Glenn Balofsky testifies on parking program and domestic violence funding connection
Glenn Balofsky of the 504 Dems testifies about the connection between the Department of Finance's stipulated fine program, double parking by commercial fleets, and funding for domestic violence victims. He advocates for reintroducing legislation to restore funding and improve street safety.
Good afternoon, Mr.
Chair.
Can you hear me?
Yes, we can.
Nice background.
Very good.
Thank you.
Very nice to see you, Chairman Philez and your Sergeant of Arms and all the council members that were here today and Jumaane as well.
What was a stark and very interesting part of the police department's
testimony was the problems we're having with domestic violence in our great city.
It's a real problem.
It's a real shanda, as we say.
It's a crime against humanity.
People hurting each other's families and children.
And what plays into this is that we know more than 30% of our school children today are homeless as well as a result.
But what we want to bring to your attention as disabled advocates, disability advocates, part of the 504 DEMS, is this, that the Department of Finance is taking money away
from individuals who are victims of crime.
Under the New York City's Department of Finance stipulated fine program.
which nearly passed under Corey because we had a super majority of 39 members on, we believe is being introduced again, 1141, 2018, under Julie's leadership.
And this will restore a lot of funding.
To help improve the lives of victims of domestic violence.
It has a direct correlation, parking and victims of domestic violence.
Who would ever make that connection?
But it's true.
It's a state law, 1809A, that requires $15 of every ticket that is not dismissed to be paid.
And the Amazons of the world are not paying this, along with the mega fleets.
In fact, DOF makes it so hard to even get a parking ticket hearing, they push businesses into that program to give them the discounts for illegal double parking in the city, where
a double parking fine in any block, on any block in your district, and in almost every district throughout the city, except for Midtown, double parking is reduced from $115 to $65 if you're in this program.
So, of course, that's a public safety issue here, because when the vehicle's double parked, nobody can see around it.
It causes tremendous issues of public safety.
Bicyclist safety, disability, members of the disability community on our team.
They can't even get into the accessorized vehicles.
It's right in front of 250 Broadway.
Time expired.
Thank you.
Thank you for allowing me to testify.
Does the chair have any questions for me, sir?
No questions, but you may take 30 more seconds to conclude.
And also, we have a street safety hearing on September 30th.
You're also welcome to join for that one.
We'll be joined by the Department of Transportation.
Thank you.
I've already joined up.
I appreciate that.
I look forward to seeing you then, September 30th.
That's a very big meeting.
Is that joint with transportation, sir?
That'll be a joint hearing, yes.
The transportation, the OT, and also the NYPD will be here.
Wonderful.
Yeah, just to conclude, and thank you for the opportunity to conclude, is simply that we have a real public safety issue.
That's what those meetings are about.
And the mayor's office, I don't think, is well aware.
Of the program created by his predecessors.
The council leadership is aware.
I know I've talked to your team and many of the members about it.
Many of the current members were on the prior bill.
And so we're excited about that being reintroduced to help stop the insanity.
Of traffic fatalities and injuries, and also fund victims of domestic violence and their children.
who are homeless because unfortunately most of the individuals who are victims are women and when they're beat up by their partner,
often a guy, mostly, the children and the mom have to go to find another place to live.
Often at the auntie or the cousin, which only lasts a short period of time.
Then if they have a car, they're living in the car, and then it's too cold or too hot, and then they're on the street.
And we're not funding them, and we're giving millions to Amazon and FedEx and UPS, all great companies, but not on the backs.
Of our most, you know, precious children, 30% homeless.
It's just terrible.
So thank you for the opportunity to weigh in.
And as a born and bred New Yorker myself, born in Manhattan, raised in Queens, but I love the Bronx.
The Bronx has been very, very good to me.
And my mom used to live in the Bronx.
May she rest in peace.
Thank you so much, Chairman, for the good work you've done today.
And Jumaane and the whole team of the council members who are on your committee.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for joining us, and thank you for your testimony.
Is there anyone who would like to testify online that I missed?
If yes, please use the raised hand function.
We're also going to wait another minute for one person who is trying to sign in.
Test, test.
I see Mr.
Belofsky has his hand up.
Do you have a second person who would like to testify?
Yes, Mr.
Chair.