Brooklyn Heights Blog

Yesterday, NYS Senator Daniel Squadron took to the floor in support of the state’s ultimately failed bill in support of marriage equality.

“It’s such a small bill, just a couple of pages,” he said. “But it’s a very powerful bill.” Squadron goes on to describe his recent marriage, which he described as the “most powerful and moving experience in my life.” In the end, the bill was voted down 38-24.

Squadron sent out this e-mail to his supporters: Read more »

The Brooklyn Heights Association met with the Economic Development Corporation and the Federal Aviation Administration Friday (10/30) to voice its concern over the planned increase in tourist helicopter flights over the area.   BHA Executive Director Judy Stanton tells the Brooklyn Paper they left the meeting with a “lot less than expected.”

Brooklyn Paper: A decade of complaints about the existing noise led to the Oct. 30 meeting with the Economic Development Corporation, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Brooklyn Heights Association, state Sen. Daniel Squadron (D-Brooklyn Heights), Councilman David Yassky (D-Brooklyn Heights) and Assemblywoman Joan Millman (D-Carroll Gardens). But all that the chopper opponents learned at the confab was that there is very little accountability where helicopters are involved.

“We came out of the meeting with a lot less than we expected,” said Judy Stanton, executive director of the Brooklyn Heights Association.

But Squadron was happy to have been at the table, seeing it as a first step towards trimming non-essential tourist flights.

“We’re working on ending the lack of government oversight of the helicopter business,” he said. “The best way to do this will be to have helicopter companies, the EDC and the FAA at the table.”

Below: BHB/Scales; Above: BHB/Portlock

Now that the Albany legislative coup is over, our man (formerly “kid”) in the State Senate, Daniel Squadron, can finally focus on his wedding.

This weekend, Squadron will marry his longtime girlfriend, Liz Weinstein, who works in the mayor’s Office of Operations. Daniel and his staff have been very, very tightlipped about any further details surrounding the event, other than to say it’s happening and it’s happening in Manhattan.

But this much we know: Squadron was on the floor of the Senate, voting on 135 bills until 2 am Friday morning, less than 48 hours before his wedding. Read more »

We called NYS Senator Daniel Squadron this morning to get his thoughts on yesterday’s state senate coup, and spokesman John Raskin says Squadron is in conference with his Democratic colleagues and can talk later this afternoon. We will keep you posted.

UPDATE: Squadron’s chief of staff, John Raskin, just sent us this statement:

“As you know, Senator Squadron supports a Democratic State Senate because it is a vital component of reaching the most important goals in our community and our city. This is no time to retreat on such long-held priorities as investing in education, improving public transportation, and creating a more transparent and accountable state government.”

This morning on The Brian Lehrer Show, State Senator Daniel Squadron  spoke about why he wants to bring a residential parking permit system to New York City. Jay Rowell, deputy director of the Chicago City Clerk’s office, and Judson True, spokesperson for the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority, discuss how it works in their cities–and whether it’s a moneymaker.

Read about the plan to bring residential parking permits to New York in the Brooklyn Paper and Second Avenue Sagas.

State Senator Daniel Squadron’s office just sent BHB an update of his busy week in Albany, and what he’s been up to in the last month of his first legislative season. Per the email:

Just to keep you updated about this week’s news in Albany: to much fanfare, Daniel introduced two major ethics reform bills, one on Tuesday and one just this morning.

Here’s some background on the first, which reforms ethics oversight: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/senate-leader-pushes-for-income-disclosure/

…and an article about Daniel’s second ethics bill, which makes lawmakers disclose more information about their outside sources of income: http://www.politickerny.com/3860/squadron-my-form-already-public-why-isnt-yours

Finally, for the multimedia presentation, video of Daniel from two hours ago in Albany, discussing his income disclosure bill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF-Bk3FFTHQ

Riverside Apartments resident Brad Smith (at right in photo) opened today’s Willowtown Spring Fair with a short speech about the life and accomplishments of Alfred T. White, the Heights resident and philanthropist responsible for the building of Riverside and of other affordable housing complexes in Brooklyn. Listening were (right to left) State Sen. Daniel Squadron, State Assembly Member Joan Millman, City Council candidate Jo Anne Simon, and City Council Member (and Mayoral candidate) Tony Avella. Read more »

(BHB/Sarah Portlock)

Brooklyn Heights is not a parking lot — that’s the message elected officials shouted from the steps of Borough Hall on Friday morning.

State Senator Daniel Squadron and Assemblywoman Joan Millman recently introduced joint bills in Albany outlining a proposal to allow residential permit parking in the surrounding neighborhoods, and a who’s who of Brooklyn Heights’ political elite stood behind them to rally support. Read more »

As state lawmakers haggle over budget issues, our man in the State Senate, Daniel “Kid” Squadron, took to the floor to make his case.

So, the MTA board voted yesterday for subway, bus and train fares to go up, on average, 23% by this summer, but there’s still time to reverse those changes if the New York State legislature pulls through and comes up with an alternate solution. What are our representatives doing up in Albany to make sure that happens? Brooklyn Heights Blog will talk with NYS Senator Daniel Squadron and NYS Assemblywoman Joan Millman today to get those questions answered.

In the meantime, Squadron’s office sent this over, per his senior advisor, John Raskin:

Read more »