BY COREY JOHNSON | Of the many things I love about the Third Council District, one of them is its place in our city’s history. Everyone brags about their respective district, but the Third District has some of our city’s best individual landmarks and historic districts. The Greenwich Village Historic District is one of our city’s oldest, and protecting it is of utmost importance to me.
Some of my earliest actions as a councilmember were around protecting the integrity of the Greenwich Village Historic District. Applications came before the Landmarks Preservation Commission for 130 Seventh Ave. and 100 Barrow St. I submitted testimony objecting to the proposals, both of which were for new buildings that were far outside the historic context in which they were being constructed. The small amount of brick proposed for these two developments in no way outweighed the modern design elements of glass and steel on the buildings. Both would have been a scar in the Village, and could have set a dangerous precedent for future developments in the neighborhood.
CITY COUNCIL
I was relieved when L.P.C. directed the architects and developers of these projects to go back to the drawing board to come up with designs that are respectful of their historic surroundings and fit into the context of Greenwich Village.
On a related preservation note, Councilmember Margaret Chin and I sent a letter to L.P.C. asking that specific sites in the Village and Soho that played a significant role in L.G.B.T. history ought to be recognized formally by our city. We asked that the Stonewall Inn, Julius’ Bar and the Gay Activist Alliance Firehouse all be recognized as individual landmarks, or that the reports on the historic districts in which they are sited should be amended to reflect the historical significance of these buildings. I will continue to advocate for formal recognition of sites that played an integral role in our city’s cultural fabric.
Regarding legislation, the Council and my own office have been busy. On Feb. 26, the Council overwhelmingly passed two major pieces of legislation, both of which I was proud to co-sponsor. Councilmember Chin, with whom I have the honor of serving as co-chairperson of the Manhattan Council Delegation, introduced a bill to amend the paid sick-leave bill passed by the City Council last year. It requires all employers with five or more employees to provide earned paid sick time, and requires employers with fewer than five employees to provide unpaid earned sick time. No longer will an additional 300,000 New Yorkers have to choose between their paycheck and their health.
The Council also passed a resolution in support of the city’s plan to establish high-quality universal pre-kindergarten for all eligible 4-year-olds and a high-quality after-school program for middle school-aged youth. Mayor de Blasio’s visionary proposal would provide secure funding for this program by authorizing New York City to raise its personal income tax on incomes over $500,000.
An estimated 55,000 4-year-olds would be served in the 2014-2015 school year. That number would climb to 73,000 students in the subsequent school year. Not only would universal pre-K relieve the financial burden on many young families, but it would improve the educational performance of low-income children and provide essential early-childhood education. I am proud to support this progressive policy and will join my colleagues in lobbying the governor and state Legislature to support the mayor’s plan.
In February, I also introduced two pieces of animal welfare legislation. The first bill, expanding on a law that was vetoed by Mayor Bloomberg — a veto that was then overridden in my first hearing as chairperson of the Health Committee — would redefine animal abuse for the purposes of enacting legislation to protect animals from being bought or adopted by those convicted of abuse. The second bill, which I introduced with Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, would regulate the sale of puppies from breeders and require the pet shop to provide prospective consumers with the animal’s medical and source histories. It would also set forth minimum standards of animal care pertaining to the housing, sanitation, providing of food and water, handling, veterinary care and exercise requirements for animals offered for sale in pet shops. The Department of Health has oversight over animal welfare and the animal shelter system, and I look forward to working with that agency and my fellow councilmembers to pass these and other critical bills concerning New York City’s animal citizens.
Other legislation I have introduced includes reporting on mobile food vendors, along with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, and a bill to track hepatitis prevention and treatment efforts, jointly with Councilmembers Chin and Peter Koo.
I have also proposed legislation that would require high-rise residential buildings to install emergency communication systems in stairwells and hallways. This would allow first responders to communicate with residents, telling them to “stay or go.” The proposed law would help protect thousands of residents. The fact that emergency communication systems already exist in commercial buildings and hotels is not surprising. But unfortunately they’re not in place for thousands of city residents living in high-rise buildings that lack the systems. This legislation would fix that.
And while the business of the Council takes place Downtown, my district office is also working hard to address the concerns of the community. Housing issues dominate the list of complaints: From heat and hot water problems to tenants facing evictions — we hear it all. We also help people who are having trouble navigating city agencies to address transportation issues, pension problems, and public-assistance programs.
My first months in the Council have proved challenging, rewarding and exciting. It’s an honor and privilege to represent our diverse neighborhoods on the West Side of Manhattan.
Johnson is city councilmember, Third District
