Candidate Name: Oliver Koppell
Council District: 11
Contact Person: Arthur J. Heller
If there is a Campaign office, is it wheelchair accessible? Yes.
Campaign Address: 5911 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10471
Phone: 718-543-2200
Fax:
Address:
Email: koppell2009 @ gmail.com
Website: www.koppell2009.com
Action Shows Commitment!
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 was the lead sponsor on legislation passed in 1974, which guaranteed protection against discrimination based on disability. I also supported the mandate on the MTA to provide accessibility for buses and subways (subways still incomplete). In the City Council I am now Chair of the committee that includes issues related to rights of the disabled. I have also been a leader in mandating additional accessible taxis. In addition, I was the primary sponsor of the resolution calling on the legislature to approve the City granting rent increase exemption for disabled persons with low incomes (DRIE).
Will you commit to only attend / sponsor events that are accessible to people with disabilities (PWDs including providing written materials in alternate formats, providing assistive listening systems, and sign language interpreters as well as ensuring that locations are physically accessible)?
I can't guarantee for every meeting but I will do so when feasible.
General Questions
What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?
One of my full time staff persons (scheduler) is physically disabled and uses a wheelchair. Another staff person (counsel) is afflicted with MS. I have acted as a court appointed guardian to people with severe disabilities.
What type of jobs would you be willing to hire and to provide reasonable accommodation (e.g. flex or part time) for staff members with disabilities?
As indicated by my current staff, I would hire any person and am prepared to make special accommodations.
How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation through the City Council? What will be your strategy?
I will continue to rely on the knowledge of my staff members with disabilities who give me insight into the needs of some members of the disability community. I also welcome advisement from constituents and groups such as the 504 Democrats, as I work with legislation that ensures the rights of those with disabilities while also improving upon services.
Housing
What is your position on the development of supported apartments/homes and retirement homes for the persons with mental and/or physical disabilities in your district?
I am a strong supporter of supportive housing and as chairman of the committee have held hearings to monitor development of supportive housing and press the city to move forward more quickly.
What is your position on making DRIE (Disabled Rent Increase Exemption) and SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption) programs income eligibility comparable? (At present a individual senior or household income eligibility is $28,000. While the income for a younger disabled individual is capped at $19,284 and $27,780 for a household?)
I am strongly in favor of making DRIE and SCRIE programs income eligibility comparable.
Visitability sets guidelines to ensure newly constructed multi-family dwellings have basic accessible/adaptable features to permit people with disabilities can visit, and for residents to "age in place,"
without having to move out when age and/or disability set in. Do you support incorporating the concept of "visitability"
in the Building Code?
Yes.
Transportation
Will you support an expansion of affordable wheelchair accessible transportation in NYC, including taxis, livery service, express buses, and shuttles, more accessible subway stations, etc.?
Yes. I have been the leading advocate in the council for increased accessible vehicles.
Efforts to secure a 100% accessible fleet of medallion taxis have been hampered by opposition from Mayor Bloomberg and the taxi industry. The current emphasis is on creating a 100% "green"
fleet. What would you do to assure that taxis and community car service vehicles are both "green"
and universally designed for wheelchair access?
I am the sponsor of legislation providing for universal wheelchair accessibility.
Access-A-Ride (AAR) users experience unnecessarily long trips, causing workers to be late for work, have their pay docked and possibly losing their jobs. AAR leaves consumers stranded, lies that a vehicle is coming and penalized riders as a "no-show"
when the vehicle never arrived. Riders who complain report they are subject to retaliation. What would you do to improve the quality of AAR? Would you support the issuance of a "smart card"
so that Access-A-Ride users can use accessible cabs/livery service at a reduced cost and receive better service?
We have had a number of hearings on improving ACCESS-A-RIDE.
Civil Rights
Do you pledge to use your office to affirm or strengthen, rather than weaken, civil rights protections for persons with disabilities?
Civil Rights I have been an advocate of civil rights protections since before 1974 and will continue to do so.
Community Board
Do you support requiring all Community Board meeting and function be accessible, including requiring sign language interpreters and large print format material?
I support making community board meetings more accessible. Sign language interpreters would be subject to financial resource availability.
How many people with disabilities have/will you appoint to your local Community Board(s)?
Disability is no barrier for me to community board appointment.
Will you support the "requirement"
and implement, a Disabled Committee on every Community Board?
There should be a disability committee with oversight of disability rights at every community boards.
Discretionary Funds
Will you use your discretionary funds to support organizations serving people with disabilities or service organizations seeking to make their programs accessible to people with disabilities?
I do support organizations that support people with disabilities and will continue to do so.
Accessibility
Under Mayor Bloomberg, the City settled with the United Spinal Association and agreed to install pedestrian ramps, on all corners which presently don't have one. However, no provision was made to repair and/or replace existing ones which are unsafe. How would you ensure that pedestrian ramps are provided or repaired? What would you establish as a timetable?
All ramps should be repaired as they are damaged. My office will push to repair any damaged ramps.
What steps do you think NYC should take to encourage business owners to make their establishments more accessible?
All newly constructed business premises and renovated should be made accessible by law.
How would you ensure that emergency evacuation for PWDs provisions are put in place to improve survival rates of PWDs in the event of fire, attack, blackout, or other emergency situation?
The city should require emergency plans to make specific revision for PWDs.
Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD)
Mayor Bloomberg elevated the Director of the (MOPD) to a Commissioner without any increase in budget or responsibilities. How would you ensure that city departments/agencies coordinate through MOPD?
The coordination with the MOPD (Mayor's Office of Persons with Disabilities) must be required by regulation.
How do you believe the City Council should enforce and do oversight regarding the work of the office and be certain of the implementation and its efforts?
The council should exercise oversight over the office and as chairman of the committee pledge to do so.
Date: June 1, 2009