PC Fall Report

Fall 2015 In This Issue

About Us 2 Policy 3 Events 6 Actions 9 Meetings 12 Victories 13

PROGRESS REPORT WORKING TOWARD A MORE EQUAL, MORE JUST NEW YORK

Progress Report | Fall 2015

ABOUT US The Progressive Caucus was formed in 2010 with the mission to combat all forms of discrimination and advance public policies that offer genuine opportunity to all New Yorkers, especially those who are marginalized and who have been unable to access the full benefits of our city's prosperity.

Membership for the 2014-2017 term includes: Council Member Antonio Reynoso, Co-Chair Council Member Donovan Richards, Co-Chair Council Member Ben Kallos, Vice-Chair for Policy Council Member Helen Rosenthal, Vice-Chair for Budget Council Member Margaret Chin, District 1, Manhattan Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, District 21, Queens Council Member Corey Johnson, District 3, Manhattan Council Member Brad Lander, District 39, Brooklyn Council Member Stephen Levin, District 33, Brooklyn Council Member Mark Levine, District 7, Bronx Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, District 8 Council Member Carlos Menchaca, District 38, Brooklyn Council Member I. Daneek Miller, District 27, Queens Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, District 10, Manhattan Council Member Deborah Rose, District 49, Staten Island Council Member Ritchie Torres, District 15, Bronx Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, District 26, Queens Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, District 45, Brooklyn

OUR ADVANCEMENT

GOALS

Affordable Housing Opportunities

Defend Workers’ Rights

Vital Investments in Public Services Address Employment Discrimination Neighborhood Fair Share System Community Safety & Empowerment Expand & Modernize Democracy Minimize Inequality Environmental Justice & Sustainability New, Livable Streets Model Tenant Protection & Preservation

Our ADVANCEMENT

Agenda hopes to promote, better and develop the

capacities and economic circumstances of working

class New Yorkers.

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POLICY Labor Hearing • Grocery Worker Retention Act

Caucus Endorsement • Retirement Security for All

On September 25th, the Council heard testimony on Int. 632. This bill would establish worker protections for grocery employees working for at least six months and a minimum of eight hours a week following a change in ownership of a store. The GWRA mandates a 90-day retention period for employees in preparation for possible new job placement as well as to settle pending grievances.

“By retaining skilled grocery workers to handle sensitive items such as our produce, poultry and meats, we protect the public and the communities which these stores serve,” said Council Member I. Daneek Miller, Chair of the Committee on Civil Service and Labor. “Hardworking people deserve an opportunity to maintain their independence and this this legislation provides them with that opportunity.”

legislation provides them with that opportunity.”

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In October, Caucus members met with advocates from Effective NY and later voted to support Retirement Security for All. This proposal would create the first ever city-run retirement vehicle for private sector workers. Members signed onto Int. 692A sponsored by Public Advocate James creating a Retirement Security Review Board to evaluate recommendations for the establishment of universal retirement funds, open to anyone without access to a retirement plan.

The is an urgent need to discuss retirement planning and options in this country, as many Americans with limited or no retirement savings are approaching retirement age. It is estimated that by 2035, there could be over 644,500 retired senior New Yorkers living on less than $540 a week. New Yorkers are saving less, in part because fewer employees are offering retirement plans. – RSFA Committee Report


POLICY Housing Hearing • Illegal Hotel Bills

Council Introduction • Stand for Tenant Safety Bills

On October 30th, the Committee of Housing and Buildings discussed legislation aimed at reducing cases of illegal hotels. Council Members Rosenthal and Rodriguez introduced bills that would respectively, stiffen penalties for anyone operating an illegal hotel (Int. 826) and increase transparency on enforcement of illegal conversions of dwelling units (Int. 823).

“Our current fines are too low to deter illegal hotel operators, some of whom made millions in the last year alone. By increasing fines for illegal hotels, getting a violation will no longer be the cost of doing business. This bill will aid our efforts to preserve housing in New York City,” said Caucus Vice-Chair, Council Member Helen Rosenthal.

Caucus members joined Stand for Tenant Safety (STS), a coalition of community-based organizations, legal service agencies and tenant advocates, to combat cases of “construction as harassment” used to displace rent-regulated tenants. They supported a package of 12 Council bills that aim to reform the Department of Buildings, the agency tasked with issuing permits to developers and responding to tenants who report violations.

“Since I’ve taken office, landlords using construction as a means to displace tenants has become an increasingly pervasive problem in my district. My bills in this package seek to raise fines for building owners who do construction work without a permit or in violation of a stop-work order, and to require additional oversight for contractors who do this illegal work. The DOB must do more to protect tenants from unscrupulous landlords,” said Caucus Co-Chair Council Member Antonio Reynoso.


NYC Passes • Caregivers Discrimination Law

NYC Passes • Hit and Run Justice Bills

On December 16th, the New York City Council passed two pieces of legislation (Int. 603 and 604), which will for the first time in the City of New York penalize repeat offenders who are found guilty of hit-and-run crashes as well as require the NYPD to expand its existing hit-and-run reporting to the Council by including data on civil penalties that are levied in hit-and-run crashes and the amount paid.

“The NYPD’s shocking statistics really show just how important it is for our City to punish the 4,000 people who hit another human being with their vehicle this year, left them to die on the street and thought they could get away with it,” said Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “This legislation is not meant to measure the value of the lives lost, but to act as a forceful deterrent to our city’s most dangerous drivers.”

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“I believe that no worker should face negative consequences because of their familial responsibilities. In our city, the majority of parents are in the workforce and the population of disabled, elderly adults is expected to grow significantly. This bill will protect caregivers from discrimination in hiring, firing, compensation and terms of employments,” said Council Member Debi Rose.

At the December 16th Stated meeting, the Council voted in favor of Int. 108A, a landmark bill that will protect workers by prohibiting employment discrimination based on caregiver status—similar to prohibitions against discrimination based on race, religion, and disability.


EVENTS Education Policy Meeting • NYS Black, Puerto Rican,

Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus

Briefing on Floyd v. City of NY • Council Black,

Latino and Asian Caucus

On October 6th, members held a Council briefing on the latest policy efforts around NYPD’s stop-and-frisk practices. After a federal court found the program to be unconstitutional in 2013, the court mandated a series of changes and next steps. Last term, the City Council exercised historic leadership in calling for an end to racial profiling with the passage of the Community Safety Act. Advocates presented the upcoming citywide reform process and monitoring of the court compliance process as an opportunity for continued community engagement on issues of safety and justice.

On September 3rd, Caucus members along with the NY State BPRHA Caucus and education advocates met to discuss priorities for the upcoming school year. The organizations included the Alliance for Quality Education of NY, Coalition for Educational Justice, Urban Youth Collaborative and others. Included in the issues raised were charter school accountability, expanding community schools, raising investment in public education, supporting renewal schools and implementing restorative justice policies.


Council Bike Safety Training

ADVANCEMENT Conference

With growing opportunities for cycling exemplified by DOT bike lane installations and Citi Bike’s arrival to Queens, the Progressive Caucus held a training on October 14th to empower Council offices with the resources and skills to bike throughout the five boroughs. Co-sponsors Bike New York exposed Council offices to important techniques for safe navigation and important education programs to offer constituents in their district.

The Caucus has established the 11-point ADVANCEMENT framework that shapes the Caucus’ vision for public policies that reduce inequality. On October 19th, the Caucus held its very first conference designed to bring together allies to discuss legislative priorities and victories for the 2014-2017 term. The program included a keynote address by Caucus founding member and former Co-Chair, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. Panels explored the following goals;

Defending Workers’ Rights Expanding and Modernizing Democracy Community Safety and Empowerment Moving Toward a Greener City

We are thankful to our event sponsors Local Progress, Working Families Organization and host SEIU 32BJ along with advocate participants from VOCAL NY, Communities united for Police Reform, Bag It NYC, Streetwise and Safe, BRT for NYC and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.

The Progressive Caucus and Women’s Caucus held an informational briefing for Council offices on domestic violence programs and prevention efforts in the city. Members welcomed the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence along with organizations CONNECT, and Day One to present on the impact of relationship violence including: reports of the latest statistics regarding incident rates, case management and educational services and new initiatives that address incidental issues including legal, health and housing.

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EVENTS Local Progress National Convening

Fall Social Hour • November 11th Beluga Bar

On October 26th and 27th Caucus members traveled to Los Angeles to participate in the annual convening of Local Progress, a network of hundreds of local elected officials from around the country committed to a strong economy, equal justice, livable cities, and effective government. The agenda featured plenaries including: Protecting Workers and Tenants in the On-Demand Economy with CM Lander, Empowering Immigrant Communities with CM Menchaca, Beyond Marriage: Winning Full LGBT Equality with CM Torres and Reimagining Policing and Criminal Justice Policy with CM Reynoso.


ACTIONS Stand with Planned Parenthood

Caucus condemns “Peek-A-Boo” campaign

In August, progressive leaders went on record to defend reproductive health care access in New York and nationwide, in the face of remarkably coordinated and vicious attacks. Anti-abortion extremists have engaged in a decade long pattern of illegal harassment in an attempt to ban safe and legal abortion, defund Planned Parenthood, and cut people off from access to health care.

Also in August, members expressed outrage and disappointment at the correspondence by Sgt. Ed Mullins, President of the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association, encouraging the union to publicize images of some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers. The letter directs members to a website seeking pictures of “homeless lying in our streets, aggressive panhandlers, people urinating in public or engaging in open-air drug activity, and quality of life offenses of every type.”

“Family planning is not a luxury, it is a right. Many women, especially from immigrant and low-income families rely on these critical services that anti-abortion extremist are trying to take away. I am grateful to for Planned Parenthood’s work on behalf of women in my district, throughout New York City and nationwide,” said Council Member Margaret Chin.

“Rather than singling out and stigmatizing individuals who need our compassion we should focus on ensuring that city services meant to help them are accessible, properly funded and responsive to their needs. What we need to effectively combat homelessness is a robust NY/NY IV agreement that must guarantee the construction of 30,000 new units of supportive housing over the next ten years,” said Council Member Stephen Levin, Chair of the Committee on General Welfare.

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ACTIONS Caucus Endorses Move NY Fair Plan

Caucus Fights for $15

On October 31st, the Caucus continued to promote transportation reforms and investments that address inequality by supporting the Move NY plan. This proposal is an important opportunity to increase city-wide transit access while in pursuit of term goals including Vital Investments in Public Services, Environmental Justice and Sustainability and New Livable Streets Model.

“The MoveNY plan is the only comprehensive plan on the table to bring revenue to the struggling MTA, improve our major infrastructure, and bring much needed improvements to our local infrastructure. I am proud to stand in support of an initiative with such a clear benefit for New York City,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chair of the Committee on Transportation.

“For well over a century, New York has been a leader on raising working standards. Raising the wage to $15 an hour for NYS public sector workers is a noble continuation of that tradition and we must continue the fight to lift all hardworking New Yorkers out of poverty” said Council Member Corey Johnson.

This fall, Caucus Members continued to support the campaign to increase the wages by rallying and testifying at NYS Wage Board Hearings. They joined labor advocates in applauding Board recommendations and Governor Cuomo’s minimum wage increase for New York State public sector employees


PC to Bratton: Inappropriate to link protests to murders

Caucus Urges Columbia to Allow Unionization

On December 3rd, one year after a grand jury failed to indict NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo for the death of Eric Garner, a 43-year old black man from Staten Island, Caucus members sent a letter rejecting Commissioner Bratton’s accusations saying that public protests and demonstrations “led to the murder of two of our police officers.”

“Given the climate of New York City and the nation, it is imperative that our city’s leadership choose their words carefully and reliably. It is our belief that this was not done last week. We believe your comments were not only false, but also conveyed to your officers a harmful and counterproductive message about overwhelmingly peaceful calls for racial justice.”

Caucus members joined over 160 local leaders in support of organizing efforts by Columbia University employees. They joined student advocates on December 4th to deliver a statement to the President to stop opposing the right of its research and teaching assistants to choose to pursue collective bargaining.

“By teaching thousands of undergraduates, and conducting innovative research that helps bring roughly $1 billion in grants and contracts to the University these employees make Columbia a world leader academically and make it an important economic engine in New York City.”

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ACTIONS Caucus Endorses Climate Works for All

Social Media Update facebook.com/nycprogressives | 49 Page Likes @nycprogressives | 411 New Followers nycprogressives.com | 4,643 Views

Council Members joined a diverse coalition of labor, community, and environmental advocates in support of two proposals outlined in the “Climate Works for All” report. The first requires that all buildings over 25,000 square feet are energy efficient by 2050 through Passive House Energy Conservation Code. The second is to expand renewable energy in public schools by conducting a full assessment and creating a comprehensive plan for installations emphasizing solar, wind and geothermal options.

“The commitment made last year in the OneNYC plan to make New York a more sustainable, resilient city by transitioning to renewable energy was a huge step towards preventing climate change,” said Council Member Donovan Richards, Co-Chair of the Caucus. “As we work toward that grander goal, we need to be thinking about ways to reduce carbon emissions in every decision we make and the recent ‘Climate Works for All’ report outlines several ways to help attain that goal.”


MEETINGS

CITIBIKE MEETING MOVE NY MEETING SEPTEMBER CAUCUS SEPTEMBER POLICY COMMITTEE OCTOBER POLICY COMMITTEE

OCTOBER CAUCUS NOVEMBER CAUCUS NOVEMBER POLICY COMMITTEE DECEMBER CAUCUS• DECEMBER POLICY COMMITTEE

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VICTORIES

INITIATIVE PROGRESSIVE CHAMPION

ADVANCEMENT GOAL

Wage Transparency – October 21, 2015 Last year, Caucus members adopted I. 197 that would outlaw retaliatory personnel actions by employers and wage transparency. Luckily, this measure was adopted statewide when Governor Cuomo signed 9 out of 10 planks of the Women’s Equality Act. The Achieve Pay Equity bill (S.1/A6075) eliminates a loophole that allows employers to prohibit employees from discussing their salaries under threat of termination or suspension.

Council Member Corey Johnson

Defend Workers’ Rights

Port Ambrose Veto – November 12, 2015 In April, Caucus members endorsed Res. 549 calling on the Governor to reject an environmentally detrimental proposal for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility several miles off the shore of Long Island. In May, the resolution was approved by the Council and in November Governor Cuomo vetoed the Port Ambrose LNG Deepwater Port, citing security and economic concerns along with the potential to negatively impact off-shore wind development.

Council Member Donovan Richards

Environmental Justice & Sustainability

Youth Employment Program – December 16, 2015 Fall budget modifications included an expansion of the Year Round Jobs Program. In the FY16 Budget response, members called for greater investment in year round jobs. The modification added $2.2 million and DYCD added another $2 million for 2,000 more slots for the Work, Learn, Grown initiative.

Council Members Julissa Ferreras-

Copeland and Jumaane D.

Williams

Minimize Inequality

Housing for Homeless individuals and families – December 16, 2015 The Department of Homeless Services budget would increase by $88.3 million to support adult and family shelter operations. Of the $88.3 million, $58.9 million would support adult shelter operations and $29.4 million would support family shelter operations.

Council Member Stephen Levin

Minimize Inequality

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