Helen Sears

cd25_Helen Sears_BW.JPG
Political Party:
Democratic Party

http://helensears4council.com

Candidate Submitted Biography:

When Helen Sears first was elected to the New York City Council in 2001, she brought with her decades of experience in both the profit and non-profit sectors. Her background in health care as director of a hospital gave her unique insight into the health care crisis facing our country, while during her time working for DFTA she developed, funded and evaluated programs, becoming familiar with the budget process. This experience, along with her time in the legal and transportation fields, ideally suited her for Council work. Few Members of her class of legislators came into their roles with the same degree of experience, and this experience quickly made her a leader on complex issues like budget negotiating. From civil rights and labor issues to transportation and finance, Council Member Sears utilized her unique skills to work effectively on a wide range of issues with sensitivity and perspective. Always seeing the larger picture, Sears has fought long and hard to protect core services, the right of every New Yorker to equal protection under the law and the dignity of labor.

City Council Survey (District 25): Helen Sears

Question 1:
What is the most important transportation need in your district? As a Council Member, how would you work to address this need?

I have many important transportation needs in my district, but one of the most critical is addressing the traffic in Jackson Heights, particularly around the 74th Street transit hub. I have worked with Congressman Crowley and secured money to fund a Department of Transportation study to analyze traffic patterns in the area. I look forward to seeing this study through to completion and working to implement its recommendations.


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Question 2:
The intersection of 63 Road and Queens Blvd is one of the most dangerous in your district, where 2 people died and 78 people were injured between 1995-2005 (NYS DOT). As a City Council member, what traffic enforcement policies or physical changes to the intersection infrastructure would you support to make this intersection safer for everyone who uses it (pedestrians, cyclists and drivers)?

I will make sure that DOT undertakes a study of the issue, and work to see its recommendations implemented. I will also continue to work with the NYPD traffic enforcement to see that traffic laws are are strictly in the area.


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Question 3:
According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles' most currently available data, in 2007 speeding was a contributing factor in over 3,000 motor vehicle crashes in New York City. Furthermore, the same data showed that the top human contributing factor to the 264 fatal crashes in New York City during 2007 was also speeding. Given these figures, what measures, if any, do you support to redress this problem? Finally, do you believe that New York City’s current speed limits are safe?

I believe that NYC speeding laws should be strictly enforced, and that additional resources be deployed to high needs areas such as 63 Road and Queens Blvd. I would encourage a kind of "Operation Impact" (the NYPD program that assigns additional resources for high crime areas)for traffic enforcement.


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Question 4:
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's website reports: "In New York City, obesity is epidemic: more than half of adult New Yorkers are overweight (34%) or obese (22%). Data show that obesity begins early in life: nearly half of all elementary school children and Head Start children are not a healthy weight. In New York City, 1 in 5 kindergarten students, and 1 in 4 Head Start children, is obese." Do you believe that increasing walking and biking in New York City would improve public health? If yes, how would you work to increase walking and biking in your district?

Obesity is a critical issue not just in New York City, but nationwide. This issue needs to be addressed in a multifaceted and holistic way. Transportation can play a key role in this. Biking and walking, while making sound transportation sense in many instances, also has an important health component. This is one of the reasons why I am a sponsor of important legislation to increase the ease of biking to work.


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Question 5:
Road pricing, including such measures as non-stop tolling, fees based on vehicle miles travelled or entry into a highly congested zone, has been the source of much discussion in New York City and other major metropolitan areas. London famously uses a congestion charge to fund its transit system, Oregon recently piloted a program to replace the gas tax with a fee for miles driven and Seattle recently studied how road pricing could be introduced on a regional basis. Seattle's study, “Traffic Choices Study" (http://psrc.org/projects/trafficchoices/index.htm), found that introducing new tolls on major corridors during peak traffic hours influenced drivers’ behavior and projected that a region-wide road pricing scheme could significantly reduce vehicular traffic congestion. Do you think that introducing a road pricing strategy would change New Yorkers’ travel choices? Do you think that this would be an effective way for the City to reduce backups on high-traffic roadways like the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the Gowanus Expressway or the Long Island Expressway? Finally, do you believe there are additional benefits in the surrounding neighborhoods which could be realized from the reduction of vehicular congestion on these routes?

I believe that congestion is a serious problem in NYC for many reasons, including health (emissions contribute to high asthma rates and other issues) and the environment (it is critical that we reduce our carbon footprint). I look forward to working on this issue in the future, and will advocate for a plan that equitably distributes any burdens equally among the five boroughs.


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Question 6:
Do you believe that reducing residential parking requirements as set forth within NYC zoning regulations would affect neighborhood traffic congestion, and if so, in what way?

Any alteration in parking regulations would undoubtedly affect congestion one way or another. When there are more or less cars on the street (be they parked or otherwise), clearly that affects the overall traffic flow. Any alteration in these requirements should be examined thoroughly before any change is made.


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Question 7:
The NYC Department of Transportation's Public Plaza Program, Pedestrian Street Program and Summer Streets events are intended to diversify the use of public space and provide more places for New Yorkers to recreate and socialize. Do you support the temporary or permanent repurposing of street space for pedestrians and cyclists?

Depending on the area such repurposing may contribute to the public good, and I would be open to a frank and honest dialogue upon the merits of such a proposition.


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Question 8:
The City recently released plans for Bus Rapid Transit and expressed interest in bringing a bike share program to New York City. Do you think these new projects would enhance the city's transportation network? Please explain.

I believe that increased and more efficient mass transit, as well as transportation alternatives such as increased bicycle usage are advantageous to the City. In case of bicycles however, increasing their number on the street must always come with a recognition of the public safety component (for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians) and I would want to see those two things go hand in hand.


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Submitted by stuartsears on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 11:17.
Submitted by stuartsears on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 10:37.