1 1 2 CITY COUNCIL 3 CITY OF NEW YORK 4 -------------------------------x 5 THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE MINUTES 6 of the 7 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 8 -------------------------------x 9 10 April 16, 2008 11 Start: 1:44 p.m. Recess: 3:13 p.m. 12 City Hall 13 Council Chambers New York, New York 14 15 B E F O R E: 16 JOEL RIVERA Majority Leader 17 BETSY GOTBAUM 18 Public Advocate 19 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Speaker Christine Quinn 20 Joseph Addabbo Maria Arroyo 21 Tony Avella Maria Baez 22 Charles Barron Gale Brewer 23 Leroy Comrie 24 LEGAL-EASE COURT REPORTING SERVICES, INC. 17 Battery Place - Suite 1308 25 New York, New York 10004 800-756-3410 2 1 2 A P P E A R A N C E S (CONTINUED) 3 COUNCIL MEMBERS: 4 Bill DeBlasio Inez Dickens 5 Erik Martin-Dilan Matthew Eugene 6 Simcha Felder Lewis Fidler 7 Helen Foster Dennis Gallagher 8 Daniel Garodnick James Gennaro 9 Vincent Gentile Alan Gerson 10 Eric Gioia Sara Gonzalez 11 Vincent Ignizio Robert Jackson 12 Letitia James Melinda Katz 13 G. Oliver Koppell Jessica Lappin 14 John Liu Miguel Martinez 15 Michael McMahon Darlene Mealy 16 Rosie Mendez Hiram Monserrate 17 Michael Nelson James Oddo 18 Annabel Palma Domenic Recchia 19 Diana Reyna Joel Rivera 20 James Sanders Larry Seabrook 21 Helen Sears Kendall Stewart 22 James Vacca Peter Vallone, Jr. 23 Albert Vann Melissa Mark Viverito 24 David Weprin Thomas White 25 David Yassky 3 1 2 A P P E A R A N C E S (CONTINUED) 3 STAFF: Hecter Diaz 4 City Clerk 5 Billy Martin Council Clerk 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 4 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: Thank you 3 very much. Once again, we are beginning today's 4 ceremonials. My name is Council Member Joel Rivera, 5 I'm the Majority Leader of the New York City 6 Council. And I want to welcome the team from the 7 Holy Cross High School Basketball Team. You know, 8 you are athletic and you are a shining example of 9 what we want all of our children in the City of New 10 York to emulate, and I want at this point in time to 11 turn the mike over to my good friend, Tony Avella. 12 COUNCIL MEMBER AVELLA: Thank you, 13 Joe. 14 We're happy to have the Holy Cross 15 Varsity Basketball Team here today to celebrate 16 their winning season in the AA Catholic League. They 17 are a great example of what our youth today. And I 18 have to tell you, the Holy Cross is my district, and 19 they are one of the best, I've got to watch the 20 other schools if I say the best, one of the best 21 high schools in the entire City. They do a great 22 job, not only with their sports program, but on 23 academic program as well, and we're here with 24 Brother Steven, Coach Paul and all the members of 25 the team. And on behalf of the City Council, I'd 5 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 like to present you with a special proclamation 3 honoring your achievement. 4 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: If the clerk 5 can read the Proc. 6 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Council of the City 7 of New York, Proclamation. 8 Whereas: Tony Avella, Council Member 9 of the 19th District, is proud to honor the Holy 10 Cross High School Varsity Basketball Team, and to 11 celebrate the victory at the 2008 CHSAA, is an "AA" 12 Division City Championship; and 13 Whereas: On March 9th, Holy Cross 14 defeated Christ the King 56-48 to win the 2008 15 Catholic High School Athletic Association's City 16 Championship - the first City Championship for Holy 17 Cross since 1968; and 18 Whereas: In 2008, for the first time 19 in the school history, the Holy Cross High School 20 Varsity Basketball Team was ranked nationally by the 21 USA Today; and, now, therefore 22 Be It Known: That Tony Avella, 23 Council Member of the 19th District, honors the Holy 24 Cross High School Varsity Team for its outstanding 25 service and the residents and the Borough of Queens. 6 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 Christine C. Quinn, Speaker for the 3 Entire Council; Tony Avella, Council Member, 19th 4 District, Queens. 5 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: Next we have 6 one of our great heroes in the City of New York, 7 someone who showed courage in a difficult situation, 8 and someone that we are proud to have with us here 9 today. But I would be remiss if I made the 10 introduction, I would rather my Council colleague, 11 the one that is actually doing the proclamation, 12 Council Member Leroy Comrie, go into the full 13 details of our great hero. 14 COUNCIL MEMBER COMRIE: Thank you. 15 We have today with us the second 16 person that stood up and answered the call when 17 there was an emergency, where there was a person in 18 distress, where we had another person that fell on 19 the subway tracks in the City less than a month ago, 20 and, you know, we don't know how any of us would act 21 if we saw a person that was in total distress, 22 definitely in jeopardy for losing their life, how 23 would any of us respond. 24 Kali, as he likes to be called, 25 answered the call, took it upon himself and put his 7 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 life at risk, and jumped down into the subway and 3 rescued a person that was in true distress. 4 And because of that, we wanted to 5 honor him today and I'll allow the clerk to read the 6 proclamation so that you can get all the details, 7 and so I won't have to pronounce his name, I'll let 8 the clerk do that. 9 But truly, I just wanted to thank 10 him. The first subway hero got all kinds of 11 accolades and opportunities, and we wanted to give 12 Kali the same opportunity, to come to City Hall and 13 give him a proclamation and let him know that we 14 truly appreciate his unwaivering spirit and his 15 determination to help another person when they were 16 in true jeopardy. 17 So, with that, if the clerk could 18 please read the proclamation. 19 CITY CLERK DIAZ: The Council, City of 20 New York, Proclamation. 21 Whereas: The Council of the City of 22 New York is proud to honor Veeramuthu Kalimuthu for 23 his bravery and his distinguished service to our 24 City and the community; and 25 Whereas: On Friday, March 14th, 2008, 8 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 Veeramuthu Kalimuthu demonstrated extraordinary 3 heroism in the 116th Street Subway Station of the 4 number one line. He was hurrying along the downtown 5 platform that day when he heard a commotion and saw 6 another man collapsed and unconscious, lying on the 7 uptown subway track. In a truly selfless act, he 8 jumped and crossed the tracks, hoisted this 9 much-larger unconscious individual onto his shoulder 10 and lifted him up to the platform and out of harms' 11 way. Then Mr. Kalimuthu humbly dashed back across 12 the tracks to catch his train to go home; and 13 whereas, and 14 Let it be known: that the Council of 15 the City of New York most gratefully honors 16 Veeramuthu Kalimuthu for his valor and service to 17 his fellow New Yorkers. 18 Signed this 16th day of April 2008, 19 Christine C. Quinn, Speaker of the Council; and 20 Leroy Comrie, Council Member, 27th District, Queens. 21 COUNCIL MEMBER COMRIE: Okay, at this 22 time I think we should hear a couple of words from 23 the person who took it upon himself to save another 24 person's life. 25 May we all be strong enough to make 9 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 those kind of decisions to truly help someone in 3 dire need. 4 Mr. Kali. 5 MR. KALIMUTHU: Okay, first of all, I 6 would like to thank the Council Member to have me 7 here today, and also my co-workers who are here to 8 represent me in this special day. I am very happy 9 today, and I hope my family are happy. And I hope we 10 have a celebration for this special placque here 11 today. Thank you. 12 COUNCIL MEMBER COMRIE: Just to let 13 everybody know, he works at Columbia University and 14 the members of his team are here from facilities 15 management, and he is joined by his wife and 16 children and grandson, and I just want to thank them 17 here. 18 Also, having worked with the 19 Universal Circus, we're going to get Kali and his 20 family tickets to the performance at Roy Wilkins 21 Park while they're in Queens so they can all get to 22 go to see the circus. And I just want to thank you 23 for all that you've done to make the City a better 24 place. 25 Congratulations. 10 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: Thank you 3 very much. 4 Thank you very much, ladies and 5 gentlemen. I now have the honor of calling up my 6 colleague, Councilwoman Darlene Mealy from Brooklyn, 7 who will be recognizing the National Union of 8 American Families, and its Founder and President, 9 Jesse Epps. 10 At this point in time, I want to -- 11 we hear they're on their way up, so I want to give 12 the opportunity to Councilwoman Darlene Mealy to say 13 a few words on behalf of her group. 14 COUNCIL MEMBER MEALY: This is a 15 monumental time of the year. Just celebrating Martin 16 Luther King's 40th year being passed, I have now Mr. 17 Jesse Epps, who was so instrumental in organizing 18 the Sanitation strike, and was with Martin Luther 19 King in his last hours of his life, and I want to 20 thank his organization now and all his staff from 21 everywhere, and Local 237 union, who has been 22 working with us to bring about a different change 23 with organizing our communities. 24 And this is only a small token that 25 we can give to Mr. Jesse Epps for his lifetime 11 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 achievement, and what he has been doing, not just 3 when Martin Luther King but when he has passed, he 4 is still doing to this day, organizing our 5 community. 6 And I want to thank him for starting 7 now. You can look at the National Union of American 8 Families, and we want to thank him for giving us the 9 opportunity to salute him and honor him on this day, 10 and thank you for the 40 years and more, he's still 11 a young man, that he continue with the good work. 12 And this new organization will galvanize communities 13 abroad all over, select the unions and the community 14 know that our voices have to be heard, and with his 15 leadership, I'm 100 percent behind him, and he will 16 do what he say he will do, and that's organize. 17 Thank you. 18 MR. EPPS: Thank you very much. 19 New York is the symbol, if you will, 20 for our great country. It sounds the alarm of the 21 greatness of this nation. And it was the Sanitation 22 men here in New York that inspired the Sanitation 23 men in Memphis that galvanized this country and 24 brought Dr. King to Memphis and others to ensure 25 that the principles of our great constitution was 12 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 fully implemented and the founding fathers set forth 3 very clearly that we hold these truths to be 4 self-evident that all men are created equal and that 5 the men of the Sanitation Department graduated from 6 garbage men to Sanitation engineers, and that's what 7 makes this nation what she ought to be, and our work 8 has just begun so that we can ensure that this 9 country transform itself from a nation of strangers 10 in our neighborhood, to becoming truly neighbors, 11 friends and family, one family, the American family, 12 and we are grateful to our Councilwoman for 13 recognizing the importance of what America is all 14 about. And we would like to acknowledge that Mr. 15 Floyd here with his union has stepped into the gap, 16 that labor across this country and the faith-based 17 community across this country shall route it 18 together on this 40th year of Dr. King's 19 assassination, that we will cross out of our 20 willingness of pain and suffering and to one nation 21 under God indivisible with justice and liberty at 22 all. 23 Thank you very kindly for your 24 acknowledgment. 25 COUNCIL MEMBER MEALY: And we will let 13 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 our President of Local 237, Mr. Floyd, who is doing 3 an excellent job. He has stepped up to the plate and 4 began good work. 5 Thank you. 6 MR. FLOYD: Well, just in the interest 7 of time I'm just going to say I'm very humbled to be 8 standing here with Mr. Epps, with such a long 9 history in labor, and I'm proud to be a part of this 10 organization. Thank you. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER MEALY: Thank you. 12 MAJORITY LEADER: Thank you very much. 13 Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you for honoring 14 us with your presence. 15 MR. EPPS: Thank you. We'll be looking 16 forward to your labor with us. 17 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: Ladies and 18 gentlemen, next I have the privilege to introduce an 19 organization a day. You know, Decide To Care is a 20 member affiliated group that wants to put forward 21 something called "advanced directives," which means 22 people will let the health care industry know what 23 their decisions are before they get into a troubling 24 situation and the health care has to make a decision 25 with the family members. 14 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 So, what we want to do is bring 3 greater awareness of advance directives, you know, 4 to our residents in the City and the State so that 5 way people can take advantage of it, and when the 6 tough decision does come about, decisions could be 7 made by the family members and the individual in 8 advance. 9 And we have, you know, some members 10 of health care, Decide To Care with us here today, 11 and I want to give them an opportunity to say a few 12 words. 13 PARTICIPANT: Well, first of all, I 14 just want to tell Mr. Rivera and the City Council 15 how much we appreciate your support of this very 16 important initiative that we have, to help people to 17 complete advance directives in the form of a health 18 care proxy. Taking a few minutes of your time, 19 anybody's time to complete one of these documents, 20 will save hours and maybe even months and years of 21 anguish for yourself and your family in the future. 22 Because what we want to do is prevent the kind of 23 situation that occurred with Terry Shivo (phonetic), 24 which really sent the country upside down, and there 25 is no need for that, if people know what your wishes 15 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 are and you can make it known, either verbally and 3 of course, if possible, with a signed document. 4 So, we thank you, Mr. Rivera, for 5 your support of this initiative and to the whole 6 City Council. 7 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: I thank you 8 very much. Again, it's for the health care proxy so 9 that way you can be prepared in the event that 10 unfortunately you're in medical attention and a 11 decision needs to be made, it should be made in 12 advance with you and your family members to help 13 assist in the health care procedures that will be 14 followed thereafter. 15 So, please, take advantage of health 16 care proxies in advance, and advance directives. 17 We have a proclamation. I'm going to 18 ask the clerk to read the proclamation then we'll 19 present it to the ladies here. 20 CITY CLERK DIAZ: The Council, City of 21 New York, Proclamation. 22 Whereas: Health Care Decision Day is 23 designed to raise public awareness of the need to 24 plan ahead in health care decisions, related to 25 advanced care and medical decision-making whenever 16 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 patients are unable to speak for themselves and to 3 encourage the specific use of advance directives to 4 communicate these important health care decisions; 5 and 6 Whereas: One of the principle goals 7 or Health Care Decision Day is to encourage 8 hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living 9 facilities, contributing care retirement communities 10 and hospices to participate in a statewide effort to 11 provide clear and consistent information to the 12 public about advance directives, as well as to 13 encourage medical professionals and lawyers to 14 volunteer their time and efforts to improve public 15 knowledge and increase the number of New York 16 citizens in advance directives; and 17 Be It Resolved: That Joel Rivera, the 18 Majority Leader of the Council of the City of New 19 York, and by the powers vested in him by the Charter 20 of the City of New York, hereby recognizes April 16, 21 2008 as Health Care Decision Day. 22 Christine C. Quinn, Speaker of the 23 City Council, and Joel Rivera, Majority Leader. 24 The Council, City of New York, 25 Proclamation. 17 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 Whereas: Darlene Mealy, Council 3 Member representing the 41st District in Brooklyn, 4 is proud to honor the National Union of American 5 Families for dedicated services and families across 6 the nation; and 7 Whereas: The National Union of 8 American Families is a collective action 9 organization of families funded in the spirit of 10 community stewardship and neighborhood services; and 11 Whereas: The National Union of 12 American Families is also to be commended for the 13 visionary leadership of its founder and President, 14 Jesse Epps. As a passionate citizen activist, Mr. 15 Epps has championed equality, fair treatment, social 16 justice throughout his life, spearheading the work 17 of the National Union of American Families he 18 remains a tireless advocate for collective 19 bargaining and inspiring leadership for Americans 20 everywhere; and 21 Be It Known: That Darlene Mealy, 22 Council Member of the 41st District in the City of 23 New York, must greatly honor National Union of 24 American Families, and its Founder and President 25 Jesse Epps, for their outstanding contribution to 18 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 the community. 3 Christine C. Quinn, Speaker for the 4 Entire Council; Darlene Mealy, Council Member, 41st 5 District, Brooklyn, New York. 6 COUNCIL MEMBER MEALY: Thank you. 7 SPEAKER QUINN: I want to thank the 8 Majority Leader for pinch hitting, and I'm fairly 9 clear from the name on the t-shirts and the P on the 10 vest, that the next ceremonial is one being 11 conducted by Council Member Mike McMahon; am I 12 right? This ceremonial has Staten Island all over 13 it. 14 Mike, let me give you the mike. 15 COUNCIL MEMBER McMAHON: Thank you, 16 Speaker. Thank you for joining us. 17 To everyone here, I want to tell you 18 that these young men and their coaches have done 19 something this year that perhaps was spoken to in 20 the Biblical story of David Versus Goliath, or maybe 21 in the children stories, The Little Mouse Who 22 Roared, or maybe The Little Engine, who said "I 23 think I can. I think I can." Because they are from a 24 high school on Staten Island, the Michael J. 25 Petrides School, with a total enrollment in the high 19 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 school of about 500, a little bit under, but for 3 boys about half of that, so about 250 roughly, a 4 wonderful school. But what they've done in the last 5 few years under coach Michael Blyth and his 6 assistants, they've started a wrestling program, 7 very new to the school, and in the matter of a few 8 years, they were this year the New York City PSAL 9 Champions. 10 Think about it, though, they went up 11 against schools with 2,000 students, 3,000 students, 12 and last year they got into the Championship final, 13 and it didn't go their way. And the year before, two 14 years in a row these very young men who started 15 mostly as freshmen, and now some juniors some 16 seniors, two years in a row they lost the 17 championship, but they know, everyone in politics is 18 using the term "I know we can," or "I think we can," 19 or whatever, (in Spanish), but these young men are 20 the embodiment of it. They've made us proud. They've 21 made the people of Staten Island extremely proud. 22 They've given us inspiration, and on my behalf, on 23 behalf of Speaker Quinn, Jimmy Oddo and Vinnie 24 Ignizio, our Councilpeople, we are so privileged to 25 have you guys here today and to honor you. 20 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 Please, the clerk will read the 3 proclamation. 4 CITY CLERK DIAZ: The Council of the 5 City of New York is proud to honor the Petrides 6 Wrestling Team of 2008 for its dedication in the 7 pursuit of excellence, its devotion to achievement 8 of its goal, its indefatigable foundation of school 9 pride and team spirit, and the outstanding 10 accomplishment of its championship season; 11 Whereas: Although it is the smallest 12 school in New York City with a wrestling team, 13 Petrides High School in its only sixth season beat 14 schools that they wrestled against to achieve the 15 perfect 13 and 0 record and to win the 2008 City 16 Championship; and 17 Whereas: Led by there coaches who are 18 totally dedicated to the team, Dave Olah, John 19 Cichon and Michael Blyth, the wrestling team is 20 currently the largest and most successful team at 21 Petrides, having amassed a four-year PSAL record of 22 48 and 6 and having participated in the finals of 23 the City Championship for the last three years; and 24 Whereas: The Petrides Wrestling Team 25 stayed together with one goal in mind: to win the 21 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 championship, and the rest is history, for the 3 greater glory; now, therefore 4 Be It Known: That the Council of the 5 City of New York proudly and publicly congratulates 6 the Petrides Wrestling Team of 2008, in honor of its 7 undefeated season and the City Title Championship. 8 Signed this 16th day of April, 2008, 9 Christine C. Quinn, Speaker for the Entire Council, 10 Michael McMahon, Council Member 49th District, 11 Staten Island, James Oddo, Minority Leader, 50th 12 District, Staten Island, and Vincent Ignizio, 13 Council Member, 51st District, Staten Island. 14 SPEAKER QUINN: Thank you very much. 15 And I want to congratulate everyone on the team. I 16 have two nephews, one who is in college, now, but 17 they were both high school wrestlers. So, I know, 18 they didn't win but they both each competed in the 19 New Jersey State Championships in their senior year, 20 so I think they were pretty good wrestlers, so I 21 have a sense of how hard you guys worked, not just 22 during the season, but how hard you worked all 23 season to make sure you keep your weight, make sure 24 you're in shape, and you're ready to go when the 25 season starts. 22 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 So, it is a real commitment and a 3 dedication, and I want to congratulate you and say 4 how proud we all are of all that you've done to 5 recognize Staten Island, to recognize your high 6 school, and also to recognize our great City. 7 So, thank you. And I don't know 8 whether the coach or the principal is speaking? The 9 coach. All right, it should be I would say. 10 COACH BLYTH: Thank you, City Council 11 President, Christine Quinn and Michael McMahon. 12 We are Petrides, we are proud to be 13 here. We are honored to be honored in this great 14 Chamber of New York City and on behalf of my coaches 15 Dave and John and Joanne Buckheit, our Principal, 16 and Eric Cantor, guys it's been wonderful coaching 17 you guys. And we look forward to maybe being back 18 here next year. 19 SPEAKER QUINN: All right. Thank you 20 all very much. Congratulations. And that concludes 21 our ceremonials and I want to thank the Majority 22 Leader for pinch hitting. Congratulations, guys. 23 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: All rise. 24 (Pledge of Allegiance.) 25 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Roll call. 23 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Addabbo. 3 COUNCIL MEMBER ADDABBO: Here. 4 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Arroyo. 5 COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO: Here. 6 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Avella. 7 COUNCIL MEMBER AVELLA: Here. 8 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Baez. 9 COUNCIL MEMBER BAEZ: Here. 10 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Barron. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER BARRON: Here. 12 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Brewer. 13 COUNCIL MEMBER BREWER: Here. 14 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Comrie. 15 COUNCIL MEMBER COMRIE: Here. 16 CITY CLERK DIAZ: DeBlasio. 17 COUNCIL MEMBER DEBLASIO: Here. 18 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Dickens. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER DICKENS: Here. 20 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Dilan. 21 COUNCIL MEMBER DILAN: Here. 22 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Eugene. 23 COUNCIL MEMBER EUGENE: Here. 24 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Felder. 25 COUNCIL MEMBER FELDER: Here. 24 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Fidler. 3 COUNCIL MEMBER FIDLER: Here. 4 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Foster. 5 COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER: Here. 6 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Gallagher. 7 (No response.) 8 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Garodnick. 9 COUNCIL MEMBER GARODNICK: Here. 10 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Gennaro. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER GENNARO: Here. 12 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Gentile. 13 COUNCIL MEMBER GENTILE: Here. 14 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Gerson. 15 COUNCIL MEMBER GERSON: Here. 16 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Gioia. 17 COUNCIL MEMBER GIOIA: Here. 18 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Gonzalez. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ: Here. 20 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Ignizio. 21 COUNCIL MEMBER IGNIZIO: Here. 22 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Jackson. 23 COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON: Here. 24 CITY CLERK DIAZ: James. 25 COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES: Here. 25 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Katz. 3 COUNCIL MEMBER KATZ: Here. 4 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Koppell. 5 COUNCIL MEMBER KOPPELL: Here. 6 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Lappin. 7 COUNCIL MEMBER LAPPIN: Here. 8 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Liu. 9 COUNCIL MEMBER LIU: Here. 10 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Mark-Viverito. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER MARK-VIVERITO: Here. 12 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Martinez. 13 COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ: Here. 14 CITY CLERK DIAZ: McMahon. 15 COUNCIL MEMBER McMAHON: Here. 16 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Mealy. 17 COUNCIL MEMBER MEALY: Here. 18 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Mendez. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER MENDEZ: Here. 20 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Monserrate. 21 COUNCIL MEMBER MONSERRATE: Here. 22 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Nelson. 23 COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON: Here. 24 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Palma. 25 COUNCIL MEMBER PALMA: Here. 26 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Recchia. 3 COUNCIL MEMBER RECCHIA: Here. 4 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Reyna. 5 COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA: Here. 6 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Sanders. 7 COUNCIL MEMBER SANDERS: Here. 8 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Seabrook. 9 COUNCIL MEMBER SEABROOK: Here. 10 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Sears. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER SEARS: Here. 12 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Stewart. 13 COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART: Here. 14 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Vacca. 15 COUNCIL MEMBER VACCA: Here. 16 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Vallone. 17 COUNCIL MEMBER VALLONE: Here. 18 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Vann. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER VANN: Here. 20 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Weprin. 21 COUNCIL MEMBER WEPRIN: Here. 22 CITY CLERK DIAZ: White. 23 (No response.) 24 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Yassky. 25 COUNCIL MEMBER YASSKY: Here. 27 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Oddo. 3 COUNCIL MEMBER ODDO: Here. 4 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Rivera. 5 COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA: Here. 6 CITY CLERK DIAZ: Speaker Quinn. 7 SPEAKER QUINN: Here. 8 CITY CLERK DIAZ: We have a quorum. 9 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: All rise for 10 the invocation given by Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman, 11 Vice President of the Board of Rabbis, and Senior 12 Rabbi at the Union Temple of Brooklyn. 13 RABBI GOODMAN: For those of us in the 14 Jewish community, this is a week of intense activity 15 as we prepare for the Festival of Passover. 16 As we gather this Saturday evening 17 around our satyr tables, we will rehearse the great 18 drama of our liberation from Egyptian bondage. In 19 every generation we will recite, we must view 20 ourselves as though we ourselves came forth out of 21 Eqypt. 22 You know the heart of the stranger we 23 are taught for you were strangers in the land of 24 Egypt, we will raise the matzo and say this is the 25 bread of affliction, which our ancestors ate in 28 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 Egypt let all who are hungry come and eat, let all 3 who are in want share the hope of Passover, from our 4 collective pain, we are taught to cultivate 5 collective empathy, empathy for all the children of 6 humanity, those on our doorsteps and those we cannot 7 see. 8 We are reminded that it is our 9 responsibility personally, every one of us, to do 10 our part to alleviate the suffering in our 11 communities and to begin to build a better world, a 12 world in which all of us can enjoy a decent standard 13 of living, where every one of us can rest assured 14 that we will be able to feed our families, to 15 educate our children, take care of them when they 16 are sick, and raise them up in peaceful, loving and 17 secure homes, a world free from the plagues of 18 poverty, slavery and genocide, in justice, violence, 19 xenophobia and disease, racism, homophobia and 20 gender discrimination, a world in which the air we 21 breathe and the water we drink will be safe for all 22 it's inhabitants, a world in which we can live 23 together in dignity, in mutual respect, in security, 24 and in peace. 25 May the good people in this Council 29 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 Chamber, all of you, who have dedicated yourselves 3 to the noble pursuit of public service, may you be 4 blessed with continued wisdom, compassion, 5 determination and focus. So, that one day soon all 6 of us together will bring that world about. 7 Amen. 8 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Council 9 Member James, will you spread the invocation, 10 please? 11 COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES: Motion to 12 spread the invocation of my very good friend, Rabbi 13 Linda Henry Goodman, Vice President, Board of 14 Rabbis, and the Senior Rabbi of the very progressive 15 Union Temple of Brooklyn in the great community of 16 Prospect Heights, I join in spreading the 17 invocation. 18 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 19 SPEAKER QUINN: Madam Public Advocate, 20 if I could ask our colleagues to please rise again? 21 Thank you. 22 Sadly, on March 31st, 2008, Army 23 Sergeant Darren Donolau (phonetic), 26 of Brooklyn, 24 died of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive 25 device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned 30 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Army Regimen, Third 3 Infantry Division, based out of Fort Benning, 4 Georgia. 5 Sergeant Donolau emigrated from 6 Trinidad with his family when he was 15 and they 7 settled in Brooklyn. He attended New Dorp High 8 School on Staten Island. 9 In Georgia, he met and married his 10 wife Kaneesha on Valentine's Day last year. Three 11 weeks later he was sent to Iraq and they last saw 12 each other over Christmas. 13 One of Sergeant Donolau's Army 14 buddies called him a hero, for saving his life last 15 year when his Bradley vehicle was shot up and caught 16 fire. 17 Since joining the Army in September 18 2002, Sergeant Donolau earned more than a dozen 19 medals and awards. He was buried in Texas and is 20 survived by his wife, his parents and his three 21 sisters. 22 (Moment of Silence observed.) 23 SPEAKER QUINN: Thank you. 24 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Adoption of 25 the Minutes, by Council Member Lappin. 31 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 COUNCIL MEMBER LAPPIN: I move that 3 the minutes of the Stated Meeting February 27th, 4 2008, be adopted as printed. 5 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 6 Messages and papers from the Mayor. 7 COUNCIL CLERK: None. 8 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: 9 Communication from City, County and Borough Offices. 10 COUNCIL CLERK: None. 11 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Petitions 12 and Communications. 13 COUNCIL CLERK: None. 14 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Land Use 15 Call-Ups. 16 COUNCIL CLERK: M 988. 17 SPEAKER QUINN: If we could now ask 18 for a roll call on the Land Use Call-Up, please. 19 COUNCIL CLERK: Addabbo. 20 COUNCIL MEMBER ADDABBO: Aye. 21 COUNCIL CLERK: Arroyo. 22 COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO: Aye. 23 COUNCIL CLERK: Avella. 24 COUNCIL MEMBER AVELLA: Aye. 25 COUNCIL CLERK: Baez. 32 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 COUNCIL MEMBER BAEZ: Aye. 3 COUNCIL CLERK: Barron. 4 COUNCIL MEMBER BARRON: Madam Chair, 5 may I have unanimous consent to vote aye on all 6 items on the General Order Calendar? 7 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 8 COUNCIL MEMBER BARRON: And the 9 resolution. 10 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER BARRON: Madam Chair, I 12 noticed there was a delay in your response, is that 13 -- thank you. Aye on all. 14 COUNCIL CLERK: Brewer. 15 (No response.) 16 COUNCIL CLERK: Comrie. 17 COUNCIL MEMBER COMRIE: Aye on all. 18 COUNCIL CLERK: DeBlasio. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER DEBLASIO: Aye on all. 20 COUNCIL CLERK: Dickens. 21 COUNCIL MEMBER DICKENS: Aye on all. 22 COUNCIL CLERK: Dilan. 23 COUNCIL MEMBER DILAN: Aye. 24 COUNCIL CLERK: Eugene. 25 COUNCIL MEMBER EUGENE: Aye. 33 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 COUNCIL CLERK: Felder. 3 (No response.) 4 COUNCIL CLERK: Fidler. 5 COUNCIL MEMBER FIDLER: Aye. 6 COUNCIL CLERK: Foster. 7 COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER: Aye. 8 COUNCIL CLERK: Gallagher. 9 COUNCIL MEMBER GALLAGHER: Aye. And 10 may I ask unanimous consent to vote aye on all 11 coupled general orders? 12 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 13 COUNCIL MEMBER GALLAGHER: Thank you. 14 COUNCIL CLERK: Garodnick. 15 COUNCIL MEMBER GARODNICK: Aye. 16 COUNCIL CLERK: Gennaro. 17 COUNCIL MEMBER GENNARO: Madam Public 18 Advocate, I ask consent to vote on the General Order 19 Calendar and all resolutions. 20 Madam Public Advocate, I ask consent 21 -- 22 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 23 So ordered. 24 COUNCIL MEMBER GENNARO: -- To vote on 25 not only the Land Use items, but the General Order 34 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 Calendar and all the resolutions and I vote aye. 3 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 4 COUNCIL CLERK: Gentile. 5 COUNCIL MEMBER GENTILE: I vote aye. 6 COUNCIL CLERK: Gerson. 7 COUNCIL MEMBER GERSON: Aye. 8 COUNCIL CLERK: Gioia. 9 (No response.) 10 COUNCIL CLERK: Gonzalez. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ: Aye. 12 COUNCIL CLERK: Ignizio. 13 COUNCIL MEMBER IGNIZIO: Aye. 14 COUNCIL CLERK: Jackson. 15 COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON: Aye on all. 16 COUNCIL CLERK: James. 17 COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES: Aye. 18 COUNCIL CLERK: Katz. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER KATZ: Aye. 20 COUNCIL CLERK: Koppell. 21 COUNCIL MEMBER KOPPELL: Aye. 22 COUNCIL CLERK: Lappin. 23 COUNCIL MEMBER LAPPIN: Aye. 24 COUNCIL CLERK: Liu. 25 COUNCIL MEMBER LIU: Yes. 35 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 COUNCIL CLERK: Mark-Viverito. 3 COUNCIL MEMBER MARK-VIVERITO: Aye. 4 COUNCIL CLERK: Martinez. 5 COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ: Aye. 6 COUNCIL CLERK: McMahon. 7 COUNCIL MEMBER McMAHON: Aye. 8 COUNCIL CLERK: Mealy. 9 (No response.) 10 COUNCIL CLERK: Mendez. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER MENDEZ: Aye. 12 COUNCIL CLERK: Monserrate. 13 COUNCIL MEMBER MONSERRATE: Aye. 14 COUNCIL CLERK: Nelson. 15 COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON: Aye. 16 COUNCIL CLERK: Palma. 17 COUNCIL MEMBER PALMA: Aye. 18 COUNCIL CLERK: Recchia. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER RECCHIA: Aye. 20 COUNCIL CLERK: Reyna. 21 COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA: Aye. 22 COUNCIL CLERK: Sanders. 23 COUNCIL MEMBER SANDERS: Aye. 24 COUNCIL CLERK: Seabrook. 25 COUNCIL MEMBER SEABROOK: Yes, Madam 36 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 Public Advocate, with unanimous consent, I'd like to 3 vote aye on all Land Use Call-Ups and previous 4 Call-Ups and also to be stated as present. 5 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 6 COUNCIL CLERK: Sears. 7 COUNCIL MEMBER SEARS: Aye. 8 COUNCIL CLERK: Stewart. 9 COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART: Aye. 10 COUNCIL CLERK: Vacca. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER VACCA: I ask unanimous 12 consent to vote aye on all resolutions and calendar 13 items. 14 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 15 COUNCIL CLERK: Seabrook. 16 COUNCIL MEMBER SEABROOK: Yes, I'd 17 like unanimous consent to vote on all General Orders 18 and all resolutions. I vote aye. 19 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 20 COUNCIL MEMBER SEABROOK: Thank you. 21 COUNCIL CLERK: Vallone. 22 COUNCIL MEMBER VALLONE: Aye. 23 COUNCIL CLERK: Vann. 24 COUNCIL MEMBER VANN: Aye. 25 COUNCIL CLERK: Weprin. 37 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 COUNCIL MEMBER WEPRIN: Aye. 3 COUNCIL CLERK: White. 4 (No response.) 5 COUNCIL CLERK: Yassky. 6 COUNCIL MEMBER YASSKY: Aye. 7 COUNCIL CLERK: Brewer. 8 COUNCIL MEMBER BREWER: Aye. 9 COUNCIL CLERK: Oddo. 10 COUNCIL MEMBER ODDO: Yes. 11 COUNCIL CLERK: Rivera. 12 COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA: I vote aye. 13 COUNCIL CLERK: Speaker Quinn. 14 SPEAKER QUINN: Yes. 15 I think we need to get a hand mike 16 over to the Public Advocate. Her mike isn't working. 17 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Oh, can you 18 hear it now? 19 SPEAKER QUINN: Yes. 20 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Thank you 21 very much. 22 Today's Land Use Call-Ups were 23 adopted by a vote of 48 in the affirmative, zero in 24 the negative. 25 SPEAKER QUINN: Thank you very much. 38 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: 3 Communication from the Speaker. 4 SPEAKER QUINN: Yes, thank you. 5 Today we are voting on a long list of 6 Land Use that we're not going to hear comment on, 7 but I want to thank the Land Use Chair, all the 8 Subcommittee Chairs and all the staff for their work 9 on, I think up to as many as 16 different Land Use 10 items today. 11 We're also voting today on the 12 appointment of Loretta Prisco as a citizen of Staten 13 Island as a Commissioner of the New York City Voter 14 Assistance Commission, and also the reappointment of 15 Reverend Diane Lacey, who is the Manhattan Harlem 16 representative to the Health and Hospitals 17 Corporation Board. I want to thank both Reverend 18 Lacey and Ms. Prisco for their service and thank 19 Chairperson Reyna for shepparding their appointments 20 through today. 21 We're also voting today on Intro 22 256-A, a piece of legislation which one codifies the 23 administrative tribunal of the Taxi and Limousine 24 Commission, and two, we believe makes that tribunal 25 fairer, and makes the due process procedures of that 39 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 tribunal more open and more appropriate and not 3 assuming guilt before those charged have had the 4 opportunity to make their case. 5 I want to thank Phil Hom and Terzah 6 Nasser and Laura Popa for their work on this, I want 7 to thank Chairman Liu for -- 8 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Quiet, 9 please. You can hardly hear the Speaker with the 10 buzz. Please. 11 SPEAKER QUINN: I want to thank 12 Chairperson Liu for shepparding through this bill 13 through his Committee, and I want to call on the 14 sponsor of the bill, Council Member Miguel Martinez. 15 I want to thank him for this idea which is about 16 fairness for Taxi and Livery drivers, and also about 17 codifying into law a process by which New Yorkers 18 can go and make complaints and know they'll be 19 heard, and I want to thank him for addressing this 20 matter through 256-A and call on him to speak, 21 please. 22 COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ: Thank you, 23 Madam Chair. 24 I also want to thank the staff of the 25 Committee, Phil Hom, Laura Popa, for helping us and 40 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 working with the Administration, and putting this 3 bill together. 4 I also want to thank Councilman 5 Chairman John Liu for working with us and putting 6 this bill together. 7 As you mentioned, this bill works 8 towards creating a more transparent clear process of 9 due process in the Administrative Tribunal of the 10 Taxi and Limousine Commission. 11 Now, as you know, many of the drivers 12 in the City of New York -- 13 SPEAKER QUINN: Could we get a little 14 quiet for this sponsor. 15 Thank you. 16 COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ: -- That 17 drive taxicabs in the City of New York often are 18 immigrants that their main language is not English. 19 This bill provides a clear, transparent step as to 20 when they are issued a violation, that they have 21 their due process guaranty. 22 When complaints arise about a 23 particular driver, that due process before any 24 summonses or violations are issued, due process will 25 protect the rights of these drivers. 41 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 I want to thank the Speaker and her 3 staff for their support on this bill, and I am sure 4 that this also will work towards the goal of our 5 Mayor to have a more transparent and a system of due 6 process throughout all the Administrative Tribunal 7 in the City of New York, and I'm sure that this will 8 work as an example that we could achieve those 9 goals. So, I want to thank the Administration for 10 also being supportive of this bill. 11 Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I urge 12 my colleagues to vote positively on this bill. 13 SPEAKER QUINN: Thank you. 14 Well, actually, that does not, I'm 15 sorry, conclude Communications from the Speaker. 16 We have two exciting bits of news 17 about the Council's family growing. First we want to 18 congratulate Council Member Erik Dilan. He and his 19 wife, Janitza, are expecting their first child, 20 which as importantly as being Erik's first child is 21 our former colleague, State Senator Dilan's first 22 grandchild. So, congratulations. 23 And then I think our Land Use Chair 24 may have stepped out, but I know we all want to 25 congratulate Chairperson Katz who is expecting this 42 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 summer, and I know we are so looking forward to our 3 next Council child, which will be Council Member 4 Katz's. So, congratulations to all, and I just want 5 to wish all of my colleagues a very, very happy and 6 blessed Passover. 7 That concludes Communication from the 8 Speaker. 9 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Discussion 10 of General Orders. 11 Council Member McMahon. You're the 12 only one. 13 COUNCIL MEMBER McMAHON: As the only 14 one I'll have to be brief. 15 Madam Public Advocate, Speaker Quinn, 16 my colleagues, today we are voting on a very 17 important Land Use item. It is the largest single 18 rezoning in the City for on-family homes in the 19 community of Westerleigh on Staten Island. And I 20 know I speak for my colleagues, Jim Oddo and Vinnie 21 Ignizio, as we want to commend someone, a civic 22 leader, a community leader, who really initiated 23 this item and brought it to us and allowed us to 24 work with him to bring it to fruition here today. 25 You know, for Staten Islanders, this 43 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 has been an issue that has burned very intensely for 3 many years and that issue now is spreading across 4 the City, and it's the issue of making zoning laws 5 comport or comply with what exists in certain 6 communities and to meet the reasonable expectations 7 of neighborhoods and people who live in a community, 8 and Mike Morrell, the President of the Westerleigh 9 Improvement Society, has been a leader in that 10 fight. He's an incredibly gifted man because he's 11 able to peacefully oversee a civic group that 12 straddles both my and Council Member Oddo's district 13 and he keeps us from fighting it any time. 14 So, I just would like to single out 15 Michael Morrell from the Westerleigh Improvement 16 Society, and thank him for his leadership on this 17 issue, and urge all of my colleagues to vote -- 18 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Quiet, 19 please. It's much too noisy in here today. 20 COUNCIL MEMBER McMAHON: It must be 21 the spring restlessness that my colleagues are 22 feeling, Madam Public Advocate. 23 But in any event, this is a 24 continuation of work that we have crossed the aisle, 25 begun on Staten Island some years ago, and this is a 44 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 great example of it, and I urge all of my colleagues 3 to vote yes. 4 I also salute Loretta Prisco, a 5 Staten Islander who is joining the Voter Assistance 6 Commission. 7 Thank you. 8 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Anybody else 9 for the General Discussion? 10 Okay, since there is nobody else, we 11 will move on. 12 Report of Special Committees. 13 COUNCIL CLERK: None. 14 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Reports of 15 Standing Committees. 16 COUNCIL CLERK: Report of the 17 Committee on Finance. 18 Reso 1289-A, Bryant Park Business 19 Improvement District. 20 SPEAKER QUINN: Pardon me. I'm sorry. 21 Amended and coupled on General Orders. 22 COUNCIL CLERK: Report of the 23 Committee on Land Use. 24 LU 638 and Reso 1357, through LU 695 25 and Reso 1363, various ULURPs and UDAAPs. 45 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 3 Orders. 4 COUNCIL CLERK: LU 696 and Reso 1364. 5 Unenclosed Sidewalk Cafe. 6 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 7 Orders. 8 COUNCIL CLERK: LU 697, Zoning Map 9 Amendment. 10 SPEAKER QUINN: Approved with 11 modifications and referred to the City Planning 12 Commission, pursuant to Rule 11.70(b) of the rules 13 of the Council and Section 197-(d) of the New York 14 City Charter. 15 COUNCIL CLERK: LU 698 and Reso 1365, 16 zoning map amendment. 17 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 18 Orders. 19 COUNCIL CLERK: LU 699 and Reso 1366, 20 through LU 701 and Reso 1367, City Planning 21 applications. 22 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 23 Orders. 24 COUNCIL CLERK: LU 702 and Reso 1368, 25 Landmarks designation. 46 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 3 Orders. 4 COUNCIL CLERK: LU 708 and Reso 1369 5 through LU 715 and Reso 1374, various ULURPs. 6 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 7 Orders. 8 COUNCIL CLERK: LU 716 and Reso 1375. 9 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 10 Orders. 11 COUNCIL CLERK: LU 717 and Reso 1376 12 through LU 718 and Reso 1377, zoning resolution 13 amendments. 14 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 15 Orders. 16 COUNCIL CLERK: LU 719, zoning 17 resolution amendment. 18 SPEAKER QUINN: Approved with 19 modifications and referred to the City Planning 20 Commission, pursuant to 11.70(b) of the Rules of the 21 Council and Section 197-(d) of the New York City 22 Charter. 23 COUNCIL CLERK: LU 721 and Reso 1378. 24 Public parking garage. Council District 3. 25 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 47 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 Orders. 3 COUNCIL CLERK: LU 725 and Reso 1379 4 through LU 731 and Reso 1382, various ULURPs. 5 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 6 Orders. 7 COUNCIL CLERK: Preconsidered LU 734 8 and Reso 1383, Urban Renewal. 9 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 10 Orders. 11 COUNCIL CLERK: Preconsidered LU 735 12 and Reso 1384, UDAAP, Manhattan. 13 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 14 Orders. 15 COUNCIL CLERK: Report of the 16 Committee on Rules, Privileges and Elections. 17 Preconsidered M 989 and Companion 18 Reso 1385. Approving the appointment of Loretta E. 19 Prisco, Voter Assistance Commission. 20 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 21 Orders. 22 COUNCIL CLERK: Preconsidered M 990 23 and companion Reso 1386. Approving the redesignation 24 of Reverend Diane Lacey, New York City Health and 25 Hospitals Corporation. 48 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 3 Orders. 4 COUNCIL CLERK: Report on the 5 Committee on Transportation. 6 Intro. 256-A. Taxi and Limousine 7 Commission Tribunal. 8 SPEAKER QUINN: Amended and coupled on 9 General Orders. 10 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: General 11 Order Calendar. 12 COUNCIL CLERK: Resolution appointing 13 various persons Commissioner of Deeds. 14 SPEAKER QUINN: Coupled on General 15 Orders, and at this point I ask for a roll call on 16 all the items that have been coupled on the General 17 Order Calendar, please. 18 COUNCIL CLERK: Addabbo. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER ADDABBO: Aye. 20 COUNCIL CLERK: Arroyo. 21 COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO: Aye. 22 COUNCIL CLERK: Avella. 23 COUNCIL MEMBER AVELLA: I vote no on 24 Land Use No. 699 and Reso 1366, and aye on all 25 others. 49 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 COUNCIL CLERK: Baez. 3 COUNCIL MEMBER BAEZ: Aye. 4 COUNCIL CLERK: Brewer. 5 COUNCIL MEMBER BREWER: Aye. And I 6 particularly want to congratulate the appointment to 7 HHC from Manhattan of Reverend Diane Lacey. 8 COUNCIL CLERK: Comrie. 9 COUNCIL MEMBER COMRIE: 10 Congratulations to Council Member Inez Dickens for 11 all her hard work and all the people that assisted 12 her, Council Member Viverito and Jackson, and aye on 13 all. 14 That's not today? Oh, sorry. I got 15 confused. I'll redo it again. Aye on all. 16 COUNCIL CLERK: DeBlasio. 17 COUNCIL MEMBER DEBLASIO: Aye on all. 18 COUNCIL CLERK: Dickens. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER DICKENS: Permission to 20 explain. 21 Thank you for the support, for 22 Council Member Gale Brewer, and aye for the 23 reappointment of Reverend Diane Lacey to the HHC 24 Board, a strong public advocate. And aye on all. 25 COUNCIL CLERK: Dilan. 50 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 COUNCIL MEMBER DILAN: Aye on all. 3 COUNCIL CLERK: Eugene. 4 COUNCIL MEMBER EUGENE: Aye. 5 COUNCIL CLERK: Felder. 6 COUNCIL MEMBER FELDER: Permission to 7 vote on all the stuff I missed because I came late? 8 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 9 COUNCIL MEMBER FELDER: Yes. 10 COUNCIL CLERK: Fidler. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER FIDLER: You know, it's 12 not fair to have to follow Simcha. May I be briefly 13 excused -- 14 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 15 COUNCIL MEMBER FIDLER: May I be 16 briefly excused to explain my vote? 17 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 18 COUNCIL MEMBER FIDLER: Regarding 19 Intro. 256 -- 20 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Quiet, 21 please, so we can hear him. 22 COUNCIL MEMBER FIDLER: I'm going to 23 be voting in favor of Intro 256-A, but it is 24 important that I lay on the record the commitment of 25 Commissioner Daas of the Taxi and Limousine 51 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 Commission, who indicated that the enforcement and 3 penalty provisions of this bill do not and will not 4 effect the enforcement of the law against illegally 5 operating dollar vans in communities like mine, and 6 based on that representation, I am going to be 7 voting for it. 8 I vote aye on all others, with the 9 exception of LU 699, and Reso 1366, on which I 10 abstain. 11 COUNCIL CLERK: Monserrate. 12 COUNCIL MEMBER MONSERRATE: Aye on 13 all. 14 COUNCIL CLERK: Foster. 15 COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER: Aye on all. 16 COUNCIL CLERK: Garodnick. 17 COUNCIL MEMBER GARODNICK: Aye. 18 COUNCIL CLERK: Gentile. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER GENTILE: Aye. 20 COUNCIL CLERK: Gerson. 21 COUNCIL MEMBER GERSON: Aye. 22 COUNCIL CLERK: Gonzalez. 23 COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ: Aye on all. 24 COUNCIL CLERK: Ignizio. 25 COUNCIL MEMBER IGNIZIO: Aye on all. 52 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 COUNCIL CLERK: Jackson. 3 COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON: Aye on all. 4 COUNCIL CLERK: James. 5 COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES: Aye on all. 6 COUNCIL CLERK: Katz. 7 COUNCIL MEMBER KATZ: Aye on all. 8 COUNCIL CLERK: Koppell. 9 COUNCIL MEMBER KOPPELL: Aye on all. 10 COUNCIL CLERK: Lappin. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER LAPPIN: Aye. 12 COUNCIL CLERK: Liu. 13 COUNCIL MEMBER LIU: Yes. 14 COUNCIL CLERK: Mark-Viverito. 15 COUNCIL MEMBER MARK-VIVERITO: Aye. 16 COUNCIL CLERK: Martinez. 17 COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ: Aye on all. 18 And I want to congratulate Council 19 Member Dickens on her zoning resolution. 20 COUNCIL CLERK: McMahon. 21 COUNCIL MEMBER McMAHON: Just briefly. 22 I second the thought of Miguel and congratulate 23 Inez. 24 I also want to thank the Land Use 25 Chairs, and the incredible Land Use staff led by 53 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 Miss Gail Benjamin and the incredible people who 3 work there for making everything wonderful in the 4 world, even happen, and make it more wonderful in 5 particular on behalf of working so hard on the 6 Westerleigh Downzoning Project. 7 I vote aye on all. Thank you. 8 COUNCIL CLERK: Mealy. 9 COUNCIL MEMBER MEALY: Aye. 10 COUNCIL CLERK: Mendez. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER MENDEZ: Aye on all. 12 COUNCIL CLERK: Nelson. 13 COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON: Aye on all. 14 COUNCIL CLERK: Palma. 15 COUNCIL MEMBER PALMA: Aye. 16 COUNCIL CLERK: Recchia. 17 COUNCIL MEMBER RECCHIA: Aye on all. 18 COUNCIL CLERK: Reyna. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA: Aye on all. 20 COUNCIL CLERK: Sanders. 21 COUNCIL MEMBER SANDERS: Aye on all. 22 COUNCIL CLERK: Sears. 23 COUNCIL MEMBER SEARS: Aye. 24 COUNCIL CLERK: Stewart. 25 COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART: Aye on all. 54 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 COUNCIL CLERK: Vallone. 3 COUNCIL MEMBER VALLONE: Aye on all. 4 COUNCIL CLERK: Vann. 5 COUNCIL MEMBER VANN: Aye. 6 COUNCIL CLERK: Weprin. 7 COUNCIL MEMBER WEPRIN: Aye. 8 COUNCIL CLERK: Yassky. 9 COUNCIL MEMBER YASSKY: Aye. 10 COUNCIL CLERK: Oddo. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER ODDO: I vote yes and I 12 just would like to voice my appreciation in the 13 efforts of Council Member McMahon, Mike Morrell, and 14 everybody at the Westerleigh Civic for fighting the 15 good fight to make sure City Planning finally did 16 right by the community of Westerleigh. I vote yes. 17 COUNCIL CLERK: Rivera. 18 COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA: I vote aye. 19 COUNCIL CLERK: Speaker Quinn. 20 SPEAKER QUINN: I vote aye. 21 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: All items on 22 today's General Order Calendar were adopted by a 23 vote of 49 in the affirmative, zero negative, zero 24 abstentions, with the exception of LU 699 and Reso 25 1366, which is adopted by a vote of 47 in the 55 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 affirmative, one negative and one abstention. 3 Revised Land Use Call-Ups were 4 adopted by a vote of 49 in the affirmative, zero in 5 the negative. 6 Introduction and Reading of Bills. 7 SPEAKER QUINN: All bills are referred 8 to committees as indicated on the agenda. 9 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Discussions 10 of Resolutions. 11 Council Member Weprin. 12 Council Member Weprin, discussion of 13 resolutions. 14 COUNCIL MEMBER WEPRIN: Thank you, 15 Madam Public Advocate. 16 I rise to ask my colleagues to 17 support a resolution regarding New York City OTB. 18 New York City OTB has become a major 19 revenue generating in excess of $1 billion per year 20 and $125 million in annual net profit. 21 But over the years, the shares given 22 to the City has gone from a peak of 65.3 million in 23 1980, to an average of less than 30 million a year 24 in residual revenues, but since 2003 has not 25 received any residual revenue. 56 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 This is due to years of changes in 3 the statutory payment formula that has been less 4 than favorable to New York City. 5 We need to put our personal beliefs 6 on gambling aside and think of the nearly 1,500 7 unionized workers, and their families who stand to 8 lose their livelihood. 9 They were given pink slips yesterday, 10 effective June 15th. We cannot let this happen. We 11 cannot let OTB be shut down, Albany has to act and I 12 urge you to pass this resolution. 13 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Anybody else 14 to discuss resolutions? 15 We don't have anybody else on the 16 list. 17 Council Member Jackson. 18 You have one minute, my dear. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON: Thank you. 20 Thank you. 21 Following up on Council Member 22 Weprin's resolution, we have held press conferences 23 and there has been hearings about this particular 24 matter, and we here in New York City, even though 25 OTB is not running overall, if you look at it, 57 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 they're bringing over a billion dollars, and the 3 bottom line is that 1,500 employees, 14 of those 4 hundred are unionized employees of New York City, 5 are going to lose their jobs if, in fact, this is 6 not resolved. 7 And in essence, we are being robbed 8 in New York City. 9 The pigs up in Albany, as far as the 10 racing and wagering board and others, are just 11 eating away at us, and bottom line is that we are 12 losing out, and unless this changes, we will suffer 13 here in New York City and businesses surrounding 14 that. 15 So, I urge all of my colleagues to 16 vote yes, and also to contact their State 17 Legislators about this extremely important matter, 18 1,500 jobs are at stake in New York City. 19 Thank you. 20 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Anybody else 21 to discuss resolutions? 22 Okay, let's do a voice vote on them. 23 The first resolution is Resolution 24 1180, which is calling upon the Congress to pass the 25 Employee Free Choice Act. 58 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 All in favor? 3 Opposed? 4 Adopted. 5 Reso 1231, which is calling upon the 6 State Legislature to enact an education law in 7 relation to allowing immunizing agents to be 8 administered by pharmacies. 9 All in favor? 10 Opposed? 11 Adopted. 12 Reso 1235, which is about the Off 13 Track Betting Corporation. 14 All those in favor? 15 Opposed? 16 Adopted. 17 General Discussion. 18 Council Member Dickens. 19 Quiet, please. 20 COUNCIL MEMBER DICKENS: Thank you, 21 Madam Public Advocate. 22 I rise today to ask my colleagues to 23 sign onto Resolution 1349, calling on Congress to 24 pass HR 3609, the Emergency Home Ownership and 25 Mortgage Equity Protection Act. 59 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 I am pleased to be joined on this 3 legislation with my colleague and chair of the 4 Jewish Caucus, Council Member Michael Nelson. HR 5 3609 is a vital piece of legislation that would 6 allow Chapter 13 bankruptcy plans where the loan is 7 secured only by an interest in the homeowner's 8 primary residence to be modified, giving people in 9 bankruptcy much more room to maneuver and allowing 10 people to save their homes. 11 In addition, this legislation would 12 prevent lenders from adding charges, costs or fees 13 while the bankruptcy case is pending, giving people 14 a clear sense of what they're continuing financial 15 obligations will be on the other side of bankruptcy. 16 Given the rising trend of home 17 debtors, those unfortunate people who currently owe 18 more on their homes than the home is worth, this 19 will give them more protections to remain in their 20 homes and to try to manage their responsibilities. 21 The first wave of foreclosures was 22 due to bad subprime mortgages, the next wave may be 23 people who simply walk away from homes with normal 24 mortgages because it makes no sense to keep paying 25 on them. 60 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 HR3609 gives one more opportunity to 3 keep people in their homes and prevent another rash 4 of abandoned properties in New York City, like we 5 had in the 1970s. 6 I ask my colleagues for their support 7 on this important legislation. 8 Thank you. 9 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Council 10 Member Brewer. 11 COUNCIL MEMBER BREWER: I rise to ask 12 for your support. Reso 1348, calling on the State 13 Legislature to amend the State Public Offices Law 14 for 16 and 17 year olds to be appointed and serve on 15 community boards as full participating members. 16 The good news is that Assembly Member 17 Kavanagh, whom some of you know from this body and 18 others, and State Senator Lanza whom some of you 19 know from this body and others, are the State 20 sponsors, so there is a State Senate Republican, 21 Assembly Democrat, and great interest I think from 22 the Borough Presidents and obviously from your 23 constituents who are 16 and 17 year olds. 24 Thank you very much. 25 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Council 61 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 Member Felder. 3 COUNCIL MEMBER FELDER: Thank you, 4 Madam Public Advocate. 5 Thank you, Madam Public Advocate. 6 Thank you, Madam Public Advocate. I just rise to 7 say, and share with my colleagues, and I am humbled 8 to have made the acquaintance of Samuel Bomo Dio 9 Bryan (phonetic) of Sera University in United 10 Kingdom, who is working as an intern for my 11 colleague, Council Member Tish James. If you can 12 stand up for a moment? 13 A wonderful human being. Thank you. 14 Yes. Who is looking for an apartment for the next 15 three months and he's willing to pay $1,200. Please 16 see him. 17 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Would you 18 like to continue? 19 COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON: Ceded to 20 Nelson. 21 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Council 22 Member Nelson. 23 COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON: Thank you, 24 Madam Public Advocate. 25 The Police Cadet Program was 62 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 established to encourage our finest young people to 3 seek a career with the NYPD. 4 New York's finest thereby ensuring 5 law enforcement of the highest caliber, police 6 cadets perform valuable service to the people of New 7 York City, while completing college. 8 I thereby encourage you to support my 9 resolution calling on the Legislature to pass 10 legislation that would enable members of the police 11 pension fund to receive retirement credit for cadet 12 core service by contributing an amount to the 13 pension fund, which the member would have 14 contributed during the period of cadet core service. 15 This is resolution 1353. May I draw 16 your attention to that? And also Resolution 1352. 17 This Resolution is being introduced in support of HR 18 5173 and Senate 2578, to urge Congress and the 19 President to remove an insurmountable barrier for 20 seniors and individuals with disabilities who are 21 seeking to transition from institutions like nursing 22 homes into their own homes, their own communities. 23 The center for Medicare and Medicaid 24 Services is planning on implementing regulations 25 that drastically reduce reimbursement, the case 63 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 management, from 180 days to 60 days. And that also 3 would inhibit reimbursement to organizations until 4 individual transitions to the community is made. 5 These two issues will harm the work 6 of getting individuals out of institutions because 7 it usually takes longer than 60 days to pull 8 together the necessary pieces to get someone out and 9 requiring that reimbursements only be made after the 10 person gets out of the institution financially 11 discourages small organizations. 12 Finally, I therefore ask you to pass 13 this resolution on behalf of our constituents in New 14 York City and on behalf of our seniors in the 15 disabled community. 16 Thank you. 17 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Thank you. 18 Council Member Gioia. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER GIOIA: Thank you, 20 Madam Public Advocate. I'd like to vote yes on all 21 Land Use Call-Ups, all matters before us and all 22 resolutions today. 23 Thank you. 24 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 25 Council Member White. 64 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE: Yes, Madam 3 Public Advocate. May I be allowed to vote on all 4 Land Use Call-Ups and all coupled General Orders? 5 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: So ordered. 6 COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE: I vote aye on 7 both. 8 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: All items on 9 today's General Order Calendar were adopted by a 10 vote of 51 in the affirmative, zero negative, zero 11 abstentions, with the exception of LU 699 and Reso 12 1366, which is adopted by 51 in the affirmative, one 13 negative, one abstention. 14 Revised Land Use Call-Ups were 15 adopted by a vote of 51 in the affirmative, zero 16 negative. 17 Council Member Gentile, excuse me. I 18 didn't see your name. 19 COUNCIL MEMBER GENTILE: Thank you, 20 Madam Public Advocate. 21 We're in the middle of National 22 Library Week, so to mark the occasion, I invite all 23 my colleagues and everyone here to join Councilman 24 Recchia and I at City Hall Park tomorrow, as the 25 three library systems will be present, to celebrate 65 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 Library Week. There will be Library Card 3 Registrations, book mobiles, and we'll feature live 4 musical performances. Singer/song writer Peter Davis 5 will kick off the event with his original 6 composition, Looking It Up At The Library. And also 7 appearing will be members of the Brooklyn Public 8 Library group called "Lost In The Stacks," a band 9 comprised of librarians and staff members. 10 And also from Queens, we have from 11 the Queens Public Library Tom Culver, a member of 12 the custodial staff who is a renown systemwide as a 13 talented soul singer. 14 We're going to have a rip-roaring 15 time celebrating Library Week, so join us tomorrow, 16 11:00 a.m., to 2:00 p.m. at City Hall Park. Thank 17 you. 18 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Seeing 19 anybody else? 20 Council Member Vann. 21 COUNCIL MEMBER VANN: Yes, Madam 22 Public Advocate, yes we would be remiss if we did 23 not acknowledge that, I guess it's 50 years ago 24 before the first black was allowed to play 25 professional baseball, that the baseball powers to 66 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 be decided that Jackie Robinson should be that 3 first, arguably there were -- and he was a very 4 talented athlete and a very outstanding baseball 5 player we all know. 6 We also recognize that in the Negro 7 Baseball League there were hundreds of great 8 baseball players, some may have even been better 9 baseball players than Jackie Robinson. But they felt 10 the need that the first had to have a certain 11 attitude or a certain ability to withstand all of 12 the crap, all of the racism, and stuff that he would 13 have to endure, and of course, he was that one and I 14 take my hat off to him, as we all should, because he 15 was a great symbol of decency, of discipline, 16 because of the goal of what he represented. It 17 wasn't about Jackie Robinson, it was about all 18 blacks being seen through him at that point in time 19 and making a breakthrough into, quote, professional 20 sports. 21 So, I think it was very important he 22 was an outstanding basketball player, he was a super 23 humanbeing and he was a great model for everyone 24 really, if you have a mission, if you have a goal 25 that's significant, and sometimes you have to make 67 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 personal sacrifices in order to achieve that, and he 3 did that. And he was helped by Rachel, his wife, 4 very beautiful, intelligent lady, who is carrying on 5 his legacy. And, so, because of his position, 6 because he was able to carry that out, of course 7 there are blacks and Latinos in all professional 8 sports. They tell me he has a brother playing hockey 9 now; is that right? Even a brother playing hockey. 10 So, clearly, I guess we have arrived in the sports, 11 but I thought we would want to acknowledge No. 42, 12 Jackie Robinson. 13 Thank you. 14 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Thank you, 15 Council Member. 16 Seeing nobody else, Council Member 17 Oddo, do you want to say something? 18 COUNCIL MEMBER ODDO: Yes, I do. 19 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Okay. 20 COUNCIL MEMBER ODDO: I know this has 21 been a long day and nobody wants to hear this, but 22 just following on Council Member Vann's point about 23 Jackie Robinson, there once was a time in this 24 country where 25 percent of the major league ball 25 players were African American. That is down to eight 68 1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING 2 percent. It's going in the wrong direction. Baseball 3 essentially is nonexistent in the urban communities, 4 and when you look at our country's history beyond 5 sports, it's disgraceful that we allowed people, 6 because of the color of their skin to be excluded. 7 In the reality today, almost the same 8 thing is happening today for different reasons, and 9 there will be a time in this country's history, if 10 it's a decade or two, where African-Americans will 11 not be playing baseball on a professional level. 12 It's more about just baseball, it's about the fabric 13 of this country. It's about not giving up on kids in 14 the urban city, and using sports as a way to get 15 them on the right track, and it's fitting that I 16 think I mention that in the wake of Council Member 17 Vann's comments about Jackie Robinson. It's got to 18 change. 19 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Anybody 20 else? 21 Going, going, gone. 22 Council meeting is adjourned. 23 (Hearing concluded at 3:13 p.m.) 24 25 69 1 2 CERTIFICATION 3 4 5 STATE OF NEW YORK ) 6 COUNTY OF NEW YORK ) 7 8 9 I, CINDY MILLELOT, a Certified 10 Shorthand Reporter, do hereby certify that the 11 foregoing is a true and accurate transcript of the 12 within proceeding. 13 I further certify that I am not 14 related to any of the parties to this action by 15 blood or marriage, and that I am in no way 16 interested in the outcome of this matter. 17 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto 18 set my hand this 16th day of April 2008. 19 20 21 22 23 --------------------- 24 CINDY MILLELOT, CSR. 25 70 1 2 C E R T I F I C A T I O N 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 I, CINDY MILLELOT, a Certified Shorthand 10 Reporter and a Notary Public in and for the State of 11 New York, do hereby certify the aforesaid to be a 12 true and accurate copy of the transcription of the 13 audio tapes of this hearing. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ----------------------- CINDY MILLELOT, CSR. 25