Deborah Glick’s Neighborhood Update

Dear Neighbor,

The recently released Executive Budget reveals the stark reality of our State’s current financial situation. It’s not news that the eroding economy has hit New York hard, given that so much of the prosperity we enjoyed in recent years came from Wall Street profits and the ensuing bonuses. New York was reminded of this dependency after the attacks on the World Trade Center closed the financial district for several days and limited access for months afterward. The resulting loss of tax revenue created a serious shortfall for the State. We responded to this emergency by instituting an emergency income tax surcharge that decreased over a three year period. This action was a major component of our recovery.

But today’s crisis is more significant and broader in impact. While our prior financial downturn was the result of an assault from outside sources, today’s crisis is the product of a financial meltdown borne of irresponsible and now fraudulent actions on the part of the incompetent or endlessly greedy. The unraveling of various investment firms and the complex and questionable investment instruments they promoted demonstrates quite clearly the dangers of privatizing Social Security accounts. If Mort Zuckerman can get fleeced then what chance does the average pensioner have?

The challenge is enormous, but we have to address the reduction in revenues by consolidating services where efficiency can enhance service delivery. We also must use this crisis as impetus to finally advance common sense policy initiatives that have been derailed by political posturing. For example, we can no longer afford the senseless Rockefeller Drug Laws, which eliminated judicial discretion, filling our prisons with people with addiction problems who would have been more effectively and less expensively served in drug treatment than prison. Even as crime statistics have revealed a significant downturn in criminal activity, we retained our prison infrastructure beyond the necessary capacity. We have to shift our focus.

If upstate communities are clinging to prisons as job producers, we have to find adaptive reuse opportunities that offer desperately needed jobs. Reusing these facilities as manufacturing incubators for new technologies can offer a win-win solution. Low cost- or no cost- space for new industries that can bring green technology to our State may provide a pathway to long-term growth. If we retool our State’s economy properly by promoting new industries and laying the foundation for a more diverse economic base, we will be able to retain our younger generation, which is essential to ensuring a bright future for our State.

Just as I worked hard with my colleagues to address the fiscal challenges faced by the State following the World Trade Center attacks, I will push for common-sense and creative solutions so that our State recovers from this fiscal crisis and emerges even stronger than before. I have no doubt that we will succeed in this endeavor

Best Wishes,
signature
Deborah J. Glick
Assemblymember

WEIGHING THE MERITS OF MAYORAL CONTROL

In 2009, the State law that allowed for Mayoral control of the New York City school system will sunset and my colleagues and I will decide whether it should be extended. Mayoral control, put in place in 2002, replaced the previous Board of Education (BOE) system. In that system, the Borough Presidents appointed 5 BOE members and the Mayor appointed 2, with each appointee serving a fixed 4-year term. The power to select a Chancellor to lead the school system rested with the BOE, while locally-elected school boards provided the means for parents to participate in decision-making and gave them a formal role in the Superintendent appointments process.

With the enactment of Mayoral control, the Mayor was given much greater authority over the school system. The Mayor now has sole authority to appoint a Chancellor, as well as the power to appoint 7 members of the 13-member Panel on Education Policy (PEP), which replaced the BOE. The remaining 5 PEP members are chosen by the Borough Presidents, and all appointees serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing authorities, meaning that they can be removed at any time and for any reason. Finally, locally-elected school boards were replaced with Community Education Councils (CECs), which are comprised of 2 Borough President appointees and 9 members elected by the local parent association. Unlike the prior school boards, the CECs have no formal role in the appointment of Superintendents; the Chancellor has sole authority for their appointment.

Assemblymember Glick addresses the crowd at a forum she organized to hear constituents’ views on Mayoral Control of the public school system.

I have heard from many constituents who feel that, under Mayoral control, there is no opportunity for input into the system by anyone outside of the Mayor’s office and Department of Education (DOE). Some people argue that the PEP, which was meant to be an independent voice, is not truly independent since its members can be removed at will. Others have complained about the administration’s seeming prioritization of things like standardized testing and fancy computer ranking systems, rather than listening to and focusing on parents’ top concerns, such as class size reduction. Some people feel that these issues merit non-renewal of Mayoral control, while others support an extension, but with additional safeguards built in to address these issues.

Although it is still early in the process, I have begun to seek input from constituents on this issue. Just last month, my office organized a public forum on Mayoral Control in which a panel of experts expressed their varied views and audience members had the opportunity to share their opinions. In addition, my office has created a survey on this issue for constituents in my district and I invite you to share your views with me in this way. To participate in this survey, please contact my office via e-mail at glickd@nysa.us or by phone at (212) 674-5153.

HIGHER ED COMMITTEE UPDATE:
NEW LAWS EASE TEXTBOOK PRICES
AND AID IN COLLEGE SAVING

As Chair of the Assembly’s Higher Education Committee, I have worked to make our higher education system accessible to all. In addition to fighting to combat rising tuition costs, I recognize that smaller costs often aggregate, resulting in a significant additional burden on students. For example, textbooks and other supplies cost students an average of $1,000 per year on top of tuition. It is also noteworthy that the cost of textbooks has been rising at twice the rate of inflation.

In order to stem this rising cost and prevent students from being forced to purchase unnecessary and costly materials, I introduced the Textbook Access Act. This measure, which will take effect July 2009, will prevent publishers from forcing faculty to order textbooks in expensive bundles that include materials such as workbooks and CD ROMs. In this way, faculty now can order just the materials they believe their students need, thereby placing the financial concerns of students above the profits of publishers.

I also understand how challenging it is for families to save money for college. For this reason, I was proud to support a bill that eases restrictions on the New York State College Choice Tuition Savings Program, allowing relatives, employers and others to contribute to state-sponsored college savings accounts. The Program, created in 1998, had allowed only the person or persons who opened the account to make tax-deductible contributions to it. Now, by allowing others to contribute, this law will help boost college savings, providing students with another tool to manage rising education costs.

WINNING RESULTS FOR THE COMMUNITY

In addition to my legislative accomplishments discussed elsewhere in this newsletter, I was involved in a number of local victories as well. So that constituents are aware of the work my staff and I are engaged in, I am proud to list some of the community victories in which my office played a key role:

New public school classrooms will open next year in Tweed Courthouse, alleviating some of the future overcrowding at PS 234 and PS 89. In addition, a new elementary school is planned for the Foundling Hospital site on West 16th Street. I am happy to have helped realize these victories as a member of Speaker Silver’s Task Force on School Overcrowding and a number of other work groups, and by communicating directly with DOE about overcrowding.
Following years of advocacy by my office, other local electeds and the community, the Noho Historic District will now be extended to include three additional blocks and protect 56 buildings.
The reconstruction of the Borough of Manhattan Community College’s Fiterman Hall, which was severely damaged by the attacks of September 11th, will be moving forward, partly due to State funding that Speaker Silver and I were able to secure for this important project.

Digital TV Transition:
Don’t Be Left in the Dark

This February 17, all television stations in the United States will switch from broadcasting via an analog signal to digital broadcasting. Fortunately, viewers whose television is connected to cable or satellite, along with those who have a digital television, will not be affected by the change. However, those with just “rabbit ears” will need to upgrade by either purchasing a digital television or a converter box.

In order to assist with the cost of converter boxes, the United State Department of Commerce is providing up to two $40 coupons per household. Individuals can apply online at www.dtv2009.gov or by calling 1-888-388-2009. You may also call my office at (212) 674-5153 to request that an application be mailed to you.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

In addition to the higher education-related bills above which were signed into law this year, I worked hard to see passage of a number of other important measures.

Protecting Exploited Children

I was proud to co-sponsor the Safe Harbour for Exploited Children Act, which was signed into law this Spring. This measure protects sexually exploited children by treating them as victims instead of criminals. This shift is important, as an overwhelming majority of exploited youth have a history of abuse as younger children and most grew up in poverty. In the end, many victims are driven out of their homes by abusive parents or forced to leave by parents who could not accept their lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identity. Often brainwashed and beaten, these victims often feel that they have little choice but to succumb to exploitation in order to survive.

Tragically, instead of being treated as victims, these children are too often treated as criminals and placed into a justice system that is ill-equipped to provide them with appropriate services. The Safe Harbour for Exploited Children Act will instead give exploited children the protection and services of the Family Court. In this way, victims will not be re-traumatized by incarceration, nor be forced back into a life of abuse. They will receive the crisis intervention, counseling and emergency and long-term housing services they need to put them on track toward a productive and healthy life.

After accepting their Legislator of the Year award, Assemblymember Glick addresses National Organization of Women – New York State members.

Increasing Voter Participation and Accessibility

It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm surrounding the recent Presidential election and the increased voter turnout that resulted. While this participation no doubt reflects people’s concerns and hopes about the future direction of our country, it is also partly reflective of measures designed to increase voter participation. Early voting, currently allowed in more than 30 states, is one means of doing so. In fact, experts estimate that nearly a third of all voters during this most recent national election voted early.

In addition to increasing participation, early voting makes voting more accessible to citizens, some of whom may be unexpectedly unavailable or ill on election day. It has also been credited with easing the administrative burden of elections and decreasing lines and wait times for voters, as voting is spread out over a longer period of time. Despite these benefits, New York State currently does not allow early voting.

For this reason, I have enthusiastically signed on to co-sponsor a new measure that would allow early voting in New York. The bill would permit any voter to cast their vote by paper or machine ballot starting ten business days prior to a primary or general election at the county Board of Elections (or any alternative sites designated by them). I am hopeful that this bill will soon become law, adding New York to the growing number of states that have recognized the value of allowing early voting.

SHARING THE ROAD SAFELY

With more development comes more congestion. We live in a fast-paced city where pedestrians, cyclists and drivers converge, sometimes resulting in accidents that may have serious long-term ramifications. While I have advocated for road improvements like protected bike lanes and neck downs at corners to slow traffic, these improvements exist in limited locations. To ensure greater safety for everyone, a few moments of caution can go a long way.

IF YOU’RE IN A CAR

Take greater care when turning by looking out for bike riders and pedestrians. Never open your door without looking for a bicycle approaching alongside your car and ensure that your passengers do the same.

IF YOU’RE ON FOOT

Always keep in mind that cars and cyclists sometimes don’t follow the rules. Don’t step off the curb until the traffic light changes and cars stop and always look both ways before crossing a street, even a one-way street. Be particularly careful to observe turning vehicles and don’t start to cross the street if it’s obvious that you can’t get the entire way across before the light turns.

IF YOU’RE ON A BIKE

Travel with traffic, being careful of car and truck door openings and turning vehicles. Also pay special attention to pedestrians by following traffic control signals and not riding on sidewalks or the wrong way down one-way streets. And always wear a helmet- nearly all cycling fatalities and serious injuries occur to cyclists without helmets.