Public Advocate's Corner

Gotbaum Bill Requires Playground Signs to Protect Against Dangerous Mats

Today, the New York City Council introduced a bill, co-sponsored by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, requiring city playgrounds to post signage warning children not to walk or play on overheated mats. Below is an excerpt from her submitted testimony:

"According to reports published over the last several years, young children have suffered severe burn injuries on the black rubber surfaces installed in city playgrounds. One such report quotes hospital physicians who treat more than a dozen children each year for burns from these mats. Apart from the immediate physical danger posed by overheated mats, which can rise to as much as 160 degrees on a hot day, they may also contribute to the urban heat island effect...

With summer approaching and temperatures expected to rise, today’s legislation is the least we can do to warn parents and children explicitly of the dangers posed by these mats. With swift passage of this bill, and the timely posting of warning signs in city playgrounds, young children may be spared from severe burns in the coming months." 

Read the full testimony

Discussing Fare Hikes at the MTA; Fighting to Save School-based Dental Clinics

This morning, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum stood with Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. to comment on the Metropolitan Transit Authority's vote to enact fare hikes and service cuts on New York City subways and buses. Gotbaum said, "Today's vote is a devastating blow both to transit riders and to the city. I supported the Ravitch Commission's recommendations for tolling on the East and Harlem River Bridges, and enacting a business payroll tax. These actions could have helped us avoid service cuts and fare increases. Now, riders will pay more and get less. It's unfortunate, to say the least, that reasonable recommendations made by the Ravitch Commission were not adopted in time to avoid this outcome."

Later, Public Advocate Gotbaum gave remarks at the City Council Health Committee hearing, where she released a new report, "Touching a Nerve: How Closing the City's Oral Health Program Reduces Access to Dental Care for New York City Children". Gotbaum questioned the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on its reasons for closing the Oral Health Program (OHP); and, citing her report, she voiced skepticism about whether the families who benefited from the OHP will be able to access the same services from Medicaid dentists or HHC clinics.

Gotbaum: There are better ways to close a budget deficit

Today, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum joined Councilmember Bill de Blasio, parents, unions and advocates to call on the City to reconsider its plan to eliminate slots for kindergarten-aged children in day care centers.

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, “The city is expecting five-year-olds and their families to bear the burden of its budget problems. Many low-income parents rely on ACS to provide care for their children so they can work to make ends meet. Now, ACS is planning to close its kindergarten facilities, forcing these children to crowd into other facilities far from their homes. There are better ways to close a budget deficit than by increasing the burden on low-income parents and their children.”

Crib Safety: What you should know

Today, the Daily News reported on the death of five-month-old Kerith Williams Jr., a Brooklyn child who died wedged between his crib baseboard and mattress on August 28th. While cribs are the safest place for an infant to sleep, parents should know the proper sleeping position for an infant and they should be aware of any safety recalls for their type of crib or bassinet.

The crib retailed for approximately $100 dollars - and didn't come with any sort of safety warning.

Last September, Besty Gotbaum called for the immediate inventory of all cribs at city agencies. Gotbaum asked that the city identify and replace recently-recalled cribs from city sites after two nation-wide baby crib manufacturers recalled one million faulty cribs (shortly after three children were suffocated in cribs.)

In a letter to the administration [pdf], Gotbaum said that city-run shelters, child-care centers, and foster care agencies may use any number of these recalled cribs and play yards. Gotbaum additionally produced a November 2007 report on child fatalities [pdf] in the NYC shelter system. 

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development informs parents that the best place for their baby is on their backs, in a crib, void of loose clothing, blankets or toys.

More info about crib/bassinet recalls can be found at the links below:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08312.html
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08351.html
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08350.html
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08314.html
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08381.html

Know about an unsafe product? Report it here.