Assemblywoman Barbara Clark Reports to the People

Dear Friend:
I previously shared some valuable information with you regarding the foreclosure crisis and what you can do to protect yourself and the ones you love. Since then, my colleagues and I have taken steps to tackle this issue in concert with our Federal Government. The legislative package approved this June by the State Legislature provides assistance to current and future homeowners by modifying the foreclosure process, enacting a sub-prime mortgage lending statute, setting standards and limits for home loans, and requiring the registration of loan providers. Under the terms of the agreement, homeowners currently struggling to make mortgage payments must receive a 90-day pre-foreclosure notice to alert borrowers that they are in default or foreclosure and advise them that there may be help available. Another provision would establish mandatory settlement conferences to bring a borrower together with the party initiating the foreclosure proceeding to attempt reach a satisfactory conclusion. The legislation would also establish the crime of residential mortgage fraud. After 50,000 foreclosure proceedings were initiated in New York State in 2006, and with more than 38,000 underway this year, the recent interventions on the part of our State and Federal Governments are an encouraging beginning to addressing this ongoing crisis.
Meanwhile, the activity inside government was equally matched by the exciting engagement of this nation’s citizens in one of the most historic primary election seasons to date. Beyond a diverse array of candidates from both sides of the aisle, there has been an unprecedented level of involvement in the civic process by adults and young people alike. Unfortunately, barely half of all New Yorkers eligible to vote are even registered and the percentage of registered voters who actually vote is declining. That leaves a majority of New Yorkers shut out of the electoral process. If you or someone you know has not yet registered, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible. To vote in the upcoming General Election, you must be registered twenty-five days in advance-Friday, October 10, 2008. Take the time to ask your neighbors—most of the young people I’ve talked to in particular don’t realize how simple the process really is. If you are in need of a voter registration form for yourself and/or your neighbors, please feel free to contact my District Office at (718) 479-2333.
Continue to be involved and enjoy the remainder of a beautiful summer!

Sincerely,

Barbara M. Clark

Assemblywoman Clark and Zakayo Mogere, Fellow from the State University of New York’s Center for International Development, are greeted by Governor Paterson. Mogere, as he is called, currently works in the Kenya National Assembly and participated in a four-month fellowship in Assemblywoman Clark’s Legislative Office during the 2008 Legislative Session.

Clark Becomes Vice Chair of the Education Commission of the States

Assemblywoman Clark discusses our nation’s education priorities with Margaret Spellings, Secretary, United States Department of Education at the 2008 Education Commission of the States National Forum-where she was appointed Vice-Chair in Austin, TX.

Assemblywoman Barbara M. Clark was appointed Vice Chair of the Education Commission of the States (ECS), an educational compact organization comprised of leaders from all fifty states at the group’s National Forum on Public Policy in Austin, TX this July. Established in 1965, the Denver based, non-profit’s mission is to help states develop effective policy and practice for public education by providing data, research, analysis and leadership; and by facilitating collaboration, the exchange of ideas among the states and long-range strategic thinking.
Assemblywoman Clark previously served as an ECS Commissioner and served two terms as a Steering Committee Member. Her new leadership capacity will extend her ability to shape national education policy particularly as our country’s leaders begin to review and discuss the repeal of No Child Left Behind.

Pictured L to R: Vicki Phillips of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Hon. Gaston Caperton, former Governor of West Virginia and President of the College Board, join Assemblywoman Clark during the ECS National Forum. The College Board is the organization responsible for establishing and creating assessment exams including the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Advanced Placement (AP) Program and Exams, and College-Level Entrance Exams.

EDUCATION:
A Focus on Resources and Effective Instruction

This year, the New York State Legislature increased education funding by a record $1.75 billion, with a total commitment of $21.4 billion. The spending plan includes a $533 million foundation aid increase for NYC schools and continues the Assembly’s commitment to education, despite a daunting economic climate.
As a long-standing advocate for effective instruction that will prepare our young people to compete in the 21st century, I commend my colleagues in the Assembly and the Senate in moving towards the full implementation of the school foundation formula required under the four year Campaign for Fiscal Equity plan.
Yet, this record victory in education funding also included some low points. Language removing a Principal’s authority to use test scores as one of several criteria for evaluating teacher tenure was approved, as well as language stripping the New York State Board of Regents of its authority to propose tenure regulations while a ‘study group’ formulates new policy. You may ask what triggered such unparalleled changes in law. Well, unfortunately, test scores have been vilified and deemed a way to deny teachers job security. Consequently, the UFT and AFT lobbied heavily to enact these changes, making New York the only state in the country with such exemptions in law.
It remains my belief that testing should serve as a one of many factors used to enable school leaders to evaluate teacher effectiveness and tenure. Many educators and parents alike share the same sentiment. A study released by the Education Trust found that when low performing students are placed in the classrooms of highly effective teachers three years in a row, they have a 90 percent success rate in passing standardized tests. Testing should be used as a critical tool to identify and support improvements in teacher preparation and classroom instruction. Needless to say, I will continue my efforts to ensure that teachers are well supported but also held accountable during this period of tenure deregulation.
While I was relieved that the City restored its proposed budget cuts, I remain extremely concerned about the Legislature lending itself to determining school policy. The Legislature elects the sixteen members of the New York State Board of Regents with the charge of overseeing the education policies and procedures of our State. Efforts to mire that process in conflicting regulatory and legislative requirements will make the entire process less effective, and the ultimate loss will be to students.
Although success has come, the work does not end there. We must be vigilant in our efforts to ensure that neither the City nor the State’s growing fiscal woes become a means to reduce or eliminate funds for our schools.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Congratulations to Carole Kelly, Principal of Law, Government and Community Service High School and Raymond Warmsley, Principal of Business, Computer Applications and Entrepreneurship High School! After years of service to the New York City Department of Education Ms. Kelly and Mr. Warmsely are retiring! Both served as inaugural principals at the Andrew Jackson Campus Magnet High Schools. You will be missed, and thank you for your dedication and commitment to make the four small schools what they are today. Kudos!

NYS 529 College Savings Program Gets an “Upgrade”

The 529 College Savings Program enables individual New York taxpayers to deduct up to $5,000 in contributions each year from state taxable income and married couples filing jointly may deduct up to $10,000 annually toward saving for their child’s college education. Qualified withdrawals are exempt from both federal and state income taxes. As of May 2008, the Governor signed a bill into law easing restrictions on the program allowing relatives, employers, and others to contribute to state-sponsored college savings accounts. Previously, only the person who opened the account was able to make contributions, however, under the new law, the tax benefits still only apply to the account owner.

Educating Our Young People First Hand

On NYC Department of Education’s Lobby Day, in conjunction with DOE’s Office of Family Engagement and Advocacy, several Community Education Councils, including CEC 29, brought youngsters to Albany to lobby their legislators and see what the Capitol looked like for themselves. Assemblywoman Clark is joined by Herman Bagley, Treasurer of CEC 29, students, parents and educators from P.S. 176Q-The Cambria Heights School, P.S./M.S. 147Q-The Ronald McNair School, and P.S./I.S. 231-Magnetech 2000 as well as Phyllis Gumble, P.T.A. President of P.S./M.S. 147Q with her daughter Baseja, Kelli Singleton, President of the Cambria Heights Civic Association and Civic Association members.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS:
Identifying Where Parents Fit In

Assemblywoman Clark met with Martine Guerrier, CEO of the NYC Department of Education’s Office of Family Engagement and Advocacy (seated) and is joined for a photo by (standing l. to r.) Cynthia Markham, 2008 Legislative Intern; Carol Chen See-Wilson, Special Assistant to Ms. Guerrier; and Adenike Huggins, 2008 Center for Women in Government Fellow.

The Campus Magnet Steering Committee At Work: (Below) Assemblywoman Clark, members of the Steering Committee at Campus Magnet High School including former Principals Raymond Warmsley and Carole Kelly, are joined by Ms. Paula Supra from the Queens Enrollment Office of the NYC Department of Education. The discussion included attendance/lateness policies, ways to improve school-to-parent communication, and its direct correlation to student achievement. Dialogue from this meeting and the one pictured left with DOB’s Martine Guerrier are part of on an ongoing conversation Assemblywoman Clark is undertaking with the community to improve our schools. An immediate result of the dialogue was the introduction of Assembly Bill 11169 during the 2008 Legislative Session that would create NYS Parent Awareness Week. The bill will serve as a tool to further assist parents in learning techniques and accessing resources to secure their child’s academic achievement.

PARENT/GUARDIAN QUESTIONNAIRE

My long-standing commitment to the education of our children has enabled me to speak with parents, educators, policy makers, and legislators throughout my district, the Great State of New York, and this country. The conversation consistently turns to the parent/guardian’s view of the role they play in their child’s academic career and development, and how we can better improve the relationship between a school’s leadership, parents, guardians, and the community-at-large. To this end, please complete the survey below and return it to:

Assemblywoman Barbara M. Clark • 97-01 Springfield Boulevard • Queens Village, New York 11429

Please be advised that your contact information is requested for I and my staff’s purposes ONLY.
(Should we need to contact you for additional input.)

Name:

Address:

No. of Children:

Ages:

Phone:

Alternate Phone:

Fax:

Email:

A) Are you interested in assisting and/or attending community based educational events?

YES

B) Are you interested in joining the Andrew Jackson Campus Magnet High Schools’ Steering Committee for the 2008-2009 school year?

YES

C) Are you an alumna/us of Andrew Jackson High School?

YES

D) What type of school does your child(ren) attend?

Public

Private Charter

Private Parochial

1. How many hours per week do you spend engaged in educational activities with your child(ren)?

0 hours

2-5 hours

6-10 hours

Over 10 hours

2. How many hours per week do you spend at your child(ren)’s school?

0 hours

2-5 hours

6-10 hours

Over 10 hours

3. What is the major factor that affects participation at your child(ren)’s school?

Time

Interest

Activites

Participation of Other Parents

4. How important do you think parental involvement is to the academic success of your child(ren)?

Very Important

Somewhat Important

Somewhat Unimportant

Very Unimportant

5. What if any is the main drawback at your child(ren)’s school?

Classroom Overcrowding

Discipline

Lack of Academic Rigor

Lack of Course Variety

6. Rate your level of satisfaction with your child(ren)’s school?

Very Satisfied

Somewhat Satisfied

Somewhat Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

7. Rate your level of satisfaction with the variety of recreational extra-curricular activities offered at your child(ren)’s school?

Very Satisfied

Somewhat Satisfied

Somewhat Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

8. Rate your level of satisfaction with the variety of enrichment core (math, reading, science, Social Studies) activities offered at your child(ren)’s school?

Very Satisfied

Somewhat Satisfied

Somewhat Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

Click here for a printable version of this questionnaire

Be In The Know…

Home Energy Assistance

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is focused on making homes more energy efficient to reduce the costs of heat. For information on qualifying households and renovations, call 1-866-NYSERDA or (518) 862-1090; or visit http://www.nyserda.org.

Free Mammography Screenings

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 9 a.m. at:

Assemblywoman Clark’s
District Office
97-01 Springfield Blvd.
Queens Village, NY 11429
To schedule an appointment call
Porscha Stennett at (718) 479-2333.

Prepare for DTV Transition

In January 2008, the Federal Government set the date of February 17, 2009 for American households to complete the Digital Television (DTV) transition. To make sure your family continues to receive free, over-the-air television, you have three options: (1) Purchase a DTV converter box that will convert the digital signal into analog for an existing analog television set, (2) purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner, or (3) subscribe to cable, satellite, or a telephone company television service provider. To help cover the cost of the box, the federal government is offering two converter box coupons, valued at $40 each to eligible households. Each coupon may be used toward the purchase of a single converter box, and the coupon program will be administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce. For more information about the converter box coupon program or to apply, visit www.DTV2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV-2009.

SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS

A GRAND OPENING: Assemblywoman Clark joins Harvey and Mary Moder and Phil Sica upon the Grand Opening of the American Legion, Post 301’s Harvey E. Moder Veterans Hall in Building #73 on the Creedmoor Campus. Assemblywoman Clark played a critical role in securing funding to insure that the legion’s new home included an entrance and restrooms that are handicap accessible, as well as remodeling the kitchen, meeting room and related furnishings through a $50,000 grant from the New York State Assembly’s Community Capital Assistance Program.

The New York Business Development Corporation (NYBDC) recently announced its Veterans’ Loan Program, an initiative that provides term loans at below market fixed rates for current or former members of our armed forces through an agreement with the NYS Common Retirement Fund, the Office of the NYS Comptroller & NYBDC’s partner banks. The goals of the loan program are to provide affordable, long-term financial assistance to veteran small business owners to allow them to recover from the business consequences of their deployment and to support the dreams and hopes of current/former members of the armed forces to start or grow a small business. It is important to note that loans for working capital, business acquisition, and purchase of real estate, machinery and equipment are available under this program. This program can also be combined with other financing offered by NYBDC’s lending partners as participants or as separate credit facilities.
Eligible borrowers must be NY businesses where the owner(s) of the majority of the equity is a NYS resident(s) who is a member or honorably discharged veteran of the US Armed Forces (including the Regular, Reserve & National Guard components). The maximum loan amount is $150,000. Approval of the loan will be subject to an 85% SBA guaranty. The interest rate is Treasury plus 1.55% (inclusive of the SBA servicing fee). For more information, visit the NY Business Development Corporation’s web site at www.nybdc.com or call 1-800-923-2504.

Assemblywoman Clark’s Poultry Market Legislation Becomes Law

Assemblywoman Barbara M. Clark (D-Queens) announced that her bill, Assembly Bill 246-B (co-sponsored by Senator Padavan) was signed into law. The bill prohibits slaughterhouses where animals and/or fowls are slaughtered or butchered for food from being located within 1,500 feet of residents’ homes. The bill, part one of a three-tiered legislative package, has garnered critical support from Queens-based residents and her colleagues in recent months.
Poultry markets currently operating within the city have been a source of great unrest for city occupants. Businesses and residents have complained regularly about the unbearable odor that emanates from the markets-odor that becomes virtually intolerable during the hot summer months. Often, markets have failed to properly dispose of animal entrails, creating undesirable conditions in the streets and on the sidewalks of the city. Floating feathers have clogged sewer drains and air conditioning/heating units and in turn, present asthma, allergy, and respiratory hazards. The houses themselves are potential venues for numerous and serious public health problems including salmonella, E. coli, and possibly avian influenza.
There are over 100 licensed live poultry markets in New York State. More than 70 of these establishments, and more that are unlicensed, operate in New York City alone, mostly in Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. “This legislation is only the beginning of an effort to secure public safety. It is not enough to simply have a plan without taking the legislative steps to address it,” Clark said. “This legislation is a proactive step in addressing these concerns and provides an opportunity for the necessary oversight of unlicensed and poorly managed poultry markets.”
The two remaining bills of the Poultry Market Legislative Package are Assembly Bill 8540 which places a moratorium on the licensing of new live poultry markets in New York City for one year and, Assembly Bill 8541 establishes a task force to examine the public health and safety issues associated with these establishments.

BEWARE OF SLAMMING!!!!

For the past decade, New York State has allowed Energy Service Companies (ESCO) to sell electricity and/or natural gas to utility customers. Consumers who switch to an ESCO purchase their electricity and gas from the ESCO, but continue to have their energy delivered by their existing utility. Recently, the Consumer Protection Board (CPB) and the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) reported an increase in consumer complaints related to ESCO marketing practices. One common complaint lodged against ESCOs involved the unauthorized switching of service providers without the consumer’s knowledge or consent, a practice known as “slamming.”
Many slamming victims report being approached by unscrupulous marketers posing as utility employees. Be sure to ask any marketer offering energy services who they represent. Utilities do not conduct door-to-door marketing. Carefully review any contract with an ESCO, including the fine print, and be sure to make note of any cancellation or early termination fee before signing. Ask for written service and price comparisons between your utility and the ESCO’s offer. Be especially wary of introductory “teaser” rates. While you may see savings during the first few months, your bill may return to its original level or increase after a teaser rate expires or the ESCO increases your rate. Lastly, keep in mind that there is a three-day opt out period for energy contracts with ESCOs.
In response to the number of complaints received by the CPB and the DCA, the Assembly passed legislation that would regulate ESCO marketing practices (A.10180-B). This bill would require ESCO marketing representatives to state that they don’t represent a utility and provide each potential customer with a short, plain language “ESCO Consumer Bill of Rights.” This legislation has not been acted on by the Senate.
If you believe you are a victim of energy service slamming, or would like to file a complaint against ESCOs, contact the Public Service Commission at 1-800-342-3377. For more information about ESCOs, visit the Commission’s Consumer web site at: http://www.askpsc.com.