Public Advocate's Corner

Second Avenue Community Thanks Public Advocate Gotbaum

Giuseppe Pecora, owner of Delizia Pizzeria and a leading member of the Second Avenue Business Association, sent a letter last week to Public Advocate Gotbaum. He thanked her for her continued support, and for her office's recently released survey, which confirmed that construction of the Second Avenue subway is causing severe damage to business along the construction corridor. In the coming months, Gotbaum will continue to push for enactment of her recommendations--such as emergency grants to small businesses, tax abatements for landlords, among others. Mr Pecora's letter is reprinted below.

Dear Ms. Gotbaum:

It was both a pleasure and a desperately needed morale boost for the suffering community to have met you.

As you noticed on Friday, we support the Second Avenue Project. But it shouldn’t be built at our expense only. This project desperately needs leadership, and communications between business owners, contractors, tunnel builders, the MTA, the Department of Buildings and Sanitation.

Up to now, it is clear that if we don’t stand up for ourselves, city agencies will not give us the services that would minimize the overall community impact. Businesses and tenants have had phone services interrupted for days; disruptions in delivery services; thousands of dollars in losses. Blocks of car traffic is closed without notice.

Ms Gotbaum, we need your support. More than ever do we have a fighting chance to survive and save our community.

Thank you,

Giuseppe Pecora

Visiting Seniors in Chinatown

On Thursday, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum visited the Project Open Door Senior Center, a facility operated by the Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. In 2005, Public Advocate Gotbaum helped secure city approval to build the Open Door Center. Today, the Center is thriving, playing host to art shows, activities for seniors, catered meals, and other senior services.

On Gotbaum's visit, she met with Director Po-ling NG; distributed water bottles, whistles, and other souvenirs to hundreds of senior citizens.

 

A Job Well Done!

Congratulations to the South Shore All-Stars of Staten Island for their magnificent run in the Little League World Series. Although the All-Stars’ run ended yesterday, the entire city and state of New York is proud of their efforts and success.

As a softball player and lifelong athlete myself, I am heartened to see players from our very own Staten Island gain international recognition and praise. The members of the South Shore All-Stars serve as an inspiration to all of our nation’s youth.

 

Senator Edward Kennedy

Today, we mourn the loss of a tremendous Statesman and a member of one of our nation's prestigious political families. Senator Ted Kennedy did more during his lifetime to create positive change, including fighting for health care reform, social justice for all and improvements in education, than perhaps any other. He will long be respected for his bi-partisan efforts to pass legislation in our nation's capital, and his legacy will serve as a reminder that our elected officials must not only serve, but also lead.

A Vigilant Watchdog Does More Than Make Noise

Yesterday’s article in Crain's, “The Return of the Public Advocate”, misrepresents my office’s accomplishments over the last eight years and the role of the Public Advocate.

The job of Public Advocate isn’t about making the most noise, it’s about serving as a vigilant watchdog over city services and helping solve the problems of the most vulnerable residents.

As Public Advocate, I have improved special education services; increased women’s access to reproductive healthcare; secured greater protections for abused and neglected children; reduced barriers to accessing food stamps; passed a bill to protect immigrants from misusing medication; and much more. This year, my office’s recommendations for maintaining mayoral control of the schools were used as a blueprint by the state legislature.

Additionally, each week my office solves hundreds of complaints from senior citizens seeking transportation and hot meals; parents needing school services; residents in hazardous public housing; and low-income families who encounter barriers obtaining public benefits.

All this with a budget that is about half of some borough presidents, and continues to be cut. Clearly, the next Public Advocate must continue to help needy New Yorkers.

Sunday Afternoon in Harlem

On Sunday, a representative from the Office of the Public Advocate visited The Grant Houses Family Unity Day to distribute frisbees and participate in the day's activities. Michael Morrison, a special assistant to Public Advocate Gotbaum, attended the event on LaSalle Street and met with families throughout the day.

Make 'Paid Sick Leave' A Right For Everyone

At a press conference yesterday, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum voiced support for the Earned Paid Sick Leave Bill. The bill, which she co-sponsored with Councilmember Gale Brewer, would allow employees to earn up to 9 paid sick days--making earned paid sick leave a right for everyone. This would include low-wage earners and most food service employees. 

Gotbaum said, "New Yorkers should not be forced to choose between their well-being and their paycheck, but too many workers are forced to come to work sick because they can't afford to lose a day's wages." Gotbaum thanked the New York State Paid Family Leave Coalition, and A Better Balance for their work on the issue.

Translation Services Bill Passes!!!

This afternoon, the New York City Council passed the Language Access in Pharmacies Act (LAPA) by a vote of 36-7, making New York City the first locality in the United States to require translation services in pharmacies.

With help from Speaker Quinn's office, Mayor Bloomberg and his administration, Councilmember Rivera and the Health Committee, Make the Road New York, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum and her staff, New York City moved to protect nearly 2 million residents who would otherwise be put in danger when they take prescription medications.

Public Advocate Gotbaum said, "We all have a reason to be proud today. The Council's actions will make New York City a little safer for residents and citizens who speak foreign languages. This bill is practical, and it is humane."

We need to help 2nd ave businesses before it is too late

Today, Public Advocate Gotbaum toured the second avenue businesses upended by subway construction and called on the city, state, and MTA to assist affected business owners and provide a plan for the next phases of construction.

A new comprehensive survey of business owners in the area released by Gotbaum today shows that construction of the Second Avenue subway line threatens the survival of a majority of businesses in the area -- forcing wage cuts, layoffs and closings.

Of 59 business owners who responded to the survey, the first of its kind, ninety percent report that their businesses have been negatively affected since construction began in 2007. Yet, virtually none have received support – financial or non-financial – from the city, the state, or the MTA. Read More.

Are you a business owner effected by 2nd avenue subway construction? Post your comments here.

Good News

Intro 859-A, the Language Access in Pharmacies Act (LAPA), that I introduced was voted on today in the Health Committee and passed by a vote of 9-0! This means that this bill will be voted on by the full City Council on Thursday.

The bill will require city chain pharmacies to give individuals who speak limited or no English access to free language assistance, oral interpretation, and translation services when filling prescriptions.
Clearly understanding the label on a prescription bottle is a basic right, yet many pharmacies all around the city are allowing New Yorkers to take home medication with instructions they can’t understand.

The bill stipulates that the chain pharmacy must translate medical instructions into the seven languages most commonly spoken by LEP individuals in New York City, as determined biennially by the Department of City Planning based on data from the American Community Survey.

We cannot continue to allow so many New Yorkers to be put in danger every time they fill a prescription. In a city that prides itself on diversity, pharmacies should provide these needed translation services. If even a few words of a vital medical instruction are lost on a patient, the result can be tragic.

We owe it to New Yorkers to pass this bill and I urge the Council members to vote in favor of it this Thursday.