Press Releases

2,700 Sign Petition to Restore Select Bus Service at 72^nd Street

 New York, NY - Today the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York City Transit were petitioned by over 2,700 Upper Eastside residents and the five elected officials that represent this area at every level of government to restore the M15 Select Bus Service stop at 72^nd Street ahead of the completion of the Second Avenue Subway.
 
When Select Bus Service was introduced to First and Second Avenues on the M15 route these stops replaced Limited Service stops in every location above Houston Street other East 72^nd Street. Residents who live near 72^nd Street must choose between walking as much as half a mile to Select Bus Service at 67^th or 79^th Streets, too far for one-third of households in the immediate neighborhood with children or seniors.

Dear President Hakim,

Please restore the M15 Select Bus Service at 72^nd Street. The M15 Limited stopped at 72^nd Street until it was phased out in favor of M15 Select Bus Service. With high bus-dependent populations, infrequent local service, crosstown bus service, hospitals, community support and opening of the Second Avenue Subway with a station at 72^nd Street, now is the perfect opportunity to increase ridership by restoring M15 Select Bus Service at 72^nd Street.

72^nd Street Only Location Omitted from Select Bus Service

When Select Bus Service was introduced to First and Second Avenues on the M15 route, Select Bus Stations replaced Limited Service stops in every location above Houston Street other than East 72^nd Street. Since October 2010, residents living in the East 72^nd Street area, for example at 73^rd off York Avenue, now must choose between walking three avenues and six blocks, more than half a mile, to a Select Bus Service bus station at 67^th or 79^th Streets and Second Avenue, versus half that distance to 72^nd Street. Walking more than half a mile in both directions is simply too far for many residents.

New York – On Thursday, the Bus Turnaround coalition held a rally at City Hall to call on the MTA and DOT to undertake sweeping changes to fix bus service, where ridership has been in free-fall for a number of years. At the rally, the coalition released a new website, BusTurnaround.nyc, which features new route-level “report cards” with speed and reliability data for local buses and interactive “ride-along” stories where users can compare the buses NYC has today with the buses we could have if the Turnaround campaign’s practical strategies are implemented.

Dear Chairman Prendergast and Commissioner Trottenberg,   Thank you to New York City Transit and Department of Transportation for addressing the previous letters concerning service quality on crosstown buses by implementing Select Bus Service for the M86. I now request that you expand crosstown Select Bus Service to improve service on the M66, M79, and M96.
 
Each year, the New York Public Interest Research Group’s Straphangers Campaign evaluates bus service, and grants the “Pokey Award” to the slowest bus line in the City, an honor received on a regular basis by crosstown buses serving my district: the M66 in 2012 at 3.9 MPH and again in 2015 at 3.1 MPH, the M79 in 2014 at 3.2 MPH and the M96 in 2008 at 3.7 MPH. New York City Transit and the Department of Transportation can bring improvements to both bus lines by implementing Select Bus Service that provides off board payments to reduce dwell times in order to move buses faster.
 

"NYCHA should not move forward with this plan until they have gained the support of local residents, assured they will have preference for new units being built, and committed to building 100% affordable housing," said Council Member Ben Kallos. "I am proud to celebrate this playground with the residents of Holmes Towers and hope that their voices will be heard as this process moves forward."
 

 Roosevelt Island Residents Received Training on how to Plan and Prepare for Emergencies

Roosevelt Island, NY –Last night, nearly 200 Roosevelt Islanders learned how to prepare for the next storm and received free go bags, so they will be ready when the time comes. The event was hosted by Council Member Ben Kallos, Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito, Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Acting President Susan Rosenthal and Roosevelt Island Public Safety Director Jack McManus. On the eve of National PrepareAthon! Day, residents came to learn emergency preparedness skills so they will be ready as climate change leads to more unpredictable weather conditions in and around New York City.
 
Since 2014 Council Member Kallos has funded the Roosevelt Island CERT with $8,000 for new, up-to-date, modern two way radios designed to be operational in the event the island suffers an emergency and the CERT is activated.
 
“Every New Yorker should be trained to handle emergencies and own a Go Bag,” said Council Member Ben Kallos.  “Always be prepared, especially if you live in an area that is prone to flooding. You never know when a natural disaster may force you to evacuate.”
 
“NYC Emergency Management works tirelessly to ensure that New Yorkers are educated about emergency preparedness,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito. “We’re happy to partner with Council Member Kallos to provide an important opportunity for Roosevelt Island residents to receive information on NYCEM’s programs and community-based initiatives, as well as how best to prepare themselves to respond to emergencies.”
 
“We are grateful to Council Member Kallos for making the security of Roosevelt Island residents a priority.  RIOC is always looking for ways to increase security efforts, such as with the recent improvements to the emergency response time of the 911 Call Center.  That crucial update, taking into account the unique nature of our Island, was the direct result of all stakeholders working together.  Now, with respect to emergency preparedness, RIOC looks forward to working with OEM to ensure the health and safety of our Roosevelt Island Community.” Said Susan Rosenthal Acting President of Roosevelt Island Operating Cooperation.
 
September is National Preparedness Month culminating with “National PrepareAthon! Day” on September 30, the inspiration for the evening’s training ahead of Atlantic hurricane season. The event included the distribution of free Go Bags — a collection of items you can use in the event of an evacuation. Each household member should have a Go Bag, which should be sturdy, lightweight, and portable, such as a backpack.
 
The Go Bags that were distributed contained: 

• First aid kit;
• Flash light with batteries;                               
• Radio with batteries;
• Whistle;
• Poncho and emergency blanket;
• Dust mask;
• Pen, paper and magnifying lens;
• Sanitary products including wipes, tissue, soap, comb, as well as tooth brush and paste; and,

Must be supplemented by residents who should add:

• Copies of important documents in a waterproof container;
• Extra sets of car and house keys;
• Copies of credit and ATM card and cash;
• Bottled water and nonperishable food;
• List of medications and dosages household members take, or copes of all prescription slips with doctors’ name and numbers;
• Child care, pet care and other special items;
• Contact and meeting place information for your household, and a small regional map.

The event took place at the Good Shepard Chapel 543, Main St., Roosevelt Island, New York Thursday 9/29 at 6pm. Watch the event online, learn more from Ready New York.

STAY CONNECTED WITH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS:
Twitter
@NotifiyNYC (emergency notifications)
@nycoem (emergency preparedness info)
Facebook
/NYCemergencymanagement

"There is no place for bigotry and hatred toward Muslims or any other religious group or race in New York City," said Council Member Ben Kallos, Progressive Caucus Vice-Chair. "We must do everything in our power to fight racism wherever we see it in our City. New York City's reputation as this country's largest melting pot must go on without instances of discrimination and hate."

"Electric vehicles are now the standard for New York City's fleet," said Council Member Ben Kallos, Chair of the Committee on Governmental Operation. "Thank you to Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Lisette Camillo for her partnership and responsiveness to requests for a more aggressive adoption of a fully electric fleet. Thank you Mayor de Blasio for keeping New York City at the forefront in the fight against climate change."

Roosevelt Island, NY – Today forty-nine 4-year-olds will be able to attend free pre-kindergarten at Roosevelt Island Day Nursery thanks to the advocacy from Council Member Ben Kallos, organizing by Roosevelt Island Parents Network, and last minute intervention from Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

Roosevelt Island Parents Network’s Eva Bosbach and Susana del Campo helped to organize a list of more than 90 families that agreed to send their children to Universal Pre-Kindergarten on Roosevelt Island. Council Member Kallos reached out to every Pre-Kindergarten and childcare provider on Roosevelt Island and the East Side to ask them to participate in Universal Pre-Kindergarten. Roosevelt Island Day Nursery led by Executive Director Pamela Stark was the only provider on Roosevelt Island to stand up for their community to serve their needs. Council Member Kallos helped Roosevelt Island Day Nursery through the bureaucratic Department of Education application process through approval. Once approval was obtained an obstacle arose that Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s President Susan Rosenthal was able remedy leading to the on-time opening of Roosevelt Island Day Nursery to serve forty-nine 4-year olds on Roosevelt Island.

I am writing in response to the “Private Carting Study” released on August 17, 2016 to better understand how a potential zoned system would impact my residential district and the East 91^st Street Marine Transfer Station:

• Will a zone collection system require private carters to dump commercial waste in the same zone where it is picked up?
• Will a zone collection system require private carters who collect waste from multiple zones in Manhattan to dump all of their trash at the East 91^st Street Marine Transfer Station?
• Will a zone collection system require private carters who collect waste from multiple zones spanning multiple boroughs to dump their trash at the East 91^st Street Marine Transfer Station?
• Will a zone collection system preclude participating private carters from tipping in industrial zones outside New York City (like New Jersey where DSNY currently tips residential waste from Manhattan)?

New York, NY – Artists and community groups seeking a space to perform or meet would be able to search and rent city-owned or operated spaces online under “City Spaces” legislation authored by Council Member Ben Kallos with Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer, Laurie Cumbo and Helen Rosenthal. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) that  manages a large portfolio of the city’s properties, will be required to post all suitable properties and accompanying information to a publicly accessible website where artists or anyone can rent municipal spaces.

New York, NY – Tuesday August 16, the New York City Council passed Introduction 507-A, by Council Member Ben Kallos and Waterfronts Chair Debi Rose. The legislation reconstitutes the role of the City’s Waterfront Management Advisory Board (WMAB) to play an important part in advising New York City on how to best revitalize and protect our 520 miles of shoreline while also ensuring our waterfront investments are anchored to the priorities of our coastal communities.

Fair and Complete Tenant Screening Reports Would Protect Renters Who Have Been in Court from Being Targeted by Landlords and Refused Apartments

New York, NY – Tenant screening companies which create so called “tenant blacklists” would be regulated to ensure they provide fair and complete information, including court records that show when tenants were in the right. This added level of scrutiny will lessen the number of prospective tenants who in many cases are repeatedly denied a place to live merely because they were involved in a housing court case. This legislation is authored by Council Members Ben Kallos, introduced with Public Advocate Leticia James and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, with support from Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell and State Senator Liz Krueger.
 
Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers named in housing court cases every year are reported to be on “tenant blacklists.” These “blacklists” are created by screening reports sold by companies along with credit reports and are often used to deny applications to renters. Tenant screening companies who provide a list of those named in housing court cases without any indication of the particulars or outcome of the case include: CoreLogic SafeRent, TransUnion Rental Screening Solution, On-Site, and ALM. This legislation would license these companies and require them to provide the necessary details of housing court cases such as the outcome and who initiated the proceedings in order to protect tenants who were in the right from being “blacklisted,” a frightening prospect for anyone looking for an apartment in an already tough renters market.
 
The legislation requires anyone who assembles or evaluates screening reports which contain court histories to register and obtain a license from the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) and requires the following:

• Each housing court case mentioned must contain the names of all parties involved, the claims alleged, the current status or outcome of the case, and which party initiated the case;
• Tenant screening companies will have to state the defenses asserted by the tenant and the specific outcome of the case, including any rent abatement awarded.
• The Department of Consumers Affairs is tasked with enforcement with civil penalties of $500 per report inaccurate report and fines for non-compliance up to $5,000.
• Anyone who believes they have been harmed by an inaccurate screening report could bring their own case in court.

 “No one should face discrimination for having exercised their constitutional right to seek justice in the courts. Tenant screening companies have a responsibility to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but truth about house court cases,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “We can't have a legal system where someone can be vindicated in housing court against a bad landlord and then repeatedly denied a place to live. Tenant blacklists degrade housing court and create a system where even if you win, you lose.”
 
 

New York, NY – Patronage appointments for positions that have never been advertised to the public are being targeted for reform by Council Members Ben Kallos and Vincent Gentile. The proposed legislation would force the city government to publicly post any new position or vacancy for at least 14 days before conducting interviews.

The Department of Investigation's independent report confirms the influence of lobbyists in the lifting of deed restrictions at Rivington and that the interest of the city was not adequately considered. The report includes many facts and findings that pose more questions which must be answered at a public hearing of the City Council.

In furtherance of CIVITAS’s Reimagining the Waterfront initiative, we are pleased to announce a new community-based vision for the John Finley Walk section of the East River Esplanade (81st-84th Streets). During May and June, CIVITAS, with support from Council Member Ben Kallos, facilitated two visioning sessions for community residents to solicit priorities for possible improvements to this section of the Esplanade. Residents of buildings facing John Finley Walk filled out an extensive survey that enabled CIVITAS to collect data and statistically measure how the neighborhood would like to see improvements implemented. A concerted effort was made to focus on and recommend those improvements that received the most support from these immediate neighbors and from a majority of other community residents that participated in this visioning process.

CIVITAS 
1457 Lexington Avenue 
New York, NY 10128 
p: 212-996-0745 
f: 212-289-4291 
info@civitasnyc.org 
www.civitasnyc.org

"We've got an additional 18 pre-kindergarten seats in my district and 54 more on the Upper East Side thanks to a strong partnership between the Department of Education, the City Council and parents. Thank you to Chancellor Farina, Deputy Chancellor Wallack, Principal Tara Napoleoni, and parents for working with my office to add 18 pre-kindergarten seats at P.S. 183 in my district and another 36 seats at P.S. 6 serving the Upper East Side," said Council Member Ben Kallos. "Universal Pre-Kindergarten provides four year-olds throughout our city with early learning they need to get a head start in life and the childcare families need. I hope that we will soon be able meet this year's need and keep work so that every parent can apply for universal pre-kindergarten next year and know they will have seat waiting in the neighborhood for their child."

“The City Council has a responsibility to hold an oversight hearing on deed restrictions. I want to get to the bottom of what happened at Rivington, St. Nicholas, and other sites where developers bought out of their duty to serve the community,” said Council Member Ben Kallos, Chair of the Committee of Governmental Operations with oversight over the Department of Citywide Administrative Services which grants deed restrictions. “Now that they’ve finally turned over the list of deed restrictions that were pending or granted, we must publicly review the benefits communities could be losing.”

I am Council Member Ben Kallos, representing the Upper East Side, Midtown East, Roosevelt Island and El Barrio. That’s @BenKallos on Twitter and Instagram.
 
Good afternoon to the Rent Guidelines Board Chair Hon. Kathleen A. Roberts, Public Members Flax, Joza, Rahman and Schaub, Owner Members Walsh and Serafy, and Tenant Members Epstein and Garcia. 
 
To New Yorkers here today, and especially tenants, thank you for attending this hearing. I am proud to stand with you today.
 
This year, I am calling on the Rent Guidelines Board to vote for a rent rollback.
 
Last year, the Board voted for a historic rent freeze for one-year leases, the first of its kind, and that began to correct for the disproportionately high increases of previous years.
 

I am Council Member Ben Kallos, representing the Upper East Side, Midtown East, Roosevelt Island and El Barrio. That’s @BenKallos on Twitter and Instagram.
 
Good afternoon to the Rent Guidelines Board Chair Hon. Kathleen A. Roberts, Public Members Flax, Joza, Rahman and Schaub, Owner Members Walsh and Serafy, and Tenant Members Epstein and Garcia. 
 
To New Yorkers here today, and especially tenants, thank you for attending this hearing. I am proud to stand with you today.
 
This year, I am calling on the Rent Guidelines Board to vote for a rent rollback.
 
Last year, the Board voted for a historic rent freeze for one-year leases, the first of its kind, and that began to correct for the disproportionately high increases of previous years.
 
Year after year, as rent goes up, tenants have shouldered an undue burden. Meanwhile, income cannot keep pace, and only crept up by 2.3% between 2005 and 2013 in real terms. The approved rent increases each year were largely based upon the landlord’s operating costs, measured by the price index of operating cost (PIOC). This practice not only failed to consider tenants, but was also proven to be inaccurate: based upon data from the Department of Finance (DOF), the PIOC has overstated landlord costs by 11% since 2005. This miscalculation led to unfairly high rent increases in past years, which must be corrected with a rent rollback.