Page 9 - qt edition #45

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2025 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 9

NYC Council Takes Action On Maternal Health Crisis, Attorney General James Warns New
Approves Historic Jamaica Rezoning Yorkers About Algorithmic Pricing as

In a landmark legislative ses- Jamaica Neighborhood Plan: (Res. 1082-A–1087-A): Calls for New Law Takes Effect
sion, the New York City Council A New Era for Southeast Queens improved state reporting and ac-
passed a sweeping package of The Council approved a re- countability (Continued from page 8) searching for an item elsewhere
bills aimed at tackling the city’s zoning of 230 blocks in Jamaica, Land Use Highlights online or shopping from a new
maternal mortality crisis and ad- Queens, unlocking: • H+H River Commons (Bronx): for the same product offered to location, it may be a sign that the
vancing racial equity in health care. • 11,900 new homes, including 328 affordable units and clinical others. If you are offered a unique price is set using your personal
The Council also approved the 4,200 permanently affordable units space price, it may have been set using data.
Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, one • 7,000 new jobs and over 2 mil- • Kingsbridge Armory (Bronx): your personal data. New York’s Algorithmic Pric-
of the largest rezonings in over two lion square feet of commercial Mixed-use redevelopment with 500 • Compare discounts you are of- ing Disclosure Act requires most
decades, promising nearly 12,000 space affordable homes fered by a company – particularly businesses to include a clear
new homes and $413 million in • $413 million in infrastructure • Ikos Senior Living (Queens): those offered within a company’s disclosure prominently displayed
community investments. upgrades: sewers, parks, transit, 167 income-restricted apartments app or online account – with near prices stating, “THIS PRICE
Combating Maternal Mortality education, and health care for seniors those offered to others. If you are WAS SET BY AN ALGORITHM
with Urgency Speaker Adams called the plan • Taylor Wooten Estates (Brook- receiving a discount that only USING YOUR PERSONAL
Speaker Adrienne Adams, who “a blueprint for equity-driven lyn): 63 co-op units and green you can see, it is more likely to DATA.” Attorney General James
established the Council’s Maternal development,” crediting Council space be a personalized one set using is encouraging consumers to file
Health Steering Committee, called Member Nantasha Williams and Consumer Protections & Public your data. complaints with OAG if they en-
the crisis a “public health emer- local stakeholders for shaping the Safety • Compare the price of an item counter algorithmic pricing that
gency” and praised the Council’s vision. • Self-Storage Licensing (Intro before and after taking an action is not properly disclosed. Busi-
women-majority leadership for • Housing, Health & Equity: More 1290-A & 495-A): New rules for that the business you are shopping nesses that do not comply with
prioritizing maternal health. Bills Passed transparency and tenant rights from can track. For example, if the law can face a $1,000 penalty
Key legislation includes: • NYCHA Vacancies (Intro • Gun Warning Labels (Intro you are offered a new price after per violation.
• TXT4KIDS (Intro 1001-A): A 111-A): Annual public reports on 1016-A): Graphic safety images
multilingual text alert system for vacant public housing units required at gun dealers Con Edison Crews Mobilizing With
parents on child health and educa- • Race & Ethnicity Data (Intro • Tax Prep Transparency (Intro
tion milestones. 1134-A): Expanded demographic 1231-A): Itemized receipts and fee Powerful Winds Coming To The Area
• Newborn Home Visits (Intro options on city forms disclosures
1146-A): Free in-person and virtual • Small Business Support (Intro Civic Recognition & Advocacy (Continued from page 8) live. Never attempt to move them
support for new parents in under- 1132-A): Borough-based compli- • Black Boy Joy Month (Res. 969- or touch them with any object. Be
served neighborhoods. ance assistance A): October designated to celebrate showers in the forecast for the mindful that downed wires can be
• Opioid Education (Intro 1284- • TBI Training (Intro 29-A): First young Black boys New York City region tonight. hidden from view by tree limbs,
A): Training for health profes- responder training on domestic • Support for Daily News Union The winds, which could carry leaves or water.
sionals on safe opioid use during violence-related brain injuries (Res. 1015): Condemnation of gusts up to 55 miles per hour, • Report all downed wires to
pregnancy. Resolutions for State & Federal union-busting practices could knock trees and branches Con Edison and your local police
• Free Doula Access (Intro 1285- Action • Swim Safety Education (Res. onto power lines and bring them department immediately. If a
A): Citywide doula services and • Telehealth Reimbursement (Res. 501-A): Urging state action on down, causing customers to lose power line falls on your car while
training programs for marginalized 64-B): Support for full funding K–12 water safety service and creating a safety you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle
communities. of community health center tele- • Social Security Protections hazard. The early-autumn foliage and wait for emergency personnel.
• Healthy Pregnancy Education medicine (Res. 852-A): Call to preserve SSA makes it more likely that trees and • Use extreme caution when en-
(Intro 1393-A): Public campaigns • Disability Insurance Parity offices and funding branches will fall. tering flooded basements. Water
on nutrition and chronic disease (Res. 867-A): Push for equal ben- For more details or to access The company urges members that comes into contact with en-
management during and after efits with Paid Family Leave the full legislative package, visit of the public to stay safe. Stay ergized electrical equipment can
pregnancy. • Maternal Health Data Reform council.nyc.gov away from downed wires. They be dangerous and cause shocks.
Gillibrand, Colleagues Slam Trump Administration may be live. • Members of the public should
Restoration Plan
also avoid transformers that are
For Proposing Illegal Move That Harms Students The priority for restoration is brought to the ground. The trans-
critical customer facilities that formers are gray metal drums
With Disabilities have an impact on the public, such attached to the wires and poles.
as mass transit, hospitals, police • Follow the manufacturer’s
Senators press Department of families’ ability to get the resources tors, advocates, and students with and fire stations, and sewage and instructions for installing and
Education to stop efforts to shut and support they need,” said Senator disabilities have fought for years water-pumping stations. using a portable generator. Never
down enforcement and admin- Gillibrand. “I will keep fighting to to build,” continued the senators in Crews will then prioritize plug a generator into a wall unit,
istration of the Individuals with support our students with disabili- their letter. repairs that provide power to the use it indoors, or set it up outdoors
Disabilities Education Act ties so every child in New York and In the letter, the senators ques- largest numbers of customers as near open home windows or air-
across the country has the resources tioned the legality of the move and quickly as possible, then move handling vents.
Students with disabilities make up they need to thrive.” emphasized the risk of harm it poses on to restore smaller groups and · If your power goes out, dis-
15% of public school enrollment “Your moves to illegally shut to students. They urged the admin- individual customers. connect or turn off appliances
down the U.S. Department of istration to instead focus on rebuild- How to Report an Outage that would otherwise turn on
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Education’s efforts to administer ing the infrastructure that schools Customers can sign up for text automatically when service is re-
(D-NY) slammed the Trump ad- and enforce the Individuals with and districts rely on to ensure that alerts by texting REG to 688-243 stored. If several appliances start
ministration’s plan to illegally move Disabilities Education Act and po- students with disabilities receive the and following the prompts. Cus- up at once, the electric circuits
the Department of Education’s tentially shift this work to another education they are entitled to under tomers can also report outages may overload.
enforcement of key protections for agency would reverse decades of federal law. and check service restoration sta- •· Charge your cellphones and
students with disabilities to another progress in how we support students Senator Gillibrand was joined on tus at conEd.com/reportoutage, other mobile devices while you
agency. with disabilities and their families,” the letter by Senators Maggie Has- with Con Edison’s mobile app have power.
Gillibrand joined 28 of her Sen- the senators wrote in a letter to san (D-NH), Angela Alsobrooks for iOS or Android devices, or by • Make sure your flashlights and
ate colleagues in demanding that Secretary of Education Linda Mc- (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), calling 1-800-752-6633. any battery-operated radios are
the Trump administration imme- Mahon. “When Congress created Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Customers who report outages working. Have a supply of extra
diately halt its efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt will receive updates from Con batteries.
the Department of Education’s lawmakers intentionally placed Rochester (D-DE), Catherine Cor- Edison with their estimated resto- • For more storm tips and prepa-
ability to administer and enforce enforcement of IDEA under this tez Masto (D-NV), Richard Durbin ration times as they become avail- ration, go to www.conEd.com.
the Individuals with Disabilities new Department rather than the (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), able. Information on outages and To ensure public safety, Con
Education Act (IDEA), which Department of Health and Human John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie restoration times is also available Edison may guard downed wires
guarantees education opportunities Services. This was done because Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), on the Con Edison outage map. until crews make repairs. Compa-
and protections for individuals with of our recognition as a society that Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King Con Edison is sending e-mails ny personnel may be in unmarked
disabilities. students with disabilities should be (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and text messages to customers in cars but will always have Con
Gillibrand’s call follows a Wash- treated as individuals seeking equal Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward the areas most likely to be affect- Edison identification.
ington Post report which revealed opportunity for learning and inde- Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley ed, urging them to stay safe and The company is in contact
that the administration is looking pendence, rather than as patients (D-OR), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex reminding them to report outages with New York City Emergency
to transfer enforcement of IDEA to and second-class citizens.” Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D- or any other service problems. Management and the Westchester
another agency. “Your latest reported effort to RI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Safety Tips County Department of Emergen-
“Once again, the Trump ad- illegally move IDEA responsibili- Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin • Do not go near downed wires. cy Services to coordinate storm
ministration is threatening to cut ties, oversight, and programming (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Treat downed wires as if they are response if needed.
critical protections, needlessly play- to another federal agency would Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth
ing politics with our children, and further erode the protections that Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden
working to undermine students’ and countless mothers, fathers, educa- (D-OR).

Read Our Paper Online
Visit: www.queenstimes.com
Follow the Link to latest edition