The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has closely participated and is one of the founding co-sponsors of the introduction to New York City’s Intro 512-Human Rights GOAL.

Intro 512 - Human Rights GOAL (Government Operations Audit Law) is an innovative local law that would bring practical tools that ensure that New York City is meeting its basic human rights obligations into city governance. This ground-breaking legislation provides a new model for translating universal human rights standards into meaningful local policies and programs that solve problems, strengthen local governance, and improve people's lives. Human Rights GOAL was developed by the New York City Human Rights Initiative, a citywide coalition of over 70 organizations. For further information on the Initiative and Human Rights GOAL, visit www.nychri.org

ACTION

Before going to the full Council for a vote, Intro 512 must be voted out of the Governmental Operations Committee. Please call the following Committee members to urge them to sponsor the bill and to vote to move it out of committee (a basic script is included below):

Joseph Addabbo (Queens):

718-738-1111/318-6411 (District Office); 212-788-7069 (Manhattan Office)

Eva Moskowitz (Manhattan):

212-818-0580 (District Office); 212-788-7393 (Manhattan Office)

Michael Nelson (Brooklyn):

718-368-9176 (District Office); 212-788-7360 (Manhattan Office)

Madeline Provenzano (Bronx):

718-931-6060 (District Office); 212-788-7375 (Manhattan Office)

Peter Vallone, Jr. (Queens):

718-274-4500 (District Office); 212-788-6963 (Manhattan Office)

Additionally, if you live in the district of one of the following councilmembers, please phone and urge them to become a sponsor of Human Rights GOAL. (If you don't know who your Council Member is, you can find out at: www.nyccouncil.info/constituent/index.cfm).

Brooklyn:

Bill deBlasio: 212-788-6969
Eric Martin Dilan: 718-642-8664
Simcha Felder: 718-853-2704
Lewis Fidler: 718-241-9330
Vincent Gentile: 718-748-5200
Domenic Recchia: 718-373-9673
Diana Reyna: 718-963-3141

Bronx:

Carmen Arroyo: 718-402-6130

Queens:

Tony Avella: 718-747-2137
Dennis Gallagher: 718-366-3900
James Gennaro: 718-217-4969
Eric Gioia: 718-383-9566
Melinda Katz: 212-788-6981
Helen Sears: 718-803-6373

Staten Island:

Andrew Lanza: 718-984-5151
Michael McMahon: 718-556-7370
James Oddo: 718-980-1017

BASIC SCRIPT FOR PHONE CALLS:

1. Hi, I'm a resident in Council Member XY's district, and I'm calling to express my support for Intro 512 - Human Rights GOAL.
2. I believe that Intro 512 reflects Council Member XY's deep concern for the interests of ordinary New Yorkers. Can you please tell me when Council Member XY is going to sign onto the bill? (if they do not know the answer, ask if someone can find out and get back to you.)

OPTIONAL TALKING POINTS:

Intro 512 uses universal human rights standards and tools to promote more efficient and responsive governance by:

1. Putting into place measures that will prevent and change inefficient and discriminatory policies before they result in harmful outcomes and costly and time-consuming lawsuits.
2. Creating avenues for City personnel, community advocates and city residents to work together as allies rather than adversaries to solve stubborn problems.
3. Ensuring that sound data helps identify gaps facing different populations and provides the basis for sound policies that don't have unintentionally harmful consequences.
4. Providing training for city employees to ensure that they understand their own rights and those of the individuals and communities they serve.

Once you've phoned any Council Members, please email info@nychri.org to let us know how it went. You can also send emails and e-cards to Council Members from the "Take Action" section of the NYCHRI website at www.nychri.org. And thanks for your support!

For further information, visit www.nychri.org or contact the NYC Human RIghts Initiative at 646-602-5628/5629.