Name of Council Member: David Greenfield Name and Title of Person Completing Questionnaire: Campaign Website:

2013 CITY COUNCIL HUMAN RIGHTS QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Many in the United States think of international affairs when they think of human rights. Our work emphasizes the applicability of the human rights framework here in the United States. Please share your thoughts on the domestic applicability of human rights, and discuss why human rights are important to you in the context of New York City and the City Council. Every New Yorker deserves to have their basic human rights protected, starting on the local level. Since taking office, I have worked closely with our local precincts and the Department of Transportation to maintain safe streets and well-conditioned infrastructure; I have ensured that residents and non-profit groups are directly involved in how their tax dollars are being spent by holding budget workshops on applying for discretionary funds and asking for residents' input in the participatory budgeting process, both initiatives allowing for transparency in the city budget; I have prioritized securing funding for great parks which arent just amenities in urban life, they are necessities. Additionally, I have led efforts to increase voter registration and voter education in our community, especially among parents of school children who have the most at stake in city government. I protested abuses of the stop and frisk policy of the NYPD by supporting the Inspector General bill. Finally, I firmly believe that one of the most important roles an elected official has is to ensure that all residents are treated with respect and dignity and given the opportunity to lead a quality life. 2. Please share briefly how you have used your role in Council to advance human rights. As a member of the City Council, I have supported various pieces of legislation, all aiming to advance human rights, ranging from requiring employers to provide paid sick leave, establishing an NYPD Inspector General, and requiring the TLC to make all taxis wheelchair accessible. In addition to supporting bills that would advance human rights, I am proud to have played a role in delivering a budget that maintains vital services without raising taxes. This year, the Council avoided destructive cuts to many programs services that are essential for maintaining the quality of life that local residents, families, and seniors deserve. This year's budget prioritized areas including child care, afterschool programs, senior centers, libraries and firehouses. As a member of the budget negotiating team, I also advocated strongly for the restoration of $1.3 million in funding for the autism initiative that benefits many community groups that help children with autism.

3. Legislative priorities: Please list your top 3 legislative priorities for 2013 [you may include legislation that has passed]: 1. Every New Yorker with a vehicle has been victim to unfair parking laws. This year, the Council passed my muni-meter reform bill, which ensures that every motorists' hard-earned dollars are not wasted when paying for parking. The Department of Transportation is required to reprogram muni-meters to shut off once parking regulations are no longer in effect, or if the muni-meter runs out of receipt paper. This will prevent motorists from needlessly paying for parking just because they were unaware of the times the parking regulations were in effect. Additionally, motorists will be able to pay at a meter up to one hour prior to regulations taking effect. This adds a major convenience for motorists who have appointments earlier than the times parking regulations take effect. 2. This year, I joined Speaker Quinn in renaming the Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, and Disability Services. The term mental retardation, used to describe developmental disabilities, is out-of-date and inappropriate, and by eliminating this term from the committee name, the City of New York has taken the first step towards striking the false, negative stigma attached to having a developmental disability. Additionally, I introduced a bill which would discontinue its usage by taking such action as removing it from official government documents. The time has come for New York City to update its Charter and Administrative Code and replace all references of mental retardation with the phrase developmental disability. 3. In order for business owners to avoid unanticipated violations and crippling fines, regulations must be made clear. New York City agencies are constantly changing their requirements for inspections, so it is the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Department of Consumer Affair's responsibility to inform licensed business owners what is expected of them during inspections. This year, I introduced a bill that would require agencies to mail quarterly guides explaining all local laws and department rules. What will be your top 3 legislative priorities as a Council Member in the upcoming legislative session? 1. In the upcoming legislative session, I am dedicated to tackling the complaints I have heard directly from small business and restaurant owners in my district regarding the citys unfair inspection process. I will work to reduce Department of Health issued fines plaguing restaurant owners, especially because so many fines are unrelated to food-safety. Additionally, I will work to ensure that business owners understand what is expected of them during inspections. This past March, I introduced a bill that would require agency commissioner to mail business owners guides providing information on city rules and regulations. These guides would not only business owners to avoid crippling fines issued by the department, it will also facilitate safe operations, benefiting customers and the general public. 2. All children have the basic right to a safe learning environment, and it is the NYPDs responsibility to protect and instill confidence in all children who attend school in New York City. Currently, the NYPDs School Safety Division only serves public school students despite operating independently from the Department of Education. Also, the NYPD is not required to provide security for all public schools even though they currently do so. This June, I introduced a bill would require the NYPD, upon the request of authorities from any school, public or

non-public, to deploy at least one school safety agent to every school in New York City that requests it. As school hostility has become a growing threat over the past decade, it is only right that New York City provide the same security to all of New York's school children. 3. Encouraging my constituents to participate in local elections has been a top priority of mine since taking office. In addition to leading voter registration drives in local schools, I have introduced a bill that would require the Department of Education to provide voter registration materials to any parent or guardian enrolling their children in the New York City public school system. It is important for parents, whose families have so much at stake in this city, have a say in local government to ensure that they are getting the most beneficial returns from their tax dollars. 4. Budget priorities: Please list your top three budget priorities of 2013: 1. As the chair of the Committee on Senior Centers, I have continuously fought against programs cuts to senior programs including case management, home-delivered meals, and elder abuse prevention. Seniors make up 1 of 8.2 million New Yorkers, and the population is expected to grow by 50% in twenty years. I know that city funding is what determines whether or not a senior center stays openfrom being able to pay rent, purchase meals, and provide transportationwhich is I why I will continue to fight for senior funding. 2. For the past three years, I have worked very hard to secure $15 million for our local parks. Many of my constituents share my passion for parks, and I know that having safe, clean and fun recreation areas is imperative for any great neighborhood. The Parks Department doesnt have the money to invest for improvement and development projects, so I have made it a priority to satisfy this need. 3. This year, New York City's three public library systems faced cuts that would force the closure of dozens of libraries and lay off over one thousand employees. The Council came together to advocate strongly against those cuts, ensuring that students, parents, seniors, teachers, and job seekers continued to have the resources and services provided by our greatly renowned, strong cultural institutions. What will your top 3 budget priorities be as a Council member in the upcoming legislative session? 1. In areas of Brooklyn as densely populated as Boro Park, Midwood, and Bensonhurst, I am dedicated to ensure that we keep our commercial strips and neighborhood streets clean without afflicting property owners with fines for dirty sidewalks. By working with the Department of Sanitation to ensure they have the necessary personnel and equipment to make frequent-enough pick-ups. During budget hearings, I also discussed with Commissioner Doherty the possibility of allocating funds for cameras to catch individuals who are illegally dumping trash on city streets or private property, along with improperly using street corner litter baskets for household and business trash. 2. I understand how important childcare assistance is, especially for those who need someone to look after their children so they can go to work during the day. Unfortunately, individuals who qualified for childcare and are finally able to make enough money to get off public assistance lose their childcare services from ACS within one

year. Although ACS believes this is enough time to transition into no longer needing these services, I know that isnt the case. Childcare assistance is the most vital service needed to allow parents and guardians the time to go to work, and I will continue to advocate for these services. 3. In addition to funding capital improvement projects in city parks, one of the most frequent complaints I have heard from constituents is the lack of maintenance the Parks Department provides to city trees, sidewalks, and parks. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, it was clear that the Parks Department had fallen behind in tree pruning and removal of dead trees. Advocating for more Parks maintenance funding will help to eliminate any hazardous conditions for any pedestrians or motorists passing by unhealthy trees. 5. Have you used participatory budgeting to allocate your discretionary funds? Why or why not? This April, I announced that a total of five projects totaling $1.1 million would be completed throughout Boro Park, Midwood and Bensonhurst after 1,610 residents of the 44th Council District voted as part of the participatory budgeting initiative. By offering this unique opportunity for local residents to get involved in their community and government, the voting results made residents' concerns for better infrastructure and safe neighborhoods clear. Projects that will be funded include security cameras at locations around Boro Park as determined by the NYPD; security cameras at locations around Midwood, pedestrian countdown signals at dangerous intersection in Bensonhurst; resurfacing streets in Boro Park; and pedestrian countdown signals at dangerous intersections in Midwood. 6. Please provide examples of recent legislation in Council that you believe promotes human rights. This past June, I voted in favor of the Inspector General bill, which creates the position of Inspector General to oversee the police department and make sure its policies and procedures are effective. I have always stood for greater transparency, accountability and openness in all aspects of government, and the people of this city deserve to know exactly how their money is being spent and how our laws are being enforced. This legislation would create a safer New York by protecting citizens against illegal police practices, improving police-community relations, bringing greater efficiency to the NYPD by eliminating waste and creating more accountability at the NYPD. I am proud to support it. I also voted for both paid sick leave and to override the Mayor's veto of the bill, which would require businesses with at least twenty employees to offer their workers five paid sick days a year. People should never have to worry about losing their job due to illness or having to take care of a loved one, and this bill is the first step in providing the basic human right of giving workers time to recover from sickness. I am proud to have played a part in helping this bill become law. 7. Legislation is only one of many ways in which Council Members can work to advance human rights. What ways other than through legislation will you advance the human rights of New Yorkers as a City Council Member? Recently, the Parks Department unveiled a new, wheelchair accessible playground in my district, located at P.S. 192 in Boro Park. I am proud to have contributed $1,200,000 over the course of two years to fund this project in collaboration with New York City's Schoolyards to Playgrounds initiative. It is a priority of mine to ensure that all

residents, of every age and ability, have access to recreation areas, and I am proud to have worked with the Parks Department to ensure this design can accommodate all residents. It is the Citys responsibility, as a basic human right, to accommodate all religious practices. In the New York City jail system, Orthodox Jews face many challenges including access to kosher food and religious articles needed to properly observe Shabbos. As a result of my urging Commissioner Schriro of the Department of Corrections and working with the New York Board of Rabbis, considerable progress has been made to accommodate Orthodox Jewish inmates. 8. Some advocates contend that the position of the Council Speaker has too much power over the progression of legislation. Please use this space to respond to that critique.