Scott Stringer - Manhattan Borough President

Statement from the Manhattan Borough President on Carl Paladino's Attacks on Downstate New Yorkers

Carl Paladino’s at it again, and this time he’s attacking New York City. The latest targets of Paladino’s unhinged rage are Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx, home to over five million New York state residents. These divisive “them vs. us” remarks are just the latest in Carl Paladino’s destructive campaign to rant and rave his way through the Republican primary. Mr. Paladino, we invite you to take a trip to the borough I represent, and all of New York City where 130 languages are spoken, and look in the face of the diversity you so thoughtlessly malign.

Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer Announces Conditional Disapproval for Proposed Riverside Center Development

Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer announced today his conditional disapproval of the proposed Riverside Center development on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The recommendation addresses modifications and authorizations sought by real estate developer Extell for the final phase of “Riverside South,” a large-scale development spanning West 59th Streetto West 72nd Street, approved in 1992 by the City Planning Commission and City Council.

Borough President Stringer, Senator Squadron and Council Member Chin Celebrate Victory for Tenants of Independence Plaza North

Today Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer and State Senator Daniel Squadron joined tenant leaders to celebrate and discuss the details of yesterday’s State Supreme Court ruling upholding the rent stabilization of tenants at Independence Plaza North in Downtown Manhattan because of J-51 tax breaks that the landlord received from the City.

Yesterday, Judge Marcy S. Friedman ruled that Independence Plaza North (IPN) is rent stabilized because it received J-51 tax benefits from the city both before and after exiting from the Mitchell Lama program and that HPD did not change that status when it permitted the landlord, Lawrence Gluck and Stellar Management to pay back the J-51 tax benefits. The ruling states that HPD’s determination to terminate IPN’s J-51 benefits was discretionary, not mandatory.

Borough President Stringer and Public Advocate Bill De Blasio Call on Charter Commission Not To Alter Recommendations

With media reports that the Charter Revision Commission may revisit its recommendation regarding the effective date of term limits at its final meeting on Monday, Manhattan Borough President Stringer and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio are urging the Commission to stand firm and adopt a Final Report and ballot questions consistent with the resolutions adopted on August 11. The Manhattan Borough President and Public Advocate are deeply concerned that an eleventh-hour change by the Commission will damage the integrity of the Charter Revision process and public perception of the Commission’s independence.

Mayor Bloomberg And Borough President Stringer Open New Asthma Walk-In Center In East Harlem

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer today announced the opening of a new asthma walk-in center in East Harlem, where the rate of childhood asthma hospitalizations is the highest in the City. The new state-of-the-art center – an expansion of the East Harlem Asthma Center of Excellence and a part of the City’s PlaNYC initiative – will aim to reduce childhood asthma hospitalizations by 50 percent over the next five years. The Mayor and Borough President were joined at the Harlem announcement by Deputy Mayor Linda I. Gibbs, Health Commissioner Thomas A. Farley, State Senator José M. Serrano, Dr. Ben Ortiz from the Harlem Asthma Network, Center Director Dr. Betty Perez-Rivera, Janet Arroyo from the Manhattan Smoke-free Partnership and Acting Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Donald P. Brosen.

Statement of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer Re: Charter Revision Commission’s Recommendations

Six months ago when the Charter Revision Commission was appointed, I urged that proposals be put on the ballot only after broad public input and discussion.

The history of prior charter revision commissions has shown that charter proposals without thorough public scrutiny usually get voted down resoundingly.

By excluding forward thinking proposals from the ballot - from overhauling the city's approach to long-term planning to rethinking the Department of Buildings with an Office of Inspection, to bolstering independence for elected and oversight agencies with independent budgets - the members of the Charter Revision Commission are missing a historic opportunity to restore confidence and interest in government among generations of New Yorkers.

Borough President Stringer, Senator Squadron, Assemblymember Kavanagh, Concilmembers Chin and Mendez and families demand from DOE Plan for special needs students at P.S. 94

Today, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, joined by elected officials, education advocates and parents of children with Autism and other special needs at Public School 94 in Manhattan, called on the Department of Education (DOE) to immediately rectify confusion fueled by DOE Chancellor Joel Klein’s decision to sidestep a ruling passed down last week by New York State Education Commissioner David Steiner. Steiner ordered the DOE to halt the expansion of Girls Prep, which shares space in a building with P.S. 94 and P.S. 188, after concluding that the DOE had failed to assess the impact of this expansion on P.S. 94. Less than two days after the Commissioner issued his rebuke, news reports revealed that Chancellor Klein would use “emergency powers” granted to the Chancellor in State Education Law, to proceed with the expansion. The DOE has not officially announced the exact reasoning behind Chancellor Klein’s decision.

Statement of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer Re: Chancellor Klein’s Use of Emergency Powers to Displace LES School

In a brazen display of indifference, Chancellor Klein has decided once again to bulldoze the public process by invoking his emergency powers to displace a school that serves some of our system’s most vulnerable children. Parents deserve an explanation as to what circumstances justify the Chancellor’s decision to put the needs of District 75 last. This is yet another example of DOE’s failure to execute a long-term planning strategy for our schools, and offers more evidence of their disregard for the public process.

Statement of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer Re: Judge Walker’s Decision to Overturn California’s Proposition 8

Today’s decision is a watershed moment in the fight for marriage equality and the ongoing LGBTQ rights movement. Judge Walker’s decision champions the promises of justice and fairness that our 14th Amendment stands for.

Statement From The Manhattan Borough President Re: Landmarks Preservation Commission Decision On 45-47 Park Place

This morning the Landmarks Preservation Commission ruled against designating 45-47 Park Place as an individual New York City landmark. I support its decision.From the racist rants of a discredited Tea Party leader to the cynical posturing of a floundering gubernatorial candidate, this process has been manipulated by those looking to get headlines and score political points. We reject their divisive tactics. What we really need is a dialogue that facilitates community healing. Real New Yorkers need to be consulted as this project moves forward, and that includes families who lost their loved ones on 9/11.It is my hope that we can all come together to fight for what’s really important - finding a bipartisan solution to fund health benefits for 9/11 first responders, securing federal anti-terrorism dollars to keep our city safe, and promoting religious tolerance and freedom.

BP Stringer On Judge’s Decision To Block Key Provisions Of AZ Immigration Law

Click Here To Read Statement

Statement of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer Re: MTA Fare Hikes

New Yorkers this morning witnessed an all-too-familiar routine: the MTA trotting out another promise that this fare hike, this service cut, will form the solution to the Agency’s crippling deficit. In reality, the last few years have been nothing more than a parade of diversions, with plans that hurt New Yorkers without creating any real solution to keep the MTA’s operating budget out of the red.

Statement Of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer Re: Judge’s Decision To Block Key Provisions Of Arizona Immigration Law

I was heartened to learn that a federal judge today enjoined the most egregious and offensive provisions of the Arizona immigration law, S. 1070 in response to the federal government’s lawsuit. I have said before that this law is an affront to our nation’s core principles, and I applaud Judge Susan Bolton’s decision to block key portions of this statute that would have sanctioned racial profiling and hurt countless communities.

Statement of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer Regarding MTA Fare Hikes

Enough is enough. New Yorkers need to hear plans from the MTA for how it plans to manage its debt service payments, including an honest account of why mega-projects like the Second Avenue subway are hemorrhaging cash and missing their deadlines. Most importantly, we need to know that the Agency is focused on the long-term viability of our transit system and that it has done away with cheap tactics that threaten our school children, push the burden onto hardworking families and distract us from the looming disaster that this operating budget has become.

Today’s announcement answered none of these questions.

###

Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer Launches NYC Program For Low Income Unbanked Families To Safely Develop Banking History

Today, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, joined by a broad and diverse coalition of retail banks, community groups and regulatory agencies, launched Bank On Manhattan. This initiative connects people without a bank account, known as the unbanked, to affordable mainstream financial services and provides opportunities in the community for financial education. Bank On Manhattan aims to provide an alternative to costly financial services and to help people get started on a path to economic stability and success.

Statement From The Manhattan Borough President In Response To Today’s Ruling On The Turtle Bay Crane Collapse

Questions about the innocence or guilt of this particular rigger miss the larger point that still lingers some 28 months after the tragic crane collapse on East 51^st Street. Any questionable straps, beams, collars or other crane parts should have been caught through the use of aggressive inspection protocols by the Department of Buildings.

Borough President Scott M. Stringer Appoints New Land Use Director

Borough President Stringer Announces Launch of his Office’s First Immigrant Rights and Services Manual and Borough-wide Immigrant Rights Training Circuit

Today, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer announced the release of the first Manhattan Borough President’s Office Immigrant Rights and Services Manual, a unique and comprehensive resource authored by the Manhattan Borough President’s Office in consultation with major immigrant rights organizations around the city. The Borough President’s Office will partner with various immigrant rights and legal organizations to conduct a series of workshops and trainings around the borough and city to disseminate the manual and educate communities about legal rights, benefits and services.

Statement of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer Re: Department of Education Report On Tragic Drowning Of Columbia Secondary School Student

The Department of Education’s decision to heed our calls for a top-down review of City school field trip policies sends an important message to the Suriel family and parents across the city that this tragedy cannot be allowed to repeat itself. For Columbia Secondary School, I hope that the closure of this investigation marks the beginning of a healing period and a moment to come together once again as a supportive, united school community.

Borough President Stringer, Assembly Member Wright And Twu Local 100 President Samuelsen Urge Action To Keep Subway Booths Open

Today, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer joined by Assembly Member Wright and TWU Local 100 President Samuelsen, urged New Yorkers to join them at the MTA public hearings on July 13 and 14 in opposition to proposed closings, reduction in hours or permanent elimination of booth and subways stations kiosks throughout the city.