Statement from Comptroller Stringer, Council Members Cohen and Williams Re: Support for Governor’s Free Tuition Proposal

Statement from Comptroller Scott M. Stringer 

  “Making college tuition-free for working families will be a major step forward for our students, our city, and all of New York. College is a necessity in the 21st century, and if we are to compete as a city, we need to give everyone a fair shot to succeed. Access to higher education should be a right for all, not just a privilege for a few. This proposal is both the smart approach and the right thing to do. I applaud Governor Cuomo for taking on this critical issue.”

Statement from Council Member Andrew Cohen

   “I commend Governor Cuomo on today’s free tuition proposal.  City and State officials should be open to all options for putting CUNY and SUNY within the reach of middle-class families, including eliminating tuition altogether.  His proposed supplemental aid program would make college affordable for thousands of families throughout New York.  

“I support the goals of this proposal as I was a co-sponsor of legislation recently passed by the New York City Council, and signed into law by the Mayor, which will create a taskforce to examine ways to increase affordability at CUNY, including the feasibility of eliminating tuition.  Phased-in support to households over the next three years is a good start on reaching the goals we all share of making CUNY and SUNY affordable for current and future students in New York City and throughout the State.” 

STATEMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS

  Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, Deputy Leader, and a Brooklyn College graduate, released the following statement after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a proposal Tuesday morning to offer free tuition at state colleges to middle- and low-income New Yorkers. Under the plan, college students whose families earn less than $125,000 a year will receive free tuition for any city or state university in New York.

"I commend Governor Cuomo on his plan to offer free tuition to New York's families. A college education should not be a debt sentence for years to come. Given the economy and the slow growth of available jobs, it is irresponsible to saddle young adults with debt without a path to work their way out of it after graduation.

"There's a precedence for the Governor's move. The biggest expansion of the CUNY system was during the Great Depression because it was believed education would lift the country out of the recession. 

"It's time the Democratic party begin to adopt forward-thinking policies and truly be the enlightened party it purports itself to be."

MAYOR DE BLASIO, COUNCIL MEMBER ESPINAL AND SCA ANNOUNCE START OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR NEW 1,000 SEATS SCHOOL IN EAST NEW YORK

As part of the East New York Plan, the PS/IS school will be fully accessible, air-conditioned, and feature art and music classrooms, a cafeteria, gymnatorium, science labs

   Mayor Bill de Blasio, Council Member Rafael Espinal and Lorraine Grillo, President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA), today announced the start of the public review process to build a new 1,000 seat school in the East New York section of Brooklyn. 

“The East New York Plan was adopted this past spring and we are already seeing progress: safer streets, a gracious new community center and now the start of the public comment period for a new public school. This is the beginning of the work we will do to secure a bright and stable future, including new affordable homes, for East New York,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"A school is so much more than a building full of classrooms," said Council Member Rafael Espinal. "It is where our youth spend the majority of their waking hours learning valuable lessons of community, respect and friendship. A school is where students cultivate their interests and form lasting goals. 

"I hope the community will take advantage of this important opportunity to make their voices heard on this important component of East New York's future. The foundation of a community's success is built in its investment in ensuring we have safe places to raise healthy children and families; schools are cornerstones of that foundation," said Borough President Eric Adams.

“This new 1,000 seat school will build on the strong public investments made as part of the East New York Neighborhood Plan.  By taking this step to start our public review process, the School Construction Authority is making good on the commitments to the East New York Community by Mayor de Blasio and Council Member Espinal.  When completed, the new school will be a state-of-the-art facility that will be enjoyed for decades to come,” said Lorraine Grillo, President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York City School Construction Authority.

The new school building will be constructed on a portion of the City-owned Dinsmore-Chestnut site. The lot, which is currently vacant, will house the new PS/IS school and serve children from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade in Community School District 19. It will sit next to a future affordable housing project.

The state-of-the-art school building will be fully accessible and fully air-conditioned.  It will include both art and music rooms, a cafeteria, a gymnatorium and exercise room, science labs, a library and other amenities for students.  A large outdoor playground will also be built and is expected to be open to the public after school hours. The school will also include a District 75 program, or special education program. The SCA is kicking off its site selection process for the school January 3. The process includes a 45-day public comment period, when the local Community Board and Community Education Council are invited to hold hearings and members of the community are invited to give feedback about the site and the planned school.  

Information regarding the public hearings will be available through the Community Board 5 and CEC District 19, which are hosing the events. 

Comments on the proposed actions can also be submitted to the New York City School Construction Authority by email at sites@nycsca.org; or mail to New York City School Construction Authority, 30-30 Thomson Avenue, Long Island City, New York 11101. Attention: Ross J. Holden. 

The deadline for public comments is February 17.

Following successful completion of the public comment period, the SCA will submit this site for final approval to the New York City Council and Mayor de Blasio.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

  It would seem that if a community or borough wants a new school, a large scale Affordable Housing Project must be built as is the case above. Note the word Gymnatorium (underlined and in bold) which is a combined Gym and Auditorium. This is not new to the public school system in New York, as all purpose rooms have included cafeteria, auditorium, gym, and learning facilities in just one room. That way they can be built to a smaller scale to allow only a percentage of students to use the room, which is used for the entire school day, not to be left unused at any time. 

  Notice there are no cost estimates. There is a standard building plan, and this school should cost around $76 Million dollars to build before any cost overruns. 

STATEMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ANDY KING REGARDING DISPARAGING REMARKS BY ALTICE USA’S CEO AT BRONX MEETING

   “It has come to my attention today that the CEO of Altice USA, the company that acquired Cablevision Systems Corporation last year, held an anti-union meeting in the Bronx today and specifically called out by race potential workers in an insulting manner, stating:  ‘We're not bringing in some Mexican guy, some French guy...’

“What does that mean? I was appalled by the references and demand that Dexter Goei apology to those who were in that meeting, as well as, the company’s residential and corporate customers for his outlandish statement. I sincerely hope that this is not the work-culture temperament Mr. Goei plans to impose in the new company.  We are a community that is union-friendly, family-friendly and employee-friendly. This is the direction Mr. Goei needs to go in when dealing with the company’s employees, its contractors, its customers and other business matters here in the Bronx,” said Council Member Andy King, who sits on the Council’s Civil Rights Committee.

Engel Statement in Opposition to Republican Rules Package for 115th Congress

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a leading member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement in opposition to the Republican rules package for the 115th Congress: 

“Today House Republicans took aim at unraveling the Constitution on the same day they swore an oath to protect it. After flirting this morning with the idea of destroying the Office of Congressional Ethics – until finally backing away from that ill-conceived plan – the House GOP then attacked the First Amendment and our nation’s very right to freedom of speech. Imposing unconstitutional fines upon Members who try to bring light to the efforts and conduct of the proceedings on the House floor is an outrage. The American people deserve better.”

Friends of VCP's January 2017 Enewsletter

  Happy New Year!  We are looking forward to 2017 as we have lots of exciting events and projects planned for the year.

Throughout 2017, the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary of Bringing Youth, Community & Nature Together in Van Cortlandt Park.  To celebrate, we will be hosting special events throughout the year which will begin to announce soon.  

In addition to our anniversary, we have several exciting projects planned including a restoration project for the Grand Central Stones and the area around them (pictured below), trail restoration projects throughout the Park including the eastern end of the John Muir Trail, continuation of our water quality monitoring of Tibbetts Brook and Van Cortlandt Lake on a biweekly basis and advocating for Daylighting Tibbetts Brook.  This is all while continuing our environmental education programs, volunteer days, youth internships and community hikes that we have been offering for years now.

2017 is going to be a great year for the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park and we hope you will join us as celebrate our 25th Anniversary.  One way to help support our 2017 efforts is by becoming a Bronx Pass Member.  Great parks require strong communities and FVCP has always been built upon the support of its hundreds of members and thousands of volunteers.  In recognition of this, FVCP has created a new, one-year Bronx Pass Membership that is designed to both (1) help educate our most dedicated members so they can become strong advocates for the Park and (2) recognize and thank you for your commitment. 

Hope to see you in the Park!

Christina and all of your Friends at the Friends of VCP

News From Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman

Defending the Clean Power Plan

This week I led a coalition of 19 states and localities in calling on President-elect Trump to continue the federal government’s defense of the Clean Power Plan. The Clean Power Plan is vital to efforts to limit carbon pollution and is a blueprint for the critical action needed to fight climate change’s devastating environmental, economic, and public health impacts.

States like New York are on the front lines of climate change – and have demonstrated how to cut pollution and emissions while protecting affordable and reliable electricity, creating jobs, and growing our economy. The science is clear, and far too much is at stake to turn back the clock on our climate efforts.

Protecting Our Natural Resources

I join the thousands of New Yorkers who have raised serious concerns about the Coast Guard's Hudson River anchorage proposal. Last week my office sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security asking officials to reject the proposal, which would designate 43 new anchorage berths at 10 locations along the Hudson River between Albany and New York City.

The Hudson River is one of our state’s greatest natural resources, and we must remain vigilant in protecting it. The proposal to add 43 new anchorage sites along the river doesn’t pass the test.

Have a question, comment, or complaint? Click here. You can also learn more about the various initiatives of the Attorney General's office by visiting our website at ag.ny.gov. You can also call our General Hotline: 800-771-7755. 

Bronx Borough Presiden - Community Interfaith Service

Statement from The Legal Aid Society on Governor Cuomo Veto of Gravity Knife Reform Legislation

   The Legal Aid Society released the below statement today following Governor Andrew Cuomo’s veto of A9042A/S6483A - legislation that would reform New York State’s antiquated knife statute and reclassify common-folding work knives as tools not weapons: 



“With this veto, Governor Cuomo ignores the calls from defender organizations, civil rights associations, trade unions and many others to fully reform one of New York State’s most discriminatory laws. While we are disappointed with the outcome, The Legal Aid Society will continue to explore all options – including litigation – that will finally address New York’s ambiguous knife statute that has long marginalized communities of colors and working class families.”