Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Senator Jeff Klein Allocate Over a Quarter Million Dollars in State Funding to High School of American Studies at Lehman College

Senator Jeff Klein, and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz awarded High School of American Studies at Lehman College over a quarter of a million dollars in state funding on October 25^th to improve this top school. High School of American Studies, a specialized high school, serves many gifted students from the community and from throughout the city. As the school approaches its 15^th anniversary, it is considered one of the best high schools in the country.

Senator Klein and Assemblyman Dinowitz allocated a combined $270,000 in state funding. The $145,000 from the State Senate will allow the school to build retractable walls in some of its larger rooms. The $125,000 from the State Assembly will be used for furniture, laptops, and various high tech pieces of equipment.

“I am so proud of High School of American Studies and all of its students, teachers, staff and principal. The school has achieved amazing success and I am pleased that I was able to secure funding to help enhance the education of these great students,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

“As the High School of American Studies nears its 15^th anniversary I am excited to work to ensure that the coming years are as successful as the past.  Over the years the high school has demonstrated great success in educating students from The Bronx and across the city.  These improvements will allow teachers and staff to continue that mission,” said Senator Jeff Klein.

 Pictured are PA Co-President Alice Lee, President of Lehman College José L. Cruz, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Principal Alessandro Weiss, Senator Jeff Klein and PA Co President Unjoo Trebach.

Chancellor Fariña and Commissioner O’Neill Announce Expansion of Team Up! Tuesday Initiative

   Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña and Police Commissioner James O’Neill attended a Team Up! Tuesday event at The Hunts Point Middle School in the Bronx today with officers from the 41st precinct and School Safety officers assigned to the school. They visited classrooms, participated in a restorative circle, and cheered on students and officers playing in a basketball game. 

Above - Chancellor Farina asks the opinion of students of the new Team Up Tuesday program.

Below - The Chancellor gets the opinion of one of the students. Both students and police officers liked the idea of getting to know one another better.

“Building strong community relationships from an early age is essential to ensuring that New Yorkers across the City are aware of the many supports available to them,” Mayor Bill de Blasio has said. “Team Up! Tuesday is an important opportunity for middle school students to connect with officers from their local precincts and strengthen relationships through engaging activities.” 

“Through Team Up Tuesday!, schools and precincts are coming together to make meaningful connections and build community,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the NYPD to support our students and officers as they collaborate and build relationships of mutual respect and support, and I look forward to bringing it to more schools next years.” 

“Team Up! Tuesday is one of many ways the Police Department and Department of Education work together and it is another opportunity to build meaningful relationships between students, teachers, and officers,” said Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill. “My cops are excited to continue building new relationships with students at middle schools in every borough.” 

These events introduce students to officers in their local precinct and provide an opportunity to hear directly from them about their personal experiences and will help build rapport. The expansion of Team Up! Tuesday also includes a new parent engagement component – schools are inviting families to participate in activities so the entire community is involved. As part of the ongoing effort to promote partnership between the school community and police, the DOE is encouraging schools to continue to build upon these new connections throughout the school year. 

Above - The Chancellor and police commissioner participated in the Restorative Circle where one at a time when given the Kouch Ball spoke about what they felt. Today the group used preprinted index cards with topics on them.

Below - It is the turn of one of the students to speak her mind on the subject on her card.

Above - It was Police Commissioner James O'Neill's turn to speak, as he holds up his card with his topic on it.

Below - Later, there was a press conference where the chancellor and police commissioner answered a few questions from reporters. I was able to say that as a former middle school Parent's Association President that there was a similar program years ago in middle schools which was discontinued. When I asked Commissioner O'Neill why the program was disbanded, he just spoke about the new program now in effect. 

Save the Senate By John Kasich Republican Governor of Ohio

The Democrats are just four seats away from winning a majority in the U.S. Senate, but we can stop them. At least half a dozen campaigns are too close to call and we need to do all that we can to win them and hold our majority!   If Hillary becomes president, it is vital that Republicans keep control of the United States Senate. Today, we're launching a Save the Senate campaign to raise the funds to ensure that our Republican team wins. I've been traveling the country doing everything I can to make sure down ballot Republicans win, but now I need your help.  Thank you for all that you’re doing to help. John Kasich Governor of Ohio EDITOR'S NOTE: The above comes from a man who pledged to honor and support the winner of the Presidential Republican Primary which Governor Kasich was a candidate. Not only did Governor Kasich lose badly, but John Kasich has not kept his word on supporting the Republican candidate for president. In fact John Kasich has gone out of his way to try to get Donald Trump removed as the Republican Party candidate for president. When his term of office expires the people of Ohio should not re-elect John Kasich.

New York State Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz - Looks to Unused Religious Properties To Fight School Overcrowding

In A letter to Department of Education, Bronx Assembly Member calls on city to consider acquiring vacant Catholic Diocese property to fight severe overcrowding and poor conditions at District 10 public schools

 

Dinowitz request comes as private developers target old churches and synagogues for condo development

   To fight the rampant overcrowding at public schools in the Bronx and around the city, New York State Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz is turning to religion. In a letter to New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña, the Bronx Assemblyman is urging the city to consider purchasing an unused Catholic Diocese property to reduce crowding and address poor conditions at area schools.

 

"Private developers all over the city are snatching up unused religious properties to convert into condos. Buildings like Church of the Visitation were intended for the greater public good and it only makes sense that we consider them for new public uses," said Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz. "That's why I urge the Department of Education to consider acquiring this and other unused Catholic Diocese properties in the Bronx to help alleviate the overcrowding and poor conditions our children face."

In a letter to Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña, Assembly Member Dinowitz called on the city to consider acquiring a property currently owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Dinowitz writes that the former Church of the Visitation off Van Cortlandt Park sits "at the crossroads" of the zones for four local schools: P.S. 95, P.S. 7, P.S. 24 and P.S. 81. Acquiring this property, Dinowitz argues, would help alleviate crowding within School District 10 and provide families with a new state-of-the-art-facility.

 

As Dinowitz points out, there is a precedent for the proposal. Recently, the city relocated P.S. 315 from the southern end of District 10 to the former Our Lady of Angels School. Meanwhile, nearby P.S. 307, itself located in a former synagogue just three blocks from Our Lady, continues to suffer from serious maintenance issues that Dinowitz contends puts students at a "severe disadvantage." To address this, the Assembly Member has called on the city to find a similar solution as with P.S. 315.    

Both issues come as the local School District 10 faces serious overcrowding issues. According to a 2015 Independent Budget Office report, District 10 ranked as the most crowded school district in the borough at a time when 80% of city schools exceed state-mandated limits on class size.

 

Assembly Member Dinowitz has been at the forefront of efforts to reduce school overcrowding and secure resources for students. In recent months, Dinowitz has been at the center of the fight to address overcrowding at P.S. 24 in Riverdale. Just this week, Dinowitz and fellow legislators called on the city to allocate state education resources to increasing diversity at the city's specialized high schools.

 

To garner support for his school acquisition proposal, Dinowitz intends to address the local Community Board and civic groups in the coming weeks. For the veteran lawmaker, his responsibility to area school children is clear.

 

"Providing our children with the tools to succeed is one of my greatest responsibilities as an elected official. If we can't ensure students a quality education, then the whole community suffers," concluded Assemblyman Dinowitz.

Council Member Cohen Launches "District 11 Community Activist of the Month" Award

Wakefield Parks Activist Audrey McAllister Receives Inaugural Honor

Council Member Andrew Cohen has announced that he is launching a new “District 11 Community Activist of the Month” award, and the inaugural honor will go to Audrey McAllister, a Wakefield resident.

Cohen is launching “District 11 Community Activist of the Month” for one specific purpose: to recognize individuals who have advocated successfully on community issues of concern to them. He hopes that this initiative will encourage more residents to become further engaged in the community and raise awareness that his office is a resource available to everyone.

“In devising this program, my plan is to single out residents who have pushed for, and achieved, civic

improvements, whether large or small,” said Council Member Cohen. “Audrey McAllister has modeled the type of community activism I’d like to nurture—she has persistently and thoughtfully targeted issues in Wakefield, and possible improvements that could benefit many individuals, and we were able to resolve a number of her concerns as a result of her cooperative efforts with my office. “

Cohen noted that McAllister first became involved with his district office through the Participatory Budgeting process, suggesting improvements to parks and where she voluntarily became further involved with PB serving as a budget delegate. She also attends monthly meetings of civic groups in her neighborhood, and interfaces with school groups to draw attention to issues, he added.

Citing an example, Cohen noted that McAllister proposed improvements to the Wakefield playground. He partnered with State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Assembly Member Jeff Dinowitz and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. to allocate $2.2 million in capital funds, $950,000 from Cohen, for improvements to the Wakefield playground.

Ms. McAllister has also created the Friends of Wakefield Playground advocacy group and she volunteers to maintain the Playground, one of the only public recreational spaces in the community. Additionally, she has advocated for traffic safety and other quality of life improvements in the neighborhood.

“McAllister’s efforts have resulted in a better Wakefield neighborhood,” said Cohen. “She deserves to be named ‘District 11 Community Activist of the Month’.”

Senator Adriano Espaillat - Free Flu Shots/Vacunas gratis contra la gripe

Dear Neighbor,

My office, in partnership with with New York-Presbyterian, will be providing the community with free flu shots at ARC XVI Fort Washington Senior Center on tomorrow, October 26th, from 10:00am-1:00pm. 

ARC XVI Fort Washington Senior Center is located in Washington Heights at 4111 Broadway (w.174th St.) New York, NY 10033. 

Sincerely, 

Adriano Espaillat 

Apreciado Vecino,

 

Mi oficina, en cooperación con el hospital New York-Presbyterian, estará proveyendo a la comunidad la vacuna contra la gripe (flu) gratis en el Centro de Personas Mayores ARC XVI Fort Washington el miercoles, 26 de octubre, de 10:00am-1:00pm. 

 

ARC XVI Fort Washington Senior Center está localizado en Washington Heights, en el 4111 Broadway (w.174th St.) New York, NY 10033. 

 

Sinceramente, 

Adriano Espaillat 

COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS STATEMENT ON FLOOD OF ILLEGAL GUNS INTO NEW YORK FROM OUT OF STATE

 Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, Deputy Leader and convener of the National Network to Combat Gun Violence, issued the following statement in regard to the new report from New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman revealing 90% of guns used in crimes in New York come from out of state - mainly Florida, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,  and South Carolina.

STATEMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS

 

"The need for stricter federal gun laws is evidenced by Attorney General Schneirderman's report.  It fully explains away the unfounded  equation that says since areas with high amounts of gun violence, often have tighter gun restrictions, then restrictions therefore have no meaning.

 

"Quite the contrary, as this report points out, what is needed is stricter federal guidelines, not weaker ones, and a focus on the gun trafficking that is made so much easier by inconsistent laws.

 

"Take an area like Chicago, Illinois that has some of the toughest gun laws in the country; but at the same time, deals with some of the nation's highest incidents of gun violence. A closer look shows that local restrictions are working, since most of the guns used come from outside of Chicago, with a high percentage coming from two counties near Chicago with lax gun selling processes.

 

"We need a combined approach to this pandemic; tougher gun laws that respect the Second Amendment and can deal with the supply of guns into our communities, as well as, resources to address the demand of violence that are too often a response to conditions many are forced to live in." 

NYC Council Member Andy King to Honor Veterans

   New York City Council Member Andy King will host a Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 4, 11 a.m., at 135 Einstein Loop, room 45, Co-op City, Bronx.