Onion or Corn for State Vegetable

   The New York Farm Bureau, a non profit organization out of Albany is looking to name the vegetable of New York State on their facebook page here. The competition is down to either onion and corn, and since the state budget is done this has now come to the attention of some of our state legislatures. The Independent Democrat Conference here, at least three of the four members support "onion"as their choice for state veggie. It appears that one member is still on the fence not wanting to take sides on the issue. 

   We made some calls to local elected Bronx officials, but received "we will have to get back to you on the matter" from some staff members. We will update this posting as the responses come in from the elected officials as to their choice, but as it stands now the only Bronx state legislature who has weighed in on this is Senator Jeff Klein who favors onion as the state vegetable.

  Word came in from Senator Gustavo Rivera, that Senator Rivera is going with "TEAM ONION",

VOLUNTEERS TO GREEN BRONX PARKS DURING ‘HANDS ON NEW YORK DAY’ 

New Yorkers to spruce up 11 neighborhood sites in the Bronx after an especially hard winter  

More than 300 volunteers will clear leaves and debris, paint benches and picnic tables, and spread woodchips as part of New York Cares’ Hands on New York Day on Saturday, April 16 from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. at Van Cortlandt Park (Enter at Broadway Ave and Van Cortlandt Park S) in the Bronx.  New Yorkers will also rejuvenate planting areas impacted by the hard winter.

 

17^th Annual Hands On New York Day, sponsored by HSBC Bank USA, NA., is a citywide day of spring cleaning where 5,000 volunteers will spruce up 70 parks, gardens, playgrounds, and other public spaces across the five boroughs. 

 

 

 

Senator Rivera presents Celia Cruz Winning Choir with Senate Resolution Honoring their Hard Work and Excellence

   Senator Gustavo Rivera (D,WF-Bronx) presented the Celia Cruz High School Choir with a Senate Resolution honoring them for being named the Best Choir in New York City as part of the Sing! for Wildlife competition. This was the first Senate Resolution Senator Rivera introduced and passed through the State Senate.

Senator Rivera spoke to the students congratulated the students on being an example of the great accomplishments, both artistic and educational, that can come from a commitment to arts education.

 That's Senator Gustavo Rivera (33rd S.D.) in the middle of the Celia Cruz Choir students who are holding the Senate resolution that honored the choir for their hard work and excellence. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Press Release from Assemblyman Crespo about Cathie Black

   This came in from Assemblyman Marcos Crespo 85th A.D. before the naming Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott as new chancellor.

 Today’s announcement of Cathie Black’s departure as chancellor of the New York City public school system is welcomed news for my community and all the school children, parents and educators. While, I commend Cathie Black for her interest in serving the public in this capacity and wish her well in future endeavors I am pleased that Mayor Bloomberg has finally acknowledged what other community leaders and I have stated from the first day she was nominated. We clearly stated that Ms. Black was unqualified and unprepared to serve in the role as chancellor and address the needs of over 1.1million school children.

Now, as we move forward I call on Mayor Bloomberg to seek input from education advocates and elected officials as he continues the search for a new chancellor. Furthermore, I hope this experience will remind Commissioner Steiner and the New York State Department of Education that the voices of elected officials and community advocates must not be ignored next time a waiver is requested of a candidate for the position as chancellor.

 Added from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

  Statement from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz on the termination of Cathie Black and the appointment of Dennis Walcott as New York City Schools Chancellor

  

  I am pleased that Mayor Bloomberg realized the terrible error he made in appointing Cathie Black as Schools Chancellor.  It seems her 17% poll rating did what her lack of qualifications couldn’t, expel her from this job.

  I am hopeful that Dennis Walcott will provide the leadership our schools need.  He has the qualifications and background to be a successful Chancellor.  He and his children are all products of New York City public schools, and he has extensive experience as a Deputy Mayor as well as a teacher and a member of the Board of Education.   I look forward to working with him to improve our schools.

Now it's "Your Fired Cathie Black".

  Celeste Katz has the full story here of the mutual agreement between the mayor and now former Chancellor Cathie Black. Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott will become the new Chancellor, but he to will also have to get a waiver from the State Education Department to become chancellor.

  Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who had criticized the mayor's choice of Black, praised the decision "to change course in such a big way when things are not working."

  "It's been clear for months now that, like the Titanic, this ship has been sinking with more than one million school children on board," he said in a statement.

  Our own Bronx Borough President had this to say about the change in chancellor ay the DOE. "During her time as chancellor, Cathie Black and I had a good working relationship, and I wish her well. I have known Dennis Walcott for years, and I welcome him as chancellor of the Department of Education. Mr. Walcott has always been attentive and accessible, and he understands the issues facing our public schools. I look forward to working with him to address these issues, which affect the 1.1 million children in our city who depend on our schools," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

  On another note it is rumored that State Education Commissioner David Steiner's days could be numbered in that post, as is believed that he is sizing up his options before before making any decision. 

 UPDATE:
  State Education Commissioner David Steiner has announced that he will retire from his current job as commissioner at the end of the year. 
  

Yet Another Deputy Chancellor is Leaving the DOE

  We told you at the beginning of this week about Deputy Chancellor Santiago Tavares leaving the DOE after a 22 year career, and now another Deputy Chancellor John White will be the fourth to depart since new Chancellor Cathie Black took over a few short months ago. Mr. White was the head of the Office of Portfolio and Development, which monitored the closing of failing schools, changes to school structure, and opening of new schools. This is leaving some to wonder what is happening at the DOE, and who will be next to leave. 

  Ms. Cathie Black the former head of Hearst Magazines was granted a waiver to become chancellor due to the strong support of the Deputy Chancellors at the DOE, and now that half of them have left since her appointment by Mayor Bloomberg, this leaves some to wonder if  her waiver should now be reviewed by the State Education Department?  

  In a statement Chancellor Black viewed this as a plus for the DOE that Mr. White was chosen for the innovative work that he did while Deputy Chancellor. 

LIU RELEASES REPORT ON ESCALATION OF PENSION COSTS

   Retirement Security NYC, New York City Comptroller John C. Liu’s initiative to provide research on public employee pension issues, today released its second report entitled “The $8 Billion Question: An Analysis of NYC Pension Costs Over the Past Decade.”
   Comptroller Liu requested the study to examine the steep rise in annual employer contributions to the Pension Funds over the past decade. Pension cost rose from $1.2 billion in Fiscal Year 2001 to $7.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2010. The study was validated by independent actuaries.

   “The data challenges widespread notions that overly generous benefits played the leading role in the escalation of City contributions,” Deputy Comptroller for Budget and Accountancy Simcha Felder said. “In
fact, the study found that the major factor in the rise in employer contributions to the City’s Pension Funds has been poor market performance. The lower than expected investment returns accounted for 48% of the cost increase.”
   The study found that escalation in the employer contributions to the City’s Pension Funds was driven by the following major factors:

  - The largest factor was poor market performance which accounted for 48% of the increased cost. It added $3.1 billion to costs in FY 2010, and accounted for $15.2 billion over the decade. The lower investment returns this decade stand in contrast to the consistent higher annual returns experienced in the 1980s and 1990s.

  - The second-largest factor was benefit increases, which accounted for 44% of the additional cost. It added $2.4 billion in FY 2010, and accounted for an estimated $13.7 billion over the course of the decade. It must be noted that almost all of the benefit improvements were enacted in 2000. The benefit improvements enacted after 2000 have been relatively nominal, accounting for about 4% of the increase in pension cost.
  - The next largest factor was actuarial losses and revisions in actuarial assumptions and methods, due to a variety of factors including increased longevity, salaries, overtime, disability, early retirement, and buy-backs of service. It added $790 million in FY 2010, and totaled nearly $1.7 billion, or 5%, over the 10-year period.
  - The last major factor was higher than expected investment and administrative fees, which added $313 million to expenses in FY 2010, and totaled $982 million, or 3%, during the decade.

   The report also provides information about the Pension Fund reset in 2000, which effectively absorbed $17 billion of excess investment returns experienced in the prior decade.  That reset immediately lowered pension costs by $1.1 billion annually. However, the reset eliminated the cushion that would have protected against adverse market conditions, which unfortunately materialized in the following years.
   “New York City has successfully managed its pension funds for more than a century. While pension reform is needed, radical changes to retirement benefits should not be made based solely on one of the worst decades in market performance,” Comptroller Liu said. “Residents of the City should be proud that in spite of tough economic times, the New York City Pension Funds continue to meet their obligations.”
   The current asset value of the New York City Pension Funds is $114.9 billion, which indicates a 17% percent rate of return fiscal year to date (July 1, 2010 – January 31, 2011).

   Download the report here: http://comptroller.nyc.gov/rsnyc/reports.asp?f=1
   About the Study

The research was conducted by the NYC Comptroller’s Office, using data from the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs), the actuarial valuations of each of the retirement systems, and fiscal
notes issued in relation to benefit enhancement legislation. The study was independently verified by actuaries from the Hay Group.

   About the New York City Pension Funds

The New York City Pension Funds include: the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, the Teachers’ Retirement System, the New York City Police Pension Fund, the New York City Fire Department Pension Fund, and the Board of Education Retirement System.  As of January 31, 2011 the asset value of the five funds is $114.9 billion.
   About Retirement Security NYC
Retirement Security NYC is a major initiative launched by Comptroller John C. Liu to protect the retirement security of public employees while ensuring the City’s financial health.