City Council Member Mark Weprin Blasts DOE Plan to Add Sixteen Tests

New York City Council Member Mark S. Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens) denounced the New York City Department of Education (DOE)’s plan to use sixty-four million dollars of federal grant money for sixteen new standardized tests for public school students.

“Enough is enough,” said Council Member Weprin. “It is time for parents to rise up and give the DOE a wake-up call. Stop the insane obsession with testing.”

Council Member Weprin noted that as the fiscal climate has worsened in recent years, many schools have lost arts, music, physical education, and sports programs. The added tests will almost certainly mean less time and money available for these vital components of a well-rounded education.

“At a time when DOE is planning to lay off teachers, choosing to spend sixty-four million dollars on additional standardized tests is truly an outrage,” said Council Member Mark Weprin. “These tests will do nothing to improve education in our public schools and will only continue to sap time and resources that should be going toward helping our children learn.”

Shockingly, DOE plans to make students take tests for the sole purpose of evaluating teachers; the results would have no impact whatsoever on students, who will continue to spend more and more classroom hours on testing and test preparation drills without any resulting advantage in terms of actual learning.

“In short, the children are being used,” said Weprin.

“Fourth graders already spend ten percent of the school year taking tests,” said Council Member Weprin. “How much more testing do we really need?”

Council Member Weprin is also concerned that there are many cases in which students’ test scores are beyond a teacher’s control. Even the best instructor cannot change a child’s home situation, socioeconomic status, previous educational experience, or attention span, all of which can factor considerably in how well that child does on a standardized test. So besides harming students, an additional bevy of City tests would likely fail to achieve the stated goal of tracking teachers’ abilities.

In recent years, test preparation has already crowded out a broad curriculum, as time and resources consistently shift away from any subject matter that will not appear on state examinations. There is a monetary cost too, in the form of millions spent on test-prep materials as well as on administering and then grading the exams.

“Parents need to write to DOE Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott to make it clear that we are fed up with the extreme emphasis on standardized tests in City schools,” said Council Member Mark Weprin.

Mark Weprin Leads Property Tax "Revolt" at City Hall

left to right: Bay Terrace President Warren Schreiber, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Council Member Mark S. Weprin, and Assemblymember David I. Weprin lead a “tax revolt” at City Hall against outrageous real property tax assessment increases.

New York City Council Member Mark S. Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens), founder of the City Council Co-op and Condo caucus, stood with Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Senator Tony Avella, Assemblymember Edward C. Braunstein, Assemblymember Grace Meng, Assemblymember David I. Weprin, Council Member Daniel J. Halloran, Council Member Peter Koo, co-op shareholders, and co-op board members and presidents from Eastern Queens to protest the outrageous increases in real property tax assessments on co-ops and condos. They called on Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Finance Commissioner David M. Frankel to rescind the increases because they are arbitrary, inconsistent, and unfair.

“These increases cannot stand,” said Council Member Mark S. Weprin. “As an official who represents tens of thousands of co-op and condo residents, I will continue to fight for tax equity.”

The rally and property tax “revolt” took place in advance of City Council Finance hearings to be held on Monday, May 2 at 10 AM at 250 Broadway. At that time, Council Members will call on Commissioner Frankel to explain how he can justify the increases or rescind them immediately.

Since the New York City Department of Finance (DOF) released its real property tax assessments earlier this year, there has been considerable and well-justified angst on the part of Queens co-op and condo boards. When DOF changed the valuation methods, some co-ops saw their valuations rise by as much as one hundred fifty percent, at a time when property values are basically flat. DOF later agreed to limit increases to fifty percent.

“I am a shareholder in a co-op where valuation skyrocketed one hundred forty-seven percent this year, and then DOF decided to cap increases at fifty percent, for this year only,” said Senator Toby Ann Stavisky. “Fifty percent is totally arbitrary and is still a very large increase on middle class families.”

It has also been reported that a computer glitch at DOF was responsible for some of the unusually high assessments.

“The failure of DOF to recognize its mistakes for three months, only to ultimately blame all of its failures on a computer glitch, is simply unacceptable,” said Assemblymember Edward C. Braunstein. “It's time for DOF to abandon its effort to balance New York City’s budget on the backs of co-op owners in Queens.”

"Our ongoing fiscal recovery depends on our neighbors being secure in their homes and able to afford their groceries and medications,” said Assemblymember Grace Meng. “This plan doesn't allow for that; it's simply pickpocketing."

“The City’s formula for valuing these properties doesn’t add up,” said Council Member Daniel J. Halloran. “This is just a hidden co-op tax on my constituents.”

Council Member Peter Koo said, "DOF stated that a computer glitch is the cause for a one hundred forty-seven percent tax assessment increase for co-ops and condos in Queens. This is an unacceptable answer, and whatever glitch occurred should be corrected and assessments re-evaluated.”

"DOF was caught red-handed using commercial properties to value residential co-ops,” said Bob Friedrich, President of Glen Oaks Village Owners. “The Presidents Co-op Council, an affiliation of fifty co-op Board Presidents in Queens, is calling for an independent investigation and is preparing to file a lawsuit if these flawed valuations are imposed."

“Co-ops and condos represent a last bastion of middle class housing in New York City,” said Warren Schreiber, President of Bay Terrace Cooperative, Section One. “As property taxes continue to rise, many long-time residents could be forced from their apartments.”

There may also be a need to correct the underlying issue with legislation at the state level.

"I have introduced legislation to reclassify certain property held in cooperative form," said Assemblymember David I. Weprin. “This will better reflect that the units are primary residences, not investment properties.”

NYC Council Member Mark S. Weprin Meets Students and Easter Bunny at APEC

Council Member Mark S. Weprin and young nature enthusiasts with an Easter bunny

Council Member Mark S. Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens) visited the Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC), a non-profit organization dedicated to establishing understanding of the environment, located at 228-06 Northern Boulevard in Douglaston. There he joined a group of children who were participating in one of APEC’s many classes, workshops, and educational programs.

Mr. Weprin, a longtime friend and supporter of APEC, praised the organization for the wide range of educational programs it provides to the community. “APEC offers an incredible array of classes, workshops, and events for children and families,” said Council Member Weprin. “We are fortunate to have such a vibrant institution in our community.”

Council Member Mark Weprin Criticizes DOE's Latest Action: Now They Are Taking Away Money from School Budgets

Council Member Mark S. Weprin (D- Oakland Gardens) sent a letter to Chancellor Cathleen P. Black, New York City Department of Education (DOE), in opposition to the recent directive to school principals indicating that, according to the Deferred Program Planning Initiative, they can retain only fifty percent of the funds that remain at the end of the school year. In years past, principals were able to roll over one hundred percent of residual monies from one year to the next.

“This policy is misguided,” said Council Member Mark S. Weprin. “It punishes school children for the fiscal responsibility of their principals.”

Council Member Weprin noted that allowing principals to roll over remaining funds rewards careful budgeting, leading to a small cushion in many schools’ budgets. When the inevitable budget cuts arrive, the savvy planners’ preparedness helps them to better weather the storm. This year in particular, many principals, fully aware of the severe budgetary challenges facing our City and 

State, saved money that they intended to transfer for use during the next school year. Withdrawing those funds is an affront to the principals’ prudent efforts as well as to the students they have tried to protect.

In addition, Council Member Weprin indicated that removing unspent funds perversely incentivizes principals to spend every last dime, which is exactly the opposite of what DOE should be doing in the current environment.

“The DOE has often said that principals are the CEOs of their schools, but it’s true in rhetoric only,” said Council Member Mark S. Weprin. “Removing half of unspent monies seriously undermines the concept.”

Letter below:

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Mark S. Weprin Proposes Semi-Snow Day...

To the Editor:

When the City faced its second major snow storm in three weeks, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg had several decisions to make. He declared a weather emergency, which was helpful in getting vehicles off the street so plows could get through. He also decided to keep public schools open, offering relief to parents who had to go to work but a dilemma to those adults who were snowed in themselves: If you keep the children at home, you risk a blemished attendance record and missed school work, not to mention braving the snowy roads. On the other hand, if you send the children to school, they might end up spending the whole day watching movies because the school does not have enough teachers present to cover all the classes. What’s a parent in that situation to do?

Here’s my solution: When a storm is not severe enough to close the schools but is serious enough that the City asks people to avoid unnecessary travel, why not announce a modified school opening, a semi-snow day? Here is what it would look like: The schools open for those parents who are going to work and need to send their children someplace safe; the teachers who can make it to school are there, as they were this time. On the other hand, those parents who do not have to go out can keep their children at home. Students are not marked absent and teachers do not cover new material in class; if the principal decides to put everyone in the auditorium and turn on the cartoons, no one minds. There are fewer drivers on the roads, fewer students who feel that they are wasting their time in school, and a lot of families who can enjoy a snow day together. I think it’s worth a try.

Sincerely,

MARK S. WEPRIN
Council Member

Mark S. Weprin Has Best Attendance Record in City Council

Council Member Mark S. Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens) has a ninety-nine percent attendance record since he joined the New York City Council one year ago, the highest among the Council Members, excluding the Speaker. Weprin attended 114 out of the 115 committee and legislative meetings in 2010.

“I take very seriously my responsibility of representing the residents of Eastern Queens,” said Council Member Mark S. Weprin.

A Weprin For Avella by Lisa L. Colangelo - The Daily Politics - NY Daily News

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The gracious Lisa L. Colangelo of the DN's Queens Bureau sums up the latest dynastic endorsement for state Senate hopeful Tony Avella:


Former Democratic City Councilman Tony Avella of Queens is following up his recently-announced challenge to long-time State Sen. Frank Padavan by unveiling a series of endorsements.
Today he got the backing of his former Council colleague David Weprin.

“Tony Avella and I served together in the City Council for eight years and there was no one more independent,” Weprin said. “While we didn’t always agree on every issue, Tony was guided by principle and did what he thought was right for his constituents and for New York City.”

Although it’s no surprise that a fellow Democrat would endorse Avella over Padavan, a Republican, Weprin’s last name does carry weight in eastern Queens.
David’s brother, Mark, recently took over his City Council seat. In turn, David took Mark’s vacant state Assembly seat in a recent special election.

The Weprin political dynasty dates back to the early 1970s when their dad, Saul, was first elected to the Assembly.

Padavan was seated for his first term in the state Senate around the same time. The popular lawmaker has continued to win re-election, even though registered Democrats are the majority in the 11th district.

“It’s crucial, it’s very big in this area,” Avella said of the Weprin endorsement.
“And there’s more to come.”

Local 1500 United Food and Commercial Workers has already thrown its support behind Avella for the November election.

Pols, Union Leaders Decry Bus Service Cuts by Michael Cusenza -Queens Chronicle

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Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, civic and union leaders and representatives of several elected officials Thursday rallied outside Borough Hall on Queens Boulevard to protest impending service cuts to several bus routes.

According to Daneek Miller, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1056, which represents drivers and mechanics in MTA New York City Transit’s Queens bus division, the cuts are slated for June 27 and will affect the Q14, Q15, Q24, Q26, Q30, Q31, Q42, Q48, Q74, Q75, Q76, Q79, Q89, QM22, QM23 and X51.

“We’re at a pivotal point,” Miller said. “Do not devastate this economy and this borough any more than already has been done.”

Marshall outlined the crucial role buses play in Queens, especially in areas where subway service is minimal or nonexistent. She also said the cuts fly in the face of environmental responsibility.

“Isn’t it true that we’re encouraged to take public transportation?” Marshall asked. “Well, where is it? We need additional bus lines. Don’t cut — give us more.”

Donovan Richards, deputy chief of staff to City Councilman James Sanders Jr. (D-Laurelton), said public transportation in Far Rockaway already is “dismal,” before noting that MTA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jay Walder was raised in the Rockaways and should be mindful of how integral buses are to the borough.

Community Board 6 District Manager Frank Gulluscio also appealed to Walder’s roots and said the cuts aren’t all that surprising.

“Queens has been shortchanged forever — across the board,” Gulluscio said.

Elkanah Reed, aide to Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens), said that while Weprin understands the MTA must balance its budget, “we need all sides to be represented so we can meet the needs of the Queens community.”

Miller said the agency and Walder “refuse to exercise other options that would avert these cuts,” including reallocating federal stimulus funding to operations.

“Instead, they chose to balance their books on the backs of working people who depend on these bus lines each day,” Miller said.

A spokesman for the MTA said the agency had no comment on the rally.

Thursday’s assemblage came two weeks after a rally in Little Neck to save the Q79, which may be eliminated entirely. Henry Euler, First Vice President of the Auburndale Improvement Association, said he relies on the neighboring Q76, a route also facing cuts.

“It really is necessary to maintain those north-south lines,” Euler said.

Miller concluded the rally by comparing the MTA to a family unit.

“I understand that, at times, families can be dysfunctional,” Miller said. “But as the head of the family, Jay Walder should act more responsibly.”