1250 Broadway, 27th Floor New York, NY 10001

FIGHTFRAUDNYC

 

Dear Lucas,
I wanted to take a moment to update you on my newest responsibility in the City Council:  I am happy to announce that earlier today, my colleagues elected me to chair the Committee on Consumer Affairs.

As my first order of business, I have set up an email tip line -- FightFraudNYC@gmail.com -- for consumers to report complaints, scams, questionable business practices or areas for the committee to delve into in its oversight hearings. I have also formulated a number of priority areas that I want to explore, including debt collection, pedicabs, street fairs, bedbugs, street vendors and renters' rights.

Tomorrow, I will be chairing my first oversight hearing, on "debt settlement" companies -- firms that negotiate with a consumer's creditors to accept a lump sum payment for less than the total amount of debt. These companies often charge a fee for their services, whether or not negotiations have begun or are ultimately successful. Join us at 250 Broadway at 1:00 p.m. for this hearing. 

Tell me:  what areas of consumer affairs would you like to see as priorities?  Respond to this email, write to me at FightFraudNYC@gmail.com , find me on Facebook or Twitter (@dangarodnick), or call my office at (212) 788-7393.


My new role means I must relinquish my chairmanship of the Technology Committee, but I went out on a high note:  today's meeting of the City Council was the first to be streamed live on the web.  This is a great breakthrough for open government and for encouraging New Yorkers to participate in public affairs.  Going forward, all stated meetings of the Council (meetings of the full 51-member body) will be streamed live at http://council.nyc.gov/live .  I hope you will tune in and I look forward to hearing from you.





Daniel R. Garodnick

211 East 43rd Street, Suite 2004
New York, NY 10017
(212) 818-0580

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