Printer-friendly Version

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 22, 2004

SCHUMER SECURES $500,000 FOR NORTH HEMPSTEAD 311 COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Funding included in the FY05 Omnibus Appropriations bill

311 System will be established to provide residents a non-emergency information and communication system

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that Congress will pass the FY2005 Omnibus Appropriations bill which included $500,000 for a “311 Communication Management System” in North Hempstead, NY . The funding was included in the Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary Appropriations portion of the bill. The bill now heads to the President for his signature.

“Establishing a communication management system in North Hempstead is a win-win situation. It frees up the emergency 911 line, ensuring it is only used for emergency situations, and the 311 system will provide town residents a much needed resource for all non-emergency needs, concerns, and questions.” Schumer said.

The town of North Hempstead, New York is planning to create a 311 non-emergency phone number that will monitor, document and analyze calls from residents who have concerns. This communication management system will help to preserve emergency, police, fire, ambulance and all other emergency response communications systems. The town’s Inspector General has found that the emergency communication system is clogged and unresponsive as a result of the large number of non-emergency calls that are placed to the 911 call system. Town government’s current handling of non-emergency calls is ineffective and non-centralized. To combat the current inadequate system, North Hempstead seeks to establish a 311 calling and communications management system that will route non-emergency calls to the appropriate agency and will track and monitor calls and responses.

###