Public Advocate's Corner

Educating the Public On Dangers of Locally Caught Fish

This week, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum made a strong push for measures that would raise public awareness of the health risks of locally caught fish.

On Monday, the New York Daily News reported that, at piers where fishermen catch and consume fish from polluted waters, there are no visible warning signs or sources of accurate information. It was also reported that the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) hadn’t tested fish, other than striped bass, in a decade because of the agency’s workload.

Alarmed by these findings, Gotbaum announced plans to introduce a bill that would require the city to post warning of the various health dangers related to fish from local waters; and may require the city to test fish for health related risks if the state fails to do so.

After brushing off the topic for days, the Bloomberg administration finally announced that it would 250 new signs 'warning of the dangers of locally caught fish.' In response, Gotbaum said: "This is great, but we need something on the books to ensure this is really happening, and that the bill goes further to make sure signs are posted in languages other than English--like Spanish and Chinese. My bill also calls for testing and a public education campaign."

Read more about Gotbaum's work on this issue

(Photo credit: NY Daily News)

"Attractive"? Yeah, right.

Today, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum seized upon Mayor Bloomberg's comments last week that his administration's failure to reduce homelessness could be explained by the fact that city homeless shelters are "a lot more attractive" to families. She was joined at a press conference by Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr., Joel Berg, Executive Director of NYCCAH, and Sophia Bryant of Picture the Homeless. Gotbaum said:

“It is clear from the Mayor’s comments that he is totally out of touch with the city’s homeless population and the experience of living in these shelters. It’s absurd that he would think anyone would choose to live in a homeless shelter over permanent housing. Because the administration doesn’t understand the problems facing homeless New Yorkers, its policies fail to present real solutions. Policies should be reevaluated to respond to the worsening economy, the scarcity of jobs and affordable housing, and the reality that recent strategies have not been working.”

Read the full release

View a videocast of today's event below, or on YouTube:

Finally, Good News from Albany

After weeks of bad news coming out of Albany, I am pleased and relieved to learn that Richard Ravitch, my friend, will assume the role of lieutenant governor. I congratulate Mr. Ravitch on his appointment, and I applaud Governor Paterson for his wise and reassuring decision. Mr. Ravitch, an effective and proven leader, is the best choice for New Yorkers, and he will bring legitimacy and insurance to the current state of affairs in Albany.        

(Photo credit: NY Times)

Everyone Will Be Counted: US Census Ends Discriminatory Policy

Earlier this year, I joined Alan Van Capelle of the Empire State Pride Agenda, Councilmember Bill de Blasio, and other advocates for LGBT individuals and same-sex couples, to open another front in the fight for gay rights in this country. For years, the US Census Bureau had refused to recognize same-sex marriages and relationships in its major surveys, and the new Obama administration presented a fresh opportunity to influence a change in policy at the Census.

Recently, we learned that the White House may be listening. As the Associated Press reports: “Married same-sex couples will be counted as such in 2010, Census Bureau officials said, reversing a decision of the Bush administration.” This is a victory for same-sex couples who deserve recognition and equal treatment from the federal government. As I argued earlier this year, an accurate estimate of how many people are living in same-sex relationships will strengthen the case for marriage equality. I hope this administration will continue to roll back discriminatory policies of the past—by repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’; and by pushing for marriage equality in this country.

Senate's Failure to Renew Mayoral Control

Among the many important pieces of business that are being ignored in Albany right now, it's absolutely shameful that something as important as school governance was pushed aside. I'm pleased to see the Mayor and Borough Presidents are poised to take action but by no means should we buy into the idea that chaos and confusion will follow. I am confident that a new school governance bill will be passed in Albany and there will not be a return to the old system.

Education experts, parents, teachers, and elected officials have devoted months – even years – to studying this complex issue. I should know, because my Commission on School Governance submitted recommendations which served as a blueprint for legislation that recently passed the State Assembly. For personal political interests to jeopardize not just mayoral control, but also important reforms that would increase transparency and parental input, is beyond reproach. While there's no easy solution to this mess, one thing is clear: the State Senate should not be playing politics with our children's education.

Standing up for Transitional Jobs Programs

Today, at a rally hosted by Community Voices Heard - a grassroots, membership-led organization of low income families with chapters in New York City, Yonkers, and the Mid-Hudson Valley - Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum voiced support for transitional jobs programs for low income New Yorkers. Gotbaum spoke about her experience as Commissioner of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation:

"When I was Parks Commissioner, I witnessed first-hand the lack of incentives and training for participants in the Work Experience Program (WEP). So I instituted an innovative welfare-to-work training program that provided guidance for people seeking full-time employment. As out-of-work New Yorkers turn to us for support during these tough economic times, we need to work to strengthen city services to make sure our programs actually help people. Unlike WEP, transitional jobs programs serve as a stepping stone, not an obstacle, to financial stability."

Here's a New York Times Op-Ed Gotbaum wrote as Commissioner in 1993: When Workfare is Just Make-Work

Read today's release

Cut to City Watchdog is ‘Bad Government’

MANHATTAN – Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum stood with good government groups and candidates for  her office, to condemn the nearly 40% cut to the Office of the Public Advocate as a damaging blow to accountability and good governance in New York City. No office of the other elected officials sustained a cut of more than 6%. Recently, Public Advocate Gotbaum charged that Speaker Quinn and Mayor Bloomberg cut the budget as retaliation for her opposition to extending term limits without a referendum. Public Advocate Gotbaum renewed her call for an independent budget to ensure that this type of power play cannot happen again.

The 2010 budget, proposed by Mayor Bloomberg and approved by Speaker Quinn, contains a nearly 40% cut to the Office of the Public Advocate, from $2.9 million to $1.8 million. This year, despite an increase in the overall budget, and full or partial restoration for every other elected official, the Public Advocate received no restoration.  

Public Advocate Gotbaum said, “This office is the watchdog over city government. And when the Mayor and Speaker impose damaging, crippling cuts to the agency that is meant to watch over them, it is time to speak out and call it like it is: this is an anti-democratic power play, and it’s bad government.”

Read the Full Release

Watch the video in the extended entry below, or at YouTube

Gotbaum Responds to NY Daily News Editorial

Today, the NY Daily News published a letter to the editor from Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, in which she responds to a harshly worded editorial published last week.

Gotbaum writes:

In a recent editorial ("Elective surgery," June 24) you write that you last heard from me as a witness in the Brooke Astor trial. Ironically, since my appearance on the witness stand, your paper has reported on my criticism of the Department of Education's excessive use of no-bid contracts ("New York City schools gave out $342 million in no-bid contracts," May 20), on my lobbying for language translation services in pharmacies ("Council bill requiring pharmacies to provide language translation help," May 5) and on my guide for immigrants ("Your new guide to public benefits for immigrants," May 7). I suggest you take your eyes off the gossip column and give credit to your own reporting. You will find that my office is working on behalf of vulnerable New Yorkers on a wide range of issues.

Betsy Gotbaum, Public Advocate for the City of New York

Report Shows City Schools Not Fully Prepared for Emergencies

Today, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum released a report which finds that New York City public schools fall short of complying with the requirements of a state law designed to prevent chaos, injury, or loss of life in the event of an emergency. The Public Advocate makes several recommendations for improving emergency preparedness in schools. In light of recent events (on Monday, the number of  deaths due to swine flu in New York City reached 30) the report also recommends measures that will mitigate the effects of health-related emergencies, including pandemic flu.

In a statement, Gotbaum said: 

"Not long ago our city was attacked by terrorists, and our public schools evacuated. Partly because of the SAVE act, every one of our students was safe on 9/11. Still, there were lessons to be learned from that day, and it is troubling that less than eight years later, the schools are not as prepared as they should be. It is critically important that the DOE work to ensure that schools follow all provisions of the SAVE Act and strengthen individual school safety plans."

Read Full Release

Read Gotbaum's report, "Preparing to SAVE: A Survey of Safety Planning at New York City Public Schools."

Gotbaum Takes Budget Fight to the Huffington Post

On Friday, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum denounced the disproportionate 40% budget cut agreed to by Speaker Quinn and Mayor Bloomberg. And yesterday, all six candidates for her office joined her in calling for an independent budget for the Public Advocate.

Today, Gotbaum takes her fight to The Huffington Post: "Bloomberg and Quinn Cripple the City Watchdog"

Below is a selection of the coverage Gotbaum's budget protest has received:

June 24, 2009:

Wanna-bes join Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum in her budget war with Mayor Bloomberg (NY Daily News)

Rivals Unite to Protest Plan to Cut New York Public Advocate's Budget (NY Times)

Public Advocate Hopefuls Question Funding Gap (NY1)

June 23, 2009:

A Hatchet to the Public's Watchdog (El Diario)

The Stifling of the Public Advocate (NBC NY)

June 20, 2009:

Gotbaum Budget is Cut 40%; She Calls it Political Payback (NY Times)

Advocacy slashed: Betsy Gotbaum stews over budget slight (NY Daily News)

Don't Cross Betsy (Gotham Gazette)

Gotbaum Hits Cuts to Her Office as "Payback from Speaker Quinn" (Village Voice)