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    Lew Simon

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    Human Rights Project at the Urban Justice Center
    Lew M. Simon is running for New York City Council and provided responses to a human rights questionnaire. His top three legislative priorities would be rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy, improving transit to Rockaway, and making schools safe. His top three budget priorities would be funding rebuilding efforts, reopening the Rockaway Beach rail line, and improving schools. He supports using participatory budgeting and believes the Council Speaker's power should not prevent legislation from being discussed.

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    Lew Simon

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    Human Rights Project at the Urban Justice Center
    51 views3 pages
    Lew M. Simon is running for New York City Council and provided responses to a human rights questionnaire. His top three legislative priorities would be rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy, improving transit to Rockaway, and making schools safe. His top three budget priorities would be funding rebuilding efforts, reopening the Rockaway Beach rail line, and improving schools. He supports using participatory budgeting and believes the Council Speaker's power should not prevent legislation from being discussed.

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    2013 New York City Council Human Rights Profiles

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    Lew M. Simon is running for New York City Council and provided responses to a human rights questionnaire. His top three legislative priorities would be rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy, improving transit to Rockaway, and making schools safe. His top three budget priorities would be funding rebuilding efforts, reopening the Rockaway Beach rail line, and improving schools. He supports using participatory budgeting and believes the Council Speaker's power should not prevent legislation from being discussed.

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    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    51 views3 pages

    Lew Simon

    Uploaded by

    Human Rights Project at the Urban Justice Center
    Lew M. Simon is running for New York City Council and provided responses to a human rights questionnaire. His top three legislative priorities would be rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy, improving transit to Rockaway, and making schools safe. His top three budget priorities would be funding rebuilding efforts, reopening the Rockaway Beach rail line, and improving schools. He supports using participatory budgeting and believes the Council Speaker's power should not prevent legislation from being discussed.

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    Name of Council Candidate: Lew M.

    Simon Name and Title of Person Completing Questionnaire: Norman Silverman Campaign Website:

    2013 CITY COUNCIL HUMAN RIGHTS QUESTIONNAIRE


    1. Many in the United States think of international affairs when they think of human rights. Our work emphasizes the applicability of the human rights framework here in the United States. Please share your thoughts on the domestic applicability of human rights, and discuss why human rights are important to you in the context of New York City and the City Council. From my earliest days I was taught and believed that all people should be treated with respect and dignity. We were in and out of our neighbors' apartments and treated them all like family. I learned to fight discrimination and intolerance wherever we find it. Every group in America has suffered from discrimination at one time and while there has been some improvement, we still have a long way to go. New York City and specifically Rockaway, has always been my home. As a community leader, as Democratic District Leader and even more as a Council member I have been a role model and moral leader to set an example that hostility and discrimination should never be tolerated in our neighborhoods and city. 2. How have you used current or previous professional positions to advance human rights? In my current position, I have joined in and protested any time violence or prejudice caused an incident in my community. We have residents with widely varied traditions and cultures. We treat all with respect and dignity. We have assisted people facing employment problems due to their gender identity. In our Good Government Regular Democratic Club, we welcome people without regard to gender identity, race, religion, or national origin. We are family. 3. What will your top 3 legislative priorities be in your first term as Council Member? 1. Due to the massive destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy in major parts of my district, I will work to see that well planned reconstruction and resiliency against future storms saves the homes and businesses of my community. 2. Located on the Rockaway peninsula, we need good, direct mass transit to midtown and downtown Manhattan where most jobs are located. We are working for the reopening of the Rockaway Beach line of the LIRR to make it possible to get to Penn Station in 32 minutes rather than 1 1/2 hours. Manhattan residents could also get out to the beach this way. We are working to continue the current $2.00 ferry to Rockaway.

    3. Our community public schools must be made safe for all of our children. There must be no tolerance of bullying based on perceived gender identity or any other reason. Teachers must be treated with respect and not made scapegoats for all the ills of society. 4. What will your top 3 budget priorities be in your first term as Council Member? 1. The city must pay its fair share of rebuilding the boardwalk, local streets and playgrounds. We expect federal help in building dunes, jetties, groins and seawalls. Public buildings such as police stations, firehouses, schools , and high rise senior residences must get the protection they need to survive coming storms. 2. As the right of way still exists, the cost of reopening the Rockaway Beach line will be reasonable. Federal funds are available for transportation, but the city must pay its share. Funds for a subsidized ferry would be regained through the increased ridership from Rockaway residents and possible use by JFK passengers enjoying their entry into Manhattan. 3. Our schools must be clean and safe. We must have well educated teachers for all subjects including science, art and music. We cannot have a generation of children who are only trained to fill in bubbles on math and reading tests. 5. Do you plan to use participatory budgeting to allocate your discretionary funds? Why or why not? We will work to see that funding is fairly distributed to all parts of our diverse district. We will work to find ways to ensure that areas that have traditionally low voter turnout are not treated unfairly. These areas, with many minority residents, must not be deprived of city services. 6. Please provide examples of recent legislation in Council that you believe promotes human rights. We support the goals of the Community Safety Act to be sure that police do not unfairly target residents based on their appearance rather than on possible criminal activity. It is certainly a human right to be able to go to the store, come home from school or visiting a friend without being frisked by officers who are required to fill a quota. Other legislation before the Council is related to human rights. Granting limited local voting rights to city residents who are waiting to gain citizenship would be a small step toward ending the denial of the rights of citizenship they suffer because of the refusal of the House of Representatives to take up a path to citizenship bill. Efforts to increase the minimum wage and sick days would help some low income New Yorkers to have more of the basic necessities for themselves and their children. Paid sick leave would help protect all of us from disease spread by low paid kitchen workers who cannot afford to take sick days.

    7. Legislation is only one of many ways in which Council Members can work to advance human rights. What ways other than through legislation will you advance the human rights of New Yorkers as a City Council Member? A City Council member has the responsibility and opportunity to speak out on human rights issues. Council members are invited to all sorts of occasions from opening of public buildings to funerals. There are many appropriate times to comment on human rights issues and help make them a part of everyone's second nature. A new council member has a small staff, but hiring should reflect as many parts of the community as possible. Council members get an opportunity to question commissioners especially at budget time. Questions about hiring practices can prod progress. I currently have a column in two local weekly newspapers. As Council member, I would expect to have more. I use these columns to fight for better human rights and the improvement of my district. 8. Some advocates contend that the position of the Council Speaker has too much power over the progression of legislation. Please use this space to respond to that critique. The Council gives the Speaker great power to maintain the orderly functioning of the Council. The Speaker must not use this power to prevent committees or substantial numbers of members from bringing legislation up for discussion. The Speaker must not cut funds for a member's district based on support or opposition to unrelated legislation. I hope and expect to be part of the progressive majority that will elect a progressive speaker who respects the rights of all the members.

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