senator JosÉ peralta With his special election victory in March 2010, Jose Peralta became the first Dominican-American ever elected to the New York State Senate. He was later re-elected with more than 82 percent of the vote in the general election. Senator Peralta is the Ranking Democrat on the Labor Committee and also serves as a member of the Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee, in addition to the Finance, Health and Insurance Committees. Prior to his election to the Senate, Jose Peralta served in the New York State Assembly from 2002 to 2010, representing the 39th Assembly District. As a state legislator, Senator Peralta has been an advocate for working families and has fought to ensure that a quality public education is available to all. His sponsorship of gun-control legislation and a bill requiring micro-stamping on bullet-casings has drawn the ire of the National Rifle Association. Senator Peralta is a champion of economic development and job creation at Willets Point and neighboring communities and is a fighter for immigrants’ rights. He spearheads the drive to rejuvenate Roosevelt Avenue and has worked to heighten awareness of domestic violence and protect battered spouses from further abuse. Senator Peralta has lived in Queens more than 30 years and is a product of the borough’s public schools, including Queens College. He and his wife Evelyn and their children live in Jackson Heights. K e e p in g FIER SAFETY always in mind As millions watched how the New Year Eve’s Ball dropped to welcome 2015, tragedy was striking LeFrak City. Three members of a Haitian family lost their lives when their stove sparked a fire that engulfed their apartment in flames. They were looking forward to a new year, with new dreams and promises, but a vicious fire ended these hopes prematurely. Tragedies like this deeply affect our communities and remind us of the importance of having working smoke alarms in our homes. We must ensure that no apartment in our City is without an operating fire detector. It is important to be always on alert when we are cooking at home, as well as to be careful when we use electrical appliances and extension cords. Public awareness campaigns like the one we launched earlier this year at LeFrak City, in conjunction with the Fire Department, are vital in our work to save lives. We have to work together to prevent fires, especially in apartment buildings. We have a duty and responsibility to promote fire safety measures for the well-being of our entire communities. And as the holiday season is upon us, we have to be especially careful using items and devices that present a fire hazard. However, let’s not forget to be aware of our surroundings all year long. This means, among other measures, knowing how to get out of your apartment building in the case of a fire or any other type of emergency. Residents of apartment buildings should always know the location of emergency exits. Owners of residential buildings, by law, must develop a Fire Safety Plan specific to their buildings. These plans must include information such as the type of construction and evacuation plans. In addition, you should know that the evacuation plans of your buildings depend on if the structure is fireproof or not, and whether the fire starts within your apartment unit. If the fire is in your home, regardless of the type of building, get everyone out and stay as low to the ground as possible. When evacuating use the safest exit and close the doors as you leave. If you›re using an interior stairway in a non-fireproof building, alert your neighbors as you exit by knocking on their doors. It is important that you don’t try to use the elevators. In fireproof buildings, the opposite occurs. It is better to stay inside your apartment rather than heading to possibly smoke filled hallways, especially if the fire is above your apartment. In addition, it is important that you keep your door closed and seal it with duct tape, or wet towels. But no matter what occurs in the case of a fire, always call 911. 4 www.qns.com • lefrak city courier • december 2015
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