Karen on the Issues

Seniors

 

Karen has fought to improve the lives of seniors in our community and throughout the City, as a Council Member and as Deputy Borough President. In her decades of public service, Karen has protected the most vulnerable by increasing eligibility for SCRIE, so that more seniors can afford to live in our community. She has also fought to increase funding for our seniors centers, making sure they have the programs and services our seniors depend on to live with comfort and dignity. In the City Council, we can count on Karen Koslowitz to stand up for New York’s seniors.

 

Education

 

A society is only as strong as its public education, and Karen will work to make New York City’s public schools a model for the nation. She has already secured millions in funding for our schools, and she will fight for even more funding as a Councilwoman. Karen is a proud graduate of the City’s public schools, but she knows there are still problems that must be fixed. Classrooms are overcrowded, teachers are underpaid, and dropout rates are still too high. Karen is committed to increasing funding for our schools, so that our children can receive the high-quality education they deserve.

 

Healthcare

 

During her decades of public service, Karen has worked tirelessly to increase the quality and availability of health care in New York. In the City Council, she fought to pass legislation establishing clinics to treat Sickle Cell Anemia. She has also fought for government funding for better health care in senior centers and public hospitals. Too many New Yorkers are uninsured or are receiving inadequate health care. Karen will work to make sure that City Hall is responsive to the health care needs of New Yorkers and continue improving the health of our city.

 

Quality of Life

 

Our community’s quality of life has always been Karen’s top priorities. She is from our community and knows what makes it such a great place to live, work and raise a family. During her service in the City Council, Karen passed landmark legislation to keep strip clubs out of our neighborhoods. In addition, she took on developers who wanted to harm the fabric of our neighborhoods,  funded much-needed guard rails on Queens Boulevard and required all movie theaters to be handicapped accessible.

 

Taxes

 

Karen knows that, in a time of economic hardship, taxes and fiscal policy are as important as ever. That’s why Karen will oppose any new taxes on Queens families. Karen recognizes that we already pay some of the highest taxes in the nation and we cannot afford to pay even more. To fund essential services, New York City government will just have to live within its means, rooting out waste and needless expenses.

 

Housing

 

Karen is a renter herself, so she understands how important tenant issues are to New Yorkers. She passed pro-tenant legislation to strengthen rent control while in the City Council, and she remains committed to doing so in the future. Karen sympathizes with those who have been priced out of their homes, and she has made affordable housing a priority. In 1997, Karen helped pass the Rent Regulation Reform Act to stabilize rents throughout the city. She will continue this effort in the City Council and ensure that all New Yorkers have access to affordable housing.

For homeowners, Karen is committed to keeping our community affordable. She will oppose any new property tax increases and will keep unscrupulous developers from ruining property values with ill-conceived and poorly planned residential developments.

 

Crime

 

One of Karen’s top priorities is maintaining a safe community. She was the driving force behind a law banning the sale of box cutters to minors, as well as ensuring that toy guns were painted bright colors. Karen was also instrumental in passing the “Safe City, Safe Streets” law, which doubled the number of police officers of the streets. Crime was a top priority during Karen’s first terms in the City Council, and it will always remain a top priority for her at City Hall.