Helen Rosenthal

Helen Rosenthal
Member of the New York City Council from the 6th District
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2014
Preceded by Gale Brewer
Constituency Manhattan: Upper West Side (55th to 110th Streets, excluding Columbus Circle and Manhattan Valley areas)
Personal details
Born October 24, 1960
Detroit, Michigan
Political party Democratic
Residence New York City, New York, USA
Alma mater Michigan State University (B.A.)
Yale University (M.P.H.)
Website Official website

Helen Rosenthal (born October 24, 1960) is a New York City Council Member for the 6th District, which encompasses the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

On September 10, 2013, Rosenthal won the Democratic nomination for the District 6 City Council seat, defeating six other candidates.[1] She went on to win the November general election with 78% of the vote, and her vote total was the highest of any candidate running for City Council throughout New York City.[2] Rosenthal was inaugurated on January 1, 2014.

Biography

Rosenthal received a B.A. in socio-economic policy and political theory from Michigan State University in 1982, and a Masters in Public Health from Yale University in 1987.[3]

From 1988 to 1995, Rosenthal served as an Assistant Director of the New York City Office of Management and Budget, where she managed the city's healthcare budget under Mayors Ed Koch, David Dinkins, and Rudy Giuliani.[4]

City Council Candidacy

In March 2012, Rosenthal announced her candidacy for District 6 of the New York City Council, whose incumbent, Gale Brewer, was term-limited out of office.[5] Rosenthal focused her campaign on issues including public school education, affordable housing, budget expertise, and mass transit improvements.

Her bid was endorsed by organizations including the Sierra Club, the National Organization for Women-NYC, and TenantsPAC, a group which advocates for rent-regulated tenants. Other supporters included Gloria Steinem, Michael Moore, former City Councilwoman Ronnie Eldridge, State Senator Liz Krueger, and State Assemblywoman Deborah Glick.[5][6]

Community Board 7

Rosenthal is a longtime member of Community Board 7, having served as Strategy and Budget Committee Chair, Vice Chair, and eventually board chair from 2007 to 2009. During this time, she advocated for additional public school seats on the Upper West Side, using data collection to dispute the city's assertion that the district had 1,500 empty school seats. This resulted in the creation of P.S. 452 in 2010.[7]

2013 Speaker Candidate Forums

After her election in November 2013, Rosenthal – along with fellow incoming Council members Carlos Menchaca, Ritchie Torres, and Antonio Reynoso – organized a series of "Speaker Candidate Forums" around New York City, to introduce New Yorkers to the 7 candidates for City Council Speaker. (Inez Dickens, Daniel Garodnick, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Annabel Palma, James Vacca, Mark Weprin, and Jumaane Williams).[8] Over half of the incoming City Council members sponsored the forums along with a coalition of community organizations, led by Community Voices Heard.[9][10] The forums attracted much attention; one forum at the "Transition Tent" was moderated by Errol Louis of New York 1 and Juan Manuel Benítez of NY1 Noticias.[11]

City Council

Rosenthal is the chair of the Contracts committee.[12]

Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian safety emerged as a key issue for Rosenthal when three pedestrians were struck and killed on the Upper West Side over a ten-day period in January 2014.[13] On January 10, 2014 an elderly man, Alexander Shear, was struck by a tour bus, and nine-year-old Cooper Stock was hit by a taxi; they were killed within an hour of each other and a few blocks away from each other.[14] Nine days later, twenty-six-year-old Samantha Lee was struck and killed at the same intersection as Shear.[15]

Immediately after the first deaths, Rosenthal spoke to the New York City Department of Transportation about short-term pedestrian safety changes; four days later DOT posted a "yield to pedestrians" sign on the intersection where Stock died, and soon after DOT increased the Leading Pedestrian Interval Signal (lengthening the "Walk" signal from 6 seconds to 12 seconds) and painted "LOOK" in the crosswalk next to the curb.[16] Rosenthal also called for the 96th Street corridor to be a Vision Zero study site,[17] and she expressed strong support for lowering the citywide speed limit to 20 miles per hour.[18]

In February 2014 Rosenthal announced she would propose legislation for tougher sanctions on taxi drivers who kill or maim pedestrians due to the driver's failure to yield; the driver's taxi license would immediately be suspended, and if a police investigation concluded that the driver had indeed failed to yield, then the driver's taxi license would be revoked.[19] The legislation quickly became known in the press as "Cooper's Law," after Cooper Stock.[20][21][22][23][24] Rosenthal introduced "Cooper's Law" to City Council on March 12, 2014.[25]

On May 21, 2014, Dana Lerner, Cooper Stock’s mother, reported that she and her husband were told at the Manhattan District Attorney's office that no charges would be filed against the cab driver, Koffi Komlani, who is responsible for Stock’s death.[26] Because New York law states that drivers only face criminal charges when they commit two misdemeanors at a time, Komlani only received a charge of “failure to yield”, responsible for paying up to $300 and losing three points on his TLC license.[26] Two days later, New York’s Taxi and Limousine Commission reported that Komlani’s professional license would not be renewed.[27] The TLC also confirmed that Komlani did not drive a taxi after the incident.[27]

"Cooper’s Law", which states that taxi or livery drivers who kill or severely injure will have their TLC licenses suspended and revoked, was passed on May 29, 2014.[28] Some council members such as Councilman Mark S. Weprin and Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo, expressed disagreement saying that the bill was too harsh for drivers when accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. Councilman Weprin noted, "There are bad things that can happen to good actors. To take away their livelihood makes me a little concerned." [29] However, the bill was passed by a vote of 46 to 1 with two abstentions.[29] It is included in Mayor de Blasio's Vision Zero plan, a traffic safety plan rooted in a Swedish street safety philosophy.[30] Other measures in the plan include increasing the level of enforcement of speeding and widening parking lanes.[30] On August 9, 2014 Governor Cuomo signed a bill reducing New York City’s speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph.[31]

Rainbow Experiment and School Facility Notification

On January 2, 2014, two tenth grade students at the Beacon School were accidentally burned by their teacher's chemistry demonstration.[32] The chemistry teacher, Anna Poole, was conducting the "rainbow experiment"—in which several chemicals are set aflame to produce different colors; however, during the experiment, an explosion occurred due to improper safety equipment.[33] Consequently, Beacon High School removed Poole in February and the New York City Fire Department issued the school violations for improperly storing chemicals and poor ventilation.[33]

After the incident Rosenthal proposed legislation that would make it mandatory for a public school to notify parents of violations issued to their children’s schools by the Department of Buildings, the Fire Department, or the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.[33] Rosenthal introduced the measure to the City Council on February 26, 2014, and it was referred to the education committee by the Council.[34]

Rosenthal also submitted a resolution that calls for the New York City Department of Education to review the use of the "rainbow experiment” in New York City public schools, as well as to adhere to the DOE Science Safety Manual and Fire Code procedures and facility requirements for all potentially volatile science demonstrations, including this experiment.[35] Rosenthal introduced the resolution to the City Council on February 26, 2014, and the Council referred it to the Education Committee.[36]

Affordable Housing

On March 28, 2014, West Side Spirit published an op-ed written by Rosenthal on the Imperial Court, a rent-stabilized Single Room Occupancy (SRO) building whose owner has been utilizing two thirds of the units as part of an illegal hotel operation.[37] In 2007, New York City filed suit against two Upper West Side SRO buildings to prevent them from operating as illegal hotels, which can be more lucrative for building owners.[38] In the op-ed, Rosenthal argues that there is more financially sustainability in maintaining the building as a rent-stabilized SRO.[37]

TF Cornerstone

In November 2013, TF Cornerstone proposed to build a 45-story building with 1,189 units that include 238 affordable units on the south side of 57th Street, West of 11th Avenue.[39] The building received benefits of inclusionary zoning and 20-year partial tax exemption due to the state’s 80/20 housing program.[40] Covering 1.9-acre, it would be the city’s largest residential complex, encompassing a 42,000-square-feet of ground floor retail space and a 500-car garage.[39]

However, soon after the City Planning Commission, Community Board 4, and the Manhattan Borough President’s Office authorized the project, upper west side and midtown residents began to protest against the construction of the building through the neighborhood coalition Citizens for Responsible Organized West Side Development with Environmental Deference.[41] Many residents saw the construction as an overdevelopment of the area, expressing their concerns about the re-zoning process, the massive building blocking their views, and influx of new residents interfering with schools, hospitals, and public transportation systems in the neighborhood.[42] Rosenthal, along with council member Corey Johnson, attended the community-run forum on overdevelopment.[41] In response, TF Cornerstone announced, “Every level of the public review process has supported the project thus far, with the participants finding that the development will invigorate a new up and coming neighborhood without any major unmitigated impacts to the current environment. TF Cornerstone is particularly proud to be making such a significant contribution toward the Mayor’s goal for more affordable housing.”[42]

TF Cornerstone’s application was presented before city council on April 23, 2014.[42] Rosenthal negotiated with TF Cornerstone to fulfill several propositions requested by the neighborhood coalitions. The deal included replacing a residential floor with a space for a public Pre-Kindergarten program, allocation of extra units for families with annual income of $150,000 that would increase 205 affordable units to 220,[43] almost equal amenities for rent-regulated apartments as their market-rate peers, a smaller parking garage, and $100,000 towards improving Clinton Cove, a local park. TF Cornerstone has also agreed to only employing union construction workers and staff from 32BJ SEIU and to meet the Hotel Trades Union’s inquiry to apply for a Special Permit when constructing hotels.[44] Rosenthal further commented, “I hear the project’s detractors loud and clear: I understand why the residents who live along West 57th street do not like this development. …I will work with my colleagues in the Council and across the hall in the Mayor’s office about important, necessary changes to the EIS to make it more responsible in addressing legitimate planning concerns.”[44]

DRIE- Disabilities Rent Increase Exemption

Rosenthal introduced legislation to extend the Disabilities Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) program to $50,000 in income per household, which was passed by the City Council on July 24, 2014 and signed by the Mayor on August 8, 2014.[45] DRIE allows those who qualify to be guaranteed a rent freeze on their residence.[46]

Share Better

Rosenthal is a member of Share Better, a coalition devoted to informing the public about the negative impact of Airbnb and other illegal hotels on safety, public health, and affordable housing in New York City. The coalition announced its formation at a kickoff rally on September 12, 2014, and it is composed of over 25 Federal, State, and City-level elected officials and affordable housing advocates. According to Share Better, Airbnb “enables New York City tenants to break the law and potentially violate their leases.” [47] The coalition engages with the media to discuss how illegal hotels push rent prices up, and it tells various “horror stories” related to these websites.[48]

Separate Entrances

Two residential developments, 40 Riverside Boulevard and 1 West End Avenue, have been approved with separate entrances for market rent and subsidized units, often referred to as “poor doors”.[49][50] Separate entrances based on rent status became a legal option for developers receiving city subsidies after the passage of a 2009 law in the City Council.[51] Rosenthal has spoken out strongly against these “poor doors” [52] in a letter to the editor of the New York Times, Rosenthal wrote,

“we must push back against activities, subsidized by New Yorkers’ tax dollars, that promote visible manifestations contrary to the idea that people are essentially equal — and therefore deserve equal treatment. Private developers create affordable housing when they receive economic incentives from the government to do so, often in the form of large property tax reductions. New York City then has every right to insist that city-subsidized development be constructed with a common entrance and shared amenities unsegregated by income”.[30]

Participatory Budgeting

Participatory budgeting in New York City started in 2011 when four council members, Brad Lander, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Eric Ulrich, and Jumaane Williams, allowed residents to decide how to use the capital discretionary funds.[53] In 2013, ten members from the city council implemented participatory budgeting in their districts, resulting in the installation of electronic countdown clocks on westbound cross-town bus stops, ADA-compliant swing sets on playgrounds, bathroom renovations at PS 261, street and road improvements, and many more projects.[54] On March 28, 2014 West Side Spirit published an op-ed written by Rosenthal titled “Let’s Spend $1 Million Together”, which introduced Rosenthal’s plan to initiate the PB process in District 6 and outlined the rules the residents need to follow in order to participate.[54]

Climate Change

Rosenthal proposed a resolution encouraging individuals to adopt "Meatless Mondays" with Council Member Corey Johnson, Chair of the Health Committee, to benefit the health of New Yorkers and help mitigate the negative effects of meat production on climate change. Rosenthal also took part in the People's Climate March, a large environmental rally in September 2014.[55][56][57]

References

  1. ↑ Steiber, Zachary. "Helen Rosenthal Wins Manhattan’s City Council District 6 Democratic Primary". theepochtimes.com. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "New York City Council - 2013 Election Results". nytimes.com. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "Helen Rosenthal – New York City Council Candidate on the Upper West Side, 6th District". linkedin.com. LinkedIn Corporation. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  4. ↑ Chen, Daphne. "Three vying for UWS City Council seat". columbiaspectator. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Albrecht, Leslie. "Filmmaker Michael Moore Adds Star Power to City Council Race". dnainfo.com. DNAinfo.com. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "ress Release: NOW-NYC Endorses Helen Rosenthal, Candidate For NY City Council". helenrosenthal.com. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "About Face for DOE: District 3 Needs New School". nypress.com. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  8. ↑ Powell, Nick. "Vacca Shines on Home Turf at Speaker Forum in the Bronx [CORRECTED]". cityandstateny.com. City & State NY, LLC. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  9. ↑ "Manhattan: City Council Speaker Forum". transitforward.org. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "Live From New York: CVH Co-hosts NY City Council Speaker Forum on NY1". cvhaction.org. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  11. ↑ "Speaker Selection: The Talking Transition Tent Edition (Updated)". newyorktrue.com. New York True. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  12. ↑ Pehme, Morgan (23 January 2014). "2014 New York City Council Committee Assignments". City & State. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  13. ↑ Sanders, Anna (19 January 2014). "Pedestrian dies in accident less than a block from Upper West Side home". Metro. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  14. ↑ Kalikoff, Eva (12 January 2014). "Local leaders push for traffic safety after pedestrian deaths". Columbia Spectator. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  15. ↑ Sanders, Anna (19 January 2014). "Pedestrian dies in accident less than a block from Upper West Side home". Metro. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  16. ↑ Kalikoff, Eva (27 January 2014). "Traffic safety changes implemented on 97th Street after City Council members and DOT talk". Columbia Spectator. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  17. ↑ "City Councilmember Helen Rosenthal, on pedestrian deaths on the Upper West Side". 21 January 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  18. ↑ Fitzsimmons, Dan (6 February 2014). "Grief, and Safety Ideas, after Traffic Deaths". Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  19. ↑ Frost, Emily (17 February 2014). "Councilwoman Pushes Law to Yank Cabbies' Licenses After Pedestrian Crashes". DNA Info. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  20. ↑ Buiso, Gary (15 February 2014). "Mother of boy killed by cab pushes for ‘Cooper’s Law’". New York Post. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  21. ↑ Robbins, Christopher (16 February 2014). ""Cooper's Law" Would Suspend Cabbies Who Kill Or Maim Pedestrians". Gothamist. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  22. ↑ Sanders, Anna (18 February 2014). "Proposed ‘Cooper’s Law’ would seize hack licenses of cabbies involved in pedestrian crashes". Metro. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  23. ↑ Aaron, Brad (18 February 2014). "Rosenthal Wants TLC Licenses Revoked for Serious Failure to Yield Crashes". StreetsBlog NYC. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  24. ↑ "‘COOPER’S LAW’ COULD CURB DEADLY CAB DRIVERS". 18 February 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  25. ↑ "Int 0171-2014: Failure to yield and serious crashes". Legistar. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Belkin, Lisa (23 March 2014). "No Charges against NYC cab driver in 9-year-old's traffic death". Yahoo. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Belkin, Lisa (23 March 2014). "Cab driver who struck NYC 9-year-old to lose his taxi license". Yahoo. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  28. ↑ Belkin, Lisa (30 May 2014). "New York City Council passes Cooper’s Law in push to eliminate traffic deaths". Yahoo. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Flegenheimer, Matt (29 May 2014). "Council Passes Bills Aiding de Blasio’s Quest to End Traffic Deaths". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Flegenheimer, Matt (18 Feb 2014). "De Blasio Outlines Steps to Eliminate Traffic Deaths". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  31. ↑ Baumgarten, Gary (9 Aug 2014). "Gov. Cuomo Signs Bill Lowering NYC Speed Limit To 25 MPH". CBS New York. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  32. ↑ Frost, Aidan (2 January 2014). "2 Beacon HS Students Burned When Chemistry Experiment Explodes, DOE Says". DNA Info. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Frost, Emily (21 March 2014). "Councilwoman Wants to Restrict Science Experiment That Burned Students". DNA Info. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  34. ↑ "Int 0109-2014, Requiring notice of building code, fire code, and health code violations in public schools.". Legistar. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  35. ↑ "Dept of Education to review the use of the "Rainbow" experiment in NYC public schools.". Legistar. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  36. ↑ "Res 0065-2014, Dept of Education to review the use of the "Rainbow" experiment in NYC public schools.". Legistar. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Rosenthal, Helen (28 March 2014). "Op-Ed: The Cost of an S.R.O.’s Empty Beds". New York Press. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  38. ↑ Fitzsimmons, Daniel (1 April 2014). "Empty Rooms on the U.W.S.". New York Press. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Dailey, Jessica (11 Nov 2013). "TF Cornerstone's Colossal West 57th Street Building, Revealed!". Curbed. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  40. ↑ Barbanel, Josh (4 Nov 2013). "Advocates Say Subsidies for Developers Misdirected". TheWall Street Journal. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Maurer, Mark (14 April 2014). "West Side residents protest TF Cornerstone project". The Real Deal. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 Katz, Matthew (14 April 2014). "Neighbors Oppose 1,200-Unit Building on West 57th Street". DNA info. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  43. ↑ Maurer, Mark (25 April 2014). "TF Cornerstone’s West Side project adds public school". The Real Deal. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 "Press Release: Land Use Committee Approves TF Cornerstone Proposal for 606 West 57th Street". Scribd. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  45. ↑ "Int 0422-2014  : Increasing the maximum income level qualifying for exemption from rent increases granted to certain persons with disabilities.". Legistar. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  46. ↑ "ANSWERS TO THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DRIE INCOME INCREASE". NYC.gov. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  47. ↑ "Share Better About Us". Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  48. ↑ Short, Kevin (14 September 2014). "Airbnb Under Fire From New 'Share Better' Campaign". Huffington Post. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  49. ↑ Surico, John (22 September 2014). "With Other 'Poor Doors' On The Way, City Looks to Mitigate Effects". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  50. ↑ Peltz, Jennifer (29 August 2014). "NYC developer makes changes in 'poor door' design". AP. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  51. ↑ "Inclusionary Housing Text Amendment". NYC.gov. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  52. ↑ Anuta, Joe (5 September 2014). "Distance is key for 'poor door' opponents". Crain's New York Business. Retrieved 7 October 2014.:
  53. ↑ "About". Participatory Budgeting in New York City. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 "OP-ED: Let’s Spend $1 Million Together". News West Side Spirit. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  55. ↑ Frost, Emily (21 Jan 2015). "Pols Push for Resolution Making NYC Official Promoter of Meatless Mondays". DNAInfo. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  56. ↑ "ENDORSEMENTS". Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  57. ↑ "Photos". Retrieved 7 October 2014.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Gale Brewer		 New York City Council, 6th District
2014–present 		Incumbent