APPOINTMENT AS HIGHER EDUCATION CHAIR

I am thrilled to announce my recent appointment as Chair of the New York State Assembly’s Higher Education Committee. The committee has purview over higher education as well as professional licensing in New York State. For years, higher education has been an area of keen concern for me, and I am deeply grateful and very excited that I’ll have the opportunity to serve in a leadership capacity on this issue, which is crucial to the future of New York State.

The Assembly has long considered public and private universities and colleges vital to creating a well-trained workforce, new jobs, attracting federal research dollars and, most importantly, keeping young people here in New York. It is essential therefore that higher education be viewed as part of the educational continuum, instead of viewing the public’s investment in education as ending after graduation from high school.

Sadly, during his tenure, Governor Pataki increased tuition at public universities (CUNY and SUNY) by 65 percent, allowed state support for community college funding to drop to its lowest level in 30 years, and attempted to cut the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) nine separate times. These actions have forced my Assembly colleagues and I to largely play defense during the past 12 years in order to stop the worst of these assaults on higher education.

I am proud that during my first budget negotiation as Higher Education Chair, we passed a budget that provides $278.5 million more in higher education investments than last year. This increase includes $10 million in additional SUNY operating aid, $6 million in CUNY operating aid, $24.4 million for SUNY community colleges, $9.4 million more for CUNY community colleges, and an additional $7 million for Educational Opportunity Centers and Attain Labs, which help students of all ages acquire new skills to succeed in today’s workforce. The budget also continues funding for the Tuition Assistance Program and increases funds for higher education opportunity programs by $3.1 million over last year. These are wise investments in New York State’s future that will help to strengthen the State’s higher education system.

Possibly in the coming years, we will have to review access issues that are tied to financial aid. More of today’s students work and the structure of our tuition assistance program envisions students attending college full-time for four years. The State may need to add greater flexibility to account for the realities of the lives of students in the 21st Century. I am committed to exploring this and other issues to help ensure that every New Yorker can access our higher education system.

STATE BUDGET MAKES HISTORIC
INVESTMENTS FOR STUDENTS

Earlier this year, I attended an Assembly Education Committee hearing to question the Mayor and Chancellor about the Department of Education’s priorities, including reduced class size.

I am thrilled that the final state budget negotiated by the Legislature and Governor makes a historic investment in New York State’s education system by providing $1.7 billion in additional funding, including $712 million in additional funding for New York City schools. The funding will be distributed based on a new formula which will provide predictable, stable and transparent funding. While the sorely-needed funding can be applied to a range of needs, a large portion of this funding should be used to reduce class size. In fact, the budget requires that New York City prepare a Contract for Excellence that must include, among other things, a plan to reduce average class sizes within five years in specified grade ranges and class size reductions for low performing and overcrowded schools.

As a co-sponsor of legislation that would mandate that New York City take significant steps to address its class size challenges, I am particularly happy that we were able to include this measure in the budget. Currently, average class size in New York City is substantially higher than the rest of the state. These larger classes shortchange both our students and teachers. When class size is too high, students do not get the individual attention that they need and deserve and teachers are unable to teach to the best of their abilities. Not surprisingly, substantial research indicates that smaller class size improves student performance.

While New York City Schools Chancellor Klein seems reluctant to commit to class size reduction, the City continues to press for more charter schools. Interestingly, charter schools tout reduced class size as one of their key components, so it is mystifying why the Chancellor will not similarly dedicate himself to reducing public school class size. I am committed to ensuring that every student has available to them a quality public school education, and I believe that charter schools are a diversion of our energies and resources.

Finally, the budget provides $145.9 million more to advance the Assembly’s plan to provide statewide universal pre-K. New York City will benefit from an additional $60.4 million for this purpose. Pre-K is a wise investment in children’s futures, preparing them for success in school. In fact, studies show that pre-K attendees tend to have higher levels of student achievement, college enrollment and future earnings.

After many years of battling with the previous Governor for additional education funding, I am proud to have negotiated a budget that makes historic investments in education to guarantee that all of New York State’s children are given the tools they need to succeed.

I heard from many constituents who, like me, were very concerned about cuts to the healthcare system in the Executive’s budget proposal. I am happy to report that the Legislature’s negotiations with the Governor resulted in the restoration of $900 million of the $1.3 billion in proposed cuts. In doing so, we have passed a budget that curbs wasteful spending and helps to root out fraud but restores over $355 million in proposed cuts to hospitals, nursing homes and pharmacies.

The new budget also makes important new investments in the State’s healthcare system. I am particularly pleased that we expanded the eligibility for the Child Health Plus insurance program, making 400,000 more middle-income uninsured children eligible. This important program provides low-cost insurance coverage to families whose income exceeds Medicaid eligibility levels but is too limited to cover the high costs of health insurance in the private market. As a result of our budget agreement, the income threshold for the Child Health Plus program will increase from 250 percent to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, or the equivalent of $82,650 for a family of four.

The budget also provides funding for human stem cell research, funding that the Assembly has long fought to include in past budgets. I am very pleased that $600 million is included in the final budget for stem cell research, which offers immeasurable promise for developing new treatments for many debilitating diseases. This substantial investment could potentially help researchers come closer to finding cures for debilitating conditions while helping New York State to continue to be at the forefront of cutting-edge biological and medical technologies.

WINNING RESULTS FOR THE COMMUNITY

Over the past few months, I have played a key role in a number of important victories for the community. I am pleased to report on some of this work so that you may get a better feel for the wide range of issues we confront regularly.

At a rally organized by my office, elected officials and tenants gathered in a successful effort to compel the Division of Housing and Community Renewal to drop a set of proposals that would have been harmful to rent-regulated tenants.

• My office drafted a report and organized a press conference which helped to convince the Spitzer Administration to withdraw proposals from the Pataki Administration’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal. These proposals would have had a number of disastrous consequences for rent-regulated tenants.

• I communicated with State officials, held an Assembly hearing and sponsored legislation to persuade the State to reverse a policy change that substantially decreased rent assistance for certain persons living with HIV/AIDS.

• I sent letters to the Department of Transportation, was active in a task force with DOT and community members, and participated in rallies resulting in the agency abandoning its plan for left turn lanes from southbound West Street onto Warren Street. These turning lanes would have endangered neighborhood residents, particularly children from nearby PS/IS 89 and PS 234 and seniors from the Hallmark residence.

• I met with the Landmarks Preservation Commission, testified at public hearings and joined rallies that led to success in realizing the first extension of the Greenwich Village Historic District since its creation 36 years ago, along with the designation of a nearby Weehawken Street Historic District.

• In order to make the State Liquor Authority (SLA) more understanding of and responsive to New York City residents’ needs, I organized a letter-writing campaign in support of the appointment of an SLA Commissioner from the City and introduced legislation to make this a requirement. After a Commissioner from the City was finally named, I was pleased to be appointed as one of only two Assemblymembers to represent the interests of my constituents on the SLA’s newly-created reform task force.

Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, I am now able to provide more frequent updates to constituents on issues of interest to them. First, you may sign up to receive a monthly update that details my work and views on the issues of importance to specific neighborhoods in my district. In addition to hearing about my efforts, these reports are a great way to keep on top of the pressing issues in your community. Second, you may sign up to receive periodic updates about particular issues that interest you. These updates report on legislation that I am working on and my views on local issues, as well as providing notice of events and meetings. To sign-up to receive these updates:

1. Check the areas of interest to you:

	Lower Manhattan Update		Environmental Issues		Neighborhood Preservation/Overdevelopment
	Village/SoHo Update		Healthcare		Reproductive Freedom
	East Village/LES Update		Higher Education		Reproductive Freedom
	Affordable Housing		HIV/ AIDS		Senior Issues
	Animal Protection Issues		Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender Rights		Waterfront Usage
	Civil Liberties		Lower Manhattan Redevelopment		Education

2. Provide your email address below (this helps save time and money):

3. Print this part of your Neighborhood Update (noting any corrections to your mailing address on the reverse side of the form) and return it to us at:

LEARN THE ADVANCED RECYCLING RULES

While many of us are well-versed in the City’s basic recycling rules, we may be puzzled over what to do with special household items. Here are a list of some common items that cannot be disposed of in the trash and information on where you can dispose of them:

Rechargeable household batteries: Compared to single-use batteries, rechargeable batteries reduce waste. However, they contain mercury, lead and other heavy metals that can be dangerous if not disposed of properly. All NYC stores that sell rechargeable batteries or items that use these batteries must accept them for recycling, no purchase required. Though the law specifies that the store must accept only up to ten batteries of the same shape and size as those sold in the store, most stores will accept any batteries.

Automotive batteries: Since they contain lead and other corrosive substances, it is illegal to discard them in the trash or on the street. Return automotive batteries to any service station or auto supply store that sells them- the $5 surcharge normally applied when purchasing a new car battery will even be waived!

Fluorescent tubes and bulbs: Fluorescent lamps contain mercury, which is released into the atmosphere when tubes are broken down during trash collection. The easiest way to get rid of old fluorescent lamps is to turn them into a Special Waste Collection Center (see below).

Each of these items, in addition to motor oil and filters, transmission fluid, latex paint, mercury thermometers and passenger car tires can be recycled at one of the New York City Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) Special Waste Collection Centers. Manhattan’s center is located at DSNY’s garage at 605 West 30th Street (between 11th and 12th Avenues). The site is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the last Friday of each month and every Saturday (except for the last Saturday of the month). Although it is free to drop off items, each household may drop items off up to six times per year.

For more information about the Special Waste Collection Centers, call the city’s 311 hotline or visit www.nyc.gov/nycwasteless. This website also includes a host of information about how to properly dispose of other common household items so that they can be recycled and reused, including old furniture, clothing and office equipment. I encourage everyone to explore this excellent resource and do your part in protecting the environment and decreasing New York City’s waste.

FREE DAY-LONG MUSIC FESTIVAL COMING TO NYC

On Thursday, June 21, 2007, New York City will, for the first time, join more than 250 cities in 130 countries in a free, all-day celebration of music, called “Make Music New York.” Given Lower Manhattan’s strong commitment to the Arts, my office met with representatives from the organization and is assisting them in disseminating information about the event. Many constituents have signed up to participate in this event and I anticipate that many more will be interested in observing the numerous small music events that will take place throughout the neighborhood and city.

Make Music New York will turn New York’s public space- usually reserved for traffic noise and jostling pedestrians- into impromptu musical stages, dance floors and social meeting points. Thousands of amateur musicians from every genre will be able to play on the sidewalks, and more professional musicians will be able to attract new audiences. Passers-by will also be invited to sing along and play along in many locations, creating unique opportunities for interaction.

If you are interested in learning more about this unique worldwide event, including scheduling for performances in the city, you may visit www.makemusicny.org or contact the event organizers at (917) 779-9709.