The Political Scene

New State Senate Website Is Online

The New York State Senate has launched its new website designed to infuse public participation with new technological abilities.

"We are working to clean up the mess of the last 12 years and return government to the people of this state, and one of the best ways to achieve that goal is to capitalize on the use of technology and the ways in which people communicate in the 21st century," explained Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith.

Under the direction of new Senate Chief Technology Officer Andrew Hoppin, the Senate has been undertaking a number of new initiatives that are expected to open up the Senate to the public and provide an unprecedented level of ease for the public to access legislative information.

The website, www.nysenate.gov, will host more than 90 unique websites serving all 62 members of the State Senate and many committees, utilizing new technology for crowd sourcing, blogging and linking into social networking sites.

Built entirely on open-source software, the new website is designed to help both senators and committees more easily share their work with New Yorkers by posting news articles, photos, videos, event calendars and public schedules. It also provides a new platform for public participation in government, including public commenting on Senate blog posts, "public markup" on proposed legislation and "crowdsourcing" of citizen ideas about pending legislative issues.

"The previous Senate website was difficult to navigate and didn't provide much to visitors," Smith observed. "By comparison, this site was built solely around encouraging public participation in the legislative process. We want to hear what New Yorkers think."

City Bill Calls For Cell Antenna Alerts

City Council Member Peter Vallone Jr. has introduced new legislation on cell phone antennas to allow for more industry regulation and community involvement.

The chair of the Public Safety Committee, Vallone is an advocate against the unchecked placement of cell antennas in residential neighborhoods since he first introduced legislation on the issue in 2004.

The latest measure will require the following from cell carriers:

• alert the community and local elected officials when a new tower or antenna will be installed or mounted onto a building;

• provide the community board and City Council member with written notice before applying for an installation permit from the Department of Buildings, in order to keep an up-to-date record of antennas in the neighborhood;

• each antenna must have an identification number, so that residences and community groups could reference potential concerns related to specific equipment; and,

• prove they have made the best possible effort to install antennas in non-residential areas.

"Our goal is not to stop progress, we just want reasonable regulation," Vallone said. "This is an issue of worldwide importance, and after six years, it is time for New York City to take a stand."

City Council members Lewis Fidler and Vincent Gentile are co-sponsors of the bill.

Council Hopeful Opens Her Office

Heidi Harrison Chain, a Democratic candidate for the City Council's 29th District seat, officially opened up her campaign office last Sunday, May 3 on Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills.

The campaign office located at 118-20 Queens Blvd. drew a crowd of over 50 supporters, many of whom pledged to volunteer and donated nearly $2,000 to the effort.

"I'm running for City Council because we can't afford any more 'business as usual,'" Chain said. "I'm not a career politician. I'm not running for a job—I'm running to do a job for you."

An experienced community leader and life-long resident of the district, Chain currently serves as president of the 112th Precinct Community Council and as chair of Community Board 6's Economic Development and Youth committees. She is also chief of the Forest Hills/Rego Park Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). As a director in the city's Department of Finance, Chain is running on a platform of fiscal responsibility.

"We can make our community better," she said. "I will fight to cut taxes and eliminate wasteful spending. My council office will have a phone line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will provide direct communication to our residents and businesses."

Chain is seeking the seat currently occupied by City Council Member Melinda Katz, who is currently running for city comptroller. The 29th District seat covers sections of Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, Maspeth and Elmhurst.

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