Education
Overcrowding in East Side public schools threatens to deny a generation of children their constitutional right to a "
sound basic education." We must make more school seats available now, build more schools to keep up with current development, and investigate new solutions for building educational infrastructure.
I have a strong commitment to public education that stems from being a graduate of the
Bronx High School of Science, State University of New York's
University at Albany and
University at Buffalo Law School. I helped create Community Board 8’s Youth and Education Committee, identified a
Free Yellow Bus Program for local youth service providers, and created an internship program to better serve the youth and education needs of our community. As your Council member I will continue to fight for increased funding for youth services and education.
On Sunday, April 15, 2012 please join me as I serve as a program participant in Brooklyn Law Incubator & Policy (BLIP) Clinic’s in the first ever NYC Legal Hack-a-thon: a chance to engage lawyers, advocates, and technologists in creating innovative regulations and applications. This Legal Hackathon explores methods to address the evolving needs of governments, entrepreneurs, and advocacy groups in today’s technologically convergent world. When it comes to legislation in government we are still operating within an mid-20th century legal reality despite society’s rapid advancements taking place in the new Information Age.
To learn more or register please visit http://legalhackathon.blipclinic.org/
It is my hope that I once in the City Council I can institutionalize innovative programs like this one to help shape a new reality for how citizens can re-write laws to serve the people they are meant to govern.
P.S. participants in my panel will be eligible to win a $100 gift certificate or an iPad 3 from http://WhyNot.ly
Submitted by kallos on Sun, 02/05/2012 - 1:01pm
Solution:
Increase the number of art and cultural productions in NYC by providing short term loans for shows and exhibitions.
Explanation:
The combined economic impact of just two 2007 exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art resulted in $377 million in spending by regional, national and foreign tourists, with a direct tax benefit to the City and State from out-of-town visitors totaling $37.7 million. In testimony before the New York State Assembly's Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Sports Development, the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (A.R.T./N.Y.) suggested that additional revenues like these could be generated by local cultural institutions if the New York City Economic Development Corp (NYCEDC) created a $20 million fund for cultural institutions that are awaiting funding from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to provide short term loans for start up costs associated with shows and exhibitions. Since the short term loans would only go to cultural institutions already designated for NYSCA funding they could be guaranteed by the NYSCA loans and would get reissued to multiple cultural institutions each year. Through smart investments and loan programs like these we can foster the arts and culture and also generate tax revenue from the creative sector.
Source:
Former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green, "Change for New York: 100 Ideas for a Better City," 2009.
Submitted by kallos on Sun, 02/05/2012 - 1:01pm
Solution:
Improve the health of our children through comprehensive sex and health education.
Explanation:
New York City has a comprehensive sex education program that requires students receive a full education on safety, receive access to contraceptives and a semester in both middle school and high school – a pioneering program in the state of New York. Schools should continue to offer lessons on sex, sexuality, safer sex and offer contraceptive devices.
This is a great start and should be expanded upon. Children must also learn basic anatomy, and what is or is not acceptable so they can keep themselves safe. Parents who sign an opt-out agreement should also be required to sign a letter agreeing that they will teach their child about safe practices so that no one gets left with no information. All NYC education should include comprehensive Internet safety classes to keep students aware and protected.
Source:
Former New York City Public Advocate Mark Green, "Change for New York: 100 Ideas for a Better City," 2009.
