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Newsletters 2008
May
Betsy Gotbaum This Week
May 27, 2008
Real People, Real Problems, Real Results #1
The family of a severely disabled, speech-impaired stroke victim from Queens called us for help in 2006. The hospital, they said, wouldn't give the man's diagnosis to his brother, even though the brother would be caring for him. Back then we intervened, and the hospital relented. A year and a half later, the family contacted us again. The disabled man finally was ready to come home, but the hospital refused to release him. Reason: his home was not wheelchair-accessible. In particular, it needed a ramp. Ralph Perfetto, one of my ombuds staffers, contacted the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, which suggested that the family contact them directly. They did, going on to complete paperwork that ultimately led to the needed ramp -- and to the discharge. "You are one in a million!" the family wrote. The fact that the disabled man will be able to return to his apartment was "one miracle," the grateful family wrote, and now the man is praying for a second: "One day to walk."
Real People, Real Problems, Real Results #2
The driver's license of a Staten Island man was suspended because he was in arrears on child support. Later, however, his former wife decided to waive all back payments, and she sent a letter to that effect to the city Human Resources Administration/Office of Child Support Enforcement (HRA). But the license suspension remained in effect, and the case remained open. The ex-wife made an in-person visit to HRA to try to straighten things out, but she was told she'd have to go to court. At that point the man, desperate for help, called my office. His kids depended on him to drive them to and from school in Brooklyn, yet whenever he drove it was on a suspended license. One of my ombuds staffers, Heather Francis, immediately contacted HRA on his behalf. She was told that the ex-wife's request was indeed in the system. Problem was, she hadn't provided the required identification that would have moved the case to resolution. Ms. Francis contacted the ex-wife and asked her to fax her ID to us. She did so, and we promptly forwarded it to HRA. Within days, the man called to say that the suspension had been lifted. Neither he nor his ex-wife had to go to court.
Real People, Real Problems, Real Results #3
A distraught Manhattan mother contacted my office for help with major repairs to her apartment, which is managed by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Her 19-year-old son, she said, had recovered from pneumonia and was ready to be released from the hospital, but the hospital would not discharge him until mold removal, plastering and other repairs were made. Frances Santiago, one of my ombuds staffers, contacted NYCHA on the mother's behalf. NYCHA sent carpenters to her apartment to do the work. As it turned out, mold and other damage was so extensive that an entire wall had to be replaced, and work went on for about a week. NYCHA workers finished painting just last week, and her son is now home.
I'd like to point out that I have introduced a bill that would reduce and regulate asthma allergens in city apartments, specifically mold hazards and pest infestations. A news release regarding this bill is at
http://www.pubadvocate.nyc.gov/news/04.16.08MoldandPestBill.html.
Save the Date: Youth Gang Forum April 28
I invite you to take part in a roundtable discussion on "Our Youth and Their Gangs," which is to take place Monday, April 28 at the Highbridge Recreation Center Gymnasium, 2301 Amsterdam Avenue, Washington Heights. Time is 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. By bus, take the M101 to West 173rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue. By subway, take the A, C or No. 1 train to West 168th Street & Broadway. Walk north to West 173 Street, turn right and continue to Amsterdam Avenue. Please RSVP or call 212-669-7200.
Have a great week, and Happy Earth Day!
Betsy Gotbaum This Week
May 19, 2008
Real People, Real Problems, Real Results #1
A Bronx woman contacted my office to plead for help with a transfer from her homeless shelter. Her assigned quarters were extremely dirty, she said, and the shelter itself was infested with rodents. Apart from that, she told us that the shelter reeked of paint fumes, which had triggered severe asthma attacks in both her and her teenaged daughter. Both became so ill that they had to be hospitalized. After their discharge, they returned to the shelter but requested a medical transfer. A supervisor, however, turned them down. One of my ombuds staffers, Tommy Lin, intervened on their behalf. He asked the woman to fax us medical documentation. She did, and he forwarded it to the city Department of Homeless Services (DHS). Within five days, DHS called to say that mother and daughter had been transferred to another shelter.
Real People, Real Problems, Real Results #2
A Manhattan mother of five called my office for help because of a mix-up involving a housing voucher. The woman, a victim of domestic violence, lived with her children in a shelter for battered women. She had an emergency Section 8 voucher from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), but she had trouble finding a suitable apartment. She applied to NYCHA to extend the voucher's expiration date, but nothing happened, and the voucher did in fact expire. Frances Santiago, one of my ombuds staffers, intervened on her behalf. Ms. Santiago discovered that the woman's application had mistakenly been sent to the Brooklyn Leased Housing Office, even though she lived in Manhattan. After weeks of back-and-forth communication, NYCHA agreed to extend the voucher to May 23. Doing additional research, Ms. Santiago found a list of agents who specialize in Section 8 apartments. The woman said she now is optimistic that she will find a safe home for her family.
Public Review, Council Oversight Needed For Leased School Sites
When it comes to our children’s health, we can’t afford to make poor decisions. Yet a study I just released shows that a loophole in the Public Authorities Law allows the city School Construction Authority (SCA) to open new schools on leased sites that are potentially toxic. The loophole enables SCA to lease sites for schools without community notification, environmental review or City Council oversight. Attending school on such sites may have lasting impact on students' health, and state law must be amended to close the loophole. Schools on leased sites should be subject to a public process and environmental review. My news release is at
http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov/news/5.05.08LeasedSchools.html.
My report, "The High Cost of Leasing Schools: The Loophole in the Public Authorities Law," is at
http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov/policy/documents/schoolleasingreportFINAL.pdf
Questions Remain on "Reorganizing" Senior Centers
I was among those who strongly suggested that significant changes to senior services, including a "reorganization" of senior centers, be postponed. It's good that the city announced last week that some reforms would be phased in, rather than abruptly put in place. I recently spoke at the city Department for the Aging (DFTA) budget hearing about the proposed changes, which amounted to a sweeping overhaul of senior centers. I also took part in a news conference on the same issue last Thursday on the steps of City Hall. The question weighing most on my mind is this: If DFTA reorganizes senior centers into a system of regions, closing some senior centers, what happens to the seniors who attended those centers? The answer remains elusive. DFTA indeed should proceed with caution here, since such drastic change may have serious long-term consequences. We cannot afford to jeopardize services on which so many seniors rely.
Northern Ireland Ready for Bigger Share of Foreign Investments
As Public Advocate and as a trustee of the New York City Employees' Retirement System, I traveled to Northern Ireland last week with city Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. and state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli for the U.S.-Northern Ireland Investment Conference. The intent of this conference was to show U.S. corporate leaders that Northern Ireland is ready for a bigger share of foreign investment. New York City Pension Funds already have invested $150 million in power plants, transportation links and other infrastructure in Northern Ireland, part of a construction boom that is redefining the Belfast skyline. As I told the New York Daily News, people were very happy to have us in Northern Ireland, and it will be interesting to see where new investments are made. I believe that Northern Ireland is a great place for foreign investment, which I hope will further promote peace and stability throughout this truly beautiful area..
Betsy Gotbaum This Week
May 5, 2008
Real People, Real Problems, Real Results
A mother of nine, desperate to feed her kids and get their belongings out of storage, contacted my office for help, even though she had just moved to Long Island. I'm pleased to say that we were able to help, since the family retained limited rights to city services.
The family had moved because life in an in-law's too-small Manhattan apartment had become untenable. The mother immediately applied for benefits in Suffolk County, but officials there turned her down, saying New York City was responsible for the family. Their city benefits, however, had been terminated. Adding to the family's distress, their belongings were about to be sold at auction because of unpaid storage fees.
Heather Francis, one of my ombuds staffers, spoke with city public assistance personnel. They agreed that the family was entitled to benefits for one month after the case had been closed. The city further agreed to pay storage fees for two months and to consider paying moving expenses. Ms. Francis also contacted the storage company and arranged for a payment extension, thereby stopping the auction.
DOE Strikes Out: Students Need More P.E.
My follow-up survey to my 2004 report on physical education (P.E.) in city elementary and middle schools found that, despite small improvements in access to P.E. in Grade 3, access worsened in Grade 4, and overall the vast majority of schools surveyed continue to violate state P.E. mandates. This comes at a time of truly alarming rates of childhood obesity as reflected in the city's own study, which in 2003 found that 43 percent of all public elementary school students are overweight or obese. I also testified about this issue at a State Assembly hearing in January.
Clearly, the city Department of Education (DOE) needs to better enforce state P.E. requirements. State regulations require students in kindergarten through Grade 3 to take part in P.E. daily. They also require P.E. in Grades 4 through 6 at least three times a week for a total of at least 120 minutes. Yet my follow-up survey of 100 elementary schools, 20 in each borough, and 50 randomly selected public middle schools found that, among other things:
--96 percent violate state regulations for Grade 3.
--88 percent violate mandates of at least 120 minutes per week of physical education for students in Grade 4 .
--69 percent of middle schools surveyed violated the state regulation requiring 120 minutes of P.E. per week in Grade 6.
My recommendations and full report, State of Play: A Four-Year Follow-Up Survey on NYC Students' Access to Physical Education, is at
http://www.pubadvocate.nyc.gov/policy/LeasedSchoolsMay2008.html
Bronx Family Court: LIFT Advocates in Action
Last week I visited Bronx Family Court for a first-hand look at how the nonprofit group LIFT, or Legal Information for Families Today, helps the public. It truly was illuminating, and impressive, to watch multi-lingual LIFT advocates interact with members of the public. LIFT education and information sites provide court-involved families with the tools they need to make informed legal decisions that help them successfully navigate the legal system.
My visit reinforced the need for help desks in public areas of all city benefits offices, as reflected in my Ready Access to Assistance Act (REAACT), now pending before the City Council. Not only did LIFT help walk-ins at their Education and Information Site -- a help desk -- but Family Court staff also appreciated their services. At present, Housing Court and Family Court are the only city entities that allow advocates to set up such help desks.
A copy of the REAACT bill is at
http://webdocs.nyccouncil.info/textfiles/Int%200359-2006.htm?CFID=599934&CFTOKEN=17673681
Save the Date: Forum for Public School Parents This Saturday
The Commission on School Governance joins me in hosting a forum for parents on the state of our public schools and mayoral control of schools. Date is this Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St. Take the A, C or E train to Jay Street-Borough Hall; the M or the R to Court Street–Borough Hall; or the 2, 3, 4 or 5 to Borough Hall. For more information, please go to
www.pubadvocate.nyc.gov/advocacy/schools,
and please RSVP at rsvp@pubadvocate.nyc.gov. Refreshments will be served.
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