Public Advocate's Corner

Happy New Year

This was another productive and successful year for the Office of the Public Advocate. In the past year, Betsy Gotbaum pushed for the clean-up of environmental hazards at parks and schools; exposed the Department of Education’s failure to meet state requirements for physical education and arts instruction; produced the first of its kind comprehensive guide to city services for immigrants; and introduced legislation to protect residents’ health by forcing landlords to remediate mold and pest infestations in city apartments (among other accomplishments).

The Office of the Public Advocate also initiated, in partnership with the mayor’s office, the largest survey of its kind to assess New Yorkers’ satisfaction with city services, and Betsy convened an independent commission at the request of the state legislature to make recommendations [pdf] on reauthorizing mayoral control of schools.

None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the Public Advocate staff. This year, the Ombudsman unit helped more that 12,000 individuals get access to vital city services like public housing, food stamps and special education services. The community affairs staff, who serve as Betsy’s eyes and ears in all five boroughs, helped to facilitate a series of community discussions on gang activity as well as a citywide Healthy Kids Summer Wellness Tour to make sure that parents take early steps to ensure their children are healthy. To learn more about the work of the Office of the Public click here to read the 2008 annual report [pdf].

Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year from all of us at the Office of the Public Advocate.
 

Keeping Kids Out of Gangs

Today, a New York Times Editorial entitled A Job or a Gang? urges the federal government to direct more money to proven programs that keep young people in school and out of gangs, instead of relying on police dragnets that haul large numbers of nonviolent young people off to jail.

The editorial echoes the recommendations of an updated report on youth violence and gang activity in our city, Old Problem, New Eyes, which I released just last month. My report encourages the city to close the under-capacity and isolated Bronx Bridges Youth Detention Center, formerly known as Spofford, which would save the city at least $14 million. This money should be used to develop alternatives to detention programs, alternatives that have lower recidivism rates and are more cost effective than juvenile detention.

In exchange for the substantial budget cuts to juvenile justice proposed by Governor Paterson, the city will be given greater discretion over how it spends funds from Albany.  This is a silver lining in these grim financial times, which will give the city greater flexibility to focus on keeping our young people in school and providing them with jobs, and community-based counseling and social service programs.    

The report was the result of a series of round table discussions I hosted with youth in Brooklyn and the Bronx. Listening to young people, many of them gang members themselves, we found out that gang affiliation often begins in juvenile detention and that there is a desire for the programs recommended in my report and the Times editorial.

It is clear from our report, as well as today’s editorial, that we need to review policing strategies in neighborhoods with gang activity and identify additional opportunities to engage our young people, their families, neighbors, churches, and schools in efforts to ensure our communities are safe and productive.

Happy Holidays!

 

Happy Holidays from Everyone at the Public Advocate's Office!

City Closes Thomas Jefferson Turf Field Because of High Lead Levels

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, "For two years, I called on the Park Department to test the artificial turf fields it has installed around the city to make sure they are safe. For two years, they insisted there was no cause for concern and no need to test. Then, suddenly late yesterday the Parks Department announces that it is closing Thomas Jefferson Park in East Harlem because upon testing, it found high levels of lead in the park’s artificial turf.

While I am glad to see the city listened to us and began testing turf fields, we don’t know how many people have been exposed to this lead hazard at Thomas Jefferson Park. What we do know is that the city can no longer ignore our concerns. I expect a full and public disclosure of the results of the testing currently underway, and I renew my call for an immediate moratorium on the installation of new synthetic turf until New Yorkers can be assured that it is safe."

 

Accessing City Services: How to Recycle Used Electronics

The holiday season can be a great time to give and receive the latest electronics and technological gadgets on the market. Out with the old, in with the new. But recycling old electronics can be challenging, since there is no dedicated recycling bin at home for old hard drives, broken MP3 players and obsolete laptops.

Don’t worry: There are many ways to recycle your old electronics this season. For example, some retailers and manufacturers take back electronics and recycle them for you. Also, if the electronics are still functional, they can be donated to a charity.

In New York City, agencies, schools, businesses and institutions, including nonprofits, are required to recycle computer equipment, unless it is donated or resold for reuse. The reason? Computers, TVs, and other electronics contain small amounts of heavy metals, such as lead, mercury and cadmium. The electronics are safe to use, but elements inside can become hazardous pollutants if they enter the waste stream without being properly recycled.

City residents may legally discard electronics such as computers, monitors and televisions in the trash until July, 2010. The responsible thing to do, however, is to recycle or donate them.

Where can I drop off electronics to be recycled?
Every year, the New York Department of Sanitation (NYDS) schedules drop-off days in each of the five boroughs for free electronic recycling. Last year, the dates were in the spring, and the NYDS has yet to update their calendar for 2009. So hang onto your old computers, and check back for updates. Or you can check with the retailer of manufacturer of the product to see if they will take it back to recycle.

What can I do with my old cell phone?
Verizon Wireless stores encourage customers to donate their old cell phones as part of the national HopeLine program. The used phones are reprogrammed to autodial 911 and are given to domestic violence victims. Alternately, the phones are sold and proceeds donated to local domestic violence groups. For more information, please go to the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence.

How do I recycle batteries?
It is illegal to throw away rechargeable batteries, which are in cell phones and laptops, for example. Most retailers that sell rechargeable batteries or items powered by them must accept up to 10 batteries of the same shape and size as they sell.  No purchase is required. Hardware, office supply, wireless telephone and electronics stores are among those that may recycle your rechargeable batteries. Check out the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation at http://www.rbrc.org/ for a list of locations. Also check here.

Other household alkaline batteries, watch and hearing aid button batteries may be tossed in the trash with your non-recyclable items. Also try asking stores that sell jewelry, watches, calculators or cameras to recycle your button batteries. Many will. 

More Information:
For still more electronics recycling information, go to "New homes for old stuff". 
And don't forget to check out the Freecycle network.
Call the Office of the Public Advocate at 212-669-7250 for more information.

Lifesaving HPV Vaccine Still Not Offered at Many City Clinics

Today, Betsy Gotbaum released a report showing that city-run clinics that diagnose and treat sexually transmitted diseases still do not offer vaccinations for HPV, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States.

HPV is responsible for 70 percent of the country’s cervical cancer cases. In March 2007, the New York City Office of the Public Advocate released a report assessing the availability of the HPV vaccine at city health clinics. The 2007 report found that none of the city’s STD clinics, nor its five immunization centers, offer the vaccine, and that the HPV vaccine was available at 35 of the 67 city-run child and teen health clinics.

The follow-up report found that the cost for the uninsured still varies widely, but that the availability of the HPV vaccine at Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) child and teen health clinics and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) immunization walk-in clinics has increased.

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, “Every young woman should have affordable access to the life-saving HPV vaccine to reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer. I’m pleased that some city clinics have increased access to this vaccine, but more must be done to keep young women safe from a common, but preventable disease.”

Gotbaum Calls on the DOE to Fix Special Ed

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, "The Daily News reported yesterday that a large portion of special education students are not getting needed services. Sadly, this is not surprising, nor is it a new problem. I have been exposing obstacles and barriers to services for special needs students for years, and we've tried to hold the DOE's feet to the fire to ensure necessary changes are made. Despite promises to make improvements, the special education system in New York City continues to fail our students.

As bad as the data reported yesterday is, it still does not include the students who are receiving only part of their needed services. This means, for example, students who require 3 hours of legally mandated physical therapy a week, but only get 1 hour a week are considered to be receiving needed services.

The truth is, there are too few occupational, speech, and physical therapists for the number of students who need them. The city and state need to work together to increase the reimbursement rate for these therapists. The DOE must also streamline the paperwork process and speed up the reimbursement process.

Despite some modest gains, less than 20% of special needs students graduate in four years and less than 25% in five years. The DOE should publicly report statistics on related services each month. As Chancellor Klein knows better than anyone, accountability and improvement go hand-in-hand."

 

Running for Public Advocate: What every candidate should know

In a little over a year, my time as Public Advocate will be concluding and the newly-elected Public Advocate will be preparing to take office. The field of candidates for this office continues to grow.

Before they charge ahead in their campaigns, I decided to invite them to my office to share, after seven years as Public Advocate, my perception of this office: the challenges that come with it, and also the opportunities. To me, this is a sensible step, beneficial not just to the next office-holder, but to the New Yorkers they will be serving.

Since one of these candidates is going to be the next Public Advocate, it is essential he or she hear first-hand about this office.

First, they need to understand the structure of the office and its various roles (a watchdog over city agencies with the ability to introduce legislation, next-in-line to the Mayor and a trustee of the city's public employee retirement fund, the New York City Employees' Retirement System, a.k.a. NYCERS).

Second, candidates need to know about the increasing number of calls my Ombuds unit receives. Since coming into office, calls for help with education increased more than 300%; homeless services, public housing and public benefits calls at least doubled; and housing preservation and development calls increased by 150%.

Third, candidates need to know about the challenges my office faces. Most critical, the office lacks an independent budget.  Since part of my office's mandate in the City Charter is to act as a watchdog over city agencies, it makes sense for the office's budget to be independent of those agencies.

Earlier last week I said to the New York Times, "The fact that this office has no independent budget means that there is a constant dance between being cut by the executive branch and trying to get those funds restored by the City Council speaker. It makes things complicated, especially if you're supposed to be the watchdog over city agencies."

The Office of the Public Advocate is essential to the city. Despite the challenges facing this office, it remains an invaluable resource to New Yorkers and a necessary check on the power of the mayor.

Tips for Protecting Your Money this Holiday Season

The holiday shopping season is in full swing, but unfortunately, so is the recession.  The good news? With a few tips, there are many ways to save some cash this holiday season and avoid scams and financial pitfalls.

Beware of gift cards: This time of year, gift cards may sound like an easy solution for the loved ones on your list. Gift cards, however, can be fraught with hidden problems and hidden fees.

When buying a gift card, be sure to read the fine print carefully, and advise the recipient of your gift of any restrictions or potential costs. Groups such as the Consumers Union and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group warn against the dangers of gift cards, which can provide retailers with cash in return for a delayed service or product. Many cards are never redeemed. According to the Consumers Union, a number of retailers have filed for bankruptcy and shuttered their doors since last holiday season. Read more about Betsy Gotbaum’s past work warning about the problems with gift cards.

Beware of Loan Scams: If someone offers you a loan that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Warning signs include:

• Advertisements that say, "No credit? Bad credit? No problem!"
• Payday lenders, who let you borrow money -- at extremely high interest rates -- until your next paycheck. Also, payday lending is illegal in New York.
• Loans that require no money down.   

Know Your Rights: The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs  is a resource for New Yorkers who feel they have been misled or unfairly taken advantage of by a business. The DCA secures an average of $3 million annually in restitution to consumers, and their website can help you file a complaint against a business, download consumer complaint forms, get more information about mediation for your complaint, and learn more about the city’s consumer protection laws. Additionally, the state consumer protection board website provides advice on holiday shopping.

Library Access in Bronx Schools Falls Short

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said: "Today, the Daily News reported that 17,000 students in 42 schools do not have access to libraries. But the writing has been on the wall for a long time - I have consistently pointed out that the City's plan to build new high schools in the Bronx and throughout the city falls tens of thousands of seats short of the capacity needed to meet the DOE's graduation goal. As long as DOE and the School Construction Authority fail to plan in advance for school capacity in the Bronx and other boroughs, our children will not be able to use libraries to check out books or as a quiet place to study. As the DOE is calling for greater accountability from our schools, it is unreasonable and unfair to not give principals, teachers and students the space and resources to meet that goal."