The Albany Death Star, otherwise known as Empire State Plaza, the complex of state buildings that rule your life. — Photos by Aaron Short

Last Tuesday, I hitched a ride to Albany with a busload of Orthodox Jews to check in on the State Legislature to see what they were up to as their session winds down over the next two months. Turns out there’s a lot. From vacancy decontrol to extending abuse statute of limitations to fixing the MTA, state legislators have their hands full this spring. Reporting how Albany politicking relates to everyday life in Bushwick can be complicated, so sit back and let BushwickBK break down Six Important Things to keep an eye on this legislative session.

1. MTA Rescue Plan

	The last time Malcolm Smith, right, wandered into Bushwick, tenants of 1717 Troutman started looking for a new home. Click to enlarge.

The MTA has been through a lot in recent months. The transit authority has had a budget deficit of $1.2 billion, which is expected to increase to close to $1.9 billion next year. To close the gap and reduce its own operating debt, MTA has voted to raise single ride and monthly fares about 20 percent in addition to eliminating several bus lines and the Z train — and that may still not be enough to fix the transit agency’s budget woes. Today, taxi drivers made the trip to Albany to protest a plan that adds a $1 surcharge for taxi rides that the State Senate is expected to vote on tomorrow. Hopefully they didn’t leave the meter running.

Some Brooklyn senators, including Daniel Squadron, are pushing plans to fix both the MTA operational and capital budgets while others, such as Eric Adams, have stated that their priority is to reduce the fare hikes and deal with just the operational budget. We hear State Senator Malcolm Smith has seized the reins over the negotiations from Senator Martin Dilan, in order to get a solution passed before the June 1st deadline. At this point, however, no one knows what’s going to happen to fares, transit service, or long-term capital investment. The J line may break down midway between Flushing and Myrtle Avenue, track fires could delay the L train at Jefferson Street, and the B52 could decide to stop showing up altogether — will the MTA make it through the weeklong negotiations?

2. Rent Regulations

	Vito sez: “I hearby declare today BushwickBK Day. We’re a little strapped for cash right now so you’ll have to buy your own commemorative plaque.” Click to enlarge.

For the past few months, housing advocates throughout the city have been trying to convince Albany legislators to eliminate vacancy decontrol, which is, very long story short, when landlords can remove their properties from the rent regulation system between tenants. One legislator who has needed little prodding on this issue is Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who drafted several bills that have an excellent chance of passing the State Senate later this session. The bills raise the deregulation rent limit from $2000 per month to a whopping $5000, preventing Bushwick’s poorer tenants from having to relocate to smaller and farther-out units — now they can afford to stay in the same crumbling apartments.

3. Governmental Oversight

	“Oh, hey, what’s up? We were just, uh, having an exciting Assembly Oversight Committee meeting. Do you have any suggestions?” Click to enlarge.

For decades, governmental reform organizations have strongly criticized Albany as having one of the most dysfunctional legislatures in the country. Of course legislators were convinced that things in Albany were going just fine, despite its complete lack of investment in the state’s infrastructure, its colossal mishandling of the Rockefeller Drug Laws, and, you know, all that corruption that we’re just finding out about this month. With the Democrats in control of the State Senate for the first time in 70 years, could government actually become more transparent?

Funny story. About four months ago, the Brennan Center, a democracy and justice reform think tank in Manhattan, published its biannual Albany report, which slammed the governmental oversight work of the Senate and Assembly. One of the reprimands was that Brooklyn Assemblywoman and Oversight Chair Joan Millman had never once convened a committee meeting since she has been chair. Millman’s office disputed this, and this week a staff member in Albany explained to me that most of the work of the Oversight Committee is behind the scenes and done in coordination with several other committees. While I was walking through the Legislative Office Building hallway, I saw Joan chairing an Oversight Committee lunch conference and snuck in to take a quick picture. “BushwickBK, is that a blog?” asked a committee member. Yes. No. Sorta.

4. Rockefeller Drug Law Reform

	“Pass Kontrol couldn’t be here tonight, so instead, we’re bringing you the Joe Lentol Solo Experience! Hit it!” Click to enlarge.

On Friday morning last week, Governor David Paterson signed Rockefeller Drug Law reforms effectively ending the war on drugs in New York State. Not that there won’t still be skirmishes, or a couple of battles here and there, but some of the most draconian provisions prosecuting nonviolent drug offenders have been amended or scrapped entirely.

Much of the credit for this reform should go Brooklyn Assemblyman Joe Lentol, who has championed Rockefeller reform for much of his career. Lentol was honored in Greenpoint the same day, where Neil Sheehan, Executive Vice President of The Outreach Project, presented him with a Rockefeller Drug Law Reform Rock Star award. The award itself was an electric guitar, which Lentol strummed after repeated media requests for several Grateful Dead songs, including "Truckin," "St. Stephen," and "Death Don’t Have No Mercy."

5. Gay Marriage

	Governor Paterson (not seated) prefers the cozy safety of his Capitol backroom office, far away from an underwhelmed public. Click to enlarge.

Any politician who says they don’t read the opinion polls is a liar. Especially when the polls are bad. In early March, Governor Paterson had an approval rating of… brace yourself… 26 percent — yes, lower than former Governor Eliot Spitzer during the height of his prostitution scandal. They haven’t budged much since moving up to 28 percent in one recent poll. Elected officials tend to do crazy things when they realize nobody likes them. Like approving gay marriage through the state legislature. Except, several reports claim that one reason Paterson is considering this is because he thinks it will give his ratings a boost. But will it help? After all, voters have indicated that while they approve of the gay marriage bill, they still hate the governor.

6. Sex Abuse Statue of Limitations

	Marge Markey kind of reminds us of Topher Grace’s mom on “That 70s Show.” Don’t cross her. Click to enlarge.

BushwickBK has been tracking two bills currently on the floor of the state assembly regarding the extension of the statute of limitations for victims of child abuse. One has been proposed by Queens Assemblywoman Marge Markey. The other is by Assemblyman Vito Lopez. I had mostly taken my trip to Albany to talk with a number of abuse victims’ advocates about their reasons for supporting Markey’s bill. One of the victims, who refused to be named in print as his case against his abuser is still pending, shared a story with me about a previous Lobby Day trip where he met with several legislators including Assemblyman Lopez. Usually they tell their supporters to be polite at all times, and if they are feeling hurt or angry after talking with a legislator to leave the office and end the meeting.

“[With Vito] we went on the attack,” he said. “When we introduced ourselves to him he looked physically sick. It struck me that there was a human being inside there tugging to get out. All day long we were told, ‘Lopez, Lopez, Lopez, don’t get him angry.’”

“He argued, ‘[Markey’s] bill is supported by the trial lawyers’ and I said, ‘It’s not about the lawyers. I’m talking about the kids.’”

“How much time did he give you?” I asked.

“Half an hour. He said I have five minutes, but we didn’t get out of there until 30 minutes later,” he said.

“How did he treat you?” I asked, as our bus whisked by rows of craggy apple orchards, not yet prepared to bloom.

“He was a gentleman.”

Related Posts