Darlene Mealy

This bill would require the Department for the Aging (DFTA), in consultation with the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers, to develop an informational toolkit about programs, benefits, and services available to New Yorkers aged 60 and up. The toolkit must include materials containing information about rent freeze programs; information about meal delivery programs; information about other public and non-public programs, benefits, and services for older adults; contact information for DFTA; and contact information for other relevant agencies and organizations. On an annual basis, DFTA would have to distribute a printed version of the toolkit at older adult centers, to homebound older adults, and to new or potential participants in DFTA programs. DFTA would also have to post the toolkit on its website and ensure that the printed and digital versions are accessible. This bill would require regular updates to the toolkit.

This bill would require the Police Department’s Property Clerk to search seized property for identification upon request of a claimant. Proper identification is required to redeem property that has been seized pursuant to an arrest. This bill would allow claimants to request that the Property Clerk look for identification within the property, such as a wallet, purse, or book bag. Claimants would be required to present a property voucher issued by the Police Department before the Property Clerk is required search the property.

This bill would require the Mayor to designate an office or agency to offer training and operational support to staff of food pantries. The training and operational support would concern ensuring sufficient food inventory, making efforts to maintain food inventory that reflects food variety and local food preferences, maintaining sufficient hours, and other relevant issues. The designated office or agency would be required to conduct outreach to food pantries to advertise the available training and operational support. Lastly, the designated office or agency would be required to report annually to the Mayor and the Speaker of the Council on the types of training and operational support it offered within the previous 12 months and number of food pantry staff who participated in the trainings within this period, and to post this report online.

This bill would require owners to disclose certain information to the City before evicting older adult tenants and would require the City to provide information to such tenants about available legal assistance.

This bill would require the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to prepare a report detailing the resources it needs for a dumping enforcement program and the resources that it currently has for litter pick-up and dumping prevention. Such report would include information on what resources DSNY needs to install surveillance cameras in locations where dumping is most prevalent. DSNY will submit the report to the Mayor and Speaker of the City Council and make the information publicly available.

This bill would require inclusion of the name of an individual to contact at the place of business of a property owner or contractor listed on Department of Buildings (“DOB”) “Work in Progress” information panels at work sites and sidewalk shed information panels. This bill would also require listing a phone number for the permit holder on DOB permits. Posting such individual contact information at work sites would facilitate contacting the relevant business if necessary about questions or problems at the site.