COUNCIL MEMBER KENDALL
STEWART ADDRESSES
COMMUNITY ISSUES

ouncil Member Kendall Stewart, who chairs the Subcommittee on Immigration, has been taking the lead on various issues that effect not only his own district, but New York City as a whole.

First of all, he issued a statement strongly condemning "the recent acts of vandalism against our Jewish neighbors. Painting swastikas, burning crosses and words of hate," he said, "have no place in this New York City. We cannot be silent when these abhorrent acts occur. We must speak out with a loud, unified voice of disgust. The harm done to the fabric of this city is damaging to the peace, harmony and tolerance, which this city of diversity needs." And he added, "I call on all New Yorkers to condemn hatred and bigotry regardless of to whom or by whom."

Stewart, who immigrated to the United States from Union Island in St. Vincent in the Caribbean, went on to say that if we do not stop attacks on one group, it encourages attacks on any other group. For the good of future generations, all of us - Jews, African Americans, Koreans, Caribbeans, Muslims, Latinos and people of the many other nationalities that make up our communities - must put aside our differences and tackle the daunting economic and social problems that face us.

"I have worked in our communities for many years to promote tolerance," commented Stewart. "Each time an act like this occurs, I feel a sense of frustration. But I will be working with the schools in the 45^th Council District to promote tolerance among students. I am also working with my colleagues to declare a day of tolerance. We must explore every idea that can help to combat the hate and intolerance that inspires these heinous acts."

In the last City Council meeting, Council Member Stewart introduced a bill to amend New York City's administrative code, making it mandatory that rifle and shotgun owners obtain yearly liability insurance.

He sees this legislation as necessary because of the many accidents involving guns each year. These accidents often cause considerable injuries and damages that are quite costly. However, in most instances, the owners of these firearms are unable to pay for the damages, thereby denying their victims any compensation.

Stewart believes that this legislation will also cause firearm owners to be more careful in handling, storing and carrying their weapons, which will result in fewer firearm accidents.

Stewart introduced, too, a resolution calling for the amendment of the state's Environmental Conservation Law concerning the redemption of cans and bottles.

By law, if a store sells sodas and other beverages in redeemable cans and bottles, they must redeem them. At the moment, all the supermarkets and just about every corner store, gas station, etc. sell these items, but many of these establishments refuse to redeem them. There are a few places that accept them, like the largest supermarkets, but they run into problems about storage space, so they sometimes end up refusing them, too.

"Due to this situation, we have seen a steady rise in littering with these containers," stated Stewart. "When stores refuse to accept returnable containers, residents resort to putting them out with household garbage. This adds to concerns about landfill and garbage disposal problems."

This legislation would put some teeth into the enforcement of the Returnable Container Law. For one thing, the violation of it would be grounds for denial of any state or local licenses and permits needed for a business to operate.

Donna Lamb can be reached at dlamb@gis.net.

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