Growing NYCHA Scandal

The Board of NYCHA sits on perhaps $1 billion dollars, while tenants live in moldy, rodent-infested flop houses. Let them eat cake !

Thanks to an investigative series by a Daily News team that exposed nearly $1 billion in funds going unused while tenants lived plagued by mold, rats and more, NYCHA is slated to undergo serious reforms. (DailyNews DailyPolitics)

BCG-report-NYCHA-Key-Findings-and-Recommendations-8-15-12vFinal

Too bad there are no housing activists, amongst the mayoral candidates, other than Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

“We commend City Council Committee Chairperson Rosie Mendez for convening today’s hearing on the lack of security cameras at NYCHA housing developments, which is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the agency’s failures. Today’s hearing should be the first of many to get an understanding of why NYCHA’s buildings are deteriorating and its housing developments are overrun by rodents, all while NYCHA sits on a pile of unspent money. We have serious questions about NYCHA’s operations [which] demand comprehensive answers,” said Controller John Liu.

Under pressure to overhaul the New York City Housing Authority, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has decided to remove two highly paid appointees from the agency’s board and replace them with volunteers, including one who lives in public housing, city officials said on Thursday. (NYTimes)

Borough President Stringer has claimed victory over Thursday's announcement that two board members of the New York City Housing Authority would step down after a scandal broke over the flop houses that NYCHA operated (Politicker).

Austerity Strikes Hospitals In Spain ; We Know What This Is Like Here In NYC

Translated into English from Spanish ; original news article available on elplural.com.

Fernando Mora, Socialist deputy in the Courts of Castile-La Mancha, told the Cadena Ser that a judge had ordered on Wednesday the opening of a plant in Toledo, "l'Hospital Virgen de la Salud," which had been closed by the savage cuts applied by Maria Dolores Cospedal, to care for patients who saturated the emergency department. The congressman has posted on his Facebook account dramatic photographs that reflect the unhealthy overcrowding of patients.

This paper has not been able to contrast the Socialist deputy complaint. Nobody in the Health Service of Castilla-La Mancha, or in the Virgen de la Salud hospital confirm or deny the statements of Fernando Mora, quoting sources in the same hospital, said late on Thursday in the Cadena Ser that "a judge had to order the opening of the 4th floor of the hospital to accommodate patients who were in the hallways of emergency at the request of the doctors in this service, unable to serve them properly," declarations ratified by telephone by the parliamentary ELPLURAL.COM.

Thirty people in the hallways

Mora figure in thirty patients who were "parked" in the corridors of the emergency, "while in the hospital has ordered Mrs. Cospedal close to one hundred beds and multi-storey wings," says a ELPLURAL.COM The spokesman also Health of the Socialist Group in the Castile-La Mancha.

Medical Records in the sight of all

And the pictures speak for themselves. Fernando Mora has also hung posted several pictures on his Facebook account. As you can see, each one of the beds has a yellow leaf in sight of all who passed through the halls where, according to eyewitnesses, were listed the names and conditions of each patient, with no respect for privacy -- privacy and data protection to which every patient has the right, protected by the law.

And wedges without any privacy

So much so that the same sources state that the sick, unable to leave their beds to use the nearby bathrooms, had to defecate and urinate in their cots without any screen or curtains to safeguard patient privacy.

Letter reminding responsibilities

The deterioration of health services in Castilla-La Mancha has reached the end, with plant closures, privatization of hospitals, laying off hundreds of doctors and health personnel, closure of the points of call, the emergency removal of a hundred people ... so great is the concern of industry professionals, for example, the coordinator of the Basic Health Zone of Santa Cruz de Mudela (Ciudad Real) has sent a letter (see document) to the mayor of Viso del Marques, which ELPLURAL.COM was able to access, reminding the mayor that ... "all this will be within the limits of the criminal irresponsibility by the person who made this decision, as it would be impossible to meet emergency response times, let alone emergencies," says in her letter denouncing the situation that will be dooming the health district.

2012-06-29 CARTA-De-UN-MEDICO Coordinadora ZBS STA Cruz de Mudela Lourdes Garcia Del Valle Spain Austerity ...

Working While Sick - NYT Editorial

From The New York Times : Working While Sick

More than 40 million American workers get no paid sick leave. They have to work when ill or take unpaid sick days, which can lead to financial hardship, or, worse, dismissal. The best way to address this workplace and public health problem is with a national law requiring businesses to provide paid sick leave — a normal benefit for workers in at least 145 countries.

But since there is little hope for such progress anytime soon in Washington, New York City Council members are taking up the cause. At least 36 of 50 council members support a proposed city law that would require sick leave for more than 1.2 million workers. Christine Quinn, the City Council speaker, has refused to bring a bill to the floor, however.

She argues that the timing is bad given the weak economy and that the benefit could increase compensation costs for businesses by an average of 1.5 percent, which in her view would hurt smaller companies to the point of driving them out of business or out of the city. Some business leaders say that companies will cut jobs if even a few days of sick leave are required.

Little evidence to support such fears has been seen in San Francisco, the District of Columbia and the state of Connecticut, which require many businesses to provide the benefit. There are also economic benefits — lower turnover, higher productivity and morale, and reduced job loss for workers. But Ms. Quinn, who says she supports paid sick days in principle, does not want to consider a citywide sick-leave law until the economy is stronger.

The current council proposal would require firms with 5 to 19 employees to provide workers five paid sick days a year, which could also be used to care for sick family members. Businesses with 20 or more employees would have to provide nine days a year of any type of paid leave. The proposal would not cover independent contractors, interns or most union workers. There would be a one-year grace period for new businesses with fewer than 20 employees.

Ms. Quinn and Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who is the lead sponsor of the bill, should be able to find a workable compromise. The requirement could be phased in slowly, especially for new companies and the smallest businesses. If done wisely, New York City’s version could be the sensible model for federal legislation.

Ms. Brewer, Ms. Quinn and other New York City political leaders should also put more pressure on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature to pass a state measure on paid sick leave.

Connecticut’s law, enacted last year, requires sick leave for most businesses with 50 or more employees. That still leaves far too many employees without paid sick days, but it is a start. Gov. Dannel Malloy said recently that the law had not led to more small business failures and that the state had gained jobs since it took effect.

This benefit is also good for public health. A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that workers who could take sick leave instead of working while unwell were less likely to be hurt on the job.

American workers should have paid sick leave, and New York City could set a standard for the rest of the nation. Workers in the city deserve a sensible and humane sick-leave benefit now.

Related : Gloria Steinem Presses Quinn to Back Sick-Leave Bill (July 18, 2012)

#myopinioncounts and @informedvoting to support community organising in New York City

#myopinioncounts is a new hashtag and @informedvoting is a new Twitter account launched to support community organising in New York City leading up to the 2013 mayoral election.

To support community organisers across the five boroughs of New York City, the blogger and activist Louis Flores has launched a new Twitter account, @informed voting. He has also launched a related hashtag, #myopinioncounts, to support reforms to improve the democratic participation of citizens in our own governance.

This Twitter account will follow the activists and citizens in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. This Twitter account will highlight areas, were we can find common ground and link up together, to bring about reforms in our government. For example, how did "stop and frisk" become the only acceptable answer to crime prevention, when the solution all along is passing stricter gun control laws ? The same thing goes for hospital closings : why are so many major hospitals closing, when Congress just expanded healthcare to tens of millions of Americans ? Cutting costs to healthcare are unacceptable, and yet where do politicians find the legitimacy to close down hospitals across all five boroughs ?

"If we are going to change the system, we need to organise. This means taking action together. With this new Twitter account and the related hashtag, I will support the work that others do," said Louis Flores.

Time is also running out to reach our goal for the Kickstarter project to support the publication of Roots of Betrayal : The Ethics of Christine Quinn, a work-in-progress survey of the political ethics of the New York City Council Speaker. Funding ends on August 16, and for this book to inform voters, the community must come together to support this project. Please make a pledge and help spread the word. Thank you for everything that you do.

Campaign Poster Fines Strategy ?

Is Mayor Bloomberg deliberately trying to drain the campaign funds of the competitors that are challenging Christine Quinn for the 2013 mayoral Democratic primary ?

Mayor Michael Bloomberg seems to be engaged in a public relations campaign to turn public opinion against, and to drain the campaign funds (aka clear the primaries) of, the leading primary challengers that are competing with New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to be the Democratic Party's candidate in next year's mayoral election. * "Mayor Bloomberg Friday blasted mayoral candidate John Liu as a hypocrite for grumbling about companies that owe the city money — while failing to pay his own city debts." (NY Daily News) * Now that he has finally collected $444,000 in public matching funds from his 2009 campaign, Bill Thompson should return the money to the city to help cover the fines he owes for illegal posters, Mayor Bloomberg suggested yesterday. (NYPost)

Paid Sick Leave Controversy

Why would candidates oppose the Paid Sick Leave Bill ?

Feminist Gloria Steineim has been pressuring New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to allow a vote on the Paid Sick Leave bill.

For an employee to have paid sick leave is only a humane policy. Candidates for mayor, who oppose Paid Sick Leave bill, risk being identified as the heartless 1% bringing back unsafe and unjust labour practices from an era, which we thought had put passed us.

"If you have paid sick days it's easy enough to take them for granted. If you or your child gets sick, you stay home to recover or go to the doctor. You are not punished financially for taking care of your health or your children. It's time to ensure all working women—and men—have the same economic security," wrote Ms. Steinem.

It's difficult to believe that there are candidates, who would stall, squash, or oppose the Paid Sick Leave bill.

Horsedrawn-carriage Protest ; Martina Navratilova Makes News (25 July 2012)

Tourists are sold on the fairy tale that taking a ride on a horse carriage is a romantic thing to do. But, as you will see from this shocking video, taking a ride through busy Midtown Manhattan traffic can be dangerous. This is a warning : some of the photos that you will see may be disturbing.

The carriage drivers created a scandal in the last few weeks, after some drivers were reported to have used hate speech (homophobic and racist comments) against animal rights activists ; the homophobia and racism drew the attention and criticism of tennis superstar and LGBT icon Martina Navratilova.

Make a pledge today to support Roots of Betrayal : The Ethics of Christine Quinn on Kickstarter.

Fran Lebowitz Slams Bloomberg, City Council

Read Also : Fran Lebowitz And Frank Rich At The Town Hall : A Review Of The State Of The Union Conversation

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Fran Lebowitz opines at the New York Faculty Against the Sexton Plan 'While We Were Sleeping: NYU and the Destruction of New York' book launch at McNally Jackson NYC on Jul 15 2012.

Ms. Lebowitz also slams City Council over the zone-busting development that is destroying to special social fabric of New York City.

Make a pledge today to support Roots of Betrayal : The Ethics of Christine Quinn on Kickstarter.

Christine Quinn NYU Expansion YouTube Video

NYU wants to "grow" in Greenwich Village with 2 million square feet of new construction costing billions of dollars. But how will NYU pay for it? They won't release the business plan... NYU's project will crush the Village—and its students will be crushed by debt. City Council: Stop the Bloomberg-Quinn giveaway to NYU! Watch the viral video now and join the fight at StandUp4NYC.com

Roots of Betrayal : The Ethics Of Christine Quinn

''Roots of Betrayal : The Ethics of Christine Quinn'' a book by Louis Flores

Hi, my name is Louis Flores, and I am a blogger and an activist.

I am writing a book that will take a ''behind the scenes'' look at New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's politics and ethics. I aim to show you how a politician, who claims to be transparent and ethical, has demonstrated herself to be just the opposite.

But I need your help to publish this book. Please make a pledge to support my book project.

Next year, Speaker Quinn is expected to publish her memoirs as a slick public relations stunt during the race for mayor of New York City in 2013. Her critics allege that the press does not hold Speaker Quinn accountable for her record of undermining democracy. In 2008 and 2009, Speaker Quinn worked hand-in-hand with Mayor Michael Bloomberg to purposely deny voters a referendum when they overturned term limits. Just the way that term limits were overturned -- a series of back room meetings (and some say, deals), all away from public participation and scrutiny -- still draws much heated discussion in New York. For years now, Speaker Quinn has been using discretionary funds to thwart the full participation of other City Councilmembers in the city's legislative agenda. Speaker Quinn has even gone along with Mayor Bloomberg's budget cuts to the office of the Public Advocate, at each turn choosing to go along with what is not right in order to get along with Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Speaker Quinn is undermining any oversight and accountability in public office. I am writing my book, so that the the other side of the story can be told.

This KickStarter project will help me to raise money in order to self-publish this book -- in order to to tell the whole story. This is how the money will be used :

• I need to pay $2,300 so that my manuscript can be transformed into a book by a self-publishing company.
• I am also raising the modest amount of $3,100 to pay for marketing materials and to promote my book on the Internet.
• KickStarter will keep $300 for hosting my fundraising campaign.
• Amazon will keep $300 for processing all of the secure payments made to support this KickStarter project.

With your help, my book can be used to educate voters about Speaker Quinn's political record. Can you make a pledge today to support my book project ?

Please help me to spread the word about my book by posting a link to this KickStarter project on your Facebook page. Thank you for everything you do.

Roots of Betrayal : The Ethics of Christine Quinn - By Louis Flores -- One Sheet

Anthony Weiner : Comeback Kid ?

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner is still considering a race for 2013.

Lots of talk last weekend that Anthony Weiner, who has a campaign war chest of approximately $4.5 million and another $1.5 million in potential public matching funds, is still considering a run for either mayor or Public Advocate in 2013. From The New York Times :

If nothing else, the buzz showed that Mr. Weiner was still capable of generating chatter in a mayoral field that seems to be solidifying despite its lack of star power.

With his war chest, Mr. Weiner would have an edge over several of the likely Democratic candidates. William C. Thompson Jr., for instance, a former comptroller and a declared mayoral candidate, has raised only $1.5 million for the race so far, according to a statement by his campaign on Sunday.

Still, Mr. Weiner faces substantial obstacles, including that several of his former aides have now signed onto other mayoral campaigns. His former pollster, Joel Benenson, is now working for the City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, while two former political consultants, Jim Margolis and Anson Kaye, are working for the Manhattan borough president, Scott M. Stringer.

Already, Mr. Weiner seems to be finding encouragement from folks, who believe that if people can look beyond the fact that Christine Quinn was sued for back rent four times, then we can look beyond Mr. Weiner's Twitter controversy.

Bill De Blasio Wikipedia Rewriting

City pols rewriting records : Wiki-sneaks ‘fix’ their pages

From The New York Post :

Wikipedia entries for some of the candidates running for mayor next year are being re-written — by aides to those candidates.

The biography of Public Advocate Bill de Blasio used to report that he was born Warren Wilhelm.

On May 8, however, a de Blasio staffer removed that name and replaced it with word that he is of “German-American and Italian-American heritage.”

“Of course, we update the page,” said de Blasio spokesman Wiley Norvell unapologetically. “That’s become standard practice for public officials.”

The public advocate has said that he began phasing out the use of his given name while in high school because he was raised by his mother’s family. It’s not a secret, but most voters aren’t aware of the story and presume a guy named de Blasio has to be Italian.

The changes were made by what could be deemed to be a "sock puppet account."

But as much as there were public relations aspects to the changes made to Mr. De Blasio's Wikipedia page, his pages does not bear the "neutral point of view" badge of shame (screen shot at right) that hangs over New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's page.

HHC Healthcare Cuts

City Budget Cuts Will Privatize Dialysis Services at NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC)

The closing of nine hospitals in New York City since Christine Quinn became Speaker of the City Council wasn't enough.

Now comes the Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), which is undertaking a four-year plan of healthcare cuts, which were approved in the last New York City budget.

Among the shocking cutbacks in the city budget are plans to slash funding to HHC, which is translating into dangerous healthcare cuts to the city's underinsured and uninsured citizens.

Among the dangers of privatized dialysis services is higher mortality rates, or, in plain English, patients are more apt to die if they receive dialysis treatment from privatized healthcare companies than if they continue to receive dialysis treatment from HHC.

"Patient survival rates are worse than expected at two Atlantic Dialysis clinics in the Bronx and Brooklyn, according to Medicare.gov, and some patients have left River Renal for dialysis services at HHC-run facilities even if they have to travel further," according to DC 37.

Alec Baldwin Still Interested In Running For NYC Mayor In 2013

NBC's "30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin's interest in running for mayor of New York City in 2013 is still "very real," Reuters reported, according to statements made by Alec's younger brother, actor Billy Baldwin.

Quinn Uses NYPD To Thwart Dissent

Links to The Wall Street Journal blog post about New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's alleged use of NYPD to thwart ''bad publicity.''

Here are some links to the Internet conversation, which The Journal article has triggered, about Speaker Quinn's use of NYPD to suppress free speech :

• ''Mayoral Hopeful Quinn Uses Cops To Protect Her From Bad Publicity'' on Thee Rant Forum on Yuku.com ;
• ''Protesters Say Quinn Used NYPD to Thwart Them (WSJ)'' on Morning Headlines : Must-Reads from the WNYC News Hub ; and
• ''Christine Quinn Illegally Uses the NYPD to Block LGBT Protestors from Photographing'' on Mayor Bloomberg King of New York blog.

So far, Louis Flores, the activists who was pushed around by NYPD Officer Lamonica, has received no communication from either the Civilian Complaint Review Board or Speaker Quinn's office.