City Hall – Today the New York City Council will vote on legislation that would increase transparency within the New York City Police Department by requiring the NYPD to publish its patrol guide online. Additional legislation would require the NYPD to enhance its current hate crime reporting to increase the frequency of reporting and demographics analyzed within the reports. The Council will also vote on improvements to the Food Service Worker Retention Act, and on three bills that would ensure appropriate collection of demographic information – including race, ethnicity and sexual identity data from those who access City services. Finally, the Council will vote on a package of green buildings legislation that would expand the City’s landmark Greater, Greener Buildings Plan to require benchmarking, sub-metering and lighting upgrades for midsize buildings.

NYPD Patrol Guide and Transparency Measures

The Council will vote on legislation to require the NYPD to publish its patrol guide in an online format that is accessible to the public, and to enhance required hate crime reporting:

“This legislation is a reflection of our commitment to making an NYPD that is more transparent and accountable to the people it serves,” said Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Insight into the standards and procedures that guide our police officers in carrying out their official duties will go a long way toward improving police-community relations, as New Yorkers better understand the work that our law enforcement officers are performing. Similarly, enhancing the NYPD’s reporting requirements regarding hate crimes will enable the public to better understand the motives that drive these heinous acts. I thank Committee on Public Safety Chair Vanessa Gibson, as well as Council Members Dan Garodnick and Mark Levine for their leadership on these important issues.”

Introduction 728-B, sponsored by Council Member Dan Garodnick, would require the NYPD to publish its entire patrol guide on its website. The Department would be required to post all updates to the guide within 24 hours of the effective date of any amendment, but would not be required to publish any material that would reveal non-routine investigative techniques, confidential information or anything that would compromise the safety of the public or officers.

“Publishing the NYPD’s patrol guide online is a simple way to bring greater transparency and accountability to the police department,” said Council Member Dan Garodnick. “There is no reason for secrecy here. The patrol guide is carefully crafted, and the general public should be able to access it.  With a greater understanding of police protocol and expectations, New Yorkers will be better equipped to speak out if procedure is not followed. It is my hope that this legislation leads to greater trust between the police and the communities they serve.”

Introduction 959-B, sponsored by Council Member Mark Levine, would require annual hate crime reporting from the NYPD to be disaggregated by the animus of the targeted group. Disaggregation would be by race, nationality, sexual orientation, and disability of the victim, and by the demographics of the arrestee. In addition, general categories such as anti-ethnic, disability, religion and others would be further disaggregated by identifying the particular group that is targeted if any particular group is targeted at least nine times in a total of four consecutive quarters. The NYPD would be required to report the data quarterly and annually and post the data on its website.

“Hate crimes are an attack not just on innocent victims, but on the values we share as New Yorkers,” said Council Member Mark Levine. “Unfortunately, until now the public has had no real-time information on the trends in this ugly class of crimes, which often spike in response to global current events. The NYPD already collects detailed data on hate crimes. The public and policy makers need to have regular access to this information in order to react in a timely and appropriate manner. Passage of this bill will ensure that we as a city are better prepared to fight back against all crimes targeting victims’ identity.”

Increasing Demographic Information Gathered from Voluntary Surveys

This package of legislation would require the Department of Social Services, the Administration for Children’s Services, the Department of Homeless Services, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department for the Aging, the Department of Youth and Community Development, Department of Education, and any other agencies designated by the Mayor to provide to persons served by the agency with a standardized, anonymous and voluntary demographic information survey that contains questions regarding sexual orientation and gender identification, ethnicity, multiracial ancestry and languages spoken:

Introduction 251-A, sponsored by Council Member Daniel Dromm, would require the Mayor’s Office of Operations to make publically available the total number of individuals who have identified their ancestry and languages spoken, disaggregated with respect to each response option, agency, and program, and would require each agency that collects demographic information to evaluate its provision of services in consideration of the data collected and submit a report to the Council on any new or modified services developed based on the data.

Introduction 552-A, sponsored by Council Member Daniel Dromm, would require information to be submitted to the Council and made publically available regarding the total number of individuals who have identified their sexual orientation and gender identity, disaggregated with respect to each response option, agency, and program, and would require each agency that provides the survey to evaluate its provision of services in consideration of the data collected and submit a report to the Council on any new or modified services developed based on the data. The legislation would also ensure that the Mayor’s Office of Operations develops a manual and training program for agency staff who will be administering these surveys.

“Now we count,” said Council Member Daniel Dromm.  “This legislation will help to provide the LGBTQI community and people of many different ethnicities with greater access to vital city services.  These important bills will do much to protect New York City residents who have been subject to institutional discrimination and neglect for far too long.”

Introduction 551-A, sponsored by Council Member Margaret Chin, would require the Mayor’s Office of Operations to make publically available the total number of individuals who have identified multiracial ancestry or ethnic origin, disaggregated with respect to each response option, agency, and program, and would require each agency that provides the survey to evaluate its provision of services in consideration of the data collected and submit a report to the Council on any new or modified services developed based on the data.

“This legislation is not just about boxes we check off when filling out government forms. It’s about recognizing every New Yorker as an integral part of the diversity that makes our City the greatest in the world,” said Council Member Margaret Chin. “By allowing New Yorkers to identify as multi-racial or as members in a specific ethnic group, we are ensuring that everyone is counted and that City services reach people who need them the most. I thank Speaker Mark-Viverito and my partner on this important legislation, Council Member Dromm, for their leadership on behalf of our increasingly diverse City.”

All legislation would also require agencies to conduct a review of their forms and update them to include questions collecting this demographic information within the next five years. Using this data, the Mayor’s Office of Operations would then conduct an evaluation of its agencies and providers, so as to better address the needs of residents seeking services.

Expansion of the Food Service Worker Retention Act

This addition to the Food Service Worker Retention Act would restore certain employment protections to food service workers:

Introduction 1011-A, sponsored by Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, would require that when the owner or operator of a venue changes food service contractors, the new contractor for such venues shall retain food service workers for a period of 90 days. At the end of the retention period, the workers must be evaluated and, if their work is deemed satisfactory, the new food service contractor shall offer them continued employment with the new contractor. The law would also provide for a private right of action if there is a violation. This bill does not cover restaurants.

“We have a responsibility to working New Yorkers to ensure they are not mistreated in times of need and this legislation is an example of that,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. “Food service workers in buildings should have an opportunity to keep their jobs any time management changes, as they are most attuned to the needs of quality customer service. Providing this important worker retention window ensures that new management can make informed decisions about personnel, while workers have the time to show they are the best person for the job. This is a common sense bill that expands the rights of workers in our city and secures the right of one more sector under protections becoming more widespread in New York City. I want to thank Unite Here Local 100 for their strong advocacy for this legislation, as well as Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito for her leadership, my colleagues for their support and the staff that was crucial to moving this legislation.”

Enhancing Green Buildings Legislation in NYC

Building on past legislation aimed at improving building standards and combatting citywide greenhouse gas emissions, known as the Greater, Greener Buildings Plan, the City Council will vote on the following green buildings legislation:

Introduction 1160, sponsored by Council Member Costa Constantinides, would require owners of midsize buildings to install electrical sub-meters in tenant spaces. Currently, by January 1, 2025, owners of buildings 50,000 gross square feet or larger are required to have installed electrical sub-meters in all tenant spaces which are 10,000 gross square feet or larger (other than dwelling units). This legislation would expand the requirements to owners of buildings 25,000 gross square feet or larger and to tenant spaces (other than dwelling units) 5,000 gross square feet or larger.

“Introduction 1160 will reduce our energy usage and bring us closer toward our goal of reducing carbon emissions 80% by 2050,” said Committee on Environmental Protection Chair Costa Constantinides. “Sub-metering tenant spaces will encourage occupants to use energy efficiently by making each tenant responsible for their own energy consumption.  Over 70% of our city’s carbon emissions come from buildings, and encouraging sustainable energy consumption habits will help decrease those emissions.  As over 50% of our city’s power is generated in Western Queens, I’m proud that this policy will also reduce the demand on our power plants.  I thank Speaker Mark-Viverito and my Council colleagues for their support of this legislation.”

Introduction 1163-A, sponsored by Council Member Dan Garodnick, would require owners of midsize buildings to benchmark their buildings. Currently, owners of buildings 50,000 gross square feet or larger are required to “benchmark” annually, which means that they report energy and water usage to the City so that the City can compare this usage against other buildings of a similar type. This legislation would expand the City’s benchmarking requirement to buildings 25,000 gross square feet or larger, provided that the utility company agrees to directly upload energy usage for such buildings. It would also require the Department of Buildings to establish a system to assist such buildings in meeting their benchmarking requirements.

“New York City must be a leader in using data to confront our most pressing issues,” said Council Member Dan Garodnick. “In this spirit, I am pleased that the Council is voting to expand the list of buildings required to be benchmarked for energy and water efficiency. The data collected will help the City and building owners achieve a more sustainable future.”

Introduction 1165, sponsored by Council Member Donovan Richards, would require owners of midsize buildings to upgrade their lighting systems. Currently, by January 1, 2025, owners of buildings 50,000 gross square feet or larger are required to upgrade the lighting systems in their buildings so that they are in compliance with the standards for new systems set forth in the New York City Energy Conservation Code. This legislation would expand the lighting upgrade requirements to owners of buildings 25,000 gross square feet or larger.

“As we just witnessed another serious storm ravage Haiti, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, nature continues to provide evidence of how important it is that we take our responsibility to combat climate change seriously,” said Council Member Donovan Richards. “Energy conservation is a huge piece of the puzzle and that’s what my bill aims to address by mandating that more than 10,000 additional buildings upgrade their lighting systems. Calling for voluntary reductions will not get us sizable results.  Energy efficiency is the new standard, and we all have to play our part as good stewards of God’s green earth. I’d like to thank Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Mark Viverito and all the advocates, including Climate Works For All, who haven proven their dedication to the environment time and time again.”

##