest due on these taxes and charges. Each year, the city sells  the debt on these properties  to investors rather than owning the debt itself.

Currently, there are 4,010 homes listed on the lien sale list for Brooklyn. If you’ve received a lien sale notice or your property was published on the lien sale list, City records show your property has unpaid debt that will be put up for sale on May 17, 2012. If you’re not sure whether or not your property is on the list, check out the Department of Finance website, download the Brooklyn list, and look for your address: http://on.nyc.gov/ulOIJe

To prevent the sale of a lien on your property, you must pay the debt or enter into a payment agreement by May 17, 2012. No down payment is required for a payment agreement. You may also qualify for one of the following four exemptions: Senior Citizen, Veteran, Disabled, Active Military Personnel. If you qualify and apply by May 17, 2012 for exemption, your property will be removed from the lien sale list. The eligibility check list can be found here: http://on.nyc.gov/HUxpow

Please contact my office if you have any further questions: 212-788-7045. My staff is always happy to help.

Sincerely,

Domenic

NEW YORK – Below is Councilman Domenic M. Recchia Jr.’s statement in light of the school shooting in Toulouse, France:

“I was very devastated to learn of the tragedy that has befallen the French city of Toulouse where a rabbi, his two sons, and the daughter of the school principal have been murdered and a young 15-year-old student lies gravely wounded.

My thoughts and prayers go out the Jewish community of Toulouse and to the friends and family of the victims. This attack underscores the omnipresent threat against the Jewish community that exists abroad and even in New York.

I am calling on the United States Congress to restore the $9 million they cut in security funding for synagogues and nonprofits that are at great risk for terrorist attacks. This is vital funding that assists qualified institutions, synagogues, and nonprofit organizations in updating and addressing security concerns especially related to terrorist anti-Semitism.

The New York Police Department, under the leadership of Commissioner Raymond Kelly, deserves to be commended for their vigilance and precautionary efforts of patrols and heightened observance around Jewish neighborhoods and institutions throughout our city. We cannot take any chances.”

If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, stop by Coney Island Library this Friday, March 23nd, between 10 am and 5pm to have your taxes filed for FREE.

*To qualify for a free tax filing, see below:

• If filing jointly with a spouse, both of you must be present with photo IDs.
• Social Security cards or ITIN (or copies) for you and your spouse if filing jointly and anyone you are claiming on
your tax return, or a letter from the Social Security Administration.
• W-2s for all jobs you held in 2011.
• Form 1099-G if you received unemployment insurance in 2011.
• Form 1099-INT if you received interest from a bank account in 2011.
• Form 1098-T if you paid tuition.
• Form 1098-E if you paid student loan interest.
• If you are claiming child care expenses, amount you paid and child care agency’s ID or name and Social Security
number of the babysitter.

Marching with family, friends, and member of the City Council to celebrate this magnificent day!

Getting the crowd going at the pre-parade breakfast!

Dear Friends,

Over the weekend, many of us gathered with family and friends to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. We enjoyed hearty helpings of corned beef and cabbage, wore our brightest green clothing, and commemorated the principal champion of Irish Christianity.

Not much is known about the early life of St. Patrick. But what we do know is that, at the age of sixteen, he was captured from Wales and taken as a slave when he was first brought Ireland. It was while tending to his flocks as a slave that St. Patrick first found faith.He escaped several years later and returned home to family where he eventually became a priest. A few years after returning home, St. Patrick recounted a vision in which God told him he needed to return to Ireland and share his faith with among the Irish people. He returned to Ireland as a bishop to spread the word of Christianity until the end of his life.

Had the privilege of meeting Cardinal Dolan in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The story of St. Patrick is particularly inspiring because it teaches us about the power of the human spirit. St. Patrick was kidnapped, enslaved, and taken to a foreign country. When he returned to Ireland, he didn’t seek to conquer the Irish people but rather to spread the message of forgiveness and love.

For me, the life of St. Patrick is a source of strength and courage; his life’s work reminds me of what extraordinary things people are capable of. It also reinforces my belief in the power of the human condition and the impact of powerful, progressive ideas. I hope to work on behalf of my constituents within the spirit of St. Patrick today and always.

Sincerely,

Domenic

To those seeking expense funding (used for projects costing less than $35,000),  the expense application is now available on the City Council website: http://council.nyc.gov/html/budget/council-disclosure-application.shtml

If you’re seeking capital funding for a city-owned property (like a park or a school), please download and send in the following form: City-Owned Property Funding 

If you are a school and are applying for expense funding for an after-school program, please download and send in the following form: Expense Funding Form for Schools

If you’re applying for capital funding, and you are not on city property, use the non-city capital form at the following link: http://www.nyc.gov/html/capgrants/capgrants.html

I’ve also included a guide you might find useful in filling out the expense forms: Expense Funding Tips

Please note that this application must be submitted electronically by March 30, 2012. Any questions, please call my office at 212-788-7045.