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In these difficult economic times we must reform our regressive tax system, not create new draconian sales taxes that burden our City's working families, while cutting vital services like health care and education that we need. We should create new economic incentive programs to encourage growth and job creation. I had the privilege of working on one such progressive economic program, the Second Avenue Subway Construction Grants Program, while serving as Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Jonathan L. Bing. This program would provide economic and technical support to small businesses that were negatively affected by the construction of the Second Avenue Subway. Through innovative economic development and tax reform we will combat the threat of rows of empty store fronts and maintain a vibrant community by helping to keep small independently owned and operated businesses open and preserving jobs through even the most difficult of economic times.

Solution for Health: Lower health care insurance costs by allowing small business to buy into City health insurance plans.

Submitted by kallos on Sun, 02/05/2012 - 1:01pm
Issue: 
Health
Solution: 
Lower health care insurance costs by allowing small business to buy into City health insurance plans.
Explanation: 

New York City health insurance costs have recently risen 13 percent annually, with average monthly family health insurance premiums rising from $3,866 last April to $4,354 this April. For perspective, monthly premiums now exceed the cost of renting a two-bedroom apartment in a building in the Financial District. As a result, healthier and younger New Yorkers drop coverage and leave insurers with an even sicker and costlier client pool. Should an uninsured person get injured and be unable to pay their medical bill, taxpayers must cover the expense. While the Federal government works its way towards universal health care, the City government should also investigate opening its health insurance plans to small businesses, so that (a) the businesses can benefit from increased bargaining power and (b) City benefits from lower rates coming from a larger and healthier risk pool.

Source: 
Former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green, "Change for New York: 100 Ideas for a Better City," 2009.
http://markgreen.com/100#9
Organization: 
Mark Green for New York Public Advocate

Solution for Health: Use the New York Cancer Project as a model to launch studies on asthma, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and obesity, harnessing our City’s biotech and hospital resources.

Submitted by kallos on Sun, 02/05/2012 - 1:01pm
Issue: 
Health
Solution: 
Use the New York Cancer Project as a model to launch studies on asthma, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and obesity, harnessing our City’s biotech and hospital resources.
Explanation: 

In 1999 the New York Cancer Project -- involving 25 medical schools, academic health centers, and major medical research institutions in New York -- began a 20 year study on New Yorkers to better understand genetic and environmental factors that increase cancer risk. Let’s launch similar initiatives to better understand asthma, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and obesity, using funding from the federal government to build biomedical research capacity, expand local skilled employment, and learn valuable information on diseases that affect numerous New Yorkers.

Source: 
Former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green, "Change for New York: 100 Ideas for a Better City," 2009.
http://markgreen.com/100#10
Organization: 
Mark Green for New York Public Advocate