LAWS PASSED IN 2002
ACCESS TO EMERGENCY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES AND SHELTER (Intro 120A)
The law adds a new section to the Administrative Code which
specifically prescribes that domestic violence victims who apply for
emergency shelter or related services cannot be denied such shelter or
services solely based on the lack of documentary evidence of the
incidence of domestic violence. It also defines family members as those
who are not only related by blood, but also as those who exist in
non-traditional relationships, whether they share a child and are
unmarried or have lived together.
SPONSORING MEMBERS: Council Members DeBlasio, Baez, Boyland, Brewer,
Clarke, Diaz, Gerson, Monserrate, Reyna, Liu, Serrano and Stewart; also
Council Members Gennaro, Jackson, Koppell, Lopez, Martinez, Quinn,
Rivera, Vann, Sanders and Comrie.
COUNCIL VOTE:
49 for, 0 against, 2 absent
Approved by the council December 4, 2002
Signed by mayor December 19, 2002
YES: Joseph Addabbo, Jr., Tony Avella, Maria Baez, Charles Barron, Tracy
Boyland, Gale Brewer, Yvette Clarke, Leroy Comrie, James Davis, Bill
DeBlasio, Ruben Diaz, Erik Dilan, Simcha Felder, Lewis Fidler, Helen
Foster, Dennis Gallagher, James Gennaro, Eric Gioia, Martin Golden,
Sarah Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Allan Jennings, Melinda Katz, Andrew
Lanza, Margarita Lopez, John Liu, Miguel Martinez, Michael McMahon,
Gifford Miller, Hiram Monserrate, Eva Moskowitz, Michael Nelson, James
Oddo, Bill Perkins, Madeline Provenzano, Christine Quinn, Domenic
Recchia, Philip Reed, Diana Reyna, Joel Rivera, James Sanders, Larry
Seabrook, Helen Sears, Jose Serrano, Kendall Stewart, Peter Vallone,
Jr., Albert Vann, David Weprin, David Yassky.
ABSENT: Alan Gerson, G. Oliver Koppell
UPDATING ELECTRICAL CODES (Intro 284)
This law updates the city's electrical code for the first time in more than three decades and brings it in line with a recognized industry standard, the 1999 National Electrical Code.
SPONSORING MEMBERS: By Council Members Provenzano, Comrie, Felder, Fidler, Nelson, Sears, Stewart and Weprin (by request of the Mayor)
COUNCIL VOTE: 49 for, 0 against
Approved by council November 20, 2002
Signed by mayor December 2, 2002
ABSENT: Martin Golden, Philip Reed.
CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING (Intro 87)
This law expands the application of 421-A real property tax benefits to aid in the construction of affordable housing. The 421-A program was created in 1971 to provide a tax incentive for the construction of new multiple dwellings on sites that are either vacant or underutilized. This change will enable developers of sites zoned for residential use to take advantage of this tax benefit at any time three years prior to the start of construction. However, some council members complained that this measure did not go far enough in helping to build affordable housing.
SPONSORING MEMBERS: By Council Members Provenzano, Comrie and McMahon.
COUNCIL VOTE: 36 for, 11 against, 2 abstaining
Approved by council September 25, 2002
Signed by mayor December 16, 2002
NO: Maria Baez, Charles Barron, Erik Martin Dilan, Robert Jackson, Margarita Lopez, Miguel Martinez, William Perkins, Diana Reyna, James Sanders, Jr., Albert Vann, David Yassky
ABSTAIN: Gale A. Brewer, Alan J. Gerson.
ABSENT: Allan W. Jennings
PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR DISABLED AND LOW INCOME (Intro 264A)
In 1998, the State Legislature created a new benefit within the Senior Citizen Homeowner Exemption that provided a tax exemption for disabled homeowners with limited incomes. That same year, the City Council enacted legislation providing for this benefit in New York City. Intro. 264-A adopts the most recent increase in income qualification level for the 50 percent tax exemption passed by the State Legislature during its last session, raising the income limit by $1,000 to $21,500.
SPONSORING MEMBERS: By Council Member Weprin, Clarke, Comrie, Davis, Dilan, Gennaro, Gerson, Gioia, Jackson, Jennings, Koppell, Lopez, Martinez, McMahon, Monserrate, Nelson, Perkins, Rivera, Sanders, Seabrook, Stewart, Vann, Yassky, Boyland and Brewer; also Council Members Quinn and Katz.
COUNCIL VOTE: 42 for, 0 against
Approved by council October 9, 2002
Signed by mayor October 25, 2002
ABSENT: James F. Gennaro, Alan J. Gerson
BILLS PENDING
MORE STRINGENT LEAD POISONING LAWS (Intro 101)
This legislation would classify lead dust as a hazard and would require the
city's housing department to conduct inspections of buildings where a
landlord has a record of poor maintenance. Landlords would be required to
clean contaminated apartments within six months. (Read more about
this issue in Gotham Gazette).
SPONSORING MEMBERS: Council members Bill Perkins, Margarita Lopez, Christine
Quinn, Philip Reed, Tracy Boyland, Joel Rivera, Gale Brewer, Robert Jackson,
John Liu, David Yassky, Charles Barron, Diana Reyna, Yvette Clarke, James
Sanders, Dominic Recchia, Albert Vann, Melinda Katz, Alan Gerson, Eric
Gioia, Maria Baez, Bill DeBlasio, Jose Serrano, Helen Foster, Hiram
Monserrate, Allan Jennings, Larry Seabrook, Joseph Addabbo, Eva Moskowitz,
Oliver Koppell, James Davis and the Public Advocate (Ms. Betsy Gotbaum);
also Councilmember Miguel Martinez
Click here
for the status of this bill
TENANTS BILL OF RIGHTS (Intro 115)
This bill states that all tenants in apartments have the right to heating
(at a minimum of 68 degrees), hot water, secure front doors, smoke
detectors, and a pest-free environment. Also electrical, plumbing, and
ventilation systems must be kept in safe working order by the landlord. This
bill accompanies Intro 162, which aims to
increase enforcement of existing safe-housing regulations.
SPONSORING MEMBERS: The Speaker (Councilmember Gifford Miller) and council
members Bill Perkins, Christine Quinn, Philip Reed, Maria Baez, Gale Brewer,
Yvette Clarke, Bill DeBlasio, Alan Gerson, Robert Jackson, Melinda Katz,
Miguel Martinez, Hiram Monserrate, Michael Nelson, Dominici Recchia, Diana
Reyna, Larry Seabrook, Jose Serrano and David Weprin; also council members
Olvier Koppell, Margarita Lopez and James Sanders.
Click here
for the status of this bill