On the brief side...
Liu Recruits For Job Training Program

City Councilmember John Liu is spearheading a recruitment drive which offers a free job training program designed to help women gain business skills and become economically self-sufficient.

The workforce training and placement program will be operated by the Grace Institute, a non-profit organization which offers assistance for underserved women of all ages and backgrounds in the New York area.

In making the announcement, Liu said: "We must expand economic opportunity to all New Yorkers, regardless of gender or background. An educated workforce is not only critical to our city's future vitality, but a starting point for individual empowerment and self-sufficiency. We encourage all women to take advantage of this opportunity." Maltese Addresses LIRR Gap Problem

Declaring that New York state has a responsibility to ensure commuter safety, state Senator Serphin Maltese joined with colleagues and transportation officials in announcing a comprehensive review of all train station platform gaps on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro North lines.

The gap problem was tragically demonstrated on August 5 when an 18-year-old woman visiting from Minnesota was killed. The woman slipped through a gap between the train and the platform at the LIRR Woodside station, fell to the tracks and was run over by a train.

Maltese (R-C, Middle Village) stated, "We must ensure that riders are protected from this obviously dangerous situation." He pointed out that platform gaps of varrying sizes create a dangerous situation that has resulted in numerous documented injuries and, tragically, the loss of a young girl's life. Maloney Holds Legal Clinic On Power Blackout

Declaring, "It is vital that Queens residents and businesses receive as much information as possible on how to receive financial restitution" for claims arising from the Con Edison power failure, Congressmember Carolyn Maloney convened a forum on Sunday to provide free legal counsel to Queens residents and business operators.

At the meeting at the Federation of Hellenic Societies in Astoria, Maloney (D-Queens/Manhattan) also announced that Con Ed had agreed to waive the 30-day filing deadline for claimants filing claims for losses related to the blackout. Maloney said it was great that Con Ed waived the 30-day claim filing deadline, but added that the utility "needs to do more to help the people of Queens recover from the blackout."