Gotbaum's Final Annual Report Reflects on Two Terms of Accomplishments

Today, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum released her office’s 2009 annual report. In order to cope with a 40% budget cut sustained this year, the Office decided not to print and mail copies of the report. Instead, the annual report will be eco-friendly, available online and distributed through e-mail. Printed copies will be available to those without internet access upon request.

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, “Improving access to city services has been the unifying theme of my tenure. During my two terms in office, my ombudsman unit alone has fielded calls from more than 90,000 New Yorkers, solving problems and advocating for some of  the city's most vulnerable -- its immigrants, its working poor, its special ed students, its women in need. I've introduced or co-sponsored more than 300 bills before the City Council. And my policy staff has conducted studies and investigations that led to lasting change. Over the last eight years, the Office of the Public Advocate helped improve the lives of New Yorkers. We identified needs. We offered solutions. And we got results.”

Read the Report