Release #086-98

Contact: Colleen Roche 212-788-2958, Dwight Williams (212) 788-2972

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today outlined an ambitious program to further improve New York City's quality of life. In an address titled "The Next Phase of Quality of Life: Creating a More Civil Society," before community and government leaders at Lincoln Center, the Mayor said the City would build on the quality of life improvements implemented over the past four years and announced new initiatives to bolster traffic enforcement, improve taxi safety and standards, curb reckless bicycle riders and reduce noise and litter throughout the five boroughs.

"Over the past four years, we concentrated on quality of life issues as part of our overall goal to create a safer, cleaner and more prosperous City," Mayor Giuliani said. "Quality of life issues were, and will continue to be, part of our overall vision for a better City. The basic principle behind quality of life is consideration of, and respect for, the rights of our fellow citizens. That's the foundation of any city and of any functioning society.

"This is what the idea of a civil society is all about," the Mayor continued. "As I mentioned in my State of the City speech, forging a more civil society is about sharing a commitment to one another and to the City_ about having a basic respect for each other. It's about understanding that our actions have repercussions. What we do has an effect on other people and on the City as a whole. It's our obligation to think about the consequences of our actions.

"A city, and especially a city like New York, should be a place of optimism," the Mayor added. "Quality of life is about focusing on the things that make a difference in the everyday life of all New Yorkers in order to restore this spirit of optimism - a spirit that hardly existed five years ago in New York City."

In order to continue to restore that optimism, the Mayor announced the following strategies:

TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT

"Of these important initiatives, traffic enforcement probably has the greatest potential to save lives... Our streets are relatively safe. Per capita among large cities, we have one of the lowest rates of traffic fatalities in the country. But the number of deaths went up last year, so there still is serious reason for concern. In addition, we have too many pedestrian fatalities. To address this more effectively - not only in consideration of those injured in accidents on our streets but in consideration of all New Yorkers, who simply deserve to feel safe crossing our streets - we will initiate a vigorous, intensified traffic safety plan. Our enforcement philosophy will focus on dangerous driving. I have asked Commissioner Safir and the Police Department to issue a new police strategy to improve traffic safety, to be completed within the next several weeks."

The Police Department will:

• Remind all drivers that there is a speed limit in the City's streets by posting speed limit signs throughout the City, and stepping up enforcement of the speed limit, along with stringent enforcement of all driving rules;
• Publicize and enforce the City speed limit by establishing a "zero tolerance" day for those who exceed the speed limit;
• Expand the Red Light Violation Monitoring Program, so that when cars run red lights, they pay the consequences;
• Install more traffic-calming devices, like speed bumps, in front of schools and senior centers, to ensure that the City's most vulnerable pedestrians are protected;
• Step up DWI enforcement by increasing the number of checkpoints and reminders.

TAXI SAFETY STANDARDS

"Next, we'll step up enforcement at the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Many hard working residents become cab drivers to make a better life for themselves and their families; and they do it with dedication and commitment. But as with any other group -- whether it be politicians, lawyers, police officers, or reporters -- some people act irresponsibly and create a bad reputation for the others. We will make every effort to have cab companies and cab drivers put safety first."

As part of the effort to raise the quality of the City's cab drivers, the City will:

• Introduce State legislation to toughen the standards for getting a Class E or Chauffeur's License (which is required for all cab drivers) from the Department of Motor Vehicles;
• Toughen TLC standards for the issuance of a taxicab operator's "hack" license, and establish a probationary period for new drivers;
• Have the TLC review raising the minimum insurance and liability coverage required by cab owners to higher levels;
• Make it easier for injured taxi passengers or pedestrians to collect damages from corporate medallion owners who try to shield themselves from liability behind shell corporations;
• Test cab drivers for drugs and alcohol, the same as we test bus and subway operators and public school bus operators.

RECKLESS BICYCLE RIDING

"When discussing City streets, the role of bicycles cannot be ignored. The law already prohibits the use of bicycles on sidewalks. The City will fully enforce the existing ordinances and create tougher penalties for anyone riding on the sidewalk."

In an attempt to make our streets even safer, the City will:

• Support legislation requiring large commercial bicycle messenger services to obtain licenses and, as a prerequisite to licensure, to obtain adequate insurance in case their riders injure pedestrians;
• Enforce existing City Council laws requiring bike messengers and delivery people to ride bicycles that clearly identify the business for which they work and to carry photo ID.

NOISE POLLUTION

"The other quality of life problems may not deal directly with matters of life and death, but they are of great concern to the people of the City. Noise pollution, for instance is a major problem. Even in a city as exciting as New York, people should be able to sleep without being disturbed by car alarms, blaring music from a club, or similar annoyances."

In an attempt to bring quiet to neighborhoods, the City will:

• Continue stepped up enforcement of the new noise pollution bill recently signed into law;
• Enforce the law that requires all car alarms to automatically cut off after three minutes;
• Encourage neighborhood car alarm owners to register with their local precinct, so that when their alarm goes off and is creating a nuisance the owner can be notified;
• Continue Operation Last Call, the multi-agency task force designed to address the nuisance of loud nightclubs.

LITTERING

"Just as we've aggressively addressed and will continue to deal with the problem of graffiti, it is time to accelerate our enforcement against those who litter. Again, this is a question of having respect for other people, respect for the community, and respect for the common space we share.

"Beyond whatever initiatives the City will implement, to make the greatest progress against littering, communities need to mobilize against this offense and take pride in their public spaces. It's a snowball effect. The more people who drop a cigarette box or gum wrapper on the street today, the more people will tend to litter tomorrow. And, conversely, the more people who pick up trash today and instill a feeling of pride in their neighborhoods, the fewer people will litter tomorrow."

In concluding his remarks today, the Mayor called on restoring civility between City workers and New Yorkers and said he would expand Commissioner Safir's Courtesy, Professionalism and Respect Program, modified for the needs of other agencies, to certain agencies in direct contact with the public. "The job of City employees is to serve the people. So in dealing with the public, City employees must set an example of civil and professional behavior. From the top down, and from the bottom up, we will reinforce this sense of civility. At the same time, we expect the same respect from City residents. The only way respect truly flourishes is when it is mutual," the Mayor concluded.