Mayor de Blasio Holds Public Hearings and Signs Intros 620, 612-A, 571-A, and 126-A

Mayor Bill de Blasio today signed into law Intro No. 620, in relation to the naming of 56 thoroughfares and public places, Intro No. 612-A, in relation to the sale of tax liens, Intro No. 571-A, in relation to the early intervention program, and Intro No. 126-A, in relation to requiring the reporting of environmental data regarding schools.

The first bill, Intro 620, co-names Ridgewood Avenue between Shepherd Avenue and Highland Place in Brooklyn “Detective Rafael Ramos Way,” and co-names West 6th Street between Avenue S and Avenue T in Brooklyn “Detective WenJian Liu Way.” The legislation also co-names 46 other streets and public places, and makes technical changes to eight co-namings that are already signed into law. The bill was approved by the City Council at the Stated Meeting on January 22, 2015.

This legislation also co-names 46 other streets and public places, including other individuals who died in the line of duty:

- Lieutenant Matt Ambelas, a 14-year FDNY veteran killed while putting out a fire in Williamsburg.

- Police Officer Kenneth Anthony Nugent, a 13-year NYPD veteran killed while trying to stop a robbery at a luncheonette in Queens.

- Traffic Enforcement Agent Kalyana Ranasinghe, a NYPD member hit by a truck in Manhattan while writing parking tickets.

- Deputy Fire Chief Charles L. Kasper, a 28-year FDNY veteran killed while trying to save other others on September 11, 2001.

- Sanitation worker Steven Frosch, who was killed while performing maintenance on a mechanical broom at a Maspeth garage. Frosch also served in NYPD prior to joining DSNY.

The following individuals and entities will also honored with street re-namings:

- Dave Reid Jr. Place

- Prince Joshua Avitto Way

- Rev. Wenceslao Martinez Way

- DJ Scott la Rock Boulevard

- Luis Muñoz Marín Way

- Basil Paterson Boulevard

- Oscar de la Renta Boulevard

- Frank T. Modica Way

- Norman Buchbinder Way

- Bronx Science Boulevard

- Archbishop Iakovos of America

- James Baldwin Place

- Frank J. Santo Way

- Judge Hansel L. McGee Place

- Bishop Robert Green Way

- Jimmy Zappalorti Lane

- Milton Alexander Way

- Bishop Ignatius A. Catanello Way

- Barry Weinbrom Way

- Lydia Buffington Way

- John Cortese Way

- Edwin Thomas Way

- Dr. Jerry V. Burns Way

- Henry McCoy Jr. Way

- Kevin Lamont Miller Jr. Way

- Ann Maggio Way

- Max Bond Way

- Jacob Birnbaum Way

- Stanley Jay Way

- Vincent C. Pompa Way

- Cooper Stock Way

- PCS Way

- Barbara Dattilo Way

- Brother Jack SanFilippo Way

- Jack Maple Place

- Robert C. Lohnes Way

- Alice Cardona Way

- Luke Adams Way

- Pecola and Nicholas Rodriguez Way

- Debbie Bowden Way

- Margaret Mack Triangle

Intro No. 620 will also make technical changes to the following co-namings that are already signed into law:

- William Creech Vietnam Veteran Way

- Sunnyside Garden Arena Way

- Barnard Way

- José Francisco Peña Gomez Boulevard

- Angelo “Chubby” Campanella

- Rabbi Weissmandl Way

- George Carlin Way

- Benjamin Fried Boulevard

The second bill, Intro 612-A, reauthorizes the City to sell tax liens through December 2016, and establishes a joint Administration/Council taskforce to make administrative and legislative recommendations to the lien sale process. The bill was approved by the City Council at the Stated Meeting on January 22, 2015. In his remarks, the Mayor thanked the bill’s sponsor, Finance Committee Chair Julissa Ferreras, for helping improve the fairness and efficiency of the lien sale process.

The third bill, Intro 571-A, allows the Early Intervention Program to be placed within a new Division of Family and Child Health, which oversees a range of programs focusing on child development, and helps streamline services for children with developmental disabilities. The bill was approved by the City Council at the Stated Meeting on January 22, 2015. In his remarks, the Mayor thanked the bill’s sponsor, Council Member Andy Cohen, for helping improve the service delivery process for children in need.

The fourth bill, Intro No. 126-A, requires the Department of Education to report on breaches of school environmental standards. The bill was approved by the City Council at the Stated Meeting on January 22, 2015. In his remarks, the Mayor thanked the bill’s sponsor, Council Member Fernando Cabrera, for ensuring that parents and teachers have access to information on the environmental conditions in school buildings.