In the District Archives
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Read Council Member Garodnick's Summer 2009 newsletter
Read Council Member Garodnick's Report on Overcrowding on the Lexington Avenue Subway Line
Garodnick Stands Up Against Hate Crimes on National Night Out
On the National Night Out Against Crime, Council Member Garodnick spent part of the evening in his district, and part of it in Port Richmond, Staten Island, to support Council Member Debi Rose, Speaker Christine Quinn, community and religious leaders and local advocates as they laid out an aggressive plan of action to respond to a string of hate crimes there.
"When the safety of our community and the pride in our diversity are challenged by those who would use violence and intimidation, it is a challenge to us all. And we will not back down from it," Council Member Garodnick said.
"The decency of New Yorkers runs much deeper than the hate of the few who persist in these attacks. We will summon every ounce of energy and courage from the community, and use every tool at our disposal, to stand up to vicious acts of hatred in New York City."
August 3, 2010
West 50s Residents Turn Out In Large Numbers for Garodnick Quality of Life Town Hall
Over 150 residents of the West 50s voiced their concerns about pedicabs, bicycles, garbage pickup and other concerns at Council Member Garodnick's town hall forum on quality life issues in that neighborhood.
The Council Member brought in representatives of the NYPD and other relevant City agencies to respond to explain the existing laws and follow up on the concerns they heard directly. For his part, Council Member Garodnick committed to bringing in the NYPD's Manhattan South Borough Command for extra enforcement, exploring legislative proposals to further regulate pedicab parking, and responding to each of the specific constituent complaints that were raised.
Watch video clips from the town hall
July 29, 2010
Garodnick to FCC: Don’t Let Cable/Broadcaster Disputes Leave TV Viewers in the Dark
With cable companies and broadcasters waging public wars over the costs to carry certain channels — wars that led the Academy Awards broadcast to be temporarily blacked out to 3.1 million New Yorkers this spring — Council Member Garodnick called for a new approach to keep consumers from being caught in the middle.
“These high-stakes showdowns create real problems for consumers,” Council Member Garodnick said. “The public does not need to be subject to blackouts, threatened blackouts, or the rising costs that result from these do-or-die negotiations. A new framework is needed to prevent interruption of the service that cable customers are paying for.”
In a Council resolution and at a hearing of the Technology Committee, which he chairs, Council Member Garodnick called on the Federal Communications Commission to establish a process for resolving the disputes over how much broadcasters charge cable companies to carry their signal and to require that programming continue to be broadcast while dispute resolutions are underway.
July 15, 2010
Garodnick Urges Quick Fix to Vote Machine Glitch
Less than two months before the first election featuring New York’s new voting machines, Council Member Garodnick called on the State Board of Elections to change a setting on the machines that could cause thousands of New Yorkers’ votes to be lost.
The issue is with the way the new machines handle “overvotes,” or ballots the machine won’t read because it believes the voter has selected too many candidates. With the now-defunct mechanical lever machines, it was impossible to cast an overvoted ballot.
However, the current settings on the new machines do not automatically return an overvoted ballot to be corrected. Instead, they flag these ballots without explaining what an overvote is or that casting such a ballot will cause a person to lose their vote in that race. Council Member Garodnick said the settings can be easily changed.
“The Board of Elections could settle this issue tomorrow, at no cost, and protect the votes of thousands of New Yorkers,” Council Member Garodnick said. “The new machines will already be unfamiliar to voters, so the Board has a duty to make them as easy as possible to use for full democratic representation.”
Read Council Member Garodnick's letter to the BOE
July 9, 2010
Technology Committee Hears Major Government Transparency Bill
Seeking more openness in government, as well as new opportunities for private entrepreneurs to create “apps” using public data, the City Council’s Committee on Technology, chaired by Council Member Dan Garodnick, held a hearing on the Open Data Standards Act (Intro 29).
The bill, introduced by Council Member Gale Brewer, would represent a significant change in government transparency. It would require the City to create a central Internet portal for all public data, and for this data to be published in formats that are searchable and readable by both computers and “smart phones.” Such an improvement would enable web developers to bring a vast number of applications to the marketplace to aid New Yorkers in accessing public information.
The bill won wide praise from technology innovators and open-government advocates who testified at the hearing.
June 21, 2010
East Side Elected Leaders Urge MTA to Preserve Crosstown Bus Service in Turtle Bay
Council Member Garodnick joined Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and other East Side elected officials in calling on the MTA to halt plans to eliminate M27 bus service and cancel M50 crosstown service on weekends.
“The result of these cuts will be an island within Manhattan, isolating Turtle Bay and East Midtown,” said Council Member Garodnick. “There are no reasonable alternatives to the M50 and M27. People who rely on crosstown bus service will be left stranded from Friday night to Monday morning, every weekend — a position that is hard to imagine in the heart of this city.”
June 17, 2010
Garodnick Announces Support of Bill to Protect Nurse Service at Parochial Schools
In response to legislation that could eliminate nurses at smaller parochial schools, Council Member Garodnick announced his support for an alternative bill that would require the New York City Department of Health to assign school nurses at all public and private elementary and intermediate schools with at least 100 students.
That bill, sponsored by Council Member James Oddo of Staten Island, counters one proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, which targets nurses at small schools as a cost-cutting measure for the City. Bloomberg’s change of law would only require nurses at schools of 300 students or more, up from the current legal mandate of 200 students, leaving at least 146 schools citywide suddenly without a nurse.
The Bloomberg bill would save the City approximately $3.1 million, but Council Member Garodnick said the consequences of the loss of service would far outweigh the savings.
June 15, 2010
Mayor, Garodnick, Others Announce Faster, More Efficient Bus Service on East Side
Council Member Garodnick joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan to announce the beginning of construction for dedicated bus-only lanes, also called Select Bus Service (SBS), on First and Second Avenues.
SBS, which will replace "limited" service on the M15 route, is expected to improve travel times by as much as 20 percent for the 54,000 people who daily ride the bus line. The new bus service is scheduled to debut in October 2010.
June 7, 2010
Garodnick Co-Hosts Meeting on Future of East Side Waterfront
Along with Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh, Council Member Garodnick hosted a town hall forum to discuss new visions for the East Side waterfront and parks. One result of the meeting was a proposal introduced by the Parks Department and the Economic Development Corporation to develop a tower for the United Nations on a portion of Robert Moses Playground, and to use funds from the development to construct new open space along the waterfront.
Council Member Garodnick, who noted that Community Board 6 has the least open space in the city, said he looked forward to additional community discussion of the proposal for Robert Moses Playground and plans to make the waterfront more accessible.
June 6, 2010
Garodnick to Google: New Yorkers Need Answers Regarding Data Controversy
Council Member Garodnick, Chair of the Council's Committee on Technology, asked Eric Schmidt, Chairman and CEO of Google, for an explanation of Google’s collection of personal information from Wi-Fi servers over the past three years.
Google has acknowledged that its “Street View Van,” which captures images for its Googlemaps “Street View” feature, was collecting personal information from unsecured Wi-Fi connections around the world. This information included e-mails, instant messages, and what websites a person had visited. Council Member Garodnick said, “When you consider how many people use Google and the personal information out there, consumers need to know that Google deserves their trust.”
In his letter to Google, Garodnick asked for the internet titan to provide an account of the breach, including how many New Yorkers had their personal information taken, who had access to the personal data, and when Google found out that they were collecting the information.
June 1, 2010
Garodnick Helps Break Ground at New PS 59
Council Member Garodnick joined colleagues in government and schools Chancellor Joel Klein for a groundbreaking ceremony at the future home of PS 59. The new building represents the linchpin of the Department of Education's efforts to solve the overcrowding crisis on the Upper East Side. The new PS 59 will add 350 seats compared to the building it is replacing. And when the school vacates its temporary home at the 63rd Street MEETH building, that site will become the permanent home for another new school, PS 267 (which is opening this year inside PS 158 on York Avenue and will start with kindergarteners).
PS 59 is set reopen on 56th Street in its new, "green" building, in September 2012.
May 21, 2010
Garodnick Takes Part in Launch of Subway Tunnel Boring Machine
Council Member Garodnick took part in the official launch of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), the massive device that will dig through 50 feet of rock per day for the next 18 months as it creates the Second Avenue Subway tunnels from 92nd to 63rd Streets.
"There is no question that construction has been difficult on residents and local merchants — which is why I launched the Shop 2nd Avenue campaign with my colleagues in government, and why I am still urging our neighbors to support our local businesses," Council Member Garodnick said. "But when you see that 450-foot long, 485-ton TBM up close, there can be no doubt that we are moving forward."
May 14, 2010
Garodnick Invites CalPERS to Join Stuyvesant Town Tenants' Bid
On behalf of the Stuyvesant Town - Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association, Council Member Garodnick formally invited the nation's largest pension fund, CalPERS, to join the effort to restructure the property in a way that is favorable to tenants.
CalPERS manages the nest eggs of tens of thousands of working people in California, yet it invested in the failed 2006 purchase of Stuyvesant Town which was predicated on running working people out of their rent stabilized homes. CalPERS lost $500 million on that deal.
"It's no coincidence that an investment which was damaging to our neighbors would also be catastrophic for investors. Simply put, trying to make a quick buck by driving people from their homes is a failed policy," Council Member Garodnick said. "But CalPERS — which has since sworn off aggressive, anti-tenant deals — now has a chance to do right by its members even as it pursues a socially responsible investment."
Read Council Member Garodnick's letter to CalPERS
May 12, 2010
Garodnick Applauds Agreement to Keep Teaching Assistants in the Classroom
An agreement to keep PTA-funded teaching assistants in the classroom—which Council Member Garodnick helped broker a year ago—was renewed by the Department of Education and the teachers union after months of advocacy by parents, Council Member Garodnick and his colleagues in government.
“This is a big victory for parents and teachers, particularly in overcrowded classrooms,” Garodnick said. “I will continue to encourage the DOE and UFT to put this issue to rest once and for all, and in a way that meets the needs of everyone involved.”
May 10, 2010
Garodnick Throws Support Behind Council's Latest Budget Reforms
Council Member Dan Garodnick joined Speaker Christine Quinn and a number of Council colleagues in the announcement of a new round of budget reforms that will add transparency to how taxpayer funds are allocated to non-profit community organizations.
Most notably, the Council will create an online searchable database of all groups that apply for and receive discretionary funding from the Council. The database will be searchable by organization name or keyword and the sponsoring Council Member, and will include such information as the purpose of the funds. The database will be operational next year.
While the new procedures will be standard for all 51 members of the City Council next year, Council Member Garodnick is exploring a plan to make the same information available on his website, www.garodnick.com, for non-profit groups that apply to his office for funds this year.
April 30, 2010
Garodnick, Stuy Town Residents Bring Pro-Tenant Message to Albany
Council Member Garodnick led a Stuyvesant Town / Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association-chartered bus of residents on a trip to Albany to lobby for "real rent reforms," including renewal of rent stabilization, repeal of vacancy decontrol and reform to the Major Capital Improvements (MCI) law.
On the way to Albany, Council Member Garodnick hosted a "Rolling Town Hall," during which he took questions from tenants about the future of Stuyvesant Town and any other issues on their minds.
April 27, 2010
Garodnick: Parks' Vending Rules May Have Adverse Effects
In testimony to the Parks Department about its proposed rules governing artists and other "First Amendment vendors," Council Member Garodnick praised the City for seeking to address vending, but expressed concern that the rules may have negative consequences.
Specifically, Council Member Garodnick questioned the basis for the precise number of allowed First Amendment vending locations; said that the first-come, first-serve procedure for claiming a legal spot could lead to altercations, vendors occupying a space 24 hours a day, and disadvantages for senior citizen or disabled vendors; and asked whether the reduction in First Amendment vending was a precursor to more Parks concessions.
April 23, 2010
Garodnick Celebrates Pedestrian Safety Improvements at 18th St. and Ave. C
Council Member Garodnick, joined by officials from the Department of Transportation and local advocates, celebrated the installation of pedestrian safety improvements at 18th Street and Avenue C, changes that "will make a world of difference at a dangerous intersection," Garodnick said.
The most noticeable element is a 63-foot long, 12-foot wide pedestrian island which will have the effect of “shortening” the crosswalk for those who need more time to cross the avenue. The island and new roadway markings will calm traffic and improve visibility for pedestrians.
“Everything about this intersection — its large size, its irregular shape, and its location next to both a park and a highway — has made it a recipe for disaster, but that is changing,” said Council Member Garodnick.
The changes at 18th Street and Avenue C mark the second major overhaul of an intersection in the area instigated by Council Member Garodnick. In 2007, Garodnick and the Dr. Esther Levine Make Traffic Safe Now! Committee successfully advocated for a redesign of 20th Street and First Avenue that included longer crossing times for pedestrians, improved visibility and a landscaped Greenstreet.
April 19, 2010
Garodnick Hosts Forum for 2nd Ave. Tenants Facing Relocation
Council Member Garodnick brought MTA officials to hear residents' concerns and explain to them exactly what lies ahead after the agency informed tenants that some of them would have to be temporarily relocated due to deteriorating building conditions in the path of the Second Avenue Subway.
In a letter to the MTA signed by every local elected official in the construction zone, Garodnick wrote, "We recognize that these are old buildings, but there are concerns that the deterioration is being exacerbated as a direct result of construction of the Second Avenue Subway. We are also concerned that there may be other buildings that you have not yet identified that could have similar issues."
April 12, 2010
Garodnick Targets Food Safety With Letter Grades for Vendors
Council Member Garodnick reintroduced legislation that would lead to letter grades for sidewalk food vendors, a move that would give customers the same information about for vendors as they will soon get for brick-and-mortar restaurants.
The bill, first introduced in 2009 during the last City Council term, pre-dates the Department of Health’s recently approved plan to require restaurants to post letter-graded health inspection scores in their windows — though it will offer the same benefits to street-food customers.
“Whether it’s a falafel, a taco — or even a hot dog — consumers deserve to know that the food that they are eating has been prepared and handled properly, no matter where they buy it,” Garodnick said. “There is no reason that vendors cannot be held to the same standards as restaurants.”
He added: “This is about health, consumer protection and fairness across the food services industry. It can be a badge of honor if vendors maintain clean establishments.”
March 26, 2010
Council Passes Garodnick Bill to Regulate Process Servers
By a vote of 45-0 (with one abstention) the City Council passed Intro 6-A, a bill authored by Council Member Garodnick to protect New Yorkers' right to defend themselves in court by reforming the process service industry.
Each year, tens of thousands of residents are being sued for old debts, which they may or may not truly owe — yet they only learn that they have been sued after they lose their cases and discover that their bank accounts have been frozen. The reason this comes as a surprise is that they were never properly served their court papers, which is known as "sewer service."
The new and tough regulations in Intro 6-A include licensing, education, insurance and accountability standards, as well as the use of GPS technology to indicate whether process was actually served at the time and location that was claimed. Ultimately, this legislation will give New Yorkers peace of mind that they will not lose thousands of dollars in court cases they didn't even know about.
March 25, 2010
Garodnick Praises Extension of Upper East Side Historic District
Council Member Garodnick applauded the Landmarks Preservation Commission's vote to extend the Upper East Side Historic District, the first extension since its designation in 1981.
"The Upper East Side Historic District creates a distinct sense of place — there is no mistaking where you are when you stroll down Fifth Avenue, Madison or Park and take in the elegant row houses, townhouses, and mansions that have defined this area for the last century," Council Member Garodnick said. "Expanding the district to include the area around 64th and 65th Streets at Lexington Avenue — and also including the area north of 72nd Street — will unify these historic storefronts and residences and safeguard the condition of the buildings on those blocks."
Council Member Garodnick long advocated for the expansion, having successfully urged the LPC to reconsider an earlier decision not to include any part of the southern extension.
March 23, 2010
Garodnick Continues Fight Against Illegal Signage on 86th Street
Council Member Garodnick continued his campaign against the illegal store signage found along the 86th Street corridor. One year after Garodnick alerted the Department of Buildings to signage violations, and months after the permit for a marquee at the Duane Reade store on Lexington Avenue was revoked, the marquee remains and a DOB spokesman said the department was "reviewing what further action will be taken."
"Without enforcement from DOB, businesses have no incentive to remove or alter illegal signs," which can hurt the competitiveness of businesses that do follow the rules, Council Member Garodnick told DOB Commissioner Robert LiMandri. "We need your action on this."
Read Council Member Garodnick's letter to the DOB
March 23, 2010
Garodnick: Tenant Plan for Stuy Town Will Be Based on Shared Principles, Not Greed
Addressing 1,100 Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village tenants at a meeting of the Tenants Association, Council Member Garodnick said that a restructuring plan for residents to assume control of the property would be built on shared principles, not greed.
"We must clearly set forth a sustainable plan, based on stability and choice, like the choice of whether to buy one's apartment or remain as a renter," he said. "But as we pursue these principles, we need to be careful and realistic. Greed, or the perception of greed, will kill all our efforts."
Council Member Garodnick encouraged residents to fill out surveys from the Tenants Association and to participate in committee meetings so that a tenant plan can be truly reflect common ideals. Additionally, he urged tenants to sign unity pledges to show their collective strength to outside parties in the real estate industry.
March 13, 2010
Garodnick Testifies Against Bus Line Cuts
As the MTA considered deep cuts across the transit system, Council Member Garodnick urged the MTA not to discontinue the X90 and M27 bus lines and not to reduce service on the M50. He also spoke out against eliminating free student MetroCards.
"Eliminating the X90 from the Upper East Side to Lower Manhattan will undercut one of the MTA's clear goals — accommodating the crushing demand on the East Side corridor, where the 4-5-6 trains and the M15 bus are already operating well over capacity," he said. "Similarly, eliminating the M27 would force 2,720 daily commuters onto other overcrowded crosstown routes, and reducing the M50 on top of that will isolate residents of Turtle Bay and Tudor City."
Regarding the cuts to student MetroCards, Council Member Garodnick said, "We must make sure not only that each child has access to quality educational programs, but that they can also afford to get to their classes. This is not an acceptable cut."
March 4, 2010
Council Passes Gennaro-Garodnick Bill to Encourage Innovation
It will soon be easier for City agencies to fasttrack green technologies, following a unanimous vote by the City Council on Intro 77.
The bill — which Council Member Garodnick co-sponsored with Council Member Jim Gennaro, and which Speaker Quinn highlighted in her State of the City speech — creates a "Green Team" to promote cooperation among the many City agencies that must approve new advancements in sustainability, to ensure that they do not die a slow death as they move through the regulatory maze. It also creates a new division in the Department of Buildings whose sole purpose will be to streamline approvals for building innovations.
"This is a forward-thinking bill that will not only work with technologies on the market today, but also those that we can't even anticipate right now," Council Member Garodnick said. "It will aid innovators, help open the market to green-collar jobs, and allow New York City to be on the cutting edge."
March 3, 2010
Garodnick: NYPD-CCRB Agreement Is Only First Step
Council Member Garodnick issued a statement responding to an agreement announced by the Police Department and Civilian Complaint Review Board that wouuld let the CCRB prosecute some of the police misconduct cases that it substantiates:
"The best way to maintain New Yorkers' confidence in the police would be to grant the CCRB the full power to prosecute misconduct cases. The Board substantiates hundreds of complaints a year, which often go nowhere. Making the CCRB fully independent would ensure that our civilian complaint review process has the balance and credibility that New Yorkers deserve.
"Today's agreement shows important progress; now the details must be worked out to finish the job. For this reform to work, today's agreement must be one that the Police Department cannot simply abandon at a later date. The NYPD should not dictate the terms for prosecuting its own officers. Ceding that authority to the CCRB will make the system work better for New Yorkers, improve transparency and even save taxpayer dollars."
Council Member Garodnick iis re-introducing a bill in the City Council to give the CCRB full authority to charge and prosecute officers accused of misconduct.
February 19, 2010
Garodnick's Tenant Fair Chance Act Becomes First Law Passed by New Council
The Tenant Fair Chance Act — a bill authored by Council Member Garodnick to bring transparency to reports used against renters who have been in Housing Court — became the first law passed by the City Council in the new term which began last month.
The Tenant Fair Chance Act would assist renters in ensuring that their tenant history is accurately reflected in the reports that landlords use to screen tenants.
Today, any tenant who goes to Housing Court is likely to be listed in screening reports compiled by private companies and sold to landlords looking to vet prospective renters. But because these reports often lack any meaningful detail, tenants who went to court to assert their rights against their landlord may find themselves listed alongside others with bad credit or a history of non-payment — and they usually have no idea that a screening report is even being used and that they may be on it.
February 11, 2010
Garodnick, Schumer Lead Stuyvesant Town Rally to Preserve Affordability
Council Member Garodnick and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, along with their elected colleagues, led hundreds of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village tenants in a rally to insist that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—as the largest creditors who now effectively control the property—ensure a seamless transition to new management, provide adequate building maintenance, and preserve long-term affordability for renters.
“Preserving affordability is Fannie and Freddie’s core mission—there are 25,000 tenants who are watching to make sure they don’t cut and run on us now,” said Council Member Garodnick. "This property must be owned by tenants, or an entity that is partnered with the tenants, who will keep this property affordable to middle-class people today and into the future."
January 31, 2010
Garodnick Visits Madison Ave. Businesses in Wake of Jewelry Store Shooting
One day after the daytime robbery and fatal shooting of a 71-year-old employee at the R.S. Durant jewelry store on Madison Avenue, Council Member Dan Garodnick visited neighboring merchants, along with Inspector James Murtagh, the commander of the 19th Precinct; and Matt Bauer, president of the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District.
“After the shocking violence of last week’s crime, I thought it was important to meet with other merchants on the avenue, to offer our support,” Council Member Garodnick said. “I want them to know they have all the resources of my office, the NYPD, and the BID available to them. This was a tragic crime that will not soon be forgotten, but together with the police, we will work to keep this area safe.”
January 28, 2010
Garodnick Elected Chair of Council Committee on Technology
For the new City Council term that began in January, Council Member Garodnick was elected by his colleagues to chair the Technology Committee. The committee will have a broad mandate to seek ways to make government more efficient, open and accessible-and also to examine ways that technology can improve New Yorkers’ health, safety and quality of life.
January 21, 2010
Statement From Council Member Garodnick Re Tishman Speyer's Impending Default on STPCV
“The tenants of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village should not be the collateral damage of a real estate deal gone bad. A gem of a community once known for its stability is now in a period of uncertainty and upheaval.
“But in this moment of transition, there is also an opportunity to take Stuyvesant Town back to its roots and to reclaim New York’s proud legacy of providing housing for middle-class people. Preserving the affordability of these 11,000 apartments would be an enormous victory for the City and needs to be its top housing priority.
“We have seen this coming since 2006, when the property was sold for $5.4 billion based on the unreasonable expectation that it could be transformed into a luxury community in a very short period. We were forced to fight, apartment by apartment, to protect those people whose residencies were improperly challenged. This cannot continue to be a place where there is a culture of fear and conflict.
“Tenants should know that a default will trigger changes that, for the near term, will be merely technical in nature. After a default, they will continue to pay their rent to the same place, and they will continue to call the same number for service complaints until further notice. Along with my colleagues in government and the Tenants Association, I will be watching closely to ensure that there is no drop-off in maintenance or security.
“And for the long term, we are already exploring multiple avenues to ensure the affordability of this community, to guarantee proper maintenance, and to save open spaces from development. We will insist on having a seat at the table in any restructuring, and on cooperation from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who own considerable portions of the most senior debt.
“Let us look forward and learn from the mistakes of the past. This was always intended to be a haven for middle-class people, and that is what it must stay for the long term.”
January 8, 2010
Garodnick Joins Public Advocate in Call for Education Campaign on New Voting Machines
Council Member Garodnick joined Public Advocate Bill de Blasio for the release of the Public Advocate’s comprehensive community outreach proposal to ensure that New Yorkers learn how to use new optical scan voting machines that will be used for the first time in the 2010 federal and state elections.
“New voting machines are intended to improve access at the polls and reduce error, but those goals won’t be realized without educating the voters about the machines,” said Council Member Garodnick. “The Board of Elections needs to engage New Yorkers to ensure that we have a truly representative democracy that leaves no one out.”
Since 2008, Council Member Garodnick has urged the Board of Elections to think creatively about its outreach in order to improve voter turnout, and has advocated for improvements in the accessibility of Ballot Marking Devices (BMDs) for seniors and people with disabilities.
January 5
Council Passes Greener, Greater Buildings Package
The City took its most significant step to date in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2030 when the City Council passed a package of groundbreaking environmental legislation, including the City’s first Green Energy Code, which was authored by Council Member Garodnick.
Currently, our buildings are governed by the New York State Energy Code. Unfortunately, it contains a major loophole: when a building undergoes renovations, its owner can replace inefficient equipment with more inefficient equipment. As long as an owner is making changes to less than 50 percent of a building's systems, he does not need to make environmentally sustainable upgrades.
“Passing New York City's first Green Energy Code will propel us past the lax statewide standards and allow us to tackle our biggest source of greenhouse gases head-on,” said Council Member Garodnick. “There is no reason that a building undergoing renovations should have its old, inefficient systems replaced with equally inefficient ones. We must do better and today, we will.”
Taken together, the green buildings laws will put New York at the forefront of cities’ efforts to improve energy conservation, and are expected to create as many as 5,000 jobs.
December 9, 2009
Garodnick Resolution Calls on Congress to Pass a Healthcare Bill That Protects a Woman's Right to Choose
City Council Members applauded a resolution introduced by Council Member Garodnick which calls on Congress to approve a health care reform bill that does not curtail women’s ability and right to make choices about their own reproductive health. “The Affordable Health Care for America Act is meant to make health care accessible to all Americans. It should not target women and deny them coverage of a legal medical procedure,” said Council Member Garodnick.
December 9, 2009
Garodnick Calls for BRT, Bike Lanes on First and Second Avenues
Council Member Garodnick called on the Department of Transportation to implement a true Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on First and Second Avenues to alleviate the mass transit crush on the East Side.
Joining Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh and 17 of their East Side colleagues in government, Council Member Garodnick urged the DOT to "institute changes to the First and Second Avenue route that include not only prepaid off-board fare collection, signal priority and dedicated rush-hour bus lane...but also a physically separated busway, a physically separated bikeway, level boarding, safer crossings and real-time arrival information."
Such a "complete street" design would improve commute times, keep cyclists and pedestrians out of harm's way, and generate greater support for the DOT's bus service overhaul plan.
December 7, 2009
Statement From Council Member Garodnick Regarding Same-Sex Marriage Vote
"Like millions of New Yorkers, I was gravely disappointed by yesterday’s vote on same-sex marriage. But that result does not diminish the reality that marriage is a fundamental right. Thirty-eight senators shall not decide a basic human freedom; their vote served only to deny that freedom to the men and women—our friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors—who would choose to exercise it.
"As my senator, Tom Duane, said in his passionate remarks on the Senate floor, there is never a convenient time to expand civil rights. Yet the expansion of equality is our greatest inheritance as Americans, and our duty to carry forward. The fight for same-sex marriage will go on until the laws reflect reality and recognize the rights of all New Yorkers.
"My admiration goes to the senators who showed the personal and political courage to speak in favor of marriage equality. I thank the advocates and all of our neighbors who have joined this cause. And I say with all confidence that we will see it through until this fundamental right is enjoyed by all New Yorkers."
December 3, 2009
East Side Elected Officials Applaud News That Cherokee Post Office Will Remain Open
Council Member Garodnick joined Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and other Upper East Side elected officials in applauding the announcement by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that it is no longer considering closing the Cherokee Station Post Office.
This summer, the USPS revealed that it was considering closing Cherokee Station and moving the services offered there to several other post offices — the closest of which, according to the Postal Service, was the Roosevelt Island Station. In August, the elected officials wrote to the USPS urging the agency to save Cherokee Station.
"We asked the Postal Service to do right by this community, and they delivered," said Council Member Dan Garodnick. "The high concentration of seniors who live near Cherokee Station and the absence of reasonable alternatives for them made it clear that we could not afford to lose this post office. I thank Congresswoman Maloney for her leadership in getting this result."
November 20, 2009
Hundreds of Tenants Rally to Maintain Affordability at Stuyvesant Town
More than 500 tenants of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village rallied at Stuyvesant Cove Park to demonstrate to potential new owners of the properties that they are determined to keep the complex affordable and maintain the character and configuration of the neighborhood.
“We are here today to say that the tenants of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village will be protected, no matter what comes next,” said Council Member Garodnick. “Today, investors are paying the price for their bad decisions, but tenants should not be in a vulnerable position as a result. No matter what happens to this deal, we will insist on a plan that protects tenants’ interests. As we have shown before, we can shape billion-dollar deals and take control of our own destiny.”
November 14, 2009
East Side Officials Call on Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac to Help Preserve Affordability in Stuyvesant Town
Council Member Garodnick and his colleagues in government who represent Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village called on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to work with them to keep the properties affordable for middle class tenants.
In a letter to the heads of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac the elected officials wrote: "When the federal government decided it needed to use taxpayer money to help restore solvency to Fannie and Freddie, it involved a massive restructuring. While a painful process, it was ultimately necessary to ensure that your companies would remain strong for future generations. Much in the same way, we need to ensure that ST/PCV will be in place for future generations of middle class New Yorkers."
News reports have stated that the two quasi-governmental entities were senior lenders in the deal to purchase Stuyvesant Town and now own $1.5 billion worth of the debt. The total value of the property is estimated at $2.1 to $2.6 billion. As the elected officials stated, "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are uniquely situated to protect the interests of the 25,000 people who live in ST/PCV. No debt restructuring plan should be considered separate from that which serves the public interest."
Council Member Garodnick and his colleagues say it is imperative that a new deal — unlike Tishman Speyer's plan — not hinge on the swift removal of rent stabilized tenants. It must also not impact maintenance of the property or its configuration and open space.
Read the elected officials' letter to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
October 26, 2009
Garodnick, Upper Green Side Debut Eco Map
Council Member Garodnick joined members of the local environmental organization Upper Green Side at the 92nd Street Greenmarket for the launch of the first Upper East Side “Eco Map.”
Upper Green Side designed the Eco Map to highlight the “greenest of the green” in restaurants, markets, recycling locations, dry cleaners and more. The project was supported with City funds allocated by Council Member Garodnick.
The Eco Map includes information on an array of green products and projects that many residents may not realize exist, including community-supported agriculture sites and stores that sell low-VOC paint. Copies of the guide are available through the office of Council Member Garodnick and at locations identified on the map.
October 25, 2009
Statement From Council Member Garodnick Regarding Roberts v. Tishman Speyer Decision
“The Court made it clear that you cannot take a tax break from the City while pushing rent-stabilized tenants out of their homes. That practice ends today. This is an impressive victory for the taxpayers of this city and for the tenants of Stuyvesant Town.
“Tishman Speyer’s business plan hinged on being able to quickly convert rent-stabilized apartments to the market rate, but the Court’s decision puts a stop to that. This takes enormous pressure off the many tenants who fear being pursued unfairly by their landlord.
“The era of affordability in Stuyvesant Town is far from over. It is our hope that with the Court’s ruling today, this community will continue to be the center of affordable, middle-class housing in New York City.
“By all accounts, Tishman Speyer is struggling to avoid a foreclosure on the property, even before today’s decision. To the extent that they may need to restructure their asset or face a foreclosure, tenants will be looking for the right partner to ensure that this property and its residents will be protected.
“The future of Stuyvesant Town will be premised on patience and stability, not on aggressive efforts to decontrol. Tenants have for too long been paying the price for Tishman Speyer’s bad investment, and this relief is overdue.
“I thank the attorneys who fought on behalf of the tenants in this case, the tireless advocacy of the Stuyvesant Town / Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association, Speaker Christine Quinn and my 36 other City Council colleagues who joined me in an amicus brief, and Borough President Scott Stringer who filed an amicus brief of his own in support of the tenants.”
October 22, 2009
Council Passes Garodnick-Authored Bill to Secure Stalled Construction Sites
The City Council voted 47 to 0 to pass a bill authored by Council Member Garodnick that will improve safety at stalled construction sites across the city.
Because the economy is making it difficult for developers to finance their construction projects, there are now some 500 sites where work has stopped — and according to Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri, these sites are even more dangerous than active ones.
Council Member Garodnick’s bill, which he drafted in response to concerns raised by Community Board 6, allows developers to keep their building permits active in return for meeting a plan to keep their job sites safe and secure. Developers must also pay any outstanding fines and correct outstanding violations.
“If builders lose their financing, they don’t want to have to go back to the drawing board. And I think they’ll gladly take a proactive approach to safety for the good of the project,” said Council Member Garodnick.
October 14, 2009
Garodnick: Tenants Need Details, Assurances Regarding Widespread Apartment Inspections
With Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village tenants receiving 48-hour notices that their apartments will be inspected by management, Council Member Garodnick called for more time for residents to prepare and assurances that the inspections are narrowly tailored to their purpose.
Residents recently began receiving notices that management would enter their apartments, apparently to ensure that interior walls are in compliance with building and fire safety codes. Council Member Garodnick said that he was given no notice of the inspections, and that the timing and nature of the inspections have caused concern throughout the neighborhood.
“After all that tenants have been through with Tishman Speyer’s legal efforts toward rent-stabilized tenants, our neighbors need to know precisely what their landlord is looking for,” said Council Member Garodnick. “If this is just about illegal walls, management should be upfront, and limit their inspection to that.”
October 6, 2009
Garodnick Co-Hosts Community Discussion on Expanding Ferry Service
Council Member Garodnick, along with Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Members Gale Brewer and Jessica Lappin, hosted a public meeting for New Yorkers to weigh in on possible locations for commuter ferry landing sites.
“Manhattan has no shortage of waterfront or traffic,” said Council Member Garodnick. “Giving drivers another option by making use of our waterways would be a great step forward. But it is, of course, essential that the planning of any new ferry facilities take community input into consideration, so that we can get the best result for commuters and local residents.”
Specifically, Council Member Garodnick urged the relevant City agencies not to put a ferry landing in conflict with a long-planned park at East 62nd Street, and to continue seeking community input at points when design changes can still be made in order to incorporate improved lighting, public restrooms or other useful suggestions.
October 5, 2009
Garodnick Calls for Government to Take the Lead on Solar Power
Council Member Garodnick called for additional leadership from government in providing incentives, improving the energy infrastructure and reducing bureaucratic obstacles to expand solar power in New York City.
Delivering the keynote speech at a solar power conference at the Pace University Law School, Council Member Garodnick said that it will be up to market forces to promote the wide use of solar, but that government must seed the market. “Sustainable energy needs to be financially sustainable,” he said. “Subsidies and tax breaks alone won’t get us there. But we need to build the market — by removing barriers, streamlining bureaucracy, and lowering the entry price.”
Council Member Garodnick also detailed a number of bills he has introduced in the Council to help meet those objectives, as well as his proposal for Solar Empowerment Zones to scale up the use of solar in low-rise industrial zones.
September 10, 2009
Garodnick Announces Reform of Fraudulent Process Service
In the aftermath of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo suing 35 law firms for illegally failing to notify New Yorkers that they were being sued over old debts, Council Member Garodnick announced legislation to protect consumers from fraudulent process service.
Each year, debt collectors suing in New York City Civil Court collect $800 million in judgments. In 80 to 90 percent of those cases, New Yorkers never realize that they have been sued — frequently because the process servers hired by the debt collection law firm never deliver their court papers. The result is a default judgment, which can be used to freeze a bank account and garnish wages, and which ruins a person’s credit.
Council Member Garodnick’s bill would rein in process servers by requiring that they, and the agencies they work for, provide the City a surety bond, or insurance, in order to be licensed to do business in New York City.
“Everyone is responsible for repaying their debts—nothing here changes that,” Council Member Garodnick said. “But our neighbors deserve a chance to defend themselves in court from debt claims, which are often frivolous. It doesn’t help anyone for our neighbors to be put into financial purgatory over debts they never actually incurred.”
September 3, 2009
Garodnick, Parents Victorious in Effort to Retain PTA-Funded Aides
Less than a month after Council Member Garodnick led an effort to let schools keep their PTA-funded classroom aides, the Department of Education announced that, with a few minor modifications, it would retain the existing system of parent-funded assistants for the 2009-10 school year.
PTA leaders on the East Side and across Manhattan praised the development and Council Member Garodnick’s work in making it happen.
Earlier this spring, PTAs learned they would no longer be able to hire classroom aides to assist teachers — a long-standing practice to help manage classes, groom future teachers, and give a little extra attention to students. In order to preserve parents’ ability to improve the classroom experience, Council Member Garodnick led a meeting that was attended by Chancellor Joel Klein, parent representatives from 12 schools and United Federation of Teachers president Michael Mulgrew.
August 28, 2009
Garodnick Calls for Overhaul of Street Vendor Laws
Council Member Garodnick, Borough President Scott Stringer and Council Member Gale Brewer gathered in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where there has been a recent proliferation of illegal vending activity, to call for an overhaul to the hodgepodge of ineffective vendor rules.
“The City needs rules it can enforce, rules with teeth,” said Council Member Garodnick. “We appreciate that there should be some level of commercial activity on the street—food carts are part of New York City’s identity. But we cannot have a situation where vendors operate as they please, and tickets from the police are treated as a small cost of doing business.”
Garodnick announced a package of legislation to enhance the clarity and enforceability of vendor rules, including:
• The creation of a centralized vendor bureau to issue and renew licenses and to enforce applicable laws;
• Reforms of the Environmental Control Board, which adjudicates vendor violations, so that vendors with multiple offenses can be given escalating fines and have their licenses suspended or revoked; and
• Discrete regulations for food trucks, which are growing in number and not appropriately covered by existing regulations.
August 23, 2009
Garodnick Leads Meeting to Keep Classroom Aides in East Side Schools
Council Member Garodnick led a meeting that was attended by Chancellor Joel Klein, United Federation of Teachers president Michael Mulgrew, elected officials and representatives from 12 PTAs across Manhattan to find a way to preserve the role of PTA-funded classroom assistants.
Earlier this spring, PTAs learned they would no longer be able to hire classroom aides to assist teachers — a long-standing practice in many of our schools to help manage classes, groom future teachers, and give a little extra attention to students. This supplemental service, which has always benefited our schools, has taken on even greater importance as more of our kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms have become overcrowded.
The meeting that Council Member Garodnick organized quickly bore fruit. "Working cooperatively, we created the framework of a solution that would keep these valuable aides in our schools," he said. "I am hopeful that we can have this issue resolved before the 2009 school year opens."
July 30, 2009
Council Passes Garodnick-Sponsored Pedicab Regulations
The City Council passed long overdue regulations on the owners and drivers of pedicabs. Council Member Garodnick was a lead sponsor of the bill, which among other things, will help the City gain a grip on the total number of pedicabs, require licensing and training of drivers, and implement real penalties against drivers who flout traffic laws. "The freewheeling days of pedicabs operating without any rules whatsoever will soon be over," said Council Member Garodnick.
July 29, 2009
Garodnick, Citizens Union Call for Greater Civilian Handling of Police Misconduct Cases
Council Member Garodnick introduced legislation supported by Citizens Union to strengthen public confidence in the handling of police misconduct cases by transferring the power to prosecute those cases from the Police Department to the Civilian Complaint Review Board.
The Police Department last year pursued no discipline against officers in 33 percent of the cases where the CCRB determined that there was reasonable evidence of misconduct (“substantiated” cases). That figure has increased exponentially from just 1 percent in 2003—even as the number of cases substantiated by the Board has dropped. As the CCRB has become more careful about recommending only the strongest cases for discipline, the Police Department has become less aggressive in its disposition of these cases.
“Inaction by the Police Department in the face of substantiated cases of officer misconduct threatens to undermine accountability and public trust in the system of civilian oversight,” said Council Member Garodnick. “We have made extraordinary progress in fighting crime. Now, we must ensure that record is not tarnished by a perception that the Police Department will not discipline its own officers. The Police Department can only benefit from public confidence that we have a robust system of civilian review.”
Giving the CCRB the power to prosecute cases would instill independence and transparency in the process—and because the Police Department would maintain its role as judge and jury, Commissioner Ray Kelly's ultimate disciplinary authority would not be compromised in any way. It is an important step to ensure that our civilian complaint review process has the balance and credibility that New Yorkers deserve.
July 29, 2009
Garodnick, Quinn Submit Legal Argument to Support Tenants in J-51 Case
Council Member Garodnick and Speaker Christine Quinn, along with 36 members of the City Council, aggressively defended Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village tenants’ legal position in their suit against Tishman Speyer for illegally deregulating apartments, in a friend of the court brief.
Garodnick and Quinn made a number of arguments that drew on the language and legislative history of the J-51 tax benefit law, and which boiled down to one key point: The law requires prohibits owners of buildings who receive J-51 benefits from deregulating apartments in those buildings.
“We have presented the court with a very strong case for deciding in the tenants’ favor and undoing the damage that was caused when 4,000 apartments in this community were illegally taken out of rent stabilization,” said Council Member Garodnick. “We refused to sit on the sidelines of this critical case, and we feel the law is on our side.”
July 23, 2009
Liquor Authority Turns Down License at 583 Park Avenue
Council Member Garodnick and his colleagues in government scored a major victory on behalf of residents when they successfully called on the State Liquor Authority to turn down a liquor license for the private catering company operating at 583 Park Avenue. Council Member Garodnick and the other East Side elected officials have long fought to protect the unique residential feel of Park Avenue—and nowhere was it more under threat than at at 583 Park, where the Third Church of Christ Scientist turned over its facilities to a private catering company for 7-day-a-week parties for up to 1,500 people.
July 17, 2009
Garodnick Delivers Meals to Homebound Elderly
Council Member Garodnick gained firsthand experience in the value of nutritious food and social interaction for seniors when he personally delivered meals to homebound residents in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village.
He accompanied Citymeals-on-Wheels executive director Marcia Stein to make deliveries of spaghetti and meatballs, broccoli, fruit, juice and milk to a few of the 18,000 elderly New Yorkers who are served by the program each year.
Council Member Garodnick has been an advocate for senior meals since his earliest days in office, through support of the “Pizza and Soda Campaign”—so named because for seven years, funding for the raw food for each meal was just $1.85 for meals at senior centers and $1.89 for meals-on-wheels, prices that can’t buy a slice of pizza and a soda in New York.
He also successfully fought for a 19 percent increase in funds to pay for raw food costs, and this year helped restore the $1 million to the Citymeals-on-Wheels budget, which will help reduce waiting lists for home-delivered meals.
July 14, 2009
Garodnick Helps Protect NYCHA Residents From Illegal Tenants
At the Isaacs Houses recently, police officers from the 19th Precinct were attacked by a pit bull that belonged to a woman who already had two eviction notices against her. The incident raised concerns about how to balance the due process rights of residents with the urgent need to keep a community safe. In this case, the Housing Authority and the Isaacs Houses Tenants Association wanted to remove the problem tenant, who faced eviction for criminal circumstances, but another City agency intervened on her behalf, which allowed her to stay in her apartment.
Following this incident, Council Member Garodnick met with tenants and immediately aided them in drafting a letter to the court to allow them to participate in the case against the woman with the pit bull. Additionally, along with Assemblyman Jonathan Bing, Council Member Garodnick sent a letter to the City agency that had intervened on the woman's behalf, to prevent a lack of communication between agencies from endangering hard-working, law-abiding NYCHA tenants.
July 13, 2009
Garodnick Honors Restaurants for Positive Labor Practices
Council Member Garodnick joined the Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York (ROC-NY) in presenting the first annual Exceptional Workplace Awards to seven local restaurants that have gone above and beyond legal requirements and industry norms in their support for workers' rights.
Each of the restaurants signed a code of conduct that outlines promotions policies, maintaining a non-discriminatory work environment, and a commitment to providing health benefits along with paid sick leave. The award winners will be able to post stickers in their windows informing customers of their fair workplace practices. "What we are talking about is eliminating the distance in people's minds between the meals they're buying and the treatment of the men and women who create and serve those meals," said Council Member Garodnick.
Council Member Garodnick's involvement with ROC-NY dates to 2007, when he negotiated a settlement on behalf of Latino and Bangladeshi workers who had filed a federal discrimination suit against a high-end restaurant in his district. He won praise from both sides for the settlement, which included back pay and the creation of a promotions policy.
For more information regarding the Exceptional Workplace Awards and winners, visit www.nychighroadrestaurants.com.
July 7, 2009
Garodnick Issues Statement Regarding Upper East Side Hate Crimes
“I was saddened and troubled by two brutal crimes against gay men in two days on the Upper East Side. The police have deemed the first one a hate crime and are seeking additional information that may reveal the latest attack to be a bias crime, as well. We must now stand together and make it clear that we will not accept such abuses anywhere in New York City.
“When one of our neighbors is targeted for a vicious beating or any indignity strictly on the basis of their sexual preference, we are all victimized. When the safety and the commitment to tolerance in our community are challenged by those who would use violence and intimidation, we all suffer.
“The more recent attack was broken up by a passerby, whose courage may have saved the victim’s life. We must rely on the strength of our shared convictions to find the same courage in ourselves, and stand up to and speak out against hatred, in order to prevent such incidents from happening again.”
July 6, 2009
Garodnick Testifies Against RGB Increases for Rent-Stabilized Leases
Council Member Garodnick testified at the hearing of the Rent Guidelines Board, arguing against the increases on rent-stabilized rents of 3 percent for a one-year lease and 6 percent for a two-year lease amid historic financial pressures for tenants.
"At a time when market rate rents around the city are holding steady or actually falling, the rates instituted by the RGB should have followed suit," Council Member Garodnick said. "New Yorkers are under financial duress. Unemployment has shot up. The cost of typical household goods and services rose at a rate even faster than in 2007, and we are all contending with increases in mass transit fares and — soon — the sales tax. In contrast, landlords' expenses are not going up nearly as fast. The RGB should have given tenants relief this year."
Read Council Member Garodnick's testimony to the RGB
June 17, 2009
DOB Responds to Garodnick’s Call for Action Against Illegal Signage
Council Member Garodnick won a victory in his fight against illegal signage on the 86th Street corridor when the Department of Buildings took aim at a marquee in front of the Duane Reade at 125 East 86th Street.
At Garodnick’s urging, the Buildings Department issued a violation for the illuminated marquee—a relic from when the building housed a movie theater—and began actions to bring it into compliance with existing city codes.
“The proliferation of illegal signage on 86th Street clutters the streetscape that is shared with residents and makes it harder for businesses that do comply with the law to compete,” Garodnick said. “This is the appropriate response from the DOB to gain the upper hand on this problem.”
June 12, 2009
Garodnick, Council Push to Create Economic Opportunity at East River Science Park
In an effort to give a boost to the local economy, the City Council passed a bill co-sponsored by Council Member Garodnick to offer economic incentives to companies that move into the East River Science Park north of Bellevue Hospital.
“There are already about 125 firms engaged in medical research and development here in New York,” said Council Member Garodnick. “We want to build a critical mass of these companies to sustain their presence into the future. This isn’t just about discovering the next breakthrough drug. It is also about growing businesses that will rely on other local professionals across a wide variety of industries, multiplying a very positive economic benefit.”
The vote clears the way for the expansion of the Chinatown/Lower East Side Empire Zone to include the 3.2-acre biotech facility currently under construction. The biotech industry is expected to bring 2,000 permanent jobs, as well as employ 1,800 construction workers in building the science park.
June 10, 2009
Garodnick Calls for Transparency in Awarding Restaurant Concession at Bellevue
Responding to community concerns about the process for awarding a private contract for a restaurant facility at Bellevue Hospital, Council Member Garodnick called for greater transparency from the Health and Hospitals Corporation.
Council Member Garodnick's action came on the heels of the HHC awarding concessions to Au Bon Pain at three other hospitals, in addition to a smaller dining kiosk at Bellevue — and reports that the agency had already begun talks with Au Bon Pain months before the contract process for the sit-down restaurant at Bellevue had begun.
Shortly after Council Member Garodnick wrote to the agency about the matter, the HHC awarded the Bellevue contract to the locally owned restaurant that has operated at Bellevue for 25 years.
Read Council Member Garodnick's letter to the HHC
June 2, 2009
Garodnick, Elected Officials Announce Opening of New PS 151
Council Member Garodnick, together with his colleagues in government, officials from the Department of Education and local parents, officially announced that PS 151 — which has been closed for nearly 10 years — will reopen in September, inside what was formerly the school at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, on 91st Street between First and Second Avenues.
This is the result of years of tireless advocacy by parents and elected officials who pushed the DOE to recognize our school capacity problems, suggested locations for new school construction — and even organized a canvass of the entire neighborhood in order to leave no stone unturned in the search for suitable classroom space. When the DOE honed in on this site, Council Member Garodnick and his colleagues in government made it clear to both the DOE and the Archdiocese of New York how critical the space at Our Lady of Good Counsel is for meeting the school capacity needs in the PS 151 area.
"This was a truly collaborative process among all the East Side elected officials, parents and the DOE, and we are all enthusiastic about the result," said Council Member Garodnick. "The principal is already meeting with parents to discuss everything from curriculum to after-school programming, and PS 151 is well on its way to joining our other neighborhood schools as a successful model for public education."
May 28, 2009
Garodnick, Quinn Introduce Tenant Fair Chance Act
Along with Speaker Christine Quinn, Council Member Garodnick introduced the Tenant Fair Chance Act to assist renters in ensuring that their tenant history is accurately reflected in the reports that landlords use to screen tenants.
Today, any tenant who goes to Housing Court is likely to be listed in screening reports compiled by private companies and sold to landlords looking to vet prospective renters. But because these reports often lack any meaningful detail, tenants who went to court to assert their rights against their landlord may find themselves listed alongside others with bad credit or a history of non-payment — and they usually have no idea that a screening report is even being used and that they may be on it.
The notification requirements in the Tenant Fair Chance Act will let prospective renters know when a screening report is being used and, just as importantly, will give them a chance to correct inaccurate or outdated information.
May 20, 2009
Garodnick, Colleagues Press DOE to Seat Waitlisted Kindergarteners
Joining colleagues at all levels of government, Council Member Garodnick continued to push the Department of Education to seat children who are waitlisted for kindergarten in their neighborhood schools.
The elected officials reiterated their call for the DOE to tell parents by June 26, the last day of this school year, where their children will attend kindergarten in September. They urged Chancellor Klein not to rely solely on Gifted & Talented placements to eliminate the waitlists, and to inform the community what, if any steps the DOE has taken to relocate pre-kindergarten programs from area public schools.
Read their letter to Chancellor Klein
May 13, 2009
Garodnick Joins PS 6 Community for Dedication of Rooftop Eco-Center
Council Member Garodnick joined elected officials and parents, students, alumni and staff from PS 6 for the dedication of the school’s new green roof and eco-center.
The $1.4 million, state-of-the art teaching facility will feature a greenhouse, solar panels, a composting center and weather station, providing students with a comprehensive education on the environment and climate change. Council Member Garodnick, who allocated $550,000 in City funds towards the project, said, “This eco center is going to be a model for environmental education. It is a truly cutting-edge facility that will teach about climate change, how to engage students in science and conservation, and how an entire community can respond to one of the greatest challenges that we face in the coming decades.”
The rooftop eco-center was named for former PS 6 science teacher Eric Dutt, who had the initial vision for the eco-center before his death in 2007 at age 34.
May 12, 2009
Garodnick Cuts Ribbon on New Branch Library
Council Member Garodnick helped open the new Grand Central Branch Library, which will serve the Turtle Bay, Murray Hill and Tudor City neighborhoods. He also took the opportunity to renew his library card, putting him among 200 residents who opened library cards in the first days after the branch opened.
The library retains many of the collections from the currently closed Donnell Library, and is also home to a new Teen Central. Council Member Garodnick called the Grand Central Branch a great addition to the neighborhood, and also vowed to continue working to restore library service to the West 50s.
April 29, 2009
Garodnick to FAA: Lower Manhattan Flyover "Defies Reason"
Responding immediately to a "photo op" staged by the Federal Aviation Administration — in which a decoy of Air Force One, escorted by military jets, buzzed Lower Manhattan — Council Member Garodnick called on the FAA to give New Yorkers advance notice of such exercises in order to prevent unnecessary fears and interruptions to the workday.
"In light of the heightened sensitivity to low-flying commercial planes in the New York City area since 2001, I would expect that the FAA would not allow military aircraft to accompany what appeared to be a commercial jet unless there was a pressing military need," Council Member Garodnick said. He added that "it defies reason" why the flight needed to occur on a Monday morning.
"Thousands of people filled the streets in lower Manhattan, fearing the worst. Of course, if New Yorkers had had advance warning, it would have considerably minimized the high level of concern that existed this morning," he said.
Read Council Member Garodnick's letter to the FAA
April 27, 2009
Garodnick Leads Fight to Save Park
Council Member Garodnick joined approximately 200 residents on the Upper East Side to protest the planned closing of the Ruppert Playground.
The Related Cos. plan to build a 40-story high rise tower on the site, which the City sold in 1983. Under the Rupert Urban Renewal Project Plan, the company had to maintain the property as a park for 25 years. That period ended in 2008, but Council Member Garodnick said, “In a neighborhood that is starved for open space, it is very difficult to justify taking it away."
He added: “This park has been a fixture of the community for a generation, and we will review all our options for protecting it.”
April 26, 2009
Garodnick Bill Part of "Greener, Greater Buildings Plan"
On Earth Day, Council Member Garodnick joined Mayor Bloomberg, Speaker Quinn, environmental advocates and leaders of the construction trades for the announcement of the "Greener, Greater Buildings Plan."
It is a six-part initiative — which includes Council Member Garodnick's bill to create the first New York City Energy Code — that will reduce the City's carbon footprint by focusing on our biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions, the 22,000 buildings across the boroughs that are over 50,000 square feet. Implementing the plan will save $750 million in energy costs and create 19,000 construction jobs while also improving our environment.
The New York City Energy Code authored by Council Member Garodnick will close a loophole in the State Energy Code that currently governs buildings in the city. Under that code, when a building undergoes renovations, its owner can replace inefficient equipment with more inefficient equipment. As long as an owner is making changes to less than 50 percent of a building's systems, he does not need to make environmentally sustainable upgrades.
"From hot water heaters to lighting systems to insulation, we can and will make nearly every component of a building more efficient," said Council Member Garodnick.
April 22, 2009
Garodnick Calls for Swift Passage of Foreclosure Protection Bill
Council Member Garodnick advocated for the passage of Intro 958, a bill he authored to require banks to notify renters as soon as a foreclosure action is initiated against their apartment building. The notification would inform tenants of their rights and, if necessary, give them the time they need to find a new home.
As many as 70,000 rental apartments across the boroughs are at risk of being seized by the bank because they were part of faulty, predatory equity deals.
"New owners took on enormous amounts of debt based on unrealistic dreams of profits, and now as some of them are unable to meet their mortgage obligations, it is their tenants who risk being turned out of their homes," said Council Member Garodnick. "Well, tenants weren’t the ones who took these bad deals, so they should not bear the brunt of them, and that is why we are taking action to protect our neighbors today."
April 21, 2009
Garodnick Helps Launch Program to Retrain Laid-Off Finance Workers
Council Member Garodnick took part in the launch of JumpStart NYC, a new economic initiative by the City to retrain laid-off workers from the financial sector, and assign them 10-week positions with local, venture-capital funded start-ups to encourage entrepreneurial activity.
As Council Member Garodnick noted at the launch event, the start-ups will benefit from the finance background of the workers they take on, the workers get valuable entrepreneurial experience that may lead to paid positions, and the City creates conditions for new businesses to grow and hire more employees.
The program is a partnership between the Mayor's Office, the City’s Economic Development Corporation and the Levin Institute of the State University of New York. Council Member Garodnick has supported the Levin Institute, which will conduct the retraining of JumpStart's participants, through the City's budget allocation process.
April 16, 2009
Garodnick Earns Praise From Planned Parenthood
Joan Malin, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of New York City, praised Council Member Garodnick for helping to pass Int. 826-A, as well as for his "passionate and eloquent remarks on the floor" during the vote.
"Vigorous debate, and passionate discourse are fundamental to our democracy — however harassment, threats and physical confrontations are not protected forms of speech, and indeed, they undermine those cherished democratic values," said Council Member Garodnick on the floor.
Int 826, which was signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg after passing in the Council, prohibits activities to prevent access to reproductive health care facilities.
Read Planned Parenthood's letter to Council Member Garodnick
April 7, 2009
Elected Officials Call on DHCR to Abide by J-51 Ruling
A group of 15 elected officials, including Council Member Garodnick, called on the State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) to take immediate steps to protect the rights of tenants in the wake of the March 5 court ruling in Roberts v. Tishman Speyer.
The court ruled that landlords who take so-called J-51 tax breaks for buildings with rent stabilized apartments cannot take those apartments out of rent stabilization. Council Member Garodnick and his colleagues called for the DHCR to abide by the ruling and stop the deregulation of stabilized units through high income-high rent decontrol.
The elected officials also urged the DHCR to take proactive steps to inform tenants of how the ruling will affect them, including landlords' obligation to offer lease renewals at regulated rates until their J-51 benefits period expires.
Read the complete letter to the DHCR.
April 1, 2009
Garodnick Urges Compliance With Storefront Signage Rules
Council Member Garodnick reached out to businesses on the 86th Street corridor to urge them to comply with the City's rules regarding storefront signage. The New York City Zoning Resolution has very specific regulations on the size, placement and illumination of store signs, in order to prevent a visual clutter that detracts from the streetscape. Unfortunately, many businesses along the 86th Street corridor are out of compliance.
One month after contacting the businesses, Council Member Garodnick also alerted the Department of Buildings, which enforces the signage rules. "Toned down store signage does not have to hurt the bottom line; in fact, many Business Improvement Districts have implemented standard and demure signage, which, by improving the look of the area, has helped improve revenues," said Council Member Garodnick.
March 26, 2009
Garodnick Testifies in Favor of West 50s Landmarks
Council Member Garodnick testified before the Landmarks Preservation Commission in support of two individual landmarks in the West 50s: 17 and 26 West 56th Street. Amid the commercial towers for which Midtown is better known, these townhouses are a link to an important part of the City’s past, and add truly valuable architectural significance to the neighborhood.
March 24, 2009
Mayor Signs Garodnick Bill to Tighten Regulations on Debt Collectors
With New Yorkers facing increasing financial pressure amid the economic recession, the City Council passed, and Mayor Bloomberg signed, a bill authored by Council Member Garodnick to protect New Yorkers from unscrupulous debt collectors — now the number one source of complaints to the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA).
The bill closes a loophole that allowed third-party debt buyers to operate without a license. It also creates more stringent rules that debt collectors must follow in providing information to alleged debtors. Debt collectors who violate these rules are subject to having their licenses revoked by the DCA, rendering them unable to collect.
A 2007 report by the Urban Justice Center (UJC) found that debt collectors bring approximately 320,000 cases against New Yorkers every year, and obtain approximately $800 million in judgments. However, the UJC report found that in a sample of 600 cases, 42 percent were brought by unlicensed collection agencies, which are frequently third-party debt buyers with no prior relationship to the New Yorkers they are suing, and with little evidence to support their claims. As a result, New Yorkers can end up paying money they do not owe.
March 18, 2009
Statement of Council Member Garodnick re Roberts v. Tishman Speyer Decision
“The court’s decision today was as clear as it was correct — Tishman Speyer cannot take $24.5 million in tax breaks while they push rent stabilized tenants out the door.
“This is a landmark victory for thousands of tenants at Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village who have been paying exorbitant market rate rents on units that should never have left rent protection. Tishman Speyer needs to do something unheard of in this town: re-regulate apartments that have been lost as affordable housing. Tenants who have been wronged by their landlords’ double-dipping are owed rent overcharges and significant damages, and they should collect.
“It is also a victory for the City, as it means keeping thousands of units of affordable housing, which will remain regulated through 2017 — or as long as Tishman Speyer is receiving J-51 tax breaks.
“Stuyvesant Town is a community that set historic principles for affordable housing, and the property owners in recent years have been turning their backs on those principles. They did it through every legal ambiguity and flimsy argument, and through an aggressive pursuit of tenants. Today, tenants of Stuyvesant Town get a break.”
March 5, 2009
Garodnick Calls for Moratorium on Drilling Near Watershed
Council Member Garodnick joined Borough President Scott Stringer and environmental advocates including Riverkeeper and the Sierra Club in calling for a moratorium on gas drilling near New York's upstate watershed. "Our water is our most precious natural resource," said Council Member Garodnick. "Its purity is unmatched. To allow any activity that would risk contaminating our water supply would be an enormous step backwards in terms of environmental progress, the cost to our state, and the health of our residents."
Council Member Garodnick also pointed out that if the City were required to clean up contaminated water, it would cost $10 billion to build a water filtration system, and another $1 million per day to operate it. Having to filter our water would also undo the $1.5 billion investment the City has already made in its watershed protection program.
February 28, 2009
Mayor Signs Two Garodnick-Authored Bills Into Law
Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed into law two bills authored by Council Member Garodnick. One law establishes a "bill of rights" for livery car passengers; the second creates public access to water tank inspection reports.
The bill of rights was supported by passenger advocates, as well as the livery industry's New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, which recognized that the measure will benefit base owners: when passengers know what their rights are, car service companies that respect those rights are likely to be rewarded with repeat business.
The water tank inspection law brings new openness to what Council Member Garodnick described as "the most closely guarded secret in the city." Members of the public had previously been barred from viewing any information about rooftop water tanks, even with a subpoena.
February 26, 2009
Garodnick Supports Chinatown Tenants in Harassment Case
Council Member Dan Garodnick gave his support to a group of tenants in Chinatown who have sued their landlord for harassment under the Tenant Protection Act, a law that Council Member Garodnick introduced in 2007.
Referring to the tenants' many allegations of abuse by their landlord — including rodent infestations, inadequate heat, the forced removal of Chinese cultural symbols from apartment doorways and dispatching the police to break up tenant meetings — Council Member Garodnick said, "When cynics asked why we needed a law to protect tenants from harassment, the answer is right here, in each of the indignities suffered by tenants at 55 and 61 Delancey Street."
February 17, 2009
Garodnick Promotes New City Website to Aid Job Seekers
With local and state unemployment on the rise, Council Member Garodnick recognized the launch of a new, City-run website that will steer job seekers to available positions, government benefits and other resources. Council Member Garodnick advocated for the website, www.careerlinknyc.com, which is a one-stop destination for New Yorkers who are looking for a new job or new industry, or who may be eligible for unemployment benefits and government healthcare programs.
February 13, 2009
Council Passes Two Garodnick-Authored Bills
The City Council passed two bills authored by Council Member Garodnick, one to create the first-ever bill of rights for car service passengers, and another to safeguard New Yorkers’ drinking water by bringing transparency to the inspections of building water tanks. Currently, City law expressly prohibits the public from viewing those inspection reports, even with a subpoena.
“The City has the most comprehensive watershed protection program in the world, but all of those protections can be undone by a single hole in a dilapidated water tank that could allow a bird, animal or other contaminant to get inside—and New Yorkers have every right to know that their own building’s water tank will not expose them to any risk,” said Council Member Garodnick.
About the car service bill of rights, Council Member Garodnick said, “Passengers today have no idea that their ride is governed by the rules of the Taxi and Limousine Commission, and that needs to change. When you get in the back seat of a for-hire vehicle, you should have the comfort of knowing that your basic rights as a passenger are protected by law. Riders need to know where to file a complaint, and that they have recourse if something goes wrong.”
February 11, 2009
Garodnick Hails Economic Benefits of Second Avenue Subway, East Side Access
Council Member Garodnick affirmed his support for the continued construction of the Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access, which have combined to create 38,000 jobs according to a new report released by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.
"The Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access will relieve the strain on our mass transit system and be the foundation of economic growth," said Council Member Garodnick at a press conference to mark the report's release. "Currently some local businesses in the area of the Second Avenue Subway construction zone are struggling. It is a difficult time for these stores, but as Congresswoman Maloney’s report shows, there is a light at the end of the tunnel."
The report shows that the Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access have already created 38,000 jobs, which have paid out $2 billion in wages, since the projects broke ground.
February 3, 2009
Garodnick Speaks in Support of Affordable Housing Bills in Assembly
The loss of affordable housing on the East Side and citywide has been devastating, and it further complicates an already difficult economic picture for working families. One problem is that our housing regulations are riddled with loopholes that allow affordable units to leave the rent stabilization system.
Council Member Garodnick recently testified in support of several Assembly bills that would close those loopholes and increase the availability of Section 8 and Mitchell-Lama housing. Additionally, he reaffirmed his support for "home rule," which would allow New York City's legislators to strengthen rent regulation through local laws, rather than leaving housing laws in the jurisdiction of State lawmakers.
January 16, 2009
Garodnick: MTA Proposal on Access-A-Ride Is 'Unjust'
Council Member Garodnick testified against the MTA proposal to double the fares for Access-A-Ride, calling the proposal "inherently inequitable and unquestionably bad public policy."
Because the MTA acknowledges that most of its savings in this area will be the result of lower ridership, as current users are priced out of the system — and because non-working elevators and escalators make the subways an unreliable alternative for disabled passengers — Council Member Garodnick said that the proposed fare increases on Access-A-Ride would unfairly marginalize people with disabilities.
January 14, 2009
Health Dept. Supports Garodnick's Call to Open Water Tank Inspection Records
The Department of Health gave its support to a legislative proposal from Council Member Garodnick that would, for the first time, make the results of water tank inspections available to the public.
Under existing law, building owners must have their water tanks inspected each year, and the results of that inspection are kept on file for five years. However, there is no existing requirement to disclose the results of the inspection—and they are not attainable even with a subpoena.
“The public deserves to know whether the water they are drinking and using in their homes is safe,” Council Member Garodnick said. “To keep the public in the dark about a subject as essential to their everyday lives as their drinking water is bad governance, and it undermines the very goals of inspection.”
January 8, 2009
Garodnick Sets Out “Bill of Rights” for Car Service Passengers
In a step forward for safety and consumer protection, passengers in the city’s nearly 20,000 for-hire vehicles would be protected by a “bill of rights,” similar to the one that exists for taxi passengers, under legislation introduced by Council Member Garodnick.
Council Member Garodnick’s bill would for the first time clearly state the rights of car-service and “black car” passengers to include those already guaranteed to taxi riders — for example, the right to direct the route taken, be driven by a safe and courteous driver, and be driven by a driver who does not use a cell phone. The bill of rights would also include one right unique to for-hire vehicles: paying a pre-approved fare quoted by the dispatcher.
“There should be no mystery about what awaits you when you open the door of a for-hire vehicle,” said Council Member Garodnick. “Just because the cars aren’t yellow, the drivers still have an obligation to provide the basic service that all passengers expect.”
December 9, 2008
Garodnick Marks World AIDS Day
Council Member Garodnick commemorated World AIDS Day at Beth Israel Medical Center. Speaking on this year’s theme of “leadership,” Council Member Garodnick described a number of efforts made at the City level, including Council initiatives to support HIV prevention and education programs for seniors and communities of color. He also called on Congress to block new regulations on Medicaid that would be devastating to the 65 percent of New Yorkers with HIV/AIDS who rely on Medicaid for their access to primary care.
December 1, 2008
Garodnick: Overcrowded 4/5/6 Trains and Platforms Are Leaving Passengers Stranded
Council Member Garodnick released a report that shows the severity of overcrowding on the Lexington Avenue subway line, where hundreds of passengers are routinely left stranded on the platform by trains that are on schedule but already overfilled.
The report is titled Left Stranded: How Overcrowded 4/5/6 Trains Are Leaving East Side Riders Behind.
Among the study’s findings:
• An average of 133 riders per downtown train were left stranded on the platform at the 77th Street Station by number 6 local trains during the morning rush hour.
• As many as 506 passengers were left stranded by a single train at 77th Street.
• At least 75 commuters per train were left stranded by overcrowded 4 and 5 trains at 59th Street on the nights of Yankees home games.
• An average of 25 riders are left stranded by every train at the stations observed during the morning and evening rush periods.
Although most trains were on time, timeliness statistics do not accurately project a commuter’s actual likely wait time. If a commuter must wait for several trains to pass before being able to board the train, then the system’s on-time percentages are essentially meaningless.
The study issued the following recommendations:
• The MTA must not cut local train service on the Lexington line.
• Expand express bus service from Midtown Manhattan to Yankee Stadium on game days.
• Expand the practice of placing employees on platforms to direct passengers to available doors and cars.
• Meet goals for 2009 implementation of Bus Rapid Transit on the M15 line that serves First and Second Avenues.
• Swift completion of the Second Avenue Subway Line to relieve stress on the Lexington Avenue Line.
• Make alternative forms of transportation, such as biking, more accessible by creating more interconnected bike lanes, and passing legislation making bike parking easier.
November 19, 2008
Garodnick Asks DEP for Straight Answers on Brown Water
Council Member Dan Garodnick called on the Department of Environmental Protection to explain the cause of the brown water that has been pouring out of residents’ faucets across Manhattan. The condition, officially termed “water turbidity,” has lasted for weeks, despite an earlier bulletin from the agency that residents would only encounter dirty water for 24 hours.
“The DEP needs to come clean and make New Yorkers feel secure about the safety of their drinking water,” said Council Member Garodnick. “It is not enough to simply say that it’s safe if they can’t tell us what the cause of the problem is, or why it has lasted so much longer than expected.”
Watch Council Member Garodnick on the news, discussing brown water
November 13, 2008
Garodnick Proposes Reforms to Election Procedures
One week after New Yorkers stood in hours-long lines to vote on Election Day, Council Member Garodnick proposed comprehensive reforms to encourage higher turnout and relieve stress on the Board of Elections, through no-fault absentee voting, early voting and same-day registration.
In a statement to detail his proposals, Council Member Garodnick said: “The 2.35 million votes cast in New York City on Election Day represent an increase of less than 3 percent from 2004. Yet the lines were dramatically longer, and the complaints logged to the non-partisan Election Protection operation on Election Day were serious and numerous. Imagine if more than 51 percent of our 4.6 million registered voters had shown up on Tuesday.
"I am calling on my partners in the State legislature to begin passing the changes to our constitution that will ease the burdens on voting, and catch up with the other states that have already made these important reforms.”
November 11, 2008
Garodnick Votes No on Mayor's Bill to Extend Term Limits
Delivering on a pledge he made to the residents of his district, Council Member Dan Garodnick last week voted against Mayor Bloomberg’s bill to extend term limits for elected officials to twelve years.
“Although a third term could serve the City well — particularly when it comes to long-term issues like the City’s infrastructure needs, capital budget and its growing debt burden — New Yorkers have already spoken clearly that they want to limit officials to two terms,” said Garodnick.
Garodnick voted for an amendment on the floor of the Council that would have put the issue back to the residents of New York City. The amendment failed by a vote of 28-22, with one abstention. The Mayor’s bill passed by a vote of 29-22.
October 23, 2008
Garodnick Educates Seniors on New Voting Machines
At the Lenox Hill Senior Center's non-partisan Get Out the Vote Lunch, Council Member Garodnick informed seniors of registration deadlines and the existence of Ballot Marking Devices — new machines that can be used by all voters, but may be particularly useful for disabled voters and seniors who may have difficulty casting their ballots with lever machines.
Council Member Garodnick also pressed the Board of Elections at a recent Council hearing take the necessary steps to ensure the complete accessibility and reliable performance of BMDs, including offering greater incentives to poll workers to attend training sessions, and working with advocacy groups to improve awareness and the functionality of this new technology.
October 3, 2008
Garodnick Joins Call for Better Capital Plan for School Construction
Council Member Garodnick joined Borough President Scott Stringer and fellow community leaders at a rally to push for more classroom space and smaller class sizes, in advance of the November publication of the Department of Education's five-year capital plan. In a City Council hearing, Council Member Garodnick reiterated the need for the DOE to forecast overcrowding on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis, and then respond to those projections.
October 3, 2008
Garodnick Testifies About "Troubling" Elevator Conditions at Isaacs, Holmes
Testifying at a public hearing convened by Borough President Scott Stringer on elevator safety in NYCHA buildings, Council Member Garodnick described numerous problems with the elevators at the Isaacs Houses and Holmes Towers. The elevators have been plagued not only by frequent breakdowns and unsatisfactory maintenance, but they also failed to operate properly one night after Con Edison reduced power to prevent a blackout in June 2008.
As Council Member Garodnick described, the elevators were out of order for eight and a half hours even though no other buildings in the area reported similar problems, causing significant inconveniences for disabled and elderly residents.
Read Council Member Garodnick's full testimony
September 26, 2008
Garodnick Says Rent Board Overstepped Its Authority on Increases
Arguing that the Rent Guidelines Board overstepped its authority, Council Member Garodnick spoke out in support of a lawsuit brought by the Legal Aid Society and Legal Services New York over special rent increases for tenants who pay under $1,000 a month and have lived in rent-stabilized apartments for six years or more.
"The Rent Guidelines Board is trying to create two classes of rent-protected tenants. And by going after long-term tenants with rents under $1,000 they’re picking off the most vulnerable New Yorkers," Council Member Garodnick said. "The RGB has exceeded its statutory authority here. The only power to create legal classifications of tenants rests in the legislative branch of the city, right here in the City Council — and you can be assured, this City Council is not about to start picking off long-term, low-income New Yorkers to hit them with unfair rent increases."
September 16, 2008
Garodnick Testifies Against UES Waste Management Station
Council Member Garodnick testified before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the Marine Transfer Station garbage facility planned for East 91st Street would do "lasting damage to the existing community."
Pointing to the Corps' own guidelines that the project “must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments,” Council Member Garodnick said, "I am here to share with you some of those reasonably foreseeable detriments. There are many" — including pollution, noise and odors that would affect 13,500 residents and the thousands of users of Asphalt Green.
Read Council Member Garodnick's full testimony here
September 16, 2008
Small Business Committee Honors Gracious Home With Community Excellence Award
Council Member Garodnick and Council Member David Yassky, who chairs the Council's Committee on Small Business, presented a Small Business Community Excellence Award to Gracious Home, recognizing the store's 45-year history of service to its customers and support for neighborhood causes.
In addition to longstanding support for the 71st Street Block Association and the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, Gracious Home has more recently leant a hand to the Bowery Mission Women’s Center, installing air conditioners (and taking them out in the winter), donating lighting, and setting up a gift registry for the formerly homeless women at the center.
“Local business and local residents depend on each other, and Gracious Home’s approach to community-building on the East Side is really a model for other entrepreneurs,” Council Member Garodnick said.
September 5, 2008
Garodnick Welcomes Students to the New PS 59
Council Member Garodnick cut the ribbon to officially open the new PS 59, the first "green" school in the City, which will eventually add approximately 500 much-needed seats to relieve overcrowding on the Upper East Side.
The new building on 63rd Street will be home to PS 59 for three years. After that time, PS 59 will return to its 57th Street location, where a larger school is to be constructed. The 63rd Street building will remain a public school, adding approximately 500 seats to relieve overcrowding on the Upper East Side.
"We all know how desperately we need new school seats on the Upper East Side, and this is an important and successful first step," said Council Member Garodnick.
September 2, 2008
Garodnick: Don't Extend Term Limits Without Voter Referendum
Amid speculation that Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council will seek to extend term limits before the 2009 elections, Council Member Dan Garodnick reaffirmed his position that any changes should only be made through a voter referendum.
“The people of New York have spoken on this issue – twice,” said Council Member Garodnick. “The best way to respect their will and the processes of good government is to send it back to the people before we make any changes.”
September 2, 2008
Infrastructure Task Force Explores Alternative Energy Solutions
The Infrastructure Task Force, co-chaired by Council Member Garodnick, convened a panel of experts to explain what would be necessary for New Yorkers to generate green energy and add their own power to the grid. The result was a number of recommendations that the City could immediately explore to reduce the financial overhead and ease Building Code requirements that are currently hindering solar development.
One idea that Council Member Garodnick is proposing is the creation of "Solar Empowerment Zones" — expansive areas with low buildings and large rooftops, where the necessary infrastructure improvements could be made to enable the "greening" of a whole swath of the city at once, and where state and local government could focus their efforts to solve administrative and technical comlications. By turning attention to these zones, the City could make swifter progress in reducing its carbon footprint, and create economies of scale to lower the cost of moving to solar power.
July 31, 2008
Garodnick to Tishman Speyer: Pay Legal Bills of Wrongly Accused Stuyvesant Town Tenants
Tishman Speyer should pay the legal bills of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village tenants whom it wrongly accuses of breaking rent-stabilization rules, said Council Member Garodnick at a rally outside the property. Along with tenant leaders and local elected officials, he also laid out a system of "ground rules" for Tishman Speyer to follow in order to narrow its wide pursuit of residents, which has required many legitimate tenants to incur unnecessary legal fees and has gained citywide attention.
“According to Tishman Speyer’s own numbers, it has more baseless claims than successful ones,” said Council Member Garodnick. “Residents who are abiding by the law continue to get caught up in their dragnet, and go through great expense to defend themselves. So if Tishman Speyer drops a case, they should also drop a check in the mail.”
Read Council Member Garodnick's proposed ground rules
July 22, 2008
Elected Officials Rally for Overcrowding Relief at PS 116
Council Member Garodnick joined Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and other local elected officials in calling for the Department of Education to come forward with a plan to reduce overcrowding at PS 116. In the last school year, the Murray Hill school had kindergartens with 28 students, and the first lunch period was held at 10:30 a.m. in order to accommodate all the students in the cafeteria. Council Member Garodnick stated that the DOE must not wait until after PS 116 suffers academically before it devises short-term and long-term strategies to end over-enrollment.
Council Member Garodnick himself has suggested possible sites for new schools, as well as improved coordination by City agencies to better prepare for rising student populations.
July 21, 2008
Council Restores $129 Million in Funds for Public Schools
Despite the falling revenues and looming debts that required the City to tighten its belt, the final budget that was passed by the City Council protected a number of services and programs of great importance to New Yorkers. At the top of that list was the restoration of $129 million that was cut from public schools, a move that means no new cuts for any school. Some of the other successes from the budget include:
--Protecting six-day library service;
--Restoring $18 million that the Mayor had cut from the Housing Authority (NYCHA) budget;
--Continuing the Council's Housing Preservation Initiative to protect affordable housing on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis across the city; and
--Providing over $7 million for food programs, including food pantries, meals on wheels, senior center meals and expanding New Yorkers' ability to use food stamps at Greenmarkets.
June 29, 2008
Garodnick Urges Landmarks Commission to Preserve Madison Avenue Historic District
Council Member Garodnick urged the Landmarks Preservation Commission to modify the proposal for a five-story rooftop addition at 980 Madison Avenue, in the heart of a protected district. In testimony before the LPC, Council Member Garodnick expressed his concern that the addition as presently designed would overwhelm the existing building, and disrupt the unique character of the area. "I encourage you to modify this proposal in a reasonable fashion to allow for some development to proceed, but to keep it in sync with the district that surrounds it," he said.
View Council Member Garodnick's full testimony on 980 Madison
June 17, 2008
Garodnick to Rent Board: Food, Gas Prices Adding to Tenants' Struggles
Rising household costs, combined with the accelerated pace of apartments leaving rent protection, are putting a significant strain on tenants, Council Member Dan Garodnick told the Rent Guidelines Board.
At the Board’s annual public hearing to determine the allowable rent increases for stabilized units, Council Member Garodnick said, “Renters in this City are struggling. I ask that you take into serious consideration the millions of New Yorkers who will be facing higher food, transportation and all-around costs this year.”
Council Member Garodnick added that the economic effect of rapid destabilization is felt not only by individual tenants, but by the City as a whole. "Tenants who lose rent stabilized apartments will move further and further out of the City’s core, adding to costs, inconvenience, and environmental harm — and business activity will surely move with them,” he said.
Read Council Member Garodnick's testimony to the Rent Guidelines Board
June 16, 2008
Garodnick Responds to Department of Education's Blueprint on Overcrowding
Council Member Garodnick said the Department of Education must be more aggressive in creating additional classroom space in School District 2, and reiterated the need for enrollment projections on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis.
Responding to the DOE’s newly released “blueprint” to relieve overcrowding in District 2, Council Member Garodnick also said that art rooms, libraries, auditoriums and other “cluster spaces” must be preserved for their intended uses and not considered under-utilized classroom space. He added that while rezoning may need to be explored, the DOE should neither shift students from one overcrowded school to another, nor bus students from their home school to another with more space.
Regarding the need for neighborhood-level enrollment projections, Council Member Garodnick pointed to a survey of new construction in the PS 116 catchment zone, which shows 3,374 units of housing newly built, under construction, or approved by the City. By the City’s own zoning formula, this translates to 337 new students — nearly half of PS 116’s existing capacity. “It is critical that the DOE look at housing starts and other data in neighborhoods with overcrowded schools,” he said. “Taking steps to mitigate overcrowding based on today’s numbers will not be adequate if tomorrow’s growth is even greater.”
Read Council Member Garodnick's analysis of the DOE blueprint
June 4, 2008
Garodnick Calls for Greater Action to Eliminate Illegal Hotels
Citing a newly released report that identifies up to 10,000 residential apartments citywide that are being used as hotel rooms, Council Member Garodnick called for greater action to protect tenants and the city’s housing stock.
“Landlords are pushing out rent-stabilized tenants because they can make more money by illegally renting out their rooms to tourists," he said. "Tenants are being victimized, we are losing affordable housing, and this needs to stop.”
While the tenant harassment law that Council Member Garodnick authored will allow residents to fight back against abuse, the City needs to explore other legal tools to fight illegal hotels, including zoning restrictions and fines that won’t just be treated as another cost of doing business.
June 1, 2008
Garodnick Proposes Change to Boost Number of Crossing Guards
Council Member Garodnick proposed a common-sense ways to increase the pool of candidates for crossing guard positions, and thus improve the safety of East Side students as they head to and from school. The number of crossing guards has been steadily decreasing, due in part to the difficulty in hiring an adequate number of guards. This situation is possibly hindered by the requirement that all crossing guards work both in the morning when students arrive, and in the afternoon, when students are dismissed. Council Member Garodnick proposed “split shifts,” whereby a crossing guard could work either a morning or afternoon shift, but not be obligated to work both. "If the position were more flexible, I expect that we would be able to attract more applicants," he said.
Read a letter from Council Member Garodnick about the crossing guard shortage
May 22, 2008
Garodnick Probes City's Vulnerability to Catastrophic Floods
With the recent experience of New Orleans in mind, Council Member Garodnick summoned climate change experts to share their findings about the City’s vulnerability to a major storm, and the possible infrastructure investments the City could make to protect itself.
“The sea level is rising, and we are a city of water,” said Council Member Garodnick. “Some may consider this New York’s ‘inconvenient truth.’ We know that we will have to adapt to climate change, so what we must do now is understand how vulnerable we may be, and explore preventative measures to ensure our long-term prosperity.”
Speaking before the City Council’s Infrastructure Task Force, which Garodnick co-chairs, scientists and engineers offered their best estimates to the risks faced by New York, and the actions taken by other coastal cities. Garodnick said the wide range of options is all the more reason that the City begin a discussion on planning for the effects of climate change. “Preparations for natural disasters usually take place after the disaster,” he said. “Perhaps the last person to be prepared for a flood was Noah — and he was tipped off. We need to make sure that we take the appropriate steps to safeguard the City.”
May 6, 2008
Educators, Arts Groups Join Garodnick for Second Annual Cultural Forum
Over 20 of the city’s cultural institutions introduced their educational programs to East Side public school principals at Council Member Garodnick’s second annual Cultural Education Forum. Principals and representatives from the arts groups began to form partnerships so that the schools can take advantage of the programs available to them. Council Members Rosie Mendez and Jessica Lappin also participated in the event, whose reach was broadened to include more of the schools that serve students on the East Side.
May 6, 2008
Garodnick Shares Concerns About Proposals to Overhaul Senior Centers, Meals on Wheels
Council Member Garodnick took part in a forum at the Stein Senior Center, where he discussed his concern about proposals from the Department for the Aging to overhaul senior centers and the Meals on Wheels program.
“I strongly object to the closing of any senior center as a part of the restructuring of senior center services,” he said. “Additionally, it is vital that seniors be able to continue to choose frozen or hot meals as part of Meals on Wheels. Seniors in my District are appropriately concerned that they will eventually be forced to take a frozen meal even if they prefer a hot meal.”
May 2, 2008
Garodnick Announces Senior Housing Forum
On May 5, Council Member Garodnick will bring together over a dozen City agencies and community organizations for a Senior Housing Forum.
Attendees will be able to take advantage of a one-hour panel discussion, and one-on-one consultations on all subjects related to senior housing, including rights and benefits specific to seniors, mental health issues as they relate to housing and services for low-income residents.
The forum will take place at the Hunter College School of Social Work, 129 East 79th, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
April 15, 2008
Garodnick Proposes Budget Reforms
In light of the recent revelation that taxpayer dollars were being held in the City budget under the names of fictitious organizations (a process kept secret even from members of the Council), Council Member Garodnick and Council Member David Yassky immediately introduced a four-point plan to begin shining more sunlight on the budget process.
Their proposals — including the creation of a publicly searchable database with more extensive information about the groups receiving City funding, and heightened requirements to disclose conflicts of interest — were adopted by Speaker Christine Quinn, in her package of reforms to further improve the budget’s transparency.
April 11, 2008
Garodnick, Stringer Host Forum for Stuyvesant Town Residents
Borough President Scott Stringer and Council Member Garodnick fielded questions on everything from congestion and quality of life concerns to Major Capital Improvements and tenants rights, at a town hall for residents of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. Over 300 tenants attended to get up-to-date answers about the issues affecting the community.
Key among those issues has been management’s pursuit of tenants. As Council Member Garodnick said in a letter of March 24 to Rob Speyer, the president of Tishman Speyer, “Too many legal tenants have been swept up in Tishman Speyer’s attempt to ‘catch’ residents who may be there illegally, and this needs to stop.”
Each month, approximately 15 percent of all rent-stabilized tenants whose leases are up for renewal are told that they are not being renewed. Often, management alleges that the tenants are not using their apartment as their primary residence. As of October 2007, one-third of those cases were dropped, and tenants gave up their apartment in only half of cases.
As a result, Council Member Garodnick has asked for a moratorium on the pursuit of tenants through the end of 2008.
Visit www.garodnick.com/press to read the New York Observer's account about Council Member Garodnick's efforts.
Read Council Member Garodnick's letter to Tishman Speyer
April 3, 2008
Garodnick Honored by P.S. 116 Parents
At the annual silent auction fundraiser to benefit P.S. 116, Council Member Garodnick was honored by the Parents’ Association with the PRIDE Award, for “Promoting Responsibility, Interest and Direction in Education.” Council Member Garodnick credited the work of the school’s leaders, staff and parents for the continued success at P.S. 116, and spoke of his ongoing efforts to press the Department of Education to create a long-term plan to deal with overcrowding at P.S. 116 and throughout the East Side.
March 31, 2008
Garodnick Announces Agreement on East River Development
After weeks of discussions and years of hard work, Council Member Garodnick announced an agreement with the East River Realty Company (ERRC) on the rezoning of over nine acres of First Avenue from 35th to 41st Streets.
The City Council has amended ERRC's plan in a way that:
—reduces the overall project to address density concerns;
—reduces the heights of buildings to protect our local parks from shadows;
—provides incentives for affordable housing, including housing for those at middle and moderate incomes; and
—guarantees public space that is truly open and cannot be shut off from the public.
The Council also secured the necessary easement from the developer to build a waterfront park in the future, and a commitment of $10 million toward that goal.
This development will be a vibrant, mixed-use community, with ground-level retail, ample public space and a 630-seat public school. The changes that we made are significant and valuable improvements to the plan that will make a huge difference in the life of the neighborhood and the City.
March 12, 2008
Council Passes Garodnick Bill to Curb Tenant Harassment
The City Council unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Council Member Dan Garodnick that allows tenants to sue their landlords for harassment in Housing Court. The bill was co-sponsored by Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito.
“With our vote today, we sent a message that the abuse stops here,” said Council Member Garodnick. “We sent a message to tenants that they are no longer alone, and by giving them new powers in Housing Court, we are giving them new tools to defend themselves.”
February 27, 2008
Elected Officials, Civic Groups Launch Campaign for Riverfront Park
Council Member Garodnick, along with a coalition of elected officials and civic groups, kicked off a campaign for a much-needed waterfront park on the East Side.
"We are starved for parkland," said Council Member Garodnick. "But we have a vision for a four-acre, waterfront park that would be an enormous amenity for the City of New York — and this is the time to take a serious look at how to make that vision a reality."
Council Member Garodnick added that the East River Realty Company's development proposal for the former Con Edison Waterside properties, along with State plans to rebuild the FDR Drive in this area, present an opportunity to "bring the different government agencies together to plan for a park where we elevate people over cars, and open up the waterfront to all residents."
The plan for the park was created through a charrette in June of 2007. It featured six leading landscape architects and ultimately focused on three main elements, including a dramatic curvilinear deck over the FDR Drive (where today there is a raised, highway overpass) that would draw pedestrians to the water.
February 21, 2008
Garodnick, Speaker Quinn Win Compensation From Con Ed
In the aftermath of the Con Edison steam pipe blast on July 18, when streets were cordoned off and businesses were closed for weeks, the stores and offices affected by the explosion continued to be charged by Con Ed for their utility usage. No one could gain access to turn off the lights and appliances that were left on when they fled, but Con Edison still demanded payment for the power that was used during this time.
Along with Speaker Christine Quinn, Council Member Garodnick demanded that Con Edison drop these unfair charges. After months of discussions, at their request, Con Edison finally agreed to reimburse local businesses for the energy they used when their buildings were inaccessible.
Council Member Garodnick said, "This was an important concession — these mom-and-pop establishments suffered enough through lost business.
February 15, 2008
City Council Infrastructure Task Force Holds First Forum
On February 15, Council Member Garodnick co-chaired the first public meeting of the City Council’s Infrastructure Task Force. Speaker Christine Quinn created the Task Force to ensure that our infrastructure keeps pace with our development, and in this forum, the Task Force will examine the City’s anticipated population growth and how the City budget can accommodate it.
By hearing from experts on sustainability and on the City budget, the Task Force began to learn whether the City is adequately prepared for what lies ahead. Growth will undoubtedly put additional strain on our existing infrastructure, but by prioritizing the most necessary projects and thinking creatively about how we use the information available to us, the Task Force will help guide our growth so that it improves the quality of life for City residents.
February 15, 2008
Garodnick Calls for Changes to G&T Plan
Council Member Garodnick called on Chancellor Joel Klein to make changes to the Department of Education’s proposed new admission standards for Gifted & Talented (G&T) programs — particularly requiring students to score in the 95th percentile of a national test in order to be accepted.
“I do not believe that pitting our children against students from across the country in order to determine admission into our own programs meets the objectives of broadening access or making the admissions system fairer,” he said.
Additionally, Garodnick asked that parents be notified of G&T acceptances earlier so that they can make the necessary educational decisions for their children, and requested that the Chancellor institute a reasonable policy to keep gifted children and their siblings in the same school.
Read Council Member Garodnick's letter to Chancellor Klein
February 14, 2008
Garodnick Reaches Out to Tenants Affected by Building Fire
In response to the three-alarm fire at a high-rise building at 200 East 72nd Street, Council Member Garodnick immediately reached out to each of the tenants, and called on the building’s management for answers.
Tenants were confused and frustrated that they had heard no alarms and received no instructions on what to do, even as smoke filled their apartments. Council Member Garodnick contacted the building’s management to express his concern that tenants were left vulnerable, and to ensure that systems are in place to protect residents returning to their apartments.
Along with Borough President Scott Stringer, Council Member Garodnick is now connecting residents in the building with the Fire Department to discuss the necessary procedures going forward.
February 7, 2008
Garodnick Questions Con Edison on Steam Pipe Inspection and Repair Procedures
After a second City Council oversight hearing into the Con Edison steam pipe explosion, Council Member Garodnick said he is still concerned that Con Ed is not doing enough to maintain its steam system. It is now clear that Con Ed was aware of problems at the site and neglected to take the appropriate action. The State Public Service Commission has mandated a number of changes to Con Ed’s maintenance and repair procedures, and Council Member Garodnick will be watching closely to make sure that they are followed.
January 22, 2008
Garodnick Advocates for Changes to Congestion Pricing Plan
In testimony before the New York City Traffic Congestion Mitigation Committee, Council Member Garodnick offered changes that would relieve some of the burden on residents who live within the fee zone. Specifically, he called for:
--eliminating a charge on residents who drive within, or leave, the fee zone;
--crafting a plan that will make the City and State eligible for $354 million in federal funds;
--ensuring that funds raised are dedicated to mass transit improvements;
--including a comprehensive approach to the issuance of government parking placards.
To read his full testimony, click here.
January 16, 2008
Garodnick, Elected Officials Launch "Shop Second Avenue" Campaign to Support Local Businesses During Subway Construction
A coalition of Second Avenue business owners, along with Council Member Dan Garodnick, Assembly Member Jonathan Bing and fellow East Side elected officials, have launched a grass-roots “Shop Second Avenue” campaign to assist businesses affected by the construction of the Second Avenue Subway.
Second Avenue Subway construction has been occurring between 91st and 96th Streets since April 2007. The loss of sidewalks and curbside parking, along with the relocation of several stores’ entrances, is taking its toll on businesses. The “Shop Second Avenue” campaign combines community outreach, a partnership with the MTA, and State legislation to ease the burden for businesses along Second Avenue from 91st to 96th Streets — where subway construction is limiting foot traffic to the storefronts and causing other disruptions for merchants.
“These businesses are taking a hit for all of us,” said Council Member Dan Garodnick. “If you support the Second Avenue Subway, you should support these merchants who are struggling now. Join us in eating, drinking and shopping in this neighborhood — they need our help.”
January 10, 2008
Garodnick Applauds Mayor for Parking Placard Proposal
Council Member Garodnick praised Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to account for all City-issued parking placards, to reduce their number by 20 percent and to improve enforcement of placard abuse.
“With privilege comes responsibility — and Mayor Bloomberg has taken a very positive step toward making sure that parking privileges are handled responsibly,” said Council Member Garodnick. “At a time when we are carefully considering solutions to congestion, we need to take a look at the role of placards in encouraging people to drive.”
The Mayor’s proposal mirrors a call for accountability that Garodnick laid out in Intro 504, a bill he introduced last year, as well as Garodnick’s support for reasonable measures to reduce congestion.
January 8, 2008
Garodnick to Con Ed: Steam Pipe Blast Report Offers More Questions Than Answers
Two months after its expected release, Con Edison released a report on the cause of the July 18 steam pipe blast in midtown Manhattan — a report that Council Member Garodnick said raised more questions than answers.
According to the report, the explosion, which killed one person and badly injured others, was apparently caused by a clump of sealant that clogged a valve and allowed pressure to build. However, Council Member Garodnick said, “I’m not even slightly satisfied with what we know today, and no New Yorker should be.
“Con Ed supposedly inspects steam traps every two months, but this faulty repair was made four months before the explosion — so why wasn’t it caught earlier?” Council Member Garodnick continued: “Con Ed says it has replaced the 1,654 similar valves in the system — but that doesn’t happen overnight. What took Con Ed so long to level with the City about how this tragedy happened and what action they are taking to ensure that the system is safe?”
A second City Council oversight hearing to investigate the steam pipe blast will be held on January 22.
December 28, 2007
Garodnick Bill Targets Unlicensed Debt Collectors
With the holiday shopping season in full swing, Council Member Garodnick introduced new legislation to improve the supervision of debt collectors. As many as 42 percent of consumer debt cases tried in New York City Civil Court are brought by unlicensed collection agencies, which are frequently third-party debt buyers with no prior relationship to the New Yorkers they are suing. Residents who are sued by unlicensed debt collectors often find themselves answering baseless claims made by companies they do not know and cannot even contact. Council Member Garodnick’s bill is targeted at giving the Department of Consumer Affairs jurisdiction over those debt collectors.
"Too many residents today find themselves pursued by unknown entities over debts that they may not even have," said Council Member Garodnick. "New Yorkers are defaulting on these claims in record numbers, and this is having a disturbing impact on our working poor. This spiral of debt not only impacts individual families, but the overall economic health of the City."
December 11, 2007
Garodnick Appointed Co-Chair of Infrastructure Task Force
As the City Council begins to take a closer look at the impact of major expansion projects on the existing infrastructure, Speaker Christine Quinn appointed Council Member Garodnick co-Chair of the Council's new Infrastructure Task Force.
Projects like Eastside Access, the Second Avenue Subway, Moynihan Station and the World Trade Center Redevelopment, which are being undertaken by a wide range of non-City entities, currently have no coordinating entity operating on the city level that can weigh the implications of their development on the city as a whole. As New York City continues to grow and evolve, we need to take the long view, and make sure that our infrastructure keeps pace with our development plans. As we all learned from last summer's steam pipe explosion and the Queens blackout of 2006 — not to mention the recent bridge collapse in Minnesota — aging infrastructure that is not kept in a state of good repair can have a devastating impact.
The reliability of our energy, transportation and water systems depends on making responsible commitments now. The goal of the Infrastructure Task Force will be to ensure that these commitments are in place so that as we grow we do not become victims of our own success.
November 25, 2007
Garodnick Continues to Push Community's Priorities at Development Site
At a public hearing held by the Borough President, Council Member Garodnick reiterated his reservations about the East River Realty Company's proposed rezoning of the former Con Edison Waterside site on First Avenue. Despite commitments by the developer to create affordable housing and dedicate space at the site for a new public school, Council Member Garodnick remains concerned about the height and density of ERRC's proposed towers, the availability of open space, and the shadows that the towers will throw on neighborhood parks.
As Council Member Garodnick said in his testimony, "Regardless of any concessions the developer has already made, or the developer's own devotion to his vision, this Uniform Land Use Review Procedure is not a rubber-stamp. It is neither a coronation nor a pre-determination. The community will have a say in this process, and its voice will be heard."
November 15, 2007
Garodnick Announces Commitment for Affordable Housing, New School at Proposed Development Site
Council Member Garodnick, along with fellow East Side Elected Officials, announced commitments from the East River Realty Corporation that will provide for the inclusion of permanently affordable housing, as well as dedicated space for a new public school at the company’s proposed development on the site of the former Con Edison Waterside plant on First Avenue.
The elected officials had put affordable housing and a new school high on their list of conditions before they would begin considering the developer’s proposal to rezone his properties from low-scale manufacturing zoning to high-density mixed-use.
At a press conference to announce the commitments, Council Member Garodnick sent a message that this is the first step in a very long process: “Without this commitment, we could not have had any serious conversation about rezoning this area. Today, we are sending the right message – along with new development, we need to have the necessary infrastructure to support it," he said.
November 5, 2007
Upper East Side Electeds Applaud Buildings Dept. for Revoking Church Catering Permit
East Side elected officials won relief for residents near the Third Church of Christ Scientist at 583 Park Avenue when the Department of Buildings took steps to revoke permission for the church to hold catered events. Council Member Garodnick, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Liz Krueger, and Assembly Member Jonathan Bing had repeatedly asked the DOB for a review of the permit granted to the church last year which allowed it to convert to a 7-day-a-week party venue for events up to 1,500 people. The DOB’s review found that the events violate zoning rules because they are not “clearly incidental to and customarily found” in connection with a church. “It is clear that the church was becoming the secondary use in this situation,” said Council Member Garodnick. “There should never be a commercial catering facility in a zoned residential area."
October 29, 2007
Garodnick Cuts Ribbon on New Library at Wagner Middle School
Council Member Garodnick joined parents and staff of Robert F. Wagner Middle School for a ribbon-cutting at the school’s new, state-of-the-art library. Council Member Garodnick helped secure funds to renovate and expand the library, but his commitment didn’t stop there. Over the summer, Council Member Garodnick organized a book drive that brought in over 4,000 books which will help fill the library’s shelves.
October 26, 2007
Garodnick Introduces Tenant Harassment Bill
Council Member Garodnick, along with Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, introduced important new legislation that gives tenants the power to sue their landlords for harassment.
Under existing law, if a landlord repeatedly cuts off a tenant's heat or hot water, that tenant would have to take their landlord to Housing Court for each offense. Even where there is violence or the threat of violence directed toward a tenant, or where landlords pursue tenants through frivolous court proceedings, there is currently no legal cause of action for tenants to claim that they are being harassed out of their homes.
Intro 627 sets this right. It gives tenants a fair chance to fight back — by using the power of the courts to counter the tools of intimidation. On the East Side, there has been a startling rise in the number of legal challenges on rent-stabilized tenants' very right to occupy their apartments. Under Intro 627, a Housing Court judge would have the right to rule whether this practice rises to the level of harassment, fine the landlord and stop a pattern of abuse.
Tenants have a right to more than just basic services; they have a right to peace, dignity and respect. This bill creates consequences for those landlords who make victims out of their tenants, and it will provide a deterrent against future harassment in all its forms.
October 17, 2007
Garodnick Testifies Against 91st Street Marine Transfer Station
Last year, the City of New York passed a 20-year Solid Waste Management Plan to evenly distribute the burdens of waste management across the boroughs, and to move to a greener and more efficient method of transporting our garbage. Council Member Garodnick voted against the plan in the Council because it included reopening and expanding the Marine Transfer Station (MTS) at East 91st Street — a facility in the heart of a residential neighborhood, and in the middle of a park.
This month, Council Member Garodnick testified before the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to raise his strong concerns with this plan. Not only is the 91st Street neighborhood inappropriate for a waste-handling facility, but the MTS will add idling garbage trucks to our already-congested streets. He suggested other more appropriate locations that the City should consider, instead of this thriving neighborhood.
October 9, 2007
Garodnick Funds After-School Programs to Keep Arts in Schools
This year, Council Member Garodnick is funding four top-quality cultural programs in local public schools through the Council’s Cultural After School Adventure (CASA) initiative. With the help of the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, Ballet Hispanico and Inside Broadway, hundreds of students will round out their educational experience through an exploration of the fine arts, dance, and theater — the kids will create their own works, and even put on their own play. This funding builds on Council Member Garodnick’s efforts to connect local public schools with cultural institutions that incorporate arts into the study of other academic subjects.
October 1, 2007
Garodnick Participates in Vendor Enforcement Sweep
Council Member Garodnick, along with the Mayor's Community Assistance Unit, the 19th Precinct, the Department of Consumer Affairs, and the Department of Health, conducted a vendor enforcement sweep on the 86th Street corridor. Vendor violations have been a continual problem in this area, and more enforcement like this is needed until we have additional legislative tools to address this issue.
September 27, 2007
Neighbors Unite at Garodnick’s Public Safety Forum
In response to a daytime shooting on 93rd Street and First Avenue on September 10, Council Member Garodnick quickly organized a public safety forum for residents of the area. Deputy Inspector James Murtagh, the commanding officer of the 19th Precinct, took questions from the community, explained what the NYPD is doing to ensure safety, and distributed “Wanted” posters for the shooting suspect. Neighbors came together in a way they never had before, and six days after the forum — following a tip from the community about the suspected shooter’s whereabouts — police arrested the suspect.
Two weeks later, the seven people from the area were charged with narcotics offenses. The police recognized the efforts of Council Member Garodnick’s office in helping to raise awareness of local crime issues.
September 18, 2007
Garodnick, Maloney Demand Compensation for Businesses Hit by Blast
Council Member Garodnick joined Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney in standing up for the local businesses that suffered lost economic activity due to the Con Ed steam pipe blast. A survey by Congresswoman Maloney's office found losses totaling $1.3 million from 71 street-level businesses — and Council Member Garodnick said that Con Ed has a responsibility to compensate them.
"The losses caused by this event cannot just be treated as a cost of doing business," said Council Member Garodnick. "The mom-and-pop establishments near the blast site did not assume any risk by locating on Lexington Avenue, and they should not bear the burden of this catastrophe. Con Ed needs to do better."
Council Member Garodnick pledged to continue working with the Department of Small Business Services to ensure that local merchants have all the City's resources available to them.
August 9, 2007
Garodnick Calls for Answers, Compensation from Con Edison
On August 7, the City Council convened an oversight hearing that Council Member Garodnick had requested on July's Con Edison steam pipe explosion. Unfortunately, the aftermath of the explosion was made worse by Con Ed's arrogance and unwillingness to provide answers to basic questions. CEO Kevin Burke was a no-show at the hearing, and his representative gave no clues about the cause of the blast.
Council Member Garodnick and his colleagues in government have vowed to continue to demand answers and to ensure that the City take all steps necessary to ensure the safety of the infrastructure.
August 7, 2007
Garodnick Delivers Message on Sidewalk Cycling to Local Businesses
On July 26, a new City law went into effect requiring restaurants and other bicycle delivery businesses to post signs that remind their employees about the rules of the road. To make sure that area businesses follow the rules — and make pedestrian safety a priority — Council Member Garodnick went door-to-door to several restaurants on the Upper East Side to help them put up the City-approved posters. Council Member Garodnick plans to expand that effort across the district to educate local merchants on the law.
August 3, 2007
Mayor Bloomberg Signs Garodnick's Facade Inspection Bill
Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed a bill authored by Council Member Dan Garodnick that would streamline the process for mandatory building facade inspections. Intro 550-A staggers the five-year cycles for building façade inspections, relieving the owners of some 12,000 buildings Citywide from having to compete for a limited number of architects and scaffolds, and from having to pay a premium for the high-demand services.
In praise of Garodnick’s legislation, Mayor Bloomberg said, “Intro 550-A will ease the burden on both owners and the Department of Buildings. It will enhance enforcement by allowing the Department of Buildings to avoid the surge in filings that occurs every five years, and to spread out the review of filings and inspections of buildings more evenly over each cycle.”
August 2, 2007
Garodnick Congratulates Restaurant, Workers on Labor Agreement
Council Member Garodnick recently helped negotiate a settlement between the restaurant Daniel and a group of its workers who had filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the owners. Over a number of months, Council Member Garodnick helped to find common ground and an equitable solution for both the workers and Daniel's ownership. In this and other cases — like solving noise disputes between residents and neighboring business — Council Member Garodnick has embraced mediation for its effectiveness, even where there is no formal role for the City.
Read more about the Daniel settlement in the New York Times
July 30, 2007
Garodnick Announces Council Oversight Hearing on Steampipe Explosion
Reacting immediately to the explosion of a steampipe in the heart of the midtown business district, Council Member Garodnick announced that on August 7, the City Council will hold an oversight hearing on the explosion and on the safety of our infrastructure. In a statement, Council Member Garodnick said:
"The rupture of a 24-inch steam pipe in the heart of Manhattan’s business district raises real questions about the safety and security of our infrastructure. It goes without saying that pipes and streets simply should not be exploding in midtown Manhattan, or anywhere in New York City. Accordingly, the City Council will be holding an oversight hearing in early August to get answers to the many concerns raised by yesterday’s explosion.
Among the questions:
(1) Why were the pipes so vulnerable to heavy rain?
(2) How was the area above the pipes inspected earlier in the day, but no vulnerability found?
(3) What exactly did Con Edison find during the inspection of the pipes?
(4) What could they have found that would have indicated immediate danger?
(5) Is a six-week inspection schedule sufficient for old pipes?
(6) This Council District contains an area with a very high density of steam pipes; what other pipes may be similarly at risk?
(7) What more could Con Edison have done to prevent this explosion?
(8) What will it take to ensure that this does not happen again?
(9) Why should New Yorkers feel assured that the air quality around the blast site is safe?
I will be working aggressively to secure the answers to these questions, and to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers. I look forward to testimony directly from Con Edison, and thank Speaker Christine Quinn for her willingness to hold a hearing on this matter."
July 19, 2007
Garodnick Presses Rent Guidelines Board to Protect Stabilized Tenants
Council Member Garodnick warned the Rent Guidelines Board that rent increases for stabilized units would pose additional challenges to tenants already facing a housing squeeze. At a public hearing of the RGB on June 19, Garodnick pointed out that between 1996 and 2005, moderate income tenants saw their share of income that went towards their rent increase from 34 to 40 percent — even while median incomes have fallen.
"The Rent Guidelines Board has a critical role in ensuring low and middle income New Yorkers can continue living in the neighborhoods where they have raised their families, created businesses and built a community," said Garodnick. "The loss of affordable housing not only means an even higher demand for rent stabilized units, but also will have long term effects on the diversity and stability of our city."
June 28, 2007
M23 Bus Stops to Be Restored
Council Member Dan Garodnick, along with Senator Tom Duane and Council Member Rosie Mendez, announced that the MTA has agreed to restore two stops along the M23 bus route, in response to their requests. The M23 will once again make eastbound stops on the southwest corner of 23rd Street and Fifth Avenue, and westbound stops at the northeast corner of 23rd Street and Broadway, adjacent to Madison Square Park.
Transit officials removed those stops last summer in an attempt to improve the speed of the crosstown route. As Garodnick, Duane and Mendez pointed out, though eliminating the stops was especially challenging for senior and disabled passengers who transfer from the M23 to Fifth Avenue buses or to the R and W subway lines. Transfer options that were formerly just a few feet away had become separated by a long block and a double-wide bowtie intersection.
"We thank the MTA for hearing our concerns," said Council Member Garodnick. "We need to improve the speed of the M23, but removing these stops separated the bus from other important transit connections."
June 12, 2007
Garodnick Convenes Architects to Design New Vision for East Side Waterfront
Council Member Garodnick, along with the Municipal Art Society, Community Board 6 and East Side elected officials, brought together six of the world's leading landscape architects to design a new vision for the East Side waterfront at the Con Edison Waterside site. The architects’ collaboration — a revolutionary approach to planning in the City — was based closely on input from the various stakeholders in the neighborhood, including local residents, government agencies and land developers.
Council Member Garodnick's district ranks last in the City for public open space, and the City now has a rare opportunity to reclaim the waterfront for local residents. By teaming with each other and all of the stakeholders, the designers created a workable, realistic plan for public access to the river — a plan that Council Member Garodnick hopes will serve as the blueprint that guides the future of this area.
June 10, 2007
Garodnick Voices Support for Anti-Congestion Measures
At a press conference in the middle of Times Square, Council Member Garodnick backed measures proposed by Mayor Bloomberg to combat congestion by making it easier for traffic enforcement agents to write tickets for blocking intersections, or "blocking the box."
Council Member Garodnick is supporting Bloomberg's call for a new state law that would reclassify blocking the box from a moving violation to a non-moving violation, like a parking ticket. Doing so would allow more traffic enforcement agents to write tickets for the offense — currently, only a fraction of traffic agents are qualified to write moving violations — and would make for quicker ticket writing, as agents could simply enter a driver's license plate number rather than pull the driver over. "Drivers who block intersections and turn our boulevards into parking lots should get parking tickets," Garodnick said.
May 24, 2007
Thousands Rally at Stuyvesant Town for Affordable Housing
Thousands of New Yorkers from across the boroughs made a human chain around Stuyvesant Town to demand stronger laws to protect tenants and the preservation of affordable housing. Calling Stuyvesant Town a real and symbolic battleground for affordable housing, Council Member Garodnick told the rallying crowd that the complex's new owners had created a "culture of fear" among rent-stabilized tenants. Council Member Garodnick said he has seen a sharp rise in the number of calls to his office from residents facing legal challenges to their tenancy. In response, he organized a series of free legal clinics to advise rent-stabilized residents of their protections under the law. "The overwhelming demand for these clinics shows that tenants have a lot of concerns," said Council Member Garodnick.
May 23, 2007
Garodnick Calls for Increased Protections From Tenant Harassment
Council Member Garodnick joined a lesbian couple who are suing on the grounds of housing discrimination in order to speak out for greater protections from harassment by landlords. The case — in which the couple's landlord allegedly threatened them, cut off their heat and hot water, and committed assault in order to get them and their 3-year-old daughter to move out — serves as a striking example of the need for additional tenant protections, Garodnick said. Council Member Garodnick and Council Speaker Christine Quinn are eyeing legislation that would make it easier for tenants to bring a harassment case in housing court.
May 21, 2007
Garodnick Turns City Hall Into Student Art Gallery
Council Member Garodnick transformed City Council chambers into an art gallery for a show of student art by East Side kids on the subject of “New York City in the Year 2030.” Over 150 parents and children viewed 82 pieces created by elementary and middle school students, who shared their visions of the City’s future growth, transportation and environment.
Following Mayor Bloomberg’s announcement of the PlaNYC 2030 report for sustainability in the City, Council Member Garodnick asked students in his Council district to envision life in the future. “As a city, we will need bold ideas to meet the challenges that we’re certain to face in 2030 — congestion relief, finding affordable housing, reducing our pollution and improving our transportation even as we grow,” he said. “Children don’t consider the words ‘impossible’ or ‘impractical,’ and that helped make this art exhibit so much fun.”
May 16, 2007
Garodnick Goes to Starrett City to Show Solidarity
Council Member Garodnick went to Starrett City to show solidarity between the tenants there and those in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. Testifying at a public hearing of the State Assembly at Brooklyn’s Starrett City housing complex, Council Member Garodnick offered his support for legislation that would extend rent protections to apartments leaving the Mitchell-Lama program, and drew comparisons between Starrett City — a 46-tower 5,800-unit Mitchell-Lama complex was offered for sale earlier this year — and the sale of ST/PCV. “These two large communities have long been known for their affordability, their stability, and the fact that they were accessible to working families," Council Member Garodnick said. "Today, the residents of those two communities are joined in a struggle that is both real and symbolic to the cause of preserving affordable housing in this City.”
Read Council Member Garodnick's complete testimony
May 11, 2007
Garodnick, Elected Officials Score Victory for Tenants
Council Member Garodnick, Council Speaker Christine Quinn and other elected officials scored a victory for tenants in their appeal to the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) to change the time of its public hearings in order to allow for greater input from renters. The RGB — the body that determines the allowable increases for rent-stabilized leases — originally scheduled both its preliminary and final votes in the middle of the day, when many tenants would be at work and unable to attend. After considering the argument presented by Garodnick and the elected officials in a letter, the board decided to change the time of the meetings to suit the majority of working people. “Timing is everything,” Garodnick said. “If you schedule a meeting when nobody can attend, it’s not much of a meeting.” The new date and time for the preliminary vote and the final vote is May 7 and June 22, respectively, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
April 27, 2007
Garodnick Introduces Energy Code Legislation
Following Mayor Bloomberg’s PLANYC 2030 sustainability announcement, Council Member Garodnick introduced legislation that would formally require the New York City Department of Buildings to implement the State Energy Code of 2002 and require greater efficiency from new and remodeled buildings.
A full 79 percent of the city’s carbon dioxide emissions come from buildings, but to date, the energy code has gone unenforced.
”We already have the legislative tools at our disposal to demand greater energy efficiency from city buildings — now we just have to use them,” said Council Member Garodnick. “Putting the State Energy Code into effect will allow us to literally construct a greener environment, without placing an undue burden on new development.”
While Mayor Bloomberg made enforcement of the energy code one of the goals of his sustainability plan, Garodnick’s bill, Intro 564, would turn that goal into law, and expand the reach of the existing code to cover a greater number of building projects.
April 23, 2007
Garodnick Cuts Ribbon on New Greenstreet at 20th St. and First Ave.
At an event that marked the culmination of a year-long effort to redesign the intersection of 20th Street and First Avenue with improved pedestrian safety in mind, Council Member Garodnick cut the ribbon on a new Greenstreet at the northeast corner of that intersection. The Greenstreet arose directly from the safety improvements, which included realigning a crosswalk to make pedestrians more visible to drivers, and lengthening the time for pedestrians to cross First Avenue — making it the longest crossing time in the entire City of New York.
“This intersection today is both safer and greener, and much more friendly to pedestrians,” said Council Member Garodnick. “It has for too long been an extremely dangerous crossing, but we have taken steps to address that situation and to reclaim green park space in an area that is starved for it.”
April 11, 2007
Garodnick Introduces Bill to Improve Compliance with City Facade Rules
Citing the high cost imposed by rules that require mass simultaneous building inspections citywide, Council Member Garodnick introduced a bill that would stagger the mandated inspections of building facades. Local Law 11 of 1982 forces every building over six stories to undergo a “critical examination” of its facade every five years. Buildings constructed prior to 1982 are all on the same five-year cycle for those examinations — which are due again this year — causing a run on scaffolds, architects and construction companies.
“The existing law creates an artificially high demand for the limited supply of scaffolds, sidewalk sheds and contractors — and that means unnecessary costs for building owners and co-op shareholders,” said Garodnick. By staggering the dates for inspection, Garodnick says his legislation will save money and make compliance with City building safety laws less burdensome.
March 28, 2007
Garodnick Testifies in Support of West 50s Landmarks
Testifying before the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), Council Member Garodnick encouraged the landmarking of 10 and 30 West 56th Street, and urged the LPC to take a stronger stand against the demolition of notable structures in the West 50s. Council Member Garodnick pointed out that a booming market for luxury residential and commercial development is encroaching on the Special Midtown Preservation Subdistrict created by the City in 1982 — where, in fact, four historic townhouses have been lost since last fall. "Though the City's zoning regulations fall outside of your formal responsibilities," Garodnick told the commission, "I do ask that you take this particular situation into account as you prioritize landmark hearings in the future."
Read Council Member Garodnick's full testimony
March 13, 2007
Schools, Arts Groups Connect at Garodnick’s Cultural Forum
Council Member Garodnick brought 22 cultural institutions together with East Side public school principals to build dynamic relationships in arts education. The first-of-its-kind Cultural Education Forum was designed to make City-funded cultural groups better aware of the local schools that are the best fit for their educational programming — while helping principals realize the full range of cultural education options available to energize their students.
Representatives from nine museums, plus theatre, music and dance groups, as well as community development organizations such as Chess in the Schools and Friends of James Joyce, explained what they can offer to enhance studies in the arts and across multiple subject areas. Council Member Garodnick said, “I hope this pilot program will serve as a model for building a bridge between our great cultural organizations and City schools.”
March 8, 2007
Garodnick Calls for Increased Transparency from Chancellor
In his State of the City address in January, Mayor Bloomberg outlined a major expansion of his Children First school reforms that involves dismantling the current school system and rebuilding it within six months. These changes will affect the fundamental ways that principals run their schools, and the resources they have available to them. Yet the Department of Education has offered principals few if any specifics about the plan — which is scheduled to go into effect on July 1.
Council Member Garodnick communicated to DOE Chancellor Joel Klein in detail the concerns that he shares with educators:
· Principals are being forced to make critical choices without adequate information;
· The condensed timeframe risks disrupting summer school;
· New funding formulas must not punish high-performing schools; and
· A coherent plan for special education must be established.
Council Member Garodnick has committed to doing everything in his power to equip educators with the information and support that they need as these reforms move forward.
Read Council Member Garodnick's letter to Chancellor Klein
February 28, 2007
Council Passes Legislation to Improve Nightlife Security
The City Council overwhelmingly passed legislation that Council Member Garodnick co-sponsored to strengthen nightlife security and to crack down on negligent clubs and bars. The first of these bills allows the City to require an independent monitor for cabarets and public dance halls with serious or repeat violations. The second bill allows the City to shut down businesses selling or making fake IDs, in an effort to target underage drinking. The nightlife industry has always made New York unique, and has added significantly to the City economy, but we need these laws in order to properly monitor clubs with repeat violations and to cut down on underage drinking.
February 28, 2007
Garodnick Introduces Legislation to Bring Transparency to Government Parking Placards
Council Member Garodnick introduced legislation that would, for the first time, shed sunlight on the distribution of free-parking placards to City employees. Intro 504 would require City agencies to report the number of placards they issue.
A recent article in the New York Times reported that 35 percent of government employees who work in Manhattan drive to work each day — double the all-industry average for this borough — which puts a burden on traffic, quality of life, and the environment. As the Partnership for New York City has put the cost of traffic congestion on the City's regional economy at $13 billion per year, Council Member Garodnick seeks, through this legislation, to get a handle on the number of placards in order to gauge their role in the congestion of our roadways.
Intro 504 will also serve as the first step in gaining an accurate picture of placard distribution and in ensuring the responsible use of government parking privileges.
February 1, 2007
Garodnick Announces Opening of 59th and Lexington Subway Entrance
Two years after the construction of a subway entrance at the base of the Bloomberg Tower at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue, Council Member Garodnick announced that it would finally open for the first time. The entrance — at a critical station on an already over-burdened subway line — had remained closed due to a dispute between New York City Transit and Vornado Realty Trust, which owns the tower. As the two sides neared an understanding, Council Member Garodnick urged them to come to an agreement by the end of January. Now, commuters on the 4, 5, and 6, as well as the N, R, and W subway lines in the heart of Midtown will finally have increased access to this important station.
January 30, 2007
Garodnick Questions Schools Chancellor on Latest Proposed Reforms
Stating his concern that changes to school funding formulas could have adverse effects on high-performing schools on the East Side, Council Member Garodnick pressed Chancellor Joel Klein for specifics on the Chancellor's proposed reforms, at a hearing of the City Council's Education Committee. Garodnick will continue to monitor the implementation of the reforms to ensure that essential services currently provided to schools by the Regional offices will not be jeopardized in the Department of Education's restructuring.
January 25, 2007
Garodnick Urges Sweeping Regulations on Pedicabs
At a public hearing of Community Board 5 on the subject of pedicab regulations, Council Member Garodnick called for new City laws to ensure personal safety and consumer protection. Council Member Garodnick encouraged the requirement of road tests similar to those mandated for taxi drivers, physical safety inspections of pedicabs — to include seatbelts — and insurance and licensing for pedicab owners and drivers. "Only through proper oversight and regulation should pedicabs continue offering services to residents and tourists," said Garodnick.
Read Council Member Garodnick's Testimony on Pedicab Regulations
January 3, 2007
Garodnick Testifies Against DHCR Proposals that Would Unfairly Favor Landlords
Council Member Garodnick testified against five proposals from the State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) that would stack the deck against tenants, voicing special opposition to a plan that would expand the pool of apartments subject to luxury decontrol. The DHCR proposals would double the security deposits required from new tenants, ease eviction proceedings, permit rent increases based on lead paint abatement, and allow luxury decontrol in buildings currently receiving 421a or J51 tax benefits — leading Council Member Garodnick to state, "Each of these amendments unfairly shifts the balance of power to landlords over tenants." Regarding the proposal on luxury decontrol, Council Member Garodnick said it would be a "usurpation of the authority of the City Council."
He added, "Even if it were legal, the proposed amendment would be unfair to tenants and to the City. Property owners who applied for and received these benefits knew that, in exchange for the benefits, they were subjecting themselves to restrictions on deregulation. To suddenly free them from those restrictions, without any corresponding benefits for tenants the City, would constitute a windfall."
Read Council Member Garodnick's Testimony to the DHCR
December 4, 2006
Garodnick Honors Seniors Involved in Community Advocacy
Council Member Garodnick addressed the 25th graduating class of the Institute for Senior Action, praising them for taking an active advocacy role in their communities and describing firsthand the successes that seniors in his district had achieved in the fight to preserve Stuyvesant Town and in advocating for important programs in the City budget. The IFSA is a program of the Joint Public Affairs Committee for Older Adults that trains seniors on federal, state and city legislative processes and on how thy can influence those processes through effective advocacy.
November 30, 2006
Garodnick to NYPD: Parade Rules Are Too Restrictive to Protect Right of Assembly
In testimony to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Council Member Garodnick called NYPD's proposed parade rules "vague, overbroad and not narrowly tailored enough to achieve their objectives." The proposed rules state that a "recognizable group" of 30 or more vehicles or bicycles would require a permit to use City streets — even if they follow all applicable traffic rules. Likewise, a group of 10 or more pedestrians or vehicles who do not follow all traffic rules for more than two blocks, would constitute a parade and require a permit.
Council Member Garodnick wrote that these rules "will inevitably create confusion and will unreasonably restrict the public's right to assemble." He also raised a concern that the rules could affect everyday, legal activities like funerals, weddings and small group bicycle rides, adding, "We must caution against creating rules that have the broader effect of infringing on the civil rights of all New Yorkers."
Read Council Member Garodnick's Testimony to Commissioner Kelly
November 28, 2006
Garodnick Meets with Residents to Address Concerns from 2nd Avenue Subway Construction
Council Member Garodnick brokered a meeting between officials from the MTA and residents of Astor Terrace, at East 93rd Street and Second Avenue, in order to mitigate those residents' concerns about the impact that Second Avenue Subway construction might have on their building. Council Member Garodnick requested a detailed explanation from the MTA regarding the siting of a station entrance in the building and other issues raised by the residents.
November 28, 2006
Garodnick Keeps Heat on Stuy Town Management and Visits Chilly Apartments
In response to complaints about heat, Council Member Garodnick visited a number of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village apartments to spot check heating levels around the community. With digital thermometer in hand, Council Member Garodnick has been moving around the complex to check temperature readings. "My office is taking steps to confirm that heat is not only at a comfortable level throughout the community but that it is also evenly distributed — apartment by apartment, room by room," Garodnick said. "With winter just beginning, this will be an ongoing effort."
November 22, 2006
Hundreds of Seniors Receive Flu Shots at Garodnick-Sponsored Events
Some 200 residents of Isaacs / Holmes and another 120 seniors from across the East Side were able to receive free flu shots at events sponsored by Council Member Garodnick. The shots, dispensed by Weill Cornell Medical Center and the Visiting Nurse Service, were arranged by Council Member Garodnick in order to bring preventative medicine to underserved communities.
November 10, 2006
Garodnick Recognized for Perfect Attendance at Council Meetings
Council Member Garodnick was recognized as one of just four City Council members with a perfect attendance record at committee hearings and meetings of the full Council. Speaker Christine Quinn has made attendance a priority for the body, which has already shown a marked improvement in its absentee rate over 2005. Council Member Garodnick supports this and other initiatives to make the Council a more responsive, transparent body.
November 10, 2006
Garodnick Testifies Against Modern Glass Tower in Upper East Side Historic District
At a hearing of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Council Member Garodnick testified in opposition to the proposed development at 980 Madison Avenue that would erect a 355-foot modern glass tower in the heart of the Upper East Side Historic District, and within the boundaries of the Madison Avenue Preservation Special District. In his testimony, Council Member Garodnick stated that the tower "does not resonate with any of the surrounding historic buildings" and exceeds by nearly double the height allowed by current zoning regulations.
View Council Member Garodnick's testimony
October 24, 2006
October 24, 2006
Garodnick Calls for Reform to State Tax Abatements to Encourage More Affordable Housing
Council Member Garodnick joined elected and labor officials in calling for reform of the State's 421-a property tax abatement, to encourage the development of more affordable housing. Council Member Garodnick is strongly in favor of reforming the 421-a program to create more affordable housing and to curtail subsidies for the building of market-rate apartments.
October 19, 2006
Hundreds Rally in Support of Tenant-Backed Bid for Purchase of Stuyvesant Town
Nearly 1,000 residents of Stuyvesant Town / Peter Cooper Village rallied at Stuyvesant Cove Park to support the tenant-backed bid to purchase the properties. Council Member Garodnick led a host of elected officials to note the enormous progress that has been made — without any formal assistance from the City. "Before the tenants began to organize, the discussion among bidders was just about dollars," Garodnick said. "Today, the discussion is also about affordability and protecting the tenants who live here today. Make no mistake about it: Your presence, our standing together and our unity, is being felt and is impacting this sale."
October 15, 2006
Garodnick and Mayor's Office Combine for Street Vendor Enforcement Action
Working with the Mayor's Community Assistance Unit and the East 86th Street Merchants and Residents Association, Council Member Garodnick recently helped coordinate a successful vendor enforcement action at multiple locations across the Upper East Side. Twenty-six summonses were written by inspectors from the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Health and by officers of the 19th Precinct. The effort was valuable not only in directly addressing an important concern in our neighborhood, but also as the City Council considers legislative solutions to vendor issues. "We need to do a better job enforcing street vendor rules because violations have a negative impact on our quality of life. The safety of pedestrians — not to mention the economic health of storefront businesses — depends on more open access to our sidewalks, and that requires enforcement of the law," Council Member Garodnick said.
October 13, 2006
Stuyvesant Town / Peter Cooper Village Tenants Make Bid to Purchase the Property with Support from Council Member Garodnick
An investor group supported by the Stuyvesant Town / Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association, Council Member Garodnick and Council Speaker Christine Quinn submitted a competitive, $4.5 billion bid to purchase the property from MetLife and preserve as much affordability as possible in the complex.
At Council Member Garodnick's request, the Council convened a hearing to discuss the potential sale and the effect it could have on the city's affordable housing stock. "We need to take a stand in defense of the middle class in New York," Council Member Garodnick said.
Building on the effort to maintain the affordability and economic strength of the city, Council Member Garodnick co-sponsored legislation introduced by Council Member Rosie Mendez. The Housing Impact Study Bill would give the City 120 days to study the impact of any real estate transaction involving property of more than 2,000 units, with over half covered by rent protections. At a rally to support the bill, Council Member Garodnick said, "MetLife is selling the opportunity to turn the 11,232 units of Stuyvesant Town into a so-called market rate master community, and the City will not simply take a pass and watch this happen."
October 11, 2006
Garodnick Honors Jewish War Veterans
Council Member Garodnick was proud to honor the sacrifice and patriotism of the nation's Jewish war veterans, with the dedication of Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. Place, at the intersection of Asser Levy Place and East 23rd Street. The dedication brought to fruition one of Council Member Garodnick's earliest acts in office, as the bill to co-name the street was one of the first he sponsored in the Council.
September 29, 2006
Garodnick Seeks Clarification on East Side Rat Extermination Efforts
In light of reports in the press and in the Mayor's Management Report indicating that rat exterminations by the Department of Health are down 39 percent — even as pest control complaints doubled their 2002 levels — Council Member Garodnick communicated with Deputy Commissioner Jessica Leighton to ask for clarification on the Department's response to rat infestations. Deputy Commissioner Leighton had stated that the drop in exterminations was due to increased rat prevention efforts, but as Council Member Garodnick pointed out, the growing number of complaints "raises a concern about how the Department measures the success of the prevention strategy."
September 28, 2006
Garodnick Co-Hosts Transportation Forums
Council Member Garodnick co-hosted, with Borough President Scott Stringer, a pair of transportation forums which brought together the public, policymakers and transportation experts. The forums were held in anticipation of the Borough President's October 12 transportation summit which will seek to identify innovative solutions for managing growth and traffic congestion, and for creating an integrated transportation infrastructure. With increased development planned for the former Con Edison site and other locations across the East Side, Council Member Garodnick welcomed the opportunities to hear from residents about the traffic issues they currently face and to stress the need of a comprehensive transportation plan that includes the Second Avenue Subway, Bus Rapid Transit and additional attention to the needs of pedestrians.
September 28, 2006
Garodnick Announces Exploration of Tenant-Backed Bid to Purchase Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village
Council Member Garodnick and the Stuyvesant Town / Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association announced the formation of a tenant group that will explore the possibility of submitting a bid for the purchase of the property from MetLife. This investor group, backed by tenants, would purchase the properties on terms that support the preservation of affordable housing. Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Member Garodnick both sent letters to MetLife requesting the information and documents necessary to draft a bid proposal.
September 5, 2006
Garodnick's District-Wide Newsrack Survey Finds Widespread Violations
The sidewalks of the 4th Council District contain 1,131 newsracks — and 746 violations for improper placement and maintenance — according to a district-wide survey by Council Member Garodnick's office. Following his May, 2006, Quality of Life forum, Garodnick launched the newsrack study, sending interns to every street corner in the district (one corner of Madison Avenue and East 79th Street alone has 18 newsracks) to determine exactly how pervasive the problem is. The survey is a vital piece of research as Garodnick considers legislation that balances the First Amendment rights of publishers against residents' desire for unobstructed sidewalks and an uncluttered streetscape.
August 14, 2006
Garodnick Helps Keep Seniors Cool, Power Flowing During Heat Wave
In the midst of record-high temperatures that threatened Manhattan with blackouts, Council Member Garodnick responded with a three-pronged effort to protect vulnerable residents and to encourage conservation as power sources were stretched to the limit.
- Garodnick went door-to-door to businesses along First Avenue, asking them to reduce their electricity usage.
- On two mornings, Garodnick was out in the heat at 23rd Street and First Avenue, and 77th Street at Lexington Avenue, passing out flyers that alerted residents to the urgency of the heat wave, reminded them to stay hydrated and asked them to set their air conditioners at no lower than 78 degrees.
- Additionally, Garodnick and his staff made over 1,000 phone calls, to every Stuyvesant Town / Peter Cooper Village resident aged 80 and over, directing them to the nearest cooling center.
The area of the East Side which the Office of Emergency Management declared to be most at risk of a blackout, 14th Street to 40th Street, from FDR Drive to Fifth Avenue, endured voltage reductions by Con Edison, but never lost power.
August 1-3, 2006
Garodnick Brings Mammogram Van to Isaacs / Holmes
Council Member Garodnick helped bring free breast cancer screenings to women in the Isaacs / Holmes community, arranging for the mammogram van operated by the American-Italian Cancer Foundation and Women's Outreach Network to visit the neighborhood. Garodnick's office called local women over the age of 40 to let them know about the free screenings, and 40 women were able to take part. "It's an amazing and potentially life-saving service, and I think it's ideal for an underserved community like Isaacs / Holmes," Garodnick said.
August 1, 2006
Residents Learn Emergency Preparedness at Garodnick's Forums
Heading into the Atlantic hurricane season, Council Member Garodnick brought residents together for coastal storm-preparedness forums at the Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center and at NYU Medical Center. Any hurricane that made landfall just south of New York would expose areas like Isaacs / Holmes and Waterside Plaza to flooding; a major hurricane could leave those areas under 30 feet of water. Accordingly, Garodnick, working with the Office of Emergency Management, reached out to residents to inform them where their nearest evacuation centers are, how to pack a "go bag" of supplies and documents in the event of an evacuation, and what to expect in the event of an emergency.
July 11-12, 2006
Mayor Bloomberg Joins Garodnick for Opening of 92nd Street Greenmarket
Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined Council Member Garodnick for the grand opening of the 92nd Street Greenmarket, located on First Avenue in front of Isaacs / Holmes Towers. Working with the Office of the Mayor, Garodnick secured a Greenmarket location that won strong support of neighbors, many of whom bought produce from Upstate New York farmers at the grand opening and learned how to make healthy lifestyle choices at the Greenmarket Health Fair. Garodnick said the Greenmarket, the only one on a New York City Housing Authority property, "will be a bridge between NYCHA and the rest of the Upper East Side," and he remains committed to bringing affordable and healthy fruits and vegetables to underserved areas throughout the East Side.
June 25, 2006
Garodnick Hosts Crime Forum for Isaacs / Holmes Residents
Responding to concerns about growing crime at Isaacs / Holmes Towers, and building on his efforts to bring maximum police coverage to the area, Council Member Garodnick hosted a Crime Forum at which he brought together residents, senior officers of the New York Police Department and New York City Housing Authority officials for questions and answers. Officers of the 19th Precinct and Patrol Borough Manhattan North reported on their daily "vertical patrols" — the sweeps they do of each floor of the towers — and encouraged residents to report every crime they see, particularly to build a strong case against suspected drug dealers. Council Member Garodnick questioned the NYCHA officials about the termination policy for tenants engaged in criminal activity, and remains determined to improve the process in order to ensure the safety of the neighborhood.
June 20, 2006
Garodnick Fights Illegal Hotels to Preserve Affordable Housing
Council Member Garodnick and his fellow elected officials on the Illegal Hotels Working Group convened a town hall meeting on June 15 to combat landlords' practice of illegally renting out apartments as hotel rooms. "Too many landlords are illegally renting the apartment next door to tourists. Residents throughout Manhattan are waking up to find that they suddenly live in a hotel — but without the room service," Garodnick said. Garodnick is one of the leaders of the campaign to eliminate illegal hotels, which deplete affordable housing, impact tenant security and drain money from the legitimate New York City tourism industry.
June 15, 2006
Garodnick Asks DOT to Improve 20th and First Intersection with More Urgency
20th Street and 1st Avenue continues to be an unsafe intersection, even more than one month after the tragic death of Dr. Esther Levine of Peter Cooper Village. Council Member Garodnick sent a letter to the Department of Transportation the day before Dr. Levine of Peter Cooper Village was killed about that very intersection. Since then, three "Yield to Pedestrian" signs have been added to the intersection, although no changes have been made to the timing of the lights. Council Member Garodnick is working with the Mayor's Office and the Dr. Esther Levine Make Traffic Safe Now! Committee, a local community group created in response to the accident, to fight for more extensive changes at the site.
May 8, 2006
Garodnick Calls on Chancellor Klein for End to Cell Phone Ban in Schools
In response to the recent enforcement of a total ban on cell phones in schools, Council Member Garodnick urged that students should be allowed to carry cell phones, as long as they are concealed and powered-off. If a cell phone is seen or heard, the administration should be allowed to confiscate the phone and return it only to a parent. A member of the Education Committee, Council Member Garodnick wrote to Schools Chancellor Joel Klein: "This prohibition is overbroad and fails to achieve any reasonable objectives." He added that for parents, "cell phones are their children's safety net, allowing them to check in with their children before and after the school day."
May 8, 2006
Garodnick Supports "Pizza and a Soda" Campaign for Senior Center Funding
In order to adequately fund the meals provided to 13 million New Yorkers each year at senior centers and through meals-on-wheels, Council Member Garodnick is at the forefront of the Council of Senior Centers and Services' "Pizza and Soda Campaign." The campaign is so named because funding for the raw food for each meal is currently just $1.85 for meals at senior centers and $1.89 for meals-on-wheels—prices that can't buy a slice of pizza and a soda in New York. Council Member Garodnick is actively seeking to increase that support—which has been stagnant for seven years—and allow the CSCS to keep providing quality, nutritious meals.
April 26, 2006
Read Council Member Garodnick's Legislative Update
Stuyvesant Town / Peter Cooper Village residents: Learn what submetering will mean to you.
Read Council Member Garodnick's East Side Development Newsletter
Read Council Member Garodnick's Spring 2007 newsletter
Read Council Member Garodnick's Summer 2006 newsletter
Read Council Member Garodnick's Useful Resources newsletter
