August 09, 2005

Thank You

Monday night at midnight marked the end of another fundraising quarter, and I have very exciting news to report:

Thanks to all of you who contributed to our campaign, we have become one of only two campaigns to raise the maximum amount of money eligible to be matched 4 to 1 by the City! And it looks like we’ll lead the field in fundraising for the quarter – for the third time in a row.

This is an incredibly strong showing, which we could not have done without all who are committed to this cause, and to tackling our City's most entrenched problems with new and creative leadership.

As we enter the last month of the campaign, things are really heating up (and not just outside). From morning till late at night we are out on the streets and at subways, in senior centers and schools throughout the Borough. Our office is bustling with people coming in and out to help call voters, pass out literature and tackle many other vital projects. We need your help volunteering more than ever. Please take a moment and let us know when you’re available by clicking here.

I am incredibly grateful for your continuing support.

Brian

Posted by Brian at August 9, 2005 02:50 PM | Comments (1)

August 02, 2005

Fight for Emergency Contraception

In a move aimed at firming up his conservative credentials for a Presidential bid, Governor Pataki announced yesterday that he plans to veto an important bill expanding women’s reproductive health.

The legislation - the Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act – would simply allow nurses and pharmacists to dispense emergency contraception to women without a prescription from a doctor. It took many years for the bill to pass through the Republican controlled Senate, and even conservative upstate Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno has said he now supports it.

In choosing to make political considerations a priority over women’s health, the Governor has seriously betrayed both the public, and his past (Pataki was the first governor in the nation to allow Medicaid coverage for RU-486, which still does require a doctor’s prescription).

I am disappointed that we may have to wait until 2006 when we have a Democratic Governor for this vital piece of legislation to become law. In the meantime we will continue to fight for a woman’s right to unrestricted reproductive freedom throughout our campaign and beyond.

Brian.

Posted by John at August 2, 2005 04:22 PM

July 27, 2005

ADA Anniversary

Tuesday July 26th was the 15th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a pivotal piece of legislation that has gone a tremendous way to create public and private spaces that are more equal and accessible.

Brian’s last post was about the desperate need for the Second Avenue Subway, and he is committed to finally forcing real movement on the project. It will be one of the most important investments the City makes this decade, and I’m confident that we will break ground in Brian’s first term.

The construction of the Second Avenue Subway is a tremendous opportunity to design stations that can serve as models for the rest of the system - stations that incorporate sustainable design, are secure, and, most importantly, are accessible to each and every New Yorker.

Currently only 49 of the City’s 491 subway stations are at least partially accessible, and although this is a clear violation of the ADA, the MTA has no end date for full accessibility. They have said that they hope to have 100 stations accessible by 2020. Conveniently, that’s also when the MTA originally intended to have the Second Avenue Subway complete (if they’d broken ground last year as originally hoped.) That’s over 15 years from today. If we want to see real progress on these issues, we need new leadership that will set them as priorities.

Brian is committed to building a Second Avenue Subway that every New Yorker can use, and building it now.

John

Posted by John at July 27, 2005 11:00 AM | Comments (1)

July 19, 2005

Second Avenue Subway

I was campaigning at the 77th Street 6 Train stop earlier which, of course, meant I had to take the train back down to Union Square to get to the campaign office.

Every time I take this trip, the need for a Second Avenue Subway becomes more obvious. I, like countless other New Yorkers, am tired of having to wait while two trains go by because they are too packed for anyone to get on board.

The only reason we haven't gotten the 2nd Avenue Subway is because politicians keep setting the wrong priorities.

Before we defeated the West Side Stadium, the MTA was willing to sell the Hudson Rail Yards to the Jets for 1/10 its assessed value! Why would the MTA give the Jets a sweetheart deal while our fares keep going up, service is getting worse, stations are crumbling, and there's no coherent long-term plan for capital project development?

As your next Borough President, I will set the right priorities. I will continue to be outspoken regarding the lack of funding for this crucial project, and you can be sure that I'll be a loud and constant advocate in government for a Second Avenue Subway.

Brian

Posted by Brian at July 19, 2005 12:55 PM | Comments (1)

July 12, 2005

Neighborhoods and Jobs

The New York Industrial Retention Network released a report recently calling for the preservation of New York’s manufacturing base. The report was a response to a Manhattan Institute study that suggested eliminating many of the major manufacturing districts to create market-rate housing. Both studies focus largely on the outer boroughs – because this displacement has largely already happened throughout Manhattan.

During the course of this campaign we’ve talked a lot about how Manhattan is rapidly becoming an outdoor mall for millionaires. How the working class is being forced out because we no longer have affordable housing. How small businesses and manufacturing are being forced out because commercial rents are skyrocketing. If we are going to sustain Manhattan’s diversity – the reason we all choose to live here – we can’t let this continue to happen. We need good jobs, we need affordable housing and we need to fight for them.

We must be more creative with our zoning – there are ways we can zone for districts in which we both build affordable housing and create good, union jobs. In the years my opponents have been in office the tide has turned against us. Our borough has become too expensive, and the working and middle class is leaving. It is not too late to keep Manhattan diverse, but we must act now.

I also want to take this opportunity to mention another issue on the topic of development in the wrong direction. It’s been awhile since Wal-Mart has been in the news in New York City. Strong community organizing derailed their plans for a store in Rego Park earlier this year.

This was a victory, but the fight is far from over.

The company is regrouping, and will continue to make efforts at opening stores throughout the City – including in Manhattan. We know that when Wal-Mart opens, communities suffer. Workers are paid significantly less - on average at least $2 an hour less – than workers in grocery stores and other retail stores, particularly ones that are unionized. An estimated 70% of Wal-Mart’s 1 million workers are forced to get health insurance through Medicaid or other taxpayer funded programs. The company has been the subject of extended gender discrimination lawsuits. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

If Wal-Mart stopped fighting employee attempts to form unions and began sharing some of the $9 billion in profits with the people who built the company, they might find themselves more welcome in the discussion of New York’s development. But as long as their current practices persist, we will fight them every step of the way. It’s something for them to think about as they prepare new plans to move into the City.

Brian

Posted by John at July 12, 2005 10:11 AM | Comments (1)

June 30, 2005

Time for Fair Contracts

I was happy to learn yesterday that the State arbitration panel handling the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association contract dispute awarded our officers a significant raise. The ten percent salary increase over two years, including retroactive pay, is an important step forward in bringing NYPD salaries up to the levels of surrounding communities.

With the DC37 contract that the Mayor wants to use as a model already set to expire, the PBA decision creates a more reasonable benchmark for our other municipal unions, although I am deeply disturbed by the drastic cut in first year pay.

Last night I was interviewed on NY1’s Road to City Hall. In the green room before my segment I spoke with PBA President Pat Lynch who was also on. He told me that right now many recruits, rookies and second year officers do not make enough money to afford their own homes or apartments in the City – in fact, many still live with their parents. Nearly all must take out loans to afford the cost of uniforms and equipment.

Paying someone who risks his or her life every day to protect us only $25,000 a year in New York City simply isn’t enough - and will make recruiting new officers difficult.

Continue reading "Time for Fair Contracts"

Posted by Brian at June 30, 2005 03:27 PM

June 29, 2005

Pride March Pictures

Rev. Al Sharpton, current Borough President C. Virginia Fields, and Brian walked together in the Pride March. Check back soon for more pictures.
photo: Tri Luu

Posted by John at June 29, 2005 05:09 PM