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Dealing With Disgrace 2007: A Look Ahead Faso's HQ Burgled Bloomberg' Political Contribution Investments Come Up Short First Spitzer Transition Team Meeting Set Up in the Air� Up in the Sky� It�s the Mayor of New York? Diversity Remains Beyond FDNY's Grasp Political Consultant Round-Up Taking the Temperature of Health Laws Solar Power's Not-So-Bright Future Greens Hope for Ballot Access through Lawsuit Working Families and Conservatives Parties See Mixed Results Despite Big Election Turnover, Limited Changes for Big Apple Ahead
In the Chair: Robert Jackson In the Trenches: Steven Matteo No Cape, But the Ad Man is a Democratic Hero Back in the District: James Vacca On the Agenda Where Are They Now? Manfred Ohrenstein Mr. Haber Goes to Hollywood Sandwiches and Soda with Adolfo Carrión Editorial: You've Got to Be in It to Win It What the Poverty Report Misses by Maureen Lane When Big Winners Meet Big Winners, Who Wins? by Alan Chartock Standing Up for New York City's Fair Share by Gifford Miller and William Cunningham
Int. 460 – A bill that would require the Department of Education to report on the status of science labs in public schools.
Sponsor: Council Member Letitia James (WF-Brooklyn), 35th District
James said the introduction of the bill was prompted by “not only the absence but the neglect” of science labs in her district, and by a need for annual reports tracking the condition of labs.
James recently visited Brooklyn Technical High School and said she was struck by the disparity between that school's recently unveiled high-end science lab and the condition of labs in other schools throughout her Council district.
“Some schools don't have science labs and in others the labs date back to when I attended,” James said.
James said she consistently heard complaints from constituents regarding the state of science labs in their schools, and pointed out that Community Board 17 recently launched an effort for more funding for science labs.
“For children of color, science and math are absolutely critical for success,” she said.
Int. 461 – A bill that would require the re-keying of locks on entrance doors of multiple dwelling units at the beginning of each new tenancy.
Sponsor: Council Member G. Oliver Koppell (D-Bronx), 11th District
The idea for the bill was originally proposed several years ago by a former commanding officer of the 50th Precinct in the northwest Bronx. Community Board 8, in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, subsequently passed a resolution calling on Koppell to introduce the bill in the Council.
“It's a safety measure,” Koppell said. “We think everyone who moves into an apartment is entitled to a change in the lock.”
Koppell said the bill would not require the costly replacement of an entire lock, only the replacement of the internal cylinder and the issuing of new keys to tenants. He stressed that tenants would not be responsible for the cost of the lock adjustments.
Int. 463 – A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the City of New York, in relation to allowing applicants who have completed six years of honorable part-time service in the United States military reserves to qualify for appointment to the New York City Police Department.
Sponsor: Council Member Miguel Martinez (D-Manhattan), 10th District
Martinez submitted this bill to correct what he views as the city's unjust treatment of reservists coming back from Iraq.
New Yorkers who serve in the reserves “don't get the same benefits of others serving in the military that receive credit in the Fire and Police Departments,” Martinez said.
Veterans of the regular armed forces receive incentives that ease the process of subsequently joining the police and fire forces. Under his bill, the same incentives would be extended to reservists who have completed their six-year commitment.
Martinez says the experiences of some of his Upper Manhattan constituents who served in the reserves in Iraq showed him they faced the same dangers as the regular military. Therefore, he says, New York should provide them the same incentives when they return home.
Int. 466 – A local law to amend the administrative code of the City of New York, in relation to restraining dogs in city-owned parks and playgrounds.
Sponsor: Council Member David Yassky (D-Brooklyn), 33rd District
Since the 1980s, the City Parks Department and the city health code have been at odds over dog leashes. The city health code says that all dogs must be on a leash at all times, while the Parks Department allows off-leash hours in parks without easy access to a dog run.
In places like Prospect Park, Yassky's office estimates it would take 15 dog runs to provide easy access to everybody. His measure would legalize the unofficial Parks Department “off-leash hours” policy.
The off-leash issue erupted in the courts this spring. The Juniper Park Civic Association, a Queens community organization, sued the Parks Department, claiming its off-leash policy violated the city health code.
The Health Department is currently reconsidering its leash codes, but if no change is made, Yassky's bill will ensure that New York dogs can run free.
—By James Caldwell and Matt Sollars