UPDATED: Rally at City Hall and Close Encounters of the Heated Kind with Mayor Mike by Leonie Haimson - NYC Public School Parents:

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We had a great rally this morning at City Hall to protest the budget cuts to schools. About fifty parents turned up, some with their children, with signs pasted to their jackets saying, “Do not balance the budget on our backs.”

Joining us were Council Members Robert Jackson and Margaret Chin of Manhattan, Mark Weprin of Queens, Jumaane Williams and Matthieu Eugene of Brooklyn, and Diana Reyna of Brooklyn and Queens, as well as Leroy Barr, staff director of the UFT and Donovan Richards, CM Sanders chief of staff.

At the end of the rally we had an unexpected encounter with Bloomberg himself. Pictures from the rally and our encounter with Mayor Mike are now up on the CSM Facebook page .

At the press conference, I showed charts revealing the sharp increases in class size that have already occurred, as well as a chart with the worsening distribution of income in NYC and NY state.

Eliminating 6,000 teaching positions would be an absolute disaster for our children, and would lead to even further increases in class size, probably the sharpest in over 30 years. I concluded that though the mayor may want to roll over the city’s $3 billion surplus, we as parents will not roll over when it comes to our children.

All of the elected officials were eloquent in their defense of our children’s right to a quality education, and pledged that they would fight hard to make sure that there would be no further increases in class size or any cuts to the classroom in the city’s education budget. I handed CM Jackson our petition with over 1,000 signatures and asked him to give it to Speaker Quinn, who will have to protect our children in the budget negotiations.

He emphasized that there was no need for any cuts with the city’s $3 billion surplus; Mark Weprin pointed out that there were plenty other areas that were expendable in the DOE spending policies, including wasteful testing, technology enhancements, consultants and private contracts. CM Chin said as a former teacher and married to a teacher, she knew full well how important class size is and that we cannot afford to let class sizes grow any more. Both Jumaane Williams and Matthieu Eugent pointed out that focusing on improving education is the best investment the city can make.

Sue Dietrich, Staten Island parent and head of the Chancellor’s Parent Advisory Council, representing all the PTAs in the city, said her son’s class was already at 34 students; and that it can’t possibly go any higher. She pointed out that the city’s arts programs, like the great chorus at PS 22 that sang at the Oscars, could be lost if there were any more budget cuts to schools.

Noah Gotbaum, President of CEC D3, said the Governor and the Mayor should be ashamed of themselves for favoring millionaires over our kids, and that though Cuomo talked about “shared sacrifice” it was hard to see what if anything the wealthy had sacrificed in this budget.

Lisa Donlan, parent leader and member of the Grassroots Education Movement led us in a chant, “Whose schools? Our schools! Whose taxes? Our taxes? Whose priorities? Our priorities!” Sarah Porter, parent activist from PS132K in Williamsburg, wrapped up by pointing out the mayor’s math was defective and that he needed remedial lessons, since there was no need to cut 6,000 teachers with such a large surplus.

After the rally was over, some of us remained talking on the plaza in front of City Hall, including Sarah, Tina Schiller of PS 234, and Benita Rivera of the Mother’s Agenda, when I noticed the Mayor walking down the steps.

I waved to him and shouted, “Please, Mr. Mayor, do not balance the budget on our children’s backs” and that “Millionaires should pay more, including you!”

To my surprise, he briskly walked over to us. He asked if we were teachers, and we said, no, parents. I showed him the class size charts, and asked him if he would want to have his child in such large classes; how could he consider letting them increase even more?

He countered by saying that city had been subjected to big cuts from the feds and the state and we should criticize them, not him. I followed up by pointing out that the city’s had a $3 billion surplus, but he claimed that there was no surplus; when we disputed that, he added that he needed to save the surplus for the year after.

I told him that I knew he wanted to roll over the surplus, but our kids cannot have their education further damaged. We said he should use the surplus now to fill holes in this year’s budget, and if he needed more money, he should raise city taxes on the wealthy. He said, go tell Albany; and that he’s been up there arguing with them.

We pointed out that he didn’t go to Albany to support the surtax on the wealthy but that he had instead opposed this. Several times he said, “Listen to me! I won’t talk unless you listen to me!” After about five minutes, he got tired of the discussion, and walked off.

Luckily, Benita Rivera was snapping photos with her cell phone; these are on the CSM Facebook page along with earlier ones from the rally, taken by Michelle Faljean of the SI Federation of PTAs:

Thanks Benita, Michelle, and everyone who came today!

After our exchange with the mayor, Erin Einhorn, City Hall Daily News reporter ran over, along with Samantha Gross of the AP, to ask us about it. She has already posted an account of our debate on the DN blog, entitled Mayor Bloomberg Listens! (But Does He Hear?)

UPDATED: The mayor's press spokesman has responded and so have I. several times on the DN blog. Go check it out!

Go check it out and leave a comment! And please leave a comment below.

Ridgewood Democratic Club Annual Members Brunch - January 22, 2011...

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Rep Joe Crowley was the guest speaker at the Ridgewood Democratic Club Annual Members Brunch held at the Club on January 22, 2011...There were approximately 50 members of the Club present, including elected officials Rep Joe Crowley, State Senator Joe Addabbo, State Assembly Members Michael Miller and Cathy Nolan, City Council Members Diana Reyna, Jimmy Van Bramer and Elizabeth Crowley...

Elected Officials Want PA to Provide Community With Expert Help

12 Western Queens Electeds Ask Port Authority to Provide Community With Expert to Make Its Arguments about Cross Harbor Threat

“We need to ensure that the community’s views and concerns about danger of

additional truck and rail traffic are presented in the most professional manner.”

Assemblywoman Marge Markey and eleven other elected officials have formally asked the Port Authority of NY-NJ (PA) to provide the Western Queens community with professional support to respond to the agency’s new Cross Harbor Freight Movement Program.

The Port Authority began a series of briefings this fall as it began an environmental impact statement for its initiative to control the movement of freight into and through New York metropolitan region.

At a forum sponsored by Citizens of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together (COMET) on November 16, Assemblywoman Markey said that the community deserved expert assistance in framing its arguments about the current and future impact of rail and truck traffic that will potentially result from implementation of the Cross Harbor Program. “We need a consultant who will work directly with local public officials and Community Board Five to ensure that community views and concerns are properly documented and presented in the most professional manner,” she said.

In a letter to Port Authority Executive Director Christopher Ward, Markey and the other Queens public officials said: “We are in accord with your regional goals for coping with the movement of freight in the future, but we are determined to ensure that they are not achieved at the expense of our communities. Providing us with a consultant to work with us through this EIS process will help ensure the community’s views are incorporated into your final report.” 

In addition to Assemblywoman Markey, the letter was also signed by Congressman Joseph Crowley, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Congressman Anthony Weiner, State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Assemblyman Michael Gianaris, Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Assemblyman Michael Miller, City Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, City Councilmember Diana Reyna and City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer.

This is the second time in eight years that the communities of Maspeth, Ridgewood, Glendale and Middle Village have been put into the center of a plan to solve the region’s freight traffic problems to relieve the burden of truck traffic into New York. A 2003 proposal for a rail freight tunnel into the city from New Jersey would have made the local Fresh Pond Rail Yard a principal destination for the traffic from that route, burdening the surrounding communities with the adverse impact of an enormous increase in truck and rail traffic.   

The letter from Markey and the other officials to the Executive Director Ward said: “The communities of Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale and Ridgewood have been energized over recent years to find solutions to what are already intolerable conditions for many of our residents as a result of current rail and truck traffic,” adding, “We have been aggressively working with shippers, transportation companies and community organizations to address the adverse impact of current and near-term projected increases in truck and rail traffic on our neighborhoods. We need your help to ensure that community voices are heard in a meaningful way as your agency proceeds.”

For Media Information Call Mike Armstrong, 718-651-3185, 917-279-8437

The full text of Assemblywoman Markey’s letter and names of those other elected officials who have signed with her follows:

December 7, 2010

Christopher Ward, Executive Director

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
One Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10010

Re:  Cross Harbor Freight Movement Program

Dear Executive Director Ward:

My colleagues and I represent the Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale and Ridgewood communities that will be greatly impacted by the Cross Harbor Freight Movement Program. As your agency undertakes the scoping phase of your Tier I Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, we want to bring our concerns to your attention and seek your agency’s assistance.

While the Port Authority is properly motivated by the need to reduce highway congestion and eliminate travel delays in the metropolitan region, we believe that it is critical that the EIS process underway also address the potential impact that each of the various alternatives would have on our communities.  Your proposed solutions to reduce highway congestion should not further erode the quality of life of the thousands of families living in our communities who are already overwhelmed by truck traffic on commercial and residential streets and the impact the current rail freight traffic through our communities.

As public officials, we have been aggressively working with shippers, transportation companies and community organizations to address the adverse impact of current and near-term projected increases in truck and rail traffic on our neighborhoods. We need your help to ensure that community voices are heard in a meaningful way as your agency proceeds.

To do this, we respectfully request that the Port Authority retain a consultant who will work directly with local public officials and Community Board Five to ensure that community views and concerns are properly documented and presented in the most professional manner for inclusion in the EIS.

The communities of Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale and Ridgewood have been energized over recent years to find solutions to what are already intolerable conditions for many of our residents as a result of current rail and truck traffic. We are in accord with your regional goals for coping with the movement of freight in the future, but we are determined to ensure that they are not achieved at the expense of our communities. Providing us with a consultant to work with us through this EIS process will help ensure the community’s views are incorporated into your final report.

Sincerely,

Margaret Markey, Member of Assembly

Joseph Crowley, Member of Congress

Nydia Velazquez, Member of Congress

Anthony Weiner, Member of Congress

Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., State Senator

Michael Gianaris, Member of Assembly

Andrew Hevesi, Member of Assembly

Michael Miller, Member of Assembly

Catherine Nolan, Member of Assembly

Elizabeth Crowley, City Councilmember

Diana Reyna, City Councilmember

Jimmy Van Bramer, City Councilmember

Women Stand With Joe Addabbo for State Senate...

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Female elected officials in Queens—Assembly Member Audrey Pheffer, Assembly Member Cathy Nolan, Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, and Council Member Diana Reyna—and members of the community joined at a rally to support State Senator Joe Addabbo, praising him for his advocacy on important women’s issues, including social and economic rights, childcare, and health. The “Women for Addabbo” rally was held this Saturday in front of Europa Hair Design, a small business owned and run by local resident Filomena Scalcione.

Senator Addabbo said, “Small businesses are a significant employer of women in our state, and it is critical that we support them through these tough economic times and beyond. I am committed to fighting for reform that levels the playing field for women in business. This means increasing access to quality, affordable childcare, healthcare, and education, and making sure that our laws protect women’s rights at home and in the work place. I am honored to have the support of Assembly Member Pheffer, Assembly Member Cathy Nolan, Council Member Crowley, and Council Member Reyna, and I look forward to continuing to work with them on issues that are important to women. I also thank the staff of the Europa Hair Design and the community members who came out to show their support today.”

Senator Addabbo has been a strong advocate for increasing women’s participation in small business ownership, passing laws in the Senate that support Minority and Women Business Enterprises. Senator Addabbo has also fought to help families reduce childcare costs by sponsoring legislation that allows safe, effective childcare providers who operate out of their homes to increase the number of children they can serve. Because most of these childcare providers are women, this legislation also serves to support small businesses owned and operated by women.

In addition, Senator Addabbo has made women’s health issues a top priority, sponsoring mobile mammography vans at various community boards and sites throughout his District. And he has supported laws that help protect victims of domestic violence, including the law creating no-fault divorce in New York, which makes it less difficult for abuse victims to escape harmful marriages.

Council Progressive Caucus: Fat Cats Should Sacrifice Too by Frank Lombardi -The Daily Politics

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Ten of the 12 members of the City Council’s new Progressive Caucus held a tax-the-rich press conference shortly after Mayor Bloomberg gave his private budget briefing this morning to elected officials.

Their theme: Everybody’s being asked to sacrifice -- except the fat cats of Wall Street and well-off New Yorkers. They called for higher tax hikes on Wall Street profits and on New Yorkers earning above $500,000 a year.

Leading the tax-‘em bunch was Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn), who did most of the talking. Others included Margaret Chin (D-Manhattan), Daniel Dromm (D-Queens), Julissa Ferreras (D-Queens), Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan) , Annabel Palma (D-Bronx), Diana Reyna (D-Brooklyn) , Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan), Deborah Rose (D-Staten Island and James Sanders Jr. (D-Queens).

While they downplayed the notion that they’re part of a mini-revolt, it’s unusual to have so large a segment of the Council speak up in unison on a budget this early in the process. The Council doesn’t usually reach a budget agreement with the mayor until mid-June, after prolonged behind-the-scene budget negotiations with Council Speaker Quinn’s finance staff and the councilmembers on the budget negotiating team.

Lander said the speaker was aware of the press conference, but deflected a question on whether she approved: “You’d have to ask her,” he said.

“We have to speak out,” one member of the caucus said of the move to inject the issue of tax increases into the troubled budget picture, indicating that some of them think Quinn has been too closely allied with the mayor on many issues, including the city budget.

Council insiders scoffed at the action by the progressive caucus, nearly half of whom are first-time members elected last year with the help of the Working Families Party. They said there’s not enough support for taxing Wall Street and wealthier residents among the majority of the 51-member Council. “They won’t happen,” said one.

Toot toot! Beep Beep! Nydia Velazquez Parties Down by Aaron Short - YourNabe.com

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It was two weeks before Christmas, but Rep. Nydia Velazquez had reason to celebrate.

The Health Care bill passed the House, her friend and ally Councilmember Diana Reyna (D-Williamsburg) was re-elected, and it was time for Velazquez’s annual Holiday Party, held at The Warsaw (261 Driggs Ave.) on December 18.

“You give me the strength to do the work that I do. You really do and I want to say thank you,” said Velazquez, addressing a crowd of 200 guests.

Velazquez was joined by Comptroller-elect John Liu, Rep. Ed Towns (D-Williamsburg), Reyna (D-Williamsburg), Democratic District Leader Jo Anne Simon, and scores of other North Brooklyn community leaders who dined on roasted chicken with rice and beans and danced to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer, and The Electric Slide.

Slide-show photos by Me...

At Broadway Triangle Hearing, Some Lopez-Reyna Tensions by Azi Paybarah - NY Observer

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I poked my head into the Council Chambers a few minutes ago, where Dan Garodnick was presiding over a rather well-attended Council hearing about a proposed rezoning at the Broadway Triangle.

That's a 31-acre piece of property whose rezoning is supported by Assemblyman Vito Lopez, the Brooklyn County Democratic Leader.

Critics like City Councilwoman Diana Reyna said many residents in the area were left out of the public review process before the rezoning was drafted. Reyna, whom Lopez tried to oust in this year's Democratic primary and general election, is now helping lead the opposition to the rezoning.

I got to the hearing just before three women sat down to testify in favor of the rezoning, saying it will bring much-needed affordable housing to the area.

One of the women said the plans shouldn't be delayed "because of political interests," clearly a reference to Reyna.

Before the women left, City Councilwoman Rosie Mendez asked them a few questions, including their place of employment.

One by one, each of the three women said they worked for the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Center. That's the one that was founded, and is run, by Lopez.