May 26, 2012 · www.gothamgazette.com

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Back to Court on School Closings
May 18th, 2011

A year after they successfully sued to stop school closings, the United Federation of Teachers and the NAACP have returned to court to try to stop the latest round of school phase outs and shut-downs. This year’s action also seeks to halt 18 so-called co-locations of charter schools with traditional public school buildings in Department of Education buildings.

In the action, the UFT and the NAACP, joined by individuals and community groups, charge that the city ignored agreements it had reached last year to help the school its was then trying to close. Fifteen of the schools named in today’s legal action had won a temporary reprieve from last year’s suit. The city announced in December it would try again to close them. Four schools cited last year, though, are not longer slated for shutdown.

In addition, the plaintiffs charge the city did not seek approval from the state education commissioner for the closing, something the suit says it must do.

On the co-locations, the suit charges the plans give students in charter school better access to school facilities than those of the traditional public schools with which it shares space. For example the suit alleges, the department’s plan for the PS114 building would allow PS114 students to use of the gym for three and a half hours every day, while Explore Charter School, with far fewer students, would get the space for almost three hours. The charter students also would have use of the playground for more time.

Following last year’s suit, the Department of Education implemented new procedures for school closings and co-locations, including more public hearings and distributing additional information on the proposed closing or collocation. Under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the city has shut more than 90 school and opened 335 schools, many small, both conventional schools and charters.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott is scheduled to respond to the suit later today.

By Gail Robinson on May 18, 2011, 2:08 pm
In category: Education, Gotham City, Law | 3 Comments »

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Teacher Layoffs? REALLY?
May 12th, 2011

In a well-coordinated rally and march from City Hall to the financial district, hundreds of teachers protested Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to lay off thousands of teachers. A number of City Council members and possible 2012 mayoral candidate also attended the event

The speakers, the placards and the chant all sounded themes that no doubt will become increasingly familiar to New Yorkers in the weeks between now and July 1, when the city must approve its budget for fiscal year 2012: The cuts are not necessary, the rich need to pay more in taxes, and children should not bear the burnt of the city’s fiscal woes. That assumes, of course — an not everyone does — that the city has real fiscal woes.

“New York is not Wisconsin but we have to fight like it is,” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. “We have a $3.2 billion surplus. There should not even be a discussion about cuts.”

Rev. A; Sharpton agreed, telling the crowd, “If we’ve got a surplus, why are we laying off teachers?”

(The mayor, of course, disputes this saying he is using what other consider a surplus to pay down the deficit confronting the city for 2013.)

The crowd then moved down Broadway to press it demand that the wealthy needed to pay more. “We want our money back,” they chanted, along with “Who are we? UFT.”

Despite the seriousness of their message the crowd was largely good-natured, a sentiment reflected in the black UFT tee-shirts many wore. With a bow to Seth Meyers and Amy Pohler, it read”

The education mayor?

REALLY?

By Gail Robinson on May 12, 2011, 10:46 pm
In category: City Hall, Education, Gotham City, Work and Labor | No Comments »

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Living Wage Gets Its Hearing
May 12th, 2011

Labor and city leadership collided this afternoon at a packed and feisty hearing on legislation to require city subsidized developers pay a living wage.

Under a bill introduced nearly a year ago, recipients of more than $100,000 in financial assistance would have to pay all of their employees either $11.50 or $10 an hour plus benefits. The controversial bill has garnered 30 sponsors at the council, but it does not have the Bloomberg administration’s support. Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who controls the council’s agenda, has yet to take a position on the measure.

At today’s hearing, the chief of staff to the deputy mayor for economic development, Tokumbo Shobowale, endured two and half hours of back and forth with council members — the vast majority of those in attendance support the proposal. Shobowale attempted to convince the council that the adminsitration agrees with the premise of raising the standard of living for the working poor. It questions, Shobowale argued, whether a wage mandate is the way to do it.

“It’s not a philosophical difference,” Shobowale said. “It’s looking at the data.”

The hearing followed the release of a study on Monday by the Economic Development Corp., which argued the living wage proposal would result in between 33,000 and 100,000 job losses for the city. The study’s methodology and findings drew ire from supporters of the bill today.

“The administration is so full of it, you might want to consider a high-fiber diet,” said Councilmember Jumaane Williams. “It might help with that situation.”

The hearing amounted to a clash of academics and methodology — with supporters citing studies that supported living wage mandates, and the adminsitration calling its recently released analysis solid, current and comprehensive.

Just this morning, supporters of the bill released a counter analysis of the city’s living wage study, which argued its modeling did not rule out other factors that could affect job growth (like an economic downturn). Supporters also claim the city-sponsored study examines the wrong population of projects — it includes an as-of-right subsidy for industrial and commercial properties the bill is not meant to capture.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on May 12, 2011, 6:37 pm
In category: Albany, City Hall, Community Development, Economy, Electoral Politics, Eye Opener, Gotham City, Governing, Law, Measuring UP, Public Finance, Work and Labor, nextNY | 3 Comments »

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School Elections to Resume
May 12th, 2011

The incredibly attenuated, disrupted and confusing elections for the virtually powerless Citywide And Community Education Councils continue. The Department of Education has just announced the voting period for parents will be May 18 to May 25.

In the announcement, Chancellor Dennis Walcott said any votes cast from May 1 to May 7 –when the election came to a halt — will not be valid.

The parents vote is only advisory. Officials of school parents associations can consider those recommendation when they cast their votes — the ones that count — for members of 32 community education Councils, the Citywide Council on High Schools, the Citywide Council on English Language Learners, the Citywide Council on Special Education and the District 75 Council. That round will take place May 27 to June 3, and the new members will be seated by July 1.

By Gail Robinson on May 12, 2011, 4:38 pm
In category: Education, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing | No Comments »

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Protesting Cuts to Child Care
May 11th, 2011

Alshawn Rushing wrote this post.

Thousands of daycare workers, parents and children rallied near City Hall today to protest the mayor’s proposed cuts to childcare and education in the city budget.

“New York City’s child care programs are part of the solution — affordable professional child care enables women to work, without it many would not have that option,” said Lee Saunders, secretary-treasurer of the Association of State, County and Municipal Employees. “We need politicians to make a choice we can be proud of and not take the path of least resistance, balancing the budgets on the backs of children and women.”

The protest comes days after Mayor Michael Bloomberg released his executive budget, which called for layoffs of thousands of teachers and an array of other cuts. The administration also announced that Bloomberg had decided to save 16,000 of the childcare slots that were originally slated to be eliminated. According to protestors and their political allies, though, the budget only restores $40 million of the original $90 million that has been cut. AFSCME maintains that only 9,000 of the original slots slated to be cut has been restored.

“Child care is an essential job support for low income families,” said AFSCME Council 1707 Executive Director Raglan George. “As goes childcare so goes the neighborhood. We are beginning to see some economic recovery; it is not time to limit essential services.”
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By Gail Robinson on May 11, 2011, 4:40 pm
In category: City Hall, Education, Gotham City, Public Finance, Social Services | 1 Comment »

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Koppell Would Consider Motion to Discharge for Living Wage
May 11th, 2011

Councilmember Oliver Koppell told Gotham Gazette today he would consider triggering a rare council rule to bring his living wage bill to the floor should Council Speaker Christine Quinn choose to oppose it.

“I would consider it, yes,” said Koppell at the Emigrant Savings Bank. “I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that. I’m hoping to convince the speaker to support this or some version of this.”

Typically legislation does not move at the City Council unless it has earned the support of the speaker. Quinn refused to say this afternoon whether she would bring the legislation to the floor or when she would decide whether or not to support it.

The bill, which has strong backing from many of the city’s unions, would require city subsidized developers pay a living wage. The Bloomberg adminsitration does not support the measure. On Monday, the city Economic Development Corp. released a study claiming a wage mandate would stall development and reduce jobs in the five boroughs.

Koppell said today, “The assumptions of the mayor are more than questionable.”

Koppell’s bill has been stalled in committee for nearly a year, despite the fact it has garnered 30 sponsors.

At the beginning of Quinn’s tenure — and in the name of transparency — Quinn revised the council rules to make it easier to bring a bill to the floor if it was stalled in committee. A council member must get seven members to sign a memo to bring the bill to the floor. The full council then determines whether the legislation should have a formal vote.

This procedure is rarely ever used and is considered an affront to the speaker’s leadership.

By Courtney Gross on May 11, 2011, 3:51 pm
In category: City Hall, Electoral Politics, Eye Opener, Gotham City, Governing, Land Use, Law, Measuring UP, Public Finance, Work and Labor, nextNY | No Comments »

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Quinn Mum on Living Wage Decision
May 11th, 2011

Council Speaker Christine Quinn refused to take a position on legislation to require a living wage this afternoon, but instead said she would review a recently released study and forthcoming testimony on the matter.

The Economic Development Corp. released a study Monday which found requiring a living wage mandate at city subsidized developments would result in job losses. Legislation to require such wage mandates has been pending at the council for more than a year.

The bill will get its first hearing tomorrow, and both opponents and supporters are scheduled to make a strong showing. Quinn said today she would not attend the hearing.

“We are looking forward to a robust hearing,” Quinn said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the testimony from both the proponents and the opponents. Having the portions of the EDC report that are out there will make the hearing a more informed and interesting hearing.”

When asked if she knew when she would make a decision on whether to bring the bill to a vote, Quinn said: “When I have one.”

Quinn would not say whether the bill would eventually get to the floor.

Already 30 council members have signed on to the legislation. The lead sponsors of the bill, council members Oliver Koppell and Annabal Palma, could file a motion to discharge — which would send the bill to the floor if it had enough support outside of the speaker’s office. The move has only occurred once during Quinn’s tenure.

By Courtney Gross on May 11, 2011, 2:42 pm
In category: Albany, City Hall, Electoral Politics, Eye Opener, Gotham City, Governing, Land Use, Law, Measuring UP, Work and Labor, nextNY | 2 Comments »

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Case Management Back on the Chopping Block
May 10th, 2011

Back in March, the city’s Department for the Aging was prepared to close more than 100 senior centers thanks to a cut in the state budget.

Those centers were eventually given a reprieve from the State Legislature.

Some expected senior centers, a frequent target in the Bloomberg administration’s recent budget cuts, to make it back on the chopping block last week. But it was the opposite.

The city will open about 10 new “innovative” senior centers in the next fiscal year, said a spokesperson at the department. Some will be completely new centers, others will be expansions of existing facilities. One of the centers will be exclusively for LGBT elderly.

“Innovative senior centers will have bigger budgets, have focus on health and wellness and still provide meals, information and referrals,” said Christopher Miller, a spokesperson for the Department for the Aging.

The news has not quelled opposition from advocates for the elderly, who still say the mayor’s executive budget proposal hurts senior services.

Bobbie Sackman, the director of public policy at the Council of Senior Centers and Services, pointed to the largest cut in the department — a $6.6 million decrease for case management services. The same cut was proposed by the Bloomberg adminsitration last year, but the City Council reversed it.

This time around the department plans to cut about 30 percent from its case management contracts, which now link 18,000 seniors to services.

“Some of them are just going to drop through the cracks,” said Sackman. “There is only so much you can do when you lose a third of your work force.”

Sackman and other advocates will rally at City Hall tomorrow to draw attention to the cuts.

With so many other cuts under consideration, including thousands of teacher layoffs, it’s unclear whether this will become a priority at the City Council.

In response to the criticism, Miller said, “The Department for the Aging will work with its case management provider agencies to consider alternate ways to restructure the service to minimize the impact on the city’s most fragile and isolated seniors.”

By Courtney Gross on May 10, 2011, 5:44 pm
In category: Albany, City Hall, Electoral Politics, Eye Opener, Gotham City, Governing, Law, Measuring UP, Public Finance, Social Services, nextNY | No Comments »

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Update on Ed Council Elections
May 10th, 2011

A press release just out from Advocates for Justice says the elections for Citywide and Community Education Councils are on hold for the time being.

(For the runup to this, see below.)

In a statement the group’s president, Arthur Z. Schwartz, said advotes, representing the New York City Parents Union, met with lawyers for this city and the Department of Education today. “All parties agreed that the discussion and negotiations pertaining to this matter will be kept confidential at this time. However, we did agree … that the election processes for the [councils] are on hold. Any information to the contrary is inaccurate,” Schwartz’s statement said,

By Gail Robinson on May 10, 2011, 4:39 pm
In category: Education, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Governing | No Comments »

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Elections and Education
May 10th, 2011

Whatever one think of the city Department of Education’s ability to run schools, it does not seem to know how to manage elections. This year’s election process for the Community and Citywide Education Councils — the ultra-weak replacement for the city’s old Community School Boards — has been fraught with problems and roiled by criticism.

First only 500 people expressed interest in the 325 slots. Since some panels — the Citywide Council on High Schools for one — attracted lots of candidates, other community boards did not have enough candidates to fill the available slots — let alone hold a competitive election.

The department also reportedly provided inaccurate information about who could run and put material about the candidates on a password protected website many could not access. On woman who currently serves on a told WNYC that she was informed she was not eligible — odd since, she said, she already serves as co-chair of a council.

In the wake of widespread criticism, the city decided to delay the elections, originally set for May 7, until next week.

In announcing the postponement in a statement, Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said, “After reviewing concerns raised by parents and public officials about this year’s Citywide and Community Education Council elections, I have concluded that the process could and should have been handled better.’

But today, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio said this was not sufficient. They want an investigation of the election woes and Stringer, along with some parents, also asked the city to convene a task force to consider whether permanent oversight of the various education councils “should be transferred to an independent entity.”
Read the rest of this entry »

By Gail Robinson on May 10, 2011, 3:44 pm
In category: Education, Electoral Politics, Gotham City | No Comments »

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Clash at IDA Board Over Study
May 10th, 2011

A small spat erupted at this morning’s Industrial Development Agency board meeting, when Bronx borough president appointee Albert Rodriguez questioned the legitimacy and release of the city’s living wage study.

Rodriguez chastised the Economic Development Corp., which is the parent agency to the Industrial Development Agency, for hastily releasing the study’s executive summary to the press before giving a copy to the board on Monday. He also seriously questioned the report’s findings, which suggest a living wage mandate for city subsidized developments would result in job losses. Legislation to require similar wage standards is currently ruminating at the City Council.

Rodriguez called the study “political football for the interest of the Bloomberg adminsitration” and “very flawed.”

“This was a waste of money,” Rodriguez said. “We could have hired nine more teachers.”

The IDA board authorized the agency to spend $1 million on the study, which was conducted by Boston-based consulting firm, Charles River Associates.

The study’s executive summary was released yesterday afternoon in anticipation of a City Council hearing scheduled for Thursday, said EDC President Seth Pinsky. The City Council had asked the agency to accelerate the study’s release so it could discuss the findings at the hearing. The full report will be released in the “coming weeks,” Pinsky said.

In defense of the study, Pinsky said it was “disappointing” officials would allege the agency was playing politics.

“I think [the study] is very similar, in fact, to the approach that’s been taken on many of the studies that have been cited by proponents of wage mandates,” Pinsky said. “What the study found was the legislation that has been proposed in the City Council here in New York is dramatically different from wage mandate legislation that has been proposed across the country. The additional requirements that are put into this particular legislation… they would make it extremely difficult and unlikely that people would continue to take the benefits.”

Pinsky said there are other ways to create better “living standards,” including expanding the benefits of the earned income tax credit. Any change in that tax credit would need federal, state and city approval. Pinsky also said the agency is conducting an internal study on how it can expand jobs in various middle income sectors, like construction or health care.

“There is nobody on either side of this debate who doesn’t want to figure out a way to raise the living standards of the least fortunate members of society,” Pinsky said. “The question is: Is this the right way to do it?”

The study found living wage policies would increase the standard wage at city subsidized developments, but could result in substantial job losses — anywhere from 33,000 to 100,000. Immediately after the executive summary was released, a Bloomberg spokesperson reiterated the administration’s opposition to the bill.

Rodriguez too is not without political motives. His boss, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., proposed the living wage legislation after the City Council rejected a proposal to develop the Kingsbridge Armory in the borough. The proposal was defeated because the developer would not promise to force tenants to pay a living wage.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Gross on May 10, 2011, 12:26 pm
In category: City Hall, Community Development, Economy, Electoral Politics, Eye Opener, Gotham City, Governing, Land Use, Law, Public Finance, Work and Labor, nextNY | 1 Comment »

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Living Wage Study Says Policy Costs Jobs
May 9th, 2011

After much anticipation, the city Economic Development Corp. released a $1 million study on living wage policy today, which finds implementing higher pay standards at city subsidized developments would cost jobs.

The study examines legislation at the City Council to require any entity who recieves more than $100,000 in financial assistance from the city to pay a living wage. Thirty council members have signed on in support of the measure. Council Speaker Christine Quinn has not revealed her position. Although the speaker has Ok’d a hearing on the bill, which is scheduled for Thursday.

The adminsitration called for the study, which was conducted by Boston-based consulting firm Charles River Associates, last year after the City Council defeated a controversial development at the Kingsbridge Armory. The developer refused to guarantee tenants of the proposal would pay a living wage.

The study found certain development projects would no longer be “financially feasible” if the city adopted a living wage mandate. As a result, it argues, the city would lose jobs.

In response to the study, Andrew Brent, a mayoral spokesperson, released the following statement:

“The study is clear: the legislation would result in major job losses at all income levels and particularly among low-income New Yorkers. The biggest job losses would occur in the areas with the highest unemployment at a time when too many New Yorkers are without jobs as it is. The legislation would have a very harmful effect on growth opportunities of small businesses and the creation of affordable housing, and it would reduce overall private investment in New York City by an estimated $7 billion. Aggregate wages among low-skilled workers would not change because any gains among some workers would be more than offset by families losing employment opportunities entirely. The goal of increasing wages among New Yorkers of course is a good one, but this type of approach in other cities hasn’t just failed, it’s done so with severe consequences for job-seekers and businesses.”

But not everyone was thrilled with the results. In response to the study, Comptroller John Liu (a frequent critic of the Economic Development Corp.) released the following statement:

“The EDC’s claim that a living wage kills jobs shows just how distorted the agency’s operations have become. The proposed living wage would be a requirement on new projects that are heavily subsidized by taxpayers. It may curtail the number of new minimum wage jobs, with the hope that these new jobs would then pay a decent wage. The claim of job losses is rhetoric at its worst.”

Asked what he thinks the study means for the living wage legislation currently under consideration at the City Council, Paul Sonn, legal co-director of the National Employment Law Project, still seemed optimistic.

“The council I’m sure will give it careful consideration,” Sonn said. “We expect them to look at more rigorous research, which includes other studies and hearing the real world experiences of other cities.”

And for your reading pleasure:

Living Wage Exec Summary_2011 05 09

By Courtney Gross on May 9, 2011, 6:11 pm
In category: City Hall, Community Development, Economy, Electoral Politics, Eye Opener, Gotham City, Governing, Land Use, Law, Measuring UP, Work and Labor, nextNY | 1 Comment »

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Bloomberg Releases Budget, Slashes Teachers
May 6th, 2011

As expected, Mayor Michael Bloomberg released a $65.7 billion budget this morning, which slashes 6,166 teaching positions, would close 20 fire companies and shutter four swimming pools this summer.

Bloomberg deflected all of the blame for the fiscal pain. Instead, he pointed towards Albany and Washington.

“Both places are keeping our tax dollars to close their budget deficits,” Bloomberg said. “If the state was paying 50 percent of the Department of Education, we would not be talking about laying off teachers.”

While Bloomberg did not hesitate to blame Albany, he also acknowledged the city was unlikely to receive any reprieve from the state or federal government. For now, the city will use the remainder of its surplus to close the budget hole.

The mayor’s executive plan did back away from slashing 16,000 child care slots — the result of a loss in federal funding. The administration plans to save the positions by expanding after school programs and increasing funding for the Administration for Children’s Services. The cost of the slots was originally put at $91 million. Officials said the program could be saved with just $40 million.

Advocates and council members, however, questioned the mayor’s calculations.

“With the budget released today, the administration is continuing its assault on early childhood education by cutting $50 million from our city’s child care,” said Councilman Steve Levin. “It is an outrageous sleight of hand that this administration would present itself as the savior of child care while simultaneously destroying it for thousands of New Yorkers. It’s like someone starting a fire, just so he could take the credit for putting 40 percent of that fire out.”

In a joint statement, Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Finance Chairman Domenic Recchia identified teacher layoffs, the child care cuts, a 29 percent cut to libraries and fire companies as their top priorities.

“Since the recent financial crisis and recession, the City Council has worked aggressively to control spending and manage the city’s budget in a fiscally responsible manner while protecting vital services,” they said. “That’s why we have grave concerns about a budget that allows for teacher layoffs, which would be immensely damaging to our education system and children’s opportunities for a quality education. Make no mistake, we will do everything in our power to prevent teacher layoffs.”
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By Courtney Gross on May 6, 2011, 2:13 pm
In category: Albany, City Hall, Crime & Safety, Economy, Electoral Politics, Eye Opener, Gotham City, Governing, Health, Housing, Law, Measuring UP, Parks, Public Finance, nextNY | No Comments »

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Nissan's Taxi Gets the Nod
May 3rd, 2011

Following a competition, the city has selected the Nissan NV200 as the Taxi of Tomorrow, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today. This means the city will begin working with Nissan to develop the vehicle and make it New York’s exclusive cab.

Nissan beat out the other two finalists — Ford, which builds the city’s current taxis, and Karsan, a Turkish company. Karsan’s bid had won the backing of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and others since the company pledged to build a factory to manufacture the cabs in Sunset Park and was the one finalist whose vehicle had a wheelchair ramp.

However the city reportedly decided that Karsan was an untested company that might not to be able to deliver the stylish cabs its submission promised.

Markowitz, along with fellow Brooklynite and city Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, have asked City Comptroller John Liu to investigate a possible conflict of interest that may have given Nissan an unfair advantage. They charge that Ricardo Inc., which prepared a report for the city casting doubt on Karsan’s ability to deliver the taxis, also had done work for Ford and Nissan. ” Ricardo Inc. played an important role in the selection of the finalists for the ‘Taxi of Tomorrow,’ and these prior relationships could have slanted the selection as finalists in Nissan’s and Ford’s favor,” the letter says.

In its announcement, the city praised the Nissan vehicle, a small van not currently sold in the U.S. for its safety and comfort. In its release the city did not mention where the new cabs might be manufactured, but the Wall Street Journal reports that taxis will be assembled in Nissan’s Cuernavaca, Mexico plant.

By Gail Robinson on May 3, 2011, 1:53 pm
In category: Gotham City | No Comments »

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Don’t Call Him Mister
May 2nd, 2011

The killing of Osama bin Laden yesterday,
represents a big victory in the fight against terrorism. In the view of Huffington Post, it also brought a “break with decades of tradition” at the New York Times.

In its coverage of bin Laden’s death, the Gray Lady did not call him Mr. bin Laden but simply Bin Laden. The Times, as its reader know, has stubbornly stuck to the use of so-called honorifics in its news pages long after most other U.S. papers gave them up. (Its sports and entertainment sections are a bit looser, sparing us the likes of Ms. Gaga or Mr. Z.)

A memo sent to Times staff this morning did not elaborate on the reasons other than to attribute the decision to managing editor Jill Abramson and executive editor Bill Keller. The note said simply, ” At Jill and Bill’s request, we dropped the honorific for Bin Laden. Without a ‘Mr.’ in front of his name, it was decided that we should capitalize the ‘B’ in Bin Laden on second references. ”

Until about 40 years ago, the Times did not honor criminals (and, yes, we know bin Laden has not been convicted of anything but let’s not quibble) with a Dr., Mr., Miss or Mrs. (back then no one was honored with a Ms.). But then the impending convictions of Vice President Spiro Agnew and other top government officials apparently made Times editors queasy. Reluctant to refer to the disgraced former vice president as simply Agnew, the Times gave honorifics to virtually all criminals, leading us to Mr., McVeigh, Mr. Dahmer and Mr. Madoff.

By Gail Robinson on May 2, 2011, 2:55 pm
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Fare Increase Not a Bargaining Chip?
April 29th, 2011

Asking for a fare increase as city officials are trying to get a new class of cab in the outer boroughs isn’t playing hardball, Bhairavi Desai, executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, told Gotham Gazette today.

It’s merely about timing.

“It’s generally not a negotiation ploy by us,” Desai said, citing the increased cost of gas. “For us, the fare proposal has been in the works, because we know next month it will be seven years since we’ve had an overall raise. Driver income has not been at a livable standard.”

The alliance announced this week it will be asking the Taxi and Limousine Commission for an approximately 25 percent fare increase. The proposal will not be finalized until Wednesday, but Desai said it would likely ask for the waiting rate to increase from 40 to 50 cents and the mileage rate to go up to $2.50 from $2. The alliance will also ask for increases in taxi surcharges for rush hour and late night.

The request comes as the Bloomberg administration attempts to drill down a proposal to get more cab service in the outer boroughs. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced in his State of the City speech in January he would propose legislation to allow livery cabs in the outer boroughs to pick up people hailing on the street — prohibited under current law.

After a backlash from city officials and the taxi industry, the administration is considering creating another class of yellow cab that would be limited to outer-borough pick ups instead.

Desai said the alliance isn’t opposed to servicing the outer boroughs, but as it stands now it’s not economical. Drivers cannot cruise residential streets for street pickups without losing money, she said. A fare increase would help convince drivers to go to Brooklyn or Queens, Desai added. She also suggested creating cab stands in commercial areas of the outer boroughs.

On his radio show this morning, Bloomberg said he was sympathetic to the cab industry’s qualms.

Above all else, Desai said she wants to make sure the yellow cab reserves the exclusive right to pick up New Yorkers at the curbside.

“We don’t want to see more vehicles on the road,” she said. “It’s going to increase congestion and increase competition in a field where it’s already competitive.”

By Courtney Gross on April 29, 2011, 4:44 pm
In category: City Hall, Electoral Politics, Gotham City, Immigrants, Law, Measuring UP, Public Finance, Transportation, Work and Labor, nextNY | 2 Comments »

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A Less Controversial PlaNYC
April 21st, 2011

To celebrate Earth Day — and his own environmental achievements — Mayor Michael Bloomberg today announced an update to his much touted sustainability program, PlaNYC2030.

The presentation in a gatehouse that houses Harlem stage offered a fair amount of glitz — free water bottles with New York’s tap water, a thick and glossily illustrated book replete with testimonial from attractive reportedly average New Yorkers, a panel discussion and then the speech by the mayor to an overwhelmingly adoring audience. Bloomberg pronounced New York under his administration as the leader in making cities environmentally friendly — and most in the crowd apparently agreed.

Bloomberg’s speech and to a lesser extent his plan offer nothing as bold or controversial as the congestion pricing proposal he advanced last time around. He did advance some new initiatives — 132 by the mayor’s count, some old and some new. Many, though, had either been issued or reported previously — allowing car services to accept street hails in the outer boroughs, for example, launching an East River ferry services and reducing the use of highly polluting heating oil to cite a few.

Much of Bloomberg’s speech focused on cleaning the air pollution spewed out by buildings. This would involve phasing out use of dirty grade 6 and 4 heating oil by 2015 and 2030 respectively. The relatively small number of buildings using the oil, Bloomberg said “produce more pollution than all the cars and trucks in New York City combined.”
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By Gail Robinson on April 21, 2011, 3:03 pm
In category: Gotham City | 4 Comments »

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Special Elections Preview
April 18th, 2011

More than two month after Gov. Andrew Cuomo named him CEO for Homes and Community Renewal, Brooklyn Assemblymember Darryl Towns has finally submitted his letter of resignation from the legislature.

Meanwhile, on April 1, longtime Assemblymember Nettie Mayhersohn of Queens announced her resignation at age 86.

This mean residents of their districts will choose new Assembly members in a special election — though Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not yet set the date.

In Meyersohn’s district, her chief of staff, Michael Simanowitz, has expressed interest in succeeding her and stands a good chance of getting his wish.

Many special elections in New York– especially in districts where one party has an overwhelming advantage — are little more than a formality. With no primary, party leaders choose their candidate and voters have little option but to ratify that choice.

In 2007, Citizens Union (whose sister organization publishes the Wonkster) found that almost a third of sitting legislators had first won their seats in usually noncompetitive special elections and then parlayed the advantage of incumbency to hold on to the post in future years.

Interestingly, though the race to follow Towns has attracted a list of candidates, with more possibly on the way. The contest has shaped up as a showdown between two politically powerful Brooklyn clans: the Towns family, including Darryl’s dad U.S. Rep. Edolphus Towns, and the Dilans, whose members include State Sen. Martin Malave Dilan and City Councilmember Erik Martin Dilan. Possible candidates include Darryl Town’s sister Deidra Towns and the council member’s chief of staff Rafael Espinal.
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By Gail Robinson on April 18, 2011, 2:17 pm
In category: Albany, Electoral Politics, Eye on Albany, Gotham City | No Comments »

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Advocates Protest SWMP Delays (UPDATE)
April 12th, 2011

Five years after the City Council and Mayor Michael Bloomberg agreed to a solid waste management plan for the five boroughs – one that spread out the city’s garbage burden — council members and environmental justice advocates say the adminsitration is backpedaling.

In its preliminary capital budget, the adminsitration has delayed the construction of four waste transfer stations, three of which are in Manhattan. The cut, said Eric Goldstein of the Natural Resources Defense Council, could delay funding for these facilities between five and eight years. Advocates fear the stations will never occur. Five years from now, there will be a new occupant in City Hall — one perhaps with different priorities.

“We are very troubled,” said Goldstein.

The waste transfer stations are a crucial part of the 2006 solid waste management plan, which attempts to get garbage off of diesel-spewing trucks and onto rail cars and barges instead. The plan was also meant to spread stations throughout the five boroughs to ease the burden on communities inundated with city waste — like the South Bronx, Greenpoint and Williamsburg. The delayed stations in Manhattan are the only ones slated for the borough, which currently sends the vast majority of its trash to New Jersey.

We are waiting for a response from the Department of Sanitation.

Advocates also decried the administration’s recent exploration of waste-to-energy — a controversial technology that typically involves burning or heating trash to create electricity (We reported on it here two weeks ago). Laura Haight of the New York Public Interest Research Group decried the move.

“The types of technology they want to pilot have not been proven successful commercially anywhere in the country,” said Haight. “We believe this is a waste of energy.”

A conversation on the equal distribution of these types of facilities is occurring right now at a hearing of the Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses Subcommittee. Councilmember Brad Lander, the committee’s chair, blasted the adminsitration for refusing to testify (his letter appears below).

“We’ve concentrated those facilities in low-income communities, in communities of color,” Lander said this afternoon on the City Hall steps.

A spokesperson for the Bloomberg adminsitration said they would not send a representative, because “fair share,” as it’s commonly referred to, is currently the subject of litigation.

UPDATE: We just got this response from City Hall spokesperson Jason Post:

Because of the economy, the City has been forced to reduce all of its expenditures, including its capital program.

The preliminary capital budget for the Sanitation Department includes deferred spending on four Marine Transfer Stations.

The Administration remains fully committed to SWMP’s principles of borough equity, using rail and barge to transfer solid waste, relieving the burden of waste receiving from certain communities, strengthening our recycling infrastructure and piloting new technologies to derive clean energy from waste.

We have made great progress on SWMP already—long term rail contracts are in place and two marine transfer stations are under construction, as is the City’s new recycling facility—and we are exploring cost-effective alternatives to expedite the construction schedule outlined in the preliminary capital plan. We will make a decision before the Mayor’s executive budget presentation.

CM Lander Letter to Mayor Bloomberg Re Fair Share Hearing(2)

By Courtney Gross on April 12, 2011, 2:22 pm
In category: City Hall, Civil Rights, Community Development, Crime & Safety, Environment, Gotham City, Governing, Health, Land Use, Waterfront, nextNY | 2 Comments »

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Walcott Visits the Council
April 8th, 2011

In his first visit to the City Council as the schools chancellor designee, Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott was informed, cordial and calm.

Most council members lauded him. All of them offered congratulations.

“You are much more knowledgeable than Cathie Black,” said Councilmember Letitia James. “You are much more accessible.”

And that praise came despite the fact Walcott was the bearer of bad news. Toeing the administration’s line, Walcott slammed state budget cuts to the five boroughs, claiming the city was treated unfairly. While the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit was supposed to give the city its fair share of education aid, Walcott said city revenue would cover 61 percent of non-federal education spending in next year’s budget. The state would only cover 39 percent.

Walcott claimed the vast majority of controllable costs at the Department of Education go to teachers’ salaries. The only way to close a $1 billion budget gap, he said, would be to lay off teachers.

“That means, with a budget shortfall of this magnitude, a reduction in headcount is unavoidable,” Walcott said.

There was some dispute between Walcott and Education Committee Chair Robert Jackson on the administration’s proposal to repeal the city’s last in, first out policy — which requires the city lay off teachers based on seniority. The policy’s repeal is a major goal of the Bloomberg adminsitration this year.

Walcott said the city has incentives for principals to keep teachers based on skill instead of how much their salary is. Jackson, however, said the repeal of LIFO could spur discrimination — with principals getting rid of the more senior, expensive instructors in favor of cheaper, younger ones.

Ultimately, Jackson said, the issue is moot.
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By Courtney Gross on April 8, 2011, 3:32 pm
In category: Albany, City Hall, Economy, Education, Electoral Politics, Eye Opener, Gotham City, Governing, Law, Measuring UP, Work and Labor, nextNY | 1 Comment »

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