News from STATE SENATOR

Liz Krueger

New York State Senate, 26th District

 

COMMUNITY BULLETIN – December 2005

 

Message from Liz . . .

 

In order to address growing income inequality in New York City, state and city leaders must develop and implement policies that will provide opportunities for poor New Yorkers to succeed and enter the middle class.  Such action is particularly needed to reverse the trend of growing poverty in New York City.  After dropping to 19.8 percent of the population in 1999/2000, the poverty rate has grown slowly each year to reach 21.8 percent in 2003/2004.  One major contributing factor to this increase in poverty has been a drop in real wages for the lowest third of wage earners of 5.2 percent during the same period – at the same time wages for the top third of wage earners increased by 1.2 percent.  Thus the recession and recovery of the last few years have left low income New Yorkers farther behind other city residents, and created greater economic inequality in our city. 

 

The problems New York City is facing are hardly unique.  The poverty rate for the country as a whole has risen from 11.3 percent in 2000 to 12.7 percent in 2004.  Given this reality, it would make sense to address this problem at the federal level, but, given the current political realities of Washington, there is little reason to expect federal leadership in addressing poverty.  In fact, we can expect Washington to make it harder for states and localities to meet the basic needs of poor people, as evidenced by the budget reconciliation bill that recently passed the House of Representatives.  If this legislation is not modified by the Senate or Congressional conference committees, it will result in a major erosion of the safety net for poor people throughout the country.  Among the impacts would be the loss of child care subsidies for 330,000 children in low-income families, loss of food stamps for 255,000 people, most of them low-income workers or family members and increased out of pocket health care expenses for those least able to afford it.  At the same time these program cuts would be imposed at the bottom of the economic spectrum, the House and Senate are considering $70 billion in new tax cuts, primarily targeted to high-income people.  If these program and tax cuts go through, they will only exacerbate the growth of income disparities throughout the country.  It is critical that we in New York fight these federal proposals, and it is also clear that we must expect our  state and local policymakers to aggressively pursue innovative policies to address poverty and earning capacity.

 

One key move policymakers can take to address the problem of poverty is to ensure adequate wages for low-income earners.  The state legislature took a big step in the right direction in 2004 when we approved an increase in the minimum wage, which was increased from $5.15 to $6.00 an hour as of January 2005, and will increase again in 2006 to $6.75 and in 2007 to $7.15.  By increasing the annual income of a full-time minimum wage worker from $10,712 in 2004 to $14,872 by 2007, the new minimum wage law will go a long way toward making it possible for low-income New Yorkers to move beyond poverty (in 2004, the poverty rate for a family of 2 was $12,334, and for a family of 4 was $19,307).   Unfortunately, these gains will be eroded after 2007 if further increases are not approved to keep pace with inflation.  One simple solution the state could adopt would be to index the minimum wage to the inflation rate.  Both Washington and Oregon already do this, and passing such a law in New York would end the need for regular appeals to the legislature, which is hardly known for its timely response to issues facing the State.

 

Perhaps even more important than increasing the minimum wage is providing opportunities for people to move out of low wage, dead-end jobs by providing them the skills necessary to succeed in the modern economy.  This involves a number of different strategies.  First, we must make sure we have a workforce development policy that provides opportunities for gaining skills that match the needs of employers in the current and future economy.  Second, we need to make sure that the creation of good jobs with a decent salary and benefits is a key component of our economic development policy.  Finally, we must make sure that our school system, from pre-K to College, is providing an education that will prepare the next generation of workers to succeed. 

 

It is critical that we evaluate policies in these areas – job development and training, economic development, and education – with a critical eye for their impacts on creating opportunities for New Yorkers to move out of poverty.  In some areas, there is reason for optimism.  For instance, the City has made significant progress in linking job training and employment services to a broader economic development strategy.  In other areas, there is still need for improvement.  Far too much of our economic development policy at both the State and City level still focuses on large subsidy deals that offer no guarantees regarding creation of quality jobs that will be accessible to most New Yorkers.  Often the jobs that are created by these deals are concentrated at the high and low end of the economic spectrum, thus only exacerbating the divisions in our City that result from economic polarization.  Finally, our secondary education system has followed the national trend of focusing more on high-stakes test results than preparation for employment.  Furthermore, the state has still not addressed the Campaign for Fiscal Equity court decision, which would provide the funding to allow our public schools to meet their obligation under the State Constitution to provide a sound, basic education. As we approach the new legislative session that starts in January, these are some of the issues we must face if we are going to provide real opportunities for poorer New Yorkers to improve their lives and the lives of their children.

 

Wishing you all a happy and healthy holiday season.

 

 

 

Community Spotlight

 

City Council Hearing on Proposed Noise Code:

As you may be aware, the Mayor and City Council have been negotiating changes to the City noise code designed to address a variety of sources of noise pollution throughout the City.  The Council will be holding a hearing on the proposed legislation on Wednesday, December 14th at 10:00AM at City Hall in the Council Chambers. The legislation is available on the web at http://webdocs.nyccouncil.info/textfiles/Int%200397-2004.htm?CFID-2460220&CFT.  If you have comments or concerns about the proposed code, I encourage you to testify at the hearing.

 

 

Citywide Canned Food Drive:
Between November 16th and January 6th, 2006, people will be able to drop off non-perishable foods at all New York City Firehouses, Police Precincts, the lobby of the Daily News (450 West 33rd Street), and all Modell’s Sporting Goods locations throughout the City.  The annual food drive is conducted by City Harvest and has grown to become the largest food drive in the City of New York.  Last year alone, the drive collected more than 220 tons of canned goods and distributed it to various community programs to feed the City’s hungry.  If you need information on the closest location where you can drop off food, call my office at (212) 490-9535.
 
Donate Your Gently Used Coats:
The New York Cares Coat Drive offers the opportunity to donate your gently used coats every weekday from 7:30-9:30 AM at Grand Central Terminal in the Graybar Passage.  In addition, you can drop off coats at any Washington Mutual bank branch during regular business hours.
 
Disabled Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE)  Applications Now Available:

The Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) is a new exemption program that offers an exemption from future rent increases to tenants with disabilities who meet all of the eligibility criteria. The program also provides abatement to landlords - a credit they can apply to their property tax to compensate them for the rent increase they would have received from the tenant who is in the DRIE program.

 

To determine whether you qualify for DRIE, applicants must meet all five criteria: (1) Rent an apartment defined as eligible by law; (2) Be named on the lease or rent order, or otherwise be entitled by law to the tenancy; (3) Receive eligible state or federal disability-related financial assistance; (4) Meet the program’s income eligibility requirement; and, (5) Pay more than one-third of your household’s aggregate disposable income for rent.  The eligibility limit for DRIE varies by household size and source of income, but in general the income limit for single individuals is $17,004 and $24,372 for couples.  However, there are certain work-related deductions that will be allowed. 

 

You can get a DRIE application from the Department of Finance website at http://www.nyc.gov/finance. If you do not have Internet access, call 311 to request an application by mail. 

 
Heat Season Has Begun:
The City Housing Maintenance Code and Multiple Dwelling Law requires building owners to provide heat and hot water to all tenants. Building owners are required to provide hot water 365 days per year at a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Between October 1st and May 31st, a period designated as "Heat Season," building owners are also required to provide tenants with heat under the following conditions:
·   Between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM, if the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit; 
·   Between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, if the temperature outside falls below 40 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tenants who are cold in their apartments should first attempt to notify the building owner, managing agent or superintendent. If heat is not restored, the tenant should call the City's Citizen Service Center at 311 (311 can be accessed outside of New York City by dialing (212) NEW YORK). For the hearing impaired, the TTY number is (212) 504-4115. The Center is open 24-hours a day, seven-days a week.

 

Spotlight on Policy

 

Legislative Reform Lawsuit Update

 

In late November, New York State Supreme Court Judge Jane S. Solomon ruled to allow for three complaints from my lawsuit against the “three men in a room” over dysfunctional legislative practices to move forward.  The complaints that were sustained include the unequal funding of member resources, unequal member items and abuses of messages of necessity.

 

As you may remember, in February, I joined Assemblymember Tom Kirwan (R-Newburgh) in suing Governor George Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, the Senate, and the Assembly, challenging the constitutionality of various rules and practices that contribute to the Legislature’s dysfunction.  Oral arguments on the state’s motion to dismiss the case were heard in early November.

 

In her decision, Judge Solomon wrote, “this lawsuit addresses important issues central to the health of New York State’s government.  Studies and newspaper editorials describe New York’s Legislature as ‘dysfunctional,’ and as the worst state legislature in the country.”

 

I am pleased that the court has recognized the importance of the issues addressed in our lawsuit, and that there is a role for the judiciary in addressing legislative dysfunction.  For years minority members and their constituents have suffered because of rules that discriminate against them.  Assemblymember Kirwan and I look forward to our day in court on the counts that have been allowed to proceed.  After consulting with our counsel, Evan A. Davis of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, we have also decided to appeal the dismissal of our other claims.

 

Supportive Housing

 

I am pleased to report that last month, Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg reached agreement on a NY/NY III Initiative, designed to combat homelessness in New York City by creating 9,000 supportive housing units in New York City over the next 10 years.   Supportive Housing refers to housing that is coupled with social services such as job training, alcohol and drug abuse programs, and case management. The units would be available to single adults in State psychiatric facilities, chronically homeless single adults for the street and shelters, homeless people with substance abuse disorders or HIV/AIDS, chronically homeless families, young adults with mental illness, and youth aging out of foster care.

 

Amidst record homeless shelter populations and rising street homelessness, there is nearly universal consensus in New York - indeed, nationally - that supportive housing is a proven, cost-effective solution to the problem of homelessness for individuals living with mental illness and families with special needs. Supportive housing enables formerly homeless New Yorkers to live in the community with dignity and build a better future for themselves.  NY/NY housing is a proven contributor to dramatic reductions in New York City homelessness in the early 1990s.

 

The NY/NY III initiative builds upon two previous successful initiatives to combat homelessness in New York City.  NY/NY 1 (1990), created 3,814 units and NY/NY II (1999) created an additional 1,500 units, targeted to single adults with a history of mental illness and some history of homelessness.

 

NY/NY II will cost approximately $10 billion over 10 years, split evenly between the state and the city.  Annual operating expenses will total $156 million once all 9,000 units are developed.  The agreement is contingent upon its inclusion in the upcoming 2006/2007 state and city budgets.