Public Advocate's Corner

"Bronx Swamp" is No More

The City finally has cleaned up a fetid, flooded stretch of abandoned railroad known as "The Bronx Swamp," formerly an unsightly breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. Workers removed 45 tons of trash from the site and pumped out 650,000 gallons of water, leaving a dry walkway. Earlier, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum had visited the malodorous "swamp" and had spoken out about the unspeakable conditions there. She called for an immediate cleanup, noting that the waterlogged railbed constituted a serious health hazard as well as an eyesore. Residents say they had complained about the site for more than 10 years.

A news account of the cleanup is at: http://ny1.com/1-all-boroughs-news-content/top_stories/110520/-i-ny1-exclusive---i--city-soaks-up-bronx-swamp.

A New Report Details Cost of 2nd Avenue Subway Construction

A report released today by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum says that the City, State, and MTA have done almost nothing to assist businesses affected by construction of the Second Avenue Subway:

"Since the construction began, small businesses in the area have been shuttered and others have had to take drastic measures to stay afloat including laying off staff and cutting store hours. With the current completion date for phase one of the Second Avenue Subway still nearly eight years away and potentially subject to further delays, many small businesses will not survive the construction."

Read the Report

Read today's amNY piece

A Troubled Reorganization at the Department for the Aging

MANHATTAN—A 2008 redesign of case management services at the Department for the Aging (DFTA), launched to accommodate a growing and increasingly diverse older population, left many case management agencies with insufficient funding and large numbers of seniors without services. According to a survey released today by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, many of these problems remained fifteen months later, as clients faced longer average wait times to receive services, and the average caseload for case managers was greater than it was before the reorganization.

Read the Full Release

Read the Report

A Deeply Disappointing Outcome

I am deeply disappointed that the State Senate today rejected a bill for marriage equality, denying a basic civil right to such a large population of New York residents. Senators Duane and Schneiderman must be applauded for their success in bringing this bill to the floor—and everyone who voted ‘Yes’, in particular those who shared touching personal stories, deserve thanks for their difficult work.

I pledge to join these fine public servants, and the majority of New Yorkers who support marriage equality, in continuing to fight for passage of this bill.

 

Recognizing World AIDS Day

Today, December 1^st , is World AIDS Day—a day to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS throughout the world. Although we have made great strides in this country to increase awareness through education and testing, it is estimated that over a million Americans are living with HIV. We must do more to educate the public – and urban communities in particular – about contraception and safer methods of sexual activity; expand access to testing; reduce the stigma of HIV and AIDS, and provide support for those who are afflicted.

Across the globe, we must also encourage governments to end discriminatory practices that hinder progress in reducing AIDS. In Uganda, for example, a new law will criminalize support for same-sex relationships and practices, cracking down on human rights organizations and increasing discrimination against the most affected groups. These efforts are shameful and do great damage to the objectives of this important day.

 

Gotbaum Bill Would Protect New York City's Watchdog Agencies

MANHATTAN—In an effort to strengthen and protect the independent watchdog agencies in New Yor government, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum introduced legislation that would establish fixed-minimum budgets for the Office of the Public Advocate (OPA), the Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB), and the Civilian Complaints Review Board (CCRB).

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, “When my budget was cut 40% this year – over six times the cut sustained by any other elected official – it confirmed my belief that the city’s budgeting process is deeply flawed. With great power to set my budget, the Mayor and Speaker were able to strike back at an office that was critical of their actions.

“If it can happen to the public advocate, it can happen to any other independent oversight agency. The bill I’m proposing will shield these agencies from political retribution or self-interest; and it will provide security for our most essential checks on city government. “

Read the Full Release

Happy Birthday, Citymeals-on-Wheels

(Above: Gotbaum with Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, commissioner for the Department for the Aging, and Joyce Bove of NY Community Trust)

Today, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum attended the 23rd Annual Power Lunch for Women, hosted by Citymeals-on-Wheels. The event benefits the Citymeals program, which funds "30 community-based agencies that bring weekend, holiday and emergency meals to homebound elderly New Yorkers who can no longer shop or cook for themselves." This year's lunch honors Joan Weill, and Citymeals Vice Chair Joan Tisch.

Gotbaum's Final Annual Report Reflects on Two Terms of Accomplishments

Today, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum released her office’s 2009 annual report. In order to cope with a 40% budget cut sustained this year, the Office decided not to print and mail copies of the report. Instead, the annual report will be eco-friendly, available online and distributed through e-mail. Printed copies will be available to those without internet access upon request.

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, “Improving access to city services has been the unifying theme of my tenure. During my two terms in office, my ombudsman unit alone has fielded calls from more than 90,000 New Yorkers, solving problems and advocating for some of  the city's most vulnerable -- its immigrants, its working poor, its special ed students, its women in need. I've introduced or co-sponsored more than 300 bills before the City Council. And my policy staff has conducted studies and investigations that led to lasting change. Over the last eight years, the Office of the Public Advocate helped improve the lives of New Yorkers. We identified needs. We offered solutions. And we got results.”

Read the Report

Paid Sick Leave Comes to the Floor

   

At noon today, Public Advocate Gotbaum stood with Councilmember Gale Brewer, Borough President Scott Stringer, Gloria Steinem, and hundreds of advocates to voice support for a bill that will require paid sick days for workers to care for themselves or a loved one. With H1N1 flu cases on the rise, action is needed to ensure that workers can stay home sick without losing pay--limiting the spread of flu in the workplace.

It's the latest in a series of demonstrations made by Gotbaum and supporters of the bill.

Stripping the Stupak Amendment

Today, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, activist Gloria Steinem, and other distinguished women leaders to protest the Stupak amendment to the House health reform bill. Gotbaum spoke out against the amendment last week, and today she reiterated her criticism and voiced a call to action:

Last weekend, congressional leaders and representatives voted for a bill that would regulate the insurance companies, give health insurance to 36 million Americans, and create an affordable public insurance option for Americans without coverage.

But because of one amendment attached to the bill, they had to compromise while casting this historic vote. The Stupak amendment is a gross insult to women, advocates for choice, and voters who have supported these representatives year after year.