INSIDE BOROUGH HALL EMAIL NEWSLETTER          MAY 30, 2017


On Monday, BP Oddo joined with City Council Member Steven Matteo and Danny Cassella, President of ATU Local 726, to announce the next phase of improving the express bus system.
 
After conducting the Comprehensive Bus Study, which included studying routes and surveying riders, the MTA recently announced a plan to change routes to improve commute times. Currently, the average express bus makes 27 stops before ever leaving Staten Island. The study also found that 83 percent of riders use the busiest 50 percent of stops and that underused stops slow trips and complicate routes. The MTA's plan includes rerouting some buses, eliminating underutilized stops and making more direct routes for more efficient commutes.
 
BP Oddo is encouraging Staten Islanders to give their feedback, both online and at in-person forums, to ensure that their voices are heard.

Last week, BP Oddo joined with members of the NYPD to congratulate students who participated in this year's Too Good For Drugs program at New Dorp High School. The curriculum is co-taught in the classroom by an NYPD police officer and a school teacher. Too Good For Drugs teaches children how to handle peer pressure, deal with outside influences and make healthy decisions through interactive games and skits.
 
The program, which is in its third year, took place in every 5th grade class on Staten Island. The program was also piloted for 7th graders in four middle schools and for freshman at New Dorp High School.
 
At the ceremony, BP Oddo and members of the NYPD spoke about the dangers of addiction and encouraged students to act as leaders in and out of the classroom. BP Oddo, noting the success of the program, spoke about how he hopes to expand the program to even more schools next year.
 
About 7,900 students participated in the program this year. Congratulations to all of this year's graduates!
BP Oddo is encouraging all eligible Staten Island women to take advantage of the free mobile mammography screenings our office is hosting on Tuesday, July 26th. The mobile mammography van will be at the Forest Avenue Shopping Plaza in Port Richmond (in front of LA Fitness) from 9:30am to 4:30pm. There will also be a van at Bricktown Commons (Michael's Parking Lot) in Charleston from 9:00am to 12:00pm and at Hylan Plaza Parking Lot in New Dorp (near CVS) from 1:30pm to 4:30pm.
 
The screenings will be available to eligible women ages 40 and older who have not had a mammogram in the past year. All insurance plans will be accepted, and co-pays and deductibles will be waived. The mammograms will be free to uninsured women. The screenings will be funded by the New York State Cancer Services Program and the Cancer Services Program of Staten Island.
 
An appointment must be made to get screened.
To make an appointment at the Forest Avenue location, call  (877) 628-9090
To make an appointment at the Bricktown Commons or Hylan Plaza locations, call  (800) 564-6868 .

Our office is cosponsoring an anti-litter student art contest in conjunction with the Department of Sanitation, Pratt Industries and the Department of Education. Please share this opportunity with any young artists you know.


Property owners are required by law to clean the sidewalks in front of their property, and also 18 inches into the street. Unfortunately, too many ignore this requirement, and we see the effect of this in Technicolor when we see how filthy our streets are. Last week, we announced a new anti-litter initiative to combat our litter problem. During the weekend of June 18 (June 16-18) we are asking Staten Island property owners (businesses and homeowners) to commit to taking a few moments to "Own the 18" and clean in front of their properties.

UPCOMING EVENTS

FREE MAMMOGRAMS
Wednesday, July 26
at 3 locations on SI
OWN THE 18
The weekend of June 16-18
BLOOD DRIVE
Tuesday, June 6
9:30AM - 3:00PM