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          2 CITY COUNCIL

 

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             CITY OF NEW YORK

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          5

             THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE MINUTES

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                      of the

          7

             STATED COUNCIL MEETING

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          9

 

         10

                            February 4, 2004

         11 Start: 1:15 p.m.

                            Recess: 3:15 p.m.

         12

                            City Hall

         13 Council Chambers

                            New York, New York

         14

 

         15 B E F O R E:

 

         16 BETSY GOTBAUM

                              Public Advocate

         17

 

         18 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Joseph Addabbo

                                        Tony Avella

         19 Maria Baez

                                        Charles Barron

         20 Tracy Boyland

                                        Gale Brewer

         21 Yvette Clarke

                                        Leroy Comrie

         22

 

         23

 

         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

                                    Erik Martin-Dilan

          5 Simcha Felder

                                    Lewis Fidler

          6 Helen Foster

                                    Dennis Gallagher

          7 James Gennaro

                                    Vincent Gentile

          8 Alan Gerson

                                    Eric Gioia

          9 Sarah Gonzalez

                                    Robert Jackson

         10 Latitia James

                                    Allan Jennings

         11 Melinda Katz

                                    G. Oliver Koppell

         12 Andrew Lanza

                                    John Liu

         13 Margarita Lopez

                                    Miguel Martinez

         14 Michael McMahon

                                    A. Gifford Miller

         15 Hiram Monserrate

                                    Eva Moskowitz

         16 Michael Nelson

                                    James Oddo

         17 Bill Perkins

                                    Madeline Provenzano

         18 Christine Quinn

                                    Domenic Recchia

         19 Philip Reed

                                    Diana Reyna

         20 Joel Rivera

                                    James Sanders

         21 Larry Seabrook

                                    Helen Sears

         22 Jose Serrano

                                    Kendall Stewart

         23 Peter Vallone, Jr.

                                    Albert Vann

         24 David Weprin

                                    David Yassky

         25

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            3

 

 

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          2 A P P E A R A N C E S (CONTINUED)

 

          3

                         STAFF: Victor Robles

          4 City Clerk

 

          5 Claude Cherry,

                                      Council Clerk

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                                                            4

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 SPEAKER MILLER: Council Member

 

          3 Addabbo, I know you have some special guests who are

 

          4 here with us today who we're honoring, I'd love it

 

          5 if you would bring them forward.

 

          6 COUNCIL MEMBER ADDABBO: Thank you,

 

          7 Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon.

 

          8 I don't care what the groundhog said,

 

          9 I think spring is right around the corner, and with

 

         10 spring comes spring training, and with spring

 

         11 training comes opening day, and today we may have,

 

         12 Mr. Speaker, some future stars. And I want to go up

 

         13 front and congratulate 2003's New York City

 

         14 ten-year-old division champions from The Ozone

 

         15 Howard Little League.

 

         16 Ozone Howard Little League is one of

 

         17 the oldest little leagues in the City, and today we

 

         18 are blessed to have, again these future stars,

 

         19 ten-year-old New York City champions from 2003. And

 

         20 to the team, to the coaches, to the league, I

 

         21 congratulate you for being a positive influence, not

 

         22 only in our area but also throughout the City.

 

         23 So, thank you very much for being

 

         24 here.

 

         25 SPEAKER MILLER: If we could have the

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            5

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 Clerk read the proclamation, that would be great.

 

          3 CITY CLERK ROBLES: The Council, City

 

          4 of New York, Proclamation.

 

          5 Whereas: The Council of the City of

 

          6 New York is proud and pleased to honor both the

 

          7 Ozone Howard Little League Organization, as well as

 

          8 The Mites -- a team from its 10-Year-Old Division -

 

          9 whose fine playing and spirit of teamwork has made

 

         10 the borough of Queens very proud; and

 

         11 Whereas: Ozone Howard Little League

 

         12 has been in existence for the last twenty-five

 

         13 years; and

 

         14 Whereas: The League provides

 

         15 supervised, instructional baseball and softball for

 

         16 the young men and women of Ozone Park, Howard Beach

 

         17 and Lindenwood; and

 

         18 Whereas: For the last 25 years the

 

         19 Ozone Howard Little League has served over 1,500

 

         20 young people each season; and

 

         21 Whereas: The League helps instill

 

         22 community service among its athletes by holding

 

         23 field days for local schools, special festival days

 

         24 for handicapped children, and hosting the annual

 

         25 prom for severely challenged multi-handicapped

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            6

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 teenagers; and

 

          3 Whereas: One of the league's teams --

 

          4 the Ozone Howard Mites -- won District 27 Flag on

 

          5 July 17th, the NYC Championship on July 22nd and

 

          6 then went to Albany placing as a runner-up in the

 

          7 State Championships; and

 

          8 Whereas: Coaches John Midden, Paul

 

          9 Iddlemiss, Anthony Cammarata and Jimmy Russo

 

         10 exemplify the best of the Ozone Howard Little League

 

         11 and the spirit of volunteerism; and

 

         12 Whereas: Athletes Alex Midden,

 

         13 Alexander Middlemiss, Sean Cammerata, James Russo,

 

         14 Frankie Kaplan, John Rainone, Joe Gangi, Vinny

 

         15 Gatto, James Passarella, Scott Hounsell and David

 

         16 Delgiorno demonstrated not only skilled ball playing

 

         17 but outstanding sportsmanship as members of the

 

         18 winning Mites; now, therefore

 

         19 Be It Known: That the Council of the

 

         20 City of New York most gratefully honors THE OZONE

 

         21 HOWARD LITTLE LEAGUE and THE MITES, ITS 10-YEAR-OLD

 

         22 DIVISION CHAMPS for their outstanding contributions

 

         23 to our community through their dedicated leadership

 

         24 and commitment to teach not only the game of

 

         25 baseball, but also more importantly the value of

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            7

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 good sportsmanship.

 

          3 Signed this 4th day of February in

 

          4 the year Two Thousand and Four, Gifford Miller,

 

          5 Speaker for the Entire Council; Joseph Addabbo, Jr.,

 

          6 Council Member, 32nd District, Queens.

 

          7 SPEAKER MILLER: Gentlemen, we're very

 

          8 proud of all of you. Congratulations on your

 

          9 success. We look forward to many big things, and,

 

         10 you know, being a Yankee fan, I hope you all join

 

         11 the Yankees. I know that's probably unpopular with

 

         12 the team, but there it is, I've got to stick with my

 

         13 colors.

 

         14 Coach, we'd be very grateful if you'd

 

         15 say a few words on behalf of the team.

 

         16 COACH: Thank you, Speaker Miller,

 

         17 Joe, we're forever grateful for what you did for

 

         18 these kids. It was tremendous fun. I'd like to thank

 

         19 all the parents for their support, and the kids, it

 

         20 was just a great time, we had a good run.

 

         21 I'd like to thank one gentleman who

 

         22 is not with us anymore, Pat Alocca, who was

 

         23 basically the founder of this team. Thank you.

 

         24 SPEAKER MILLER: Oh, I get a ball?

 

         25 COACH: You get an autographed ball

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            8

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 from the team, and hopefully one day, you never

 

          3 know, the next Micky Mantle may be on there.

 

          4 SPEAKER MILLER: Absolutely.

 

          5 COACH: You never know. You never

 

          6 know.

 

          7 SPEAKER MILLER: I'm very honored.

 

          8 Thank you all.

 

          9 I'm going to put it in glass. I've

 

         10 got it right down right next to the ball I threw out

 

         11 at the Yankee Stadium, first one. Right next to that

 

         12 one. Thank you very much. I'm honored. Coming back

 

         13 next year, absolutely, with the 11-year-olds.

 

         14 Parents, thank you all for being here.

 

         15 Congratulations to you.

 

         16 Council Member Weprin.

 

         17 COUNCIL MEMBER WEPRIN: Okay.

 

         18 SPEAKER MILLER: I know Council Member

 

         19 Weprin has an extraordinarily honored guest who is

 

         20 here. Let me just turn the mic over to you, Council

 

         21 Member Weprin, so that you can introduce our guest.

 

         22 COUNCIL MEMBER WEPRIN: Okay, we have

 

         23 a very honored guest. Can I ask the whole delegation

 

         24 to come up? Morris Baldinger, with his wife

 

         25 Charlotte, who is president of Hollis Park Nursing

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            9

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 Home. Aroleo, Gina Gargano, Irving Manning, and

 

          3 Bernard and Enid Scott.

 

          4 SPEAKER MILLER: Do we have a

 

          5 proclamation?

 

          6 COUNCIL MEMBER WEPRIN: Yes, we do.

 

          7 SPEAKER MILLER: Here it is.

 

          8 All right, if the Clerk could read

 

          9 the proclamation.

 

         10 CITY CLERK ROBLES: The Council, City

 

         11 of New York, Proclamation.

 

         12 Whereas: The Council of the City of

 

         13 New York is pleased and proud to join family,

 

         14 friends and staff of the Hollis Park Manor Nursing

 

         15 Home as they recognize and celebrate the life and

 

         16 accomplishments of one of its most distinguished

 

         17 residents, 110 year old Maud Scott; and

 

         18 Whereas: We are a City made strong by

 

         19 the efforts of individuals who give exemplary

 

         20 service to the community, whether through

 

         21 participation in volunteer programs, through unique

 

         22 personal achievement in their professional or other

 

         23 endeavors, or through a lifetime of good citizenry;

 

         24 and

 

         25 Whereas: Today, we come together to

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            10

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 honor Maud Scott, a woman of exceptional strength,

 

          3 character and dignity who has the singular

 

          4 distinction of living a life that has spanned three

 

          5 centuries and is still here to tell her story; and

 

          6 Whereas: On January 26th, 1894, Maud

 

          7 Scott was born in the borough of Brooklyn to Mary

 

          8 and Charles Hicks, two people endowed with strong

 

          9 African-American and Shinnecock Indian ancestry that

 

         10 provided Maud throughout her life with a sense of

 

         11 purpose and a spirited determination to succeed; and

 

         12 Whereas: A woman of great integrity

 

         13 and strong character, Maud married Bernard Scott,

 

         14 had three children, Bernard, Stanley and Irving, who

 

         15 in turn have blessed her with five grandchildren and

 

         16 two great-grandchildren; and

 

         17 Whereas: Maud Scott has a sharp sense

 

         18 of humor and a fierce intensity to explore life; she

 

         19 wrote her first poem at age 95, continues to write

 

         20 poetry, and has served as the oldest living

 

         21 participant in the Lift Up the World Program, a

 

         22 project that seeks to identify and honor people who

 

         23 have inspired the world; and

 

         24 Whereas: In over one hundred years of

 

         25 living, Maud Scott has inspired others with her

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            11

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 ebullience, her warmth, her bright spirit and her

 

          3 true zest for life; she is loved deeply by family

 

          4 and friends and has shown us all quite beautifully

 

          5 that age is only a state of mind; now, therefore

 

          6 Be It Known: That the Council of the

 

          7 City of New York honors MAUD SCOTT for her wonderful

 

          8 contributions to our City, and joins with her family

 

          9 and friends in celebrating her life and enduring

 

         10 legacy.

 

         11 Signed this 4th day of February in

 

         12 the year Two Thousand and Four, Gifford Miller,

 

         13 Speaker for the Entire Council; David I. Weprin,

 

         14 Council Member, 23rd District, Queens.

 

         15 COUNCIL MEMBER WEPRIN: We believe

 

         16 that Mrs. Scott is the oldest resident of New York

 

         17 State, and she's lived in New York City all 110

 

         18 years. She stopped smoking at 80, because she was

 

         19 worried about her health, and a sister of her had

 

         20 some problems with smoking, so she decided to stop

 

         21 smoking at 80. She took up poetry at 95, and we're

 

         22 going to ask her to do a poem for us called "Artie

 

         23 Boy," that I believe she knows by heart.

 

         24 Can you do "Artie Boy"?

 

         25 MRS. SCOTT: Is the mic on?

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            12

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 COUNCIL MEMBER WEPRIN: Yes.

 

          3 MRS. SCOTT: My little brother Arthur,

 

          4 my mother's pride and joy;

 

          5 She worships the ground he walks

 

          6 upon, and calls him Artie Boy;

 

          7 By bouncing him upon her knee, she

 

          8 turns around and says to me, "don't forget MaryJane,

 

          9 you're my pet, and I love you both the same.

 

         10 SPEAKER MILLER: Oh, that's beautiful.

 

         11 COUNCIL MEMBER WEPRIN: Started poetry

 

         12 at 95.

 

         13 SPEAKER MILLER: Mrs. Scott, we're so

 

         14 honored to have you here. Congratulations on all

 

         15 your achievements and for all you've done for our

 

         16 City, and thank you to everyone else who came down

 

         17 to be a part of this very, very historic moment.

 

         18 Thank you.

 

         19 Thank you all very much.

 

         20 Congratulations, Mrs. Scott. Thank you very much for

 

         21 being with us.

 

         22 MRS. SCOTT: Okay.

 

         23 SPEAKER MILLER: Council Member Hiram

 

         24 Monserrate is here and has brought a number of

 

         25 guests.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            13

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 Special honoree. I'd like you to

 

          3 introduce our honoree.

 

          4 COUNCIL MEMBER MONSERRATE: Thank you,

 

          5 Mr. Speaker.

 

          6 Larry? Why don't you come on up,

 

          7 Larry. Larry is going to present this with me, Mr.

 

          8 Speaker.

 

          9 SPEAKER MILLER: Okay.

 

         10 COUNCIL MEMBER MONSERRATE: From the

 

         11 Borough of the Bronx, Larry Seabrook.

 

         12 I have the pleasure and honor of

 

         13 bringing to the front Mr. David Londin and his

 

         14 party. Please come on up, Mr. David Londin.

 

         15 Straight from the multi-circle. Come

 

         16 on up, Mr. David Londin. You're the center of

 

         17 attention for these few moments of City Hall.

 

         18 Our Speaker Miller.

 

         19 SPEAKER MILLER: Thank you for

 

         20 introducing our guests, and if we could have the

 

         21 clerk read the proclamation.

 

         22 CITY CLERK ROBLES: The Council, City

 

         23 of New York, Proclamation.

 

         24 Whereas: The Council of the City of

 

         25 New York is pleased and proud to honor David Londin

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            14

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 for his exceptional contributions to the senior

 

          3 community; and

 

          4 Whereas: Seniors are important

 

          5 members of society, individuals whose contributions

 

          6 have helped shape and inform the modern world;

 

          7 across the decades and throughout the defining

 

          8 moments of the 20th century, we have all been

 

          9 enriched by the legacy of the senior community, a

 

         10 legacy which has ensured the safety, progress and

 

         11 prosperity of our great country for generations to

 

         12 come; and

 

         13 Whereas: Today, we proudly honor Mr.

 

         14 David Londin, a man who has worked in the field of

 

         15 aging for more than two decades, during which time

 

         16 he has dedicated himself to expanding the notions of

 

         17 what senior services can and should be; and

 

         18 Whereas: David Londin is currently

 

         19 the Executive Director of the Workmen's Circle

 

         20 MultiCare Center, an organization which promotes the

 

         21 well-being of the elderly through a broad array of

 

         22 social services; and

 

         23 Whereas: David Londin's tireless work

 

         24 on behalf of the senior community is truly

 

         25 impressive:

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            15

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 Among his accomplishments, his

 

          3 leadership was the driving force behind a $68

 

          4 million total renovation and modernization of the

 

          5 Center. During his tenure, fundraising efforts have

 

          6 broadened and several hugely successful events were

 

          7 initiated; and

 

          8 Whereas: David Londin is a man of

 

          9 integrity, depth and dimension who leads by example.

 

         10 His credo: "The resident always comes first," is

 

         11 communicated to all levels of staff and implemented

 

         12 in ways that have improved the quality of life for

 

         13 countless individuals; for his dedication and

 

         14 contributions, Mr. Londin has received recognition

 

         15 and high honors, including being named UJA Man of

 

         16 the Year, 1991; the Workmen's Circle MultiCare

 

         17 Center Leadership Award, 1997; and a Workman's

 

         18 Circle MultiCare Center Family Council Man of the

 

         19 Year Award in 1998; and

 

         20 David Londin's contributions to the

 

         21 senior community over the years have been truly

 

         22 inestimable; he has helped show our City that all

 

         23 seniors should be treated with the care, dignity and

 

         24 respect they so rightfully deserve; now, therefore

 

         25 Be It Known: That the Council of the

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            16

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 City of New York honors DAVID LONDIN for his

 

          3 outstanding contributions to the senior community of

 

          4 our City.

 

          5 Signed this 4th day of February in

 

          6 the year Two Thousand and Four, Gifford Miller,

 

          7 Speaker for the Entire Council; Hiram Monserrate,

 

          8 Council Member, 21st District, Queens.

 

          9 SPEAKER MILLER: Thank you. David,

 

         10 we're very honored to have you here with us, and

 

         11 thank you for all you've done for our City and we

 

         12 would be pleased if you would say a few words.

 

         13 MR. LONDIN: Thank you very much.

 

         14 First of all, to the youth of

 

         15 America, the baseball team, that's a great job by

 

         16 them, and certainly what better moment for me to be

 

         17 here caring for the elderly than to be with someone

 

         18 like Mrs. Scott who has achieved a tremendous,

 

         19 tremendous honor. Congratulations to you and the

 

         20 fine nursing home that you're there, that you come

 

         21 from.

 

         22 The Workmen's Circle Multicare Center

 

         23 is the nursing home that I've had the pleasure to be

 

         24 in charge of for over 20 years. It's a great home

 

         25 with great staff, for my son Bradley to be here and

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            17

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 Gale and Elaina Zeretski, it's indeed an honor to

 

          3 me, and for my whole family and to the patience, I

 

          4 thank you very much.

 

          5 SPEAKER MILLER: Thank you very much.

 

          6 Council Member McMahon. I know you

 

          7 have a couple of very special honored guests. Would

 

          8 you like to bring them forward for us?

 

          9 COUNCIL MEMBER McMAHON: Mr. Speaker,

 

         10 and my colleagues in the Council and ladies and

 

         11 gentlemen, if we could have your attention for a

 

         12 moment?

 

         13 This is a very important presentation

 

         14 that we're going to make here this afternoon. We

 

         15 learned, Mr. Speaker, through the events of

 

         16 September 11th, we were reminded as a society that

 

         17 there are men and women who live next to us who work

 

         18 among us who at a moment's notice could become

 

         19 heroes.

 

         20 Mr. Speaker, we learned that heroes

 

         21 are ordinary people, who in any given moment or time

 

         22 do extraordinary things and show extraordinary

 

         23 courage to save the lives of others, and that is

 

         24 certainly the case of Sergeant Scott Nichols, and

 

         25 Police Officer Mark DiPilato, who are here with us

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            18

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 this afternoon.

 

          3 Just this December while they were

 

          4 patrolling in the New Brighton section of my

 

          5 district on the North Shore of Staten Island --

 

          6 could I have everyone's attention, please?

 

          7 While they were on tour the Sunday

 

          8 morning in early December last year, they noticed in

 

          9 a commercial building, in a taxpayer building smoke

 

         10 coming from the top floor, and without thinking

 

         11 about life or limb, or without thinking about

 

         12 anything except their duties to serve and protect

 

         13 people of the City of New York, they raced into that

 

         14 burning building and saved many lives. And it was

 

         15 through their act of heroism, because the Fire

 

         16 Department, although responded quickly, would not

 

         17 have been there in time, Sergeant Nichols and

 

         18 DiPilato saved lives that day without worrying about

 

         19 their own. They reminded us once again that the men

 

         20 and women of the New York City Police Department are

 

         21 just those heroes. They're ordinary people. They are

 

         22 ordinary people who want to give a moment for

 

         23 extraordinary things, and we're proud that Police

 

         24 Officer DiPilato has his son Mark with him today,

 

         25 who is going to be a very good Councilman some day,

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            19

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 and his mom Anna DiPilato, who is with me. Sergeant

 

          3 Nichols, who has been on the force 19 years, Police

 

          4 Officer DiPilato seven years, Sergeant Nichols is

 

          5 joined by his wife, JC, and his three children,

 

          6 Christopher, Matthew and Jenna, the beautiful young

 

          7 girl there.

 

          8 So, ladies and gentlemen, let's hear

 

          9 it for our heroes in New York City.

 

         10 SPEAKER MILLER: Thank you, Michael.

 

         11 If we could have the clerk read the proclamation.

 

         12 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Whereas: The

 

         13 Council of the City of New York is proud and pleased

 

         14 to honor New York City Police Officer Scott Nicholls

 

         15 for his meritorious service and distinguished valor

 

         16 in the line of duty; and

 

         17 Whereas: Saving a life is perhaps the

 

         18 greatest gift one individual can give to another; it

 

         19 is an accomplishment worthy of the utmost honor,

 

         20 praise and recognition; and

 

         21 Whereas: New York City Police

 

         22 Sergeant Scott Nicholls is one such individual whose

 

         23 presence of mind and heroics helped save another's

 

         24 life; and

 

         25 Whereas: On November 30th, 2003,

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            20

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 Sergeant Scott Nicholls along with Officer DiPilato

 

          3 were on community patrol in the New Brighton section

 

          4 of Staten Island when they spotted smoke pouring out

 

          5 of a three-story building; and

 

          6 Whereas: After learning that a family

 

          7 was asleep on the third floor, these two police

 

          8 officers rushed into action, broke down the

 

          9 apartment door, woke everyone up and in a

 

         10 coordinated effort guided them to safety; and

 

         11 Whereas: At great risk to his own

 

         12 person safety, Sergeant Scott Nicholls demonstrated

 

         13 tremendous calm under extremely difficult

 

         14 conditions, and in doing so helped save the lives of

 

         15 six people; and

 

         16 Whereas: Today we honor New York City

 

         17 Sergeant Scott Nicholls for his courage, his quick

 

         18 thinking, and his commitment to ensuring the safety

 

         19 of our citizens. Without his timely intervention,

 

         20 the consequences for these individuals might have

 

         21 been fatal; and

 

         22 Whereas: New York City Police

 

         23 Officers have always worked diligently for all the

 

         24 citizens of our great City and, as this rescue

 

         25 shows, are well and rightfully known as New York's

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            21

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 Finest; now, therefore

 

          3 Be It Known: That the Council of the

 

          4 City of New York honors SERGEANT SCOTT NICHOLLS, for

 

          5 his courage, compassion, and heroism.

 

          6 Signed this 4th day of February in

 

          7 the year Two Thousand and Four, Gifford Miller,

 

          8 Speaker for the Entire Council; Michael McMahon,

 

          9 Council member, 49th District, Staten Island.

 

         10 CITY CLERK ROBLES: The Council, City

 

         11 of New York, Proclamation.

 

         12 Whereas: The Council of the City of

 

         13 New York is proud and pleased to honor New York City

 

         14 Police Officer Mark DiPilato for his meritorious

 

         15 service and distinguished valor in the line of duty;

 

         16 and

 

         17 Whereas: Saving a life is perhaps the

 

         18 greatest gift one individual can give to another; it

 

         19 is an accomplishment worthy of the utmost honor,

 

         20 praise and recognition; and

 

         21 Whereas: New York City Police Officer

 

         22 Mark DiPilato is one such individual whose presence

 

         23 of mind and heroics helped safe another's life; and

 

         24 Whereas: On November 30th, 2003,

 

         25 Officer DiPilato along with Sgt. Scott Nicholls were

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            22

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 on community patrol in the New Brighton section of

 

          3 Staten Island when they spotted smoke pouring out of

 

          4 a three-story building; and

 

          5 Whereas: After learning that a family

 

          6 was asleep on the third floor, these two police

 

          7 officers rushed into action, broke down the

 

          8 apartment door, woke everyone up and in a

 

          9 coordinated effort guided them to safety; and

 

         10 Whereas: At great risk to his own

 

         11 personal safety, Officer Mark DiPilato demonstrated

 

         12 tremendous calm under extremely difficult

 

         13 conditions, and in doing so helped save the lives of

 

         14 six people; and

 

         15 Whereas: Today we honor New York City

 

         16 Police Officer Mark DiPilato for his courage, his

 

         17 quick thinking, and his commitment to ensuring the

 

         18 safety of our citizens. Without his timely

 

         19 intervention, the consequences for these individuals

 

         20 might have been fatal; and

 

         21 Whereas: New York City Police

 

         22 Officers have always worked diligently for all the

 

         23 citizens of our great City and, as this rescue

 

         24 shows, are well and rightfully known as New York's

 

         25 Finest; now, therefore

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            23

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 Be It Known: That the Council of the

 

          3 City of New York honors POLICE OFFICER MARK DiPILATO

 

          4 for his courage, compassion, and heroism.

 

          5 Signed this 4th day of February in

 

          6 the year Two Thousand and Four, Gifford Miller,

 

          7 Speaker for the Entire Council; Michael McMahon,

 

          8 Council Member, 49th District, Staten Island.

 

          9 SPEAKER MILLER: Gentlemen, we are

 

         10 indeed honored to have you here with us today, and

 

         11 thank you for your service to our City every day,

 

         12 but particularly on that day in question, and we

 

         13 would be honored if you would say a few words.

 

         14 POLICE OFFICER DiPILATO: I'm just

 

         15 glad that we happened to be in the right place at

 

         16 the right time and saved the six people. I'd like to

 

         17 thank my family for their support.

 

         18 SERGEANT NICHOLLS: I'd just like to

 

         19 thank everyone here today. Thank you very much. We

 

         20 appreciate all the accolades. Thank you.

 

         21 SPEAKER MILLER: Thank you. Thank you,

 

         22 both, gentlemen. We really are honored to have you,

 

         23 and thank you for our service to our City.

 

         24 Congratulations.

 

         25 My friends, we have another series of

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            24

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 three heroes that are here today, also police

 

          3 officers and detectives, who in a time of crisis

 

          4 threw themselves into the crisis and saved a woman's

 

          5 life, a woman who was a despondent woman who was

 

          6 threatening a suicide jump from the Brooklyn Bridge.

 

          7 I'd like to ask Police Officer Mike

 

          8 Bazerman, who is known to all of us down here at

 

          9 City Hall, Mike, please come forward.

 

         10 Also, Detective Angel Serrano, and

 

         11 Police Officer Rafael Martinez, come forward

 

         12 gentlemen. Thank you so much. And of course, their

 

         13 families as well, please come forward.

 

         14 We are indeed incredibly honored to

 

         15 have you with us here.

 

         16 So, if we could have the clerk read

 

         17 the proclamation, we would be very honored.

 

         18 CITY CLERK ROBLES: The Council, City

 

         19 of New York, Proclamation.

 

         20 Whereas: The Council of the City of

 

         21 New York is proud and pleased to honor New York City

 

         22 Police Officer Michael R. Bazerman for his

 

         23 meritorious service and distinguished valor in the

 

         24 line of duty; and

 

         25 Whereas: Saving a life is perhaps the

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            25

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 greatest gift one individual can give to another; it

 

          3 is an accomplishment worthy of the utmost honor,

 

          4 praise and recognition; and

 

          5 Whereas: Police Officer Michael R.

 

          6 Bazerman is one such individual; he is a man whose

 

          7 presence of mind and quick thinking helped save

 

          8 another's life; and

 

          9 Whereas: Officer Bazerman, a member

 

         10 of the New York City Police Department since June

 

         11 1995, and currently on the Municipal Security Unit

 

         12 at City Hall, is credited with saving the life of a

 

         13 despondent woman who was threatening a suicide jump

 

         14 from the Brooklyn Bridge; and

 

         15 Whereas: When fellow officer Rafael

 

         16 Martinez's attempts failed to induce this woman to

 

         17 change her mind, Police Officer Bazerman, along with

 

         18 Police Officer Martinez and Detective Angel Serrano,

 

         19 took immediate action at risk of grave personal

 

         20 injury, and pulled the woman to safety; and

 

         21 Whereas: Today we honor Police

 

         22 Officer Michael R. Bazerman, whose efforts

 

         23 undoubtedly saved another's life, without his timely

 

         24 intervention, the consequences for this woman might

 

         25 have been fatal; and

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            26

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 Whereas: New York City Police

 

          3 Officers have always worked diligently for all the

 

          4 citizens of our great City and, as this rescue

 

          5 shows, are well and rightfully known as New York's

 

          6 Finest; now, therefore

 

          7 Be It Known: That the Council of the

 

          8 City of New York honors POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL R.

 

          9 BAZERMAN for his courage, compassion, and

 

         10 determination in saving another's life.

 

         11 Signed this 4th day of February in

 

         12 the year Two Thousand and Four, Gifford Miller,

 

         13 Speaker for the Entire Council.

 

         14 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Whereas: The

 

         15 Council of the City of New York is proud and pleased

 

         16 to honor New York City Police Detective Angel

 

         17 Serrano for his meritorious service and

 

         18 distinguished valor in the line of duty; and

 

         19 Whereas: Saving a life is perhaps the

 

         20 greatest gift one individual can give to another; it

 

         21 is an accomplishment worthy of the utmost honor,

 

         22 praise and recognition; and

 

         23 Whereas: New York City Police

 

         24 Detective Angel Serrano is one such individual whose

 

         25 presence of mind and quick thinking helped save

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            27

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 another's life; and

 

          3 Whereas: Detective Serrano, a member

 

          4 of the New York City Police Department since July,

 

          5 1996, is credited, along with fellow NYPD officers

 

          6 Rafael A. Martinez and Michael R. Bazerman, with

 

          7 helping to save the life of a despondent woman who

 

          8 was threatening a suicide jump from the Brooklyn

 

          9 Bridge; and

 

         10 Whereas: When their efforts failed to

 

         11 induce this woman to change her mind, Police

 

         12 Officers Martinez and Bazerman, along with Detective

 

         13 Serrano, took immediate action at risk of grave

 

         14 personal injury, and pulled the woman to safety; and

 

         15 Whereas: Today we honor New York City

 

         16 Police Detective Angel Serrano, whose efforts

 

         17 undoubtedly saved another's life; without his timely

 

         18 intervention, the consequences for this woman might

 

         19 have been fatal; and

 

         20 Whereas: New York City Police

 

         21 Officers have always worked diligently for all the

 

         22 citizens of our great City and, as this rescue

 

         23 shows, are well and rightfully known as New York's

 

         24 Finest; now, therefore

 

         25 Be It Known: That the Council of the

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            28

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 City of New York honors DETECTIVE ANGEL SERRANO for

 

          3 his courage, compassion, and determination in saving

 

          4 another's life.

 

          5 Signed this 4th day of February in

 

          6 the year Two Thousand and Four, Gifford Miller,

 

          7 Speaker for the Entire Council.

 

          8 CITY CLERK ROBLES: The Council, City

 

          9 of New York, Proclamation.

 

         10 Whereas: The Council of the City of

 

         11 New York is proud and pleased to honor New York City

 

         12 Police Officer Rafael A. Martinez for his

 

         13 meritorious service and distinguished valor in the

 

         14 line of duty; and

 

         15 Whereas: Saving a life is perhaps the

 

         16 greatest gift one individual can give to another,

 

         17 and it is an accomplishment worthy of the utmost

 

         18 honor, praise and recognition; and

 

         19 Whereas: Officer Martinez, a nine

 

         20 year veteran of the Department currently assigned to

 

         21 Police Headquarters Security Unit, was exiting the

 

         22 ramp off the FDR Drive South at Brooklyn Bridge and

 

         23 Wagner Street when he noticed a despondent looking

 

         24 woman walking against traffic; and

 

         25 Whereas: Police Officer Martinez

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            29

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 tried talking to her and received no response.

 

          3 Realizing how precarious this situation could

 

          4 become, Officer Martinez parked his car and followed

 

          5 this woman up the ramp, whereupon she climbed over

 

          6 the safety railing and threatened to jump onto the

 

          7 concrete 30 feet below; and

 

          8 Whereas: When it appeared that she

 

          9 was about to make good her threat, Police Officer

 

         10 Martinez, along with two other officers, took

 

         11 immediate action at risk of grave personal injury to

 

         12 themselves, and pulled the woman to safety; and

 

         13 Whereas: Today we honor Police

 

         14 Officer Rafael A. Martinez, an individual whose

 

         15 efforts undoubtedly saved another's life; without

 

         16 his timely intervention the consequences for this

 

         17 woman might have been fatal; and

 

         18 Whereas: New York City Police

 

         19 Officers have always worked diligently for all the

 

         20 citizens of our great City and, as this rescue

 

         21 shows, are well and rightfully known as New York's

 

         22 Finest; now, therefore

 

         23 Be It Known: That the Council of the

 

         24 City of New York honors POLICE OFFICER RAFAEL A.

 

         25 MARTINEZ for exceptional service in the line of

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            30

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 duty.

 

          3 Signed this 4th day of February in

 

          4 the year Two Thousand and Four, Gifford Miller,

 

          5 Speaker for the Entire Council.

 

          6 SPEAKER MILLER: Gentlemen, all of my

 

          7 colleagues, and the people of the City of New York,

 

          8 thank you for your service to our City.

 

          9 It certainly is true that every day

 

         10 the work of our finest is heroic, but it's at

 

         11 particular times of crisis that people turn to the

 

         12 Police Department for acts of heroism and bravery

 

         13 and extraordinary courage, and what you did by going

 

         14 forth and saving this woman's life is the kind of

 

         15 work that goes on in our City every day but should

 

         16 be recognized and thanked.

 

         17 And, so, thank you so very much for

 

         18 your work and we'd be honored if you'd say a few

 

         19 words.

 

         20 Mike.

 

         21 POLICE OFFICER BAZERMAN: I just want

 

         22 to thank Speaker Miller and the rest of the Council

 

         23 members, and the Council staff. I appreciate

 

         24 everything. It was just a day's work.

 

         25 SPEAKER MILLER: It was a good day.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            31

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 DETECTIVE SERRANO: I'd like to say

 

          3 thank you to the Council and everybody here that

 

          4 showed up. Thank you very much.

 

          5 POLICE OFFICER MARTINEZ: I want to

 

          6 thank the Lord above for having us there at the

 

          7 right time at the right place, which is what it was.

 

          8 That was just an indication of what police officers

 

          9 throughout the City do day in and day out. We were

 

         10 just happy to be at the right place at the right

 

         11 time, and I just happened to have the right partner

 

         12 at the right place. Thank you.

 

         13 Thank you to my family, for their

 

         14 support.

 

         15 SPEAKER MILLER: Thank you. Thank God

 

         16 you were all there. Thank you all very much for

 

         17 being here.

 

         18 Congratulations, thank you. Thank you

 

         19 for your service.

 

         20 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: Will the

 

         21 Stated Meeting of February 4, 2004 please come to

 

         22 order.

 

         23 Roll call.

 

         24 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Addabbo.

 

         25 COUNCIL MEMBER ADDABBO: Here.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            32

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Avella.

 

          3 COUNCIL MEMBER AVELLA: Here.

 

          4 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Baez.

 

          5 COUNCIL MEMBER BAEZ: Here.

 

          6 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Barron.

 

          7 COUNCIL MEMBER BARRON: Here.

 

          8 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Boyland.

 

          9 COUNCIL MEMBER BOYLAND: Here.

 

         10 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Brewer.

 

         11 COUNCIL MEMBER BREWER: Here.

 

         12 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Clarke.

 

         13 COUNCIL MEMBER CLARKE: Here.

 

         14 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Comrie.

 

         15 COUNCIL MEMBER COMRIE: Present.

 

         16 CITY CLERK ROBLES: DeBlasio.

 

         17 COUNCIL MEMBER DEBLASIO: Here.

 

         18 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Dilan.

 

         19 COUNCIL MEMBER DILAN: Here.

 

         20 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Felder.

 

         21 (No response.)

 

         22 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Fidler.

 

         23 COUNCIL MEMBER FIDLER: Here.

 

         24 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Foster.

 

         25 COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER: Here.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            33

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Gallagher.

 

          3 COUNCIL MEMBER GALLAGHER: Here.

 

          4 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Gennaro.

 

          5 COUNCIL MEMBER GENNARO: Here.

 

          6 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Gentile.

 

          7 COUNCIL MEMBER GENTILE: Here.

 

          8 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Gerson.

 

          9 COUNCIL MEMBER GERSON: Here.

 

         10 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Gioia.

 

         11 COUNCIL MEMBER GIOIA: Here.

 

         12 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Gonzalez.

 

         13 COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ: Here.

 

         14 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Jackson.

 

         15 COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON: Here.

 

         16 CITY CLERK ROBLES: James.

 

         17 COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES: Here.

 

         18 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Jennings.

 

         19 COUNCIL MEMBER JENNINGS: Here.

 

         20 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Katz.

 

         21 COUNCIL MEMBER KATZ: Here.

 

         22 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Koppell.

 

         23 COUNCIL MEMBER KOPPELL: Here.

 

         24 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Lanza.

 

         25 COUNCIL MEMBER LANZA: Here.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            34

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Liu.

 

          3 COUNCIL MEMBER LIU: Here.

 

          4 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Lopez.

 

          5 COUNCIL MEMBER LOPEZ: Here.

 

          6 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Martinez.

 

          7 COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ: Here.

 

          8 CITY CLERK ROBLES: McMahon.

 

          9 COUNCIL MEMBER McMAHON: Here.

 

         10 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Monserrate.

 

         11 COUNCIL MEMBER MONSERRATE: Here.

 

         12 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Moskowitz.

 

         13 COUNCIL MEMBER MOSKOWITZ: Here.

 

         14 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Nelson.

 

         15 COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON: Here.

 

         16 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Palma.

 

         17 COUNCIL MEMBER PALMA: Here.

 

         18 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Perkins.

 

         19 COUNCIL MEMBER PERKINS: Here.

 

         20 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Provenzano.

 

         21 COUNCIL MEMBER PROVENZANO: Here.

 

         22 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Quinn.

 

         23 COUNCIL MEMBER QUINN: Here.

 

         24 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Recchia.

 

         25 COUNCIL MEMBER RECCHIA: Here.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            35

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Reed.

 

          3 COUNCIL MEMBER REED: Here.

 

          4 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Reyna.

 

          5 COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA: Here.

 

          6 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Sanders.

 

          7 COUNCIL MEMBER SANDERS: Present.

 

          8 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Seabrook.

 

          9 COUNCIL MEMBER SEABROOK: Here.

 

         10 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Sears.

 

         11 COUNCIL MEMBER SEARS: Here.

 

         12 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Serrano.

 

         13 COUNCIL MEMBER SERRANO: Here.

 

         14 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Stewart.

 

         15 COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART: Here.

 

         16 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Vallone.

 

         17 COUNCIL MEMBER VALLONE: Here.

 

         18 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Vann.

 

         19 COUNCIL MEMBER VANN: Here.

 

         20 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Weprin.

 

         21 COUNCIL MEMBER WEPRIN: Here.

 

         22 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Yassky.

 

         23 COUNCIL MEMBER YASSKY: Here.

 

         24 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Oddo.

 

         25 COUNCIL MEMBER ODDO: Here.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            36

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Rivera.

 

          3 COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA: Here.

 

          4 CITY CLERK ROBLES: Speaker Miller.

 

          5 SPEAKER MILLER: I'm here.

 

          6 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: A quorum is

 

          7 present.

 

          8 Everyone please rise for the

 

          9 invocation delivered by Rabbi Jonathan Glass.

 

         10 RABBI GLASS: Men and women of the

 

         11 City Council, this Saturday is Arbor Day in the

 

         12 Jewish Calendar. It signifies that time of year when

 

         13 trees in the land of the Bible begin to rejuvenate

 

         14 after a long winter.

 

         15 It is a time that pertains to

 

         16 humanity, as well. As the verse reads:

 

         17 Man is like the tree of the field.

 

         18 We, like the tree, maintain a slow process of growth

 

         19 until we bear the fruit of our maturity.

 

         20 So, let the winter labors of this

 

         21 City Council bring forth a bountiest springtime

 

         22 yield, and let us say amen.

 

         23 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: Council

 

         24 Member Nelson.

 

         25 COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON: I make a

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            37

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 motion to spread the invocation in full upon the

 

          3 record.

 

          4 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: So ordered.

 

          5 Adoption of the minutes.

 

          6 Council Member Foster.

 

          7 COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER: Hi. Thank you.

 

          8 I move to spread the invocation. I move that we

 

          9 adopt the minutes from the last meeting. Thank you.

 

         10 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: Thank you

 

         11 very much.

 

         12 Messages and Papers from the Mayor.

 

         13 COUNCIL CLERK CHERRY: None.

 

         14 SPEAKER MILLER: Whoa.

 

         15 COUNCIL CLERK CHERRY: Sorry.

 

         16 M 60.

 

         17 SPEAKER MILLER: That would be

 

         18 received, ordered, printed and filed.

 

         19 COUNCIL CLERK CHERRY: M 61.

 

         20 SPEAKER MILLER: Received, ordered,

 

         21 printed and filed.

 

         22 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: Communication

 

         23 from City, County and Borough Offices.

 

         24 Silence in the Chambers, please.

 

         25 COUNCIL CLERK CHERRY: None.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            38

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: Thank you.

 

          3 Again, Communication from City, County and Borough

 

          4 Offices.

 

          5 COUNCIL CLERK CHERRY: None.

 

          6 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: Petitions and

 

          7 Communications.

 

          8 COUNCIL CLERK CHERRY: None.

 

          9 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: Land Use

 

         10 Call-Ups.

 

         11 COUNCIL CLERK CHERRY: M-62.

 

         12 SPEAKER MILLER: Coupled on the

 

         13 Call-Up vote.

 

         14 COUNCIL CLERK CHERRY: M-63.

 

         15 SPEAKER MILLER: Coupled on the

 

         16 Call-Up vote.

 

         17 At this point I'd ask the Clerk to

 

         18 call the roll on all items coupled on the Land Use

 

         19 Call-Up.

 

         20 COUNCIL CLERK: Addabbo.

 

         21 COUNCIL MEMBER ADDABBO: Aye on all.

 

         22 COUNCIL CLERK: Avella.

 

         23 COUNCIL MEMBER AVELLA: Aye.

 

         24 COUNCIL CLERK: Baez.

 

         25 COUNCIL MEMBER BAEZ: Aye.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            39

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 COUNCIL CLERK: Barron.

 

          3 COUNCIL MEMBER BARRON: Aye on all.

 

          4 COUNCIL CLERK: Boyland.

 

          5 COUNCIL MEMBER BOYLAND: Aye on all.

 

          6 COUNCIL CLERK: Brewer.

 

          7 COUNCIL MEMBER BREWER: Aye on all.

 

          8 COUNCIL CLERK: Clarke.

 

          9 COUNCIL MEMBER CLARKE: Aye on all.

 

         10 COUNCIL CLERK: Comrie.

 

         11 COUNCIL MEMBER COMRIE: Aye on all.

 

         12 COUNCIL CLERK: DeBlasio.

 

         13 COUNCIL MEMBER DEBLASIO: Aye.

 

         14 COUNCIL CLERK: Dilan.

 

         15 COUNCIL MEMBER DILAN: Aye on all.

 

         16 COUNCIL CLERK: Felder.

 

         17 (No response.)

 

         18 COUNCIL CLERK: Fidler.

 

         19 COUNCIL MEMBER FIDLER: Aye on all.

 

         20 COUNCIL CLERK: Foster.

 

         21 COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER: Aye on all.

 

         22 COUNCIL CLERK: Gennaro.

 

         23 COUNCIL MEMBER GENNARO: Aye.

 

         24 COUNCIL CLERK: Gentile.

 

         25 COUNCIL MEMBER GENTILE: Aye on all.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            40

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 COUNCIL CLERK: Gerson.

 

          3 COUNCIL MEMBER GERSON: Aye on all.

 

          4 COUNCIL CLERK: Gioia.

 

          5 COUNCIL MEMBER GIOIA: Yes on all.

 

          6 COUNCIL CLERK: Gonzalez.

 

          7 COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ: Aye on all.

 

          8 COUNCIL CLERK: Jackson.

 

          9 COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON: Aye on all.

 

         10 COUNCIL CLERK: James.

 

         11 COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES: Aye on all.

 

         12 COUNCIL CLERK: Jennings.

 

         13 COUNCIL MEMBER JENNINGS: Aye on all.

 

         14 COUNCIL CLERK: Katz.

 

         15 COUNCIL MEMBER KATZ: Aye on all.

 

         16 COUNCIL CLERK: Koppell.

 

         17 COUNCIL MEMBER KOPPELL: Mr. Majority

 

         18 Leader, I would like to be recorded aye on all of

 

         19 the Land Use Call-Ups, and with the permission of my

 

         20 colleagues, to be recorded aye on all matters on the

 

         21 General Orders Calendar. I have a personal

 

         22 obligation which requires that I leave early with

 

         23 permission of the members.

 

         24 Thank you.

 

         25 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: So ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            41

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 COUNCIL CLERK: Lanza.

 

          3 COUNCIL MEMBER LANZA: Aye.

 

          4 COUNCIL CLERK: Liu.

 

          5 COUNCIL MEMBER LIU: Yes.

 

          6 COUNCIL CLERK: Lopez.

 

          7 COUNCIL MEMBER LOPEZ: Aye.

 

          8 COUNCIL CLERK: Martinez.

 

          9 (No response.)

 

         10 COUNCIL CLERK: McMahon.

 

         11 COUNCIL MEMBER McMAHON: Aye on all.

 

         12 COUNCIL CLERK: Monserrate.

 

         13 COUNCIL MEMBER MONSERRATE: Aye on

 

         14 all.

 

         15 COUNCIL CLERK: Moskowitz.

 

         16 (No response.)

 

         17 COUNCIL CLERK: Nelson.

 

         18 COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON: Aye on all.

 

         19 COUNCIL CLERK: Palma.

 

         20 COUNCIL MEMBER PALMA: Aye on all.

 

         21 COUNCIL CLERK: Perkins.

 

         22 COUNCIL MEMBER PERKINS: Aye on all.

 

         23 COUNCIL CLERK: Provenzano.

 

         24 COUNCIL MEMBER PROVENZANO: Aye on

 

         25 all.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            42

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 COUNCIL CLERK: Quinn.

 

          3 COUNCIL MEMBER QUINN: Aye on all.

 

          4 COUNCIL CLERK: Recchia.

 

          5 COUNCIL MEMBER RECCHIA: Aye on all.

 

          6 COUNCIL CLERK: Reed.

 

          7 COUNCIL MEMBER REED: Aye on all.

 

          8 COUNCIL CLERK: Reyna.

 

          9 COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA: Aye on all.

 

         10 COUNCIL CLERK: Sanders.

 

         11 COUNCIL MEMBER SANDERS: Aye on all.

 

         12 COUNCIL CLERK: Seabrook.

 

         13 COUNCIL MEMBER SEABROOK: Aye.

 

         14 COUNCIL CLERK: Sears.

 

         15 COUNCIL MEMBER SEARS: Aye.

 

         16 COUNCIL CLERK: Serrano.

 

         17 COUNCIL MEMBER SERRANO: Aye.

 

         18 COUNCIL CLERK: Stewart.

 

         19 COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART: Aye on all.

 

         20 COUNCIL CLERK: Vallone.

 

         21 COUNCIL MEMBER VALLONE: Aye on all.

 

         22 COUNCIL CLERK: Vann.

 

         23 COUNCIL MEMBER VANN: Aye on all.

 

         24 COUNCIL CLERK: Weprin.

 

         25 COUNCIL MEMBER WEPRIN: Aye on all.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            43

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 COUNCIL CLERK: Yassky.

 

          3 (No response.)

 

          4 COUNCIL CLERK: Felder.

 

          5 (No response.)

 

          6 COUNCIL CLERK: Gallagher.

 

          7 COUNCIL MEMBER GALLAGHER: Aye.

 

          8 COUNCIL CLERK: Oddo.

 

          9 COUNCIL MEMBER ODDO: Yes.

 

         10 COUNCIL CLERK: Rivera.

 

         11 COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA: Yes to all.

 

         12 COUNCIL CLERK: Speaker Mr. Miller.

 

         13 SPEAKER MILLER: Aye.

 

         14 MAJORITY LEADER RIVERA: Today's Land

 

         15 Use Call-Ups were adopted by a vote of 47 in the

 

         16 affirmative, zero in the negative.

 

         17 Communication from the Speaker.

 

         18 SPEAKER MILLER: My colleagues, today

 

         19 I am proud to stand with you, ready to override the

 

         20 Mayor's veto and adopt the strongest and most

 

         21 thoughtful lead abatement law in the country.

 

         22 This law will correct the defects of

 

         23 the previous law. For the first time lead dust, the

 

         24 primary source of lead poisoning will be regulated.

 

         25 We know how children are being

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            44

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 poisoned, they're being poisoned by dust.

 

          3 This is the for the first time the

 

          4 City of New York is saying lead dust must be

 

          5 regulated, must be eliminated. We must protect our

 

          6 children.

 

          7 In addition, this law appropriately

 

          8 focuses on primary prevention, because every child

 

          9 who is poisoned is a failure for this City. Every

 

         10 child who has lead poison elevation is a child whose

 

         11 future is being harmed.

 

         12 We have to focus on primary

 

         13 prevention, and this law does that, directing

 

         14 resources to troubled buildings, not just to fix

 

         15 current problems, but to prevent children from

 

         16 becoming sick in the first place.

 

         17 This law gives responsible landlords

 

         18 the flexibility they need to comply with reasonable

 

         19 time lines, and the ability to use their own trained

 

         20 staff to fix nearly every problem that may arise.

 

         21 But the law also cracks down on

 

         22 irresponsible landlords who do not keep their

 

         23 buildings in good shape, and as a result place

 

         24 children at risk of long life health affects of lead

 

         25 poisoning.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            45

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 Over an extremely lengthy hearing

 

          3 process, I met personally with doctors and health

 

          4 professionals who treat the same children we are

 

          5 trying now to protect, and will indeed protect

 

          6 today.

 

          7 These doctors have endorsed this

 

          8 legislation, and applauded the Council for taking

 

          9 such a bold step to protect the City's most

 

         10 vulnerable.

 

         11 There are indeed some who have

 

         12 criticized this bill, claiming that it will drive

 

         13 away insurance and imperil affordable housing.

 

         14 They speculate, however, without any

 

         15 evidence or real basis in fact, that it will make

 

         16 finding housing more difficult. In fact, we

 

         17 carefully reviewed these issues during our

 

         18 environmental review and during the hearing process

 

         19 and the Council is not turning a blind eye to these

 

         20 concerns, but we cannot base sound public policy on

 

         21 mere speculation.

 

         22 It is not, it is not beyond our grasp

 

         23 to provide both affordable housing and safe,

 

         24 affordable housing.

 

         25 I am extremely disappointed that the

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            46

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 Mayor vetoed this legislation. His veto would lead

 

          3 countless of the City's most poor and most

 

          4 defenseless and most vulnerable without protection.

 

          5 Today the Council corrects that

 

          6 wrong, and together we speak on behalf of those

 

          7 whose voice does not often reach City Hall, and it's

 

          8 important to remember that while progress has been

 

          9 made, lead poisoning rates are still an epidemic in

 

         10 this City.

 

         11 When 5,000 children are poisoned each

 

         12 year, we cannot say that enough has been done, and,

 

         13 of course, the reality is that testing rates are so

 

         14 low that countless children whose lives and futures

 

         15 have been irreparably harmed, go undetected every

 

         16 year.

 

         17 We cannot turn a blind eye to this

 

         18 public health crisis. This is the right bill. It's

 

         19 the right time for us to enact it. In fact it's

 

         20 overdue, and we must take every step that we can to

 

         21 protect these children.

 

         22 I'm proud of the Council, and I want

 

         23 to particularly thank Deputy Majority Leader Bill

 

         24 Perkins, the sponsor of this bill for his hard work,

 

         25 and I want to thank all of my colleagues here for

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            47

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 standing up for what is right and protecting the

 

          3 children of this City for what I believe is the most

 

          4 thoughtful, most effective, most rational, most

 

          5 enforceable piece of legislation in the country to

 

          6 protect children from the terrible devastating

 

          7 affects of lead poisoning. And at this point I'd

 

          8 like to ask the Deputy Majority Leader Bill Perkins

 

          9 to say a few words on the subject as well.

 

         10 COUNCIL MEMBER PERKINS: Thank you

 

         11 very much, Speaker for this time and for your

 

         12 support in getting us to this point, and I want to

 

         13 also thank my colleagues who have stood strong in

 

         14 the face of some very, very difficult negotiations

 

         15 and attacks on you personally and on us

 

         16 institutionally, as was evidenced this last two days

 

         17 by advertisements in local newspapers.

 

         18 Let me say that today we give the

 

         19 children in the row houses of our City the same

 

         20 health protection as those who live in the

 

         21 townhouses of Manhattan.

 

         22 We will end lead poisoning as we know

 

         23 it. I simply do not buy the logic that the only

 

         24 alternative children have to lead in their homes is

 

         25 no home at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            48

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 The notion that one can care about

 

          3 the health and safety of children or one can care

 

          4 about affordable housing but not both is an insult.

 

          5 The claim that insurance will dry up for new housing

 

          6 development is a boogieman tactic. Not a single

 

          7 insurance company testified to that effect, nor has

 

          8 a single company contacted my office, or I dare say

 

          9 even the Speaker's office.

 

         10 The Mayor is just plain wrong on this

 

         11 one, and the thousands of children of color who are

 

         12 poisoned each year deserve better.

 

         13 This is the month in which we

 

         14 acknowledge black history, and in that

 

         15 acknowledgment we recognize that it has been a

 

         16 history of struggle to expand and to include. And,

 

         17 so, today we are proud that Dr. King's arch of

 

         18 justice bends finally towards the children of the

 

         19 lead belt.

 

         20 I want to thank my colleagues for

 

         21 their support. I want to thank my Speaker for his

 

         22 leadership in this regard, and I'm confident that

 

         23 this bill will be a bill for our children and will

 

         24 not hurt out city one iota.

 

         25 Thank you very much.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            49

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 SPEAKER MILLER: My colleagues, we are

 

          3 also overriding another veto of an important piece

 

          4 of legislation, electronic death registry system

 

          5 legislation. It would bring relief to families who

 

          6 in their most difficult times currently have to wait

 

          7 days and weeks and sometimes months for attention

 

          8 for basic service that should have been accomplished

 

          9 years and years ago, and I want to particularly

 

         10 thank the Chair of the Health Committee for her

 

         11 leadership on the subject matter and to say a few

 

         12 words on this legislation.

 

         13 COUNCIL MEMBER QUINN: Thank you for

 

         14 the opportunity, Mr. Speaker.

 

         15 Myself and the Speaker, and Gale

 

         16 Brewer, the Chair of the Information and Technology

 

         17 Committee, in the prior session brought forth a

 

         18 piece of legislation that would require that the

 

         19 City embrace the 21st century, and create a system

 

         20 where funeral directors and families can access

 

         21 death certificates on-line.

 

         22 We had months and months of

 

         23 negotiations led by Council Member Brewer on the

 

         24 bill to try to come up with a version of the bill,

 

         25 this very common sensical bill that the

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            50

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 Administration could support. And after making

 

          3 numerous changes in the bill, still the Bloomberg

 

          4 Administration has needlessly vetoed this

 

          5 initiative.

 

          6 And what this bill will do very

 

          7 specifically is allow funeral directors and will

 

          8 require the Department of Health to create a system

 

          9 by which funeral directors can access death

 

         10 certificates on-line.

 

         11 Presently, believe it or not, every

 

         12 funeral director, whenever there is a death, has to

 

         13 go to 125 Worth Street to get a copy of a death

 

         14 certificate.

 

         15 And if an error has been made, the

 

         16 family has to get the funeral director to go back to

 

         17 125 Worth Street and get an updated copy. This

 

         18 sometimes prevents families from moving forward with

 

         19 burial or closing estates. Sometimes we've heard

 

         20 reports of as much as six months to a year more than

 

         21 is necessary.

 

         22 The Administration says they don't

 

         23 like this initiative because it has time frames

 

         24 built into it, but sadly, a number of years ago the

 

         25 City got a $5 million grant from IBM to create an

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            51

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 electronic death registry system. That $5 million

 

          3 lead to absolutely nothing. No system at all. So,

 

          4 through their real failure to implement and spend

 

          5 money wisely, the Department of Health has made it

 

          6 clear that we must put time lines in place,

 

          7 otherwise they will not deliver a system that makes

 

          8 sense, would help funeral directors, most

 

          9 importantly would help people in their deepest time

 

         10 of need.

 

         11 And just lastly, I want to say for

 

         12 funeral directors who do not want to engage in

 

         13 electronic death certificates, the bill only

 

         14 requires that 75 percent compliance by funeral

 

         15 directors. So it does leave the option for those who

 

         16 do not want to do electronic death registry. This is

 

         17 a very common sensical idea. It shouldn't have come

 

         18 to a veto. I want to thank the Speaker, and

 

         19 particularly Council Member Brewer for her advocacy

 

         20 on this, and I urge my colleagues to override the

 

         21 veto. It was unanimously overridden by the Health

 

         22 Committee last week.

 

         23 SPEAKER MILLER: That concludes the

 

         24 Communication from the Speaker, Madam Public

 

         25 Advocate.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            52

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Discussion

 

          3 of General Orders.

 

          4 Council Member Barron.

 

          5 COUNCIL MEMBER BARRON: Thank you,

 

          6 Madam Public Advocate.

 

          7 The Mayor should be ashamed of

 

          8 himself on this issue, and I just want to echo the

 

          9 remarks that I've heard the Majority Leader make,

 

         10 Joel Rivera, but once again it seems that the Mayor

 

         11 is not interested in not leaving no child behind,

 

         12 but not leaving no millionaire behind. And it seems

 

         13 as though his interest is with another class of

 

         14 people, and I am personally offended that 80 to 90

 

         15 percent of the children that will be affected by

 

         16 lead poison will be children of color. And this

 

         17 Mayor is vetoing a bill that my colleagues sat down

 

         18 with him and had 20 changes in the bill to try to

 

         19 get him to come on board.

 

         20 He needs to visit and see the impact

 

         21 of lead poisoning on our children. For him to veto

 

         22 this bill is a disgrace to this City.

 

         23 Every family of goodwill should be

 

         24 outraged, but particularly families of color that

 

         25 never forget what this Mayor has done and what he

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            53

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 thinks about our children.

 

          3 I want to respect and give all the

 

          4 encouragement and praise to Council Member Bill

 

          5 Perkins, for the work that he's done, and all the

 

          6 battling that he had to do, and all of the bogus

 

          7 charges we're going to create homelessness, we're

 

          8 going to create insurance companies not wanting to

 

          9 give non-profits money for insurance for affordable

 

         10 housing, all bogus charges to protect the real

 

         11 estate interests in this City. I want my colleagues

 

         12 to override this strongly, send a strong message to

 

         13 this Mayor that you need to be more concerned about

 

         14 the children.

 

         15 As a matter of fact, if he would show

 

         16 Snapple, and getting $166 million to give our

 

         17 children colored sugar water, which is not healthy

 

         18 for us, if he showed that same concern with

 

         19 protecting our babies from lead poison, this would

 

         20 be a better town. Thank you.

 

         21 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Council

 

         22 Member Oddo.

 

         23 COUNCIL MEMBER ODDO: Thank you.

 

         24 Subsequent to the Council's vote on

 

         25 101-A, in December the New York Times did a story

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            54

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 written by David Chen on December 21st, a front-page

 

          3 story in the metro section, and the headline was

 

          4 "One Housing World Gives Way To Another," talked

 

          5 about the lack of affordable housing, housing in New

 

          6 York City, and it highlighted a report that was

 

          7 issued a couple of days later of the state of New

 

          8 York City's housing in neighborhoods by the Furhman

 

          9 Center For Real Estate and Urban Policy, and it

 

         10 talked in that report about the long-term, the jump

 

         11 in long-term delinquencies on property taxes. And

 

         12 the author in the report stated he didn't know if it

 

         13 was a blip or he didn't know if it was an early

 

         14 warning sign that we have a weakness in the housing

 

         15 stock. And in it they talked about, well, what would

 

         16 be causing this? And they talked about property tax

 

         17 increase and they talked about rising insurance

 

         18 costs. I've heard from my colleagues, and we've

 

         19 heard from the lead sponsor of the bill again today

 

         20 how the fact that no one from the insurance industry

 

         21 came and testified on this bill, but, you know,

 

         22 let's look at the reality.

 

         23 No one from the insurance industry

 

         24 was going to come in here, get no benefit by

 

         25 testifying on this bill, paint a bull's eye on his

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            55

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 back, and the reality is that large insurers don't

 

          3 issue lead protection. And it falls upon a small

 

          4 group of very small companies, that have the ability

 

          5 to apply to the State Department of Insurance for

 

          6 Exclusion and I think the record should reflect that

 

          7 some companies are in that process of getting out of

 

          8 the insurance business in terms of lead. That has a

 

          9 chilling effect on affordable housing in this City.

 

         10 This is a bill of unintended

 

         11 consequences and when Charles gets his 32 percent up

 

         12 and becomes Mayor, I'll still be in this Council

 

         13 along with my colleagues and we'll have to deal with

 

         14 lead again.

 

         15 We had an opportunity, a fleeting

 

         16 moment to take limited resources and put it in the

 

         17 target areas, and we should have acted with the

 

         18 precision of a scalpel, not with a chainsaw. And my

 

         19 only hope is that when lead comes back to the City

 

         20 Council, we'll get it done the right way then.

 

         21 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Council

 

         22 Member Brewer.

 

         23 COUNCIL MEMBER BREWER: Thank you very

 

         24 much. I want to rise to support the electronic death

 

         25 registration system override, which I think you

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            56

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 will, but I want to mention Christine Quinn and her

 

          3 Committee and also the Speaker, the funeral industry

 

          4 and Stephen Schwartz at the Health Department, all

 

          5 of whom I think are trying to put together a very

 

          6 sophisticated, complicated system so that families

 

          7 in a horrible time in their lives are able to have

 

          8 the best possible access to government.

 

          9 But I do think it is very unfortunate

 

         10 that the technology Mayor is upset that there are

 

         11 deadlines for implementing technology, because

 

         12 that's why this bill was vetoed because there are

 

         13 deadlines.

 

         14 And as Council Member Oddo has said

 

         15 many times, I guess Fresh Kills would not be closed

 

         16 if it wasn't for deadlines. So, I thank you, Council

 

         17 Member about reminding us for the need for

 

         18 deadlines.

 

         19 So, I ask everyone to support the

 

         20 override on electronic death registration system.

 

         21 Thank you.

 

         22 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Council

 

         23 Member DeBlasio.

 

         24 COUNCIL MEMBER DeBLASIO: Thank you,

 

         25 Madam Public Advocate.

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            57

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 First of all, I want to thank the

 

          3 Speaker and our Deputy Majority Leader Bill Perkins

 

          4 for their incredible work on the lead paint bill.

 

          5 And I just want to amplify, I want to amplify

 

          6 something the Speaker was mentioning. I don't think

 

          7 we have seen a bill that has gone through more

 

          8 scrutiny and more effort and more testimony. I think

 

          9 there is not a single nook or crannie of this bill

 

         10 that wasn't looked at and analyzed where every

 

         11 single possible voice was not at the table, and I

 

         12 feel absolutely certain that all the constituencies

 

         13 affected were involved in the process in the

 

         14 discussion. I think it was really an exemplary case

 

         15 of trying to bring in every possible position and

 

         16 crafting a very careful and precise final version of

 

         17 the bill, and I give the Speaker and Bill Perkins

 

         18 and their staffs a lot of credit with how carefully

 

         19 drawn this bill was.

 

         20 I want to urge all my colleagues to

 

         21 join in overriding the Mayor's veto.

 

         22 I also want to mention on the

 

         23 resolution defending our civil liberties, that we

 

         24 are going to do something today in New York City

 

         25 which will really have a national effect -- I'm

 

 

 

 

 

 




                                                            58

 

 

          1 STATED COUNCIL MEETING

 

          2 sorry, I'm out of order.

 

          3 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: I'm sorry,

 

          4 Council member, that's a different part of the

 

          5 agenda.

 

          6 COUNCIL MEMBER DeBLASIO: My apologies

 

          7 to the Speaker and the Public Advocate. I'll get you

 

          8 later on that. Thank you.

 

          9 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Apology

 

         10 accepted.

 

         11 Seeing nobody else, Report of Special

 

         12 Committees.

 

         13 COUNCIL CLERK CHERRY: None.

 

         14 PUBLIC ADVOCATE GOTBAUM: Reports of