By Alex Robinson
When it comes to human rights, City Council members from Queens collectively did not have a shining record in 2013, a new report by the Urban Justice Center said.
The Queens delegation received the second-lowest score of the boroughs with a combined grade of B-minus on the legal advocacy group’s sixth annual Human Rights Report Card.
The Urban Justice Center releases the report card based on Council members’ voting record on human rights bills, which the group defines as any legislation to do with housing, workers’ rights, criminal and juvenile justice, health, disability rights, government accountability and voting rights.
“It is a tool to hold Council members, and the Council as a legislative body, accountable and to help us move toward a city in which all have their human rights fulfilled,” the report said.
UJC used Council members’ legislative records in between June 28, 2012, and Dec. 31, 2013, to grade them individually and collectively.
Seven of the 14 Council members who represent Queens got a B-minus or higher, which is an improvement over last year’s report when only two representatives from Queens received a grade of B-minus or better.
Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) scored the highest of all the Queens delegation for the third year in a row with an A-minus.
“I am proud to be a progressive Council member who continues to fight for justice and equality in the city of New York,” Van Bramer said. “I believe it is the City Council’s role to improve the rights of the people it represents as well as enhance transparency in our city’s government. I will continue to strive to achieve these goals in an effort to maintain the quality of life for all New Yorkers.”
Van Bramer scored high as he introduced four accountability bills, the report said. He also scored the highest of all Queens Council members on four of the seven categories of human rights legislation.
At the bottom of the list of Queens Council members who are still in office were Council members Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) and Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), who were both given a C.
“Council member Elizabeth Crowley is proud of her leadership fighting on the front lines to protect our city’s public safety, which she believes is the most basic human rights issue,” a spokesman for Crowley said. “As a strong voice for workers in NYC, she has also been a lead sponsor helping to secure paid sick days for workers and continues to advance women by addressing the challenges of diversifying the FDNY.”
Ulrich declined to comment.
Councilmen Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) and Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) were second and third on the list of Queens officials, with B-plus grades. Councilwomen Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst) and Karen Kozlowitz (D-Forest Hills), as well as Deputy Borough President Leroy Comrie all had B’s. Councilman Peter Koo (D-Flushing) received a B-minus. Embattled former Councilman Daniel Halloran was given a C-plus grade. Councilmen Mark Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows) and Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton) both received C grades.
Former Councilmen James Gennaro and Peter Vallone Jr. were at the bottom of the list along with Crowley and Ulrich, with C grades.
Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) was at the top of the citywide list with an A-plus grade. Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan), city Public Advocate Letitia James and former Councilman Charles Barron also received A-plus grades.
The Urban Justice Center also used an eight-question questionnaire to create a profile of each Council member. The Council’s 21 new members were not graded, but were all sent questionnaires to fill out so profiles could be created for them.
Reach reporter Alex Robinson by e-mail at arobinson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
