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

In New Council, Jumaane Williams, Ritchie Torres Will Fight for Affordable Housing for Low-Income NYers

  Several top groups on the left are weighing in jointly on Jumaane and Ritchie, making it clear they want the new City Council to prioritize the preservation and expansion of permanently affordable housing for low-income New Yorkers.

 

Progressive Power Coalition Says Jumaane and Ritchie Will Help Increase Availability of Permanently Affordable Housing for Low-Income City Residents

 

    The Progressive Power Coalition, which includes several of the leading C4 advocacy organizations and community groups working to preserve and expand affordable housing for low-income New York City residents, released the following statement today:

 

“We applaud Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito for appointing Council Member Jumaane Williams as the Chairman of the Housing Committee and Ritchie Torres as Chairman of the Public Housing Committee. For many years, Jumaane and Ritchie have been leading advocates for affordable housing in communities of color and immigrant communities. We know they will work together to ensure that the lowest-income city residents gain greater access to permanently affordable housing. As rents continue to skyrocket and gentrification stretches deeper into the outer boroughs, city government must do everything in its power to increase the availability of permanently affordable housing for low-wage workers and their families. We are confident that Jumaane and Ritchie will be strong, principled leaders on affordable housing in their new roles, and hold real-estate developers accountable for decisions that have harmed low-income New Yorkers in recent years.”

 

The Progressive Power Coalition includes Make The Road Action Fund, Citizens Action NY, VOCAL NY Action Fund, Community Voices Heard Power, and New York Communities for Change.

Statement from Council Member Andrew Cohen On Committee Assignments

 

Named Chair of Mental Health Committee, Appointed to Parks, Land Use and Veterans Affairs Committees

“I am delighted to be named the Chair of the Mental Health Committee and appointed to seats on the Parks, Land Use and Veterans Affairs Committees.  There is a lot that we can do to improve mental health and support the developmentally disabled population throughout New York City and I am looking forward to getting to work.

“Additionally, I am pleased to be a member of the Parks, Land Use and Veterans Affairs Committees.  The 11^th Council district has the most parkland of any district in the City.  I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to oversee Parks projects and ensure they are completed within their budget and in a timely manner.

“The jurisdiction that the Land Use committee has in regards to zoning and planning is extremely important.  We must ensure that developers comply with the zoning law and work with them to ensure responsible development is occurring throughout the City.

“We also must do more to support our veterans who sacrifice their lives to protect our freedoms.  I believe my work on the Mental Health committee can intertwine with my work on the Veterans Affairs committee as many veterans unfortunately return home with mental health issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen.

Statement from Council Member Andy King on the New Leadership of City Council

  “First, I would like to congratulate Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and my colleagues on their new assignments and leadership positions to deliver for the residents of New York City. As we start a new day in City Council my commitment to the body has not changed. I am still committed to continuing to do the work I have been doing with my colleagues; I am still committed to serving the residents of the 12th District; and most importantly, I am still committed to advocating for the children and youth of New York City. Congratulations to all of us on our new assignments as we move forward together.”