Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Holds Public Hearings for and Signs Intros. 871-A, 1149-A, 868-A, 851-B, 775-A and 1223; Holds Public Hearings for Intros. 1122-A, 1123-A and 1128-A

June 28, 2016

Mayor: I just wanted to say we got a lot to do today. I wanted to say a few things upfront because it’s a very important day for over a million-and-a-half New Yorkers who live in rent-stabilized housing. This is a very important day and a very good day. And I want to thank the members of the Rent Guidelines Board for the action they took last night. They work very hard to come up with these decisions. It was a decision obviously that has a huge impact on the lives of so many New Yorkers. I want to thank them for a careful and smart process and for the decision to go ahead with a rent freeze for a one-year lease, two percent increase for a two-year lease.

It was based on a real recognition of the truth – the facts about costs that affect our landlords and a careful consideration of those costs done in a way, I think, is very, very admirable. And also taking into account the reality our tenants face in this city. So for over a million-and-a-half New Yorkers they get to breathe a sigh of relief as they deal with the challenge of making ends-meet in this city.

This is the second year in a row that there has been a zero for a one-year lease and a two percent for a two-year lease. I’ve said throughout the day, I urge all New Yorkers who are in rent-stabilized housing and who have their leases coming up after October 1st – that’s what this will apply to – I urge you to look carefully at that two-year option because that does give you security for two years obviously at a very modest increase. The Rent Guidelines Board is going to make the decision each year based on the specific facts and the specific numbers before it. So we don’t know what next year will bring, but we do know that both of these are very good options – the one-year and the two-year are very good options – for our tenants in the here-and-now.

The fuel costs that went down so precipitously were a real important part of this equation. We’ve seen that start to change a little bit going forward, but in terms of the decision of the Board last night, they looked at the last year and saw very reduced fuel costs. That was a very important part of their decision making.

Going forward, this kind of action is part of a bigger package of things that we have done and will do to keep this city affordable in combination with our overall affordable housing program to build and preserve 200,000 affordable apartments – enough for half-a-million New Yorkers, our efforts to protect public housing for 400,000 New Yorkers who live in NYCHA, our efforts to end illegal evictions – and we’ve seen evictions go down 24 percent in the two years – all of these pieces fit together as part of the effort to protect affordability in this city.

Let me just say a couple of words in Spanish on that, and then we’ll go into the hearing in a moment.

[Mayor speaks in Spanish]

Mayor: With that I now want to turn to the hearing. We have a number of pieces of legislation before us.

Our first bill builds on our efforts to ensure the fairness and equality across our city, and this mean ensuring that every New Yorker has safe and equal access to bathrooms regardless of their gender identity. Intro. 871-A requires that single occupant bathrooms be available to people of any gender. Co-sponsors are Councilmembers Danny Dromm and Councilmember Cory Johnson.

In New York City we respect the rights of everyone regardless of gender, religion, immigration, or sexual orientation, and those rights are protected by our Human Rights Law – one of the strongest in the nation.

As chairman of the general welfare committee back in 2002, I was proud to help pass the Gender-Based Discrimination Protection law. That law made it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their gender-identity or expression regardless of their sex assigned at birth. That law has helped protect over 25,000 transgender and gender non-conforming New Yorkers. We wanted to go farther.

Earlier this year, through executive order, we affirmed the right of every New Yorker to use the bathroom that fits their identity. Today, we go farther still. This bill removes the words female or male from – as designations – for single occupant bathrooms. Instead these facilities will have a sign indicating that any person can use them. This takes us yet another step towards becoming a place where all can live in dignity free from fear and free from judgement.

I want to thank Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Human Rights Chair Carmelyn Malalis, Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler, Councilmember Cory Johnson, Councilmember and Chair of the committee that heard the bill, Jumaane Williams – and now introduce Director of the Commission on Gender Equity, Azi Khalili.

[Applause]

[…]

Alright, let’s sign the bill.

[Mayor de Blasio signs Intro. 871-A into law]
This bill is now law.

[Applause]

Mayor: Okay, the next bill codifies the important work our Landmarks Preservation Commission does to bring greater clarity, transparency, and efficiency to the landmark designation process. Intro. 775-A creates time frames for the landmark designation process – one year for individual landmarks and two years for historic districts.

Sponsors are Councilmember Peter Koo and Councilmember David Greenfield. When this bill was originally introduced, we had concerns about a moratorium that would prevent the Landmarks Preservation Commission from reconsidering a property or district for five years if it was not completed by the deadline. The Council agreed to remove the moratorium and we are grateful to them for working with us to address our concerns.

We believe having a clear, consistent timeframe for designating a landmark as we already have for other City land-use processes is good for everyone. Property owners will have greater certainly about the prospects for their land. And advocates and community members will see the properties they love get the protections they need in a timely manner.

Since we came into office, it’s taken an average of just two months for a landmark to go from a proposal to a designation. The timeframes laid out by this bill are therefore consistent with the work we’ve already been doing. And most importantly, a property or district can be reconsidered for designation at any time.

I want to thank Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. And now, it’s my pleasure to introduce the Chair of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Meenakshi – I’m going to say it right –Srinivasan.

Did I get my accent in the right place?

[Laughter]

[Applause]

[…]

Thank you for your very kind comments.

Okay, let’s sign the bill.

[Mayor de Blasio signs Intro. 775-A into law]

This bill is now law.

[Applause]

Mayor: Okay, next we have a bill that is good for consumers, good for public safety, and good for our economy. Intro. 1149-A requires ticket sellers operating in public spaces to be licensed by the Department of Consumer Affairs. The sponsor is Councilmember Dan Garodnick.

As our city grows and we welcome a record number of tourists, we’re committed to creating a marketplace that’s safe and fair for everyone. We won’t tolerate ticket sellers who threaten or intimidate or obstruct pedestrians, and that means New Yorkers and tourists alike.

This bill requires that anyone who wants sell tickets to a, for example, a Broadway show or a sunset cruise or a site seeing tour, that they must buy a $45 annual license. It also requires ticket sellers to wear their licenses openly so consumers know whether or not they’re working with a legitimate seller.

Make no mistake – we don’t want prevent ticket sellers from earning a living but those who don’t play by the rules – for example selling tickets without a license or scamming or harassing ticket buyers – must be held accountable.

This bill will give our city the tools to do just that. DCA will have the authority to revoke a license if an applicant has unanswered summonses or unpaid fines or penalties two times in a year. DCA will also be able to suspend a license if the holder poses a danger to the public.

I want to thank Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton; Council member Rafael Espinal Chair of the Committee on Consumer Affairs.

Now, it’s my pleasure to introduce the newest member of the team – this is her first bill signing – our new Consumer Affairs Commissioner Lorelei Solis.

[Applause]

Welcome.

[…]

Alright, let’s sign the bill.

[Mayor de Blasio signs Intro. 1149-A into law]

This bill is now law.

[Applause]

Mayor: This next bill will build on our city’s continued efforts to ensure the highest standards of public safety. Intro. 868-A requires the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications in conjunction with the NYPD and the FDNY to issue an annual report on Next Generation 911. Co-prime sponsors are Councilmember Laurie Cumbo, Councilmember Mark Levine, and Councilmember Vanessa Gibbons.

Next Generation 911 is a national effort to improve emergency communications infrastructure in an increasingly mobile society. We’re developing plans to upgrade our 911 system to one that will allow the public to send photos, videos, and text message to emergency responders. These upgrades will improve the way all new Yorkers – including those who are deaf and hard of hearing – communicate with 911 and emergency responders.

This bill will help us track these efforts by requiring us to report on our plans and their implementation. When Next Generation 911 has been fully implemented, a final report will be issued. Safety is our top priority and preparing for further advances in technology will ensure New Yorkers have the high-quality, life-saving services they deserve and can rely on.

I want to thank Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Commissioner Bill Bratton, Commissioner Dan Nigro, Councilmember Vanessa Gibson, Councilmember Mark Levin, and now it’s my pleasure to introduce DOITT Commissioner Anne Roest.

[…]

Okay, let’s sign this bill.

[Mayor de Blasio signs Intro. 868-A into law]

This bill is now law.

[Applause]

Mayor: Our next bill protects commercial tenants from harassment. Intro. 851-B creates a provide right of action for commercial tenants who suffer harassment by landlords. Sponsor is Councilmember Robert Cornegy, Chair of the Committee on Small Business.

When we talk about tenant harassment, we’re often talking about people who rent apartments. We don’t talk as often about the people who rent space to make a living. But it’s up to us to protect New Yorkers where they live and where they work. Our small businesses are not only engines of our economy – they are an essential part of our city’s character.

This bill protects them by making clear what constitutes and what doesn’t constitute tenant harassment. A landlord may not interrupt services he is required to provide like heat or hot water with the intent to cause a tenant to vacate. If a judge finds that a commercial tenant has been harassed in this way, the landlord will face civil penalties ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, and the tenant may be awarded attorney’s fees.

This bill is one more tool that will help us hold bad landlords accountable and keep our small businesses strong. I want to thank Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and also want to thank Councilmember Helen Rosenthal, who has joined us. Thank you so much.

And now it’s my pleasure to introduce Small Business Services Commissioner Greg Bishop.

[…]

Let’s sign this bill.

[Mayor de Blasio signs Intro. 851-B into law]

This bill is now law.

[Applause]

Mayor: Next, Intro. 1223 extends the effective date of our local law that requires certain stores to charge a five-cent fee for every single-use carry out bag. It changes the effective date from October 1, 2016 to February 15, 2017. It also moves the six-month warning period – a time when the stores who don’t comply are issued warnings instead of fines – to February 15, 2017 through August 15, 2017.  Co-prime sponsors are Councilmember Brad Lander, Margaret Chin, and Antonio Reynoso, and Public Advocate Tish James.

This bill is a part of our effort to encourage New Yorkers to bring reusable carry-out bags when they go to the store. Every year New Yorkers throw away billions of plastic bags and the City pays millions of dollars to send them landfills. That’s a status quo we must change and urgently.

Sometimes a little extra time goes a long way and allows us to be as effective as possible. With this extension we’ll have more time to educate the public as well as other lawmakers about why this legislation is so important for our present and our future.

I want to thank Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Sanitation Commissioner Katheryn Garcia, Consumer Affairs Commissioner Lorelai Salas, DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd, Councilmember Brad Lander, Councilmember and Chair Antonio Reynoso, Public Advocate Tish James.

And now I’d like to introduce the Director of the Office of Sustainability Nilda Mesa.

[…]

Let’s sign this bill.

[Mayor de Blasio signs Intro. 1223 into law]

This bill is now law.

[Applause]

Mayor: We will now – finally we will hear three bills that I will sign at a later date. They recognize that feminine hygiene products are a necessity not a luxury. Intro. 1122-A codifies existing practices at the Department of Corrections by ensuring that all female inmates have access to feminine hygiene products. Sponsors are Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Councilmember Julissa Ferreras-Copeland.

Intro. 1123-A requires DCAS to make feminine hygiene products available to agencies that operate or oversee the providers who operate temporary shelters. That includes DHS, family and single adult women shelters, HIV/AIDS Services Administrations shelters, and HRA domestic violence shelters. Sponsors are Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Councilmember Steve Levin.

DCAS will also be required to make these products available in ACS secured detention facility and congregant care facilities.

Intro 1128-A requires the Department of Education to make feminine hygiene products available in school bathrooms at no cost to students. The sponsors are Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Councilmember Julissa Ferreras-Copeland.

I look forward to signing these bills soon. I want to thank Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Chancellor of the Department of Education Carmen Farina, Corrections Commissioner Joe Ponte, Social Services Commissioner Steve Banks, ACS Commissioner Gladys Carrion, Councilmember Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, and Councilmember Steve Levin.

Now it’s my pleasure to introduce the Director of the Commission on Gender Equity Azi Khalili.

[…]

[Mayor speaks in Spanish]

With that I want to thank everyone for being a part of this hearing, and the hearing is adjourned.