Manhattan Borough President Elect Scott Stringer

Click here: Welcome to my Transition Website! � Scott Stringer
http://www.stringer2005.com/

Welcome to my Transition Website!

Thank you for visiting my transition website.

I am honored to have been elected as Manhattan's next Borough President. I will create an office that is accessible and responsive to all, while leading our borough with innovative and creative policy.

My vision for a better Manhattan is ambitious, but I cannot do it alone. I am looking for energetic women and men to join me in this pursuit. The Office of Borough President will become the nexus of new, bold ideas, and it will take people with a passion to make a difference to make this vision a reality.

I hope you find this website helpful. In addition to detailed job postings and a mechanism to apply for these positions, there is a section on my community board reform ideas and how to apply to your local community board. I have also included more information about myself, the office of Borough President and my vision for Manhattan.

I encourage you to check back frequently as we add new information. You can also join our email list so you can be the first to receive news as it happens.

Once again, thank you so much for your support.

Sincerely,







Click here: Community Board Info � Scott Stringer
http://www.stringer2005.com/community_board

Community Boards

Reforming and empowering Manhattan�s Community Boards is one of my top priorities as Borough President. To learn more about my plans, read my report entitled Elevating Citizen Government.

Community Board members play vital roles in the planning of their communities, dedicating much of their time to preserve and enhance the character of the city�s many unique neighborhoods. As a former community board member, I urge all of you to apply and get involved in your local community. In January a new application will be available, so please be sure to check the Borough President�s website, located through NYC.gov for more information.

Below are some frequently asked questions on Community Boards:

How many Community Boards are there?

There are 59 Community Boards throughout the city, with 12 in Manhattan.

What do Community Boards do?

Community Boards are charged with the task of directly representing residents� interests on crucial issues of community development and planning, land use, zoning and service delivery.

Often underestimated, the Community Boards have tremendous power to shape short- and long-term decisions about the character and development of their neighborhoods. The City Charter provides Community Boards with specific powers and responsibilities in several areas:
Long-term community planning. Chapter 197-A of the City Charter authorizes Community Boards to prepare long-term plans for community development. Once the City Planning Commission approves a 197-A plan, it serves as the policy guide for any development or zoning actions taken by the city.

Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. Community Boards must be consulted on land use issues, which include the development of municipal facilities, residential buildings, parks and waterfront development. All applications for a change in zoning must first come for review before the Board, which makes a recommendation to the Borough President, who, in turn, makes a recommendation to the City Planning Commission.

Applications for liquor licenses and sidewalk cafes. Bars and restaurants are required to come before Community Boards for aity Boards for advisory rulings on liquor license applications, which are then taken into account for a final determination by the State Liquor Authority. Similarly, applications for sidewalk cafes are presented to Community Boards, which make recommendations on approval to the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Street fairs and street closings. Community Boards make a non-binding recommendation on applications for street fairs and street closings.

Community needs in the city budget. The Charter tasks the Community Boards with assessing neighborhood needs, meeting with city agencies and making budget requests to address these local issues. Each Board prepares an annual �District Needs� statement, based on the requests and recommendations of individual Board members and committees.

How does one become a member?

All Community Board appointments are made by the Borough President�half unilaterally and half on the recommendation of members of the City Council. My staff and I are currently in the process of reviewing and updating the Community Board application. Please check the office�s official website through NYC.gov after January 1, 2006 in order to obtain an application, learn more about the requirements to serve on a Community Board, and various proposals that I am making to reform and empower the boards.

How many members are on each board?

The twelve Boards in Manhattan are each made up of 50 members�600 boroughwide. All members must have an interest�either residential, commercial or educational�in the community.

How often do boards meet?

Boards meet once each month. At these meetings, members address items of concern to the community. Board meetings are open to the public, and a portion of each meeting is reserved for the Board to hear from members of the public. Boards regularly conduct public hearings-on the City's budget, on land use matters, and other major issues-to give the people of the community the opportunity to express their opinions.

How do I find my Community Board?

The official web sites of the various community boards are independent entities, not affiliated with the Manhattan Borough President�s Office or NYC.gov, the Official NYC Web site.

Please click here to find the Community Board that represents your neighborhood.

Email me at stringerbp@gmail.com with any additional questions.


For more information on Community Boards:
Click here: Community Assistance Unit
http://nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/cb_manhattan.shtml


Click here: Job Opportunities � Scott Stringer
http://www.stringer2005.com/jobs

Job Opportunities

The Office of the Manhattan Borough President is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce; women and individuals of all sexual orientations, ethnic and racial backgrounds are encouraged to apply. New York City residency required.

Deputy Borough President
Chief of Staff
General Counsel
Director of Policy & Research
Director of Community & Constituency Relations
Director of Land Use, Planning & Development
Director of Operations
Director of Communications
Policy Analysts
Community & Constituency Liaisons
Scheduler
Director of 125th Street Satellite Office
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
Press Secretary
Speech Writer



Click here: Biography � Scott Stringer
http://www.stringer2005.com/bio

Biography

Manhattan Borough President-Elect Scott Stringer is currently in his sixth term as an Assemblymember representing Manhattan's Upper West Side and Clinton. He and Clinton. He currently serves as a member of the Education, Higher Education, Housing, and Judiciary committees. In 2003, he was appointed Chairperson of the Cities Committee, which is responsible for oversight of legislation affecting the State's 62 cities.

Scott is also a member of the Assembly Task Force on Women's Issues and the former Chair of the Real Property Taxation Committee, the Assembly Oversight, Analysis and Investigation Committee, the Task Force on People with Disabilities and the Democratic Study Group.

For over a decade, Scott has been a leader on issues important to New York City and a fighter for the interests of his community. For his efforts, The New York Times called Scott "an excellent member of the Assembly, a difficult place to shine. He is one of the City's most promising of the City's next generation of political leaders."

In October 2004, Scott introduced the most significant legislative reform measure to enjoy serious support in Albany: a resolution to change the rules of the State Assembly that will increase transparency, participation and effectiveness in the operations of the chamber.

Reforming the budget process in New York State is also one of Scott's long-term priorities. Last year, Scott highlighted how Governor Pataki's budget plan amounted to a tax increase of nearly $2,000 for most New York City households. And in 1999, Scott led the fight against the repeal of the Commuter Tax.

Since his election in 1992, Scott has worked vigorously to protect those most in need. In 1994, Scott authored a bill mandating that police officers serve orders of protection for battered women � a landmark step in recognizing the rights of domestic violence victims. In 1996, he also authored the law banning insurance discrimination against domestic violence victims. Assemblymember Stringer additionally fought to pass the first anti-stalking legislation in New York State. After many years of hard work, his bill to allow battered women work release when their crimes were committed under abusive duress became law in 2002.

Scott has consistently taken the lead on pressing public issues. In 2002, Scott authored a report "Reading is Fundamental," which documented the shocking lack of textbooks in City schools, and he called on the City and State to fully fund book purchase programs. In 2003, Scott issued an investigative report "Failing Grade" of New York City public school health education, including HIV/AIDS and sex education, revealing 75 percent non-compliance of state mandates. As a result, the New York City Department of Education is updating the HIV/AIDS curriculum for the first time since 1991 and just completed the first update for the general health curriculum since 1986. In 2004, Scott released his report "Homeless Students Dismissed" revealing the State Education Department's rampant disregard for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth program required under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001 and is working to remedy this injustice.

Throughout his tenure in the Assembly, Scott has fought to make government work better. As Chair of the Assembly's Real Property Committee, Scott investigated a multi-million dollar scam perpetrated by tax assessors in the City's Finance Department that cost the City $160 million over four years. Scott also issued a report faulting the New York City Buildings Department for failing to correct 13,000 outstanding violations in a two-year period. This report, "Total Collapse," also documented the City's inability to collect $14 million in fines the department had issued.

In 2003, Scott renewed the public's focus on the "ad-ization" of residential neighborhoods throughout Manhattan. He has led the fight against Light Emitting Diode (LED) or ultra-bright, digital advertiser, screens that have begun to proliferate the cityscape. Scott was instrumental is removing 4 LED screens on Manhattan's West Side as well as 1 LED screen placed at Ground Zero.

In addition, Scott:
Fought against Governor Pataki's 1995 tax cuts, which are largely responsible for the current fiscal crisis.
Authored same-day voter registration legislation.

Consistently served as a leader in protecting tenants' rights and affordable housing.
Exposed the lack of science equipment needed to pass mandatory State exams available to 8th-Grade students.

Obtained funding for the renovation of the 72nd Street Subway Station.

Worked to expand the school transit pass program to more students.

Introduced legislation to prevent cell phone companies from charging customers a full minute's rate for fractions of time as small as one second.

Co-Authored the report, "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late," which criticized Governor Pataki for botching a six-year project to create a statewide child abuse and foster care computer network.
Scott has received consistently high ratings and strong endorsements from advocacy, labor and issues organizations, including: AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Empire State Pride Agenda, Environmental Advocates, Gay & Lesbian Independent Democrats, League of Conservation Voters, NARAL, National Education Association, New York City Central Labor Council, NOW, NYPIRG, Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club, and 504 Democratic Club.

Scott was born in 1960 and raised in Washington Heights. He received a B.A. in Government Studies from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He attended local public schools in Manhattan: PS 152, JHS 52, and John F. Kennedy High School.

In 2001, Scott was a candidate for New York City Public Advocate, receiving over 36,000 votes in the Borough of Manhattan. Prior to his first election to the Assembly, Scott served as Chief of Staff to then-Assemblymember Jerry Nadler for eight years. Scott represents the 67th Assembly District, the highest voter turnout district in the City.