504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for City Council Cleofis Sarete's 2009 response)

Candidate Name: Cleofis Sarete

Council District: 10

Contact Person: Rafael Vancamper

If there is a Campaign office, is it wheelchair accessible? No campaign office yet.

Campaign Address: P.O. Box 691
Phone: 347-435-6079
Fax:
Address:
Email: friendsofcleofis @ gmail.com
Website: will be up in June

Action Shows Commitment!
1. While in public office/prior to this campaign, what have you accomplished in regard to advancing disability rights? This can include work towards accessible housing, transportation, employment, health care, education, and including people with disabilities in the political process?
  
  I have worked in conjunction with Community Board 12 in Upper Manhattan as an advocate on behalf of the rights for people with disability, for example places that were not accessible to wheel chairs. Furthermore, I was active in making sure that the elderly services were being rendered addressing many of the aforementioned.
2. Will you commit to only attend / sponsor events that are accessible to people with disabilities (PWDs including providing written materials in alternate formats, providing assistive listening systems, and sign language interpreters as well as ensuring that locations are physically accessible)?
  
  Absolutely, I believe that people with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else does and therefore, I will do whatever necessary to fight for their needs and see to it that they are met.
General Questions
1. What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?
  
  When I first stated working for the Department of Education I worked as a sub in District 75, a district that addresses students with special needs. I had the opportunity to work with autistic students, students on wheel chairs, and students with auditory problems among others. In addition, as an educator I know what it is like to work with children with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and children who are emotionally disturbed among others. I was also in charge of running errands for my grandmother, making sure that she had all of the proper tools and equipment needed at home that allowed her to move around and receive the appropriate care.
2. What type of jobs would you be willing to hire and to provide reasonable accommodation (e.g. flex or part time) for staff members with disabilities?
  
  Depending on the disability of the individual, I think a flexible schedule is possible. There are many jobs that people can do depending on the training that the individual has. A blind teacher teaches at the school where I currently work. He teaches brail and provides therapy with students with similar needs.
3. How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation through the City Council? What will be your strategy?
  
  I will reach out to schools, agencies, and the community to work on issues that affect them.
Housing
1. What is your position on the development of supported apartments/homes and retirement homes for the persons with mental and/or physical disabilities in your district?
  
  I will fight tooth and nail to get the disabled the assistance that they need. I've assisted many individuals in the past, if elected rest assure that I will do the work and I will not rest until they can get a decent place to live and receive adequate services.
2. What is your position on making DRIE (Disabled Rent Increase Exemption) and SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption) programs income eligibility comparable? (At present a individual senior or household income eligibility is $28,000. While the income for a younger disabled individual is capped at $19,284 and $27,780 for a household?)
  
  I will revise everything that they need and their house income and based on that, determine in conjunction with a committee and the community voice how to address this matter.
3. Visitability sets guidelines to ensure newly constructed multi-family dwellings have basic accessible/adaptable features to permit people with disabilities can visit, and for residents to "age in place," without having to move out when age and/or disability set in. Do you support incorporating the concept of "visitability" in the Building Code?
  
  Definitely, I believe that as long as the individual is equipped with the needed services, equipments and features, they should be allowed to remain in their apartment.
Transportation
1. Will you support an expansion of affordable wheelchair accessible transportation in NYC, including taxis, livery service, express buses, and shuttles, more accessible subway stations, etc.?
  
  No Answer.
2. Efforts to secure a 100% accessible fleet of medallion taxis have been hampered by opposition from Mayor Bloomberg and the taxi industry. The current emphasis is on creating a 100% "green" fleet. What would you do to assure that taxis and community car service vehicles are both "green" and universally designed for wheelchair access?
  
  Well, first and foremost, cab services should be available for the disabled. I will demand that the cab and limousine commission provide transportation accessible for wheelchairs.
3. Access-A-Ride (AAR) users experience unnecessarily long trips, causing workers to be late for work, have their pay docked and possibly losing their jobs. AAR leaves consumers stranded, lies that a vehicle is coming and penalized riders as a "no-show" when the vehicle never arrived. Riders who complain report they are subject to retaliation. What would you do to improve the quality of AAR?
  
  I would put together an ad hock committee to look into the matter and based on the findings, measures will be taken to remedy the situation.
4. Would you support the issuance of a "smart card" so that Access-A-Ride users can use accessible cabs/livery service at a reduced cost and receive better service?
  
  Yes, I will support it.
Civil Rights

Do you pledge to use your office to affirm or strengthen, rather than weaken, civil rights protections for persons with disabilities?

Yes, I will be willing to hear your concerns.
Community Board
1. Do you support requiring all Community Board meeting and function be accessible, including requiring sign language interpreters and large print format material?
  
  Absolutely.
2. How many people with disabilities have/will you appoint to your local Community Board(s)?
  
  I will be willing to appoint several people that are interested in making a difference in the quality of life.
3. Will you support the "requirement" and implement, a Disabled Committee on every Community Board?
  
  I will do my best; I think it is extremely important that everyone's concerns are heard.
Discretionary Funds

Will you use your discretionary funds to support organizations serving people with disabilities or service organizations seeking to make their programs accessible to people with disabilities?

I will be willing to find the necessary funds that will support these organizations.
Accessibility
1. Under Mayor Bloomberg, the City settled with the United Spinal Association and agreed to install pedestrian ramps, on all corners which presently don't have one. However, no provision was made to repair and/or replace existing ones which are unsafe. How would you ensure that pedestrian ramps are provided or repaired? What would you establish as a timetable?
  
  I would assign a committee to work diligently to ensure that something is done concerning the lack of or damaged ramps. This will happen at a reasonable timeframe.
2. What steps do you think NYC should take to encourage business owners to make their establishments more accessible?
  
  I will make sure that businesses have the proper equipment in order to make them more accessible.
3. How would you ensure that emergency evacuation for PWDs provisions are put in place to improve survival rates of PWDs in the event of fire, attack, blackout, or other emergency situation?
  
  I will make sure that I reach out to those that can work putting together a forum where this can be addressed and seminars or training will be introduced for this purpose.
Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD)
1. Mayor Bloomberg elevated the Director of the (MOPD) to a Commissioner without any increase in budget or responsibilities. How would you ensure that city departments/agencies coordinate through MOPD?
  
  I will propose it and see that it is implemented.
2. How do you believe the City Council should enforce and do oversight regarding the work of the office and be certain of the implementation and its efforts?
  
  I will delegate tasks and observe that the tasks are being implemented.

Date: May 18, 2009

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