CM James Comments on Departure of Medgar Evers College President

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
JANUARY 31, 2013

Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis (212) 788-7081

Council Member Letitia James Comments on Departure of Medgar Evers College President

(New York, NY)— Under the leadership of Dr. William L. Pollard— who became president of Medgar Evers College [of The City University of New York (CUNY)] in August 2009— Medgar Evers College cut back on spending for student services. Specifically, media reports cite that professors stated a writing center for students was eliminated, and tutoring service cut back. The dismissal or demotion of professors was also sharply criticized. This followed a no-confidence vote— made in December 2010— in which a significant number of the CUNY’s tenured professors expressed serious concerns about the state of the college following the elimination of the Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions, a think tank run by academically pedigreed formerly-incarcerated experts focused on prison-reform policies.

Council Member Letitia James and other elected officials have supported students and faculty in their efforts to address existing issues with the Medgar Evers administration. In 2011, students presented a petition to the administration. The students were primarily concerned with actions they believed were contrary to “the mission of [the] predominately Black institution of higher learning” and “that seek[ed] to dismantle the college's community-based centers.”

“I am confident that Medgar Evers College will be able to re-focus full attention on providing their students with the tools they need to succeed,” said Council Member Letitia James.

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ATTENTION: Post-Sandy Updates

The Office of Council Member Letitia James is available at the District Office at 67 Hanson Place, and has been assisting residents in emergency shelters, and facilitating fallen tree removal and other Hurricane Sandy-related issues. The District Office may be contacted at (718) 260-9191.

Important information has been sent to local community organizations over the last 72 hours, and is summarized below:

Con Ed/ Electricity
As of October 31, 2012, Con Edison was able to return service to many Manhattan and Brooklyn customers who have been without service since Hurricane Sandy touched down. If you are still without service, please report to 1-800-75-CONED. The Con Ed outage map is available here: http://apps.coned.com/stormcenter_external/default.html
Please be aware that the NYPD has set-up light towers in areas that continue to be without power.

Buildings
The Department of Buildings has begun inspecting buildings in  Zone A areas to assess their structural integrity. By and large, these inspections are taking place outside of the 35th District.

However, please be aware that buildings will be tagged with one of three color placards to indicate their safety: ​
Green: the building is safe to enter
Red: the building is not safe and may not be entered
Yellow: it can be occupied conditionally (i.e. one floor may be safe while another is not.) These conditions would be explained on a placard attached to the building.

Transportation
As the MTA and New York City Transit recover, Governor Andrews Cuomo has announced that free transit will be available for Thursday (Nov 1) and Friday (Nov 2), and limited subway service will be available. WNYC has a helpful Transit Tracker available here: http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2012/oct/28/transit-tracker/. Multiple outlets are reporting that the MTA-operated Brooklyn-Manhattan "bus bridge" is slow-moving, as is acquiring gas. Please be aware that cars entering Manhattan must have 3 passengers between the hours of 6:00AM to midnight. Roughly 4,000 taxis and livery cabs are available and allowed to do street hails and pick-up multiple fares. The city suggests an additional $10 charge per fare and notes that drivers must quote prices up front.

Schools
The Department of Education schools are closed Thursday (Nov 1) and Friday (Nov 2). Teachers and administrators are expected to report to work on Friday for updates.

CUNY is open on Friday (Nov 2), except: Borough of Manhattan Community College, College of Staten Island, Baruch College and Kingsborough Community College.

Sanitation
The Department of Sanitation is making scheduled garbage collections as conditions permit. Recycling collections are suspended at this time.

Volunteering
This is a list of the local emergency shelters:

• NYC Technical College, 300 Jay Street
• I.S. 117, 300 Willoughby Avenue
• I.S. 55, 2021 Bergen Street
• Brooklyn Tech High School, 29 Fort Greene Place
• Boys and Girls High School, 1700 Fulton Street
• Clara Barton High School, 901 Classon Avenue

You may additionally find your local emergency shelter location here: http://gis.nyc.gov/oem/he/index.html. The Park Slope Armory and Brooklyn Technical High School in Fort Greene are hosting a large number of people, specifically seniors and people with disabilities. Those looking to volunteer or donate supplies should stop by. Otherwise, you may volunteer with NYC Service by contacting 311 or nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov. A list of volunteering opportunities is available here: http://www.dogoodrighthere.org/blog/tue-10302012-325pm/volunteer-help-after-storm.

Homeowners (Who Have Sustained Loss)
Residents and business owners who sustained losses may begin applying for assistance http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov/, or 800-621-FEMA(3362). Additionally, please log your application with New York City Communities for Change at http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6245/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=6487.

The Federal Small Business Administration (SBA) provides low interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations to repair or replace real estate, personal property, equipment, inventory, etc. that have been damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster. Further information is available here: http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/loans-grants/small-business-loans/disaster-loans

Businesses (Who Have Sustained Loss)
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has created a resource guide with vital information and phone numbers businesses need to contact in order to get assistance and emergency loans. The guide can be accessed here www.ibrooklyn.com/sandy. Emergency loans will be made available to small-to-midsize businesses through the City, with caps at $10,000. Please see here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/nycbiz/html/contact/manager.shtml, or call 311 for NYC Business Solutions.

Midsize-to-large businesses that need to rebuild should contact the NYC Economic Development Corporation for further information on an emergency sales tax letter from New York City Industrial Development Authority (IDA) that will allow businesses to avoid payment of New York City and New York State sales taxes on materials purchased for rebuilding. IDA will also waive all fees and look to streamline its normal procedure. This program is expected to offer economic benefits to reconstruction projects costing $500,000 or more. Please contact Shin Mitsugi at smitsugi@nycedc.com for further information on this program.

Finally, office space at Brooklyn Army Terminal is available free of charge. This space includes approximately 40,000 square feet of warehouse area.

The Federal SBA is assisting small businesses with several loans that have been made available since New York City has been declared a Disaster Area. Please see further information here: https://www.box.com/s/jifheaiau2x8y76xqzb9
Application Filing Deadlines:
Physical Damage: December 31, 2012
Economic Injury: July 31, 2013

ATTENTION: SUNY BEOC College Fair

The SUNY Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center is hosting their annual College Fair for students and the residents of Brooklyn. The event is free and open to the public—

WHEN: Monday, April 23, 2012

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

WHERE: 111 Livingston Street

(entrance on Boerum Place)

Brooklyn, NY 11201

The following colleges and universities will be represented:

Adelphi-University College

Berkeley College

Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)

Bronx Community College

CUNY Central-Welcome Center

Empire State College

Hostos Community College

Kingsborough Community College

Long Island University

Medgar Evers College

Mercy College

New York City College of Technology

New York State Higher Education Services Corp

Queens College

York College

Please see the attached flyer, and feel free to contact 718-802-3338 if you have any questions.

Update: CUNY Rate Increase for 2011-2012 Year

More information concerning the City University of New York (CUNY) rate increase for the 2011-2012 year. Full-time resident undergraduate students at senior colleges will pay $300 more for the 2011 school year, raising the total annual cost to about $5,100 per student. Law students will pay $670 more in 2011, bringing the annual tuition up to roughly $11,400. Master’s degree students will pay anywhere from $480 to $710 more per year, depending on the program. (DNA Info)

ATTENTION: CUNY Rate Increase for 2011-2012 Year

On Thursday, July 21, the CUNY Board of Trustees voted to adopt a tuition increase for the 2011-12 academic year. The increase will go into effect for the coming fall semester. Tuition for full-time undergraduate students will increase by $150 per semester; tuition for full-time graduate students will increase by $240 per semester. Part-time and nonresident students will see a corresponding increase to the per-credit rates.

NYC Mayor's Cup Basketball All-Star Games; 4/3; City College

You are invited to attend the NYC Mayor's Cup Basketball All-Star Games this Sunday, April 3, 2011 at City College.

This fantastic sporting event will showcase the City's best male and female high school basketball players from the Public School Athletic League (PSAL). You can check to see if students from your local schools are competing by checking the Boys and Girls team rosters.

Please find the details of the event below:
What: NYC Mayors Cup 2011– PSAL Basketball All Star Games

When: Sunday, April 3- 1PM (girls); 3PM (boys)
Where: City College of New York, Nat Holman Gymnasium
160 Convent Avenue (at 136th Street)
New York, NY
Admission: Free, limited tickets at the door

If you have any questions, please visit nycmayorscup.com.

ATTENTION: NYC College Bridge Program

For recent High School and GED grads who are interested in going to college but think you may need some extra help before you start, you should consider applying for the College Bridge Program!

The NYC College Bridge Program is a 13 week course designed by District 79 to help recent high school and GED graduates build skills in reading, writing, and math in order to pass the CUNY and other college entrance exams like the ACT and SAT.

• Complete applications forms can be mailed to Jennifer Charlot at 4360 Broadway, Suite 402, New York, New York 10033 or emailed to jcharlot@schools.nyc.gov
• The deadline to submit applications is October 1st, 2010. You will be notified of your acceptance in late October.

Space is limited, so please apply immediately!

High School Admissions

Middle school students and their families are invited to attend the NYC Department of Education's annual Citywide High School Fair! The fair is a great opportunity for you survey the city's public high schools, speak with their representatives and learn about their programs.

Citywide High School Fair
October 2 & 3, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Brooklyn Technical High School
29 Fort Greene Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Brooklyn Borough High School Fair
October 16 & 17, 2010
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Edward R. Murrow High School
1600 Avenue L
Brooklyn, NY 11230

CLSJ Conducts Parent Workshops EVERY THURSDAY!

The Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College/CUNY (CLSJ) is conducting a series of workshops for parents in Central Brooklyn. The workshops, which started in January, are designed to teach parents how to advocate for their children’s education. Entitled Parent Advocates Coming Together (or P.A.C.T), the workshops are held weekly - EVERY THURSDAY - at the headquarters for CLSJ (located at 1534 Bedford Avenue, 2nd floor, Brooklyn, NY 11216). The workshops are free and open to all parents. Light refreshments will be served and workshop materials will be provided, also at no cost.

For additional information about P.A.C.T, please contact Oseye Mchawi at omchawi@mec.cuny.edu or call 718-804-8893.

Esmeralda Simmons, Esq., Executive Director of CLSJ says that these workshops are designed to get parents to not only think about how to best advocate for their children but will allow them to engage in interactive role playing and mock demonstrations. “The PACT workshops will truly be interactive. For example parents will have the opportunity to role play scenarios based on actual life situations that one may come across in dealing with the Department of Education. This, we hope, will offer a deeper level of understanding about how to powerfully advocate for their children.”

Some of the planned workshop topics, which will be led by some of the most respected educational leaders and advocates in New York City, include:

* Planning Your Child’s Education: Pre-K thru 12th Grade
* Parents’ Rights and Responsibilities
* Achievement Standards
* The Department of Education Disciplinary Code: What Is It and How Does It Relate to My Child?
* Navigating Public Education for Immigrant Students, and much more

P.A.C.T is funded by the New York Council of Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus and New York State Assembly Members Annette Robinson and Inez Barron.

ATTENTION: Family Development Training Program Info & Scholarship for Family Development Workers

Family Development Training and Credentialing Program (FDC) is coming to Kingsborough Community College (CUNY), Learn more at an upcoming information session on--

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 10:00AM- 12:00PM
Gym- G-201 Kingsborough Community College
2001 Oriental Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY 11235

The FDC Program is the result of a major NYS initiative to change the way health, education, and human services are delivered to families. The scholarships that are available are for FAMILY WORKERS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED by community-based and non-profit organizations located within the Neighborhood Development Areas (NDAs). FDC-trained workers help families capitalize on their strengths to set and achieve healthy family goals.

Developed by Cornell University, FDC training is attended by employees of organizations that want to invest in their workers and help them grow professionally, have a greater impact in their work, and experience greater job satisfaction. FDC training will help workers understand and reconnect with the mission of their organization. The training has an impact on all levels of an organization; it empowers and strengthens staff, gives staff new skills with which to better serve their constituents, excites and encourages supervisors, and increases manager's confidence and pride in their family workers.

The 90-hour training includes interactive classes, the development of a portfolio and skills application assignments, and a NYS FDC-credential examination. Participants who successfully complete the program can earn a Family Development Credential, PONSI college credits, and Continuing Education Units.

Classes will be held on Fridays, beginning March 5 through June 18 from 10am-5pm.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: contact Meryl M. Jones, Director of Professional Development, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development at mjones@dycd.nyc.gov or 212-341-9568.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2010
See Scholarhip Info here.
TO RESERVE A SEAT AT FEB 3 INFORMATION SESSION: Call Esther Leon at 212-341-9566.

ATTENTION: Research Conference at CUNY's Center for Puerto Rican Studies; 12/11; 9AM

A RESEARCH CONFERENCE- PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Discussing Puerto Ricans in low wage jobs and labor markets.

When: Friday, December 11, 2009
Time: 9:00AM – 3:30PM
Where: Hunter College, School of Social Work
129 East 79th Street (near Lexington)
New York, NY 10075

Registration is required– register online at http://www.centropr.org/. Lunch will be provided.
For the most updated information visit http://www.centropr.org/ or call (212) 772-5714.

ATTENTION: Conference on Air Quality, Electricity, and Energy Concerns; 10/30; CUNY Grad Center

WHERE: Friday, October 30, 2009
10AM- 12PM

African-American Environment Association hosts...

Air Quality & Electricity: Why it Matters to You

Join New York stakeholders from environmental, public policy, and community outreach groups to discuss New York's energy concerns, environmental justice, green jobs and more!

This event is RSVP only; for more information, call

ATTENTION: Upcoming Community Events

MONDAY, August 31, 2009
6PM- 9PM
Jewish Children's Museum
792 Eastern Parkway (at the corner of Kingston Avenue)
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11213

or

TUESDAY, September 1, 2009
6PM- 9PM
Flatbush-Tompkins Congregational Church
424 East 19th Street (corner of Dorchester Road)
Brooklyn, NY 11226

For more information you may call (718) 287-1142 or (718) 287-0493 to RSVP.

SPONSOR: United States Representative Yvette Clarke, 11 CD
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"THE BUCK STOPS HERE"- A Public Policy Forum at the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College and the Citizens Budget Commission with the Democratic Primary Candidates for New York City Comptroller--

Wednesday, September 2, 2009
5:30PM- 7PM
Baruch College
Newman Conference Center
151 East 25th Street, 7th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10010

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Time For Lunch "Eat-In" at Prospect Height's P.S. 9

Monday, September 7, 2009
12PM- 3PM
80 Underhill Avenue (between Bergen & St. Marks Ave.)
Brooklyn, NY 11238

Join P.S. 9 families and others in the community for a potluck in the P.S. 9 schoolyard, part of Slow Food USA's "Time For Lunch: National Day of Action" to get real food in schools. There will be kids activities, speakers, and great conversation. NYS Senator Eric Adams and NYC Council Member Letitia James will be on-hand. Participants are encouraged to bring a dish to share. Please try and bring a dish that:

- Is nutritious and uses 'whole' foods (not processed foods)
- Costs less than $20 to make
- Is delicious to kids

Don't forget to bring your own plates, cups, utensils and non-alcoholic beverages, too!

For more please visit here for more information.

A Message from Council Member Letitia James

The following is a letter Council Member James sent to CUNY affiliates who contacted her concerning the CUNY budget.

Dear New York City Resident:

Each year, the City University of New York (CUNY) enrolls more than 450,000 students City-wide within eleven senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E. Macaulay Honors College, the Graduate School and University Center, the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, the CUNY School of Law, the CUNY School of Professional Studies and the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education- equaling almost half of all college or university students in the City of New York.

In the past, CUNY has had to make difficult financial and academic decisions in order to continue to provide higher educational opportunities. Prior to the 1970’s, a CUNY education was free to New York City students, a system referred to as ‘open admissions’. Under open admissions, Black and Latino attendance rates grew substantially. Facing a fiscal crisis, the CUNY system began imposing tuition fees on students. By the 2000’s, to meet the still-evolving academic standards of today’s working world, CUNY raised admission standards following reports that students in the four-year colleges were not meeting competitive standards. Throughout these changes, the University has remained true to its legacy of providing low and mid-income individuals with quality educational opportunities.

Today, CUNY enrollment is at its highest level since 1975, a 4.8% increase over 2008. The Macaulay Honors College, which graduated its first class in 2005, is currently serving 1,300 high-achieving students. Students admitted to the program had an average SAT score of 1400. A Macaulay student was one of the 32 Americans awarded a 2009 Rhodes Scholarship (CUNY’s third Rhodes student in five years). Additionally, many of CUNY’s senior colleges are recognized as some of the most rigorous in the country.

However, with the current fiscal crisis now affecting our national and local governments, the University is facing budget cuts that could potentially weaken its structure and operations as well as hinder the education of students who attend it. CUNY has sustained $82 million in reductions in City and State support in the current year alone. According to a statement issued by the Office of the Chancellor, “The State Executive Budget recommends $1.9 billion for CUNY’s senior colleges, reflecting a decrease of state support of almost $65 million, offset by more than $115 million from additional tuition and fee revenue. This revenue is based on tuition rate increases of 15 percent, or $300 per semester, for resident full-time undergraduate students and 20 percent for graduate students…The Executive Budget proposes a $20-million University-wide reduction to [our] senior colleges in non-core activities and a reduction on community-college base aid per full-time equivalent (FTE) by $270 for the current year that would continue into FY2009-2010. For CUNY, this equates to about $4 million in the current year and $18 million in 2009-10.”

Fiscal year 2009-2010 represents year four of CUNY’s innovative multi-year financing approach- called the CUNY Compact. This strategy offers an economically efficient way to finance CUNY by delineating shared responsibility among partners and creating opportunities to leverage funds. To integrate Governor Paterson’s proposed budget policies, CUNY Compact has been adapted for the fiscal year. CUNY is requesting the implementation of a State and City Philanthropy Matching Program in which three dollars in public funds are provided for every dollar the University raises through philanthropic sources.

The effects of such a program would help insure that no CUNY student would be denied the ability to continue their studies as a result of the proposed tuition increase, and establish a new student financial assistance program. The FY2010 College Investment Program totals $90.6M and includes:
• $38.0M for academic and faculty support;
• $26.0M for improved student services;
• $5.3M for upgrading infrastructure.
Capital priorities, which include critical maintenance of properties and the Decade of Science initiative (which focuses on expanding research opportunities in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields), incorporate green standards of development and would create local job opportunities.

In the interest of promoting the continued success of CUNY, ideally, the New York City Council should take a stand to reject the City cuts that force CUNY to adopt a budget model that includes any tuition increases, including the $36.3M in cuts to CUNY's operating budget, and $4.3M in reductions in City Council-sponsored programs for CUNY students. However, if we cannot do that, it is imperative that we support CUNY’s Compact budget request plan, which includes a Philanthropic Matching Program that limits those tuition increases and allows CUNY to restore their programs.

I believe that together we can ensure low and mid-income individuals continue to receive quality education at CUNY institutions. I join you in requesting CUNY's budgetary needs be met.

Sincerely,
Letitia James
Member of the City Council

Higher Education for Latinos

Today, our office attended the New York City Council’s Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus (NYCC-BLA) presentation on the City University of New York Graduate Center’s Center for Latin-American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies (CLACLS). Our office is particularly concerned with education rates within these communities. For example, the CLACLS reports that although roughly 30% of undergraduate students at CUNY are Latino, only 8% of graduate students studying at CUNY are Latino. The CLACLS seeks to establish a fellowship program specifically for Latin-American, Caribbean, and Latino students who seek graduate-level education. Council Member James supports the efforts of the CLACLS, and continues her commitment of education, as well as her ongoing work to restore adequate funding to CUNY for both undergraduate and graduate students. The CLACLS maintains a Latino Data Project which studies the population reports and patterns within the Latino community. The CLACLS website can be found here: http://web.gc.cuny.edu/lastudies/
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The office of Council Member James was represented last night (9/24) at the 79th Precinct’s Community Council Meeting. CM James would like to congratulate Deputy Inspector Donald V. Lyons on a crime decrease within the 79th Precinct, and extends her thanks to the hardworking police officers that serve the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. For further information on the 79th Precinct and its most recent COMPSTAT reports, see here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precincts/precinct_079.shtml