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Newsletters 2007
October
Betsy Gotbaum This Week
October 29, 2007
Real People, Real Problems, Real Results
A Brooklyn man, age 72, called my office after he was informed that he was about to lose his Food Stamps. He had tried for an entire day to request a hearing to appeal that decision. But every time he called, he said, the line was busy. We contacted the appropriate office on his behalf. We were told that he should have received a hearing form to be signed and returned. The man never received such a document. We persuaded the agency to continue his Food Stamps benefit and to mail him a duplicate form, which he received, immediately signed and mailed.
My office receives hundreds of calls from New Yorkers who have problems with Food Stamps. I've urged the city to adopt the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents waiver that would help more New Yorkers put food on their tables and bring more federal dollars into the city economy. No New Yorker should have to go hungry.
I'm pleased that the city agreed to settle a 2002 lawsuit filed on behalf of city residents who said that they were improperly denied Food Stamps. They are to receive this benefit retroactively. It's also gratifying that the federal government approved Governor Spitzer’s effort to expand access to Food Stamps to low-income working families in New York.
East New York Tenants Reach Compromise with NYCHA
Congrats to tenants of Boulevard Houses in East New York for the recent compromise that preserved an important part of their community green space. These Brooklyn tenants had engaged in a long battle with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) about NYCHA's plan to place a trash compactor in a public area that was popular with everyone from toddlers to seniors. I met with residents, then called NYCHA Chairman Tino Hernandez on their behalf. I'm so pleased to report that NYCHA later agreed to relocate the compactor to an unused area in this 18-building, 1,436-unit complex.
Green spaces in New York City are precious, especially at high-density public housing complexes. NYCHA did the right thing. This is a great example of how everyone wins when we work together. For my news release on this matter, click here.
Legal Agreement Needed on Flu Medication
I'm asking for a legal agreement between the city and state to make sure that the state delivers nearly 850,000 doses of antiviral influenza medication to the city before a pandemic flu outbreak. Specifically, I want the medication stored within the city, I want a clear timeline for delivery, and I want a precise replacement schedule for restocking expired doses. New York is the state's largest population center as well as the busiest point of entry, yet it does not now have a local stockpile of antiviral medication. It operates under the assumption that state and federal agencies will deliver sufficient doses in case of emergency. We need more than a non-binding verbal agreement. These antiviral drugs are most effective when used within 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms. This time sensitivity is reason enough to store medication intended for the city within the city. For my letter on this critical issue, click here.
Keeping Kids Safe from MRSA
Following the tragic death of a middle school student in Brooklyn from the staph infection MRSA, I want to urge New Yorkers to take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of such bacteria.
Below are several steps people can take to prevent infection, including:
*Keeping your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
*Keeping cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
*Avoiding contact with other people's wounds or bandages.
*Avoiding sharing personal items such as towels or razors.
DOE Right to Test GPS Units in City School Buses
I strongly support the city Department of Education (DOE) decision to test global positioning system (GPS) units in city school buses. Hundreds of parents, including many with special-needs children, have called my office with serious concerns about buses chronically running late, improper stops and poorly planned routes. In some cases, children spend hours getting to and from school. These new GPS systems will give officials the tools they need to increase accountability and, hopefully, get kids to school in a more timely manner. It's a smart move.
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