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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
November 30, 2007
Contact: Gia Storms
212.669.4813; 917.626.6757
Release #: 069-2007
Public Advocate Gotbaum Releases Videocast on Fighting Hunger in NYC
MANHATTAN -- Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum today released a new videocast, “Fighting Hunger in NYC”, outlining ways her office is helping New Yorkers access food and fight hunger. Public Advocate Gotbaum has worked for five years to make it easier for eligible New Yorkers to access food stamps, including reducing the food stamp application from 16 pages down to only four pages.
The video interviews a constituent, Eric Wilson, who struggled to obtain food stamps as well as Liz Blaney, the Deputy Public Advocate for Ombudsman Services. A full transcript of the videocast is below; the video can be viewed at www.pubadvocate.nyc.gov.
**TRANSCRIPT**
[Black title screen – “Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum”]
Eric Wilson: “The first time I met Betsy Gotbaum it was, probably, one of the darkest days of my life.”
[Black title screen – “Fighting Hunger in NYC” – fades into image of Eric Wilson.]
EW: “We were in the midst of a great personal family tragedy. I had lost my sixteen year old son, suddenly and unexpectedly, and she reached out to us, in a very compassionate and human way.”
[Black title screen – “How we can help” – fades into image of Liz Blaney, sitting in office.]
Liz Blaney: “When we learned of Mr. Wilson’s need for food stamps, Betsy intervened on her own, with the human resources administration, to be sure that he obtained the benefit that he so deserved for himself and his family.”
[Visual of Betsy Gotbaum serving food at the NYC Rescue Mission Food Pantry.]
LB: “People don’t know that they’re eligible, they call our office, we can direct them where to go, we can tell them what their eligibility requirements are, and we provide a range of services and a range of information and direction to people who would apply for food stamp benefits who sometimes don’t know that they’re entitled to them.”
[Black title screen – “For help accessing city services, including food stamps, this holiday season…” – fades into black title screen – “Call the Office of the Public Advocate at 212.669.7200”] ]
Betsy Gotbaum: I want to wish you all a very, very happy Thanksgiving… and come on gang, let’s get to work. [Sounds of clapping.] End.
The video can be viewed at www.pubadvocate.nyc.gov.
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