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		<title>Mayor Michael Bloomberg vows more lenient marijuana policy in State of the City</title>
		<link>http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/2013/02/14/mayor-michael-bloomberg-vows-unfinished-business-in-state-of-the-city/</link>
		<comments>http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/2013/02/14/mayor-michael-bloomberg-vows-unfinished-business-in-state-of-the-city/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 2013 20:01:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alison Bowen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[7 train extension]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barclays Center]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[high line]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hudson yards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Bloomberg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYPD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State of the City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staten Island]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[staten island ferris wheel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stop and frisk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Styrofoam]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.metro.us/newyork/?p=112259</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[caption id="attachment_112271" align="alignnone" width="600"]<a href="http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/8473257197_1a78d3edf2_b.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-112271 " alt="Michael Bloomberg" src="http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/8473257197_1a78d3edf2_b.jpg" width="600" height="400" /></a> Bloomberg delivered the State of the City at the Barclays Center. (Credit: NYC Mayor's Office)[/caption]

New York City has unfinished business, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said today.

In his last State of the City address, he vowed to finish many projects undertaken during his 12 years as mayor, like the High Line, and launching some new ones, like curbside car chargers.

He spoke at the <a href="http://barclayscenter.com/" target="_blank">Barclays Center</a> in Brooklyn, which opened in September and has hosted Jay-Z concerts as well as the Brooklyn Nets season.

Bloomberg said he would pack his remaining 320 days, including today, which was not only Valentine’s Day but also his birthday.

“We have unfinished business,” he said. “Our goal is not to spend the year cutting ribbons.”

He promised to finalize construction on the 7 train extension, which will go all the way to 34th Street and 11th Avenue in the planned <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2012/12/04/city-and-developers-break-ground-on-hudson-yards/" target="_blank">Hudson Yards development.</a>

Another of his projects, <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2012/09/20/final-phase-of-high-line-launches/" target="_blank">the High Line</a>, will also be finished as the third part is finalized.

Also on the list? The Ferris wheel <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2012/10/10/staten-island-ferris-wheel-a-wheel-raw-deal/" target="_blank">planned for the Staten Island shore</a>, which he announced last year, and bringing Major League Soccer back to the city.

And he said he wants to <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2013/02/07/city-mulls-banning-styrofoam/" target="_blank">ban Styrofoam</a> packaging from stores and restaurants, like the kind found in many to-go boxes.

In another new proposal, Bloomberg suggested a pilot program for curbside vehicle charges that could fill up vehicles in 30 minutes.

He tackled a few crime topics, including marijuana arrests. The mayor said that starting next month, anyone arrested for having a small amount of marijuana will no longer be held overnight.

Alfredo Carrasquillo of <a href="www.vocal-ny.org/" target="_blank">VOCAL-NY</a> said the announcement was a "step in the right direction."

"Mayor Bloomberg stopped defending the indefensible and now recognizes that we cannot afford to criminalize youth of color for carrying small amounts of marijuana," he said.

But Carrasquillo, who <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2011/03/15/city-cash-up-in-smoke-in-war-on-pot-report/" target="_blank">told Metro about spending two days in jail</a> after a police stop and arrest for marijuana, said stop-and-frisk is a part of the problem, as many are found with marijuana during such stops.

During his address, Bloomberg defended the NYPD's controversial <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2012/12/12/group-stop-and-frisk-problems-persist-in-city/" target="_blank">stop-and-frisk program</a>.

“I understand that innocent people don’t like to be stopped,” he said. “But innocent people don’t like to be shot and killed, either.”

<a href="http://council.nyc.gov/d8/html/members/home.shtml" target="_blank">Uptown Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito</a> expressed disappointment at the mayor’s vigorous stop-and-frisk defense, but she said the marijuana statements were “step in the right direction.”

“This policy shift is greatly encouraging,” she said in a statement.

And <a href="http://council.nyc.gov/d45/html/members/home.shtml" target="_blank">Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams</a> applauded the decline in the incarceration rates that Bloomberg pointed out, but otherwise blasted his leadership.

“The use of spin and selective statistics cannot distract us from the reality that this mayor, for whatever personal reason, has time and again refused to chart a new course for New York City,” he said.]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_112271" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/8473257197_1a78d3edf2_b.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-112271 " alt="Michael Bloomberg" src="http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/8473257197_1a78d3edf2_b.jpg" width="600" height="400" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text">Bloomberg delivered the State of the City at the Barclays Center. (Credit: NYC Mayor&#8217;s Office)</div><div class="overlay"></div></div>
<p>New York City has unfinished business, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said today.</p>
<p>In his last State of the City address, he vowed to finish many projects undertaken during his 12 years as mayor, like the High Line, and launching some new ones, like curbside car chargers.</p>
<p>He spoke at the <a href="http://barclayscenter.com/" target="_blank">Barclays Center</a> in Brooklyn, which opened in September and has hosted Jay-Z concerts as well as the Brooklyn Nets season.</p>
<p>Bloomberg said he would pack his remaining 320 days, including today, which was not only Valentine’s Day but also his birthday.</p>
<p>“We have unfinished business,” he said. “Our goal is not to spend the year cutting ribbons.”</p>
<p>He promised to finalize construction on the 7 train extension, which will go all the way to 34th Street and 11th Avenue in the planned <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2012/12/04/city-and-developers-break-ground-on-hudson-yards/" target="_blank">Hudson Yards development.</a></p>
<p>Another of his projects, <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2012/09/20/final-phase-of-high-line-launches/" target="_blank">the High Line</a>, will also be finished as the third part is finalized.</p>
<p>Also on the list? The Ferris wheel <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2012/10/10/staten-island-ferris-wheel-a-wheel-raw-deal/" target="_blank">planned for the Staten Island shore</a>, which he announced last year, and bringing Major League Soccer back to the city.</p>
<p>And he said he wants to <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2013/02/07/city-mulls-banning-styrofoam/" target="_blank">ban Styrofoam</a> packaging from stores and restaurants, like the kind found in many to-go boxes.</p>
<p>In another new proposal, Bloomberg suggested a pilot program for curbside vehicle charges that could fill up vehicles in 30 minutes.</p>
<p>He tackled a few crime topics, including marijuana arrests. The mayor said that starting next month, anyone arrested for having a small amount of marijuana will no longer be held overnight.</p>
<p>Alfredo Carrasquillo of <a href="www.vocal-ny.org/" target="_blank">VOCAL-NY</a> said the announcement was a &#8220;step in the right direction.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Mayor Bloomberg stopped defending the indefensible and now recognizes that we cannot afford to criminalize youth of color for carrying small amounts of marijuana,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>But Carrasquillo, who <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2011/03/15/city-cash-up-in-smoke-in-war-on-pot-report/" target="_blank">told Metro about spending two days in jail</a> after a police stop and arrest for marijuana, said stop-and-frisk is a part of the problem, as many are found with marijuana during such stops.</p>
<p>During his address, Bloomberg defended the NYPD&#8217;s controversial <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2012/12/12/group-stop-and-frisk-problems-persist-in-city/" target="_blank">stop-and-frisk program</a>.</p>
<p>“I understand that innocent people don’t like to be stopped,” he said. “But innocent people don’t like to be shot and killed, either.”</p>
<p><a href="http://council.nyc.gov/d8/html/members/home.shtml" target="_blank">Uptown Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito</a> expressed disappointment at the mayor’s vigorous stop-and-frisk defense, but she said the marijuana statements were “step in the right direction.”</p>
<p>“This policy shift is greatly encouraging,” she said in a statement.</p>
<p>And <a href="http://council.nyc.gov/d45/html/members/home.shtml" target="_blank">Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams</a> applauded the decline in the incarceration rates that Bloomberg pointed out, but otherwise blasted his leadership.</p>
<p>“The use of spin and selective statistics cannot distract us from the reality that this mayor, for whatever personal reason, has time and again refused to chart a new course for New York City,” he said.</p>
<p>The post <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/2013/02/14/mayor-michael-bloomberg-vows-unfinished-business-in-state-of-the-city/">Mayor Michael Bloomberg vows more lenient marijuana policy in State of the City</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.metro.us">Metro.us</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bloomberg to propose plastic foam ban in State of the City</title>
		<link>http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/2013/02/14/bloomberg-to-propose-plastic-foam-ban/</link>
		<comments>http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/2013/02/14/bloomberg-to-propose-plastic-foam-ban/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:22:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Laura Shin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ban]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bloomberg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plastic foam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recycling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sanitation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State of the City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Styrofoam]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.metro.us/newyork/?p=112089</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[caption id="attachment_112090" align="alignnone" width="614"]<a href="http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/729116791.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-112090" alt="Mayor Bloomberg will announce a proposal to ban plastic foam in his State of the City address on Thursday." src="http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/729116791-614x409.jpg" width="614" height="409" /></a> Mayor Bloomberg will announce a proposal to ban plastic foam in his State of the City address on Thursday.[/caption]

In his final State of the City address on Thursday, Mayor Bloomberg will propose a ban on plastic foam, forcing eateries around the city to restock to-go containers and school cafeterias to ditch plastic-foam trays, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/nyregion/next-bloomberg-target-plastic-foam-cups.html">The New York Times reports. </a>

The Sanitation Department had introduced the idea of a plastic-foam ban to reporters <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2013/02/07/city-mulls-banning-styrofoam/">earlier this month. </a>

Plastic-foam, commonly known by the brand Styrofoam, has been targeted by environmentalists because it is too difficult to recycle and takes years to break down in the trash. Bloomberg announced last year a goal to double the city's recycling to 30 percent by 2017.

The ban would need approval from the City Council in order to become law. In Bloomberg's last year as mayor, the ban would be yet another on a list of controversial bans, following large sugary drinks, smoking in parks and trans fats.

The mayor's address, scheduled for noon, is also expected to include a proposal add 10,000 parking spaces for electric cars and a pilot program aimed towards citywide recycling of food waste.]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_112090" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/729116791.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-112090" alt="Mayor Bloomberg will announce a proposal to ban plastic foam in his State of the City address on Thursday." src="http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/729116791-614x409.jpg" width="614" height="409" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text">Mayor Bloomberg will announce a proposal to ban plastic foam in his State of the City address on Thursday.</div><div class="overlay"></div></div>
<p>In his final State of the City address on Thursday, Mayor Bloomberg will propose a ban on plastic foam, forcing eateries around the city to restock to-go containers and school cafeterias to ditch plastic-foam trays, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/nyregion/next-bloomberg-target-plastic-foam-cups.html">The New York Times reports. </a></p>
<p>The Sanitation Department had introduced the idea of a plastic-foam ban to reporters <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/local/2013/02/07/city-mulls-banning-styrofoam/">earlier this month. </a></p>
<p>Plastic-foam, commonly known by the brand Styrofoam, has been targeted by environmentalists because it is too difficult to recycle and takes years to break down in the trash. Bloomberg announced last year a goal to double the city&#8217;s recycling to 30 percent by 2017.</p>
<p>The ban would need approval from the City Council in order to become law. In Bloomberg&#8217;s last year as mayor, the ban would be yet another on a list of controversial bans, following large sugary drinks, smoking in parks and trans fats.</p>
<p>The mayor&#8217;s address, scheduled for noon, is also expected to include a proposal add 10,000 parking spaces for electric cars and a pilot program aimed towards citywide recycling of food waste.</p>
<p>The post <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/2013/02/14/bloomberg-to-propose-plastic-foam-ban/">Bloomberg to propose plastic foam ban in State of the City</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.metro.us">Metro.us</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
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		<title>City mulls banning Styrofoam</title>
		<link>http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/2013/02/07/city-mulls-banning-styrofoam/</link>
		<comments>http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/2013/02/07/city-mulls-banning-styrofoam/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 2013 23:42:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mary Ann Georgantopoulos</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ban]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Bloomberg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Styrofoam]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.metro.us/newyork/?p=109849</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/NY_Styrofoam_0208.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-109851" alt="Styrofoam Ban Begins In Oakland As Part Of Anti-Pollution Effort" src="http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/NY_Styrofoam_0208-614x409.jpg" width="614" height="409" /></a>

Smoking, soda, Styrofoam.

The eco-unfriendly material found in takeout containers and party cups might be next on the shortlist to get slashed by the city.

One month before a ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces begins, the city may have found its next target.

A sanitation official told reporters this week that the department will propose banning Styrofoam.

John McCarthy, a spokesman for Mayor Michael Bloomberg, told Metro, "We are always willing to take a look at new ways to reduce waste that can't be recycled or reused."

Bloomberg has in the past banned smoking in restaurants and parks, and he pushed for the soda ban, which begins in March.

Right now, the city refuses to recycle Styrofoam -- officials say it is too difficult.

But it can be found everywhere from garbage cans to in Brooklyn's toxic Gowanus Canal.

The Council has previously considered legislation that would ask restaurants not to use Styrofoam.

A Sanitation Department spokeswoman would not elaborate on whether the ban plan would stick to restaurants.

One place Styrofoam can be found daily? Public schools, where students use Styrofoam trays. Styrofoam Out of Schools, a group of parents and teachers, has long tried to replace the trays with more eco-friendly options.

In 2010, the city launched "Trayless Tuesdays," using paper containers that day instead of the 830,000 Styrofoam trays the city estimates are tossed every day.

<em>Follow Alison Bowen on Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/reporteralison" target="_blank">@reporteralison</a></em>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/NY_Styrofoam_0208.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-109851" alt="Styrofoam Ban Begins In Oakland As Part Of Anti-Pollution Effort" src="http://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/NY_Styrofoam_0208-614x409.jpg" width="614" height="409" /></a></p>
<p>Smoking, soda, Styrofoam.</p>
<p>The eco-unfriendly material found in takeout containers and party cups might be next on the shortlist to get slashed by the city.</p>
<p>One month before a ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces begins, the city may have found its next target.</p>
<p>A sanitation official told reporters this week that the department will propose banning Styrofoam.</p>
<p>John McCarthy, a spokesman for Mayor Michael Bloomberg, told Metro, &#8220;We are always willing to take a look at new ways to reduce waste that can&#8217;t be recycled or reused.&#8221;</p>
<p>Bloomberg has in the past banned smoking in restaurants and parks, and he pushed for the soda ban, which begins in March.</p>
<p>Right now, the city refuses to recycle Styrofoam &#8212; officials say it is too difficult.</p>
<p>But it can be found everywhere from garbage cans to in Brooklyn&#8217;s toxic Gowanus Canal.</p>
<p>The Council has previously considered legislation that would ask restaurants not to use Styrofoam.</p>
<p>A Sanitation Department spokeswoman would not elaborate on whether the ban plan would stick to restaurants.</p>
<p>One place Styrofoam can be found daily? Public schools, where students use Styrofoam trays. Styrofoam Out of Schools, a group of parents and teachers, has long tried to replace the trays with more eco-friendly options.</p>
<p>In 2010, the city launched &#8220;Trayless Tuesdays,&#8221; using paper containers that day instead of the 830,000 Styrofoam trays the city estimates are tossed every day.</p>
<p><em>Follow Alison Bowen on Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/reporteralison" target="_blank">@reporteralison</a></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="http://www.metro.us/newyork/news/2013/02/07/city-mulls-banning-styrofoam/">City mulls banning Styrofoam</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.metro.us">Metro.us</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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