Adams, Diaz Host Gifted & Talented Education Hearing
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. tonight will co-host a joint hearing in Bedford-Stuyvesant for their recently announced Gifted & Talented Education Task Force.
The hearing will focus on issues surrounding gifted and talented education in New York City public schools, as well as the admissions process for the city’s specialized high schools.
Their task force, which was launched in January, is comprised of government officials, community members and parents who are familiar with the issues gifted students face in New York City schools.
Dozens of parents are expected to be in attendance at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation to testify, as Borough President Adams and Borough President Diaz prepare recommendations that they will release later this year for advancing the future of gifted education.
The hearing is slated for 6 p.m., tonight, March 28 at Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
Savino’s “Caroline’s Law” Passes Senate
State Sen. Diane Savino (D-Coney Island, Staten Island) yesterday saw the Senate pass her sponsored measure, “Caroline’s Law,” which punishes public servants who publish photos of crime victims
The legislation creates a penalty in the name of the late Caroline Wimmer, after an EMT splashed pictures of her brutal murder on social media. Under the measure, S.3883, public servants who publish photographs of crime victims outside of their official duties will be charged with a class A misdemeanor.
“Publishing trophy photos of a crime victim on Facebook or Twitter is an act of cruelty when a family is grieving. Caroline Wimmer’s family suffered twice because of the actions of an EMT. They suffered when the 26-year-old was brutally murdered and again when they learned pictures of this vicious crime were heartlessly plastered on Facebook for entertainment by a public servant. This behavior is criminal,” said Savino.
Caroline Wimmer, 26, was murdered in March 2009 in her West Brighton, Staten Island apartment. Her mother discovered her body on the bathroom floor and called for help. An EMT on the scene, Mark Musarella, snapped a photo of her body and posted it on his Facebook page. Musarella was charged with official misconduct and that charge was reduced to disorderly conduct. He served 200 hours of community service and received no jail time.
“Caroline’s Law” would create a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine for any public servant or person acting as a public servant who broadcasts or publishes an image of a crime victim outside of their official duties.
Hikind Warns, “Don’t Let Your Passover Trip Be Ruined”
Following numerous reports of unpleasant encounters with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents, Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Borough Park) is working to help travelers avoid unnecessary hardship before the Passover holiday.
Recenty, Hikind met with Francis J. Russo, Port Director to U.S. Customs and Border Protection at JFK, as well as with Adele Fasano, Port Director at Newark Liberty Airport in Newark, New Jersey. The meetings were arranged to discuss complaints Hikind had received of less than respectful treatment by some agents of certain travelers. While conditions have improved, Hikind also looked to be proactive in an on-going effort to aid travelers.
“Many people fly to and from Israel and other locations prior to the holidays,” said Hikind. “If they know what to expect and what’s required of them, they can avoid missing their flights or having their funds confiscated.”
In a concerted effort to work with Customs and Border Patrol, Hikind has sent a letter to numerous travel agents in the Tri-state area urging them to advise clients of proper reporting procedures for international travelers.
Hikind said travelers must declare whether they are carrying currency or other monetary instruments in an aggregate amount of over $10,000. There’s no limit to how much money they can carry provided that they are truthful and the entire amount is disclosed. If and when approached by Customs and Border Patrol agents, disclose to these agents the full amount that you are carrying, he said.
Regulations state that if a person or family members traveling together have $10,000 or more, they cannot divide the currency between each other to avoid declaring the total. Any amounts exceeding $10,000 must be declared and filed on a report called FinCEN form 105.
This form can be obtained at all U.S. ports of entry and departure, or via the internet at www.fincen.gov/fin105. Monetary instruments include U.S. or foreign coins and currency; travelers checks in any form; checks, promissory notes, and money orders; and securities or stocks in a form which ownership can be transferred to another. Monetary instruments do not include checks or money orders made payable to an individual or entity which have not been endorsed or which bear restrictive endorsements (such as “for deposit only”).
“If money is not properly disclosed, it may be seized and you will have a very hard time getting it back,” warned Hikind. “I urge travelers to take these regulations seriously so that everyone can have a safe and enjoyable holiday without incident.”
Harris Honors Local Women At Her Women Of Distinction Awards
Assemblymember Pamela Harris (D-Coney Island, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights) last Saturday honored the winners of her 2nd annual Women of Distinction Awards at a ceremony at Tom’s Restaurant on the Coney Island Boardwalk.
Joining Harris for the awards were Senator Diane Savino, and City Council Members Mark Treyger and Vincent Gentile. The Women of Distinction Awards recognize women who have made a positive impact on the local community in celebration of Women’s History Month.
“These amazing women do so much on behalf of our community,” said Harris. “Whether it’s through educating future generations or making change in their neighborhoods, they have done remarkable things, and the least we can do is thank them for all their efforts in continuing our progress.”
This year’s Women of Distinction Award winners are: Judith Collins, Donna Mae DePola, Riva Heller, Queenie M. Huling, Peggy Eng Jung, Jane Kelly, Luz Maria Malave, Theresa Monforte-Caraballo, Marianne Nicolosi, Irina Roizin, Joann Weiss and Kumali Zairee.
Golden Honors Healing Center As Part Of Women’s History Month
State Sen. Martin J. Golden (R-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Marine Park, Gerretsen Beach) yesterday announced that, as part of Women’s History Month, he will be hosting a special event recognizing Antonia Clemente and the organization she runs, The Healing Center (THC), for their work which has impacted the lives of so many in the community.
Antonia Clemente is the Executive Director and co-founder of The Healing Center. THC helps families affected by violence understand their options and how to take steps toward healing and self-sufficiency. Reaching out to different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, THC works to prevent family violence in our community.
The Center’s educational workshops, which are offered at local schools and churches, raise community awareness concerning family violence, elder abuse, and sexual assault. Empowerment support groups provide sessions to encourage self-esteem, offer alternatives and help clients understand the dynamics of violence and the cycle of abuse in their lives.
THC also provides safe space for children who witness domestic violence, and offers a special program for teenage girls who witness and are victimized by violence in the home or through teen dating violence.
In order to provide assistance to THC, Senator Golden is asking the community to donate gift cards that will be presented to Ms. Clemente during a reception that will be held at 6 p.m., on April 28 at the Norwegian Christian Home, 1250 67th Street in Bay Ridge.
Gift cards for supermarkets and chain store pharmacies can be delivered to Golden’s District Office, 7408 Fifth Avenue by Thursday April 27. Please note the amount of your contribution directly on the gift card.
Williams Critical on Haste Resignation From The NYPD
City Council Member Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) yesterday offered a measured, critical response following news of Officer Richard Haste resigning from the New York Police Department (NYPD).
In 2012, Haste killed 18-year-old Ramarley Graham in his Bronx home. The unarmed teen was killed in front of his grandmother and 6-year-old brother.
“The guilty verdict, a termination recommendation and Richard Haste is no longer on the NYPD; five years in the making. While it is a step toward police accountability that has been absent, unfortunately, it also shows how closure and justice still remain fleeting for most families of unarmed Blacks and Latinos killed by police.
“The fact the Richard Haste was allowed to leave on his own terms, resigning before termination, robbed Constance Malcolm of an important emotional and moral victory. It also robbed supporters and advocates, who through each denial of justice, told her and her family to just hold on, ‘we will prevail.’ On a day that we all should be using to celebrate this step forward in accountability that has been lacking, somehow we still fell short. Not to mention the fact that Richard Haste should have been removed from the force years ago, denying him promotions received on Constance Malcolm’s taxes.
“Critically importantly now is to understand if there are any legal differences in the ramifications of Richard Haste resigning as opposed to being fired. So far, my understanding is he will not be eligible for a pension, and will not receive the commonly called ‘Good Guy Letter’ for future employment. To be clear, Richard Haste should be in jail tonight. Absent that, the only option left to the City was a departmental trial and removal from the force. The Administration must now make immediate steps to confirm any distinctions that may exist, and make clear the full impact on the officer who murdered Ramarley Graham, unarmed, in his house, and in front of his grandmother and little brother. Only then can we try and salvage the accountability so many thought would come from today’s news.”
