File #: Int 0288-2022    Version: * Name: Establishing an office of pedestrians.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
On agenda: 4/28/2022
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an office of pedestrians
Sponsors: Carlina Rivera , Althea V. Stevens, Lincoln Restler, Shekar Krishnan, Sandy Nurse, Julie Won
Council Member Sponsors: 6
Summary: This bill would require the mayor to establish an Office of Pedestrians, either as a stand-alone office or within a city agency. The office would be led by a director whom the mayor or, if the office is within an agency, an agency head would appoint. The director’s primary responsibilities would include issuing policy recommendations and serving as an intermediary between pedestrians and city agencies, with the goal of improving pedestrian safety in the city. The director would also be required to submit an annual report detailing the office’s activities.
Indexes: Other Appointment Required, Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 288, 2. Int. No. 288, 3. April 28, 2022 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 4-28-22, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - April 28, 2022

Int. No. 288

 

By Council Members Rivera, Stevens, Restler, Krishnan, Nurse and Won

 

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an office of pedestrians

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of the New York city charter is amended by added a new section 20-n to read as follows: 

§ 20-n. Office of pedestrians. a. The mayor shall establish an office of pedestrians. Such office may be established within any office of the mayor or as a separate office or within any agency that does not conduct enforcement against pedestrians.

b. Director. 1. Such office shall be headed by a director who shall be appointed by the mayor or, if the office is established within an agency other than the office of the mayor, by the head of such agency.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this subdivision, if the mayor has established an office of active transportation, the director of such office shall be the director of the office established by this section.

c. Powers and duties. The director shall have the power and duty to:

1. Advise and assist the mayor and the heads of city agencies that have powers and duties relating to pedestrian safety, including, but not limited to, the department of transportation, the police department, the department of city planning, the department of parks and recreation and the department of buildings;

2. Review information obtained from 311 or city agencies on complaints relating to pedestrian safety and develop recommendations to address recurring problems or trends in consultation with advocates, city agencies, community boards, industry representatives and other relevant stakeholders;

3. Serve as an intermediary between pedestrians and city agencies to pursue, through policy recommendations, long-term solutions to issues related to pedestrian safety;

4. Promote a robust pedestrian community to further the city’s interest in health and environmental sustainability while also accounting for the best interests of the city and its residents; and

5. Perform other relevant duties as the mayor may assign.  

d. Report. Within 18 months of the effective date of the local law that added this section and annually thereafter, the director shall prepare and submit a report to the mayor, the speaker of the council and, if the office is established within an agency other than the office of the mayor, the head of such agency. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the activities of the office and any recommendations for legislation or policy developed by the director.

e. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the powers of any other agency pursuant to any other law or to limit, bind or affect the decision of any agency or officer pursuant to any process required pursuant to the charter or any other law.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Session 12

JSA

LS #7786

4/5/2022

 

Session 11

SG

LS # 9686

Int. #1813-2019