On the brief side...
Cuomo To Distribute $7 M In Damages From Oxycontin

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced that New York State has received $7.26 million in damages from Purdue Pharma, L.P., manufacturer of Oxycontin, for misrepresenting the dangers of the painkiller.

The payment resulted from a federal prosecution of Purdue Pharma and its associated entity, the Purdue Frederick Company, on charges that the firms misrepresented the drug's potential for abuse and addiction and an accompanying civil settlement. The total settlement was $160 million, which was to be disbursed to 46 states, including New York.

Cuomo stated, "This is a dangerous, deadly drug with a well-documented history of causing addiction in its users. Nevertheless, Purdue actively promoted Oxycontin as a safe and less addictive alternative to other painkillers. These payments send a clear message that such abuse of trust in the interest of profit-making will not be tolerated."

Cuomo said his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit led the team charged with negotiating on behalf of the 46 states and distributing the funds, the first of which received the shares on Monday. Mayor Joins Effort To Block Gun Sales To Terrorists

A group of officials, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has announced the support of the bipartisan coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns for legislation aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of terrorists.

The legislation, introduced by United States Senator Frank Lautenberg (D- New Jersey) and Congressmember Peter King (R- C- Long Island), for the first time would allow the Department of Justice to prohibit known and suspected terrorists on a DOT watch list from purchasing a gun. Currently, terror suspects are not prohibited from buying firearms.

Bloomberg noted, "One of the most glaring mistakes in preventing 9/11 was the government's failure to share information and connect the dots. As you remember, two of the 19 hijackers were on a terrorist watch list, yet they were allowed to board an airplane. Today suspected terrorists cannot fly, but they still can buy guns. We just can't afford to wait for another attack to take these kinds of basic precautions."

"I can't think of a more obvious disqualifying criterion from purchasing a weapon than being listed on a terror watch list," King said. Weiner: Need New Banks In Poor Nabes

Decrying the practice of new banks being opened for the most part any place but in poor neighborhoods, Congressmember Anthony Weiner (D- Queens/Brooklyn) stated: "People shouldn't have to get on a train or bus to go find a local bank."

Weiner made the statement when he released a report recently showing that of the 338 bank branches doing business in the city since 2000, only nine were in the city's poorest neighborhoods.

Weiner noted, "Having banks open is a good thing for New York, but you have to wonder why so many neighborhoods are reaching their saturation point while some communities are looking for even a drop to drink."

The lawmaker said the Community Reinvestment Act should be changed to try to attract more banks to poorer areas, and banks that ignore existing laws regarding location should be penalized. Crowley Lauds Enactment Of 9/11 Recs

On the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congressmember Joseph Crowley (D- Queens/The Bronx) lauded the passage of the 9/11 Commission's Recommendations Act of 2007, saying the measure will make the United States safer from the threat of future attacks.

Crowley noted that one of the recommendations requires that Homeland Security grants must be distributed according to risk, a requirement that will directly benefit New York City.

The lawmaker also declared, "We must renew our commitment to preventing another attack on our nation."

He stated, "The Democratic led Congress took an important first step by implementing all of the recommendations made by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. This action will help to better secure vulnerable infrastructure, train and equip our first responders, and give our law enforcement authorities the resources they need to make our city and nation safer."

Crowley co-sponsored creation of the Urban Area Security Initiative Homeland Security grant program, which has delivered $530 million in federal anti-terror funds to New York City since February 2003. The funds are distributed solely on the basis of risk and threat assessment. Smith Promotes New Urban Area Uplift Ideas

State Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith (D- Jamaica) is urging his constituents and Queens residents to take advantage of a program which issues grants of $500 to $1,000 to make neighborhoods better places to live and work.

Smith said the program, New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods (NYBN) provides grants to volunteer-based local organizations for training and hands-on technical assistance to improve the quality of life for low-income communities. NYBN helps with projects ranging from community gardens to free tax preparation sites to immigrant assimilation and child enrichment.

The next grant application deadline is September 30, Smith said. For information, visit www.citizensnyc.org or call Arif Ullah at 212-822- 9580 or e-mail grants@citizensnyc.org. Gennaro Invites Flood Victims To Hearing

Residents of Fresh Meadows and adjacent areas who suffered damages to their homes during the flooding last month were invited to a hearing to discuss solutions by City Councilmember James Gennaro (D) next Monday, September 24 at City Hall.

Gennaro, chairman of the council Environmental Protection Committee, said the flooding was caused by antiquated sewer systems, clogged catch basins and soiled storm drains.

In a letter, Gennaro said his constituents should come to the hearing "to bear witness to what you experienced, show your pictures and tell your stories to the NYC Department of Environmental Protection and representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). We must unite and launch an effective solution to the problem of inadequate sewers in Queens".

Expected to attend the hearing are Councilmembers Leroy Comrie (D- Jamaica) and David Weprin (D- Hollis) and Assemblymember Rory Lancman (D- Flushing).