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Policy Guide  
Betsy Gotbaum joins elected officials
and community members at a rally and press conference to denounce
the Mayor's plan to build a stadium on the west side.
Following is a short list of issues on which Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum has taken a stand since becoming Public Advocate in 2002. These are the issues and problems affecting families across all five boroughs. Betsy Gotbaum's goal is to address and solve these problems in order to make the City more livable for New Yorkers.
Education:
- Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum agrees that our school system must be reformed; however, she believes that the Mayor's approach to fixing our schools hurts more than it helps.
- The Mayor addresses school system problems with band-aid solutions
that don't last, while ignoring serious problems. Betsy Gotbaum
wants real changes in the classroom: more teachers and more
seats and fewer rules that prevent teachers from teaching and
students from learning. Real reform can only be achieved by
working with people in the system ö with the parents, teachers,
principals and advocates who understand the needs and problems
of our schools.
- One of the biggest problems plaguing City schools is an inadequate
amount of funding that prevents us from hiring more teachers
and constructing schools to alleviate overcrowding. Betsy Gotbaum
supports the state court ruling calling on Albany to increase
its financial contribution to the City's schools.
Development & Housing:
- A massive shortage of affordable housing has plagued our city for decades, and it has become increasingly difficult for low and middle class families to remain in the city. That's why Betsy Gotbaum supports substantial government assistance for affordable housing that provides incentives to developers and supports neighborhood redevelopment that includes large affordable housing components.
- Betsy Gotbaum has consistently argued against the Mayor's
West Side and Jets stadium plans. It's not just about these
redevelopment; it's about how we proceed with all developments,
whether we give the Mayor free reign to build without public
review or oversight.ä
Child Welfare:
- Betsy Gotbaum believes that the City's Administration for
Children's Services is not adequately protecting the 24,000
children who live in foster care and the tens
of thousands more living in abusive homes and dangerous
conditions. She supports a greater investment in preventive
services and a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary approach
to protecting children.
- While less than one percent of children live in City shelters,
nearly 25 percent of all child fatalities cases in which abuse
or neglect is suspected occured in the City's shelter system.
That's why Betsy Gotbaum supports tougher regulation, better
staff training, and stricter protection enforcement in
the City's shelters.
Seniors:
- Betsy Gotbaum believes that the Mayor's priorities for seniors
is wrong and does not believe in building a balanced budget
on the back of seniors. Services for the most vulnerable seniors
should never be cut. That's why Betsy Gotbaum wants the Department
for the Aging (DFTA) to restore Meals-on-Wheels food delivery
for homebound seniors in the Bronx.
- With the cost of prescription drugs soaring out of control,
Betsy Gotbaum wants to ensure that all seniors can still get
the medication they need. She knows that there are far better
options than Bush's prescription drug plan and supports expanded
access to New York State's EPIC plan.
Transportation:
- Betsy Gotbaum believes that the Metropolitan Transit Authority
must be better managed, because when it comes to MTA-run subways
and buses, New Yorkers get shortchanged: the fare hikes for
subway and bus riders are unfair as are cuts to bus service
and token booth closings. She is opposed to MTA 's plan to automate
the L line, which would put passengers and subway track workers
in danger .
- Seniors and the disabled are often unable to ride on subways and buses and need a reliable transit system to help them get around. Betsy Gotbaum supports a larger S tate investment to make much-needed improvements to the Access-A-Ride transit system.
Health & Human Services:
- The City must be a safer and healthier place for our families. That's why Betsy Gotbaum believes in expanded access to government services and greater access to public benefits, including the federally-funded food stamp program.
- Despite the growing child obesity rates, City schools fail
to provide physical education classes to many children. Betsy
Gotbaum supports investment in school-based gym classes and
after-school sports.
- Betsy Gotbaum backs the City Council's efforts to make emergency
contraceptives available where they are needed most: in City-funded
hospitals and health clinics where rape survivors are treated
and at Department of Health clinics and centers.
Women & Families:
- Women earn less than men for equal work, and are more likely to rais e children alone. That's why Betsy Gotbaum supports the minimum wage increase and wants subsidized day care expanded.
- Since the proportion of women with HIV/AIDS to total
HIV/AIDS cases reported in New York City is skyrocketing, and
because women with HIV/AIDS have unique needs, Betsy Gotbaum
wants more City AIDS services provided specifically to this
population.
- The State Constitution states that no person shall be denied
equal protection under the laws of the State. Betsy Gotbaum
believes these rights extend to same- sex couples who wish to
enter into a civil union. "Everyone should be afforded
the same rights, responsibilities, and protections under the
law," Gotbaum said.
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