Democrats and the Lost Opportunity for Affordable Housing

   New York State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) released the following statement: 

   “As the June 15^th rent stabilization deadline approaches, I remain deeply concerned for the well-being of 2.5 million New Yorkers and their families who voted for Democrats to take control.  They elected us so that we would not let the opportunity to protect their right to affordable housing slip through their hands. 

   Democrats missed the chance to force a vote on rent control during Budget negotiations.  Democrats – especially Black and Hispanic legislators – should never have agreed on the Budget until the issue of rent control and stabilization was determined.  If affordable housing were addressed during that great race to beat the clock, New Yorkers would have won. 

   Unfortunately, the opportunity for Democrats to do something about rent control has passed. I have no delusions that the Senate Republicans will ever compromise on rent control or even bring this to the table for a vote this Session.  In their defense, I must wonder, why should they?  Since they are in the majority, why should they capitulate? 

   Governor Andrew Cuomo, (who actually served as HUD Secretary) met today to discuss rent control and stabilization laws with Senate Majority Leader John Sampson, Senator Adriano Espaillat (who serves as the Top Democrats on the Senate Housing Committee) and Senator Liz Krueger (who has championed this cause more than any other Senator prior to the Early Budget vote).  The issue of rent control has been cast aside until sometime – perhaps in May – after our Senate 2-week vacation from Albany.  We know that if these laws are not in place by June 15^th, they will sunset, expire, and be nearly impossible to resurrect.

 

DON’T CUT CASE MANAGEMENT TO HOME-BOUND SENIORS BY $6.6 MILLION 

  A coalition of aging service advocates lead by the Council of Senior Centers and Services (CSCS), Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), United Neighborhood House (UNH), CityMeals on Wheels, the Human Services Council, and UJA-Federation will assemble on the Steps of City Hall to inform the public and to speak out against the proposed cuts to case management. 

    Mayor Bloomberg is proposing the $6.6 million cut, a 30 % cut to case management. The Mayor tried this cut mid-year, but the funds were restored by the city council. Now, the mayor is trying to cut case management again.

·         Impact to seniors: Based on a CSCS survey done last November when the cut was first proposed –

Ø  Upwards of 8000 homebound elders, average age 85, will lose case management services

Ø  Almost 900 seniors were already on case management waiting lists

Ø  The average caseload, already 70, would increase to 85 and higher

Ø  112 social workers (called case managers) would lose their jobs

·         Social workers provide a valuable service to home bound seniors and can help to save lives

·         The coalition is working to “baseline” case management funds:  Baselining is a budget word which means that the Mayor allows the case management funds to remain in the Department for the Aging (DFTA) budget so there is not a cut and the funds flows into the budgets of case management agencies immediately.  This will ensure continuity of services to home bound elderly New Yorkers   

Thursday, April 14 from 10:00 – 11:00    --  Steps of City Hall  

for more information contact -- Matthew Hynes, mhynes@cscs-nyc.org, 212-398-6565 X237

 

Onion or Corn for State Vegetable

   The New York Farm Bureau, a non profit organization out of Albany is looking to name the vegetable of New York State on their facebook page here. The competition is down to either onion and corn, and since the state budget is done this has now come to the attention of some of our state legislatures. The Independent Democrat Conference here, at least three of the four members support "onion"as their choice for state veggie. It appears that one member is still on the fence not wanting to take sides on the issue. 

   We made some calls to local elected Bronx officials, but received "we will have to get back to you on the matter" from some staff members. We will update this posting as the responses come in from the elected officials as to their choice, but as it stands now the only Bronx state legislature who has weighed in on this is Senator Jeff Klein who favors onion as the state vegetable.

  Word came in from Senator Gustavo Rivera, that Senator Rivera is going with "TEAM ONION",

VOLUNTEERS TO GREEN BRONX PARKS DURING ‘HANDS ON NEW YORK DAY’ 

New Yorkers to spruce up 11 neighborhood sites in the Bronx after an especially hard winter  

More than 300 volunteers will clear leaves and debris, paint benches and picnic tables, and spread woodchips as part of New York Cares’ Hands on New York Day on Saturday, April 16 from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. at Van Cortlandt Park (Enter at Broadway Ave and Van Cortlandt Park S) in the Bronx.  New Yorkers will also rejuvenate planting areas impacted by the hard winter.

 

17^th Annual Hands On New York Day, sponsored by HSBC Bank USA, NA., is a citywide day of spring cleaning where 5,000 volunteers will spruce up 70 parks, gardens, playgrounds, and other public spaces across the five boroughs. 

 

 

 

Senator Rivera presents Celia Cruz Winning Choir with Senate Resolution Honoring their Hard Work and Excellence

   Senator Gustavo Rivera (D,WF-Bronx) presented the Celia Cruz High School Choir with a Senate Resolution honoring them for being named the Best Choir in New York City as part of the Sing! for Wildlife competition. This was the first Senate Resolution Senator Rivera introduced and passed through the State Senate.

Senator Rivera spoke to the students congratulated the students on being an example of the great accomplishments, both artistic and educational, that can come from a commitment to arts education.

 That's Senator Gustavo Rivera (33rd S.D.) in the middle of the Celia Cruz Choir students who are holding the Senate resolution that honored the choir for their hard work and excellence. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Press Release from Assemblyman Crespo about Cathie Black

   This came in from Assemblyman Marcos Crespo 85th A.D. before the naming Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott as new chancellor.

 Today’s announcement of Cathie Black’s departure as chancellor of the New York City public school system is welcomed news for my community and all the school children, parents and educators. While, I commend Cathie Black for her interest in serving the public in this capacity and wish her well in future endeavors I am pleased that Mayor Bloomberg has finally acknowledged what other community leaders and I have stated from the first day she was nominated. We clearly stated that Ms. Black was unqualified and unprepared to serve in the role as chancellor and address the needs of over 1.1million school children.

Now, as we move forward I call on Mayor Bloomberg to seek input from education advocates and elected officials as he continues the search for a new chancellor. Furthermore, I hope this experience will remind Commissioner Steiner and the New York State Department of Education that the voices of elected officials and community advocates must not be ignored next time a waiver is requested of a candidate for the position as chancellor.

 Added from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

  Statement from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz on the termination of Cathie Black and the appointment of Dennis Walcott as New York City Schools Chancellor

  

  I am pleased that Mayor Bloomberg realized the terrible error he made in appointing Cathie Black as Schools Chancellor.  It seems her 17% poll rating did what her lack of qualifications couldn’t, expel her from this job.

  I am hopeful that Dennis Walcott will provide the leadership our schools need.  He has the qualifications and background to be a successful Chancellor.  He and his children are all products of New York City public schools, and he has extensive experience as a Deputy Mayor as well as a teacher and a member of the Board of Education.   I look forward to working with him to improve our schools.

Now it's "Your Fired Cathie Black".

  Celeste Katz has the full story here of the mutual agreement between the mayor and now former Chancellor Cathie Black. Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott will become the new Chancellor, but he to will also have to get a waiver from the State Education Department to become chancellor.

  Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who had criticized the mayor's choice of Black, praised the decision "to change course in such a big way when things are not working."

  "It's been clear for months now that, like the Titanic, this ship has been sinking with more than one million school children on board," he said in a statement.

  Our own Bronx Borough President had this to say about the change in chancellor ay the DOE. "During her time as chancellor, Cathie Black and I had a good working relationship, and I wish her well. I have known Dennis Walcott for years, and I welcome him as chancellor of the Department of Education. Mr. Walcott has always been attentive and accessible, and he understands the issues facing our public schools. I look forward to working with him to address these issues, which affect the 1.1 million children in our city who depend on our schools," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

  On another note it is rumored that State Education Commissioner David Steiner's days could be numbered in that post, as is believed that he is sizing up his options before before making any decision. 

 UPDATE:
  State Education Commissioner David Steiner has announced that he will retire from his current job as commissioner at the end of the year. 
  

Yet Another Deputy Chancellor is Leaving the DOE

  We told you at the beginning of this week about Deputy Chancellor Santiago Tavares leaving the DOE after a 22 year career, and now another Deputy Chancellor John White will be the fourth to depart since new Chancellor Cathie Black took over a few short months ago. Mr. White was the head of the Office of Portfolio and Development, which monitored the closing of failing schools, changes to school structure, and opening of new schools. This is leaving some to wonder what is happening at the DOE, and who will be next to leave. 

  Ms. Cathie Black the former head of Hearst Magazines was granted a waiver to become chancellor due to the strong support of the Deputy Chancellors at the DOE, and now that half of them have left since her appointment by Mayor Bloomberg, this leaves some to wonder if  her waiver should now be reviewed by the State Education Department?  

  In a statement Chancellor Black viewed this as a plus for the DOE that Mr. White was chosen for the innovative work that he did while Deputy Chancellor.