Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Education Committee Chair, sponsored a community forum to increase awareness about reported contamination at Information Technology High School. The New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and New York State Healthy Schools Network co-sponsored the event with Assemblywoman Nolan.

Information Technology High School in Long Island City, Queens, is housed in a former metal plating factory leased by the New York City Department of Education and the School Construction Authority in 2003. Recent reports have revealed an increase in levels of contamination found in the soil beneath the school. Assemblywoman Nolan wanted the community to have the opportunity to ask questions and share their concerns. She invited Lenny Siegel, an environmental expert from the Center for Public Environmental Oversight, and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest to give presentations on the effects of contamination at Info Tech.

Assemblywoman Nolan is the sponsor of a bill (A.8838) that would avoid housing schools at potentially toxic sites by improving oversight standards and require the Department of Education to be accountable to the public from the beginning of the process. The bill passed the Assembly by a vote of 150 to 0 during the legislative session.

“Most people know their own neighborhoods and would have knowledge about how vacant buildings were used in the past. Public disclosure, the opportunity for the City Council to vote, and the use of the state’s standard environmental review process would provide a necessary safeguard. Parents deserve to know if Info Tech is a safe school for their children and communication is the key,” said Assemblywoman Nolan.

“If I had been asked, I probably would have recommended against putting a school on this site,” said Lenny Siegel, a community environmental consultant and Executive Director of the Center for Public Environmental Oversight. “Given that the school is already there, they seem to have a robust remedial strategy. However, the way they communicate with the community needs significant improvement, and this site will need careful watching for a long time.”

“We have accomplished something great at the Queens Civic Congress. Bringing together so many groups and solidifying our shared goals has given Queens a voice in the future of this great city.

The leadership of the Queens Civic Congress has helped to establish clear guidelines for the City and the State to improve our communities through better transportation and public safety, airport access, responsible zoning laws, care of our parks and green spaces, economic development that does not sacrifice quality of life, and of course, fair funding in education.”

— CATHERINE NOLAN

SUPPORT FOR LOCAL GROUPS
Part of my job as your representative in Albany is to fight to direct our fair share of tax dollars back into our communities. The following is a list of some of the programs for which I was able to obtain state funding. I urge you to take advantage of their valuable services.

Assemblywoman Nolan with Robert Lowery, Director of New York State Council of School Superintendents

According to the State Education Department there are approximately 200,000 ELL/LEP students, comprising over 13% of the total student enrollment in New York State. “Ultimately, new laws should not make it more complicated to accomplish the goal of helping these students. We will keep that in mind as we listen to testimony from people who are directly involved with ELL/LEP students,” said Assemblywoman Nolan.

Local educators and experts were also invited to attend the hearing. Dr. Luis Reyes addressed the committee with ideas on how to solve the problems inherent in the current system.

NOLAN LEGISLATIVE ACTION AGENDA
The following are some of the issues I plan to address in the Assembly in 2008

• Advocate for fair funding in response to anticipated executive budget cuts: I will continue to ensure that funding to programs important to Queens remains strong.

• Advocate for passage of a Healthy Schools bill for New York students: Providing comprehensive guidelines for schools to promote healthy eating habits helps New York students succeed both academically and in life.

• Oppose the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s proposal to hike fares and tolls 6.5 percent: I will listen to constituents, and my actions will reflect an understanding of their needs.

• Increase services to veterans: As a staunch supporter of the men and women who protect our nation, I intend to give veterans what they need to find success outside military service.