 | Follow @kallos |  |  |  | CONTACT | |  |
Press Releases
February 26, 2015
In the wake of the FCC ruling on net neutrality, New York City Council Member and free and open source software developer Ben Kallos said:
"Universal broadband is best supported by a free and open Internet, which the FCC guaranteed today by reclassifying the Internet as a utility.
As a city of more than 8.4 million residents, over a third of whom are foreign born, New York has long advocated for Net Neutrality. Our growing tech industry, which has brought a new wave of middle class jobs back to New York, relies on the equality of access that the FCC granted today.
In addition to the FCC, thank you to President Obama, Governor Cuomo, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, and my colleagues in the City Council, Costa Constantinides, Daniel Dromm, Corey Johnson, Karen Koslowitz, Stephen Levin, Antonio Reynoso, Ydanis Rodriguez, and Ruben Wills, as well as the nearly four million Americans who submitted public comments to the FCC, for helping to protect the Internet’s foundation of democracy and equality.”
February 26, 2015
"Our nation faces a $6.8 trillion retirement deficit, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security, which this legislation seeks to solve," said Council Member Ben Kallos, an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Attorney. "Erosion of pensions in the public sector and retirements benefits in the private sector have left our working families without a way to save a nest egg for retirement. Providing small businesses in the private sector with the tools they need to offer their employees better retirement benefits will go a long way towards filling the retirement deficit and providing workers the retirement they deserve. It has been a pleasure to work with Effective New York founder Bill Samuels on this big idea and thank you to Public Advocate James for her leadership on this and other issues of income security and inequality."
February 19, 2015
/sites/default/files/2015-ped-safety-action-plan-mn.jpg
February 13, 2015
Council Member Ben Kallos Statement on Intro 495
New York, NY – Council Member Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan) came out strongly against Intro 495 this morning at a hearing on the legislation, issuing the following statement:
"Introduction 495, is not waste equity, it is waste inequity.
Rather than relieving burdens on environmental justice communities, it simply creates new environmental justice communities.
Introduction 495 will:
• Arbitrarily spread harms to create new environmental justice communities;
• Unequally distribute waste, capping some communities, but not others, with a hidden loophole allowing an unlimited burden for districts with a Marine Transfer Station; and
• Ignore real solutions of reduction and recycling.
February 13, 2015
Council Member Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan) came out strongly against Intro 495 this morning at a hearing on the legislation, issuing the following statement:
February 13, 2015
In advance of the February 26 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) vote on new open internet rules, the New York City Council is introducing a resolution in favor of strong regulations that would protect net neutrality.
February 13, 2015
New Yorkers could easily track their absentee ballot applications online, if Council Member Ben Kallos’ bill, introduced today, becomes law.
February 3, 2015
New York, NY -- Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Liz Krueger, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and Council Member Ben Kallos applauded the Mayor’s proposal for new ferry service in New York City today, including locations to connect Roosevelt Island with Astoria, Long Island City and 34th Street, and to connect East 90th Street and East 62nd Street with lower Manhattan and the Bronx.
February 3, 2015
New York, NY -- Following the announcement from Mayor de Blasio that New York City will see expanded ferry service by 2017, combining existing routes with new stops, City Council Member Ben Kallos (D- Manhattan) released the following statement:
"We're taking back the waterfront and improving commutes through expanded ferry service for New Yorkers. Thank you to Mayor Bill de Blasio for investing in our waterfront and transportation through ferry service which I have been proud to advocate for following the leadership on a Federal level by Senator Chuck Schumer and Congress Member Carolyn Maloney."
February 1, 2015
“More than one billion dollars in unpaid Environmental Control Board fines could be financing our schools, building affordable housing and revitalizing our open space. It is imperative that we have the oversight necessary to find cost-savings at the ECB,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “I want to thank Mayor Bill de Blasio and Finance Chair Julissa Ferreras for their commitment to this transparency measure.”
