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?

As a former organizer for the state’s largest Healthcare Workers Union, I was a tireless advocate for the issues that people with disabilities face in the workplace. Specifically, I fought for contract provisions to protect workers with disabilities and fough to ensure that all hospitals and medical facilities were not only accessible to patients with disabilities, but also workers with disabilities. Since being elected to office, I have fought for fair housing for people with disabilities and as a member of the Mental Health Committee in the City Council I played an active role in the last two city budgets in the fight to secure real funding for a variety of projects and programs geared towards those with disabilities. I am an active supporter in the fight to make sure that all people have access to quality transportation through the Yellow Cab system and the Livery Cab system. Furthermore, I am a supporter of Intro 398-A, the Accessible Water Borne Commuter Services Facilities Transportation Act that seeks to make all ferries and water borne transport accessible to all New Yorkers.
 

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

Once again, my role as a member of the Mental Health Committee gives me direct oversight on almost all programs for people with disabilities that are funded in the City’s yearly budget. I also look forward to playing a serious oversight role in regards to the effort to make ALL transportation in New York City accessible to those with disabilities.
 

What implementation/strategy do you have for your future programs and legislation to help constituents with disabilities?

Speaking locally first, my goal in the next fiscal year is to allocate $1 million to rehab the Parkchester subway station in an effort to make this important commuter station truly accessible for the many people with disabilities in that area. Currently the subway system is almost completely inaccessible in my district and that is a travesty that must be fixed. On a citywide basis, I will continue to fight in the Council and on the street for accessible transportation and accessible housing for all. I believe that in order to have these problems addressed we will have to raise the public awareness of the issues through on the street demonstrations and media events. We must shift public perception of the issues in order to have them resolved.
 

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.

Yes — to the best of my ability I will offer all services available for all community meetings. This is a perfect example though of ways we need to push in the City’s budget process -- we need to demand funding for community organizations to have access to the technical resources needed to make accessibility possible.
 

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

1. ...in your personal life?

   I have several relatives with disabilities including a close relative who is cared for by my aunt that has severe mental disabilities. Making sure that he has access to services has been a life-long struggle for my family.
    
   

2. ...in the workplace?

   As I stated before, I was an organizer for the state’s largest Healthcare Workers Union (SEIU 1199) and I encountered the issues that people with disabilities face on a daily basis. Whether it was discrimination in the workplace or a need for workers to access services, the issues of people with disabilities has directly affected my work life.
    
   

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

I believe in the "Whatever it Takes" philosophy – Whatever it takes to make people feel productive and secure in their workplace is what needs to happen. Every New Yorker has a right to discrimination free work and a workplace that will take their needs into account. I believe that "Disability Discrimination" workshops and material should be required by law for all workplaces with over 20 employees. If Sexual Harassment policies can take a front seat in the workplace, so can Disability Discrimination. Furthermore, all workplaces must be accessible including parking facilities and bathrooms. Any special computer equipment must be made available as well.
 

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?

   Yes -- There is a liaison to the disabled community in my office.
    
   

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, responsibilities and powers.

I do not have an active committee but would welcome the opportunity to start organizing one in my district. We do have several members of the community who are disabled who regularly volunteer in my office and offer advice on disabled issues.
 

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 will do everything in my power to work with and organize with the disabled community. I believe that real action comes from the bottom up and that my job as a Council Member is to empower those who do not have a strong enough voice in City government. By listening and meeting with the community I have already become a fighter on the transportation and housing issues people with disabilities face. I have supported and fought alongside Council Member Margarita Lopez to ensure that people with disabilities were included in rent exemption legislation. I hope I can continue the history that Council Member Lopez has started and become as strong an advocate as she has.
 

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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?

I believe that the city has failed at giving people with disabilities real options in the housing market and we must find creative ways to change that. I believe the city must make a massive financial commitment to subsidizing supportive housing for all New Yorkers who are disabled. By investing this money locally and allowing those with disabilities to remain in the communities they know, people with disabilities will also be able to retain the same network of services they currently access. Building clusters of disabled housing will take people away from their families and communities -- we must invest and build locally. I dream of the day when every Council district has disabled housing in the same way they have senior housing.
 

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)?

Next year we will fight to make sure the State Legislature includes those with disabilities. I believe that the State Senate is the key target and that Mayor Bloomberg must also be a target to ensure he is fighting on this issue. I also believe that should be parity in income levels for these programs -- if the senior number is a $24,000 cap to qualify for SCRIE the disability number should be the same.
 

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

I believe parity with the senior income levels is appropriate and I believe the income level for seniors should increase over the next 5 years to $29,000 and the same is true for those with disabilities. What we are talking about is caps on income for those with disabilities.
 

What alternative programs will you propose to allow persons with disabilities to stay in their own homes/apartments? (i.e. protection from rent increases or undue eviction (harassment) and make funds available to make appropriate accommodations in present living environment). Another example: perhaps a dedicated housing trust fund should be established for making those housing accommodations. If so, how would you fund same?

I believe the only thing landlords listen to is fines and the financial bottom line. So, I believe stronger harassment laws with triple fines or punishment should be implemented immediately. I also believe that through the zoning process the City Council has power to demand a greater number of affordable units in all new development and therefore a greater number for those with disabilities. I thing a city sponsored fund to rehab or redesign current accommodations is a great idea and I look forward to fighting that fight with 504 Democrats.
 

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

I will advocate in Council Chambers and on the street -- we must raise the profile of this issue and make sure the city as a whole understands that changing the building codes is a rare opportunity to shape housing for those with disabilities.
 

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?

   First and foremost, I will demand that stairwells be required to be at least 44 inches wide (the length needed to safely carry someone down stairs) and I will demand that all buidings implement a training program for building staff on how to deal with people with a disability in an emergency.
    
   

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 think the two best options are to legislate on the issue and also to set up an incentive program (tax breaks) for developers to include the concept of "Visitability" in all new development. All private homes should have a first floor entrance and a bathroom.
    
   

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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.?

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?

   I do support an expansion of wheelchair accessibility to all transportation -- but we have a hard fight ahead of us. The mayor and the Taxi Industry are going to fight this movement very hard and it is our job to win the war of public opinion. I believe that street activism is the only way to do this. When we were pushing for a higher state minimum wage the Daily News ran a series of articles in which the reported agreed to live on Minimum Wage for a week -- we need a similar strategy to demonstrate to the public the hardships people with disabilities face even going shopping. I am committed to helping formulate a press and activism plan with the disabled community. We must shift public perception.
    
   

Access-A-Ride has denied rides to many eligible consumers; cause unnecessarily long trips, causing workers to be late for work and consequently be docked pay and even lose their jobs; routinely leave many consumers stranded at the curb, lying to their clients that a bus is coming and calling consumer a "no-show" when the bus has not shown. 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?

As a member of the Mental Health Committee I was a part of two hearings to demand action from the State Controller’s Office. We were able to secure a commitment from the State to hire two people to evaluate Access-A-Ride and make recommendations on changes. But, once again, without strong activism and good public interest stories we will get no where.
 

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

Yes — and it will be accessible!
 

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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 am a sponsor of this bill and have been meeting regularly with advocates and Council Members to develop a strategy to pass this legislation. The reality is there are enough sponsors to pass the bill and we have to put internal and external press on the Speaker to bring the bill to the floor.
 

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 have spent my entire career fighting for expansion of rights for all New Yorkers.
 

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

Yes, and I will fight in next year’s budget to secure funding for these services. If we do now empower people with disabilities at the local level we will never be able to empower people at the City-wide level.
 

Will you appoint disabled persons to local Community Boards?

Yes -- I have attempted to appoint someone this years and that appointment has been held up. I will continue to fight to ensure someone with disabilities is on the Board.
 

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

As many qualified candidates as humanly possible.
 

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

I will fight to make sure every existing committee at the community board level has a component to deal with the disability issues that arise. I believe that a separate committee is not enough -- we have to make sure every committee hears the voice of disabled New Yorkers.
 

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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?

Yes I have. I have made allocations to the New Era Veterans that seek to empower disabled veterans in the political process. I have also allocated funds to Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice and St. Raymond’s Community Outreach who both provide inclusive services for my community. Several of the senior centers I fund also have supportive services for those with disabilities. I am also committed to allocating funds for a subway rehab in my district to finally make the system accessible to members of my community. I believe about 10% of the funds I have allocated go to organizations that somehow deal with disability issues.
 

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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 time table is simple — NOW! Curb cuts are easy solutions that save lives. I will fight for funding in next year’s budget and will gladly fund any necessary curb cuts that the city is failing to repair.
 

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

I believe that incentive programs for business owners have been effective with other issues and can be here too. I also believe that local campaigns geared towards local businesses will demonstrate to business owners the absolute necessity of these improvements. If we can show that it will effect their bottom line we can make the case that it is in their best interest to serve the disabled community.
 

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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?

I support making the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities a commissioner level agency. I believe through budget oversight we can push other agencies to actively be involved with this new agency’s recommendations.
 

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

They should have ultimate authority over other city agencies in relation to disability issues. This agency could operate like a compliance oversight office that would constantly be evaluating programs for other agencies. With the Mayor’s full backing this could be a powerful tool but the Mayor must be responsible for putting the full weight of his office behind it.
 

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?

Budget oversight is the most powerful tool in our arsenal but public pressure and public activism is the key to establishing and maintaining this office.
 

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