Restler introduces Intro 208, 694, and 896
Restler previews three additional bills: Intro 208 adding Middle Eastern and North African Americans to MWBE disparity studies, Intro 694 requiring targeted agency outreach when utilization goals are missed, and Intro 896 restricting non-compostable single-use cup contracts. He thanks staff and turns to Council Member Farías.
We'll also be hearing three pieces of additional legislation today.
Intro 208, sponsored by Councilmember Shahana Hanif, would add Middle Eastern and North African Americans to the minority groups recognized under the city's MWBE program.
Firms owned by New Yorkers of Middle Eastern and North African descent are effectively invisible in our procurement data, and this bill would begin to change that.
Intro 694, sponsored by Councilmember Farias, and thank you for joining us, would require agencies that miss their utilization goals to do something about it by conducting outreach and education targeted to the specific MWE categories where they fell short.
I think this is a great bill.
And finally, Intro 896 got squeezed into this hearing, sponsored by Councilmember Epstein, and it would prohibit city agencies from entering into or renewing contracts to purchase non-compostable single-use cups with exceptions for health and safety emergencies and agreements already in place.
I think this was an old Eric Botcher bill.
Is that right?
No, not an old Eric Botcher bill, just kidding.
And I want to recognize that the contract, and I want to thank again the staff who I thanked at the beginning for doing such a great job.