A Democratic Gimmick on the “Dream Act”: Do Nothing and Blame the Republicans

What You Should Know
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
District 32 Bronx County, New York

  You should know that here in Albany, the Capital of the State of New York, where laws for the state are debated and approved, you will find some elected officials who are doing nothing to protect our poor and needy communities and instead blame the Republicans for their inaction and lack of courage to stand for what they promised their constituents during election time.

You should know that in the Democratic Party in the Capital of the State of New York, we have a Democratic Governor, a Democratic Attorney General, a Democratic Comptroller, a Democratic Assembly, and we Democrats have thirty-three (33) out of 63 in the New York State Senate. Therefore, we have enough control and votes to approve anything we want including the allocation of 25 million dollars ($25,000,000) for the “Dream Act” within the 140 billion dollars that the Governor is proposing in the New York State Budget.

Then you might ask, why is that for the past three years we have not done it? Because there are some members of the Legislature that say one thing back in the City and to the Hispanic media and then say and do something quite different when they return to Albany, or when the Governor calls them.

I was surprised and amazed, to read an article in the New York Daily News, written by Mr. Kenneth Lovett titled: “Decision time.” This article was published on Monday, January 27, 2014 and it detailed how “a top democrat has expressed political concerns about the push to pass a bill to create a State Dream Act authorizing State financial assistance to college kids.” Mr. Lovett continues stating that “Several Legislative Democrats and Dream Act advocates said Senator Michael Gianaris…fears the issue could harm Democratic chances to get re-elected.”

There are also rumors that Governor Cuomo called Assembly members Felix Ortiz, Francisco Moya and others to his office and some of them joined the Governor by stating that “maybe it will be better for us to wait a little bit because the Republicans will not allow the vote to come to the floor.”

You should know that the Republicans never wanted to bring the gay marriage vote to the floor, it was because of Governor Cuomo and the Democrats’ pressure that forced the hands of the Republicans against their will and as you know gay marriage was voted and approved in New York State.

You should also know that the Republicans never wanted to bring to the floor “The SAFE Act legislation but the Governor and the Democrats one more time forced their hands and the SAFE Act was approved in New York State.

By writing this column, it is my intention to let you know that when we Democrats really want to do something, we do not need the Republicans because we have the votes, the unions, the Assembly, the press and the majority of Senators in the Senate.

It is my intention to let you, my dear readers know, that there is no reason why our community has to be waiting for three years to include 25 million dollars in New York State’s budget and create the “Dream Act.” We don’t have to blame the Republicans, we just have to be honest with our immigrant community and tell them if we really want it or not.

The Governor and my colleagues should put the same efforts, energy and desire that they put into passing gay marriage and the SAFE Act and once and for all stop the gimmick of blaming the Republicans and admit their lack of action.

I am State Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know. 

 

Is Mayor DeBlasio's Pre-K Tax on Rich a Front For Higher Union Raises

  The New York Post reports that The clash between Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio over pre-K funding is turning into an all-out brawl, with allies of the governor claiming the mayor is pushing higher taxes to fund new contracts for his labor buddies. One source close to Gov. Cuomo told the post that “We’re hearing chatter from people that de Blasio wants to raise the income tax on the rich to use it any way he wants — including paying for labor contracts and raises.” The source also said that it is the union backed Working Families Party, allied with Mayor deBlasio who are pushing the mayor to get the tax hike and opposes the governor’s $2 billion proposal to cut property, business and estate taxes 

  De Blasio is pushing to raise city income taxes on those earning $500,000 or more to generate $530 million a year to cover pre-kindergarten classes for all kids. To do so Albany elected officials in the State Assembly and Senate would have to approve a tax hike in an election year. Cuomo countered with the $2.2 billion statewide offer to fund Pre-K which Mayor de Blasio said that Cuomo’s offer of $2.2 billion statewide for five years was both inadequate and unreliable. 

  Aides to Mayor de Blasio insisted there’s no secret agenda for the added tax revenues. “For more than a year, Mayor de Blasio has been 100 percent clear that this tax increase will only be used to fund pre-K and after-school programs for New York City kids. 

  After seeing Cuomo’s pre-K plan, even some Democrats from the city say they are less inclined to align themselves with de Blasio. You can view the entire New York Post article here.

Celebration of Black History Month 2014

 

Politicians Use Campaign Funds for Clowns, Cruises and Cake

   This one comes from a New York Post article that goes into specific details on how elected officials are using their campaign funds better known as war chests to to buy thousand-dollar cakes, pleasure cruises,  self-help seminars, and carnival concessions. The Post writes about two Queens elected officials who have "Sent in the Clowns" literally when they paid Send In The Clowns Entertainment Corp. to work community events.

   The Post adds that State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. paid $3,015 on just six orders of cake — with expenditures called “Mother’s Day Cake” and “Father’s Day Cake” costing $1,240 each. The Post says that Diaz Sr.said there were more than six desserts, and “I don’t know how many there are, but Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, I send cakes to the senior centers,” he said.

   The Post even takes a swipe at State Senator Jeff Klein who spent $1,310 at the Bear Factory, a purveyor of stuffed animals in costumes, for his annual Easter Bunny Breakfast and Magic Show. The article continues with “Senator Klein enjoys supporting community programs, especially those focused on kids,” said Klein spokeswoman Candice Giove. “It’s just one small way he’s able to give back.” The interesting thing here is that Candice Giove up to a few months ago worked for the New York Post as a reporter who went after elected officials. She highlighting the affairs of former Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera on the front page of the Post in one of many stories Ms. Giove wrote for the Post. 

   More questionable spending the Post says is  $1,847 in towels from Sen. Jack Martins (R-LL) for a basketball tournament, $1,455 worth of Eagle Scout awards from Sen. Kenneth LaValle (R-LI), Sen. Diane Savino (D-SI) donated $600 to the Miss Staten Island Pageant, Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) forked over $100 in August for a “dove release” at a community event, Sen. David Carlucci (D-Rockland-Westchester) spent $495 on a seminar by self-help guru Tony Robbins in August 2013 followed by $456 in Robbins “training materials” three months later, Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) shelled out $387 for bingo cards advertising his campaign. Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver spent $1,900 on bus company Zaly’s Tours so constituents could visit Albany for the governor’s State of the State Address, Brooklyn Dem Chaim Deutsch spent $3,448 on “bumper magnets,” while Queens Republican Eric Ulrich gave out $1,170 in “halloween bags”, and Mayor de Blasio’s campaign lists a $550 payment on Nov. 25 to Gina Riggi, a makeup artist for the “Charlie Rose Show.” Which the Post said records show the expenditure was for “election night.”  

   You can view the entire New York Post article Here.

Rising Mantinance Costs At the Amalgamated and Park Reservoir Cooperatives

  Most of the recent mayoral candidates said they supported 'affordable housing'. Many people say NYC is losing its 'affordable housing'. But there is little explanation in the news or from the politicians what it is and why NYC and future generations need it.
        At the Amalgamated and Park Reservoir cooperatives near Van Cortlandt Park the current monthly charges are similar and comparatively reasonable, except that these charges have been rising faster than the rate of inflation. For some residents these charges are beginning to be difficult to afford. Still, Amalgamated and Park Reservoir fall into the category of 'affordable housing'. What does that mean?
        There are three categories of housing: 'subsidized', 'affordable' and 'market rate'. In this scheme, 'affordable housing' is a technical term. The three categories are not a description of the level of the monthly charges. They are a description of the income of the people for whom each category is meant to serve. Subsidized housing is for those people with no or such low income that they could not afford the rent in any building fit for human living. The Federal government's HUD housing projects are an example of 'subsidized housing'.
        'Affordable housing' is for people with low or moderate income who could not, especially in NYC, afford what commercial landlords charge so as to make a profit. If NYC were to lose its affordable housing, people with low or moderate income would be forced to leave the city.
        The third category, 'market rate housing' is for people with enough income to afford what landlords will charge them or who can afford to buy their own apartment or home. Such people are often called middle class or upper middle class or rich.
        What makes 'affordable housing' affordable is that there is government help usually with the financing of the original housing and with property tax relief called abatements. This government help makes possible monthly charges that low and moderate income people, such as low wage workers, disabled people with some compensation, families with children, and retirees on fixed pensions, can afford. Housing is only in the 'affordable' category if such people can pay the necessary cost to gain an apartment and the monthly charges. Government assistance to 'affordable housing' is necessary or the housing would become market rate housing and those people would lose the ability to stay in it. The government assistance is a service to the society, making it possible for all classes of people to live in NYC.
        There are four main threats to affordable housing. (1) The government might withdraw its assistance. (2) The housing might be privatized or commercialized. (3) The initial move-in cost may exceed that which low and moderate income people can accumulate. Or (4) the monthly charges might rise above what such people can handle.
        Amalgamated and Park Reservoir, for example, will only stay in the 'affordable' category if constant attention is paid to any government movement to end the tax abatements, if every effort is made to oppose privatization and if every proposed carrying charge increase is demonstrated to be absolutely necessary. Otherwise, many current cooperators and all future generations of low and moderate income people will not be able to live there. Then the wonderful cooperative experiment they represent will have failed.

Dinowitz Proposes Legislation Requiring Cursive Writing in Schools

  Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has drafted and will soon introduce legislation that would require both cursive writing and memorization of the multiplication table to be part of the basic education curriculum in New York.

With the implementation of Common Core in New York State, students are more and more often skipping once fundamental elements of their educational foundation. Currently, there is no requirement in the Common Core for students to be taught cursive writing or to memorize the multiplication table. The new Dinowitz legislation would require that these two fundamental building blocks of our children’s education are kept in schools, even if they are not required as part of any of the now numerous standardized tests students are subjected to.

“The notion that a pupil could graduate from 12 years of education without knowing how to sign his or her name in cursive is unacceptable,” Dinowitz said. “Additionally, the ability for pupils to show competency in basic multiplication through a proven method schools have used for years is of the utmost importance.”

The legislation would amend section 801 of the New York State education law, which requires certain elements of the state’s education curriculum to be maintained and implemented in order to create well rounded students that are well versed in subject matters deemed fundamental throughout the years. Cursive writing and knowledge of the multiplication table would thus be deemed “fundamental” and as a result would be required in schools.

“As schools move more and more to ‘teaching to the test’ and away from what once was considered essential parts of a child’s learning process, I am hopeful that this legislation will keep what I consider to be crucial components of one’s education part of the curriculum,” Dinowitz said. “We can adhere to the Common Core curriculum, while at the same time ensuring our children know how to read and write in cursive as well as perform basic multiplication. The two are in no way mutually exclusive.”

 

 

Upcoming Cultural and Recreational Events at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Centenal events at r in February 2014:

  On Tues. Feb. 4th, Latinos al Frente group will host guest speaker David Badillo, Associate Professor of Latin American and Puerto Rican Studies at Lehman College, who will present "The Changing Face of NYC Immigrants: Past, Present, and Future” at 1PM.

 David Badillo has written on U.S. Latino history. His teaching interests also include Mexican migration, Puerto Rican history, and Caribbean music. He has published Latinos and the New Immigrant Church (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006) as well as over fifteen journal articles and chapters in edited volumes on themes encompassing religion, urbanization, and civil rights.

  On Tues. Feb. 11th, Richard Kagan will conduct a book discussion on The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak at 1:00 PM. Richard is an avid reader since childhood. He moderated phone chats for home bound seniors as part of the Queens Library Mail-a-Book program and led book discussions with this group.

  Wed. Feb. 12th: Nutrition Talk on “Valentine's Day and Healthy Snacking” by Amelia Jalandoni, RD at 11:15 AM.

  Fri. Feb. 14th: Celebrate Valentine's Day with a Broadway and cabaret concert by soprano Carol Vinson at 1:00 PM. Ms. Vinson will perform songs by Irving Berlin, Richard Rogers, Burton Lane, Jule Styne and George Gershwin.

  Sun. Feb. 16th: Don’t miss the Dancing Crane Georgian Performing Art Company’s dazzling performance at 1:00 PM. They present dances and songs from all regions of Georgia including mountain dances with swords, elegant court dances and refined women’s dances, all in authentic costumes. A delicious meal of Chicken Chow Mein will be served at 12:15 PM. Please reserve in advance for the meal by calling the center office 718-549-4700 by Feb. 12th.

  Thurs. Feb. 20th: Sonya Mittelman, Esq. will speak about wills, trusts and health care proxies at 1:00 PM.

  Tues. Feb. 25th: Visit the Hispanic Society with Latinos al Frente group. Call the center for more information and reservations.

  Wed. Feb. 26th: Celebrate February birthdays with Gregory Press, keyboard player at 1:00 PM.

For more information about these events, please call the center office at 718-549-4700.

  A nutritious kosher lunch is served at 12:15 PM daily. Please call the center office for specific menu information. An alternate meal choice is available daily. Senior meal contribution is $2.25. Non-senior guest fee is $6.15. Please call in meal reservations 3 - 5 days in advance to the office: 718-549-4700.

  JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center offers Senior Fitness on Mon. AM, Exercise or Tai Chi on Tues. AM, Gentle Exercise on Wed. AM , Flowing Yoga on Wed. PM, Yoga on Thurs. AM and Tone & Stretch on Fri. AM. All exercise instructors are certified. Call the center at 718-549-4700 for dates and times of these classes.

  All meals at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center are catered by Mauzone (kosher) Meal Service. We offer a daily alternate choice of main dish. Refreshments are served at every cultural arts and/or celebratory event.

  We are located in the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. (on the first floor). Take the Bronx #1, 2 or 10 bus to the intersection of Sedgwick Ave. and Van Cortlandt Ave. West. For more information, please call the center office at 718-549-4700.

 JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center is funded by NYC Dept. for the Aging, UJA- Federation of NY and by special grants from City Council and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

C-Ball Febuary Edition