Soundview resident John Orozco is training to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games

   On Monday, January 31, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. presented John Orozco, a resident of the Soundview section of The Bronx, with a Citation of Merit in recognition of his outstanding career as a gymnast. Borough President Diaz also named Orozco an “ambassador of The Bronx.”

   John Orozco, 18 years old, started in gymnastics at the age of eight and has been considered a teenage prodigy, winning the U.S. Men's junior title for the past three years. At the age of 15 he won gold at the Junior Olympic National Championships, capturing the all-around title by winning five events – the floor exercise, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bars. Orozco was featured recently in Sport Illustrated as one of 16 “Stars of Tomorrow.”

   “He is a truly inspiring individual who is worthy of the honor being given to him by my office. Through hard work and determination, John has become a big star in a very hard and competitive sport. He is a great example for many other kids in our borough and I have no doubt he will be wearing the Team USA uniform in the next Olympic Games. The Bronx is very proud of him,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.  

   “It’s an honor to receive a citation of merit from Borough President Diaz. More importantly, I am very proud that he bestowed on me the responsibility of being an ambassador of The Bronx, something that at such an early age I would never have imagined I could accomplish. I hope I can live up to the honor and responsibility so that I can continue being a positive role model to other kids from The Bronx,” said John Orozco. 

   In December 2010 Orozco relocated to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to continue his training as part of the USA Olympic Team, eyeing the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

 

 

A Statement from IDC Chair Senator Jeff Klein

    Recently, myself and three of my Senate Colleagues – Diane Savino, (D-Staten Island/ Brooklyn), David J. Valesky,  (D-Oneida) and David Carlucci, (D-Rockland), departed the Senate Democratic Conference and formed a third legislative conference. 

 As members of the new Independent Democratic Conference, our goals are simple – to push for common sense solutions to the problems facing this state, break the hyper-partisan gridlock that has gripped Albany, and work to restore the public's trust in its public officials. We will work to bring integrity back to the State Senate and once again ensure government is used as a positive tool to improve people's lives.

We will work with Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Republican Senate Majority, the Democratic Minority and other partners in government to get New York's fiscal house in order, foster job creation, and cap property taxes. We will also pursue a legislative agenda that includes enacting tough new ethics reforms, establishing non-partisan redistricting, and protecting a woman's right to choose. 

 So far this year, we have already submitted a series of recommendations to Governor Cuomo and his Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission to help streamline New York's sprawling bureaucracy. Our recommendations include: cracking down on overtime abuses, developing new accountability standards for outside contractors, reviewing the use of state assets and eliminating duplicative administrative functions.

 In addition, the IDC has put together a series of common sense recommendations that will help local governments tackle state mandates, save money and ease the financial burden on you, the taxpayer. 

For the full Independent Democratic Caucus 2011 Legislative Agenda, please visit: www.klein.nysenate.gov 

I look forward to a productive legislative session and wish you and your family a healthy, positive and prosperous year ahead. 

Warm Regards,

State Senator Jeff Klein,

Representing the 34^th Senate District (Bronx/Westchester).     

 

Mayor Bloomberg Decries Governor Coumo's Proposed Budget

    Saying that New York City will bear much more than the 2 percent that other municipalities will be cut, Mayor Bloomberg has said that New York City has gotten the shaft from Governor Cuomo. $1.4 billion dollars will be cut from the state share of education funding to New York City. This budget does not include any funding the city got for state mandates in the past, which will force thousands of layoffs at the city level Bloomberg added. 

   Bloomberg said that this was only the beginning of the budget process, and that the next thirty days will bring opportunities for cost savings and other reforms to save the city money. We suspect Bloomberg means changing the teacher lay off system of last hired first laid off, to a system of keeping low cost teachers and getting rid of higher costing veteran teachers, like he has tried over and over again. 

   We think if Mayor Bloomberg was really serious about New York City getting less back from the state then it sends he would talk about seceding from the state to create the kingdom "Bloomyville".

Independent

Democratic Conference 

For immediate Release: Feb. 1, 2011        

Statement from Senators Jeff Klein, (D-Bronx-Westchester), Diane Savino, (D-Staten Island/ Brooklyn), David Valesky (D-Oneida), and David Carlucci (D-Rockland/ Orange), members of the Independent Democratic Conference:

     “The Independent Democratic Conference applauds Governor Cuomo for setting the right tone in his budget address. We approve of  the Governor’s goal of moving this state to a zero-based, or reality-based, budget model, his continued efforts to right-size Albany and his vow to work with this state’s workforce to give New Yorkers the most efficient government possible. 

    Make no mistake about it, there are many painful decisions contained in this budget document. Given the fiscal realities facing this state, there is no avoiding it. 

    Since the IDC’s formation, we have been proposing our ideas on how to fix state government, help our residents, and put New York back on the right track.   

    We are carefully studying the Governor’s budget blueprint and will be making the appropriate recommendations in the coming days and weeks.”    

Klein’s Court Watchers Team To Show Solidarity At Bronx Auto Stripping Case

    Members of State Senator Jeff Klein's (D- Bronx/ Westchester) court watchers team will observe the court case of Gary Adamson, taking place at the Bronx Criminal Courthouse on Friday February 4th. Adamson is being charged for the second time with committing auto stripping. 

     Klein's Bronx Court Watchers program, which launched in April 2010, is aimed at showing community support and solidarity in calling for tougher sentences for repeat offenders. As part of the Court Watchers program, volunteers from the community sit-in on repeat, adult offender court proceedings, wearing t-shirts and buttons that express their intolerance for crime and call for  jail-time sentencing. To volunteer for the Court Watchers program, residents should call Klein’s office at (718)-822-2049. 

     FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4^TH  AT 9:30AM    

     Senator Klein's Court Watcher Program Volunteers

    Observing Court Case of Gary Adamson, being charged a second time for auto stripping within the 49th Precinct

     Bronx Courthouse (Room LL-210), 265 East 161 Street, Bronx

Mayor Bloomberg Trying to Con State Legislatures on Teachers

    Mayor Bloomberg is trying to con the state legislature on the teacher tenure rule by trying to save money by laying off veteran teachers rather than new inexperienced teachers. The claim by the mayor is that recently hired teachers have fresh new ideas, but in reality such fresh new ideas can only be used if they fit into the Bloomberg way of teaching. Below is a statement from State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. about the problem of not how not to lay off teachers, but how to lay off the more experienced higher earning teachers for Senator Diaz's friend Mayor Bloomberg. 

    Pass KEEP Legislation Now!

    Albany, NY- State Senator Rubén Díaz, Sr. today called on the Legislature to pass the Keep Excellent and Effective Professionals in the classroom (KEEP) Act (S.95), which would ensure that the City’s most effective teachers are not laid off in the event of massive budget cuts as is widely anticipated.

    “I introduced this bill last year at the request of Mayor Bloomberg, and reintroduced it this year. There is no reason why this bill should not be reported and brought to the floor of the Senate for a vote” remarked
Senator Díaz.

    “Losing even one teacher will hurt, but losing many teachers simply because they’re new to the job threatens our schools and would be devastating to the students in my district who need their passion, energy, and good ideas,” Senator Díaz said. “If our schools must lay off teachers, the school community must have a say in who stays and who goes,” he continued.

    “Now that Mayor Bloomberg has called on Governor Cuomo to end the rule that protects teachers with seniority, regardless of ability, I would suggest that the legislative process is the way to fulfill the Mayor’s request,” stated Senator Díaz.

    

    We have to now ask Senator Diaz- Do you know who are the best teachers at a particular school, or are you going to leave that up to Mayor Bloomberg, his new  chancellor of one month, or his newly promoted inexperienced principals. Mind you watch how many school principals have gone over their budget last year, and just how many school budgets are to be cut this year because of the overspending. Have you forgot that Mayor Bloomberg has tried to rewrite the Decentralization law, ignored parents completely, and wants to replace public schools with charter schools that pick and choose their students.

SENATORS RIVERA & ESPAILLAT TESTIFY BEFORE DEPT. OF EDUCATION HEARING ON PROPOSED JFK HIGH SCHOOL CLOSING

    State Senators Adriano Espaillat (D – 31^st District) and Gustavo Rivera (D – 33^rd District) testified at a public hearing regarding the Department of Education’s proposal to close down John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx. The joint public hearing was observed by the District 10 Community Education Council and the JFK School Leadership Team.

    Both senators outlined their commitment to improving the educational opportunities available for local students. Sen. Espaillat and Sen. Rivera have expressed concerns about the Department of Education’s lack of communication with parents, particularly a lack of adequate notice about tonight’s hearing and other important developments. They called for a fair and transparent process that provides parents and community leaders with the opportunity to voice their opinions and inquiries, and that their input is then reflected in the Department’s plans moving forward.

    “With nothing short of our children’s future riding on our schools, it is unacceptable to leave parents and community members in the dark and out of the decision making process,” said Sen. Adriano Espaillat.

    “Parents shouldn’t be learning about their children’s school being closed through newspaper clippings or word of mouth,” said Sen. Gustavo Rivera. “Our constituents deserve a transparent process that provides them with the information they need and gives these parents a seat at the table when important determinations are being made.”

    Senators Espaillat and Rivera have laid out a set of principles they believe must be followed as the Department of Education proceeds with closings

Ø  JFK must only close if the alternative school(s) offer a quality of education that is truly excellent and significantly better than what is currently offered at JFK.   

Ø  The transition process must be smooth and carefully planned so as to limit disruptions for students.  

Ø  Parents and local community members must be given access to all information in a timely manner and allowed a voice in the decision making process. 

Ø  There must be viable placement options for the district’s “over the counter” admissions of special need students (English Language Learners/ELL, students with Individualized Education Plans/IEP, and Students with Interrupted Formal Education/SIFE) who otherwise would go to JFK.

 

 

Assemblywoman Gibson Inauguration Rescheduled

Please be advised that the Inauguration Ceremony for Assemblywoman Vanessa L. Gibson has been rescheduled for Saturday, February 5th, 2011, at 10:30AM,
Bronx Museum of the Arts, 1040 Grand Concourse, corner of East 165th Street, Bronx, New York. A reception will follow the ceremony.