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?

Since my election in 2001, I have been a staunch advocate for people with disabilities. Earlier this year, I introduced Intro. 624, a local law requiring the installation of specialized carbon monoxide detecting devices for the hearing impaired in buildings classified in specific occupancy groups. If enacted, this law would require the installation of a carbon monoxide detector that is suitable for the hearing impaired, such as those with flashing or strobe lights when there is a hearing impaired person or persons residing in a dwelling.
 

I introduced this legislation in March following the accidental deaths of Blair and Anita Mazin, a hearing impaired couple from Douglaston, Queens, who died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.
 

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

I was a co-sponsor of Intro. 398-A, a local law in relation to standards and specifications for accessible water borne commuter facilities for disabled persons in NYC. This legislation was recently passed by the City Council and was later signed into law by the Mayor. I plan to work in partnership with my colleagues at the City Council and with the Mayor’s Office to ensure that these regulations are implemented.
 

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

During my next term, I plan to push for the passage and enactment of Int. 624.
 

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.

While I will not alienate any of my constituents by not attending all local community events, if I find that a venue is not accessible for disabled individuals, I will encourage that future events be held in an accessible location.
 

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

1. ...in your personal life?

2. ...in the workplace?

One of my classmates during law school was State Senator David Paterson. At that time, disabled individuals did not have many resources available to them, so I assisted him as a reader. I read the text of our law books to help him study and prepare for his exams.
 

This experience really changed my life and helped me realize how important it is for the government to make sure the rights of disabled individuals are protected.
 

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

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?

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

Rebecca Shaffer, Director of Press & Legislative Affairs, is responsible for handling issues pertaining to the disabled community. As issues arise in my district and at City Hall, Rebecca responds accordingly to schedule meetings and coordinate outreach.
 

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 advising me on policy and community issues if it is requested by my constituency.
 

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 plan to build upon and maintain my current relationships with the disabled community and my colleagues at City Hall to assure the passage of vitally 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 am supportive of this.
 

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 am supportive of this change.
 

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

At the Council, I co-sponsored Reso. 674, which amends the Property Tax Law to exclude from the definition of income all unreimbursed medical and prescription drug expenses paid by a senior citizen for the purposes of determining eligibility for SCRIE benefits, and further urging the NYS Senate to introduce and pass a companion bill. During my next term I will take steps to have these regulations expanded to include the disabled community.
 

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?

Establishing a Housing Trust is a great idea, which could be funded with excess tax revenue as the City’s economy improves.

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?

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 would advocate by working closely with disability advocates and the NYC Department of Buildings to ensure that the needs of the disabled community are being defended and protected. This issue is a great concern of mine and I think we should review citywide evacuation procedures with the FDNY & NYPD while also partnering with individuals who are experts in this area to demand new stronger guidelines. I will work very hard during my next term to pass Visitability legislation.
 

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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 have always supported this legislation and will continue my advocacy efforts at the Council until all New Yorkers have access to all forms of public transportation.
    
   

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 am quite troubled by the current state of the Access-A-Ride program. At the Council, I am trying to enact tougher regulations and reform the entire Access-A-Ride program.
 

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

I support the Second Avenue Subway, but only if all new construction is made handicap 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.

I am a supporter of this legislation and I will work in partnership with my colleagues at the City Council to ensure its passage and enactment.
 

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 pledge to use my office to affirm and strengthen, rather than weaken civil rights protections for 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?

In communities with an expressed need for language interpreters at Community Board meetings, I believe sign language interpreters should be available. I will fund this program using surplus tax revenue.
 

Will you appoint disabled persons to local Community Boards?

Yes. I will appoint disabled persons to local Community Boards.
 

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

To date, I am not aware of any disabled individuals who have applied to be appointed to my Community Board.
 

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

Yes, as long as there are disabled applicants who are qualified for the positions in each of those districts.
 

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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. This fiscal year approximately 20% of my discretionary funding was allocated to organizations who aid individuals with disabilities. Some of the groups that I funded include: The Federation of Organizations, NY Families for Autistic Children and NY Academy of Medicine/Holliswood Hospital Ronald McDonald House.
 

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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 closely with Department of Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall to ensure that these issues are addressed in a timely manner.
 

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

New York City should offer tax subsidies to business owners who make efforts to make their establishments accessible.
 

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

Yes. Landmark buildings can be made accessible by using portable and less evasive structural changes to accommodate the needs of disabled individuals.
 

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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?

Yes. I will support and advocate on behalf of this issue at the Council.
 

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

This agency oversees issues pertaining to disabled individuals in New York City.
 

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 New York City Council maintains oversight authority over all City agencies. As a member, I will call upon the agency to report on its work on behalf of disabled individuals in New York and if needed an oversight hearing can be held.
 

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