Council Member Daniel R. Garodnick
Dear Lucas,
Last week, I introduced my first two bills of this new local legislative session -- one curbs anonymous campaigning in City elections, and the other creates clearer standards for the city to grant a variance for late night or weekend construction work.
Curbing Anonymous Campaign Mail
New York City has one of the nation's leading campaign finance programs, but when it comes to disclosure of political communications, we are behind.
In federal elections, candidates are required to include a simple "Paid for by" disclosure on all political communications, but no requirement exists at the City level. This bill will close that loophole, and require disclosure on all political communications in New York City -- something that is already required for independent expenditures.
There should be no mystery about the source of mailers or television advertisements on behalf of a candidate. It is my further hope that having to put one's name on communications will create an incentive for more productive and less negative campaigning.
The New York Times wrote about this bill earlier this week, and you can read the article here.
More Transparency for After Hour Work Variances
On February 4, Council Member Mendez and I re-introduced a bill from last term to add clarity and curb after hours variances. My office has received an uptick in complaints over the past few years regarding early morning, late night, and weekend construction.
The City's noise code designates working hours of 7AM to 6PM Monday through Friday, but anyone who has lived near a construction site knows that work can happen at all hours of the day and on the weekends as well. Any work taking place outside these regular construction hours must be approved by the Department of Buildings, and is listed on their site as an "after hours variance."
It is often unclear why the Department of Buildings permits work outside normal construction hours. This bill would limit the categories of work under which one can obtain an after hours variance, and would require more transparency when this type of work is permitted.
We look forward to a hearing on this important bill, which we hope will address quality of life concerns, while balancing the need for construction to occur in a timely manner.
Other News from the City Council
- On January 8, 2014, the City Council elected a new speaker -- Melissa Mark-Viverito. Speaker Mark-Viverito and I have worked closely together over the past 8 years – we're neighbors in the Council and have many issues that overlap between our districts – and I know we will continue to collaborate on areas of mutual concern.
- Also, in case you missed it, the New York Times ran a profile on me on January 5. You can read it here.
- Two weeks ago, the Council elected me to serve as Chair of the Economic Development Committee. I look forward to finding new ways to grow and diversify New York City's economy so that we are less reliant on the fortunes of Wall Street for our success. It needs to be our highest priority to ensure that New York is a place where businesses can flourish, and where government is a help rather than a hindrance.
- I spoke about my goals for the upcoming term with Our Town newspaper, which you can read here.
District 4 Updates
- New District Lines: As I start my final term representing the Fourth District in the City Council, my district includes some new parts of Manhattan. It now includes nearly all of Turtle Bay and a wide swath of Midtown, from 28th Street to 59th Street, up to Broadway. If you know someone who lives in that area who may not be on our email list, please invite them to reach out to us! You can find the updated map on my website here.
- Snow Response: During the height of last month's storm, and even a full 24 hours later, there were problems with snow removal on the Upper East Side. My office received an influx of calls and emails from concerned residents. Cars were getting stuck the next day, even on the main avenues. It took longer than it should have to resolve these issues. I have asked Mayor de Blasio for a complete assessment of what happened along with his plans to prevent a repeat situation.
- Quality of Life Forum: I am moderating a forum with Council Member Rosie Mendez and the Kips Bay Neighborhood Alliance this Thursday, February 13 at 6:30 PM. Join us to discuss street safety, communication with City agencies, and other important issues. You can find more information about this event here.
- 57th Street Forum: I am co-sponsoring a panel discussion with Community Board 5 on the future of 57th Street and the impact of new development on our public spaces. Panelists include: Warren St. John (former Times reporter and columnist), Gary Barnett (President, Extell Development Company), Margaret Newman (Executive Director, Municipal Arts Society) and Michael Kwartler (Architect & Urban Planner). Join us on Wednesday, February 19th at 6PM at the Museum of Art and Design (2 Columbus Circle). You can RSVP here.
There is a lot more on tap for us this coming year. I will keep you updated on important votes at the City Council and the Mayor's preliminary budget which we expect within the week. We also will work to revisit the plan to rezone East Midtown in a way that makes sense, and I look forward to a continued conversation about this.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me or a member of my staff if we can ever be useful to you. You can reach us at 212-818-0580 or via www.garodnick.com.
Dan