NEW YORK—Council Member Daniel Garodnick was elected into New York City Council in 2006 to represent District 4 in Manhattan, which includes the neighborhoods of Upper East Side, Central Park South, Grand Central, Tudor City, Waterside, Peter Cooper Village, Carnegie Hill, Stuyvesant Town, United Nations; part of Yorkville, and Turtle Bay.
What was your biggest achievement in 2013?
One of the things Garodnick is proud of this past year is the slowing down of the East Midtown rezoning to make sure that community needs and city needs are considered. He also worked on the Roberts Settlement that ensured tenants in Stuyvesant Town get a regulated rent price on housing in the area. Some 4,311 tenants were paying unreasonably deregulated prices. He was also able to establish the Asser Levy park space between 23rd and 25th streets. He worked on allowing sidewalk cafes opening up at 10 a.m. for brunch service so that customers can enjoy their meals outdoors, weather permitting.
What will you be focusing on this year?
In the coming year Council member Garodnick will be working on land use matters to further help the tenants in Stuyvesant Town and provide them with stable, affordable housing. He is also involved in working towards a cleaner environment, by providing better transportation alternatives. Council member Garodnick will also work on expanding the use of Transit Check benefits that allow New Yorkers to use pre-tax income for public transportation costs.
What are some of the issues your constituents are concerned about?
In his district, constituents are most worried about public safety, and the fiscal health of the city. Garodnick said he will be committed to ensuring responsible budgeting with the new administration to ensure the growth and diversity of the economy. He wants to provide more local jobs for people in his district.
If you had a coat of arms, what would it be, and why?
As for the Coat of Arms, Garodnick said he would have an apartment building for his work to protect affordable housing, a tree to represent his work as the author of the City’s green energy code and making New York more sustainable, and a train because of the work he has done to improve mass transit.
Epoch Times is interviewing members of the 2014 New York City Council to find out what their biggest achievements were last year and what they hope to accomplish in this one. For a list of all council member articles in this project, click here.
