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 not been in public office prior to this campaign.
 

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

I have not been in public office prior to this campaign.
 

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

I will fight to help people with disabilities keep their housing at their current costs, and will also work tirelessly to advance disability rights in transportation, employment, health care, and education.
 

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, I will commit to only attend or sponsor events that are accessible to people with disabilities.
 

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

1. ...in your personal life?

   From a very early age, I spent a great amount of time alongside my grandmother, who was a disabilities activist in Israel.
    
   

2. ...in the workplace?

   I have worked alongside various individuals with disabilities in numerous employment settings.
    
   

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

The end goal should be to make the workplace fully accessible to people with disabilities... in every regard.
 

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 will definitely be a specific person in my office responsible to the disability community.
    
   

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

   Yes, I will have regular office agenda items and meetings on disabled community issues.
    
   

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

Yes, I will have an active Disability Advisory Committee that will work towards accessible housing, transportation, employment, health care, and education for people with disabilities.
 

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 be in constant contact with leaders in the disability community, collaborating with them to assure passage of the needed legislation.
 

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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 strongly in the development of supported apartments/homes and retirement homes for the mentally disabled and physically disabled. I will use every means possible to go about achieving these.
 

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)?

I believe the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption to low-income, eligible persons with disabilities under the age of 62 should be $24,000 as well.
 

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

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?

New York City has more than 2 million housing units that are unavailable – inaccessible or otherwise off limits – to those with disabilities. Given the long history of our city, many buildings are not equipped to accommodate those with disabilities. For example, an apartment may only have stairs and no elevator. The Neighborhood Human Rights Program (NHRP) is a wonderful service to those with disabilities, as it helps promote rights and services for the disabled. As of the present, the New York City Commission on Human Rights (NYCCHR) division on Housing states that: "The City Human Rights Law protects the rights of people with disabilities by requiring that landlords, co-ops and condominiums reasonably accommodate the needs of disabled tenants, shareholders or owners…The City Human Rights Law also requires the landlord to pay for an accommodation in a common area if it is deemed to be reasonable." Although landlords and owners are bound by the law to make such accommodations, two major problems may still arise. First, the landlord/owner may not be able to afford such accommodations; second, the landlord/owner may disagree with what a "reasonable" accommodation is.

We, as a city, need to be sure that landlords can afford such upgrades to buildings. We must be sure, though, that city funds do not simply get thrown around, helping landlords and owners pay for services that the city needn’t assist. The NYCCHR should assess landlords’ and owners’ need for assistance when it comes to accommodating the disabled. The federal Housing and Urban Development should be utilized for its financial services, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

Furthermore, New York City’s anti-discrimination laws seem to be slightly weaker than those recommended by the federal government. In this progressive beacon of a city, we must be sure that our laws are at least equal to those of the federal government. As long as our laws are in accordance with those of the ADA, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can be petitioned as a source of financing and assistance when necessary.

We need to implement a system in New York City wherein landlords and owners can be held accountable for having housing units that do not comply with our equal housing laws. Whether there is a new commission set up to assure that those with disabilities are accommodated in any and all housing units throughout the city or the NYCCHR takes up this responsibility, we need to be sure that landlords and owners are not simply told to obey the law, but that they are held accountable in doing so.

As far as the increase in rent for disabled persons, I believe that a fund to ensure that housing remain affordable and accessible for disabled persons is necessary. Various sources could potentially be used to create this fund including a surcharge on new development, an assessment on property transfers of more than $3 million and leveraging federal housing dollars. These are all areas that we can explore to create this necessary fund.
 

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

First we must have an easily understood building code that professionals and residents alike can understand. We do not need another industry being created simply to decipher such a building code. The Mayor’s Commission has insisted on its support of the International Building Code over the National Fire Protection Association Building Construction and Safety Code (as well as over the current code) because of its simplicity and because of its ability to be amended in the future. I fully support this decision, as I believe it is of utmost importance for a code with such a central role in the future of this city to allow itself to be changed over time as well as to be easily understood by all.

In the most recent report from the Mayor’s Advisory Commission ("Report on the Adoption of a Model Building Code" -- http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/pdf/ibc.pdf), it is noted that: "As the [code] has become increasingly complex and convoluted over time, it has also become increasingly difficult for design professionals to accurately and consistently interpret code provisions. Ultimately, these difficulties have lead to confusion, inconsistent interpretations and delays." Also, "The Department intends to ensure public safety while streamlining procedures and providing the public with easier access to information." (page 7)
 

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?

   There are a few steps that must be taken immediately to ensure the quick, safe evacuation of people with disabilities. First, all elevators and stairways must be sufficiently wide for all people, including those in wheelchairs, on crutches, or other disabilities. Second, all elevators and emergency exits must be thoroughly inspected in the appropriate time frame. If an elevator or other emergency exit must have a safety inspection in a given time frame, the permits allowing operation of this exit must not be expired (as so many elevator permits often are). Further, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and any and all other protective and preventative devices should be installed in city buildings. Under the city’s code (http://dos.state.ny.us/code/Title19.htm), detectors must be used to ensure safety. We need to be sure this law is enforced.

   Also, the proper training of those persons (whether they are employees or not) in a given building is necessary. Everybody must be aware of the evacuation procedure, and those with disabilities that require assistance in the case of an emergency must be dealt with prior to any evacuation is carried out.
    
   

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.

   In October, 2002, an attempt was made in the US House to create a nation-wide "visitability" law. The introduction of HR 5683, by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D.-Ill.) initiated a now long-standing debate over visitability rights. As recently as March 17th of this year, the Inclusive Home Design Act of 2005 (HR 1441) was introduced in the House, again forwarding the idea of visitability rights.

   I am very much in favor of creating a law to ensure visitability, if not through Congress and not through our state, then in New York City. It is very upsetting to think that, as residents age, they would have to vacate their homes because of the lack of accommodations to disabilities, or that friends and family would be unable to visit certain residents because of similar accommodation problems.

   I would be sure to bring this issue to the forefront of the housing debate. I would urge the New York City Commission on Human Rights to consider the issue of visitability not necessarily as a "new" issue, but rather one that falls under the auspices of the City Human Rights law that protects "the rights of people with disabilities by requiring that landlords, co-ops and condominiums [to] reasonably accommodate the needs of disabled tenants, shareholders or owners."
    
   

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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 will oppose Bloomberg’s support of the taxi industry, working to assure that all New York City residents, commuters, and tourists have access to important forms of transportation such as medallion taxis and community car services.
    
   

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?

I will put as much pressure as I possibly can on Access-A-Ride to make it more suitable to the consumers.
 

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

Yes, I strongly favor the construction of the Second Avenue Subway and will do everything I can to help it along.
 

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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.

It seems that the Mayor’s discontent with this law comes from the section that requires it is unlawful for businesses to refuse to do business with (or hire, discharge etc.) people engaged in a domestic partnership. It is being interpreted, by opponents of this Act, that this facet to the law is attempting to strengthen the pro-gay marriage agenda. I believe that, whether or not this is true, this is not the issue. The issue is whether or not the State of New York is going to allow its civil rights laws to be whittled away by the courts. I would work to assure the passage of this Act. The more publicity this Act receives, the more likely it will be to pass. Given that the Mayor’s veto was defeated, we see that there is much desire for this to be enacted (and adhered to). We cannot give up, and must continue to push forward even with the Mayor’s administration refusing to enforce the law.
 

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?

I pledge to use my office to strengthen civil rights protections for persons with disabilities, doing everything possible in my power to keep the Americans with Disabilities Act intact.
 

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

I pledge to use my office to strengthen civil rights protections for persons with disabilities, doing everything possible in my power to keep the Americans with Disabilities Act intact.
 

Will you appoint disabled persons to local Community Boards?

I will appoint the most qualified people to local Community Boards regardless of their race, gender, or disabilities.
 

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

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

Yes.
 

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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?

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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?

I will work my hardest to make sure that unsafe pedestrian ramps are repaired as soon as possible.
 

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

NYC should try to give incentives to encourage business owners to make their establishments more accessible to people with disabilities.
 

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

Yes, I believe that there is no reason that landmark buildings cannot be made accessible without losing their historical integrity.
 

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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 these efforts. It is vital that City Departments coordinate the creation of policy with MOPD and the best way to insure this is to elevate the MOPD to a commissioner level agency. This will also give the MOPD and the City a strong advocate to fight for the rights of people with disabilities.
 

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

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?

The City Council has two means of oversight regarding any Executive Office the first is the budget policy at which time we can hold offices accountable. The second is in the court of public opinion. I will use both of these tools to hold City Government accountable to its citizens.
 

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