OFFICE OF THE BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT BRONX COUNTY BUILDING 85 GRAND CONCOURSE BRONX. NEW YORK TEL. 718-590-3500 RUBEN DIAZJR. FAX.718-590-3537 BOROUGH PRESIDENT E-MAIL: rdiazjr?bronxbp.nyc.gov April 8, 2019 Lisette Camilo Commissioner of DCAS 1 Centre Street New York, NY 10007 Thomas J. Fariello Acting Commissioner New York City Dept. of Buildings 280 Broadway 7th Floor New York, New York 10007 Dear Commissioner Camilo and Acting Commissioner Fariello: 1 write to you to express my concern as well as request immediate installation of diaper changing stations that are accessible to the public in The Bronx County Building. Located at 851 Grand Concourse, The Bronx County Building houses my borough?s Supreme Court, the Surrogate?s Court, Public Administrator, the County Clerk?s of?ce jury duty and a number of government agencies including the Of?ce of the Bronx Borough President. As of today, there is not a single diaper changing station in any public bathroom within the entire nine floor, 555,600 square foot building. On October 7, 2016, President Barack Obama signed HR. 5147, or the BABIES Act, into law. This law required restrooms in federal buildings to have changing table accommodations for both mothers and fathers. On January 9, 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed Intro. l24l?A into law. This law requires that each ?oor in all assembly and mercantile occupancies containing a public toilet must have at least one safe, sanitary and convenient diaper changing station, deck, table, or similar amenity accessible to both male and female occupants. Furthermore, on April 5, 2018, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo addressed these concerns in the FY 2019 Budget by changing New York?s Uniform Building Code to require all new or substantially renovated buildings with publicly accessible restrooms to provide safe and compliant changing tables. PRESIDENT OF THE BOROUGH OF THE BRONX Page 2 Currently, the hundreds of mothers and fathers who, on a daily basis, travel to and handle business within The Bronx County Building have no place in which to change their child?s diaper. When Mayor de Blasio signed Intro 1241-A into law, former Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler, PE stated, look forward to implementing this change for the better? helping all New Yorkers have greater access to diaper- -changing stations.? The local law was supposed to take effect 180 days after it became law, except that the Buildings Commissioner could have taken action before the 180 days were up. I am concerned that a year later, there has been no movement in implementing these changes, especially within one of the most heavily traf?cked buildings in The Bronx outside of Yankee Stadium. I am requesting an immediate timeline for the installation of diaper changing stations that are accessible to the public in The Bronx County Building. 1 look forward to working together so that all families across New York ill have equal access to safe and compliant changing tables. Ruben Diaz .Ir. cc: Mayor Bill DeBlasio Doris Gonzalez, Administrative Judge, Bronx Supreme Court