No More Gritty Kitty

It’s probably something you’ve got lying around the house already. And assuming you’re not a hoarder, you were going to throw it out anyway: the newspaper.

Shredded newspaper makes a great cat litter. It’s the ultimate in recycling.

Not buying one box of litter a week can save you more than $600 a year. That would pay for cleaning a lot of cat teeth or other vet bills, maybe cleaning your own teeth, too.

Other benefits include no cat litter on the floor, carpet, under your feet, between your toes and tracked under your sheets, and no dust on the shelves in the bathroom or wherever you keep the litter box. Read more

BILLS IN SENATE LIMBO

While the State Senate was embroiled in chaos and disorder, the Assembly was able to pass a slew of bills, including two drafted by East Side legislators.

One casualty of the turmoil was Assembly Member Jonathan Bing’s bill to make permanent a temporary law that forces the government to pay nonprofits for money lost when the government is late with contract renewal processing.

Bing’s bill was a part of the 55 actions the Senate had to pass during one of Gov. David Paterson’s special sessions.

“This is not a bill that I expect will have much negative debate,” said Assembly Member Bing. “If they were able to conduct a regular session I think it would be on its way to the governor right now.”

Another bill passed through the Assembly by Micah Kellner reaches out to small business owners on Second Avenue who are affected by subway construction. If signed into law, businesses in the Second Avenue construction zone will have the option of getting a property tax abatement if they are able to sign or re-negotiate a reduced lease. Kellner hopes that the bill will be renewed continually as the construction progresses farther downtown so that other businesses affected by the work can be protected.

“Unless we take steps to level the playing field for the small businesses trying to survive during the long construction process, we stand to lose cherished local institutions, and the vibrancy of Second Avenue could be extinguished,” Kellner said.

Kellner, echoing Bing’s sentiments, feels uncertain about the Senate and hopes business as usual will soon resume.

“I can’t speak for the Senate,” Kellner said, “but I would hope that there’s a light through the end of the tunnel.”

MALONEY FOCUSED ON BILLS, NOT SENATE

Rep. Carolyn Maloney is staying mum on her Senate aspirations after Rep. Steve Israel, a Long Island Democrat, dropped his plan to challenge newly appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Israel announced that President Barack Obama personally called and asked him to stay in the House.
Maloney is a possible challenger to Gillibrand, an upstate former Congress-woman. In a statement, Maloney said she respects Israel’s decision to stay in the House.
“But it doesn’t affect my decision-making process,” she said. “I am completely focused on passing my Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights and 9/11 health bill and getting them to the president’s desk quickly. Any decisions about any future campaigns on my part will wait until after those.”