Treyger, Eugene To Hold Joint Hearing On Segregation In NYC School System
City Council members Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst), Chair of the Committee on Education, and Mathieu Eugene (D-Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Flatbush, East Flatbush), Chair of the Committee on Civil and Human Rights, today will examine the state of segregation in New York City’s public school system, one of the most segregated in the United States.
At the joint hearing, the City Council will hear testimony from NYC Schools Chancellor Carranza, students, parents and advocates about one of the country’s most segregated school systems and how policy changes can help develop integration in classrooms. City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan) will be in attendance.
The Committees will investigate the causes behind the continued segregation of the city’s schools and examine how policy changes in education, such as the expansion of enrichment programming, and housing, infrastructure, and other facets of the City government can create an integrated school system with classrooms diverse across ethnicity, socioeconomic status, academic ability, disability status, etc.
Council Members will also question City and Department of Education (DOE) officials about the admissions process for the City’s Specialized High Schools and measures at the city and state levels that can be taken to increase access for more of New York City’s student population.
Additionally, several pieces of legislation will be reviewed during the hearing that aim to improve diversity amongst NYC Schools through examination of racial segregation and school enrichment programs.
The hearing is slated for 10 a.m., today, May 1, in the City Hall Council Chambers in Lower Manhattan.
Colton Applauds Governor’s Action Toward Renewable Energy
Assembly member William Colton (D-Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) this week applauded Governor Andrew Cuomo’s push toward increasing the state’s usage of renewable energy this week.
Earlier this week, Cuomo announced the third annual solicitation for large-scale renewable energy projects under the state’s Clean Energy Standard. The announcement advances progress toward New York’s proposed nation-leading commitment to secure 70 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable resources by 2030 under Cuomo’s Green New Deal.
Colton, a vocal environmentalist legislator, most recently sponsored an energy bill (A-3565) requiring the state to establish 100% renewable energy by 2030. The bill would push the state energy planning board to create a clear plan, in five-year increments, detailing necessary steps towards full reliance on renewable energy.
The bill also sets up the infrastructure and climate change councils to make a smooth transition to renewable energy by planning to avoid job losses through job retraining and reducing any other negative impact through planning a smooth transition implemented by local, regional and statewide climate change planning councils.
“This renewable energy initiative by the governor is a step toward putting New York State on track to clean renewable energy. It is critical that New York take the lead to attain clean affordable renewable energy to address the devastating impacts of climate change and I am pleased with governor’s action,” said Colton.
Cumbo To Celebrate New Kids Tennis Site At BK Public Housing
Majority Leader City Council member Laurie Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights) will celebrate the launch of a new kids’ tennis site in New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Ingersoll Houses this week at a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The event will celebrate Kings County Tennis League’s (KCTL) launch of a sixth tennis programming site for the children of Brooklyn’s public housing. The non-profit builds and maintains tennis courts in NYCHA sites and uses tennis as an instrument for youth development and community building.
The Ingersoll Houses site will be the first outside Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, as KCTL seeks to expand its footprint. It’s also the first indoor facility, so kids can enjoy the programming irrespective of weather conditions.
The organization which first launched in 2010 as a seasonal operation at Marcy Houses has evolved into a year-round program offered at six public housing developments this summer. KCTL currently reaches more than 200 children through its six tennis clubs at Marcy, Tompkins, Sumner, Jackie Robinson (Brevoort), Lafayette Gardens and now Ingersoll Houses.
The event is slated for 10 a.m. to 12-noon, Saturday, May 4, at the Ingersoll Houses, 16 Fleet Walk in Fort Greene.
Rose Responds To 55% Spike In Anti-Semitic Assaults In New York
Congressman Max Rose (D-South Brooklyn, States Island), chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism, yesterday responded to the Anti-Defamation League’s 2018 Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents in New York.
According to the report, released on Tuesday, there was a 55 percent increase in Anti-Semitic Assaults in 2018, all of which occurred in New York City. The report also showed that after the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, incidents of Anti-Semitism increased by 170 percent over the previous quarter.
In total, 340 incidents of anti-Semitism were recorded in New York last year, including nine incidents on Staten Island and 93 incidents in Brooklyn. Brooklyn also saw 13 of the state’s 17 recorded instances of anti-Semitic assault. The report also showed a 35 percent increase in vandalism of private property and a 39 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents at New York State’s universities and colleges.
The report also showed some significant trends regarding extremism. In 2018, 13 percent of total anti-Semitic incidents were attributable to known extremist groups or individuals inspired by extremist ideology, marking the highest level of anti-Semitic incidents with known ties to extremism since 2004. Earlier this year, Rose, called on social media companies, to provide details on the investments these companies are making to prevent the exploitation of their platforms by terrorists and extremists.
“Not only has our community been devastated by national tragedies in Pittsburgh and San Diego, but as this report shows, acts of vandalism and assault are occurring right here in New York City far too often. It will take all of us, from social media companies, to government, to neighbors just looking out for one another, to push back against this hate and remove violence from our public discourse,” said Rose.
