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.