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 member of Community Board 8 and the development corporation, I have fought for affordable – and indeed accessible – housing and transportation.

I have been a longtime advocate for promoting accessibility and protecting the Civil Rights of the disabled community.

• While working for nine years in Assembly Member Ed Sullivan’ office, I worked on various legislation to protect persons with disabilities as well as funding programs serving the disabled community.

• I successfully assisted many constituents with disabled family members, or who were disabled themselves, who needed to be protected from eviction or transferred into accessible housing.

• I helped many people receive their SCRIE and disability benefits including finding them pro-bono legal aid and personally accompanying them to court hearings.

• I also advocated on behalf of many constituents facing discrimination because of their disabilities such as students and staff at CUNY who had access and discrimination issues.

• I also supported many of our neighborhood organizations that service people with disabilities, including allocating discretionary funding to them.

• I have been a strong supporter of mental health insurance parity and I have supported our neighborhood mental health support programs. I serve as a member of the community advisory board for the Institute for Community Living.

• I have proudly supported many candidates for political office with disabilities, including Judge Richter and Eve Markewich. (My father was a delegate for Franklin Delano Roosevelt.)

• For the past seven months, along with Three Parks Independent Democrats, I have launched a major petition drive and workshop series to protect Social Security and stop the Bush agenda from privatizing and destroying this most important entitlement program.

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

It is very important not to simply write a letter in support of a program or legislation. Elected officials must also maintain ongoing relationships with administrators, consumers, and community members in order for programs to be truly successful and completely integrated into the life of the neighborhood.
 

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

First, I will make sure my district office is accessible and staffed with competent people who will work hard to protect the rights and solve problems faced by those living with disabilities. Secondly, I will maintain open lines of communication with all advocacy groups working on behalf of and with the disabled community. I will work hard to make sure that our transportation system is safe, secure, and accessible. Housing for those with disabilities will be a top priority. I will advocate for increased funding for the continuation of all entitlement programs, such as Medicaid and Social Security, and I will promote the funding of social service programs for the disabled.
 

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 try to the best of my ability. My Democratic Club, Three Parks Independent Democrats, has made a point of holding our meetings, fundraisers, and campaign storefronts in accessible spaces.
 

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

1. ...in your personal life?

   Over the years, through various personal relationships, I believe I have developed some sensitivity to the challenges faced by members of the disabled community. Growing up, I lived with my grandmother, who was blind. I have many friends and close associates suffering from both physical and mental disabilities. One of my best friend’s parents were both deaf, and in high school I participated in many intramural activities at a neighboring school for the deaf. My mother, following a stroke, was paralyzed and seriously disabled for the last few years of her life.
    
   

2. ...in the workplace?

   I have had the privilege of working with many disabled constituents while in Assembly Member Ed Sullivan’s office. In Albany, the Assembly made a special point of hiring people from a vocational program, which catered to persons living with various mental disabilities. In my campaign efforts, I have always included, among my volunteers and paid staff, people with various disabilities.
    
   

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

Employers must try to remove all barriers to employment. They should adapt bathrooms, stairs, workspaces, and materials so that no worker is prevented from contributing to the best of their abilities. In addition, all employees should be given sensitivity trainings to prevent discrimination.
 

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.
    
   

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.

Yes.
 

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 maintain an open dialogue with many representatives of the disability community. I will regularly read (as I do now) the 504 Dems Listserver and I will sponsor as many hearings, town hall meetings, and forums as possible to advance 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 have been a longtime advocate for supportive housing for people living with mental and physical disabilities. When I first ran for District Leader in 1993, my primary campaign platform was to welcome supportive housing into the Upper West Side. I am on the community advisory board of the Institute for Community Living, a residence for people who are homeless and mentally ill. My block association helped to create the Marseilles Apartments, which provide housing for the disabled as well as seniors under the auspices of the Westside Federation for Senior Housing.

As Council Member, supportive housing will continue to be a priority of my housing program. I will encourage and support the expansion of these programs through funding and legislation. I will also encourage the continued acceptance by the neighborhood of these programs by creating community advisory boards for each one.
 

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 applaud the recent inclusion of SCRIE for people living with disabilities. However, I will work tirelessly to make the income cap equal to that for seniors.
 

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

I will sponsor legislation and work with Albany representatives to increase the income levels.
 

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?

First, we must expand our funding for legal services so that more people are protected when unscrupulous landlords harass them or try to evict them. We must also impose severe penalties on such landlords who currently receive no repercussions for their unjust actions.

We must then pass new zoning legislation to help fund the renovation of existing housing stock to be accessible for the disabled. Community benefit agreements should mandate that a certain percentage of a developer’s profits be allocated to a housing trust fund for these renovations. Further financial incentives and tax credits as well as governmental subsidies could also be used to encourage these renovations.
 

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?

   Not only must the building code be changed to increase alarms, sprinkler systems, backup lighting and generators, but we must encourage tenant and residence associations, along with doormen and building staff, to develop a safety network for each building so that everyone has an evacuation plan.

   I have already begun developing such a program through my block association. Neighbors know who is disabled in each building and have a plan for protecting those people 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 will sponsor such legislation and then have hearings and forums to promote it.
    
   

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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 gladly be a leading sponsor of this legislation. It is a disgrace that accessible transportation is not a top priority for this city. I will do everything to publicize this need in the media through hearings and community forums to apply more pressure to my colleagues and the mayor.
    
   

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 would work to increase funding so that eligibility to Access-A-Ride is expanded and that the workforce responsible for service delivery is increased and better trained so that consumers are better served. I would also expose the ill treatment and problems faced by Access-A-Ride consumers through more hearings and forums.
 

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

Yes. However, I also believe that subway stations throughout the system must be renovated so that they are genuinely 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 believe very strongly in this and have already marched and protested for this legislation and against the right-wing agenda. I would proudly be a leading spokesperson to persuade the Mayor to endorse this 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?

YES, ABSOLUTELY!
 

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

Yes. If necessary, I would use my discretionary funding.
 

Will you appoint disabled persons to local Community Boards?

Yes.
 

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

This will depend upon the availability of appointments.
 

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?

As Assembly Member Ed Sullivan’s chief point person, I was in charge of his discretionary funding. During the nine years I worked with him, we funded many agencies in our district that serve people with disabilities, both mental and physical.
 

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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?

While working in Assembly Member Ed Sullivan’s office, we conducted a block-by-block survey of all sidewalks in the district. We then worked to find funding to provide or repair curb cuts and we strictly monitored the various agencies responsible for doing the work. I would use that same comprehensive approach as a Council Member.
 

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

There must be more outreach to the business community concerning the needs and solutions. As a council member, my office will discuss accessibility issues with each and every business in the district. I have already begun this conversation as District Leader with Columbia University, a major landlord of commercial property in the district.
 

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

Yes. We have many very creative and talented architects and engineers who can both preserve the historical integrity and renovate landmark buildings.
 

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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 establishing a Commissioner and Commission on Disabilities.
 

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

MOPD should have the authority to inspect businesses and accommodations for accessibility, to impose fines for violations, and to create awareness and information programs about accessibility issues.
 

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 can oversee the operations through the creation of task forces and hearings.
 

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