Council Passes Electronics Recycling Bill

Setting the stage for a likely veto from Mayor Bloomberg, the City Council passed legislation yesterday that would require electronics manufacturers to set up recycling programs for their products.

"It's unfortunate that the Council seems more interested in pandering to special interests and starting a legal battle instead of crafting real legislation that will address this important issue," a mayoral spokesman, John Gallagher, said yesterday in a statement. He said the legislation places an unfair financial burden on manufacturers that would cost the city jobs.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn defended the decision to include mandatory recycling standards for manufacturers, saying they were necessary to make the bill enforceable.

Another bill recently passed by the Council, which would prohibit landlords from turning away tenants who pay rent using government aid, is also facing a veto threat. A mayoral spokeswoman, Evelyn Erskine, said yesterday that the Council was "targeting" landlords and should instead work to make aid programs, such as Section 8 vouchers, more attractive to them.

The tenant bill passed with 39 votes and the electronics bill with 47, both greater than the 35 needed to override a veto.

Asked about a possible veto, Council Member Bill de Blasio, who sponsored both pieces of legislation, said that he was confident the Council had the votes to prevail.

"I hope it doesn't come to that," he added.

In addition to the recycling bill, the Council also passed legislation yesterday requiring the Staten Island ferry to use low-sulfur diesel fuel, a resolution calling on Congress to guarantee medical care to anyone with health problems related to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and a resolution supporting a bill by Senator Obama that would penalize people who give false information about the time and place of an election. The Council also confirmed Hector Diaz of the Bronx as the new city clerk, despite objections from members of the Brooklyn caucus who hoped the position, previously held by a Brooklyn resident, would remain in their borough. Sixteen council members, all from Brooklyn, voted against Mr. Diaz's confirmation.