Video Shows TLC’s Failure to Require Accessibility for NYC Cabs
July 27, 2010
Recently, I posted about the hearing I held on July 14th focusing on the need for New York City’s taxi fleet to be completely accessible to people with disabilities.
Below is a video clip from the hearing, in which Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Yassky discusses how the TLC’s Taxi of Tomorrow Request for Proposal (RFP) does not make accessibility a requirement in vehicle designs, only a goal. My bill (A.7842) would mandate a 100% accessible taxi fleet by requiring that after June 30, 2011, taxi owners may put only accessible cabs into service when replacing old vehicles.
You can access video footage of the entire hearing here.
Hearing Exposes Failure of TLC to Make Cabs Accessible
July 16, 2010
I have always been a strong proponent of making New York City’s taxi fleet 100% accessible to people with disabilities. In June of 2009, I released my report Stranded, which documented the failure of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission’s central dispatch pilot program. My report Not For Hire exposed the failure of a TLC rule requiring for-hire vehicle (FHV) companies to offer equivalent service to customers using wheelchairs. I have blogged extensively about my work to make an accessible taxi fleet a reality.
On Wednesday I held a hearing with the Assembly Committee on Cities, Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, Committee on Transportation, and the Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities, focusing on the need to achieve a fully accessible taxi fleet, and on my legislation (A. 7842) to mandate that after June 30, 2011, taxi owners may put only accessible cabs into service when replacing old vehicles.
At the hearing, Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Yassky admitted that the TLC’s central dispatch pilot program was a failure. Back in December 2007, I wrote an Op-Ed in the New York Post raising concerns about the program. Unfortunately, my predictions proved correct. Now that this two-year pilot program has ended, the TLC has no way of getting accessible taxis to the people who need them. Until there are more accessible taxis on the road, the nearly 60,000 people with disabilities in New York City will continue to be left stranded- and as it stands, the TLC still has no firm plans to provide equal service for customers with disabilities.
As the hearing highlighted, the Commission’s plans for a “Taxi of Tomorrow” fail to include any guarantee of accessibility. The TLC’s Taxi of Tomorrow Request for Proposals (RFP) only makes accessibility a goal, not a mandate. Without such a mandate, the door is left open for accessibility criteria to fall by the wayside when determining the vehicle chosen for the Taxi of Tomorrow initiative. Accessibility should be a requirement, not a goal.
Kellner Bill to Protect Millions of New Yorkers from Prescription Drug Price Gouging Passes Legislature
June 24, 2010
Two weeks ago, I posted about how my legislation to prohibit so-called “specialty tiers” in prescription drug pricing would protect millions of New Yorkers with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. These specialty tiers are a way for insurance companies to gouge patients, charging them enormous amounts of money for the life-saving medication they need.
I am pleased to announce that my bill to ban this outrageous practice has now passed the Legislature, and will go to the Governor for his signature. This bill will protect millions of New Yorkers who might otherwise find themselves unable to afford the medication they depend upon.
In states such as California, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, insurance companies have created specialty price tiers for patients with conditions including breast cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, HIV and AIDS, cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, hepatitis B and C, diabetes, psoriasis, kidney disease, anemia, and other serious medical conditions. These patients are charged “coinsurance,” typically 25%-33% of the total retail cost of the drug per month, instead of a flat co-payment for drugs they need to save their life or to prevent disease progression—many of which cost of hundreds or thousands of dollars each month.
Specialty tiering is an insidious practice which has become a major problem for patients in states where it is allowed. This bill will stop it from happening here in New York. I urge the Governor to do the right thing for patients and sign the legislation into law.
The bill passed the Assembly yesterday. It had passed the State Senate, where it was sponsored by Senator Tom Duane, on June 3. You can read my report on the how this legislation will benefit New Yorkers by clicking here: http://www.micahkellner.net/specialtytiers.pdf.
A Victory for Students: Gifted & Talented Program at PS/IS 217 Is Saved
June 23, 2010
I am pleased to announce that we will continue to have a gifted and talented (G&T) program at PS/IS 217 on Roosevelt Island next year. After the Department of Education announced that there would be no incoming G&T kindergarten class at the school next year, I along with Council Member Jessica Lappin worked with parents to save the program. Now that next year’s kindergarten class has been secured, we will seek to expand the program to make it citywide — bringing some of New York City’s brightest students to Roosevelt Island and securing the Island’s gifted and talented program for the long term.
Below is a joint statement from myself and Council Member Lappin about this exciting news:
“It is with great joy that we are able to announce that the Roosevelt Island gifted and talented program has been saved. Two weeks ago, the Department of Education unilaterally announced that the program would not be accepting a class of kindergarteners for next year. This was the wrong decision and our offices immediately began working with parents and school officials to make it right. At a meeting with us and parents on June 11, the DOE committed to maintaining the program if at least 18 students could be found who were interested in attending. Our offices worked with parents from Manhattan, Queens, and Roosevelt Island to spread the word and recruit families for this program.
“We are pleased to say that as of today, there are 18 students enrolled in the program. There will definitely by a new G&T kindergarten class on Roosevelt Island next fall.
“This is a huge victory for parents who worked so hard and who refused to take no for an answer. More than that, this is a victory for the families who will now have a first-rate gifted and talented program for their children this fall.
“We’d especially like to commend PTA President Nikki Leopold, Principal Mandana Beckman, and Elizabeth Rose of the DOE for their efforts to preserve the G&T program on Roosevelt Island. This is excellent news and we look forward to continuing to watch the G&T program on the Island grow and thrive in the years to come.”
Koch Lauds Kellner as Reformer
June 23, 2010
I was proud to be one of the first elected officials to sign the three reform pledges sponsored by Mayor Ed Koch’s New York Uprising. The pledges are aimed at changing the culture of Albany and reforming our state’s government.
I am passionate about cleaning up Albany. I have introduced important new reform legislation–toughening anti-corruption laws, cracking down on government waste, making government more transparent, and opening up policy debates to the public. The New York Uprising pledges represent precisely the kind of change I am working to bring about.
“I applaud Assembly Member Micah Kellner as a “Hero of Reform” for signing the three New York Uprising pledges. This year voters are counting on candidates to commit to specific reforms in advance, as Assembly Member Kellner has done. I look forward to working with him to see them swiftly implemented should he be reelected.” — Mayor Koch
The pledges include the following:
Ethics Reform: As a signer, I pledge to support the creation of a state ethics commission, a comprehensive annual financial disclosure form for state officials, and an end to “pay-to-play” campaign contributions;
Redistricting Reform: I pledge to support the creation of an independent, nonpartisan redistricting commission in order to end gerrymandering and take politics out of the redistricting process; and
Responsible Budgeting: I pledge to support the adoption of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to prepare and manage the state’s budget, as well as the creation of an Independent Budget Office, and other reforms to the state’s budget process.
Celebrating Roosevelt Island Day 2010
June 21, 2010
Assembly Member Kellner with Eagle Scouts, Masons, and NY Life representative Carol Tanjutco, in front of the Child ID booth, Roosevelt Island Day 2010.
Roosevelt Island Day is one of my favorite summer events — it’s great to spend time with so many members of the Island community, enjoying the wonderful weather, the games, and the festive atmosphere.
I was happy to be part of this year’s celebration, and pleased to be able to sponsor a free Child ID service in conjunction with New York Life, the Masons, and the Eagle Scouts–offering parents the opportunity to obtain a record of their children’s identifying information which can be used in the event that a child becomes lost or missing.
It was a pleasure seeing so many of my Roosevelt Island friends on Saturday, and I look forward to another year of working with Island residents.
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My community office is here to help you.
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New York, NY 10065
Tel 212-860-4906
Fax 917-432-2983
Email KellnerM@assembly.state.ny.us
