Candidate Name: Bill Perkins
Candidate for Senate District: 30 (Manhattan)
Contact Person: Richard Fife
Campaign Address: P.O. Box 1355, Morningside Station, New York, NY 10026
Phone: 212-316-9434
Fax: 212-496-0181
Email: Info@BillPerkins.org
Website: www.BillPerkins.org
Endorsements:
Political: Virtually all area elected officials have indicated they will support
Community: Widespread support among tenant leaders, ministers and community leaders
Labor: Strong support among labor that will be announced in coming weeks
The best indicator of what an elected official is going to do is to look at what they have done. As a community leader, City Council leader and now on the State Senate, Bill Perkins has fought to knock down barriers and end discrimination, to advance equality, basic justice and fairness and been a strong and reliable friend to the disabled community.
He hasn't just talked about problems, he has taken action and gotten results. Now as he faces a primary opponent, he asks for your support and active involvement in his election. Just as important, he wants you to continue to work with him, providing ideas and suggestions, as he continues his work in the State Senate.
He has built a strong record on issues important to the disabled community. Here are some examples:
In the 2010/11 budget Senator Perkins allocated over $350,000.00 in funding to make world famous Harlem School of the Arts handicapped accessible including installation of handicapped accessible bathrooms and a hydraulic elevator to the 2nd floor. Funding will also be used to make Frederick Douglass Academy High School's auditorium handicapped accessible.
Perkins allocates funding yearly to the Harlem Independent Living Center to provide services to the disabled in the community.
Sponsor of S1126 To establish the "Save Our Sight Program"
and the "Save Our Sight Fund"
to help raise funds for vision screening programs to detect vision problems in children.
Co-sponsor of S5926 to protect people of all ages with disabilities during times of disaster by requiring counties to maintain a registry of people who may require assistance during a disaster.
Co-sponsor of S3539 to simplify the application process for the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) program by providing for an income limit similar to that currently used for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program.
On the City Council, sponsored the "City Council Introduction 512-A,"
also known as the "Human Rights in Government Operations Audit Law,"
to set up a system of oversight for instances of discrimination within all branches of the city government. It would replace the existing system, which centers on response to individual complaints, with a "comprehensive and proactive system that involves partnerships between city agencies and community advocates."
On the City Council, was a sponsor of legislation requiring NYC to transition to a 100% accessible taxi fleet.
Additionally, his government office and campaign office are wheelchair accessible.