Glass half full?

Klein’s minimum wage

State Sen. Jeff Klein carried Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s minimum wage bill in the Senate, but it did not go anywhere. It didn’t seem like Gov. Andrew Cuomo had it on his priority list.

Mr. Klein said it was unfortunate the legislature didn’t pass the bill, but was optimistic about next year.

“Sometimes it takes more than one legislative session, sometimes you have to go back to the drawing board and build grass roots support,” he said, in reference to both the minimum wage and the DREAM fund, which would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for financial aid for college.

Despite the defeat, Mr. Klein had an impressive session. He got 21 bills passed in the Senate, with about half getting through the Assembly as well.

Muni-meters

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and state Sen. Jeff Klein teamed up to introduce legislation to protect drivers from getting parking tickets while walking between Muni-meters and their cars. The legislation passed both houses and will hit the governor’s desk soon.

The city is in the process of switching over from individual parking meters to Muni-meters. Unlike the old system, some parking spots are now a walk away from the closest Muni-meter station. Politicians have complained that too many of their constituents have been slammed with tickets doled out as they make their way to Muni-meters to purchase tickets or back to their cars.

To make matters worse, they say judges have not dismissed the tickets when drivers have appealed.