One Of Four Bills Bloomberg Signs
During a public hearing at City Hall last Thursday, June 6, Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed four pieces of legislation to designate veterans’ liaisons at city agencies, track the detention of juvenile delinquents, combat illegal gambling at Internet cafés and improve access to safety information for coach buses.
One of the bills approved by the mayor is Intro. No. 480, which formalizes an executive order signed by Bloomberg in 2008 requiring that all city agency directors appoint an employee to serve as a liaison to veterans employed at their respective departments and bureaus.
“These liaisons will advise veterans on benefits and services that they may be eligible for, as well as personnel policies that apply to them,” Bloomberg said.
Among the sponsors of the bill were local City Council Members Erik Martin Dilan, Daniel Dromm, James Gennaro, Dan Halloran, Eric Ulrich and Jimmy Van Bramer.
Bloomberg also signed into law Intro. No. 981, which requires the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) to report data on the admission of juveniles into non-secure and limited-secure detention facilities. The data required to be reported to the city includes the average daily population in these facilities, the number of youth admitted who spent time facilities previously and the number of transfers.
“The [ACS] currently reports demographic data and incident reports on youth in New York City’s juvenile non-secure and secure detention facilities. As young people come into ACS’ custody, through the Close to Home Initiative-a collaborative effort between the city and state that places New York City youth who are adjudicated as juvenile delinquents closer to their family and community- it is important that we collect and monitor similar data on this new population that will be in the city’s care,” the mayor added.
Dromm, Gennaro and Van Bramer-as well as City Council Member Ruben Wills-were among the local sponsors of this legislation.
Mayor Bloomberg also inked his signature onto Intro. No. 1035-A, which will mandate that the Department of Consumer Affairs “revoke the license of a gaming café or amusement arcade if the operator is found to have violated the law regarding unlawful gambling.”
“As gaming cafés become increasingly popular, we have observed an emerging phenomenon of these establishments engaging in and promoting unlawful gambling, often offering cash prizes,” Bloomberg said. “Having strict consequences in place will keep New York City ahead of the curve in enforcement and send a strong message that unlawful gambling will not be tolerated.”
The local sponsors of this legislation include City Council Members Gennaro and Wills as well as Council Members Leroy Comrie, Peter Koo and Mark Weprin.
Finally, Bloomberg signed Intro. No. 591, which requires that the Department of Transportation to provide a link on its website to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website as well as a brief description of the information available to consumers.
“As motor coach carriers become an increasingly common mode of travel, it is important that passengers have the ability to access safety information about them,” the mayor stated. “The ability to easily locate this important information will ensure that passengers can make informed decisions before choosing a carrier for travel.”
Among the local sponsors of the bill were City Council Members Karen Koslowitz and Dromm, Gennaro, Koo, Ulrich, Van Bramer and Wills.
