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 BALCONY
HAILS GOVERNOR PATERSON SIGNING YOUNG INVINCIBLES HEALTH
CARE LAW
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On July 29, 2009, Gov.
David Paterson signed the Young Invincibles health
care law in Rochester, NY. Click here for the Paterson Press
Release. Providing health care coverage for 800,000
uninsured young New Yorkers, so called "young
invincibles" ages 19-29 has been a top legislative
priority of BALCONY as we partnered
up with the American
Cancer Society, DEMOS, and the Freelancers Union.
In October 2009, we held a comprehensive
forum at NYU Wagner
School which featured Assembly Health Committee
Chair Richard Gottfried, Community Healthcare Networks
CEO Catherine Abate, CWA local 1180 President
Arthur Cheliotes, NYS Department of Insurance
Deputy Superintendent Troy Oeschner and American Cancer Society VP for
Advocacy Peter Slocum.
The forum
even featured actress Hogan Gorman who
preformed an excerpts from her award winning play Hot Cripple.
"We believe this forum helped highlight the need for
coverage and are pleased that a new law was passed by
the Assembly and Senate and signed by Governor David Paterson", stated
BALCONY Director Lou
Gordon.
BALCONY issued a comprehensive
report regarding the uninsured young New Yorkers
forum.
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Support Grows for Living Wages in Community
Benefits Agreement
at the Kingsbridge
Armory
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Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz will soon
decide whether or not to support The Related Companies'
application to redevelop the landmark
600,000-square-foot Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx.
While Diaz's decision is non-binding, it will carry much
weight with the City Council when Related's application
to purchase the architectural gem to build the "Shops at
the Armory" mall comes before it in the
fall.
"Economic development that creates jobs
that keep people in poverty accomplishes nothing," says
Stuart Appelbaum,
President of the Retail,
Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), a KARA member.
"We expect and demand that the Kingsbridge Armory be
developed in a way that strengthens the community, and
not just enriches the developer."
Read the compete story: Armory
Visit KARA's website
for more information - http://www.ourarmory.org.
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Community
Healthcare Network Opens New Primary Care Facility
in
Long Island City, Queens |
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Queens, NY-
Community Healthcare Network (CHN) is excited to
announce the opening of its tenth federally qualified
health center and second location in Queens. The new
Long Island City location is part of a continuing
commitment to provide all New York City residents with
quality healthcare.
Community Healthcare
Network's Long Island City Health Center, located at
36-11 21st St., provides primary care, including
pediatrics and family planning services, Monday through
Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Patients can call
(718) 482-7772 to schedule appointments.
For more information, click here: CHNNYC
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BALCONY,
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, TEAMSTER CENTER
SERVICES: WELLNESS PROJECT
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A
BALCONY Wellness
Project is in development as a joint project of
BALCONY, the
American Cancer
Society and the Teamster Center Services.
At
the most recent BALCONY advisory
committee meetings in Albany and New York City members
discussed the objectives, goals and challenges involved
in the creation of a Wellness Program that will result
in healthier employees, union members and their
families. It is anticipated that we can launch the
Wellness Program before the New Year.
"A BALCONY Wellness
program developed with the American Cancer Society
and the Teamster Center
Services can improve productivity, lower health
care costs and demonstrate a positive concern for the
health and fitness of employees and workers," stated
BALCONY Co-chair
Alan
Lubin.
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AFL-CIO
President
John
Sweeney
Retires
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John Costello (NYSUT),
John
Sweeney,
Lou
Gordon
(BALCONY)
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| BALCONY MEMBERS' CALENDAR |
Mark your calendar for the
following important BALCONY Members'
events...
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St. VINCENT/GIANTS
KICK-OFF LUNCHEON
|
 43rd
Annual
New York
Giants
Kick-Off
Luncheon
to benefit the
John V. Mara
Cancer Research Fund
at St. Vincent's
Hospital
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
noon -
2:00 p.m.
Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers,
NY
NY Giant Alumni Man of the Year Award:
Stephen
Baker
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NEW YORK
CITY
LABOR DAY PARADE
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New York City
Central Labor Council
Labor Day Parade
September 12,
2009
10 a.m. - Fifth Ave. & 44th
St.
Click here
for details: Parade
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| INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR FORUM ON CLIMATE
CHANGE |
Public Policies and
Investment Strategies
for a Low-Carbon
Economy
September 16, 2009
The Grand Hyatt New York
New York,
NY
Confirmed speakers
include:
Lord Nicholas Stern,
Former
Chief Economist, World Bank and Special Advisor
to the Group Chairman of HSBC on Economic
Development and Climate Change
Bill Lockyer
California State
Treasurer
Rob Lake
APG Investments Head
of Sustainability
Tim Wirth
President, United
Nations Foundation
Thomas DiNapoli
New York State
Comptroller
Mindy Lubber
President of Ceres and
Director of
INCR |
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OUT TO WORK CAREER
FAIR |
The Greenwich
Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, a BALCONY member, and its
partner, The LGBT Community Center, invite you to
participate in the Out of Work Job
Fair.
September 17, 2009
AT THE CENTER
208
WEST 13TH STREET
11AM-4PM
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THE NEW YORK CITY
HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
|
Business Leadership
Luncheon
Friday, September 18, 2009
11:30 a.m. -
2:00 p.m.
Keynote speaker
New
York City Comptroller Bill
Thompson
Topic: The Current Economic
Crisis
&
How New Yorkers Can Begin Building a Stronger
City
At:
Maestro's Caterers
1703
Bronxdale Avenue
Bronx, New York 10462
Click here to
register and for more information.
RSVP by
e-mail: polancoartesis@gmail.com
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| HEALTH & BENEFITS EXPO |
20th Annual
Health &
Benefits Expo
Set for September 25,
2009
For more information, click
here: Expo |
WESTCHESTER GOLF
OPEN
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26th Annual
St. Vincent's
Hospital Westchester Golf
Open
Tuesday, October 6,
2009
7:30 am - 10:00
pm
Fenway Golf Club, Scarsdale,
NY
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MEDICARE
RIGHTS CENTER
20th ANNIVERSARY
DINNER |
The Medicare Rights Center's 20th
Anniversary Celebration Dinner at The Ritz-Carlton
Battery Park, New York City on October 14, 2009 will
honor Dr. Drew
Altman, President and CEO of the Henry J. Kaiser Family
Foundation and Stuart Appelbaum,
President, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union,
both ardent advocates of good, affordable health care
for all Americans.
Senator Kirsten
Gillibrand is serving as the Honorary Chair and
Dinner Co-Chairs include Jack Ahern, Joseph A. Califano,
Jr., Michael Fishman, Denis Hughes, Richard Iannuzzi,
David Kessler, MD, Alan Lubin, Michael Mulgrew, Richard
Ravitch, David Satcher, MD, Donna Shalala, Andrew Stern,
James Tallon, Randi Weingarten and Jack Wurm, among
others.
Inquiries about the Celebration
Dinner can be directed to Denise Grant at 212-204-6223
or e-mail dgrant@medicarerights.org
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WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
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The
Women Builders Council is proud to be the
preeminent organization promoting the role of women in
the construction and building industries.
Our
third annual Champions Award Gala & Reception will
be held on October 21, 2009 at the Bank of New York
Mellon, 101 Barclay Street, New York City at 6:00
pm.
The WBC 2009 Champion Awards Dinner
will recognize leading women who are making outstanding
contributions to the building industry. If you
know an outstanding woman in the construction industry,
nominate her today at www.wbcnyc.org/outstandingwomen2009/About.aspx
Click here to register: Champions
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BALCONY ACCESS
FOR SMALL
BUSINESS FORUMS
|
The Business and Labor Coalition
of New York has enlisted WCBS NewsRadio880 as
its media partner to conduct a series of Access for Small Business
Forums throughout New York State in the fall 2009
and early 2010. These events will assist small business
owners and small business organizations to gain access
to the information they need to weather the current
economic storm and plan for a rapidly changing business
future.
BALCONY will co-host a
series of at least 5 forums throughout New York State.
These forums, co-sponsored by BALCONY's business
coalitions, such as New York AREA, and
chambers, such as the Greater New York Chamber of
Commerce, will deliver timely information,
products, and services to owners of small businesses.
We
will also work with key New York legislators to
strengthen our relationships and act as a conduit for
programs.
"Small businesses are the economic
engine of New York State," said BALCONY co- chair Bruce Ventimiglia,
chairman of Saratoga
Capital Management. "The BALCONY Access for Small
Business Forums will bring together experts
who can help small businesses survive in these
trying times." he added.
We anticipate one forum will
be held in each of the following strategic
areas
□ The Capital
Region
□
Buffalo/Rochester/Syracuse
□ New York
City
□
Westchester
□ Long
Island
BALCONY Access for Small
Business includes:
□ Access to capital
□
American Recovery Act and
procurement
opportunities
□ Access to health care,
wellness programs and
other vital
benefits for employees and families
□ Lowering energy costs
□
Advancements in technology
For more information contact
Christine Serrano
Glassner, BALCONY
small business consultant at Christine.glassner@balconynewyork.com
or
call (212) 219-7777.
For Sponsorship
Opportunities click here.
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FEDERAL
STIMULUS IMPACT
ON NYS
INFRASTRUCTURE
 (L to R) Chris
Ward
(Executive Director of the Port Authority
of NY/NJ),
Robert
Ledwith
(Local 46 Metalic Lathers &
Reinforcing Ironworkers),
Samara Barend
(NYS
Commission on State Asset
Maximization) |
On
June 18, 2009 BALCONY, the Business and Labor Coalition
of New York, staged an informative forum on the
financial challenges facing New York as we attempt to
fund the pressing infrastructure needs of our state and
region. Chris
Ward, the Executive Director of the Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey, detailed
the authority's $3.3 billion capital plan, warning that
key projects may be sacrificed if all available capital
is allocated to the Silverstein Project at the World
Trade Center site.
The impact of the $24 billion
federal stimulus on New York infrastructure and
construction and the recently announced New York State
proposal to foster the creation of public private
partnerships were debated at the forum by government,
business and labor leaders.
(L to R) Chris Levandos
(Verizon/FIOS),
Dr.
James Melius (NY LECET),
Alan Lubin (BALCONY
Co-Chair),
Lou
Gordon (BALCONY Director),
Steve McInnis (NYC
District Council of
Carpenters)
View the
videos from the
Port
Authority/BALCONY forum: Videos
Since our forum, both BALCONY member the
New York Building
Congress and New
York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli have
issued reports critical of the slow pace of the federal
stimulus funds to be invested in New York State
infrastructure projects. The reports are
below.
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DiNapoli: New
York's
Local Infrastructure Needs
Projected To
Be
$80 Billion Under Funded
Over Next 20
Years
At
the current rate of spending, New York will have $80
billion in unmet infrastructure needs over the next 20
years unless state, federal, and local governments work
together to improve multi-year capital planning and
better fund infrastructure projects, cautioned State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli in a
report he released in Syracuse. DiNapoli's report
estimates the state's capital needs for repairing roads,
bridges, and water and sewer lines will swell to a
quarter trillion dollars over the next 20 years.
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Read the entire press release: Infrastructure
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$1.5 Billion in Stimulus Money Currently
Approved for NYC Transportation Projects, but Little
Actually Spent to Date
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A total of $1.57
billion in federal stimulus dollars has been approved to
date for transportation capital projects in the five
boroughs of New York City. Another $1 billion in
transportation projects are likely to be approved for
stimulus funding, according to a New York Building
Congress analysis. However, an analysis of
project data provided by the New York Metropolitan
Transportation Council (NYMTC), also found that
virtually all of the approved capital funding has yet to
be spent.
For more information
and to read the entire write-up, click here: Transportation
Projects
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New
York State Energy Plan
a Step Forward,
says New
York AREA |
"Governor Paterson's preliminary
state energy plan is an important step towards
securing our energy future and maintaining our state's
quality-of-life. We applaud the Governor and his
staff for their efforts and leadership," stated Arthur "Jerry" Kremer,
former Chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee
and Chairman of the New York Affordable Reliable
Electricity Alliance (New York AREA) www.area-alliance.org
Read the entire
article: NY
AREA
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The 2009 National
Health Care Debate
As the
President, the congress, and the public debate the
future of America's health care, we at BALCONY urge our
members to be heard. Contact your Congressman and
Senators giving them your personal, organizational,
union, and business opinion on the challenges facing our
nation. Please review the BALCONY 7
Principles for Affordable Health Care
Initiatives, adopted in the Fall 2007, as you
consider the various options being presented.
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Why We Need
Health Care
Reform
by Barack Obama
OUR
nation is now engaged in a great debate about the future
of health care in America. And over the past few weeks,
much of the media attention has been focused on the
loudest voices. What we haven't heard are the voices of
the millions upon millions of Americans who quietly
struggle every day with a system that often works better
for the health-insurance companies than it does for
them.
Click here to
read the entire NY Times article
by President
Obama
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BROOKINGS
INSTITUTE:
10 STEPS TO BETTER HEALTH
CARE
by Atul Gawande, Donald
Berwick, Elliott Fisher and Mark B. McClellan
As
the discussion on health care reform continues across
America, Mark McClellan and other health policy experts
have looked for solutions from communities that are
already redesigning health care for the better. The
experts offer a number of steps that can help our nation
change how health care is delivered so that it is both
less expensive and more effective.
To view the proposal,
click here.
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"The Cause of My Life"
by Senator Edward
M. KennedyInside the fight for universal
health care.Click here to
read the Newsweek article
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GovernmentCare's Assault on
Seniors
Former New York
State Lt Governor Betsy
McCaughey recently discussed the impact of the
National health care debate on Seniors in the Wall
Street journal.Click here
to read the Wall Street Journal article.
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Multiple
Myeloma
in
World Trade Center Responders:
Mt. Sinai School of
Medicine
Emergency
personnel who responded to the 9/11 attacks on the Twin
Towers may be at higher risk for multiple myeloma, a
form of blood cancer. The findings, which were published
in early August in the Journal of
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, are
still very preliminary, but suggest that airborne toxins
may have damaged the rescue workers'
lungs.
"Since 2006, BALCONY has made the
monitoring of rescue workers at the World Trade Center a
top policy priority , joining the larger coalition
advocating for treatment and extended benefits," stated
Lou Gordon,
Director of BALCONY. " In fact, we
produced several TV and Radio PSA's featuring actress
Sigourney Weaver
and former boxing champ, the late, Jose Torres, alerting
those involved in cleanup , rescue and recovery to
register and to be regularly screened so as to qualify
for New York State workers' compensation benefits should
they become ill."
Multiple myeloma normally
affects the elderly, but was shown to develop early in
the emergency personnel, who were all under 45 years
old.
Rescue workers were heavily
exposed to a toxic chemical soup released from the fires
that raged at the World Trade Center site for three
months after 9/11. The chemicals included several known
carcinogens, some of which have been linked to a
heightened risk of multiple
myeloma.
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Read the full story: Myeloma
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Report Compares Four
Comprehensive Reform Proposals and Their Impact
on
Health Insurance Coverage
in New
York
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On
July 17, 2009, the New York State Departments of
Insurance and Health issued a report to Governor Paterson on
the Partnership for
Coverage Initiative on the Release of the Urban
Institute report.
BALCONY, working with
the American Cancer
Society, has been instrumental in assisting the
New York State
Department of Insurance and Department of Health
in delivering business, labor and advocacy opinions on
the current state health insurance in New York. Together
we held forums in Buffalo, Albany, New York City, Long
Island, Westchester and Rochester, providing
thought-provoking testimony and round table discussions
on health care benefits.
Read the full report: Insurance
Health
Care for All New Yorkers analyzed
the July 2009 New York State Health Care Recommendations
of the Urban Institute.
Click here:
HCFANY
Analysis
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Discounted Subscription for BALCONY members and
friends to the Empire Page -- the ultimate source for
news about NYS government &
politics
|
BALCONY, the Business and Labor Coalition
of New York, represents more than 1,000 New York
businesses, labor unions, and trade associations.
BALCONY seeks common ground in the public policy debate
in New York to spur economic development through the
adoption of business/union friendly, socially
responsible common sense laws that maintain and improve
the quality of life for working New
Yorkers.
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| Call, Write or
Email BALCONY |
|
Contact: Lou
Gordon - BALCONY Director
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