CIVIL RIGHTS
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| Civil Rights and Immigration counsel Brian O'Dwyer
and Carlos Manzano. Mr. O'Dwyer is Manzano's Honorary Campaign
Manager |
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The United States was founded on the ideal that all people are created equal.
This simple statement of truth has been our beacon and our goal for more than
two hundred years. At times, the civil rights we have fought for so hard have
not been applied equitably. At other times, including recently with the Patriot
Act and the rise of a right-wing judiciary, they come under attack. Other groups
still struggle, at the dawn of the Twenty-First Century, to be recognized and
given equal protection under the law. Here in New York City, every day is a
new opportunity to consider how we can build and strengthen a just society.
New Yorkers With Disabilities
Through my community work in Hell’s Kitchen, I have advocated for repairs
to curbs to make sure sidewalks are accessible all the time to people in
wheelchairs. In addition, I have helped disabled individuals with social
security and disability issues by contacting the proper officials and resolving
their problems.
During my tenure at the Board of Elections, I was able to achieve 90% accessibility
compliance at all New York City polling sites. I am proud of that success.
But the experience also taught me that much still needs to be done to ensure
rights for the disabled community, especially in equal treatment and opportunity
in employment, services and public and private accommodations.
Many establishments are still not complying with city codes that guarantee
access. As Manhattan Borough President I will work to ensure that businesses
are American for Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. I will also lobby the
MTA to guarantee that subway improvements and expansions are accompanied
by fully-accessible platforms. In addition, I will request that the city
put in stricter guidelines for performance contracts with Access-A-Ride companies
so that wait times and scheduling mishaps are reduced. I will also support
legislation similar to SCRIE (Senior Citizens Rent Increase Exemption) but
focused on disabled individuals. And I will meet with leaders of the disabled
community to discuss viable ways to alter the city’s taxi fleet to
accommodate wheelchairs.
LGBT Community
The LGBT community is enduring an unprecedented backlash from conservatives.
Increasingly, the rights the community has obtained in recent years are
under threat. Laws are being passed to guarantee that members of the LGBT
community remain second-class citizens.
As Manhattan Borough President, I will use my office to lobby our local
and state officials for marriage equality. As part of my education initiative,
I will advocate for safe schools for all students and suggest programs that
properly report and respond to harassment of LGBT youth. In addition, we
must be sure that our non-discrimination laws apply to everyone, which means
that gender identity must be addressed in our schools. We must be certain
that sex and HIV education is ongoing and current.
HIV/AIDS Community
It is estimated that 800,000 people in the U.S. live with HIV and AIDS. Almost
one-eighth of those live in New York City. Nevertheless, a lack of urgency
has settled in city government in recent years. I hope to reinvigorate
the spirit of the early days of the AIDS movement when public officials
were pressured to do the right thing and offer up public monies for research,
education and housing. I also hope to re-heighten awareness through public/private
partnerships and the arts and to lobby for affordable treatments for all
New Yorkers. As a centerpiece of our initiatives to combat HIV infection,
I will fight to put in place awareness programs – particularly among
young people -- to stem the rising tide of Crystal use with its attendant
risk of HIV infection.
Immigrants
New York is a city of immigrants. I am one of them. As Manhattan Borough
President, I will honor this fact and seek to recruit individuals from
all ages and backgrounds. As President of the McManus Democratic Association,
I am proud that we are the most ethnically diverse political club in the
City. Allowing newcomers and newly-naturalized citizens to become part
of the Democratic process and the community HAS GIVEN US STRENGTH. Drawing
on my own very personal experiences of what works and what doesn’t,
I will seek new and innovative ways to mainstream non-English speaking
students and adults in all our neighborhoods into our society.
Equal Benefits Bill
As Manhattan Borough President, I will insist that the Equal Benefits Bill
becomes an enforceable law in our city. This bill, which guarantees that
businesses acquiring contracts with the city provide the same benefits
that the city provides for its own employees, was passed the City Council,
vetoed by the Mayor, and over-ridden by the City Council before the Mayor
took it to court. This bill is a fundamental expression of fairness and
it must be made in to law.
Women
Almost one hundred years after women were given the right to vote in America,
many women are still struggling to achieve full equality. As Manhattan
Borough President, I will support the principle of equal pay for equal
work; make sure that business women have the opportunity to participate
in the city contracting process; develop and expand ways for women to enter
new industries, particularly information technology; and continue to respect
and support a woman’s right to choose.
Veterans
Even in the midst of a war, the federal government has proposed cutting veterans
rights. Any attempt to renege on the promises that we give those who risk
their lives to defend our country must be resisted. We must resist the
closing of VA hospitals and the trimming of veterans' health benefits.
As a society, we must ensure that the heroes of wars past and the young
people returning from today’s wars are properly cared for. They must
not be used as political pawns.
