By Bill Parry
State Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) has been elevated to chairwoman of the Assembly’s Task Force on Women’s Issues in her fourth year in the statehouse.
“Yes, it was fast, but I’ve been very active on women’s issues since I arrived in Albany. I’m honored and humbled,” Simotas said.
The task force works closely with Assembly committees on a number of matters that directly affect the lives of New York’s women.
“I’ve already begun to strategize this week on all the issues. We have to make sure women are doing well. Improving the lives of women improves the lives of all,” she said.
Simotas’ panel will tackle legislation to protect rape survivors, fight sex trafficking, extend family leave, protect survivors of abuse and seniors’ issues, such as ensuring a woman’s right to make her own end-of-life decisions.
“I am acutely aware of the numerous critical issues facing New York’s women,” Simotas said.
Back home in Astoria, Simotas has teamed up with state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) and City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) to push for cleaner streets in Astoria. The three officials reiterated a call for improved trash collection of public waste baskets.
“Residents continue to complain to my office regarding the deplorable levels of trash strewn about the streets,” Simotas said. “We have asked the mayor for additional pick-up service for the trash cans along Astoria’s busy commercial streets. Inaction is unacceptable.”
Right now the commercial district receives one overnight pickup, leaving contents of the waste baskets to spill out.
“Overflowing trash baskets end up littering our streets and impacting our quality of life, forcing residents to jump over garbage on their way to work. Additional pickups will make our streets substantially cleaner,” Constantinides said.
The proposed initiative would add another pickup during the hours between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
“We have to do something because it’s disheartening to see the state of our streets,” Simotas said. “It’s not rocket science. When you have a growing population, a huge boom, services have got to keep up.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718.260.4538.
