Push for defibrillators for all schools

Councilmember Joseph Addabbo has announced that he is cosponsoring two pieces of legislation to ensure that all city schools are equipped with defibrillators, which could help prevent tragedies such as the recent death of Schermiela Palmer, and another measure that will assist disabled residents.
Palmer, a 16-year-old student at Beach Channel High School, collapsed during a gym class on September 13 and died. The cause was ruled &#8220cardiac arrhythmia due to a mitral valve prolapse.” Palmer’s parents have now filed a $15 million lawsuit against the city.
Addabbo said that Intro No. 451 will address the need for automated external defibrillators in city schools, although a related bill has already passed requiring that they be installed in certain public places. Defibrillators have been credited with saving many lives where a cardiac arrest was the result of an abnormal heart rhythm.
If passed, such defibrillators would be in public elementary schools, middle schools and high schools, with the hopes of eventually getting them in all schools.
&#8220I am hopeful that by eventually placing defibrillators in public schools, the children there can be further protected in certain life and death situations where every second counts,” Addabbo said. &#8220I look forward to working on expanding the placement of defibrillators in more appropriate areas.”
The second bill, Intro No. 444, will change income requirements for the Disabled Homeowner’s Exemption (DHE), which is a property tax exemption of between 5 to 45 percent depending on the person’s income, so that more residents will be able to qualify for it. Currently, DHE, which is used by property owners receiving Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income, among other forms of disability benefits, applies to those with a yearly income of less than $32,400.
If this piece of legislation is passed, it would increase the qualifying income by $2,000 in the first year and then at increments of $1,000 a year over the next few years. The new amounts would be $34,400 for 2006, $35,400 for 2007, $36,400 for 2008 and $37,400 for 2009.
Addabbo said that he hopes this will make thousands more residents able to qualify for the exemption.
&#8220We’re hopeful that the administration can approve these right away,” Addabbo said of the two items of legislation. &#8220Both of them have the best interests of the community throughout the cities.”