Public Advocate's Corner

A Setback for the Public Option

I am disappointed by the Senate Finance Committee’s rejection of two Democratic proposals that would create a public health insurance option to compete with the private companies and hold down costs. Despite a 13-10 Democratic majority on the committee, backing from President Obama, estimates that a public option would save tens of billions of dollars, and polls showing clear majority support for the proposals, five Democratic senators caved to pressure from private companies and Republican scare tactics. On the Senate floor and in conference with the House, Democrats must continue to push for a public option, which would be a boon for struggling Americans with and without insurance.

That said, Democrats must remain united in support of any bill that enforces strict regulations on insurance companies and mandates health insurance for all Americans—provided there are sufficient subsidies to make insurance affordable. Even without a public option, such legislation would represent the most significant action on healthcare in over 40 years.

Read my Huffington Post piece on health insurance reform: "Now is the Time to Deliver"

Friday Morning School Visit

(Above, Public Advocate Gotbaum with Principal Sonhando Estwick)

This morning, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum visited Tompkins Square Middle School to speak with teachers, administrators, parents and students. The school is a model of successful community-building and student achievement, and Gotbaum sought to find out why its program is so effective. (Pictured below, from left, senior policy analyst Tomas Hunt, Public Advocate Gotbaum, and Lisa Donlan)

Stand for Freedom in Iran!

Today, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum stood with elected officials, religious leaders, human rights activists, and thousands of attendees at the Stand for Freedom in Iran rally, protesting the UN visit of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Public Advocate Gotbaum said:

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to all the different groups standing today in solidarity with Iranian-Americans and Iranian citizens who disputed the results of June’s elections. I would like to thank all the speakers – in particular Governor David Paterson, Comptroller Tom Di Napoli, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, as well as the Iranian womens’ rights activists – for their powerful words. 

Throughout my career I have stood for women’s rights and always sought to represent the women who had no voice. The participation of women in the political process is one of the causes of my life.When I witnessed the video of Neda Soltan’s murder, I was heartbroken. Neda’s crime was to attend a rally in support of freedom, like so many other women – and men – in the weeks after Iran’s elections.

More From Race for the Cure

Check out some more pictures of Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum at the 2009 Komen NYC Race for the Cure:

(Pictured above, from left: Gabrielle Union, Cyndi Lauper, Public Advocate Gotbaum)

Happy New Year

My husband Victor and I would like to wish everyone L’Shana Tova – a happy and healthy New Year to all  who are observing Rosh Hashanah.

Clarifying the Job of Public Advocate

Last week, the NY Daily News published an editorial that misrepresented my accomplishments over two terms in office. I responded in a letter, published today and posted in full below:

To the Editor:

When the Daily News editorial board comments on my record, it tends to ignore its own coverage – over 300 news articles – of nearly eight years of accomplishments and actions by the public advocate’s office. Last week’s endorsement for public advocate ("Gioia for public advocate", September 10) is no different. It calls for reinventing the office to improve the lives of New Yorkers—just what I have done over my two terms. It calls for a problem solver who champions quality-of-life benefits, instead of a ‘mayoral critic’. This is ironic because I have been accused over the years of focusing on assisting New Yorkers in need instead of picking public fights with the mayor. And it mentions noble successes backed by Councilmember Gioia – improving the food stamp application; persuading Costco to accept food stamps – without noting that these would not have occurred without my leadership and the seat I occupy.

-Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum

Supporting Women's Health at Race for the Cure

On Sunday, I attended the 2009 Komen NYC Race for the Cure, which is raising money to support 'community-based organizations providing life-saving breast health, education, screening and treatment to people in New York City, Long Island, Rockland and Westchester Counties.' At the kick-off event, I spoke with Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman (pictured above); singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper; Mayor Bloomberg and others.

As always, I urge New York women to make an appointment for an annual physical checkup. Current studies suggest that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. The older the woman, the greater the risk: women under forty should schedule a clinical breast exam every three years; women older than forty should have one every year and augment with an annual screening mammogram. Anyone at risk because of family history may need to be tested more frequently.

On Sunday, I attended the 2009 Komen NYC Race for the Cure, which is raising money to support 'community-based organizations providing life-saving breast health, education, screening and treatment to people in New York City, Long Island, Rockland and Westchester Counties.' At the kick-off event, I spoke with Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman (pictured above); singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper; Mayor Bloomberg and others.

As always, I urge New York women to make an appointment for an annual physical checkup. Current studies suggest that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. The older the woman, the greater the risk: women under forty should schedule a clinical breast exam every three years; women older than forty should have one every year and augment with an annual screening mammogram. Anyone at risk because of family history may need to be tested more frequently.

Thompson Survey Questions DOE's Preparation for Overcrowding

On Sunday, Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. released a study detailing the city Department of Education's failure to anticipate and prepare for overcrowding in public schools. As Public Advocate Gotbaum noted in June, the city has had ample time to prepare for this reality. On Sunday, she said:

“A ‘promise’ of mayoral control was that it would lead to greater interagency collaboration to benefit our schools. Over the past seven years this mayor has developed more commercial, residential and sports facilities than any mayor in recent his tory, but failed to ensure that there were enough schools being built. It’s a shame that this mayor hasn’t compelled developers, with all the tax subsidies they’ve received, to build more schools throughout the city.”

Read Comptroller Thompson's full release and report

A Day of Remembrance and Service

              

Today, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum visited the Holy Apostles Episcopal Church to participate in the  9/11 Day of Remembrance and Commitment to Service--initiated this year by the First Lady and President Obama. She was joined by Kevin Concannon, the chief Obama Administration official in charge of USDA anti-hunger programs; Sen. Charles E. Schumer; Councilmembers Bill de Blasio and Eric Gioia, and Joel Berg of the NYCCAH, which organized the event. In her remarks, Public Advocate Gotbaum said:

Good afternoon, everyone. I’m pleased to be at the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, a wonderful organization and emergency food provider. And I want to thank Joel Berg and the New York City Coalition Against Hunger for honoring the first official Day of Remembrance and Commitment to Service.

Today is a day of sadness and reflection for New Yorkers, and all Americans. I remember this day, eight years ago. All New Yorkers came together. Today calls for that kind of moment again. The President and First Lady have made a national call to service, and we should respond enthusiastically.

In 2008, there were nearly 40 million Americans in poverty—a 13.2% poverty rate, up from 12.5%; and there were over 46 million people without health insurance, up from 45.7 million.

In New York, there are more than 1,200 soup kitchens and food pantries, and they need more help—in particular, skills-based volunteers to address management and organizational challenges. Today, Joel Berg and the NYCCAH have made it possible for people to do that. NYCCAH helps search for nearby neighborhood organizations, so they can support emergency food providers.

I’m glad to have served today and I encourage all New Yorkers to take advantage of opportunities like this one.

Debunking the Healthcare Myths

Today on The Huffington Post, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum comments on President Obama's address to Congress and takes aim at critics of reform:

Last night in his address to Congress, President Obama made a clear and convincing case for reforming our broken healthcare system. He laid out a plan that would protect those who have insurance and provide tax credits for those who don’t. And he pledged to cut spending and raise taxes on expensive plans in order to pay for it.

President Obama also addressed the scenes in recent town hall-style forums across the country, where representatives and senators have tried to discuss plans for healthcare reform. Often, these events have turned into shouting matches—a chance for citizens who oppose the President to berate their elected representatives, often invoking the specters of ‘rationing’ and government ‘death panels’ to bolster their case.

Read the rest: "Now is the Time to Deliver"