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?

The need for affordable housing has peaked over the past several years, far exceeding supply. As an active board member of NEBHDCo, in my volunteer capacity, I continually work to ensure that NEBHDCo remains at the forefront of developing and managing sound, affordable housing for low and moderate income individuals, the mentally ill, the homeless and senior citizens.
 

What oversight have you performed regarding implementation of programs/legislation you have passed (in first term or in previous offices)?

I have never held office. All of the work that I have done has been in a volunteer capacity.
 

Will you commit to only attend or sponsor events that are accessible to people with disabilities? NOTE: This includes providing written materials in alternate formats for people with low vision, providing assistive listening systems for people who are hard-of-hearing, and sign language interpreters for people who are deaf, as well as ensuring that locations are accessible to people who use mobility aids, like wheelchairs and walkers.

I will commit to sponsor events that are accessible to people with disabilities. I will also commit to providing materials in alternate formats for events that I sponsor. And I will commit to making sure that bathroom facilities are accessible.
 

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What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities?

1. ...in your personal life?

   None.
    
   

2. ...in the workplace?

   At the firm, our mailroom has a few messengers who have disabilities. They are wonderful people and I my relationship with them is very good. They are very professional. Whenever I see them in the firm, I say hello and from time to time engage in personal conversations with them. I know all of the mailroom staff by their first name.
    
   

What special accommodations do you believe/think are in use in the workplace?

At my firm, to enterthe building for those with disabilities they have easy access for there are no steps and in addition there are regular double doors that open wide. There are private bathrooms on each floor to accommodate those in a wheelchair. In addition, computer terminals are equipped with a pull out for the keyboard so that you do not have to pull your chair all the way to the desk.
 

How do you propose to implement your active involvement and/or availability to the disability community?

1. Will there be a specific person in your office responsible to this community?

   As I am not sure what the City Council budget will be for my office, in addition to a secretary and a chief of staff, I hope to have a staffmember on board who can reach out to the disability community, the LGBT community as well as the senior citizen community.
    
   

2. Will have regular office agenda items and meetings on disabled community issues?

   Yes.
    
   

Do you/or will you, have an active Disability Advisory Committee? Explain its duties, responsibilites and powers.

I would definitely welcome the opportunity to talk to you further about such a committee, which I believe would be a wonderful idea.
 

How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation through the City Council? What is your strategy during your first term?

I would appreciate the opportunity to sit down and strategize with the disability community as to how they believe I could be most effective for their issues.
 

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What is your position on the development of supported apartments/homes and retirement homes for the mentally disabled in your borough? Please also explain same for physically disabled. What strategies will you utilize?

As a board member of NEBHDCo, I have always fought for quality low and affordable housing for everyone. I will continue to do so. We must collaborate with developers, community based organizations, churches and NYC to build quality housing for everyone who is in need.
 

What is your position on extending the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) to low-income, eligible persons with disabilities under the age of 62 on the same basis and income level (currently the income cap for seniors is $24,000, but for persons with disabilities it has been set at $17,000)?

SCRIE should most definitely be extended to help those who are disabled and who are in need.
 

How will you develop realistic income levels for individuals and couples with disabilities to avail themselves of the SCRIE provisions?

I will need to research this before I can state a "realistic" income level.
 

What alternative programs will you propose to allow persons with disabilities to stay in their own homes/apartments? Perhaps a dedicated housing trust fund should be established for persons with disabilities?

Legislation needs to be created to exempt seniors and persons living with disabilities from rent increases or undue eviction.
 

New York City is in the process of adopting a new building code. How would you advocate for the strongest possible access provisions?

1. Emergency evacuation for people with disabilities: what would you do to ensure that provisions are put in place to improve survival rates of people with disabilities in the event of fire, attack, blackout, or other emergency situation?

   We know that persons with disabilities can do the following to assist in the event of an emergency:

   • Identify primary and secondary routes to exits, stairwells or other safe "areas of refuge" that can provide protection from smoke or fire.

   • Locate building phones, fire alarm pull stations, police call boxes or cell phones that can be used to call University Police in the event of an emergency.

   • Establish a Buddy System with a coworker or other colleague who can assist you during an evacuation.

   • If no one is able to assist you down the stairs, proceed to the stairwell or designated area of refuge and inform other evacuees that you need immediate assistance. Ask others to inform rescuers of your whereabouts,

   • Train you Buddy on the best way that they can assist you during an evacuation.

   I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can create legislation to try and improve survival rates of people with disabilities in the event of fire, attack, blackout, or other emergency situation.
    
   

2. What would you do to ensure that "Visitability" is enacted in New York City? Visitability is the movement towards establishing guidelines providing that newly constructed multi-family dwellings have basic accessible/adaptable features that permit friends and family with disabilities to visit, and for residents to "age in place," without having to move out when age and/or disability set in.

   I believe that legislation needs to be created that would ensure that all newly constructed multifamily dwellings have basic accessible/adaptable features that permit friends and family with disabilities to visit, and for residents to "age in place," without having to move out when age and/or disability set in.
    
   

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Will you support, and what strategy will you utilize, to implement an expansion of affordable wheelchair accessible transportation in NYC, including taxis, livery service, express buses, airport shuttle service, more accessible subway stations, etc.?

There has been major renovation in public transportation that is allowing more easy access to the transportation system here in NYC. While we have had some renovation, legislation needs to be created to insure that all future renovation/construction projects allow easy access for those with disabilities.
 

1. Efforts to secure a 100% accessible fleet of medallion taxis have been hampered by opposition from Mayor Bloomberg and the taxi industry. Wheelchair accessible taxis are present in many cities as a result of strong support from local Mayors and City Councils. What would you do to assure that all New York City residents, commuters and tourists have access to an important form of public transportation, our medallion taxis and community car services?

   Will need to research this further.
    
   

Access-A-Ride has denied rides to many eligible consumers,caused unnecessarily long trips, and has left many consumers stranded at the curb. Consumers who complain are often subject to retaliation. What would you do to improve the quality of service for those who must use Access-A-Ride?

Those who are disabled are not the only ones who have experienced "issues" with Access-A-Ride. Access-A-Ride receives public dollars and therefore needs to be held accountable. We need to discuss this further.
 

Do you favor the construction of the Second Avenue Subway? If so, is this a priority?

Yes, I am in favor. Not a high priority, but the Second Avenue Subway is definitely needed.
 

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The Local Civil Rights Restoration Act (Intro 22) seeks to protect the vigor and independence of the City’s Human Rights Law against the attacks of an increasingly conservative State and Federal Judiciary. Although there are 38 Council sponsors, 32 civil rights and allied organizations, in favor of this legislation, and three hearings have been held, Mayor Bloomberg continues to oppose the most central aspect of the bill, the need for City Human Rights Law not to be restricted as federal and state civil rights law gets cut back. Would you work to assure its passage? Please describe your strategy.

Yes. I would work closely with Council members on this issue.
 

Under the Bloomberg Administration, the Corporation Council intervened on the side of the city of Sacramento when it sought to challenge the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding the requirement to maintain accessible sidewalks. Do you pledge to use your office to affirm or strengthen, rather than weaken, civil rights protections for persons with disabilities?

Yes. I will definitely strengthen the rights of persons with disabilities.
 

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Do you support making sign language interpreters available for Community Board meetings? If so, how would you fund this?

Yes.
 

Will you appoint disabled persons to local Community Boards?

Yes.
 

How many have you/ or will you appoint to Community Board?

My district covers several community board’s and I will appoint members of the community who express a serious desire to serve on the community board to the community board.
 

Will you support the "requirement" and implement, a Disabled Committee on every Community Board?

This is an excellent idea.
 

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Please Specify: Have you used (or will you use) your discretionary funds to support organizations serving persons with disabilities or service organizations seeking to make their programs accessible to persons with disabilities? If so, what percentage of your discretionary funds went to such organizations?

I will definitely support organizations that serve persons with disabilities.
 

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Under Mayor Bloomberg, the City settled with the United Spinal Association and agreed to install curb cuts -- Pedestrian ramps, on all corners which presently don’t have one. However, no provision has been made to repair or replace those current ones which are unsafe. How would you ensure that curb cuts — pedestrian ramps — are provided on or repaired on streets that need them? What would you establish as a timetable?

The sidewalks of NYC must be safe for everyone. Legislation needs to be created to ensure that unsafe sidewalks, curbs, pedestrian ramps, etc, are repaired in a timely manner once they have been reported as "unsafe." I welcome further discussions to set what would be a "reasonable" timetable.
 

What steps do you think NYC should take to encourage business owners to make their establishments more accessible?

NYC should present a revitalization initiative that through a few cosmetic improvements would make businesses more accessible to those who have disabilities.
 

Do you believe that landmark buildings can be made accessible without losing their historical integrity?

There are some landmark buildings that can be made accessible.
 

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What is your position on efforts to elevate the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) to a commissioner level agency or Commission on Disabilities to enable coordination of efforts of agencies? (A one stop shop for information and assistance.) How would you ensure that city departments/agencies coordinate through MOPD?

Would need to research this issue further before I could make a statement.
 

What implementation/authority should MOPD have, and/or how would you ensure that MOPD have?

Would need to research this issue further before I could make a statement.
 

Since presumably "this" office is a Mayoral Office, how would you enforce and do oversight regarding the work of the office and be certain of the implementation and its efforts?

Would need to research this issue further before I could make a statement.
 

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