Dromm’s School Bus GPS Tracking System Begins This School Year
City Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights) yesterday hailed Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza announcement yesterday that the Department of Education will partner with Via to launch “Via for Schools,” a state-of-the-art integrated, automated school bus routing, tracking, and communication platform.
Dromm was one of the co-sponsors of legislation to put GPS tracking systems on all school buses. GPS capabilities through GeoTab will be installed on every bus that does not currently have GPS by the first day of school.
The Via GPS system will build on steps the DOE has taken to improve bus transportation over the past year. The DOE has worked closely with the City Council throughout the last school year to ensure that bus service and communication with families improve for the 2019-20 school year.
In January 2019, the city council passed the Student Transportation Oversight Package (STOP) relating to city school buses, including mandating GPS and an app for parents, as well as 15-days advance notification to families of their students’ bus routes for the upcoming school year.
“I am proud to have been the prime sponsor of legislation that created this school bus ridership guide and bill of rights,” said Dromm. “Now all families will be informed of what they should expect from those who transport our students to school every day. By including information for students living in temporary housing and foster care, and by making this information available in several languages, my legislation ensures that the wellbeing of all our students is taken into account. I am pleased to work with the DOE on this effort to strengthen public education in our city.”
Sanders Caribbean Festival A Huge Success
State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) saw large crowds of people line the streets and pack Bayswater Park in the Rockaways last Saturday for his the 3rdAnnual Caribbean Carnival.
“We are proud to bring this spectacular celebration to the community for a third year,” Sanders said. “If there ever was a time when we needed unity between all communities, that time is now. My team along with residents, leaders and multiple organizations worked hand in glove to make this amazing day possible. We are glad to be here. We are going to have some fun. Today is a day when we can celebrate all cultures – Caribbean and American – those from Rockaway and those from all over this great city and state. Out of many, we are one. That’s the motto of Trinidad — together we aspire, together we achieve.”
The Carnival was conducted in collaboration with the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation (RDRC) and NYC Parks Department. It started on Beach 20th Street and Seagirt Boulevard and culminated with live performances at Bayswater Park. There were also plenty of merchants selling the food of the islands as well as cool drinks and sweet treats.
Joining Sanders at the carnival by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte, Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman, Councilman Donovan Richards, Councilman Brad Lander, City Councilwoman Farah Louis and recent Queens DA candidate Tiffany Caban.
The goal of the Carnival is to celebrate the various arts & culture of the Caribbean while highlighting the hidden jewel that is the Rockaways. It also helps stimulate economic development for the community with attendees patronizing local merchants.
Suozzi Requests New FAA Chief Meet with Quiet Skies Caucus
U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Little Neck, Whitestone, Glen Oaks, Floral Park, Long Island), Vice Co-Chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus, has written a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Steve Dickson inviting him to address the Quiet Skies Caucus and update members on outstanding FAA projects related to aircraft noise.
The letter also asks for a continuously delayed FAA study reevaluating the threshold for noise mitigation activities.
The letter was signed by Quiet Skies Caucus Co-Chairs Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and Vice Co-Chair Mike Quigley (D-IL).
“I would like to congratulate Administrator Dickson on his recent Senate confirmation,” Suozzi said. “Now that there is a permanent administrator at the helm, I am looking forward to working with the FAA to further advance some concrete actions that will address and mitigate the aircraft noise that has been impacting our communities for so long.”
