More weather by AccuWeather®

BOROUGH PRESIDENT TESTIFIES BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE ON ZONING AND LAND USE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED AUTHORIZING RESOLUTION FOR A COORDINATED STREET FURNITURE FRANCHISE

Good morning and thank you Chairman Avella for the opportunity to address this committee.

First, let me applaud both the Council and the Administration for taking this initiative off the back burner and making it a priority. At a time when we read daily of the hard choices that will be necessary to address the city’s fiscal problems, it is refreshing to consider a program that will result both in capital investment in our neighborhoods and additional revenue in the city’s coffers.

However, it is vital that we have a program that does not sacrifice innovation, service and quality simply to maximize the revenue stream of the advertising placed on these much needed public service structures.

Let me take a moment to highlight a few points.

Neighborhood Design:

It is important that the new shelters, newsstands and automatic toilets respect the uniqueness of our neighborhoods. Designers should be encouraged to provide multiple design schemes that fit the surrounding area… be it the Asian elegance of Sunset Park, the brownstone splendor of Park Slope, Fort Green and Bed-Stuy or the neon pizzazz of Coney Island. So, I urge that ‘extra credit’ be given to designers submitting more than just one or two basic designs. I also think it is important that talented New Yorkers from every borough be involved in evaluating the designs that are submitted to ensure there is a strong consensus that the structures will fit our neighborhoods.

Speaking of extra credit, I think that any vendor who proposes to bring jobs to the city by building the structures right here should get as much of a bonus as possible. And let me say that if any franchisee is looking for a great location and an able work force, I will be happy to give them a tour of Brooklyn!

Public Participation:

Public participation is vital with respect to the siting and maintenance of all structures. I notice that the proposed authorizing resolution includes the local community boards and council members on the issue of siting these improvements. The Borough Presidents can play a pivotal role in the siting and allocation of improvements throughout their borough. I hope that my colleagues on the City Council work with the administration to provide for that in the next draft of the authorizing resolution.

Bus Shelters:

As to bus stop shelters, right now there are around 3,000 in the city, serving more than 16,000 bus stops. While in Manhattan nearly a third of the bus stops have shelters, in Brooklyn only 17% have shelters. It is absolutely necessary that the next franchisee be required to do more than just replace the existing plant. I would urge that any franchise require that the vendor markedly increase the number of shelters so that every area of our city benefits by these amenities. It seems to me that we should be getting at least several thousand additional shelters, if not more. Also, the distribution of the additional shelters should be driven by need, not revenue.

The contract should also require the franchisee to develop marketing programs for the sale of advertising that are directed at local businesses and merchants, not just big national advertisers for whom a shelter ad is part of one large multi-media campaign. This will help local businesses and members of the public, since it will result in more shelters in heretofore ignored neighborhoods.

Relief:

Last, I would like to say a word in favor of automatic public toilets. Native New Yorkers and visitors alike need relief! Who hasn’t gone to the park or to a busy shopping area and not spent a hectic time looking for a clean, accessible comfort station. From the parade grounds to Coney Island, from Flatbush to Manhattan Beach, we’ve got plenty of places where these facilities are sorely needed. I know that each unit is somewhat costly and will decrease from the revenue that otherwise would go to the general fund. However, this could be a twenty-year long arrangement, and I urge you to include provisions that will allow the vendor to install as many automatic toilets as are needed and wanted in our neighborhoods. If they are safe, clean and well maintained, the demand could be greater than anticipated.

Thank you.