Shabbos Parking Meters Come to South Williamsburg

THE COUNCIL Of The City of New York City Hall New York, N.Y. 10007   ***PRESS RELEASE***   The following is a Press Release from Councilman Steve Levin: Shabbos Parking Meters Come to South Williamsburg

Department of Transportation officials unveil Shabbos meters and signage

NEW YORK, NY — Today, Department of Transportation officials unveiled new signage and parking meters in South Williamsburg to allow Orthodox Jewish motorists parking on several streets within South Williamsburg to pay parking meters four hours in advance on Friday evenings. New signage installed, with the 4-hour parking on Fridays The new muni-meters, which will be located on Division Avenue from Roebling Street to Driggs Ave, Division Avenue from Lee Avenue to Roebling Street, Roebling Street from South 8th Street to South 9th Street, Roebling Street from South 9th Street to Division Avenue, Roebling Street from Division Street to South 8th Street and Roebling Street from Lee Avenue to Division Avenue, will now allow drivers to pre-pay at 3pm on Friday for meters that are in effect until 7pm. "South Williamsburg residents can rest easy knowing that they no longer have to worry about getting a parking ticket, or being towed, simply for observing their religious beliefs." said Council Member Levin (D-Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Downtown Brooklyn). "This change is vital for those who observe Shabbos and will greatly improve the quality of life for those members of the community. I want to specifically thank Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, the Department of Transportation and Mayor Bill de Blasio for fulfilling a commitment made to the community just two weeks ago during the District 33 Town Hall" “As we embrace New York City’s diversity, DOT is proud to expand the Shabbos Parking program to South Williamsburg,” said DOT Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Keith Bray. “This change was both necessary and essential as it allows an enhanced quality of life without financial burdens, as Shabbos observers can now park their cars overnight without worrying about parking tickets and towing. We would like to thank Council Member Levin for his persistence and dedication on this important issue.” “Thanks to DOT and Mayor de Blasio for realizing the importance of changing parking meter regulations to accommodate Shabbos observers. New York City prides itself on its diversity and this speaks to its commitment to ensuring equal application of the laws, especially in the context of religious observers. The community of Williamsburg will surely benefit from this change” said Assembly Member Joe Lentol (D-Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Fort Greene). "We are grateful to Mayor de Blasio and the DOT for finally easing the parking shortage that Sabbath observers in Williamsburg faced, due to the meter regulations on Friday evenings," said Rabbi David Niederman, President of the UJO of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn. "This is a mayor that understands and is sensitive to the unique needs of each and every community, and the mayor's personal promise at a recent Town Hall with Council Member Levin to have the meters changed - an issue that we are raising for the longest time - and the quick execution of that promise, is another example of the mayor's devotion and commitment to meet the needs of all New Yorkers. Thank you!" "I applaud the City's decision to ensure that parking meters accommodate the needs of New Yorkers who observe Shabbos," said Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh. "In New York, we celebrate and respect diversity. I thank Council Member Levin, Assembly Member Lentol, DOT Commissioner Trottenberg, and all those who have worked to make this important community improvement happen."

UJO of Williamsburg Thanks Mayor de Blasio for New Child Care Assistance for Working Families and Parking Relief for Area’s Sabbath Observers

Major announcements made at Townhall tonight with Councilman Steve Levin, following long-time interventions by the UJO

Williamsburg – Tonight, Mayor de Blasio came to speak to residents of the area, and many long-standing issues – from parking restrictions hurting Sabbath observers, to working-families waiting for Child Care and After School services, and many other issues throughout the council-manic district - were resolved.

Among the announcements that the Mayor made at the district’s Town Hall, hosted by Councilman Stephen Levin, were that the city will send out letters this week to working parents who are on the Child Care and After School Vouchers wait list for years offering them a voucher. The city will fund 1,700 new vouchers, thanks to over 15 million dollars in additional funding provided by the Mayor and the City Council in the current budget years. The issuance of those vouchers was delayed, but in more good news, the mayor assured that the funding will be fully utilized, as intended by the council and the administration, unlike in the past, when delays in issuance of the vouchers resulted in a reduction in assistance for working families.

Mayor de Blasio also announced that the parking meters on Division Avenue and Roebling Street will be reprogrammed to for Fridays, to enable Sabbath observers to park there on Fridays. Currently, those meters regulations are in effect on Fridays till 7. During winter Fridays, when Sabbath starts as early as 4:13pm, Orthodox Jews were unable to park their cars at these streets.

Responding to the request by Rabbi David Niederman, president of the UJO of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn, to lift the No Parking 4-7 PM on Lee Avenue for Fridays - which prevents Orthodox Jews from parking on that major Avenue before most Saturdays – the Mayor and DOT Commissioner Trottenberg responded that the agency is currently studying such a change.

The Mayor also announced that parts of Myrtle Avenue – which currently has daily street cleaning om each side, including Sabbath – the cleaning on Sabbath will cease, so that Sabbath observer can park there before Sabbath without being penalized. Councilman Stephen Levin drew attention to this matter and proposed legislation, after Orthodox Jews were ticketed on that Avenue on the Saturday immediately after Rosh Hashanah.

In major news for the entire Community District 1, the mayor  confirmed that come fall the entire Community Board 1, which encompasses Williamsburg, will see its Street Cleaning halved, from twice on each side of the street to once on each side. Assemblyman Joe Lentol, Community Board 1 and the UJO, have requested that change for years. The Mayor also announced new funding for parks in the area – including major investments in the Bushwick Inlet Park - and a range of other major accomplishments for the district.

The UJO intervened for years on most of those issues. It was an exciting night to hear that so many of those issues were resolved, thanks the Mayor and the agencies dedicated efforts.

“We are beyond grateful for the mayor for announcing and implementing the major assistance for working families as well as parking relief for Sabbath observers and the entire area. We advocated for years on these issues, and when the mayor came to town it was finally resolved,” said Rabbi David Niederman.

“This is a hands-on Mayor who understands so well all the issues. It’s amazing how he responded to each and every question with such clarity, and just called on his staff to fill in on specific details. This is a mayor who cares for all communities and all city residents,” added Rabbi Niederman. “Tonight’s Town Hall was an embodiment of how the mayor listen’s to everyone and understand and is addressing the unique challenges and needs of all communities, assuring real equality. We thank the mayor and his dedicated Commissioners and staff for these major accomplishments.”

Assemblyman Lentol and Rabbi Niederman Announce the Hit-and-Run Prevention Act--a Series of Initiatives to Save Lives

Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol (D-North Brooklyn) was joined today by Rabbi David Niederman, President of the UJO of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn, to announce the Hit-and-Run Prevention Act, a series of initiatives that will reduce the number of hit-and-run incidents. The bill will be introduced in the upcoming legislative session that begins in January.

The bill was formed in response to the recent hit-and-run incidents that have taken many lives, including the Glauber family. In the last two years, over 100 hit-and-runs in NYC have resulted in serious physical injury or death. Serious physical injury can include lost limbs or severe organ damage.

Hit-and-run incidents can be reduced by educating the public on the severity of the penalties for hit-and-runs, while also stressing the importance that minutes can have in saving someone’s limbs or life. The minutes after an incident are crucial to ensure that an individual can receive necessary medical treatment.

“Unfortunately, my district has seen too many hit-and-runs, including the Glauber family, which was a tragedy. We also have countless cyclists and they are more susceptible to being seriously injured or killed when involved in a collision,” said Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol. “I am hopeful that these initiatives will bring clarity to the importance of staying on the scene of an accident, provide a mechanism to increase the chances of finding a hit-and-run suspect, and also de-incentivize people that are intoxicated from leaving. I know my colleagues on both sides of the aisle know the importance of saving people’s lives.” 

“I am fully committed to holding drivers who kill or injure others fully accountable, which can be a challenge at times because of certain deficiencies in our current laws,” said Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “This is why I support the legislation announced today by Assemblyman Lentol, which would close the loophole that incentivizes drunk drivers to flee the scene of a crash, fund an educational campaign and establish an alert system for hit and runs. These tools will help us keep pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in Brooklyn safe so I strongly urge the Legislature to enact these common sense measures into law.”

 “Four and a half years ago, an entire, expanding young family, the Glaubers, was killed by a driver who later admitted to investigators that he drove after having beers. Williamsburg is till pained by that,” said Rabbi David Niederman, President of the UJO of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn. “The appropriate level of justice was not executed, due to the driver’s running away from the scene. Incentivizing hit and runs, is foolish. We commend Assemblyman Lentol for offering legislation to correct that, which will hopefully deter and prevent such tragedies in the future."

The bill will include three initiatives:

1. Public Education Campaign
1. DCJS would be appropriated $1,000,000 to establish a public information campaign. The campaign will inform the public about the law surrounding hit-and-runs, including potential jail time. The campaign will also stress the importance of staying on the scene and contacting authorities, as a person’s limbs or life can be saved. Additionally, the campaign will inform the public that, regardless of whether they are intoxicated or sober, the crime for leaving the scene will be the same. Therefore, stopping and helping the victim is the best choice.

2. Hit-and-Run Alert System
1. The bill would authorize the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to establish and administer a statewide alert system for hit and run vehicles. The alert would be requested by law enforcement agencies when the hit-and-run incident results in serious physical injury or death. DCJS will determine the criteria for issuing an alert. 

3. Close Hit-and-Run Intoxication Loophole
1. The bill would increase the penalty for leaving the scene of a crime resulting in serious physical injury from a Class E Felony to a Class D Felony. Similarly, the penalty for leaving the scene of a crime resulting in death would be increased from a Class D Felony to a Class C Felony. 
2. Previously, if an individual was severely intoxicated and involved in a collision that resulted in serious physical injury or death and the individual stayed at the scene they would be charged with a more serious offense than if they were not intoxicated and fled the scene, such as Vehicular Assault 1^st Degree, Vehicular Manslaughter 1^st Degree, Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI). This creates a loophole in the law, whereby people that are severely intoxicated are incentivized to leave the scene because they can receive a lesser charge.
3. The goal of the law is to punish an individual who leaves the scene of an accident instead of staying to help the victim, regardless of whether they are sober or intoxicated. The penalties if you stay at the scene or leave the scene will be the same.

For the entire press release click here

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