PROBLEMS AND POLICIES
"This material is not an endorsement of any kind"
Land Use and Development. Historical Context:
Characterized by five-story tenement buildings until the 1920s, the East Side transitioned from farmland and market gardens to commercial development around the New York and Harlem Railroad station. Demolition of elevated railways in the 1950s paved the way for high-rises exemplified by developments like Manhattan House and Sutton Terrace. Today, plans to extend Manhattan into New York Harbor would create housing and the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project aims to mitigate flood risks from storms and rising sea levels.
As Land Use Chair of the Turtle Bay Association (TBA) https://turtlebay-nyc.org/, I share the desire to maintain the quality of life. In 2017, Turtle Bay became home to a plethora of projects, referred to as Vanderbilt One, the 77-story skyscraper occupying a full-block parcel immediately to the west of Grand Central Terminal. Developers would provide a Public Realm Improvement Fund for infrastructure but is its $50 million to improve streets, subway access for the disabled, electric facilities and more, enough? When the City Council approved extensive rezoning for 73 blocks, it cleared the path for 6.5 million square feet of office space to encourage landlords to demolish their older buildings. Initially in the rezoning map of “Greater East Midtown,” five or more Turtle Bay blocks east of Third Avenue were exempted due to the diligent efforts of a former TBA land use chair. Our mission to down scale development. New York City’s empty spaces reveal a global property dilemma. The rise of remote work hurts older buildings, leaving landlords in the lurch. Whereas, developers are accustomed to transforming unused commercial space to residential,
an oversupply of residential units and sky-high commercial vacancy rate is problematic. A strip of vacant buildings on Manhattan’s Third Avenue, from 42nd to 59th streets shows the problem of older properties in stark terms. Yet there is an extreme dearth of affordable housing. While New York leasing demand has bounced back toward pre-pandemic levels, the corridor has 29% of office space available for tenants, nearly double the amount five years ago and above the city's overall rate
of 19%.
Conversion of Commercial Buildings to Residential Housing. The initiative includes plans to undertake the Midtown South Mixed-Use Neighborhood Plan, proposing rezoning in the area generally between 23rd Street and 40th Street from Fifth Avenue to Eighth Avenue, with the aim of creating more housing opportunities. The Universal Affordability Preference tool would allow buildings to add at least 20% more housing, with the additional households earning 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), delivering new affordable housing to working families. The Universal Affordability Preference also aims to create a density bonus, allowing additions to multi-unit projects. https://www.nyc.gov/site/planning/plans/city-of-yes/city-of-yes-overview.page.
Support and Opposition. However, the proposal has faced opposition from some residents in low-density neighborhoods, where additional housing is unpopular. Further, many council members wonder if the plan goes far enough to increase affordable housing in all boroughs. Perhaps it should expand the mandate of 20% affordable converted housing to 50% or concentrate on multi-unit projects in mixed-use communities. New York State Legislature. The New York State Legislature has enacted several bills and programs to facilitate the conversion of commercial buildings to residential uses. One example is the Affordable Housing from Commercial Conversions (AHCC) program, which was established under the New York State Real Property Tax Law (RPTL) 467-m to provide real property tax exemptions for the conversion of non-residential buildings into eligible multiple dwellings.
Federal Government. Under the former administration, the Community Development Block Grant fund has been allocated to boost housing supply, including the acquisition, rehabilitation, and conversion of commercial properties to residential and mixed-use development.
The East Midtown Waterfront. The ongoing project fills a major gap in the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway between East 38th and East 61st Streets along the East River. Its goal is to create connected
spaces for pedestrians and bicyclists. Further, see the progress made by the New York City Greenways Coalition and Civitas, north of such construction. https://www.civitasnyc.org/the-esplanade
The esplanade consists of three sections:
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East 38th–41st Streets/Waterside Pier,
former Con Ed site -
East 41st–53rd Streets/the UN Esplanade,
UN campus, ongoing -
East 53rd–61st Streets/the FDR Esplanade:
Now known as East Midtown Greenway - 53rd to 61st Streets, the northern section of the esplanade connects to Andrew Haswell Green Park at 62nd Street. ..\Downloads\IMG_0628-1(1) (Rotated).wmv Click here.
While we are on the Waterfront, do not miss the Ferry that runs from Southview to Brooklyn. Spanning all five boroughs, NYC Ferry enables millions of New Yorkers to reduce their commute times and enjoy greater access to the city's waterfronts.
Politicians and Communities Oppose East River Casino Project. The former Solow site, a 6.9-acre field on the East Side of Manhattan has been vacant for 23 years. Soloviev Properties currently envisions building a casino and 1,300 housing units on the site.
Photos show the former Con Ed site, vacant lot and casino proposal.
However, the Soloviev casino project has faced opposition from various groups, including Community Boards 5 and 6, encompassing Murray Hill, Tudor City and Kips Bay, that would allow casinos to bypass the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). Despite Soloviev’s efforts to gain local support by revising its proposal to include over 500 below market-rate housing units, the community’s opposition to the casino remains strong. The project is not expected to acquire a casino license.
Opposition to Overdevelopment in Carnegie and Lenox Hill. From 5G to 1G. A recent ruling by the state's Historic Preservation Office means that only one of the 18 proposed LinkNYC 5G towers could remain as an active possibility, according to officials and a map built by the LinkNYC vendor, CityBridge. “Today’s announcement reflects what we’ve known to be true all along— that Link5G towers are out of context with the historical nature of
New York's neighborhoods," said Rep. Nadler. (Patch, February 8, 2024)
Northwell Health. Although plans for a massive Northwell Tower have been waylaid, community groups remain vigilant.
Rent Stabilization in Stuy Town-Peter Cooper Village and Waterside Plaza Lease. Blackstone Drops Appeal of Rent Stabilization at StuyTown. Blackstone dropped its appeal of a state court ruling in February 2024 that upheld rent stabilization at Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village, Manhattan's largest apartment complex. As a result, all 11,200 units at the apartment complex will remain permanently rent-stabilized. The landlord's decision comes a week after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a lower court's ruling upholding NYC's 2019 rent stabilization law. City Council Approves Affordable Housing Deal at Waterside Plaza. The City Council approved an agreement in 2019 to protect tenants against growing rent increases and preserve affordable housing at Waterside Plaza for 75 years. The deal is part of a lease extension between Waterside Plaza and New York City’s Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Kips Bay. SPARC, the former Brookdale Hunter campus site, is in the process of becoming a modernized health care hub at East 25th Street and First Avenue blending in with the NYU-Langone medical center. It will include the Hunter School of Nursing, the CUNY Graduate School of Health Care Policy and the Borough of Manhattan Community College. https://edc.nyc/project/sparc-kips-bay
Homelessness and Migrants in NYC. I testified on the homeless shelter and efforts to avert encampments in our parks. Subsequently, the Friends proposed a resolution on the expansion of Project Renewal, the East 45th Street shelter. The influx of migrants has had an impact on neighborhoods’ and residents’ quality-of-life issues due to reports of incidents near shelters, including shootings. NYC has attributed the overcrowding to a wave of asylum seekers sent by state and federal officials. The city has provided housing, including renting hotels and setting up temporary shelters. For assistance, reach out to local organizations, such as the Coalition for the Homeless or the NYC Department of Homeless Services. https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/index.page
Your Home, Your Hood. Both the Turtle Bay Association (“TBA”) and Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (“Friends” or “FDHP”) work to create a community in partnership with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and public officials. They organize activities, such as Oktoberfest, café salon talks, dance and music festivals, art shows and peaceable protests.
As a Director of the Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, “Gateway to the UN,” I chair the Nominations Committee to elect individuals committed to the preservation of the largest urban open space in East Midtown Manhattan at East 47th Street
between 1st and 2nd Avenues. https://hammarskjoldplaza.org/
As Chair of the Turtle Bay Land Use Committee and Nominations Committees, I assist TBA nominate talented directors to carry out its mission started in 1957. I have testified at city council committees and agencies on a variety of problems, notably, overdevelopment of commercial and residential space; crane and construction safety, congestion pricing, more money for parks, charter amendments and redistricting congressional, assembly and council seats.
the 17th and 19th precincts, security cameras, and 24/7 patrols. Precincts have recently worked tirelessly on bike, battery and pedestrian safety. Community initiatives, including neighborhood associations and watch programs further enhance security.
Traffic Mitigation. The communities of Murray Hill, Turtle Bay, Sutton Place, Stuyvesant Town- Peter Cooper Village and others have expressed opposition to congestion pricing. While some argue that congestion pricing would have reduced traffic congestion and generated revenue, others decry the potential burden on everyday New Yorkers. Advocates have proposed alternative traffic mitigation
measures related to trucks and commercial vehicles that they believe would be
cheaper and have less impact.
The IRT 6 train to the Bronx at Westchester and East Tremont Avenues.
Truck Routes. The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) has designated specific truck routes throughout the city which guide trucks away from residential areas, minimizing their impact on communities. Manhattan and Staten Island have Limited Truck Zones with special time and size restrictions.
Perhaps a plan could incentivize trucks to make deliveries between 12:00-6:00 am to offset the adverse impact of truck traffic during peak congestion. Conversion of Commercial Buildings. The city’s plans place to facilitate the conversion of vacant commercial buildings to residential housing can also help repurpose underutilized spaces and potentially reduce truck traffic associated with commercial activities and promote better train stations.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/truckrouting.shtml
Actions Against Proliferation of Cannabis Shops. I have fought against the proliferation of shops containing vaping as well as cannabis paraphernalia right across my street on Lexington Avenue in the East 60s. We have moved to close such shops with the help of the Dep’t of Consumer Affairs and Worker Protection. Legalization and Regulation. While the legalization of cannabis in New York City was an important step towards righting past injustices, products sold at unlicensed shops may contain harmful ingredients and inaccurate labeling. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) https://cannabis.ny.gov/ and the Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) have been empowered to take actions against unlicensed dispensaries and curb the illicit cannabis market.
Senior Citizen Programs and Resources. Led by a particularly resourceful chair, as public member of Community Board 8’s Health, Seniors and Social Services committee (HSSS), I helped plan conferences including community leaders and health professionals to navigate the problems associated with the covid pandemic when neither treatment nor preventive vaccines were available. New York State Senior Citizen Programs. The New York State Office for the Aging provides a range of programs, services and internet for older adults. These include home and community-based services, health insurance counseling, caregiver support, and more. https://aging.ny.gov/get-assistance. Senior Centers. Centers provide opportunities to socialize; fitness classes, educational workshops, nutritious meals; transportation help, home repair programs, legal aid and assistance with Medicare and Medicaid.
https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/seniors/f2024-12-06/b117
Housing Programs.
There are affordable housing programs available for senior citizens in New York City. The Mitchell-Lama Program provides subsidized rental or co-op housing for middle-income seniors. Additionally, the Senior Citizen Homeowners Exemption (SCHE) program offers property tax reductions for eligible senior homeowners. https://freedomcare.com/benefits-for-seniors-in-nyc/
Education in Manhattan District 2. I have worked to create more local schools and placements in Manhattan District 2 that encompasses various schools and educational opportunities: Community Education Council (CEC). The Community Education Council (CEC) consists of dedicated parents, educators, and community members who are concerned about education in the district. https://www.cecd2.net/. The elected members of the CEC approve school zoning lines and advise on education policy.
Highly Rated Schools.
District 2 is known for having some of the highest-performing and most popular schools in the city. https://insideschools.org/districts/2 The district includes a range of public schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools. Accountability and Performance. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires states to hold public schools accountable for student achievement. New York State has established indicators to measure school and district performance. The New York State Education Department reports graduation rates and other performance measures. Enrollment and Zoning. To enroll a child in a school in District 2, parents should visit the school or the nearest Family Welcome Center. There are various resources available to gather more information about schools in District 2. These include websites like InsideSchools, GreatSchools, and Niche, which provide rankings, reviews, and information on academics, teachers, and student life. The New York City Department of Education (DOE) also provides tools and reports to help families and educators understand school quality. Visit the official websites of the schools or contact the District 2 office directly. https://www.district2nyc.org/
Codify Abortion Rights. Existing laws already provide protections against sex discrimination, such as the 14th Amendment, the Equal Pay Act, and Titles VII and IX of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. However, the United States Constitution does not specifically recognize anatomical differences which accounts, in part, for the Supreme Court’s reluctance to approve reproductive rights.
Quilter Jessie Telfair was inspired to make this quilt in the mid-1970’s as a memorialization of her experiences during the Civil Rights Movement
The Constitution primarily focuses on establishing the framework of the federal government, defining the rights and responsibilities of state governments, and outlining the basic rights of citizens. Reproductive rights fall under the purview of basic rights. It is important to note that while the Constitution does not explicitly address anatomical differences, other laws and regulations may provide protections and rights related to anatomical differences, such as the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, which governs organ donations for transplantation and making of anatomical gifts for medical study, the American Disabilities Act (ADA), the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, among others. More than 21 states have sponsored abortion rights amendments or court cases with the result that most states have repealed anti-abortion provisions or enacted abortion rights safeguards. Overwhelming support in state legislatures and courts for reproductive rights creates a mandate
to codify reproductive protections on the federal level. Work can be done in Congress to extract protections from state law to codify abortion and reproductive rights modeled on disability rights legislation and other laws which have successfully met the test of constitutionality. I will work toward this end by advocating for women’s rights as well as those of LGTBQ+, disabled and aged.
Voter and Civic Engagement. I have served on the New York Democratic County Executive Committee for many years as a district leader from the UN area and East 60s and Lexington Democrats. https://manhattandemocrats.org/ I also serve as a senior trainer at the NYC Board of Elections teaching election policies and procedures. We update our classes each year and certify poll
At a County Exec Committee meeting with district leaders held at the “Bloomingdale’s,” or Retail Workers Department Store Union (RWDSU).
workers. I occasionally testify at Commissioners’ meetings on election issues. Much of this information is available online at: https://www.vote.nyc/ Perhaps the highlight of my tenure as district leader was a case heard by the US Supreme Court about the selection (by convention) vs. election of state supreme court judges, N.Y. State Bd. of Elections v. Lopez Torres, 552 U.S. 196 (2008). Since endorsements for civil court judges are under the purview of the Manhattan Executive Committee, subject to screening by an independent panel made up of legal organizations, I found the process challenging. I also served as a delegate to a national convention.
Civic Engagement. Political clubs sponsor candidates and campaigns for local, state and federal office, voter registration drives, issue and policy forums, etc. See the Clubs in our district and Channel 5 News video:
Four Freedoms Democratic Club https://www.fourfreedomsnyc.org/
Tilden Democratic Club
Eleanor Roosevelt Gramercy
Independent Democratic Club
Lexington Club
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