In the News
Unpaid interns in most states aren't covered by the same workplace discrimination and harassment laws as employees, but some House Democrats are trying to change that.
Three lawmakers introduced a trio of bills Tuesday aimed at closing loopholes that exclude unpaid interns from protection. The Civil Rights Act doesn't currently cover such workers because they aren't compensated and therefore aren't technically employees. Workers must receive "significant remuneration" in order to have recourse through federal law.
NY1 VIDEO: Please see the NY1 video for my comments about railroad cars filled with trash which are affecting our communities.
Public school students are used to having time off on New Year's Day and Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Now, the Lunar New Year will enjoy similar status.
"It's an official school holiday, like Christmas," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Congresswoman Grace Meng has reached out to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to push for an increase in the agency's efforts to control noise pollution from airplanes and helicopters.
Residents from Bayside, Flushing and surrounding neighborhoods have reported daily disruption from roaring, low-flying planes since the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved a route change in December 2012 that affected departing LaGuardia Airport traffic.
Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) is introducing legislation that would assist small businesses that sell their products abroad.
The measure would instruct the Export-Import Bank to increase the amount of financing it provides to small business from 20 to 25 percent.
"It would help create jobs, stimulate our economy and allow businesses to better compete in foreign markets across the globe," said Meng, a member of the House Small Business Committee, in a statement Tuesday.
Now that he's closing schools on two Muslim holidays, Mayor de Blasio is being pressured to keep his word and add the Lunar New Year to the list.
Eighteen legislators sent a letter to Hizzoner Monday urging him to include the celebration as a day off on the school calendar.
Congressmember Grace Meng (DQueens) announced on December 1 that she has saved a college in Queens from shutting down.
On the brink of closing its doors, Bramson ORT College in Forest Hills was spared after Meng intervened with the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) in Washington, D. C.
Two weeks after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Capital Program Review Board rejected the agency's five-year budget proposal, three Queens elected officials are pressing for one of the program's smaller items to make it into the final draft of the financial plan.