Speaker Quinn on "Stop and Frisk"

I stumbled upon a “Million Man March” in Harlem about a decade ago. Until then I had never seen American citizens being herded like cattle through barricades while police helicopters hovered overhead. It was not until I went to view an Occupy Wall Street protests earlier this year that I witnessed similar, but not as extreme, measures taken to control Americans demonstrating. Should we expect the Stop-and-Frisk policies to migrate from inner city low income communities to main steam America as well? I am very pro law and order, but what gives the police the right to stop and frisk 600,000 New Yorkers every year? I must admit there are areas of the Bronx I avoid driving through during certain evening hours due to the high risk of being pulled over or questioned at a police check point.

Gregory

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February 10, 2012

Dear New Yorker,

This past week I sent a letter to Police Commissioner Kelly expressing concern about the New York Police Department's (NYPD) stop-and-frisk practices and suggesting ways in which the policy can be significantly improved.

While there's no disputing that stop-and-frisk is an effective crime fighting tool, I'm concerned about the impact that the department's stop-and-frisk practices are having, particularly on communities of color.

To help address these concerns and improve police-community relations, I will be supporting legislation requiring the NYPD to report to the City Council on the departmental audits of stop-and-frisk activities.

I have also called for the following changes to the department's stop-and-frisk practices:

• The NYPD should ensure that all officers, regardless of rank, receive ongoing training in "cultural sensitivity" and are familiar with the department's written racial profiling policy.

• The NYPD should comprehensively review data to create an "early warning system" to flag officers and precincts where out-of-the-ordinary stop-and-frisk activity is taking place.

• Absent "extraordinary circumstances," the NYPD should consider an improper stop-and-frisk a serious matter, and violations shouldn't be punished with a "slap on the wrist."

You can read more about these recommendations in the Wall Street Journal article pasted below. Otherwise, I hope to be in touch again soon with additional news and updates on this issue.

Thanks and have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Christine C. Quinn

Speaker

NYC Council

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204136404577209603780441584.html

Statement by Speaker Christine C. Quinn on Overturn of Proposition 8

Here is Speaker Quinn's on the Overturn of Proposition 8.

Gregory

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Statement by Speaker Christine C. Quinn

Re: Overturn of Proposition 8

"I'm thrilled with today's 9th Circuit ruling affirming what we know in our hearts to be true: that keeping loving couples from reaping the benefits of marriage is discriminatory and wrong. The court's decision overruling Proposition 8 is another step toward bringing marriage equality not just to California, but to each and every state in our great nation. Today's victory is a reminder of how far we've come as a country, and of the work we still must do to achieve equality for all people. I hope that this ruling is allowed to stand and that all couples who want to legally marry in California will be allowed to do so.

Congratulations to all those who worked so hard to make this possible, including the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and its legal team, especially Ted Olson and David Boies. Only with our continued dedication and mobilization can we end marriage injustice once and for all."

Speaker Quinn Opines on the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Reversal Related to its Decision to Stop Funding Breast Screenings at Planned Parenthood

The Susan G. Komen foundation, famous for its pink ribbons and fund raising activities supporting breast cancer, has been the center of a controversy related to their recent decision to stop funding breast screenings at Planned Parenthood Centers. After much protest and a massive spike in direct donations to Planned Parenthood, including a large personal donation from Mayor Bloomberg, the Susan G. Komen Foundation has reversed its decision. Here is a letter circulated by Speaker Quinn and her request to hear your opinions pertaining to the related topic of “pregnancy service centers”. If interested in learning more about or weighing in on the debate, please read on.

You do have a voice. All you need to do is click on the link below and type what you believe.

Gregory

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Dear New Yorker,

WE DID IT! Thank you for showing Planned Parenthood your support!

I'm relieved that the leadership of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has reconsidered their ill-conceived decision to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings. This is the right decision for an organization committed to women's health. I'm proud to stand with so many leaders and private citizens, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who generously supported Planned Parenthood and reaffirmed his commitment to comprehensive women's healthcare.

However, I think that this incident only serves to remind us that opponents of reproductive rights will stop at nothing to ensure that organizations like Planned Parenthood are defunded at any cost. I am proud to stand with Planned Parenthood and support them in all the services they provide including cancer screenings, gynecological care, and abortions—services that save women's lives and protect their health.

For updates on the City Council's efforts to protect our reproductive rights including the fight for regulation of pregnancy service centers, please visit,

http://council.nyc.gov/html/action_center/cpc_2011.shtml

Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
NYC Council

NYC Council and InsideSchools Partner Up to Organize Education Forum

There is a free informational event to educate parents on NYC public school options. The forum and website could be helpful if you have children on the NYC Public School system. If you are interested in attending please note the RSVP deadline.

Gregory

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January 27, 2012

Dear New Yorker,

Here at the NYC Council, we realize how important it is to give our city's kids a strong start in life. A vital part of gaining that advantage is finding a great elementary school for your child, beginning with kindergarten.

That's why we would like to invite you to an important event that we're co-sponsoring with Insideschools.org that will provide parents with information about the elementary school enrollment process. Please see further details below:

Public Elementary School: How to Apply

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Theresa Lang Community & Student Center

55 West 13th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues), 2nd Floor, Manhattan

Admission is FREE but you must RSVP to centernyc@newschool.edu.

If you or someone you know is planning to enroll a child in elementary school, this will be a great opportunity to learn more about the enrollment process from the experts at Insideschools.org and to have your questions answered by a panel of experts. We will also have a brief "buzz" session afterwards, where parents will be able to further discuss any additional concerns that they have with Insideschools.org's freelancers and staff members.

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about how to give your child the education he or she deserves. We hope you can make it!

Sincerely,

Christine C. Quinn

Speaker

NYC Council

Robert Jackson

Chair, Education Committee

NYC Council

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Here is information taken from the "Inside Schools" website defining who makes up the organization and what their purpose is.

Who we are

We are journalists, public school parents, and public school advocates dedicated to providing the best independent information about New York City's public schools. We want to tell you what's really going on, because test scores don't tell the whole story. We visit hundreds of schools each year and interview thousands of people--principals, teachers, students and parents. We observe what’s happening in the classrooms, cafeterias, hallways and even the bathrooms.

Our paid staff is small. We welcome volunteers. Write us at info@insideschools.org if you would like to help.

Founded by the nonprofit organization Advocates for Children in 2002, Insideschools moved to theCenter for New York City Affairs at The New School in November 2010. The move was made possible by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. We receive no money from the Department of Education.

Statement by Council Member Annabel Palma In Response to Living Wage Deal

Here is news related to the city's debate over the living wage bill and a similar bill in the State Assembly aimed at increasing the minimum wage statewide. The Press release was sent by Annabel Palma who is the City Council Welfare Chair.

Gregory

********

“In times like these - when New Yorkers of all races, colors, and creeds too often feel like their shot at the American dream is slipping further out of reach - it is crucial for elected officials to come together in the name of real change. This hard-wrought agreement will help a number of New Yorkers secure jobs that pay a living wage and I am grateful for the support of my colleagues and all of those who have been vocal advocates of this bill.

Special thanks are in order for Speaker Quinn - and her team who helped negotiated this deal - for recognizing that the issue of a Living Wage transcends politics. Although this bill will not solve all the economic and social challenges that so many New Yorkers face every day – poverty, hunger, and homelessness – it is a clear step in the right direction and I am hopeful that it will encourage leaders at all levels of government to appropriately address this issue.

Additionally, it is encouraging that Speaker Silver is carrying the fight against income inequality in Albany. I commend him for highlighting the need for a State-wide minimum wage increase tied to the cost of living. I am further encouraged that this idea is picking up steam on both sides of the aisle, with Mayor Bloomberg’s strong endorsement in yesterday’s State of the City address.

I also urge our Federal representatives to engage in the conversation on economic inequality that is occurring across the country. People throughout our nation are struggling to survive by working low wage jobs, yet it has been over a decade since Washington increased the federal minimum wage. It’s time for our leaders in Washington to get serious about the challenges ahead and the reforms that will be necessary to fix an economy that too often fails our working people.”

FBI Redefines Definition of Rape

Here is news sent by our City Council related to the FBI redefining rape. I am far from an expert on this topic and I will not go into different scenarios, but if I had teenage youth I would definitely sit them down and discuss the more loose definition of rape that could easily get them in jail or identified as a sexual predator for life; possibly based on an accusation without physical proof. On the other hand, I am sure it will help serve many to get justice when victimized.

Gregory

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January 10, 2012

Dear New Yorker,

This past Friday the FBI took an important step away from an archaic definition of rape that has long skewed the picture of sexual assault in our country.

Since 1927 the FBI has defined rape as the "carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will." This definition is narrower than the one used by many police departments around the country, including the New York Police Department. Legal and women's rights advocates have long contended that it leads to the under-counting of thousands of sexual assaults each year, including categorically excluding rapes committed against men. Such underreporting, they argue, misleads the public about the prevalence of rape in our communities. It also affects the amount of funding that rape crisis centers receive for the vital services they provide to victims and their families.

The new definition approved by the FBI's policy group will define rape as, "Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim."

We'd like to thank all of the advocates and victim advocacy groups who labored long and hard for this important policy change.

Now more than ever it's important for us to send a strong message to the predators who are committing these heinous acts that their crimes will not be tolerated.

Not only will this new, more inclusive definition give us a better understanding of the scope of these crimes nationwide, but it also ensure greater justice and healing for those whose lives have been marred by sexual violence here at home.

If you have any questions about the FBI's new definition of rape, please feel free to contact Danielle Castaldi-Micca in the City Council's Community Outreach Unit. She can be reached by telephone at (212) 788-726 or by email at dcastaldi-micca@councilnyc.gov. You can also email us directly at speakerquinn@council.nyc.gov.

Thanks so much, and we hope to be in touch again soon with additional news and updates.

Sincerely,

Christine C. Quinn

Speaker

NYC Council

Julissa Ferreras

Chair, Women's Issues Committee

NYC Council

Boogiedowner Education Update: Registering your Child for Kindergarten

Here is information sent by Speaker Quinn and Education Chair Robert Jackson related to the procedure to register your child in a NYC kindergarten program. The information was sent in Spanish as well as English. Please note there is a March 2, deadline.

Gregory

**********

January 9, 2012

Dear New Yorker,

Was your child born in 2007? If so, give your child the healthy start she deserves by enrolling her in kindergarten for the 2011-2012 school year. Children who attend kindergarten are more successful throughout their school careers. Not only are they more likely to graduate school and go on to college, but they are also more likely to be academically successful throughout their entire educational career.

PARENTS MUST SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR KINDERGARTEN ADMISSION EVEN IF THEY ARE APPLYING TO THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL.

To apply for kindergarten:

• Find out where your zoned school is by calling 311.
• Find out about your child's eligibility for other kindergarten programs, such as gifted and talented programs or schools that you are not zoned for. See the admissions priorities section on the NYC Department of Education's (DOE) website.
• To enroll in the programs that you are interested in, visit your zoned school (meaning the school that you are assigned to based on the neighborhood where you live) and any other schools you are interested in sending your child to between January 9, 2012, and March 2, 2012.
• Make sure to bring your child's birth certificate or passport, proof of immunization, AND two documents which provide proof of residence. A list of acceptable documents for this purpose and information on how to access these documents can be found on the DOE Registration Information page. Please note that your child is eligible to register for kindergarten even if he or she is not a citizen.

Important dates in the kindergarten admissions process for the 2012–2013 school year can be found on the DOE's Calendar and Events page:

• January 9 – March 2, 2012: Kindergarten admissions period.
• March 19 – March 23, 2012: Assignment notification period.
• March 26 – April 20, 2012: Pre-registration period.

All applications received by the March 2, 2012, deadline will be treated the same – it is NOT first-come, first-served.

District 1 Admissions

If a family resides in District 1, the admissions process is centralized. The District 1 Elementary School Directory, which includes information about the District 1 process, school options, and application instructions, is available online now.

Families can get more information about kindergarten admissions by visiting the DOE website, emailing the Elementary School Enrollment Team at ES_Enrollment@schools.nyc.gov, or calling (718) 935-2009.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Christine C. Quinn

Speaker

NYC Council

Robert Jackson

Chair, Education Committee

NYC Council

Estimado neoyorquino,

?Su hijo nació en el año 2007? Si es así, su hijo merece un comienzo saludable en su inscripción al Kindergarten para el año escolar 2012-2013. Los niños que asisten Kindergarten tienen más éxito a lo largo de su carrera escolar: son menos propensos a abandonar la escuela secundaria, más probabilidades de ir a la universidad, y más probabilidades de tener éxito académico.

DEBE PRESENTAR UNA SOLICITUD DE ADMISION PARA KINDERGARTEN INCLUSO SI ESTA SOLICITANDO A UNA ESCUELA EN SU COMUNIDAD.

Para aplicar para el Kindergarten:

• Averiguar cuál es su zona escolar llamando al 311.
• Averiguar sobre la elegibilidad para otros programas de Kindergarten, tales como programas para estudiantes Dotados y Talentosos o escuelas que no están zonificadas para usted, consulte la sección de prioridades para admisión en la página electrónica del DOE.
• Para inscribirse en los programas que usted está interesado, visite su zona escolar (es decir, la escuela que se le asigna en la comunidad donde usted vive) y otras escuelas que usted esta interesado en enviar a su hijo durante el 9 de enero de 2012 y el 2 de marzo de 2012.
• Asegúrese de traer el certificado de nacimiento o pasaporte, comprobante de vacunación para su hijo Y dos documentos que acrediten su prueba de domicilio. Una lista de documentos aceptables para este fin e información sobre como aceder a estos documentos, se pueden encontrar en la página electrónica de Información de Registro del DOE. Tenga en cuenta que su hijo es elegible para inscribirse en Kindergarten, incluso si el o ella no es ciudadano.

Fechas importantes en el proceso de admisión para Kindergarten en el año escolar 2012-2013 pueden ser encontrado en la página electrónica de Calendario y Eventos del DOE:

• Entre el 9 de enero hasta el 2 de marzo de 2012: Periodo de admisión para Kindergarten
• Entre el 19 de marzo hasta el 23 de marzo de 2012: Periodo de notificación y Asignación.
• Entre el 26 de marzo hasta el 20 de abril de 2012: Periodo de Pre-Registro.

Todas las solicitudes recibidas dentro la fecha límite del 2 de marzo de 2012 será tratado igual – no es el primero en tiempo, primero en derecho.

Distrito 1

Si la familia reside en el Distrito 1, el proceso de admisión está centralizado. El Distrito 1-Directorio de Escuelas Primarias, que incluye información sobre el proceso para el Distrito 1, las opciones escolares, e instrucciones para la aplicación, está disponible en línea ahora.

Las familias pueden obtener más información sobre admisiones para kindergarten al visitar la red electrónica del DOE, o enviando un correo electrónico al equipo de Inscripción para la Escuela Primaria al ES_Enrollment@schools.nyc.gov, o llamando al (718) 935-2009

Gracias.

Atentamente,

Christine C. Quinn

Portavoz

Robert Jackson

Presidente, Comité de Educación

Ribbon Cutting on New Facility at Part of the Solution (POTS)

We posted various stories in the past about neighborhood small businesses and international powerhouses like Swss-Re helping out local food pantry POTS, with donations or participation in creative fund raisers. From the press release below about today’s ribbon cutting, it seems as if the funds were put to good use. Kudos to everyone who helped make the POTS ribbon cutting possible!! In these difficult times I am sure the organization will efficiently help feed Bronx residents that otherwise might not get a healthy meal or be able to feed their family.

Gregory

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Bronx, New York – Councilmember Joel Rivera along with Speaker Christine Quinn will attend the ribbon cutting ceremony of Part of The Solution newly expanded facility on their 30^th anniversary. The new 15,000 square foot facility opened its doors in the fall of 2011 with the launching of several essential programs

Part of the Solution first started as a soup kitchen in 1982 and has expanded over the past 30 years into a full service outreach program. POTS is open to all individuals despite what hardships they are experiencing. With the recent economic recession, increase in unemployment and the Bronx being the poorest urban county in the United States, facilities such as POTS is an essential to the Bronx community.

“This is exciting not only for POTS but also for the community. The number of individuals POTS has served over the years have increased tremendously leading to the inevitable expansion into the new facility. I am proud to have allocated funding to help make this possible. By outgrowing their original space of a simple food pantry, they now have evolved into a full outreach program with the capacity to reach many more individuals under a single roof,” states Councilmember Joel Rivera.

Speaker Quinn and Councilman James Vacca to Visit P.S. 105 Faculty to Demonstrate SMART Board technology

Here is a press release related to technology in Bronx public schools.

Gregory
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Speaker Quinn, CM Vacca to Visit P.S. 105 Faculty to demonstrate importance of SMART Board technology in the classroom Tomorrow morning at 11:30 A.M.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Member James Vacca will join Principal Christopher Eustace and several teachers at P.S. 105 in Pelham Parkway South for a pre-school year visit and tour. Vacca and Quinn will meet with school leaders and tour the building, followed by a teacher demonstration of how SMART Board technology is used in the classroom. P.S. 105 is slated to have a SMART Board installed in every classroom by January 2012 as a result of capital funding allocated by the City Council and the School Construction Authority.

WHO: Council Speaker Christine Quinn; Council Member James Vacca; Mr. Christopher Eustace, Principal of P.S. 105
WHAT: Pre-school year tour and SMART Board technology demonstration
WHEN: Tuesday, September 7, 2011 @ 11:30 A.M.
WHERE: P.S. 105, 725 Brady Avenue, Bronx