{"id":2069,"date":"2021-02-11T19:21:51","date_gmt":"2021-02-11T19:21:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/?p=2069"},"modified":"2021-02-11T19:21:51","modified_gmt":"2021-02-11T19:21:51","slug":"council-votes-to-pass-the-renewable-rikers-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/2021\/02\/11\/2069\/","title":{"rendered":"Council Votes to Pass the \u201cRenewable Rikers\u201d Act"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Council will also vote\u00a0on\u00a0pilot program to test sewage for\u00a0virus that causes COVID-19<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0
City Hall \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Today the New York City Council will vote\u00a0on\u00a0legislation\u00a0to transfer\u00a0the\u00a0land, buildings and facilities of Rikers Island from the\u00a0Department of Correction\u00a0(DOC)\u00a0to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).\u00a0This legislation comes\u00a0ahead of\u00a0the\u00a0August\u00a031,\u00a02027 deadline that prohibits Rikers Island\u00a0from being used for\u00a0incarceration.\u00a0The Council will\u00a0also\u00a0vote\u00a0on a bill\u00a0to\u00a0require a\u00a0feasibility study to\u00a0determine\u00a0whether different\u00a0types of renewable energy sources, combined with battery storage, are feasible on Rikers Island.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Council will also vote to create a pilot program to test sewage for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.\u00a0Wastewater samples\u00a0are an\u00a0underutilized\u00a0early detection tool for\u00a0this virus.\u00a0Early detection of\u00a0the virus early can help\u00a0to track circulation or re-emergence in the community. This legislation\u00a0will\u00a0include\u00a0a plan for increased testing at each City wastewater treatment plant\u00a0if deemed appropriate\u00a0and\u00a0offers\u00a0recommendations for making the program permanent.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Council will also vote on a bill to address health disparities for women and communities of color.\u00a0The bill will\u00a0create an advisory board for gender and racial equity in hospitals\u00a0to\u00a0advise the Mayor and the Council on issues related\u00a0to gender and racial equity in the provision of health care services and healthcare services in hospitals in New York City.\u00a0Implicit bias has been a major factor in negative health outcomes.\u00a0Members\u00a0will\u00a0also\u00a0vote on a resolution that calls on New York State to require medical schools\u00a0to\u00a0train students in implicit bias.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Additionally, the Council will vote on legislation that\u00a0disqualifies people who have been convicted of certain felonies\u00a0that relate to public corruption and depriving the public of honest services\u00a0from holding\u00a0local\u00a0elected office.\u00a0The bill would apply to the offices of Mayor, Comptroller, Public Advocate, Borough President, and Council\u00a0Member.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Council will also vote on two bills related to the city\u2019s 311 service. The first would require\u00a0311\u00a0to\u00a0conduct\u00a0customer satisfaction surveys\u00a0in\u00a0eleven different\u00a0languages. The second would require 311 to publish the timeframes in which agencies\u00a0are expected to respond to 311 service requests.\u00a0In addition, the Council will vote on\u00a0a bill to extend the moratorium on the issuance of accessory sign violations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Finally, the Council will vote on several land use items.\u00a0<\/p>\n

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Transfers\u00a0the\u00a0land, buildings and facilities of Rikers Island to the\u00a0New York City Department of\u00a0Citywide\u00a0Administrative\u00a0Services<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Int. No. 1592-A,\u00a0<\/strong>sponsored by Council Member Costa\u00a0Constantinides,<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>would establish a process for the transferring of the land, buildings and facilities of Rikers Island from the Department of Correction\u00a0(DOC)\u00a0to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). In biannual evaluations, any portion not in active use for the housing of persons, or providing of services for such persons, would be transferred, with the entirety being transferred no later than August 31, 2027. The DCAS Commissioner would have the authority to plan and coordinate the actions of city agencies with respect to prospective uses of Rikers Island\u00a0for purposes including\u00a0sustainability and resiliency. Additionally, a Rikers Island Advisory Committee would be established, consisting of relevant commissioners, persons impacted by Rikers, and experts in environmental justice and sustainability. The advisory committee would evaluate and provide recommendations on potential uses of the island\u00a0for purposes including those for sustainability\u00a0and resiliency.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Expands the\u00a0City\u2019s long-term\u00a0energy\u00a0plan\u00a0to\u00a0include a\u00a0study\u00a0of\u00a0the feasibility of different types of renewable\u00a0energy sources combined with battery storage on Rikers\u00a0Island<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Int. No. 1593-A,<\/strong>\u00a0sponsored by\u00a0Council Member\u00a0Costa\u00a0Constantinides,<\/em>\u00a0would\u00a0require the City\u00a0of New York to\u00a0undertake a feasibility study designed to ascertain whether different types of renewable energy sources, combined with battery storage, are feasible on Rikers Island.\u00a0The City is already required to complete a long-term energy plan to assess the feasibility of replacing in-city gas-fired power plants with renewable energy sources. This local law would add an appendix that would be required in the initial long-term energy plan to assess the feasibility of constructing renewable energy sources combined with battery storage on Rikers Island.\u00a0It\u00a0would include an evaluation of economic costs, value, rate of return, and sustainability.\u00a0The Rikers Island Advisory Committee would be able to issue recommendations during the study process.\u00a0This initial long-term energy plan, with this feasibility study, would be due on\u00a0June 30, 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 413 acres of Rikers Island have, for far too long, embodied an unjust and racist criminal justice system,\u201d said\u00a0Council Member Costa Constantinides.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cFar too many New Yorkers found themselves caught in a cycle of over-policing and over-incarceration symbolized by an island named for the family of a slave catcher. Now, however, we will have a golden opportunity to put the principles of the Green New Deal into practice with the Renewable Rikers Act. These bills will offer the city a pathway to building a hub for sustainability and resiliency that can serve as a model to cities around the world. I want to thank all the advocates who have fought so hard to make this day a reality, as well as Speaker Corey Johnson for his steadfast support of this legislation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Creates a\u00a0pilot program to test sewage for SARS-CoV-2<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Int. No. 1966-A,<\/strong>\u00a0sponsored by Council Member Costa\u00a0Constantinides,<\/em>\u00a0would establish a pilot sampling program to test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, which\u00a0is the virus that\u00a0causes the disease known as COVID-19,\u00a0in sewage no less than twice per week at each City wastewater treatment plant. Testing would be done by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method known as the PCR using N1 Primer method, which measures the copies of targeted viral RNA segment in a wastewater sample, unless the Commissioner of Environmental Protection determines that another testing method, which reflect best practices should be used.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The sampling results would be disaggregated by the site where the sample was collected, the date the sample was collected and the date the sample was tested. This legislation includes a plan for increased testing at each City wastewater treatment plant if the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene or State Commissioner of Health declare that the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 is appropriate for such action or if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues a SARS-CoV-2 pandemic declaration. The legislation also includes recommendations for making the pilot program permanent.\u00a0A report on the pilot sampling program would be due no later than January 31, 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cDEP did a good job of setting up an initial COVID testing program, but now it\u2019s time to push further,\u201d said\u00a0Council Member Costa Constantinides.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cNot only do we need more data sharing, but we also need to be prepared to respond to the next pandemic as well. With this bill, we will bring the program out into the open and position it to be a lasting piece of our wastewater system. I want to thank Speaker Johnson and the advocates who supported us in passing this legislation.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Disqualifies persons with certain felony convictions from\u00a0being elected to, or\u00a0holding,\u00a0an elected city office<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Int. No. 374-A,<\/strong>\u00a0sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan,<\/em>\u00a0would\u00a0disqualify any person that has been convicted of certain felonies\u00a0related\u00a0to public corruption and depriving the public of honest services from\u00a0being elected to, or\u00a0holding,\u00a0the office of Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, or Council Member.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The felonies included are grand larceny (if the property stolen included public funds), theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, making false statements in violation of section 1001 of title 18 of the U.S. Code (if committed\u00a0through the use of, or\u00a0in connection with,\u00a0the\u00a0person\u2019s elected office), wire and mail fraud, interference with commerce by threats or violence, and felony attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the\u00a0aforementioned felonies.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Under this bill, convictions that have been vacated or pardoned under state or federal law would not prevent a person from being elected to or holding office.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Serving the public in elected office is a privilege, not a right, and we should treat it like one,\u201d said\u00a0Council Member Justin Brannan<\/strong>. \u201cToday, when trust in government is at an all-time low, the last thing we need are elected officials who use their position of power to enrich themselves or their friends, get caught, and then come back looking for more. We have enormous challenges facing us as a city, and now more than ever, we need elected officials who seek public office because they are determined to build a better future for all New Yorkers. With today’s vote, we send a message to those who wish to use an elected office to abuse their privilege: corruption is not welcome in New York City. And you don’t get a second chance to betray the public trust.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Requires 311 to conduct annual customer satisfaction surveys in multiple languages<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Int. No. 1525-B,<\/strong>\u00a0sponsored by Council Member Peter Koo,<\/em>\u00a0would\u00a0require\u00a0311 to conduct at least five customer satisfaction surveys\u00a0per year. 311 would be required to conduct such surveys\u00a0in\u00a0English and each of\u00a0the ten \u201cdesignated citywide languages.\u201d\u00a0These are the top ten languages spoken by New Yorkers with limited English proficiency,\u00a0as determined by data from the United States Census Bureau and the NYC Department of Education.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bill would also require the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications to\u00a0produce\u00a0an annual report containing the results of such surveys, disaggregated by the language in which the survey was conducted.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“The residents of New\u00a0York\u00a0City\u00a0speak hundreds of languages, and they\u2019ve been cut off from our city\u2019s main source of government information and non-emergency services for too long via 311. Conducting customer satisfaction surveys in multiple languages will help 311 identify ways in which it can better serve all residents while improving accessibility for non-English speakers,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Council Member Peter Koo.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Requires the publication of 311 service level agreements<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Int. No. 1830-A,<\/strong>\u00a0sponsored by Council Member Diana Ayala,<\/em>\u00a0would require 311 to post each\u00a0agency\u2019s\u00a0service level agreement (SLA)\u00a0on the Open Data portal, provide a link to such posting on the 311\u00a0website, and maintain a separate page on the\u00a0311 website\u00a0providing general background information on SLAs.\u00a0SLAs are commitments that agencies make to respond to a particular type of service request within a certain\u00a0time\u00a0frame.\u00a0By requiring these commitments to be published online, this bill would make the\u00a0311 customer\u00a0service process more transparent.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is imperative that government not only serves\u00a0in the best interest of the public but that they are also transparent with those services,\u201d said\u00a0Council Member Diana Ayala<\/strong>.\u00a0\u201cSince its inception,\u00a0311 has been a valuable tool for New Yorkers\u00a0to be able to access information to city services as well as\u00a0providing feedback on issues that are important to them. This bill will\u00a0further expand on that by\u00a0helping\u00a0New Yorkers\u00a0research\u00a0what actions have been taken since\u00a0a service request has been placed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

HEALTH<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Creates\u00a0an advisory board for gender and racial equity in hospitals<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Int. No. 2064-A,<\/strong>\u00a0sponsored by Council Member Helen Rosenthal,<\/em>\u00a0would require the creation of an advisory board\u00a0to report on issues relating to gender and racial equity in the provision of healthcare services in hospitals and other covered health care services in New York City. The advisory board would consider factors that contribute to gender and racial inequity in hospitals and other health care services and examine existing protocols these entities use to address such inequity.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The board would consist of a multi-disciplinary panel of representatives and be required to submit a report including recommendations for addressing and eliminating such inequities by December 1, 2021, and December 1 annually thereafter.\u00a0The report would be submitted to the Mayor and the Speaker of the council, posted on the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene\u2019s website, and shared with a trade association representing hospitals, for distribution to its members operating in New York City.\u00a0<\/p>\n

HOSPITALS<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Calls on\u00a0New York State to require medical schools to train students about “implicit bias”<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Res. No. 512-A,<\/strong>\u00a0sponsored by Council Member Helen Rosenthal,<\/em>\u00a0would call on New\u00a0York State to require medical schools to train all students about implicit bias.\u00a0Although some medical\u00a0schools provide such training to their students, not all do.\u00a0Training in implicit bias includes instruction on structural racism, ableism, and other forms of oppression\u00a0in the medical\u00a0field as well as reflection on individuals\u2019 own implicit biases.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Intro 2064 will shine an ongoing spotlight on the racial and gender discrimination impacting our healthcare workers, and in turn, their patients. Similarly, my resolution 512 calls on New York State medical schools to educate future doctors about underlying biases which can severely affect patient care. Together, my bill and resolution are important steps toward addressing the historic and ongoing discrimination that plagues our healthcare systems. Improving workplace conditions, and tackling implicit bias head-on, will both improve patient outcomes. I thank the Public Advocate, my Council colleagues, and all the advocates and healthcare workers who helped make passage today possible,” said\u00a0Council Member Helen Rosenthal.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

HOUSING & BUILDINGS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Extends the moratorium on the\u00a0issuance of accessory sign violations\u00a0and increases the\u00a0waiver of permit fees related to installing an accessory sign<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Int. No. 2044-A,\u00a0<\/strong>sponsored by Council Member Robert Holden,<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>would\u00a0mitigate\u00a0the financial\u00a0impact\u00a0of accessory sign violations faced by\u00a0many small businesses across the City. This bill\u00a0would extend the moratorium\u00a0on\u00a0the issuance of\u00a0accessory sign violations\u00a0and the temporary\u00a0Department of Buildings (DOB)\u00a0assistance program established by Local Law 28 of 2019 for two years.\u00a0The moratorium established by Local Law 28 of 2019 expired in early 2021\u00a0and the DOB assistance, which expired after six months, also included\u00a075% waiver of certain permit fees related to installing an accessory sign. To provide\u00a0further assistance, in addition to extending the moratorium and DOB assistance program, this bill\u00a0would\u00a0also\u00a0increase the permit fee waiver to 100%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

This local law would take effect immediately and be retroactive to January 1, 2021.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone is talking about helping our small businesses,\u00a0and\u00a0this bill, Int. 2044, will help them in a real, quantifiable way that helps them save some money. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy, but they\u2019ve been hemorrhaging throughout this pandemic.\u00a0It has long been too difficult to run a business in New York City, but it has become almost impossible.\u00a0Many of the owners and employees of small establishments are immigrants, working hard for their piece of the American Dream. The proprietors and employees of the\u00a0Mom-and-Pop\u00a0storefronts in my district and all over New York struggle to feed their families, pay for their children\u2019s education, braces and clothing. This law will\u00a0allow them to save a little more money.\u00a0If the city doesn\u2019t stop nickel-and-diming our small businesses and help them in meaningful ways, like this bill does, the only sign we\u2019ll see on them is \u2018out of business,\u2019\u201d said\u00a0Council Member Robert Holden.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

LAND USE<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

110 Lenox Avenue Cluster \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>The New York City Housing Preservation and Development seeks an Urban Development Action Area Project (UDAAP) approval and approval of a new 40-year Article XI tax exemption. These actions will facilitate the renovation of four\u00a0partially-occupied\u00a0city-owned residential buildings with 55 affordable units consisting of, 37 cooperative homeownership units and 18 affordable rental units, in Council Member Bill Perkins\u2019 district.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Angel Guardian Home \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Landmarks Preservation Commission\u2019s designation of a former orphanage, built in 1899 and operated by the Sisters of Mercy, in Council Member Carlos Menchaca\u2019s district.\u00a0<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Council will also vote\u00a0on\u00a0pilot program to test sewage for\u00a0virus that causes COVID-19<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0
City Hall \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Today the New York City Council will vote\u00a0on\u00a0legislation\u00a0to transfer\u00a0the\u00a0land, buildings and facilities of Rikers Island from the\u00a0Department of Correction\u00a0(DOC)\u00a0to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).\u00a0<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

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