ON INDEPENDENCE DAY:
WEINER UNVEILS NEW YORK CITY “BILL OF RIGHTS”
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10 INITIATIVES TO PUT CITY IN CHARGE OF OUR
SCHOOLS, SUBWAYS, TAXES, GROUND ZERO, GAY MARRIAGE…
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TAKE CONTROL BACK FROM ALBANY
New York City – On Independence Day, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens & Brooklyn) unveiled his ten point plan to take control of New York City’s future back from Albany.
Weiner’s New York City “Bill of Rights” is a ten point plan to put the City back in charge of our most pressing needs, from fixing our schools to saving our subways. For far too long too many decisions crucial to the City’s future have been made by distant legislators in Albany who don’t really understand the challenges the City faces, or Governors who don’t really have the City’s best interests at heart
WEINER’S NEW YORK CITY BILL OF RIGHTS:
Authority to Raise and Lower Taxes – Any changes in the City’s income, sales, and business taxes must first be approved by Albany. And while the City has the authority to change property taxes, it must do so uniformly, meaning that any hike on commercial office towers must also be applied to single family homes. New York City should have complete discretion to set its own tax policies.
Control of the MTA Board – The vast majority of mass transit riders in the tri-state area reside in New York City, but New York City does not have control of the MTA Board: the Mayor currently gets only 4 votes on the 17 member board. The board should be rearranged so that there are 15 votes, with eight held by mayoral appointees. New York City should run the MTA.
Permanent Control Over Schools – Mayoral control of the schools expires in 2009. New York City, not the state legislature, should have the final word about how our schools are run. Mayoral control should be made permanent.
Make State Pick Up Full Cost of Medicaid – New York State is one of the only states in the country that requires municipalities to share the cost of Medicaid. Last fiscal year, that cost the City $4.8 billion. The State should level the playing field for New York City and pick up the full share of Medicaid costs.
Discretion to Set Parking Fines and Control Traffic Rules – Because New York State’s traffic law supersedes the City’s, the City has to seek State permission for traffic enforcement changes, even for something as simple as changing the cost of a parking ticket. The law should be changed to allow New York City to reduce parking fines and change traffic rules if it chooses to do so.
City Rent Control Laws – Under the “Urstadt Law”, enacted during the Rockefeller administration, the City is prohibited from setting any rent guidelines beyond those imposed by the State. The law should be repealed immediately, so that the City can implement its own housing policy.
Control Over Ground Zero Development – Nearly four years after 9/11, the amalgam of State and City controlled boards have failed to get construction underway at Ground Zero. New York City should have full control over Ground Zero development.
Discretion to Marry Gay Couples – Most New Yorkers support gay marriage, but state law prohibits City officials from marrying gay couples. New York City should have the discretion to perform gay marriages.
A City Minimum Wage – New York law precludes any local government from enacting a local minimum wage. That’s not true in much of the rest of the country: San Francisco, for example, has a minimum wage that is higher than the rest of California, while New York’s is lower than Connecticut’s. New York City should have the right to set its own minimum wage.
Control Over Liquor Licensing – Currently, the New York State Liquor Authority grants or denies liquor licenses. That’s a power with significant impact on neighborhoods, since it determines where bars and liquor stores are going to be located. New York City should have control over liquor licensing.
“New York City’s problems will never be fixed if we have to wait for Albany to fix them,” said Rep. Weiner. “We can’t even change the price of a parking ticket without Albany’s say so. In too many cases, the greatest city is the world is subject to the whims of one of the most dysfunctional legislatures in the country. Enough is enough. It’s time for New York City to declare its independence from the legendary political mess that is our state legislature.”
