Assemblywoman Millman pictured in front of rendering of the newly redesigned Commerce Bank for Fifth Avenue.

At a recent press conference unveiling the redesigned bank, Assemblywoman Millman said "the question never was whether or not a bank was needed or desired on Park Slope's Fifth Avenue - it was just what kind of bank it would be. Thanks to everyone's active participation, especially the First Place Block Association and Park Slope Neighbors, we will now have a brand new Commerce Bank that I am confident will be responsive to our neighborhood as it has been through this entire community based process."

The new plans for Commerce Bank in Park Slope represent a real victory for community-based planning. Just as last year Assemblywoman Millman worked with Councilmember de Blasio and Eckerd's to reach an agreement that suited both the community and the drug store, this year Commerce Bank responded effectively to Park Slope Neighbors and advocates by redesigning the building so that it is contextually appropriate for the neighborhood.

Commerce Bank has redesigned the Park Slope branch to have an entrance at the corner of Fifth Avenue and First Street. The latest design includes tall windows along the sidewalk, with a red brick facade, appropriate for the historical character of the neighborhood. The bank is scheduled to open some time in December.

Assemblywoman Millman had the distinct honor of nominating Carol Bellamy to the University of the State of New York Board of Regents before a joint session of the State Assembly and the State Senate on Tuesday, March 8^th. Carol Bellamy, the current Executive Director of UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, will replace Diane O'Neill McGivern in Judicial District II, whose term expired at the beginning of 2005.

When nominating Carol Bellamy, Assemblywoman Millman remarked "Brooklyn and Staten Island will have an exceptional representative on the Board of Regents with Carol Bellamy. As a former educator, it was my honor to nominate someone who has made such a vast contribution to the future of our children worldwide. Carol's distinguished career and track record of success make her an outstanding nominee to serve our State's Educational system in the highest capacity."

Assemblywoman Millman, member of the Assembly Standing Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, announced on March 9^th Assembly passage of legislation crafted in conjunction with State Comptroller Alan Hevesi and Attorney General Elliot Spitzer to fundamentally alter the way the state's public authorities operate in New York State by creating greater accountability and transparency in the state's public authorities.

Highlights of this legislation include creating a Public Authorities Inspector General, a Public Authorities Independent Budget Office, improving corporate governance of public authorities, strengthening procurement rules, and restricting procurement lobbying by restricting contact between a firm seeking to do business with a public authority, except for specific purposes and only with the person designated by the agency to handle procurement.

"By adding greater transparency and accountability to the more than 700 public authorities and their subsidiaries, we are providing all New Yorkers a more complete view of their state government, improving their overall efficiency and instituting safeguards for our taxpayers' dollars," said Assemblywoman Millman.