What is the Public Advocate?
The Public Advocate is one of the three citywide elected offices in New York City, created in 1989. (Mayor, Public Advocate and Comptroller)
The Public Advocate (PA) presides over all stated meetings of the City Council (at the pleasure of the Speaker). The PA also has the authority to introduce and co-sponsor legislation. The PA does not have the right to vote in the City Council.
The PA is a member of all City Council committees.
The PA reviews complaints from constituents and has the authority to investigate and resolve them in whatever ways deemed necessary within the confines of the law.
The PA appoints one commissioner to the NYC City Planning Commission.
The PA is a member of the Independent Budget Office Advisory Board, which selects the director of the Independent Budget Office. The PA and the Comptroller appoint 10 members to the Independent Budget Office Advisory Committee.
The PA sits on the Voter Assistance Commission which advises all appropriate officials on matters relating to voter registration and voter participation in NYC.
The PA sits on the Commission on Public Information and Communication.
The PA is a trustee of NYCERS (New York City Employee Retirement System) with one full vote - this is NYC's largest retirement pension system.
The PA sits on the Transit Riders Council, Queens Public Library board and the Museum of the City of New York board.
The PA appointed a member to the Citywide Council on Special Education
How can we make it better?
1. Decentralize this office and place staff members in every borough and community; open five satellite offices (one in each borough, including Northern Manhattan) to serve those communities locally.
2. Give the Public Advocate subpoena power which would allow the Office of Public Advocate to adequately obtain information from City agencies
3. Decide the budget of the Office of Public Advocate independently, so both the Mayor and City Council can not cut the budget of the office at a whim.
For more information, visit the NYC Public Advocate's website at http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov/about/pa_office.html
For the City Charter, click here: http://home2.nyc.gov/html/charter/downloads/pdf/citycharter2004.pdf
Other helpful links:
New York City Council:
http://council.nyc.gov
NYC Government:
http://www.nyc.gov
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