What You Should Know

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York

  Senator Klein is Eating all the Candies

  As you know, back in November, 2012 the Democrats won the majority of Senate seats in New York State, but at the time, there was a serious rift between Senators Jeff Klein and Mike Gianaris.

Senator Jeff Klein had served as the Senate Democrat’s top political strategist heading the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee – until Senator John Sampson threw him into the dust and appointed Senator Mike Gianaris to fill that role.  This was a big slap in the face to Senator Klein, and since that time, we have to wonder if that wound has ever healed.

When the 2012 election results gave a victory to the Senate Democrats to become the Senate Majority, we all knew that we needed to bring Senator Jeff Klein and the rest of his Independent Democratic Conference Members - Senator Diane Savino, Senator David Valesky, and Senator David Carlucci - back into the fold.

We all knew that Senators Savino, Valesky and Carlucci would side with Senator Jeff Klein, and whatever he said, they would follow.

I, for one, was advising everyone that we should give Senator Jeff Klein everything he needed or wanted in order to bring him back to our side. However, there were those certain macho men and macho women in our Democratic Conference who decided that they knew better, and as a result, there was no way Jeff Klein could come back and join with the Democrats.

Among those macho men and women were Senators Gustavo Rivera, Liz Kruger and Mike Gianaris.

The most vociferous of them all was Gustavo Rivera.  He ever used the "f" word when he referred to Senator Jeff Klein.  The big-shots knew and proclaimed how much better off they were without Senators Klein, Savino, Valesky and Carlucci, and how those four Senators would someday have to come crawling back to us.

Ladies and gentlemen, you should know that Jeff Klein gave us ample time and many opportunities to extend an olive branch to him.  You should also know that instead, we decided to follow the big-shots of our Democratic Conference and offer nothing at all to bring Jeff Klein back.  We decided to follow the macho men and women and instead, we allowed them to solidify the Independent Democratic Conference and its successful alliance with the Republican Conference.

Now, lo and behold, everybody is crying foul.

Little by little, day by day, Senator Jeff Klein and the Members of the Independent Democratic Conference have been gaining ground and have been becoming stronger and stronger.  They have reached a point that Senator Diane Savino, a staunch union follower and ardent supporter of women’s rights, has even dared to challenge them.  She has shown great courage and incredible faithfulness to Senator Jeff Klein and the Independent Democratic Conference.

This is not at all what the macho men and women of the regular Democratic Conference expected … they were sure that when Senators Klein, Savino, Valesky and Carlucci would come under pressure, they would have to bend.

But surprise, surprise: they are not bending.  They are eating the candies, and I am afraid they will never come back. I am also afraid that if we ever want to become the Majority, we will all have to join the Independent Democratic Conference!

This week, as we are about to finish our Session for 2013, we are watching the Independent Democratic Conference get hit from the left, from the right, from the center, from above, and from below.  They have been picketed, blasted, cursed, threatened, and they have been marked for destruction in the next election.

But they are not bending, not yielding, and not giving up.  On the contrary, they are getting stronger and stronger – and stronger.

It is my hope that by the end of this Session, when all of this is said and done, and when Senators Jeff Klein, Diane Savino, David Valesky and David Carlucci finish eating the candies, I hope they will leave some crumbs for us.  Like an old saying goes, "Even the little ones feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."

This is Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know. 

 

Outer Borough Campaign Group (OBCG)

   Past 80th Assembly District candidate Robert Giuffre and Mr. Hal Levy today announced the formation of the Outer Borough Campaign Group (OBCG). This will be a political consulting firm that will be distinguished by its exclusive focus on community-centered NYC candidates and campaigns.  OBCG specializes in direct mail services — targeting, designing and executing mail campaigns that reach frequent “prime” or receptive voters — and the ballot qualification process, in addition to generalized consulting work.  OBCG’s staff allows the firm to offer previously expensive services to city-level campaigns at more accessible prices than the small group of Manhattan or Albany-based political consultants who currently serve few city candidates.

  “It’s our goal to take on clients who have well-developed campaigns, but would rather spend their time out in the community instead of organizing logistically difficult mail operations or navigating city politics. We believe every NYC candidate can have a la carte access to these tools instead,” said partner Rob Giuffre.

  As of now OBCG has two clients — Cliff Stanton for Council of District 11 in Riverdale, Bronx, and an additional unnamed Bronx candidate. OBCG expects to partner with several other clients during the 2013 and 2014 elections.

  Levy and Giuffre have each worked in various managerial capacities on over a dozen campaigns, before formally founding an independent consulting firm.  Levy studies human rights at Columbia University, and Giuffre is a teacher at NYC public schools.

For more information on the Outer Borough Campaign Group, visit outerboroughcg.com.

Upcoming Events

This came in from KRVDC about some upcoming events.

 

Saturday, June 22nd - Movie in the Park!, Festivities begin at 8pm and Movie will begin at Dusk, Indian Field, VCP East and East 233rd Street, Woodlawn – The Incredibles!

 

Event will include a "Meet the Merchants" movie as a preview!! This event kicks off our Summer 2013 Movies in the Park series.

 

Sunday, June 23rd - Kidaroo's One Year Anniversary Party!, 1-4 pm, 3603 Fieldston Road, Bronx, NY 10463

 

Party will feature yoga, a preschool of rock concert, scribble art and more!  KRVC is participating as part of our new biz boosters program with a Stiltwalker, Adam Auslander, who will stroll along the Avenue to promote the party.  Senator Klein will also be at the event to cut the One Year Anniversary cake.

 

Sunday, June 30th - Riverdale RiverFest, 12:00 - 6:00 pm at the College of Mount St. Vincent, Riverdale Avenue and 261st Street, Great Lawn Overlooking the majestic Hudson River Celebrating the River and the Greenway in Riverdale

 

Event Highlights:  ♦ Local musicians and entertainers  ♦ Arts and crafts  ♦ Food  ♦ Medieval Battle demonstration ♦ Fun, river-oriented environmental education programs and featuring...The John J. Harvey Fireboat! & The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater!

 Many, many, many volunteers are needed for this event.  You can volunteer by contacting me directly or by registering on the Riverfest website:  www.RiverdaleRiverfest.org.

 

See you at these great events - Tracy

 

Tracy McCabe Shelton
Executive Director
Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van Cortlandt Development Corp./KRVC
www.krvcdc.org   917-570-9027

Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz Supports Senator Jeff Klein's Women's Equality Act

   The Senate Independent Democratic Conference put out its women’s equality agenda that strips a provision to strengthen of abortion rights from the governor’s 10-point plan. 

   While other Democrats in the State Senate are against the IDC plan, New York Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) has announced his support for the IDC's own Women's Agenda legislation that has been introduced on Sunday by Senator Jeff Klein (IDC-Bronx).

   Senator Rev. Diaz stated: "I salute Senator Jeff Klein and his IDC colleagues, and applaud their efforts to bring the nine measures included in the IDC's Women's Agenda package. As a Democrat, I will vote for this bill when it comes for a vote. Governor Cuomo's abortion expansion agenda measure was a distraction and does not belong in this effort to promote much needed equality for New York's women. The abortion battles may continue, but not at the cost of these real goals. After the bill passes, we will all have to wait and see if Governor Cuomo will sign it into law."

From Controller John Liu

LIU STATEMENT ON NYCHA & SEQUESTRATION  
Mayor Needs to Act Ahead of June 30 Budget Deadline

City Comptroller John C. Liu stated the following today on the federal budget cuts hitting the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA):

“With the City’s June 30 budget deadline looming, the Mayor needs to act now to shore up NYCHA. The consequences of the federal budget cuts hitting NYCHA will mean increasing rents for residents, the elimination of vital support services (including the closing of youth and senior centers), and the reduction of operation and maintenance services.  All of these things risk a further deterioration of our public housing.  The City should immediately provide NYCHA on an emergency basis with the funding necessary to avert these draconian cuts and rent increases. NYCHA residents are among the most vulnerable New Yorkers. We need to help them, not hurt them. If NYCHA’s management is looking for cuts, they should look to consulting contracts and executive staff.”

Background

 

July 2012 comments on NYCHA’s Draft Annual Plan for FY 2013:

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2012_releases/pdf/NYCHA-LETTER.pdf

 

July 2012 testimony and press release on NYCHA’s Draft Annual Plan for FY 2013:

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2012_releases/pr12-07-091.shtm

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LIU ON NYC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES

City Comptroller John C. Liu stated the following today after the Mayor’s announcement that high school graduation rates have held steady:

“Graduating from high school is not enough. In today’s economy, a college degree is vital, and research from the Comptroller’s office shows that four out of five New York City public high school students do not graduate from college. If we are serious about preparing students for the 21^st-Century economy, we need to make smarter investments in education – including increasing the number of college counselors in our high schools, using early intervention systems to keep kids on track for college, building partnerships between high schools and colleges, and investing in summer programs to make sure high school graduates matriculate.”

Background:

Comptroller Liu’s “Beyond High School NYC” initiative seeks to increase the proportion of New Yorkers with higher education to 60 percent by the year 2025 through strategic investments in public education.

“Beyond High School: Higher Education as a Growth and Fiscal Strategy for New York City”:
http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/opm/reports/2012/Higher-Education-Report-FINAL.pdf

“The Power of Guidance: Giving High School Students the College Counseling They Need”:
http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/opm/reports/2012/Power_of_Guidance_Oct_PDF.pdf

“No More Rubber Stamp: Reforming New York City’s Panel for Educational Policy”:
http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/opm/reports/2013/NYC_NoMoreRubberStamp_v24_Jan2013.pdf

“Bridging the Digital Literacy Divide”:
http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/opm/reports/2013/Bridging-the-Digital-Literacy-Divide.pdf

 

 

MAKING MUNI-METERS MORE USER FRIENDLY

This x=came in from Councilman Oliver Koppell's office

 

  On June 12, 2013, the City Council approved a bill, co-sponsored by Council Member Oliver Koppell, a member of the Transportation Committee, which would deactivate muni-meters when parking rules are not in effect or receipt paper is not available. Since muni-meters have universally replaced single-space meters throughout the city, motorists have increasingly complained that they have lost money at these meters. This occurs when drivers who are unaware of, or who misunderstand, meter regulations pay the meter at times when parking meter rules are not in effect. The muni-meter accepts the payment even though the driver was not required to pay for parking at that time, causing him/her to lose money unnecessarily.

  Drivers may also lose money when the meter fails to print a receipt.  Since muni-meters are not equipped to dispense refunds in such a situation, the driver must go to another muni-meter on the block and pay again in order to obtain the required receipt.

  In order to rectify the situation, the Council bill requires DOT to program each muni-meter so that it is unable to accept payment from the last time in a day that parking meter rules are in effect until one hour prior to the next time meter rules are in operation. The measure would further require DOT to program all muni-meters to reject payment when the meter is unable to print a timed receipt.

“The Council has already passed mini-meter legislation that benefits motorists. This bill will create additional protections and help make parking in New York City less onerous.” Koppell said.

Smart Boards inside, Speed Cameras Outside PS 81

  State Senator Jeff Klein stopped by PS 81 in the North Riverdale Section of his district to drop off a check for $25,000.00 to the school for the purchase of several "Smart Boards". Klein went into a classroom to see just how one of the Smart Boards are helping the students. PS 81 Principal Anne Kirrane thanked Senator Klein for giving the school the Smart Boards saying "It is an unbelievable tool for the students". She added that it is good teaching and engages the children in what is being taught. Several students gave Senator Klein a demonstration by using the Smart Board to solve a math problem.

 Senator Klein is joined by Principal Kirrane (to his left), other staff members and students of PS 81 who are holding the check to PS 81 from Senator Klein.
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  A little later Senator Jeff Klein outside of PS 81 on Riverdale Avenue near West 256th Street was joined by NYC DOT commissioner Janette Sadik Kahn and the Co-Presidents of the school Parents Association to push for speed cameras in front of PS 81.

  Senator Klein had statistics showing that on May 17th 2013 from 9:30 - 11 AM that 46 percent of the drivers were driving over the speed limit of 30 MPH in front of PS 81. On May 22nd from 11 AM - 1 PM Senator Klein's statistics showed that 71 percent of drivers were driving over the speed limit of 30 MPH. This report was done by Senator Klein's office after the NYCDOT released a study in March that showed on Riverdale Avenue outside PS 81 there were 96 percent of the drivers speeding. 

  Klein said "The results are clear: speeding on Riverdale Avenue is a real threat to the safety of students, teachers and members of the Riverdale community. But that doesn’t need to continue. Research shows that when people know they might be caught, they slow down. That’s critically important in school zones, where even five miles per hour can make the difference between life and death for a child. I’m pleased to stand here with Commissioner Sadik-Khan today so that we can encourage my legislative colleagues to approve the use of these speed cameras right away.”

  “There is no passing grade for people speeding near our schools and putting our children’s lives in danger,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “We need to bring the rampant speeding that occurs near our schools every day to a screeching halt, and I join Senator Klein and call on his colleagues in Albany to move full speed ahead on this life-saving legislation."

   When questioned about the lack of enforcement by the police department of the speeding, Senator Klein answered that a police officer can not be stationed outside every school. 

 

Left - Senator Klein speaking about the issue of speeding outside of PS 81 on Riverdale Avenue. NYCDOT Commissioner Sadik-Khan is to his right while the PA Co-Presidents are to his left.

Right NYCDOT commissioner Sadik-Khan goes over statistics of the result of the severity of injuries to people as a cars speed is higher.

 

 

Items From City Comptroller John Liu

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SELECTION OFTEN UNFAIR AND ARBITRARY

Schools Rejected Students Who Should Have Been Considered for Entrance,

Gave Seats to Some Who Didn’t Meet Standards, Audit Finds

An audit of the Department of Education’s (DOE’s) high-school placement process determined that the process often reached arbitrary and unfair results: It denied many students an opportunity to be matched to seats in certain highly competitive programs even when the students met all eligibility requirements, while offering seats to other students who had not met the criteria.

  

“Our audit confirmed what many frustrated parents and students have long suspected: the City’s high-school placement process is often unfair and deeply flawed,” Comptroller Liu said. “Applying to high school is an important and stressful enough experience for students and parents, and it must not be left to a sloppy and random system like the one our audit found. We are pleased that the DOE has agreed to adopt our recommendations to ensure a fairer and sensible system.”

The audit examined student placement for the 2011-12 school year at five schools considered among the most competitive for entrance in their respective boroughs. The schools are Hostos-Lincoln Academy of Science (Bronx), Baruch College Campus HS (Manhattan), Midwood HS Medical Science Institute (Brooklyn), Tottenville HS Science Institute (Staten Island), and Townsend Harris HS Intensive Academic Humanities (Queens).

Students can apply for up to 12 schools, which they rank in their order of preference. The DOE then enters the students’ choices into its Student Enrollment Management System (SEMS). Students who apply to a screened school, like those the audit examined, must meet certain selection criteria in order to be ranked for possible enrollment by the schools.  

Screened schools use their own criteria — such as seventh-grade report cards, standardized tests, and attendance records — to screen students. Students who meet the criteria are ranked on a list for possible enrollment, although the DOE does not require screened schools to rank every single student who qualifies because of the overwhelming number of applicants. Finally, SEMS matches students’ preferences against the schools ranking.  When a student’s top pick school ranks them high there can a match and the student would be offered a seat at the school.

The five schools received 21,315 applications for 828 seats. 

·         5,702 students appeared to meet the screening criteria.

·         The programs ranked 4,075 students.

·         The audit found 1,946 unranked students, many of whom actually scored better than those who were ranked. 

·         319 (8 percent) of the 4,075 students who the programs ranked appear NOT to have met the criteria. Of these 319 students, 92 were offered seats at the schools, and 60 were enrolled.

The audit is attached and available for download here: http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/audit/audits_2013/06-13-13-MH12-053A.shtm

Other Findings

Comptroller Liu’s audit also determined that:

·         The five schools failed to maintain adequate records. Auditors asked the schools to produce documentation explaining the rankings of certain applicants, but only one school, Townsend Harris HS Intensive Academic Humanities, provided any records documenting its decisions. The other four had not kept such records, as they are required to do by the New York State Education Department.

·         DOE does not require high schools to have written procedures to explain the methodologies they use to rank students. For example, Midwood HS Medical Science Institute states that students need report card grades of 90-100 in seventh-grade English, math, social studies, and science classes, but does not let students and parents know that it gives the math and science grades greater weight than English and social studies grades, which is part of its ranking formula.

·         The DOE did not oversee the placement process in order to ensure that it ranked students fairly and consistently.

·         Middle schools are not keeping high-school applications, as required. The DOE could provide student applications for only 14 out of 150 randomly selected students, so there was no assurance that guidance counselors accurately recorded students’ choices.

Response

The DOE generally agreed with the audit’s nine recommendations. It agreed to:

·         Review the ranking practices at the four schools the audit report determined had questionable rankings in order to ensure that the schools are following their own published screens and DOE policy for student selection.

·         Require high schools with screened programs to document their ranking formula and processes.

·         Review screened schools’ ranking criteria, especially for those schools in high demand, in order to ensure that they are ranking students fairly and consistently.

·         Ensure schools keep records of their ranking of the students applying to their programs, as required by the State Education Department.

Background

The DOE manages two different high-school placement processes. The first, known as the high-school application process, is for eighth-grade students applying for the ninth grade and first-time ninth graders applying for the tenth grade. Schools in the application process select applicants by using one of seven admission methods: (1) test, (2) audition, (3) educational option, (4) limited unscreened, (5) screened, (6) unscreened, and (7) zoned.  Three-quarters (215,556) of the City’s 284,513 high-school students on register as of October 2011 had been placed at their schools through this placement process. Comptroller Liu’s audit focused on screened programs because they are one of the most popular for student applicants. For the 2011-2012 school year, 30 percent of the programs chosen by students were screened programs.  Screened programs comprised 25 percent of student matches.  However, because the schools themselves establish and oversee the ranking criteria and actually rank the students, the screened programs are also especially vulnerable to potential manipulation.

The remaining 68,957 students were placed in their respective high schools through the second process, known as the over-the-counter process, which is for (1) new students, (2) students returning to New York City public schools, and (3) New York City public high school students transferring between high schools.

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LIU ON POSSIBILITY OF MONITOR FOR NYPD

City Comptroller John C. Liu stated the following today on reports of the Department of Justice’s recommendation for an independent monitor for the NYPD:

“The possibility of an independent monitor for the NYPD’s stop and frisk program should be a sobering wake-up call for Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Kelly. Stop and frisk is out of control, has split communities from the police, and may be contributing to significantly higher claim costs. Simply abolishing stop and frisk would alleviate concerns about management of the NYPD. In its place, the NYPD should embrace community policing, especially the proven strategy of focused deterrence.”

Background:

Liu Statement on Proposed Reforms to Stop and Frisk, May 2012: http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2012_releases/pr12-05-059.shtm

Liu: New Claims Against Police Keep Rising, June 2013: http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2013_releases/pr13-06-078.shtm

Comptroller Hosts Stop & Frisk Town Hall – Queens March 13, 2013: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZISl655_cw
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City Comptroller John C. Liu made the following statement in response to today’s news conference on thwarting smartphone theft:

“We welcome Attorney General Schneiderman’s and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón’s common-sense initiative to take a stand against the rapidly escalating problem of cell phone theft. The Attorneys General, with cooperation from the world’s largest manufacturers of cell phones, are tackling a growing problem. In the time it takes you to read this statement, more than 200 smartphones will be lost or stolen in this country. In New York City alone cell phone robberies increased 40 percent in the past year.

 

“The cell phone thefts in New York City too often involve violence. Tragically last year a 26-year-old chef at the Museum of Modern Art was killed for his iPhone. The manufacturers must quickly come up with the technology to make stolen smartphones useless. When that happens, stealing a smartphone will be a waste of time.

 

“We note that the City pension funds have a substantial investment in the largest manufacturers of cell phones, all of which are taking part in today’s conference. We urge these companies to make fighting the theft of cell phones their number-one priority.”

 

A.G. Schneiderman’s and D.A. Gascón’s announcement is here: www.ag.ny.gov/press-release/ag-schneiderman-da-gasc%C3%B3n-launch-nationwide-%E2%80%9Csecure-our-smartphones%E2%80%9D-initiative

 

Background

As of June 12, 2013, the NYC Pension Funds held a combined 2,333,996 shares of Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) valued at $1,008,729,731.24; 660,409 shares of Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) valued at $575,863,439.82; 19,078,143 shares of Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) valued at $667,735,005.00; and 254,903 shares of Samsung (KOREA SE: 005930) valued at $311,460,657.26.