Press Releases

City Council Candidate for Manhattan’s District 5 Ben Kallos Presents Additional Evidence for Investigation of the Public Safety Department in the Wake of Alleged January Attack

 Roosevelt Island, NY – City Council candidate Ben Kallos announced the submission of additional evidence to the Inspector General for a formal investigation with a requested resolution that includes future oversight by a resident-led review board, at a second march and demonstration on Roosevelt Island seeking to address allegations of misconduct by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s Public Safety Department.

The first-ever Japanese language lending library on Roosevelt Island was launched on Saturday by City Council Candidate for Manhattan’s District 5 Ben Kallos. The initiative was rolled out at the third annual Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, where Kallos presented the first books donated for the program. 

Nonprofits provide vital services to communities in need throughout our City.  Constituents in need should have access to the same opportunities for City funding regardless of the size of the nonprofit or the ability of its employees and board members to contribute to politicians.  City funds for a district should not go out of district just because affiliates of a larger nonprofit have donated more.  No nonprofit should have to use tax dollars to benefit politicians instead of constituents in need.  

Hypocrisy and Unequal Treatment Found with Two Past MTA Chairs

Receiving Contracts While No Employees Had Current Contracts

New York, N.Y. – The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has been proven to be hypocritical in its unequal treatment of senior management versus regular employees, according to compensation documents obtained by Ben Kallos, a City Council Candidate for the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has been proven to be hypocritical in its unequal treatment of senior management versus regular employees according to compensation documents obtained by Ben Kallos a City Council Candidate for the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island. “No contract for workers – no contract Prendergast!” exclaimed Kallos. “The MTA’s rewarding of executives while punishing workers is hypocrisy especially when using tax dollars.”

This week’s events call attention to the importance that each one of the fifty-one members of the City’s only legislature have in determining how we as a City spend $77.7 billion dollars, comprising the fourth largest budget in the country after the federal, and California, and New York State budgets.

City Council Candidate Ben Kallos Advocates Resident-Elected Appointment by Governor to

Vacant Seat on Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC)

New York, NY –Governor Cuomo is being urged to be a hero for democracy by appointing a resident-elected board member to a vacancy on the Roosevelt Island Operating Committee (RIOC) board.  Unlike the rest of New York City, many of Roosevelt Island’s services, including tram and bus transportation, are managed by RIOC.  While democracy had been brought to Roosevelt Island when Governors Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson agreed to appoint whoever was elected to the RIOC Board, Governor Andrew Cuomo inadvertently took democracy a step backwards by appointing an unelected non-resident, Sal Ferrara, in June, 2011, who has since resigned.

Advice Based on Candidate’s Experience Passing Legislation as a Chief of Staff in the Assembly to Improve Likelihood of Passage Legislation to Create CCRB for Roosevelt Island’s Public Safety Department

New York, NY – Candidate Ben Kallos offered his Assemblymember opponent for City Council in the Upper East Side support and advice to improve the likelihood of passing legislation to protect Roosevelt Island residents from ongoing concerns with the Public Safety Department (PSD). Because the PSD is run by independent Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), it is not subject to the NYPD’s Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB).  The legislation in question, New York State Assembly Bill Number A.956, would create a statewide CCRB with oversight that includes RIOC’s PSD.

New York, NY –Candidate Ben Kallos offered his opponent for City Council in the Upper East Side, Assemblyman Micah Kellner, support and advice to improve the likelihood of passing legislation to protect Roosevelt Island residents from ongoing concerns with the Public Safety Department (PSD). Because the PSD is run by independent Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), it is not subject to the NYPD’s Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB).  The legislation in question, New York State Assembly Bill Number A.956, would create a statewide CCRB with oversight that includes RIOC’s PSD.

Procedural solutions offered by Kallos include:

• ·         Force a committee vote on the legislation.
• ·         Force a vote on legislation on the floor of the Assembly.
• ·         Author legislation narrowly tailored to serve Roosevelt Island.
• ·         Public hearing and solicitation for improvements.

Policy solutions offered by Kallos include:

• ·         Create a CCRB specifically for RIOC PSD, not for police statewide. Require the appointment of Roosevelt Island Residents.
• ·         Include experienced law enforcement professionals, just as the current CCRB does.
• ·         Require cooperation by the RIOC PSD.

New York, NY– March 21 marked the collection of 500 signatures for the return of subway station booths and agents on the Upper East Side in continuation of a three-month long push to increase safety and accessibility at crowded subway stations. The “Bring Back our Booths” petition and awareness campaign, comes in the wake of local objections to the removal of booths and agents from the 86th Street and 77th Street stations’ northbound platforms.