Monday, June 24, 2019

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Return To Polish Government Of Stolen Architectural Drawings Of Historic Synagogue


  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced that five stolen architectural drawings created in 1896 of a historic synagogue in the city of Lodz, Poland (the “Drawings”), will be returned to the Polish government.  The Drawings were taken out of a larger set housed at the Polish state archive in Lodz in around 1999, and the identity of the thief or thieves remains unknown.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “A part of Poland’s cultural heritage and historical record were stolen from their state archive 20 years ago.  Now, thanks to a New York couple who are doing the right thing, and to HSI for doing its typically excellent work in this field, these important drawings are being returned to the government of Poland.”
HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel M. Melendez said:  “On the heels of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, returning these drawings to Poland that represent a piece of human history the Nazis attempted to erase underscores the importance of preserving our world history through cultural patrimony for future generations.  We continue to pursue criminals who steal and traffic property that belongs to the peoples of the world, while returning those items found to their rightful owners, in this case, Poland.”
The ink-and-watercolor Drawings depict the interior, exterior facades, and floor plans of the Stara Synagogue, which used to stand on Wolborska Street in Lodz.  The Stara Synagogue was originally built in 1809 and moved to a new building around 1859 and 1861.  The Drawings were made by the prominent Lodz architect Adolf Zeligson in connection with significant renovations to the synagogue that began in around 1897.  The Stara Synagogue was later burned down during the Nazi occupation in around 1939, and no trace remains.     
Almost 10 years after the theft, the Drawings were put up for sale by an international auction house and were purchased by a Manhattan couple, Meredith Berkman and Daniel Mintz. After Ms. Berkman and Mr. Mintz were informed that the Drawings had been stolen from the Polish state archive, they readily and voluntarily agreed to turn over the Drawings to HSI so that they could be returned to Poland. 
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and HSI are now sending the Drawings back to the Polish government.
Mr. Berman thanked HSI’s Cultural Property, Art, and Antiquities Group for their handling of the investigation.  He also thanked Ms. Berkman and Mr. Mintz for their assistance and cooperation.  

Two Defendants Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With 2011 Murder-For-Hire


  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and James P. O’Neill, Police Commissioner of the City to New York (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of two Indictments charging DAVID ESPINAL, a/k/a “D-Block,” and MICHAEL CASTILLO, a/k/a “Squirrel,” with murder for hire and the March 10, 2011, murder of Hector Arias in the Bronx, New York. 

ESPINAL was taken into custody in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and will be presented in federal court in that District today.  CASTILLO was taking into custody this morning in the Northern District of Texas and will be presented in federal court in that District today.  This case is assigned to U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, eight years ago, David Espinal and Michael Castillo reduced the value of a man’s life to a dollar figure.  Their arrests today show that the passage of time does not insulate alleged murderers from investigation, apprehension, and prosecution. We hope that brings some measure of relief to the family of Hector Arias.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “Mr. Espinal was so deadly serious about selling marijuana, he allegedly hatched a plan to kill a rival.  He and the man he’s accused of hiring to carry out the murder have been on the run since 2011.  They most likely believed they were in the clear, thinking no one was looking for them after all these years.  The FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and our law enforcement partners don’t let time stand in the way of catching alleged murderers and bringing them to justice.”
Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “Today’s charges are evidence that NYPD investigators do not forget victims, and they do not ever forget the justice that is owed to those victims’ families.  All New Yorkers deserve to be safe, and to feel safe.  The NYPD and our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District will stop at nothing until every street, in every neighborhood of New York City, is as safe as our safest streets are today.”
As alleged in the Indictments unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
In or around March 2011, ESPINAL hired CASTILLO to murder Hector Arias.  On March 10, 2011, CASTILLO carried out the plan and murdered Arias by shooting him in the vicinity of 712 East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx, New York.  ESPINAL paid CASTILLO for murdering Arias.  The murder plot arose out of a conspiracy to distribute marijuana.                                           
A chart containing the names of the defendants charged in the Indictments, and the charges and maximum and minimum penalties they face, is attached.  The statutory maximum and minimum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI in this case.  Mr. Berman also thanked the NYPD and the United States Probation Office for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jamie Bagliebter, Maurene Comey, Scott Hartman, and Jacqueline Kelly are in charge of the prosecutions.
The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States v. David Espinal, 19 Cr. 428
United States v. Michael Castillo, S1 19 Cr. 428
CHARGE(S)
DEFENDANT(S)
MAXIMUM PENALTIES
Murder for Hire
DAVID ESPINAL (age 44)
MICHAEL CASTILLO (age 36)
Life in prison or death

Mandatory minimum:
Life in prison
Murder through Use of a Firearm
DAVID ESPINAL
MICHAEL CASTILLO
Life in prison or death

Mandatory minimum:
5 years in prison
Travel Act Murder
DAVID ESPINAL
MICHAEL CASTILLO
Life in prison
 [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictments, as well as the descriptions of the Indictments set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Attorney General James' Multistate Lawsuit To Block T-Mobile And Sprint Megamerger Gains Additional Support From Attorneys General Across The Nation


Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Nevada join suit to block anticompetitive merger

 New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that four additional states have joined the multistate lawsuit to block the merger of telecommunications giants T-Mobile and Sprint. In an amended complaint filed in New York federal court this morning, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Nevada were added to the suit, bringing the total number of states as plaintiffs to fourteen. 

“The merger of T-Mobile and Sprint would stifle competition, cut jobs, and harm vulnerable consumers from across the country, so unity among the states will be key in defending our citizens against this power-hungry corporate union,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “We welcome the support from these four additional states, which should serve as a reminder that, all throughout the nation, we have much to lose if we do not take action to protect our people from this megamerger.”
“Millions of Americans rely on mobile devices at work, at home, and to organize their lives. Competition between the mobile companies has resulted in better coverage and cheaper, more reliable service for all of us,” said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. “Our year-long investigation found that the proposed merger would give the new company the power to raise prices, significantly reduce competition for customers, lower quality, and cost thousands of retail workers their jobs. We are challenging this merger to protect a service that matters to everyone.”
“It’s my job to protect Minnesotans when anticompetitive behavior makes it harder for them to afford their lives,” said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. “The proposed megamerger between Sprint and T-Mobile would do just that. It would lead to higher prices, fewer jobs, and less service, especially in Greater Minnesota, where there are already too few options for staying connected. When Minnesotans and Americans everywhere are already struggling to afford their lives, more market consolidation is the last thing they need. I’m joining the fight today against the Sprint/T-Mobile merger to keep that from happening.”
“Protecting Nevada’s consumers is one of my top priorities,” said Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford. “Our office is exploring all options to ensure that this merger would not negatively affect Nevada families, businesses and workers.”
Today’s amended complaint includes the states of New York, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
Last week, a handful of Attorneys General from across the nation voiced their support for the lawsuit to stop the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint.
T-Mobile US Inc. and Sprint Corporation are the third and fourth largest mobile wireless networks in the U.S., and are the lower-cost carriers among the “Big Four” — Verizon Wireless and AT&T round out the market. Intense competition, spurred in particular by T-Mobile and Sprint, has meant declining prices, increased coverage, and better quality for all mobile phone subscribers.
T-Mobile currently has more than 79 million subscribers, and is a majority-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG. Sprint Corp. currently has more than 54 million subscribers, and is a majority-owned subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp.

Attorney General James And Port Authority Inspector General Nestor Announce Guilty Plea Of Former Port Authority Official For Misconduct And Receiving Unlawful Gratuities


  Attorney General Letitia James and Inspector General Michael Nestor announced the guilty plea of Marlene Mizzi, age 55, a former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey employee for 35 years. Mizzi accepted benefits from representatives of foreign countries for violating her duty as a public servant as a Port Authority Official at John F. Kennedy Airport. 

Mizzi pleaded guilty to charges of Official Misconduct and Receiving Unlawful Gratuities, two class “A” misdemeanors. The guilty plea is in satisfaction of two indictments filed in Queens County that stemmed from a joint investigation conducted by the Office of the Attorney General and the Port Authority Inspector General’s Office. 
“Mizzi broke the law and defiled the public’s trust when she granted favors to foreign governments in exchange for bribes, gifts and rewards,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “When government employees leverage their public positions for personal enrichment, they commit a grave injustice to the people they serve. My office will continue to bring to justice those that engage in corrupt behavior to preserve and protect the integrity of our government agencies.” 
"The defendant violated her position of public trust and used her position for personal gain," said Michael Nestor, Inspector General for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. “In this case, the defendant chose to enrich herself by accepting cash, travel, meals and other things of value from representatives of foreign governments. The Port Authority will not tolerate employee misconduct or corruption of any kind. Today’s guilty plea will serve notice to all Port Authority employees that the agency will not tolerate violations of the public trust or any other corrupt acts. The Port Authority Office of Inspector General and its Law Enforcement partners will aggressively identify, investigate and bring to justice those who corrupt the integrity of the agency.” 
As detailed in Court records, Mizzi most recently worked as an Assistant Airport Duty Supervisor at John F. Kennedy Airport (“JFK”) for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. During the annual United Nations General Assembly in Manhattan, with airport security at a heightened state, Port Authority rules clearly state that foreign state aircraft must depart JFK within two hours of arrival and there is no overnight parking of foreign state aircraft. From 2014 until she left the Port Authority in June 2018, Ms. Mizzi was the individual responsible for explaining this rule to foreign countries at a pre-Assembly conference. 
Mizzi admitted to unilaterally granting exceptions to the overnight parking rule without proper approval for the country of Qatar, allowing a Qatari diplomatic flight to stay overnight during the 2014 United Nations General Assembly. She acknowledged that in return for the improper exception she granted during the 2014 General Assembly, a representative from the Qatar Mission to the UN provided Mizzi with free limousine rides, meals, and gifts. According to court documents, Mizzi allegedly received cash, bottles of wine, and other gifts from another foreign state’s representative in return for the same overnight parking privilege.  
Mizzi also admitted to receiving other gifts from additional foreign countries for her work at JFK.  The Port Authority Code of Ethics has a strict zero tolerance policy on the acceptance of payments, gifts, free meals, or transportation from vendors or anyone the Port Authority does or is likely to do business with.  
The Attorney General’s Office thanks the Port Authority Inspector General’s Office for their assistance on this case. 

BRONX LANDLORD SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR STABBING TENANT TO DEATH


Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Manslaughter

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx landlord has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for fatally stabbing a tenant in 2017. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant repeatedly stabbed the victim over unpaid rent. Then the defendant, with blood on his clothes, walked into the 45th Precinct stationhouse and told Police Officers he had stabbed someone.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Taha Mahran, 54, of 1001 Logan Avenue, was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice James McCarty to 10 years in prison and 5 years post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree Manslaughter on May 31, 2019 after accepting a 10-year sentence offer from the judge, rather than the 13-year offer from the Bronx District Attorney’s Office. The second-degree Murder charge was dismissed after an expert obtained by the People concluded that the defendant’s Extreme Emotional Distress defense was valid.

 According to the investigation, on February 22, 2017, at 1001 Logan Avenue, the defendant caused the death of Zakir Khan, 44, a tenant that lived in an apartment located in Mahran’s multi-family home. On the day of the incident, Mahran and Khan were arguing about an ongoing dispute over months of unpaid rent the victim owed the defendant. Mahran stabbed Khan multiple times in the torso and neck with a knife, leaving him with 29 wounds. The incident happened in front of the victim’s 11-year-old child. The victim was pronounced dead at Jacobi Medical Center shortly after the stabbing.

 District Attorney Clark thanked former Homicide Bureau Assistant District Attorney Leah Takantzas and NYPD Detective Robert Klein of Bronx Homicide Task Force for their assistance in the investigation.

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR FATAL 2012 SHOOTING


Jury Found Defendant Guilty of Second-Degree Murder 

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a 23-year-old man on a Bronx street in 2012. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant shot and killed the victim, whom he did not know. I hope today’s sentence brings some sense of closure to the victim’s family who lost their loved one seven years ago.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Raheem Simon, 29, of 1001 Kelly Street was sentenced today to 25 years to life in prison by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Denis Boyle. A jury found the defendant guilty of second-degree Murder on April 10, 2019. 

 According to the investigation, in the early morning on February 28, 2012, in front of 928 Intervale Avenue, the defendant shot Jared Jones, 23, causing his death. The victim was standing on the sidewalk outside of where a party was taking place when the defendant fired three times, striking Jones twice in the back and once in the head. The victim was pronounced dead at Lincoln Hospital shortly after the incident. The defendant fled and was arrested on April 14, 2015.

 District Attorney Clark thanked Nancy Borko, Deputy Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and Chief Appellate Attorney Peter Coddington, and NYPD Detective Anthony Velez of Bronx Homicide Squad.

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IS NOT WHERE MORE AMERICAN TOURISTS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES


What You Should Know
By Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz
District 18, Bronx County

You should know that tourism in the Dominican Republic is the main source that keeps the economy of this Caribbean country afloat. 

Its magestral hotels, the wonderful climate that God has bestowed upon the country, the crystal clear, clean and well-maintained waters of its attractive beaches, along with their all-inclusive resorts which makes the Dominican Republic the envy of all others islands in the Caribbean. 

Many people, including the Mayor of the City of New York, Bill de Blasio, have on occasion raised their voices in hatred, envy, or disgust against tourism to the Dominican Republic, which has resulted in calls for “Boycotts” of tourism and trips to the Dominican Republic. 

Those voices have never achieved their goals and have time and again been left with their "Carbine on their shoulders", as it happened to Mayor Bill de Blasio and all those who have tried to destroy the tourism and economy of the Dominican Republic.

It is important that you know, that recently according to news reports, about 10 American tourists have died in the Dominican Republic while vacationing on the island. 

As a result the news media and the enemies of the Dominican Republic, have loaded their guns, full of negative criticism against tourism, in D.R., to such an extent that many future tourists have canceled their reservations and trips to the Dominican Republic. 

I believe that one unexplained death is too many.  In this case 10 deaths in one year is very difficult to explain and needless to say the Dominican officials have an obligation to conduct a thorough investigation as to what caused of theses deaths.

However, it should be noted that the Dominican Republic is not the only vacation spot where most Americans have lost their lives, while vacationing.  Mexico and Costa Rica have surpassed the Dominican Republic for the last three (3) years. 

Beloved reader you should know and study these statistics that someone sent me, please observe:  

Año  Mexico Costa Rica Dominican Rep.
2016   265          32             17
2017   249          35             18
2018   196          24             13
Total   710          91             48
 
As you can see, according to these statistics, in the last three (3) yearss a total of 710 Americans have lost their lives while vacationing in Mexico, 91 Americans died in Costa Rica and 48 tourists died in the Dominican Republic. 
 
If these statistics are true, we have to ask ourselves: Why were those American Deaths in Mexico, and Costa Rica not given the same coverage and importance that was given to the Dominican Republic?  Especially when Mexico and Costa Rica has so many more deaths of tourist?  Why has the press only focused on the Dominican Republic? 
 
We mourn the loss of these lives. We join the pain of their families and pray for all of them. At the same time I wish to express that all lives are worth the same concern, and attention. We can not report the deaths of tourist as one exclusively in the Dominican Republic as if it were isolated incidences in DR.  This will undoubtly harm DR’s tourism and the country's economy.  
 
I am Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz and this is what you should know.

Sunday, June 23, 2019

MAYOR DE BLASIO, FIRST LADY MCCRAY, CHANCELLOR CARRANZA ANNOUNCE MAJOR EXPANSION OF SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ACROSS ALL CITY SCHOOLS


Partnership with Sanford Harmony program to expand Social-Emotional Learning support to all NYC elementary schools; 85 clinical social workers to provide earlier intervention for students in need; all high schools and middle schools to receive Restorative Justice training; NYC Schools to keep suspensions below 20 days in most cases except those that involve serious or violent incidents

  Mayor Bill de Blasio, First Lady Chirlane McCray and Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza announced for the first time in New York City’s history that all students will have access to Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Restorative Justice (RJ) practices and, when needed, earlier intervention from clinical social workers. The investment is designed to help school communities be more proactive in changing school culture and climate. The Department of Education will provide all elementary schools with access to an SEL curriculum in partnership with National University System’s Sanford Harmony program. It will also build RJ practices into all middle and high schools, providing students with the tools they need to name their emotions, overcome conflicts and repair relationships.

“We’ve heard from students, teachers and parents across our city, and as a result, we’re revolutionizing our school system and giving our kids the social-emotional tools they need to ensure they develop into healthy adults,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I’m proud that New York City is leading the way in our schools, using research-backed methods that encourage the whole growth of every student.”

“To prepare New York City students for the future we must do more to make sure they are able to learn while they are in the classroom. We have a responsibility to make sure our young people have the life skills to navigate their world inside and outside of the classroom and continue developing into healthy adults,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “This new approach will help us educate the whole child and create a more positive school climate with greater supports for our educators.”

“It's common sense: when we keep students in the classroom and help them feel safe and supported in their schools, they will succeed,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “We’re doubling down on an approach that we know works — giving our teachers the resources to support our students’ social-emotional skills and well-being, and, as a result, driving down suspensions and improving outcomes. I thank Mayor de Blasio and First Lady McCray for their leadership, and I'm excited to get to work on this next step of our children's agenda.”  

“We are proud of the joint efforts between the Department of Education and the New York City Police Department to keep our young people safe in schools,” said Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill. “This agreement memorializes best practices that the Police Department and the Department of Education have developed over the last twenty years. With reductions in both index crime and enforcement action in New York City schools, the NYPD School Safety Division continues to focus on supporting students’ success in every school building.”

“The time has come to stop reacting, to stop having to scramble to help students after the fact,” said Michael Mulgrew, President of the United Federation of Teachers. “We need a proactive approach, and hopefully today is the start of getting the right resources to our educators so we can change the school climate for all students and staff.”

“Through Sanford Harmony, the National University System is pleased to express our commitment to advancing this collaborative effort in support of safer schools and student success,” said Dr. Michael R. Cunningham, Chancellor of the National University System. “Social-emotional learning helps even the youngest students to develop skills in communication and collaboration, reducing conflict and fostering positive school climates that encourage academic achievement. The announcement ensures that all elementary students in New York City have access to the powerful, evidence-based program, a vision of philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, to encourage positive relationships from the classroom to adulthood.”

In collaboration with the United Federation of Teachers, 50 middle schools will receive more intensive programming through the Positive Learning Collaborative model, a restorative approach to changing school climate. This work will be enhanced, thanks to the New York City Council, with a new Thrive initiative of 85 borough-based licensed clinical social workers specifically designed to support teachers and directly help students facing emotional distress from the point of crisis to a handoff to long-term care, if necessary.

SEL has been proven to improve students’ academic performance by prioritizing communication, empathy and problem solving. RJ builds on the SEL continuum by training students to practice their social-emotional learning skills in everyday life both inside and outside the classroom. The DOE will now have an SEL continuum in grades Pre-K-12.  

The DOE also announced its revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the NYPD and DOE, updates to the NYPD Patrol Guide that would significantly limit situations where in-school arrests for out-of-school incidents are allowed, and proposed changes to the DOE discipline code to keep suspensions below 20 days in most cases except those that involve serious or violent incidents.
  
The partnership with Sanford Harmony will provide elementary schools citywide access to an SEL curriculum for the first time. SEL curricula build on successful existing RJ models in Districts 5, 12, 16 and 18 which recognize that students don’t simply learn math and English during their education, but that their time at school shapes how they interact with other people and themselves. Through intra- and interpersonal relationship lessons and activities, SEL helps students develop better control of their feelings and social skills to complement the academic lessons learned in classrooms.

Aspects of SEL are already part of the City’s universal Pre-K programs, where students learn to identify and communicate their emotions and deal with stress. Now, elementary schools will receive training and materials relevant for students at every grade level. Lessons and activities include daily meet-ups for students to engage with each other and a “buddy-up” system for students to learn how to get along with others.

Middle and high schools across the city will reinforce SEL tenets by implementing Restorative Justice practices. RJ practices de-emphasize the reliance on solely traditional punitive discipline. Instead, students are also encouraged to activate SEL skills by focusing on emotion identification, conflict resolution and problem solving. The use of these skills becomes part of a school’s daily practice. Students are trained to become leaders in their own lives and adults are trained in the restorative framework, recognizing that outside factors often have significant impacts on a student’s day-to-day response, and those responses must be addressed through multiple approaches. RJ helps develop the proactive use of SEL to reduce issues of conflict within the school.

Additionally, 50 of the City’s middle schools will take part in Positive Learning Collaborative (PLC) programming, a restorative approach to school climate developed in collaboration with the United Federation of Teachers. All 50 schools will receive training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (TCIS) and additional support in an area of need. A smaller cadre of schools will become partner schools, and in addition to TCIS training will also receive on-site coaching, support to implement community circles and access to a behavior specialist who will guide them in the process. The goal is to help every adult in a PLC school—from teachers to custodians to principals—cultivate strong relationships with students so school communities can short-circuit many problems before they start and prevent others from escalating.

Several additional noteworthy reforms will be enacted as part of the new school climate package, including:

  • NYPD-DOE MOU: A new NYPD-DOE Memorandum of Understanding governs police engagement in schools following a three-year collaborative process. The MOU clarifies the roles of NYPD and DOE in addressing school misconduct and stresses their joint commitment to ensuring that schools are safe havens for our students.
  • NYPD Patrol Guide: The Patrol Guide, given to all NYPD patrol officers, significantly limits in-school arrests for low-level offenses and limits allowable circumstances for in-school arrests to felony crimes, sex offenses, crimes where there is an immediate risk of escape or where the perpetrator is in hot pursuit, and similar situations. The guide also reiterates that a principal or similar trusted adult staff member will serve as the in-school student advocate until a parent or guardian arrives.
  • Discipline Code: Proposed changes to the DOE Discipline Code will keep suspensions below 20 days in most cases except in those that involve serious or violent incidents, including firearm offenses with a state-mandated suspension length. The change will build on existing strategies developed by the DOE’s Division of School Climate and Wellness that have already reduced the average DOE suspension from 21 days to 13 days. DOE will host community engagement forums in all five boroughs beginning in July. DOE will also issue for the first time a comprehensive guide, with training, to ensure that each school has a proper classroom removal process.

  • 85 Licensed Clinical Social Workers: Thanks to the New York City Council, a new Thrive initiative comprised of a unit of 85 licensed clinical social workers will better support students facing crises across the City and reduce the practice of school staff calling emergency medical services. The social workers will be able to provide care in times of immediate emotional distress and help them receive long-term care if necessary.

The Sanford Harmony elementary school program is an evidence-based, nationally recognized curriculum that builds stronger classroom communities through relationship-building lessons and activities. The program will be managed in partnership with National University; to help implement the program here, a new NYC-based team will work closely with the NYC Department of Education and Long Island University while drawing on Sanford Harmony’s national network of trainers and coaches. To date, Sanford Harmony has trained over 8,000 NYC teachers. Sanford Harmony has committed $5.8 million to this expansion.

Districts that have used Sanford Harmony so far have found that students display more empathy and develop stronger relationships with their peers, improving school climate. Explicit SEL enhances student-teacher communication and improves academic achievement.

Additionally, DOE has piloted universal restorative justice programs in all schools in District 18 (which includes Flatbush and Canarsie) since School Year 2015-16. The District has seen double-digit decreases in suspensions during the program. In the first year of the pilot, District 18 saw a 25 percent decrease in suspensions. Last year, it saw another 11 percent decrease. The racial disparity in suspensions has also fallen in the district compared to the citywide ratio.Citywide, black students are 2.6 times as likely to be suspended compared to their peers, but in District 18, they are only 1.2 times as likely. Replicating the model used in District 18 presents an opportunity to respond to similar challenges with both locally and nationally evidence-based practices.

The entire school climate package will roll out over three years, with schools citywide divided into three cohorts and receiving services on a rolling basis.

“As our City has shown time and again, government is capable of advancing big ideas – swiftly and at scale – but the public sector can’t do it all, and we can’t do it alone, which makes partnerships like the one with Sanford Harmony so important and powerful,” said Darren Bloch, Senior Advisor to the Mayor and Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships. “Thanks to the support of T. Denny Sanford, National University and Long Island University, all elementary students will now have access to a profound set of tools to help them strive and thrive in school and beyond.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:

It is said 'all students will have access', yet 85
borough-based licensed clinical social workers
for Districts 5, 12, 16 and 18 which recognize that students don’t simply learn math and English during their education, are to be hired. 

What about the other 28 districts plus District 75? This is not all students as the Mayor and chancellor say, but only a few selected districts. 

Let's not forget one year ago I asked Chancellor Carranza "Why is it that Bronx public school students lag behind the students in other boroughs?'

Chancellor Carranza answered me that the Mayor and he know that Bronx public school children are not performing to where they should be, he is new, give him a chance, and he would get back to me.

It is one year later Chancellor Carranza - what have you and the presidential hopeful of a mayor done to bring Bronx public school children to the same level of the public school children in other boroughs of New York City?  

VERY LITTLE IF ANYTHING.