SUMMARY OF THE MANHATTAN BOROUGH SERVICE CABINET ...

THE C ITY O F NEW YOR K
OFFICE OF THE PRE SIDENT
BOR OUG H OF MANH A TTA N
SCOTT M. STRINGER
BOROUGH PRESIDENT
SUMMARY OF THE MANHATTAN BOROUGH SERVICE CABINET
May 27, 2011
In Attendance:
Presiding: Scott M. Stringer, Manhattan Borough President
Council Members: Ms. Persephone Tan (representing Hon. Margaret Chin), Representative for Hon.
Robert Jackson, Ms. Jasmine Torres (representing Hon. Rosie Mendez), Mr. John Moore
(representing Hon. Jessica Lappin), Mr. David Kimball Stanley (representing Hon. Daniel
Garodnick)
District Managers: Mr. Michael Levine (CB 1), Mr. Robert Gormley (CB 2), Ms. Susan Stetzer (CB
3), Mr. Robert Benfatto (CB 4), Ms. Christine Vaccaro (CB 5), Mr. George Oliver (CB 6), Ms.
Penny Ryan (CB 7), Ms. Lovaeta Amoako (CB 8), Ms. Hlizephi Zita (CB 9), Mr. Paimaan Lodhi
(CB 10), Mr. George Sarkissian (CB 11), Mr. Ebenezer Smith (CB 12)
Agencies: Ms. Verna Arthur (DFTA), Ms. Lolita Jackson (CAU), Ms. Jennine Ventura (DCAS), Ms.
Leah Donaldson (DOB), Mr. Shane Ojar (DDC), Mr. Christopher Villari (DEP), Mr. Marty Farrell
(FDNY), Mr. Sam Friedman (DOHMH), Ms. Heidi Schmidt (DHS), Mr. Rubin Wolf (HPD), Ms.
Barbara Flynn (HPD), Mr. Barry Jamison (CCHR), Mr. Nicholas Sbordone (DOITT), Ms. Helen
Yanolatos (PARKS), P.O. Mary Ellen Lanigan (NYPD Manhattan South), Mr. Chi Dong (DSNY),
Ms. Colleen Chattergoon (DOT), Ms. Judy Duffy (MTA NYCT), Mr. Brent Cohen (DOP), Ms. Lee
Fiorino (DOF)
Excused: Ms. Melanie LaRocca (representing Hon. Christine Quinn), Ms. Wendy Garcia (DYCD)
Absent: Representatives for Hon. Gale Brewer, Hon. Ydanis Rodriguez, Hon. Inez Dickens, Hon.
Melissa Mark-Viverito, NYPD Manhattan North, DCA, NYCHA, HRA, DOE & the DA
Jessica Silver moved for adoption of the May 27, 2011 Borough Service Cabinet agenda and the
April 29, 2011 Borough Service Cabinet minutes. Both motions carried.
Manhattan Vacant Property Count
Kendall Jackman and Dianne Dickinson, Housing Campaign Leaders for Picture the Homeless
discussed their Manhattan Vacant Property Count initiative.
In 2006 the Manhattan Borough President’s office and Picture the Homeless conducted a vacant
property count in Manhattan and found 2,228 vacant properties - enough space to develop 24,000
housing units - the majority of which was above 96 th Street. Since then the Borough President
MUN IC IP A L B U ILD IN G ❖ 1 CENTR E STR EE T ❖ N EW YOR K, NY 10007
P HONE (212) 669-8300 F AX (212) 669-4305
www.mbpo.org bp@manhattanbp.org

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advocated for the city to conduct a regular, systematic survey of vacant and abandoned properties
and to create tax policy that motivates development on these sites. Legislation that the Borough
President drafted to end the tax advantage has passed and become law, so there is no longer an
incentive to keep properties vacant uptown.
In February, Intro 48 was introduced at the City Council mandating the City to conduct and publicize
an annual census of vacant properties. The bill has not passed. Picture the Homeless (PTH) decided
to conduct a city-wide vacant property count in 20 community districts in all five boroughs. These
districts were picked due to their high number of vacant properties. Seven of the community boards
are in Manhattan and PTH is looking for volunteers to help with the count. PTH is working with
Hunter College Department of Urban Affairs and Planning on this initiative. For more information
visit their website at www.picturethehomeless.org.
Department of Finance Update: Lien Sale and Disputing Tickets Online
Lee Fiorino, Director, Business & Community Outreach provided information on DOF’s lien sale
and new protocol that allows residents to contest tickets online.
A lien is a legal claim against property for unpaid property taxes, water, sewer or other property
charges, as well as the interest due on these taxes and charges. To prevent the sale of a lien on a
property, you must pay the debt or enter into a payment agreement by August 1, 2011. No down
payment is required for a payment agreement. Department of Finance and the Department of
Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will hold outreach sessions in each borough to
provide owners with one-on-one customer assistance. For further information, constituents should
call Finance's Outreach Unit at 212-669-8745.
Customers who wish to contest a ticket should request a hearing within 30 days of receiving the
ticket. This avoids incurring any penalties. Hearings are also available after 30 days, but if an
administrative law judge upholds the fine, the penalties may also be owed. There are three ways to
request a hearing: online, by mail or in person. People who request a hearing online but do not accept
a settlement offer from DOF and are granted a hearing by a judge, will receive that judge's decision
via email, as well as by regular mail. DOF has instituted a Reduced Fine Program. An offer of
reduction is extended for certain violations prior to a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge. If a
reduction is accepted, the respondent waives their right to a hearing and appeal.
Summer 2011 Free Manhattan Programming
Nicole Johnson, Director of Government Relations, City Parks Foundation gave a brief update on
free summer programming in NYC parks. City Parks Foundation (CPF) is an independent, nonprofit
organization offering programs throughout the five boroughs in over 750 parks. Programs include
arts, sports and educational programs. For the summer schedule visit: www.cityparksfoundation.org.
Agency Updates
- PARKS - the ribbon cutting for the newly reconstructed Richard Rodger Amphitheatre in
Marcus Garvey Park is on June 2nd. The ban on smoking in municipal parks and public
plazas has taken effect.
- DOHMH - The agency is taking steps to combat West Nile virus. The “BigAppleRx
Prescription Discount Card” is now available and will provide significant savings on
prescriptions for New Yorkers.
- HPD - Rubin Wolf is retiring and Barbara Flynn will be representing the agency at BSC.
- PROBATION - the agency’s new strategic plan can be found on their website.

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Report by the Borough President
Borough President Stringer presented Rubin Wolf with a proclamation in honor of his 48 years of
service to the city at HPD.
Last week Borough President Stringer launched NYC Taxpayer Receipt, a website that allows New
Yorkers to see where their city tax dollars are spent. You can enter your tax liability into the website,
and see how your tax dollars break down between city agencies, and within agencies, between
specific expenditures.
The Borough President wrote to DOE regarding spending on outside consultants. There has been a
455% increase in spending on outside contracts from 2004 to 2012, ballooning to nearly $1 billion in
outside contracts. We have almost no information about where this money is going, yet DOE is
threatening to lay off 6,000 teachers. If DOE has $1 billion, the public deserves an explanation of
why it doesn’t have the $350 million required to retain the 6,000 teachers.
Upcoming events include:
- Land Use 101, June 1 st at 6:30 pm at the YM & YWHA of Washington Heights
- LGBT Pride Month Celebration and Awards Ceremony, June 23rd from 6-8:00 pm at
the LGBT Community Center
Reports by District Managers
Community Board 12
CB 12 held a forum on charter schools last Saturday and will hold a Land Use 101 with the BP’s
office on June 1st. The board is administering 32 scholarships for Columbia University’s summer
camp.
Community Board 11
CB 11 passed a resolution supporting the opening of East Harlem Scholars Charter. The board has
serious concerns about the UFT lawsuit that is keeping two failing schools in the district open.
Community Board 10
CB 10 recently held an education forum. Businesses along 125 th Street corridor are changing their
gates to the new transparent style. Many of the old gates have murals by Franco the Great on them
and the board is trying to determine how to preserve the art. CB 10 is also looking into the possible
loss of affordable housing at NYCHA’s Philip Randolph Houses.
Community Board 9
CB 9 thanked the Borough President for writing a letter regarding Teacher’s College and cosponsoring
their recently held forum on landlords and tenants. CB 9 recently passed a resolution to
phase out No. 4 and No. 6 heating oils in NYC public schools.
Community Board 8
A local nightlife establishment was recently closed by SLA and has since reopened; SLA will hold a
hearing on June 29th. The board recently rejected a newsstand application for East 86 th Street.
Community Board 7
CB 7 is working with DEP and the NYPD to create a protocol for district-wide outdoor concerts and
tent events. The board is also working with CAU on an educational document on mobile truck
vending and enforcement.

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Community Board 5
CB 5 would like to see DOT conduct a study of increased flow to pedestrian plazas. The board wrote
a letter to the SLA on behalf of a small Italian restaurant which is scheduled to open in a few months.
Community Board 4
CB 4 is working on the new PS 51 construction project and potential student relocation. Board
elections will take place in June.
Community Board 3
City Council recently held a hearing on the Chinatown BID. CB 3 is working on SLA application
process since 50% of the applicants fill the form out incorrectly. The CB needs assistance in getting a
bell installed at PS 20 at handicap entrance.
Community Board 2
CB 2 representatives recently attended the groundbreaking for the Whitney Museum. The board
identified 78 empty tree pits in a partial district survey. A documentary film about CB 2 member
Florent Morellet's and his longtime and recently closed diner in the meatpacking district is playing at
Cinema Village.
Community Board 1
CB 1 is working on the logistics for the 9/11 Memorial event and concerns around the buses. The
board is also planning its own event for downtown residents to mark the tenth anniversary.
Meeting adjourned