Statement Regarding the Incident at Capobianco Field
June 29, 2009
Many Roosevelt Island residents have contacted my office to express their concern about an incident that took place on May 31st at Capobianco Field. According to reports I have received, the Public Safety officers at the scene of the May 31st incident did not effectively mediate the dispute, and may instead have played a role in unnecessarily escalating it. While I did not witness the incident, I share the concerns of residents regarding the role of Public Safety officers in this, and other disputes, as well as the obvious unresolved problems relating to use of the ball field.
If it is found that Public Safety officers acted inappropriately, I expect them to be disciplined. No matter what, I expect the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) and the Public Safety Department (PSD) to take steps to ensure that PSD officers are properly trained to respond constructively to disputes and act as mediators and not belligerents. In the longer term, I am working on legislation to create a civilian review complaint board that will bring community oversight to police officers employed by public agencies, ensuring greater accountability on the part of PSD and other similar security forces.
The incident was covered extensively by local Roosevelt Island media, including the Roosevelt Island 360 and Roosevelt Islander blogs, and in an article published by the Main Street WIRE.
On June 4th, Council Member Jessica Lappin and I wrote to RIOC President Steve Shane, expressing our shared concerns on these matters and requesting a meeting to further discuss the incident. I have posted a copy of that letter in the Publications section of my website. I will continue to keep you updated on this serious matter.
Calling for a Rent Freeze
June 22, 2009
Last week, I told the New York City Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) that in a time of economic crisis, when New York’s middle class is struggling to keep its head above water, there should be no rent increases for tenants in rent-stabilized apartments.
Last year, the RGB approved astoundingly large rent increases on rent-stabilized tenants and slapped long-term tenants with an outrageous supplemental increase, as if it were singling out for special punishment those who have lived in their communities the longest.
This year, the RGB once again looks set to close its eyes to the current realities of living in New York, proposing to raise rents in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. What is more, the RGB is contemplating another round of supplemental increases on long-term tenants—apparently seeking to normalize this deeply unfair practice.
The simple fact is that tenants cannot afford a rent increase this year, and landlords cannot justify one. According to the RGB’s 2009 Income and Expense Survey, total landlord income grew by 6.5% from 2006 to 2007, while Net Operating Income (NOI) increased 9.3% during the same period. Adjusted for inflation, the NOI increase jumps to 17.2%. This big rise in landlords’ profit margins means that a rent increase on already-overburdened tenants would be deeply unfair. Landlords were granted a major rent increase last year—they did not need it then and they do not need any more now. The RGB ignored reality last year, and the fact that it looks set to raise rents again this year suggests that it is responding to political pressures, not to the facts. It tells us that the RGB needs to change.
I am co-sponsoring legislation with my colleague Assembly Member George Latimer (A.5282/S.5566-Duane) to bring much-needed reform to the RGB—requiring it to use fair and honest data in its deliberations; preventing landlords with serious violations from collecting rent increases; abolishing the need for lease renewals; and rebalancing the board so that mayoral appointees no longer hold all the power. The RGB must be independent and objective enough to make decisions that are truly fair for all stakeholders. It should not be beholden to this or any other mayor’s political interests.
The RGB has never before approved a rent freeze, but as I told the Board Members, if ever there was a time for a freeze, it is now.
You can read my full testimony by downloading it from the Publications section of my website.
A Message from Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner
June 18, 2009
While the New York State Senate is completely dysfunctional, the Assembly is hard at work doing the people’s business. This week, we held dozens upon dozens of committee meetings and acted on well over 300 bills. Among the important legislation we have passed this week is a measure improving New York City’s school governance by making the mayor and chancellor more accountable and giving parents a greater role in their children’s education, as well as a balanced and fair tax package for the New York City budget which includes relief for freelancers and entrepreneurs, and my own bill expanding the tax credit for wheelchair-accessible taxis.
I am also proud to report that my bill to require that residential tenants who have submetered electricty (A.7867) are provided with annual notice of their right to access the Public Service Commission’s complaint process without going through any other court or arbitration has passed the Assembly. This bill is part of my 5-bill package to reform the way that submetering works for residential rental tenants in New York, which I blogged about in May.
As well, my bill to prohibit the siting of a waste transfer station within 800 feet of a public housing project (A.6829) is advancing in the Assembly and has already been passed by two of the three committees it needs to go through before it can come to the floor. This bill would prevent the City from implementing its disastrous proposal to build a marine transfer station near Asphalt Green in the northern most part of my district.
All of this work is essential to the neighborhoods that I represent, and I am very pleased with this progress. It is therefore doubly disappointing that the bickering in the Senate has prevented that chamber from doing its job, holding up issues of critical importance to our community and to all New Yorkers. All legislators should be accountable to the people–and that means putting the people’s business before personal or professional interest.
Despite the chaos in the Senate, I will leave Albany this month knowing that I’ve done my part to serve the people of New York. I sincerely hope that the Senate can stop its petty fighting over who gets what title, and get back to work on helping our state weather this unprecedented financial storm.
–Micah Z. Kellner
Micah Kellner Recognized as a Rising Star in NYS Politics
June 16, 2009
The Capitol, a monthly newspaper reporting on politics and policy in Albany, publishes its “40 Under 40″ list each year highlighting rising stars in state government and politics. This year, I was honored to be chosen for this prestigious list.
STRANDED: How the TLC is Failing Wheelchair Users
June 7, 2009
Today, I released my report on how the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission is failing wheelchair users. I will post a more detailed summary of the report’s findings later this week, but for now, click the report cover to download the PDF of the report in full.
The release of the report was covered extensively in local media outlets, including in the New York Daily News article that I am posting below:
