Bklyn Lawmakers On The Move Aug. 14, 2015

Mosley, Cumbo, Eugene Give Thumbs Up To DOE On Test Results

Fort Greene/Clinton Hill/Prospect Heights Assemblyman and City Council Member Laurie Cumbo, along with Flatbush City Council Member Mathieu Eugene, yesterday, commended Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Department of Education for the slight gains the city’s third- through eighth-grade students did on this year’s math and English exams.

About 35 percent of students are math proficient according to the test, up a percentage point from the previous year, while 30 percent of students met proficiency standards in English, up from 28 percent in 2014, education officials said.

It’s the second year in a row students did better than the previous year on the standardized tests, the city said.

Test results also showed slight gains for black and Hispanic students, but these two sub-groups are still far behind their white and Asian counterparts.

On the English Language Arts test, 19 percent of black students and 19.8 percent of Hispanic students were found to be proficient this year, up 1 percent and 1.6 percent from last year, respectively. About 52 percent of Asian students and 51 percent of white students were proficient in the subject, up 3 and 2 percentage points each.

“I want to commend Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña and Mayor de Blasio for their leadership and the continued gains we’re witnessing with our city students. Although we have a lot more improvement that needs to be done, these results are a reflection of the inclusive management and added accountability within the re-activated school district throughout our city. Likewise, these marks clearly demonstrate that under Mayor de Blasio’s guidance, the Mayoral Control system and its strategies continue to set new benchmarks and proficiency standards that will never be compromised or abandoned,” said Mosley.

“The increased proficiency of New York City students in English and Math demonstrates the amazing progress we can achieve when we provide our students, teachers, and their families with the support and resources they deserve,” said  Cumbo.

“This year’s improved test scores are an incredible accomplishment for our students and our city. By working to ensure that all students in our schools receive the same level of quality education, we are helping guarantee that they will also receive the same enriching opportunities when they graduate, regardless of the neighborhood they are from,” said Eugene.

Levin Bill Tracking Adult Protection Gets Mayor’s Signature

Northern Brooklyn City Councilman Stephen Levin, this week, saw his bill requiring the city to track adults in need of protective services get signed into law.

Under the measure, the City’s Human Resources Administration (HRA) will prepare and submit to the City Council semiannual reports regrading referrals to Adult Protective Services (APS). The reports will include the total number of referrals received, the number of referred individuals who were determined ineligible for services, disaggregated by the reason such individuals were determined ineligible, a general description of the source of the referrals, and the council district, community board, and zip code of the referred individuals.

APS provides social services to adult New Yorkers, regardless of income who are are mentally and/or physically impaired, unable to manage their own resources, carry out the activities of daily living, or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, exploitation or other hazardous situations without assistance from others; and do not have anyone willing and able to responsibly provide them with assistance.

“Adult Protective Services provides critical social services to New Yorkers who need them most. This bill will allow us to gather more information about how and where services are being accessed and referrals are being made in order to ensure that programs are efficiently and effectively serving the needs of residents,” said Steve Levin.

Williams Pro-Tenant Legislation Passed

Several tenant protections bill that Flatlands City Council Member Jumaane Williams sponsored passed the City Council yesterday.

One measure addresses the City’s history of owners offering tenants money to vacate their apartments. In recent years, however, there have been complaints from tenants that buyouts have become a form of harassment. This issue arises most frequently when building owners have hired tenant relocation specialists, many of whom receive a fee for each vacancy, to try to convince tenants, many of whom are rent-regulated, to leave their apartments.

The will make it unlawful for a dwelling owner, or an owner’s agent, to make a tenant buyout offer without first notifying the tenant that they have the right to refuse the buyout offer.

A second measure would create a licensing scheme for tenant relocation specialists.  Under this legislation, the relocators would have to become licensed by first passing an exam, furnishing a surety bond, and paying a licensing fee.

“Our city cannot stand by while tenants are being harassed out of their homes. There are too many unscrupulous owners of rent stabilized buildings who will do anything to have a tenant vacate their apartment, including hiring a tenant relocator to get the job done,” said Williams. “Tenants don’t deserve to be intimidated out of their homes, and should be informed of their rights to refuse buyout offers.”Several tenant protections bill that Flatlands City Council Member Jumaane Williams sponsored passed the City Council yesterday.