Jewish Efforts to Influence American Immigration Policy in the Years Before t...
PC Spring Report
1. PROGRESS
REPORT
Spring/
2016
WORKING TOWARD A MORE JUST AND EQUAL NEW YORK CITY
IN THIS ISSUE
About Us........2
Policy.............3
Actions............6
Events...........8
Victories........11
Meetings.......13
3. POLICY
Council Hearing • Freelance Isn't Free
On March 1st, several of the City's 1.3 million freelancers testified before
the Committee on Consumer Affairs to demand passage of the “Freelance Isn’t Free”
Act. I.1017 would provide basic protections for independent contractors and prevent
payment delays or theft. More than 70% of freelancers experience late or nonpayment
at some point in their career at an average of $5,968 every year.
NYC Passes • Grocery Worker Retention Act
On January 19th, the City Council voted in favor of the Grocery Worker Retention Act.
I.632 provides for a 90-day transition period to eligible employees following a change
in ownership of a grocery store. The transition period is a temporary protection for
employees who may face unemployment through no fault of their own.
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4. POLICY
NYC Passes • Single-use Bag Bill
On May 5th, the Council voted to pass I.209, a bill aimed at reducing the use and
negative impacts of carryout bags by requiring a 5-cent charge for bags in NYC grocery
and retail stores. The bill is expected to eliminate the majority of bags from our waste
stream and bring us one step closer to achieving our OneNYC zero waste goals.
On March 22nd, the Council approved a Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH)
program that requires developers to include affordable housing in developments that
are rezoned along with Zoning for Quality and Affordability (ZQA) allowing buildings
with affordable or senior housing to be taller, eliminating some parking requirements
and changing rules which affect the shape of new buildings. The final bill included 13 out
of 16 proposals submitted by the Caucus to make the policy more fair and accountable.
NYC Pasess • MIH/ZQA Amendments
5. Policy Committee
Budget Meeting
facebook.com/nycprogressives • 113 New Likes
@nycprogressives • 394 New Followers
nycprogressives.com • 4,605 Views
Social Media Update
The Committee on Housing heard 2 bills endorsed by housing advocates and legal
services providers in the Stand for Tenant Safety (STS) Coalition. The bills are part
of legislative package aimed at reforming the NYC Department of Buildings and
strengthen measures to prevent tenant harassment and displacement. These 12 bills
(below) will increase penalties and enforcement for landlords who endanger tenants
with dangerous construction practices and conditions.
I. 939 Penalties for work without a permit • I. 940 Penalties under stop work orders
1.918 Limitations on self-certification • I. 924 Correct vacate orders
I. 926 Inter-agency task force • I. 930 Foreclosure on ECB liens
I. 931 Expand ECB fines • 1.934 Real time enforcement
I. 936 Tenant Protection Plans • I. 938 Increase permit oversight
I. 944 Online work permit posting • I. 960 Safe construction bill of rights
Council Hearing • Stand for Tenant Safety
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6. On June 21st, the Progressive Caucus joined the Rent Justice Coalition and submitted
testimony to the Rent Guidelines Board in support of a rent roll back for tenant's
who've seen unjustly inflated rents in previous years. Members encouraged Board
members to consider increased homelessness, evictions and transient use which is
burdening low-income New Yorkers. Ultimately, the RGB decided to freeze rent-
stablized rents for one year leases and a 2% increase for two year leases.
Support for Rent Roll Back
On May 17th, the Progressive and Black, Latino and Asian Caucuses gathered to demand
growth for youth jobs prior to hearing testimony by the Department of Youth and
Community Development (DYCD). Council Members rallied with advocates and students in
response to the Executive Budget’s failure to increase youth jobs, a priority of both groups
to expand economic, professional and safety opportunities impacting young adults.
Rally for Universal Youth Jobs
ACTIONS
7. On March 10th, the Lunch 4 Learning Campaign parents and elected officials rallied for
full expansion of the free lunch program from stand alone middle schools to city-wide.
It is estimatied this will only cost $3.6 million with greater State and Federal nutrition
reimbursements in addition to alleviate a financial burden, saving families
approximately $900/year per child along with creating hundreds of new jobs
Denounce RSA Claims
The Progressive Caucus condemned
an advertisement by the Rent
Stabilization Association claiming
that “Mayor de Blasio’s bad housing
policies are bad for affordable
housing.” The Administration and
Council has been laser-focused on
combating displacement and
preserving the 1 million rent
stabilized units in the City. These
efforts were exemplified by
vehement advocacy to renew and
strengthen the rent regulations that
protect tenants from unreasonable
rent increases.
Expand Universal Free Lunch
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8. EVENTS
On May 23rd, the Progressive Caucus hosted a Council-wide briefing on school food
programs in NYC’s Department of Education. The event was Co-sponsored by Caucus
Co-Chair Donovan Richards, Vice-Chair Ben Kallos, Council Members Stephen Levin,
Corey Johnson, Ritchie Torres and Danny Dromm in partnership with Community Food
Advocates, Hunger Free NYC and Local 372, DC37. Attendees discussed the Breakfast in
the Classroom and Middle School Free Lunch hunger prevention initiatives.
Student Voter Registration Day
March 19th was New York City Student Voter Registration Day, a day of non-
partisan civic education and voter registration. The Council initiative was
organized by Council Member Helen Rosenthal, NYC Votes, the DOE, and the
New York Immigration Coalition and effectively registered 8,500 eligible
voters in time for the upcoming presidential election.
School Food Briefing
2
9. On April 21st, the Progressive Caucus hosted a Council-wide briefing with STS
coalition representatives from St. Nick's Alliance, Committee Against Anti-
Asian Violence, Urban Homesteading Assistance Board, Cooper Square
Committee and tenant advocates. 21 offices were in attendance to learn about
the significant impact that STS legislative reform could have to prevent
construction-as-harrassment by enabling DOB to implement a more proactive
and hands-on approach to stymieing bad landlords.
Car Free NYC
On Earth Day, April 22, members of the Progressive Caucus encouraged
New York drivers to Take the Pledge and agree to use an alternative mode
of transportation. Freeing up our streets can provide for cleaner air,
causing less harm to our environment; allow for greater walkability and
bikeability to promote active transportation; and reminds New Yorkers how
choices matter when it comes to how we move about.
Stand for Tenant Safety Briefing
2
6
9
10. On May 23rd, the Progressive Caucus hosted an orientation for Summer Youth Employment
Program (SYEP) participants assigned to work with the Council this summer. The presentation
include Caucus members introductions with all Caucus members signed up as worksites along
with background on Council roles, structures and processes.
PC Social/
May 5th
Council
Bike to
Work Day/
May 16th
SYEP Council Orientation
EVENTS
11. VICTORIES
PUBLIC
LIBRARIES
ADULT
LITERACY
HUNGER
PREVENTION
LEGAL
SERVICES FOR
LOW-INCOME
NEW YORKERS
YOUTH
LITERACY
$43M in baselined expense funding for the three public library
systems that sustains investments to expand branch library
hours and preserve services for the most underserved New
Yorkers through job training, literacy skills, immigration
services, youth education programs, etc.
$12M in funding to provide programming for literacy
development, English for non-native speakers, and Graduate
Equivalent Degree classes for adults with limited literacy
proficiency and new Americans.
$4.9M for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which will
provide funding for the purchase of food by over 40 percent to
support the increased demand at 450 food pantries and
community kitchens for a total of $16 million.
$5M supports direct client representation, in legal areas
including, but not limited to: employment, unemployment
insurance, supplemental security income, consumer/finance,
education, family, juvenile, health, housing, income and
miscellaneous benefits.
$2.7M for City’s First Readers, a coalition of nonprofit
organizations that foster literacy development through
programming, book distribution, parent engagement and
training for children ages 0 to 5.
NYC
BUDGET/
FY2017
11
12. Policy Committee
Budget Meeting
NYC
BUDGET/
FY2017
$38.5M for Summer Youth Employment Program for 60,000
total jobs with 1,000 targeted to vulnerable and at-risk
youth. $16M for 6,000 year-round jobs and creation of a joint
taskforce on youth job programs to assess current needs
$22M in baselined funding for District Attorneys, including
the creation of an Alternatives to Incarceration Unit and
resources to reduce gun-related and other violent crimes.
$8M enhanced funding to expand anti-gun violence initiatives
for high-need precincts and organizations providing violence
interruption and violence prevention to communities at risk.
$2.2M to support worker coop businesses by coordinating
education and training resources and providing technical,
legal and financial assistance with a citywide effort to
promote this democratic business model
$570,000 for the expansion and development of day laborer
centers which provide dignified physical space for day
laborers to meet, job referrals, support services, legal
services to address issues such as wage theft, as well as
workforce training and development.
$9.5M to support additional maintenance capacity within the
Department of Parks and Recreation including 50 additional
gardeners and 100 workers for neighborhood parks citywide
$3.8M for DFTA’s operations of Naturally-Occuring
Retirement Communities for areas populated by large
numbers of seniors require particular access to health,
transportation and medical services.
$11.2M in funding for cultural programs and institutions that
provide arts enrichment to students during after-school.
$2.5M to support education and outreach to help increase
public awareness of the City’s Visions Zero initiative to
prevent pedestrian fatalities and increase street safety.
$5.6M supports education and referral services at housing
courts and various anti-eviction legal services groups that
provide counseling and/or legal representation for tenants.
$3.6M supports neighborhood-based strategies that respond
to threats to affordable housing; and support and assistance
to individuals seeking housing information, advice and
referral services.
YOUTH
JOBS
ALTERNATIVES
TO
INCARCERATION
CRISIS
MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM
WORKER
COOPERATIVES
DAY LABORERS
PARK
MAINTENANCE
NORCS
CULTURAL
PROGRAMS
VISION ZERO
ANTI-EVICTION
RESOURCES
HOUSING
PRESERVATION
13. MEETINGS
Policy Committee
Housing Committee
Holding Leaders Accountable
13
Caucus members convened state
and city officials to discuss concerns,
priorities and opportunities for
collaboration including:
Attorney General
Eric Schneiderman
• Special Prosecutor's Office
• Foreclosure Prevention
• Open Government
DYCD Commissioner
Bill Chong
• Summer Youth Employment
• Adult Literacy
• Year-round Jobs
SBS Commissioner
Gregg Bishop
• Worker Cooperatives
• Supporting Small Businesses
• Neighborhood Development
HRA Commissioner
Steve Banks
• Social Service Resources
• Shelter Safety
• Supportive Housing
NYCHA CFO
Karen Caldwell
• Operational Expenses
• Capital Plan
• NextGen NYCHA
14. 1/7 Caucus Retreat 1/14 January Policy 1/20 January Caucus
2/3 Housing Committee 2/9 February Policy 2/23 February Caucus
3/17 March Policy 3/23 March Caucus 4/12 April Policy 4/20 April Caucus
5/12 May Policy 5/24 May Caucus 6/15 June Policy 6/21 June Caucus
MEETINGS
Mid-term Retreat
Housing Committee Policy Committee
