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.

Most recently, I stood on the steps of city hall to fight for a broader interpretation of human rights laws through the passage of Intro. 22. Throughout my career, I have advocated for the rights of those who face societal disadvantages. I hope to apply this experience to fighting for the advancement of disability rights as well.
 

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

I have not held previous offices.
 

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

I think the best strategies involve the use of multiple tactics to draw attention to the issue at hand. In working to end employer discrimination against people with disabilities, for example, I will negotiate with employers, propose and/or support nondiscrimination legislation, advocate for increased awareness of the issues, build alliances with community organizations who share these goals, and when necessary, bring lawsuits.
 

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.

Absolutely. I think this is a great strategy for calling attention to the need to make events 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?

   I have friends and neighbors who are disabled.
    
   

2. ...in the workplace?

   As Executive Director of the NYCLU and MFY Legal services, I have had numerous experiences with clients, community members and staff who were disabled.
    
   

3. ...what special accommodations do you believe/think are in use in the workplace?

   I have seen wheelchair ramps, enhanced computer screens for those with visual impairments, special keyboards designed for those with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 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?

   Absolutely. I will instruct at least one of my deputy public advocates to focus on the rights of persons with disabilities.
    
   

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

   Yes – these issues will be brought up in my weekly meetings with Deputy Public Advocates that focus specifically on the different communities that require attention.
    
   

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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?

$24,000 seems like a low income cap for both senior citizens and people with disabilities, but I would certainly approve of this amount over $17,000 for people with disabilities.
 

What have you done/accomplished in regard to extension of SCRIE or similar programs?

I haven’t directly worked on this issue in the past.
 

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?

One thing we can do is protect people with disabilities who are living in rent-controlled buildings from landlords who are eager to push them out in order to get increased rent. Permanent affordable housing is one way to achieve this protection.

A dedicated housing trust fund is a great plan, but we’d have to find a way to ensure that we can fund this program in the long term so recipients of the funds don’t have to worry about losing their housing when the economy fluctuates.
 

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?

   I think that training and planning on the part of building managers and emergency workers is a great place to start. Every building manager and fire warden should be aware of (1) which people will need special assistance in the event of an emergency and (2) what type of assistance will be needed for differing needs.
    
   

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.

   The best way to ensure Visitability of New York is to draw attention to how successful Visitability programs have been and emphasize how desirable the changes involved in Visitability actually are. Most New Yorkers would be more than happy to add a few extra inches of width to their doorways, make sure that buildings have a ground floor entrance, and build bathrooms that include enough space for maneuverability.
    
   

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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??

I support elevating the Mayor’s office for People with Disabilities to a commissioner level agency.
 

1. How would you ensure that city departments/agencies coordinate through MOPD?

   The key to successful coordination between agencies is constant communication and honest airing of grievances. I pride myself on being someone who can mediate between agencies and can speak openly about difficult subjects. As Public Advocate, I will ensure that the MOPD receives attention, respect, and prominence.
    
   

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

   MOPD should have the authority to investigate all claims and concerns of people with disabilities, including but not limited to discrimination, housing concerns, and general accessibility.
    
   

3. 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?

   Part of my job as Public Advocate will be to make sure that this office is not sidelined by the mayor. I will act as a watchdog to the mayor’s office, paying vigilant attention to the MOPD and drawing attention to any failures to account for people with disabilities.
    
   

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How will you advocate that curb cuts, a.k.a. pedestrian ramps, are built wherever new intersections are installed or old sidewalks and/or intersections are repaired?

I think that this proposal should be introduced as legislation requiring that all new or significantly repaired intersections include curb cuts.
 

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

The Public Advocate should bring together leaders of the disability community and business community and focus on where they overlap, both in terms of membership and shared interests. From there we can find ways to increase accessibility.
 

How would you encourage landmark buildings to become accessible without losing their historical integrity? What strategy would you employ?

I don’t see adding a wheelchair ramp or a small lift as significantly diminishing a building’s historical integrity – I would start there. There is no point in having these buildings if our entire community can’t access them.
 

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List your accomplishments in your present office to advance employment opportunities for disabled people?

I have been and continue to be a strong supporter of equal employment opportunity for all – including members of the disability community.
 

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What is your position on expansion of accessible transportation in NYC, including taxis, livery service, express buses, airport shuttles, ferries, etc.?

I will work with the DOT and the 504 Democratic Club to find the areas of greatest need, then work from there to focus on solutions. Specifically, I support expansion of accessible transportation in NYC in the stated areas.
 

• How would you enforce compliance with existing laws and regulations?

  I will do whatever it takes to make sure these laws are enforced, including but not limited to helping those who are denied access to bring suit against those who break the law.
   
  

There is legislation pending introduction in the NYC Council aimed at securing a 100% wheelchair accessible fleet of medallion taxis, starting with the requirement that all 300 medallions sold in the next TLC auction later this year be affixed to accessible vehicles. What will you do to ensure that the approximately 13,000 taxis serving New York City will be accessible to all?

I will speak in support of this legislation, and would serve as the tiebreaking vote if the situation arises. I will also begin a dialogue with TLC and the taxi community to bring home the point that all future taxis need to be wheelchair-accessible. If necessary, I will push to provide tax incentives to achieve this goal.
 

Understanding that Access-A-Ride is not the ultimate in accessible transportation, it is, however, the most commonly used transportation-option for the disability community, as it provides necessary door-to-door service for people who cannot ride on fixed route public transportation (subways, buses, trains & ferries).

The Local Civil Rights Restoration Act (Intro. 22) seeks to protect the vigor and independence of the City Human Rights Law against the attacks of an increasingly conservative state and federal judiciary. How would you work to assure its passage?

I have already spoken on the steps of city hall at a press conference in support of Intro 22. I will continue to advocate for its passage.
 

How will you work with the disability community to assist in passage of other vitally needed legislation through relevant levels of local, state and federal government?

I will be in constant contact with the disability community to make sure that I am always abreast of, and advocating for, the legislation necessary to protect the rights and interests of the members of the disability community.
 

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