Summer 2009
I hope you’ve all had a good summer and are now turning your thoughts to planning for not just the seasonal winter, but also the ‘economic winter’ we are experiencing. Our great nation and certainly our state have endured some rough sledding over the past year, and the word budget is one that no one chooses to hear at this time. However, I will bring some context to my short message by sharing my thoughts about how we’re weathering this economic climate and where we go from here. The Legislature began its 2009 session with a sixteen billion dollar deficit ($16 billion). Yet, we closed the session with a balanced budget by effecting cuts meant to do the least harm, new fees, and new taxes to raise revenue from the highest income earners in our state. All of these added revenue sources, along with the much-needed federal stimulus money may shed light towards the end of the tunnel.
For those of you who can remember ‘Big Mac’, or the period when New York was in such dire economic straits that our fiscal operations were taken over by the Municipal Assistance Corporation, you know that we as New Yorkers made difficult but necessary choices in order to recover. The resilience of New Yorkers enabled us to survive pay lags, layoffs, and reductions in many municipal services. I believe that same sense of resolve will see us through today because the resilience of the human spirit brings out the best in most people.
I believe that our success will also depend on rallying to the aid of those close to us. It’s time for us to capitalize on the true meaning of community–communication and unity, so that we maximize the benefit of caring and sharing–viewing our neighbors as neighbors and not the people next door–and should there be instances where the social safety net becomes frayed that we ensure that our most vulnerable do not fall through the cracks. I am not suggesting starting anything brand new. There are already those in our communities that are leading the way. They are the leaders and members of our civic, block, veteran and parent/teacher associations as well as not-for-profit organizations. Our churches have a long history of aiding the ‘least of these’. Adding our individual efforts to the collective actions of others will ensure that our communities remain stable or grow. The term ‘down turn’ could trigger a sense of social and economic renewal that pushes us towards the ideals of humanity we should be striving for. For as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in times of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy,” Strength to Love, 1963. If we all share the responsibility for seeing through these difficult times, the benefit may be all the bright ‘spring’ we seek.
Thank you for continuing to give me the privilege of serving you. Let’s keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Barbara M. Clark
I proudly award four deserving young people from each of the four Campus Magnet High Schools a scholarship, funded by the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators, Inc., to pursue a secondary education. Each graduate was nominated by their Principal for demonstrating quality academic achievement while actively participating in the campus’ athletic programs. It is with great pleasure that I announce the 2009 recipients of the Assemblywoman Clark Scholar Athlete Awards:
Bellerose Commonwealth Civic Association
First Thursday of each month at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
246-55 87th Avenue
Bellerose-Hillside Civic Association
Third Thursday every three months
Cross Island YMCA
239-04 Hillside Avenue
Cambria Heights Civic Association
Second Thursday of each month
Metropolitan Bridge Unit (MBU) Community Bridge Home
120-50 Springfield Boulevard
Queens Colony Civic Association
Second Thursday of each month
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
246-55 87th Avenue
Queens Village Civic Association
Third Tuesday of each month
Our Lady of Lourdes Church
92-96 220th Street
St. Albans Civic Association
Fourth Sunday of each month
Trinity Lutheran Church
200-10 119th Avenue
Wayanda Civic Association
First Tuesday of each month
Hollis Avenue Congregational Church, UCC
211-04 Hollis Avenue
Queens Civic Congress
check www.queensciviccongress.org
for meeting schedule
New York State provides 26 weeks of regular unemployment insurance benefits. However, due to the high unemployment rate in the State, an additional 53 weeks of unemployment benefits have been approved.The first 33 weeks fall under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Program, and are known as Emergency Benefits; the last 20 weeks fall under a different program titled the Extended Benefits (EB) Program, and are known as Extended Benefits. Per current Federal legislation, specific deadlines apply to the different extensions, and as a result, not all claimants are eligible for the full 53 additional weeks of benefits.The extensions are broken down as follows:
Emergency Benefits include two tiers
Tier 1 (20 weeks) – to be eligible for any additional benefits under Tier 1, the individual must exhaust regular benefits on or before the week ending December 20, 2009, and start claiming Emergency Benefits on or before week ending December 27, 2009. Note: This means the individual must have filed their initial claim for regular unemployment benefits effective on or before Monday, June 15, 2009.
Tier 2 (13 weeks) – to be eligible for any additional benefits under Tier 2, the individual must exhaust all 20 weeks of Tier 1 on or before the week ending December 27, 2009. Note: This means that the individual must have filed their initial claim for regular unemployment benefits effective on or before Monday, February 2, 2009.
The last payable week of both Tier 1 and Tier 2 is the week ending June 6, 2010.
Work search requirements are more stringent for individuals claiming Extended Benefits. However, individuals in training approved by the New York State Department of Labor are not required to look for work while claiming benefits.
Call the Telephone Claims Center at 1-888-209-8124. Hearing impaired individuals, who have Telephone Device for the Deaf (TTY/TDD) equipment, may file a claim by calling a relay operator at 1-800-662-1220 and requesting the operator to call 1-888-783-1370. Service at this number will only be provided to callers using TDD equipment.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Governor Patterson has signed the new law extending Mayoral Control through the year 2015. Ensuring that we have strong accountability standards for continuing to improve instructional quality and achieving the best bang for the billions in bucks spent on education requires that we maintain Mayoral Control. While we are not yet where we should be, we can all agree that we do not need to return to the days of a ‘Board of Education’ with its patronage and pandering to bureaucracy. Nor do we need a voting panel making decisions about educational policy and teacher quality. When such decisions have to be reviewed and approved by a voting panel this will mean delays, and disputes that often never resolve themselves in a timely manner. You may wonder what I mean by, “in a timely manner.” I mean that a child’s path through the educational system does not stop or wait for the right policy changes. Every year that teachers, principals, and administrators flip flop on policies and procedures, the academic performance of each student is handicapped. Students, like children at home, need routines and stability, in every classroom, at every grade level. While I support parental involvement in schools, parents need to first be focused on ensuring that classroom teachers provide grade appropriate instruction to each of their children. Is the teacher using a lesson plan, and can he or she communicate their teaching goals for the semester, and for the year? Do these goals follow or track the guidelines established by the State Board of Education? Challenging teachers and principals to address their students’ needs is the real battle ground.
There is a saying that ‘all politics are local’. It often refers to the need to shore up one’s community base, before extending to city, state, or national issues. The same should apply in education. Parents must focus on being the best advocates for their children at their local school first. Attending PTA and local school board meetings, as well as Parent Teacher Conferences is a start. But also consider asking hard questions at ‘back to school night’ about textbooks and lesson plans. Inquire about the teacher’s grading policy so that both parent/guardian and child fully understand what is expected. How will the Principal and teacher handle students who are continually disruptive in the classroom learning environment? Parents applying pressure and providing support from the bottom-up, along with the Mayor and Chancellor applying pressure and support from the top-down is the only way to foster real consistent progress in our schools.
I remind parents and guardians in each newsletter to spend two hours a month minimum involved in their child’s Parent Teacher Association. Forging relationships and staying on top of curricular issues will create changes that they can believe in and trust is aiding their child. Marching with those with self interest claiming parent and child interest to achieve a limited voice on a voting panel will not help little Janelle or John read.
Here, Commissioner Mills and I stop for a photo after the Assembly Standing Committee on Education’s meeting during the 2009 Legislative Session. The Commissioner was a special guest of the committee.
This July, I traveled to Nashville, TN, for the Education Commission of the States’ annual conference entitled, “Shifting Education and the Economy into High Gear.” The conference provides the unique opportunity for legislators, policy analysts and educators from across the country to come together to discuss and share ideas, initiatives and research relevant to improving education. As Vice Chair of this organization, I had the privilege of presenting ECS’ highest individual honor for outstanding contributions to American Education, The James Bryant Conant Award, to Kati Haycock, President of The Education Trust. The Education Trust is the leading D.C.-based education organization to champion issues promoting equality to benefit poor and minority children. Prior to heading The Education Trust, Haycock was the Executive Vice President of the Children’s Defense Fund, the nation’s largest child advocacy organization.
National Forum workshop presentations can be viewed on the Education Commission of the States’ website, www.ecs.org.
The Andrew Jackson Campus Magnet High Schools’ Steering Committee was formed as a community-based entity dedicated to the development and success of the four schools on the campus. The monthly meetings include discussions regarding student achievement, forging new partnerships, creating unique learning opportunities for students, as well as guest speakers from both New York State and New York City’s educational leadership and administration.
Upon my invitation, Dr. Joseph Bowman, Member of the New York State Board of Regents representing Judicial District III, which includes Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster counties, served as our guest speaker. A respected authority on technology and education, Regent Bowman held a captive audience with Steering Committee members via an in-depth discussion of how technology can be utilized in the classroom, and methods to creating technology-based professional development opportunities for educators.
In the photo from our meeting featuring Regent Bowman (seated second from left), Steering Committee members are joined by Mr. Bashir Abdellatif (seated, left) principal of Law, Government and Community Service Magnet High School, and Mr. Miles Nash (seated, right) principal of Business, Computer Applications and Entrepreneurship Magnet High School during their inaugural year at the campus!
The only requirement to join the Steering Committee is that you have a sincere desire to support the campus, and can commit to attending our monthly meetings. If you are interested in joining the Steering Committee for the 2009-2010 school year, please contact my District Office at (718) 479-2333.
Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009
Signed into law by President Obama in May, the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 creates several provisions to improve communication and practices exercised by the credit card industry to protect consumers. Some of the changes will take effect sooner than others, but are important to monitor now. To make sure that New York State’s residents are empowered with accurate information to prevent the exploitation of new, existing or under-age consumers, I’ve included highlights of the provisions put in place by the CARD Act of 2009. (For additional information, visit the Consumer Protection Board online at http://www.consumer.state.ny.us/credit_card_law_key_provisions.htm)
In anticipation of the requirements of the new law taking effect, your credit card company may have started to change terms, raise fees, and assess higher interest rates or more. If so, as part of the NYS Consumer Protection Board’s Campaign for Change, I, ASSEMBLYWOMAN CLARK AND THE NYS CONSUMER PROTECTION BOARD WANT TO KNOW. Please take a moment to fill out the check-off form at the end of this article if you’ve witnessed any changes in service fees or terms and send it to the NYS Consumer Protection Board Office at 1740 Broadway, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10019, and if you have any additional questions or comments, you can call them at 1-800-697-1220 or email them at creditcardstory@consumer.state.ny.us.
As of August 20, 2009, the card issuer can raise the interest rate on future purchases, or make other “significant” changes in terms with 45 days advance notice. The notice shall advise the consumer of the right to cancel the account. (No notice is required for changes to interest rates as set forth below.) In addition, credit card issuers must mail the billing statement at least 21 days before the due date. If there is a grace period, it must extend 21 days after the statement is mailed.
Effective February 22, 2010, credit card issues must credit all payments received by 5pm, due dates must be on the same day each month (i.e., the 1st of each month), and if the payment due date falls on a day that the creditor does not receive payments by mail (such as weekends or holidays), then the creditor cannot treat a payment received the following business day as late. Also, creditors will not be able to raise interest rates or any fees during the first year an account is opened or on existing balances, except:
When the increase is due to a variable indexed interest rate.
At the end of a promotional rate period, provided that proper notice is given and that the promotional period is at least 6 months in duration.
If the required minimum payment is not received within 60 days after the due date. The consumer must be given notice for the reason of the interest rate increase and told that the increase will terminate within 6 months if the creditor receives all minimum payments on time during that period.
The most significant changes brought about by the CARD Act include...
No over-the-limit fees may be changed unless the consumer has given permission for over-the-limit transactions.
An over-the-limit fee may be imposed only once per billing cycle where the balance is over the credit limit.
No fees can be charged to make a payment online, via telephone, by mail, or by other means except for an expedited payment arranged through a service representative.
A card issuer who increases the interest rate because of market or risk factors must review the account every 6 months and decrease the rate if indicated by the review.
Penalty fees (late fees, over-the-limit fees, etc.) must be reasonable and proportional to the omission or violation of the card agreement. The Federal Reserve Board must issue rules to determine what fees are reasonable.
Before issuing a card to a person under 21, the issuer must obtain an application which contains either:
The signature of a co-signer over 21; or
Information indicating an independent means of repaying any credit extended
Card issuers may not raise the credit limit on accounts jointly held by a person under 21 and co-signer without written permission from the co-signer.
No prescreened card offers can be made to persons under 21 unless they have consented to receive such offers.
Card issuers cannot provide tangible gifts to students on campus in exchange for applying for credit.
Colleges must publicly disclose all marketing contracts made with credit card companies.
All card issuers must also submit an annual report to the Federal Reserve Board including the terms and conditions of all promotional agreements with colleges, including the number of accounts opened during the time period. These reports will be the basis of a report by the Federal Reserve Board to be given to Congress and the public.
Where fees consume more than 25% of an available credit balance, they cannot be deducted from the available balance. For instance, a credit card has a limit of $200, and fees total $51, or over 25% of the available balance. A creditor cannot reduce the available balance by $51 to get its fees.
