Dinner and a photo will run you $15,200 a head.
Here's a copy of the event invite:
Dinner and a photo will run you $15,200 a head.
Here's a copy of the event invite:
Monday, September 13, 2010
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Celebrates the publication of the first edition of the New York County Criminal Courts Manual
Guest Speaker
Hon. Michael J. Obus
Administrative Judge for Criminal Matters, New York County
The Manual, produced by members of NYCLA's Criminal Justice Section, is a valuable tool for attorneys practicing criminal law in Manhattan. Proceeds from sales of the Manual,
which costs $50 for NYCLA members and $100 for nonmembers, help underwrite the Criminal Justice Section's annual Public Service Fellowship Essay Competition.
Place
Woolworth Tower Kitchen
233 Broadway
(across the street from City Hall Park)
Admission
$30 includes hors d'oeuvres; cash bar (happy hour prices)
Proceeds from the cocktail reception will help underwrite the Public Service Fellowship Essay Competition. For reservations, send a check, made payable to the Criminal Justice Section,
to: NYCLA Criminal Justice Section, 14 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10007. If you cannot attend the reception but would like to make a donation to the Public Service Fellowship Essay Competition, send a check, made payable to the NYCLA Foundation, to the address above or visit the NYCLA Foundation page.
Most Voters Believe that Democrats in Congress Want to Raise Taxes, Increase Government Spending
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Heading into the final two months of the mid-term election campaign, most voters believe that Democrats in Congress want to raise taxes and spending while Republicans in Congress want to cut taxes and spending.
At the same time, most voters believe that reducing taxes and spending would be good for the economy.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% of Likely Voters believe Congressional Democrats want to increase government spending. Only 16% believe the party wants to cut spending.
On the tax front, 59% believe that most Democrats in Congress want to increase taxes. Only 17% hold the opposite view.
As for Republicans, 51% say that most Republicans want to cut government spending and 50% say they want to cut taxes. Twenty-seven percent (27%) believe GOP legislators want to increase spending and 25% believe they want to increase taxes.
Sixty percent (60%) believe that tax cuts are good for the economy while 56% say tax hikes will hurt the economy.
Fifty-six percent (56%) believe that additional government spending will hurt the economy and 50% believe that spending cuts will help. See survey questions and toplines and crosstabs.
The economy is consistently ranked as the most important issue of Election 2010. Currently, voters trust Republicans more than Democrats on the issue. That's a big reason that the Republicans lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot. Many analysts, including Larry Sabato, are forecasting large gains for the GOP in November.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 31-September 1, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95%level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Republicans and unaffiliated voters overwhelmingly believe that Democrats in Congress want to raise taxes and increase spending. Democratic voters are more evenly divided. Platinum Members can review full demographic crosstabs.
Data released earlier highlighted the wide divide between Mainstream voters and the Political Class on spending, taxes, and deficits.
Forty-five percent (45%) expect their own personal taxes to go up during the Obama Administration. Only 9% expect their taxes to go down. As noted in a November 2008 editorial, Obama won the White House by campaigning like Ronald Reagan and promising tax cuts for 95% of Americans. The disconnect between those promises and current perceptions is adding to the Democratic woes this election season. See Crosstabs.
A new book by Scott Rasmussen and Doug Schoen addresses the broader discontent roiling the political landscape this year. MAD AS HELL: How the Tea Party Movement Is Fundamentally Remaking Our Two-Party System, published by Harper-Collins, will be released September 14. It can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Borders, and other outlets.
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Overcoming overweight
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From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.
About one third of Americans are obese. And besides what that does to their bodies, it also runs up big medical bills - about $147 billion a year. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researcher Deborah Galuska notes that overweight and obesity raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, osteoarthritis, and problems in getting pregnant.
Of course, diet and physical activity is the way to shed the weight. Galuska reminds us that high-calorie foods such as fatty and sugary things can be replaced with fruits and vegetables. And she says people should aim for at least two and one half hours of moderate-intensity physical activity a week. However, she notes:
"Even if they can't get to that goal, they should be at least somewhat active, so something is better than nothing." (6 seconds)
Learn more at hhs.gov.
HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.
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NASA Accepting Applications For Aeronautics Scholarships
NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate is accepting scholarship applications for the 2011 academic year. The application deadline is Jan. 17, 2011.
"We want more students to pursue careers in aeronautics," said Jaiwon Shin, associate administrator for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "By offering these scholarships, we are extending to students not just an opportunity to become familiar with NASA's research, but also an extra dose of inspiration. Scholarships are an excellent way for us to attract talented young innovators to our work force."
NASA expects to award 20 undergraduate and five graduate scholarships to students in aeronautics or related fields. Undergraduate students entering their second year of study will receive up to $15,000 per year for two years and the opportunity to receive a $10,000 stipend by interning at a NASA research center during the summer.
Graduate students will receive up to $35,000 per year for up to three years, with an opportunity to receive a $10,000 stipend interning at a NASA research center for up to two consecutive summers.
Students who have not committed to a specific academic institution or program still may apply. However, if accepted, they must be admitted by fall 2011 into a suitable aeronautical engineering program or related field of study at an accredited U.S. university. All applicants must be U.S. citizens. Scholarship money may be used for tuition and other school-related expenses.
NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate conducts cutting-edge, fundamental and integrated systems research in traditional and emerging disciplines. The intent is to help transform the nation's air transportation system and to support development of future air and space vehicles. Goals include improving airspace capacity and flexibility; aviation safety and aircraft performance; reducing overall noise, engine emissions and fuel usage.
For details about this scholarship program, including how to apply, visit:
http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov
- end -
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We deeply regret to inform you of the passing of Clarence S. Barasch on Tuesday at the age of 99. Clarence was a member of REBNY for over 42 years. During that time Clarence provided extraordinary and invaluable service and advice to REBNY. He wrote numerous articles for the Annual Diary including Outline of Real Estate Broker's Rights and Duties. Every year, Clarence reviewed and updated the articles as changes in the law occurred.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his sons Lionel and Jonathan and the entire Barasch family.
Funeral services we held earlier today at Park Avenue Synagogue, 50 East 87th Street.
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HIV Testing Is Now a Routine Part of Health Care in New York
Change in state law requires health professionals to offer voluntary HIV tests to patients 13 to 64 years old
New law also simplifies informed consent process, allowing for verbal consent in some circumstances
Voluntary HIV testing is now part of routine medical care in the state of New York. Due to a change in New York's State Public Health Law, New York residents receiving health services at most medical facilities should now expect to be offered a voluntary HIV test. With limited exceptions, the new State law requires health care professionals to offer all patients between the ages of 13 to 64 a voluntary HIV test. The law applies to anyone receiving treatment for a non-life-threatening condition in a hospital, a hospital emergency department or a primary care setting, such as a doctor's office or outpatient clinic.
QUESERIA CHIPILO INC. Recalls Cheese Products Because of Possible Health Risk
QUESERIA CHIPILO INC. is announcing a recall of the following cheese products, all date codes up to and including September 26, 2010 - Fresco and Nov 25, 2010 - Oaxaca.
Oaxaca String Cheese
Queso Fresco
The Cheese products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, infection can cause miscarriages and still births among pregnant women.
The recalled cheese was distributed in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, CT, and Virginia to retail stores and wholesalers.
THE PRODUCT IS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF
QUESERIA CHIPILO
CHIPILO
AZTLAN
| PRODUCT PACKAGING | UPC | SIZE |
|---|---|---|
| Oaxaca String Cheese | 890073001000 | 10lbs Plastic package with sell-by-label |
| Oaxaca String Cheese | 890073001017 | 5lbs Plastic package with sell-by-label |
| Oaxaca String Cheese | 890073001024 | 14oz Plastic package with sell-by-label |
| Queso Fresco | 089007300115 | 14oz Plastic package or plastic bag package with sell-by-label |
The firm also manufactures cheese for Mi Pueblito's brand
| PRODUCT PACKAGING | UPC | SIZE |
|---|---|---|
| Oaxaca String Cheese | 024077102245 | 10lbs Plastic package with sell-by-label |
| Oaxaca String Cheese | 024007101003 | 14oz Plastic package with sell-by-label |
| Oaxaca String Cheese | UPC no available | 14oz Plastic package with sell-by-label |
The problem was detected by FDA sampling at the facility and in finished product
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumer with question may call the company at 973-685-7148 Monday-Friday, 8:00 - 3:00 p.m.
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Today's Schedule11:30 AM: The President meets with his national security team
12:00 PM: Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
1:00 PM: The President receives the Economic Daily Briefing
All times are Eastern Daylight Time
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DiNapoli's Office Completes Audit of City of Yonkers
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced his office completed the audit: City of Yonkers - Budget Review.
"My office's audits of local governments improve their financial management practices," DiNapoli said. "These audits are tools for local officials to make sure proper policies and procedures are in place to protect taxpayer dollars. Officials from the City of Yonkers have very few options available to deal with any unforeseen occurrences or deviations from the budget. They must implement stringent fiscal oversight and controls to prevent further financial problems this year."
DiNapoli's auditors found that the city's budget was in technical compliance with the Fiscal Agent Act. However, during the review, auditors identified a number of risks with the city's budget.
DiNapoli's auditors noted that the city's 2010-11 budget relied on non-recurring funding, and relied on the enactment of state legislation that would continue the city's authorization to accrue certain revenue. Auditors also believe city officials may have over-budgeted revenue from income tax surcharges by as much as $5.2 million and under-budgeted police overtime by more than $2 million.
Further, the city's long-term fiscal health is threatened by its growing debt burden. The city's debt burden has increased substantially over the past 10 years, with its debt service costs rising 84 percent over that period. Adding to the threat, the city plans to continue paying the cost of tax certiorari refunds by issuing an additional $12 million in debt.
Click here for a full copy of the audit.
If you have any questions, or would like a comment from the Comptroller's press office regarding this audit, please call 518-474-4015, or send an email to press@osc.state.ny.us.
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]]>See if You Are Owed Some of NY's $10.5B in Unclaimed Funds at Events Statewide
New Yorkers can find out if they are owed some of the state's $10.5 billion in unclaimed funds at events across the state in September, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today.
"New York has $10.5 billion in unclaimed fund accounts. We want to return this money to its rightful owners," DiNapoli said. "The money belongs to New Yorkers. We want to give it back."
Representatives from DiNapoli's office will be on site at the events listed below to help New Yorkers find out if they are owed money. New Yorkers may also check for unclaimed funds at www.osc.state.ny.us or by calling toll free at 1-800-221-9311. Click here to read a fact sheet about the Office of Unclaimed Funds.
|
DATE |
EVENT |
LOCATION |
COUNTY |
|
Western Region | |||
|
Sept. 25-26, 9am-5pm |
Appleumpkin |
Village of Wyoming |
Wyoming |
|
Finger Lakes Region | |||
|
Sept. 4-5, 10am-6pm |
NYS Festival of Balloons |
Dansville Airport, |
Livingston |
|
Sept. 11-12, 11am-6pm |
Tomato Festival |
Emerson Park on |
Cayuga |
|
Central NY Region | |||
|
Sept. 5, 10am-10pm |
NYS State Fair |
NYS Fairgrounds, |
Onondaga |
|
Sept. 25-26, 10am-5pm |
Oswego Applefest |
Geottel Community Park, |
Oswego |
|
North Country East Region | |||
|
Sept. 18-19, 10am-5pm |
Inlet Fall Festival |
Fern Park, |
Hamilton |
|
Capital Region | |||
|
Sept. 17, 9am-2:30pm |
Montgomery County Office for the Aging |
Fonda Fairgrounds, |
Montgomery |
|
Sept. 18, 3pm-8pm |
Hispanic Heritage Info |
Empire State Plaza |
Albany |
|
Hudson Valley Lower Region | |||
|
Sept. 9, 6pm-9pm |
Yorktown Grange Fair |
Yorktown Heights Company |
Westchester |
|
NYC | |||
|
Sept. 15, 11am-1pm |
Bronx House Senior Center |
990 Pelham Parkway South, |
Bronx |
|
Sept.18-19, 10am-7:30pm |
The Great Irish Fair of NY |
Keyspan Park, |
Kings |
|
Sept. 20, 1pm-3pm |
Elmcor Senior Center |
98-19 Astoria Blvd., |
Queens |
|
Sept. 21, 10am-12pm |
Catherine Sheridan Senior Center |
35-24 83rd Street |
Queens |
|
Sept. 21, 10am-3pm |
NYCHA's 6th Annual Senior Benefit & Entitlement Fair |
Riverbank State Park off the Hudson River at 145th Street, |
New York |
|
Sept. 30, 1pm-5pm |
Hunts Point 23rd Annual Tent Party |
Hunts Point New Fulton Fish |
Bronx |
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Dear Friend,
Our last major financial filing deadline generated a groundswell of support. We can only extend another huge thank you for your generosity. Make no mistake--we'll need to draw on every contribution we've received as we head down the home stretch to election day on September 14.
With less than two weeks to go, we still have thousands of voters to reach with our message of reform. That means we'll need more volunteers than ever. Would you be willing to join our team?
There are so many ways you can play an instrumental part in taking us to victory. To learn more about what you can do, please attend our volunteer training session on September 7 at 6:30pm at the Mark Levine for State Senate Headquarters (5049 Broadway, at 215th Street). Or call headquarters at 646.450.8241.
From the beginning, this campaign has been driven by our volunteers. Now it's crucial that we mount a massive grassroots effort to finish the job. Please consider becoming a volunteer. You can make a difference in ensuring that Mark becomes our new voice in Albany.
Looking forward to seeing you,
Aya Keefe
Campaign Manager
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SCHUMER: IN LATEST TRICK, CREDIT CARD COMPANIES NOW FOOLING ORDINARY CONSUMERS INTO SIGNING UP FOR CORPORATE CARDS THAT ARE NOT SUBJECT TO NEW REFORM LAW--SENATOR PRODS FEDERAL RESERVE TO STOP THIS ABUSIVE PRACTICE
With CARD Act Now Fully In Effect, Card Companies Have Increased Mailings To Promote Corporate Cards--Which Are Not Covered By New Law--By 256%
Unwitting Consumers Don't Realize Until After The Fact That These Types of Cards Don't Come With Protections Such as Bans On Interest Rate Increases
Schumer Blasts Deceptive Marketing Of Corporate Cards, Calls on Feds
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) expressed alarm about a new tactic credit card issuers may be using to evade last year's milestone credit card law, warning that card issuers are increasingly pushing consumers into signing up for corporate cards that are not subject to the law's protections. In a letter to the Federal Reserve, Schumer pressed for a crackdown on this potentially abusive practice so that unsuspecting consumers are not lured by card offers intended to circumvent the law passed by Congress.
"Credit card companies seem to be purposely hawking corporate cards to consumers who don't own a business and may even be retired. This is more than deceptive marketing; it is a dirty trick meant to get around the new credit card law. We need to put an immediate stop to this scheme, but in the meantime, consumers should be sure to read the fine print of the offers they are getting in the mail. This is the latest, most brazen attempt yet by the credit card industry to get around the law," Schumer said.
Last year's credit card law, signed by President Obama, imposed a host of reforms on consumer credit cards, such as a ban on rate increases in the first year of a cardholder's agreement and a requirement that the card issuer provide 45 days notice before a rate increase can be assessed in later years. But these reforms are not applicable to corporate, or professional, cards - which are intended for use by small business owners.
Not coincidentally, credit card companies appear to now be marketing these corporate cards more widely, to ordinary consumers who don't own a business and may even be retired. According to a market research group Synovate, mailings for corporate cards increased a whopping 256 percent in the first quarter of 2010. Average consumers are unwittingly signing up for the cards without realizing they are not covered by the stronger rules governing personal credit cards. In fact, the card companies appear to be playing to that confusion in the application materials for these corporate cards. A published report last week noted that an application form recently issued by one major card company no longer includes a section seeking detailed information about the potential cardholder's business. Instead, the application merely requires a box to be checked indicating "Yes, I am a business owner" or "Yes, I am a business professional with business expenses." This simplified application could easily prevent a card applicant from realizing the nature of the card they are signing up for.
In response, Schumer proposed today in a letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that card companies be required to solicit and verify an applicant's federal tax identification number before approving a corporate card application. This way, Schumer said, the card companies would no longer be able to trick an ordinary consumer into signing up for a card that is not covered by the new credit card law.
Schumer's push to stop this deceptive marketing of corporate cards to average consumers is supported by leading consumer rights groups.
"Credit card companies are looking for every loophole they can find to evade the important protections Congress passed last year, which is why the new consumer bureau needs to watch them closely. Consumers may fall for one of these professional cards thinking it gives them prestige, not realizing that small business credit has little protection against unfair or deceptive practices," Lauren Saunders of the National Consumer Law Center said.
A copy of Schumer's letter to Bernanke appears below.
September 1, 2010
Honorable Ben Bernanke
Chairman, Federal Reserve Board
20th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20551
Dear Chairman Bernanke:
I write to you today to express my concerns about the ramp up in marketing of business credit cards to consumers. According to recent industry research, credit card issuers have boosted the circulation of business credit cards by 256% over the course of a year to 47 million consumers in the first quarter of 2010. I fear that this surge is motivated by credit card issuers seeking to bypass the tough and smart consumer reforms recently enacted with the passage of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act of 2009 ("Credit CARD Act").
As you may know, business credit cards, also known as "professional credit cards," are not governed by the recent reforms enacted in the Credit CARD Act. As a result, professional credit card holders are not protected from the abusive practices--unfair interest rate hikes and changes in terms, excessive fees and penalties, and aggressive credit card solicitations--that are now regulated under the new law for personal credit card holders. I believe that credit card issuers are exploiting this distinction in order to evade the tougher regulations passed by Congress and preserve their ability to profit from unfair and excessive fees.
Although I am encouraged by reports that some in the industry, like Bank of America, have proposed to extend some consumer protections to professional credit card holders, I remain concerned that the majority of the industry will continue to market professional credit cards to consumers who do not realize that these accounts do not offer the same protections as personal credit cards. I wish to propose that the Federal Reserve issue requirements for business credit card issuers' applications that will make it clear to the customer that they are not applying for a personal credit card. For example, if the Federal Reserve required business credit card issuers to collect a tax identification number on corporate card applications, this would help prevent consumers from unwittingly signing up for a business credit card account to only find out later on that their account is not held under the same protections that a personal credit card account can offer.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter. Feel free to contact me or my staff at your convenience if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
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Thanks to you, it's working! Check out this article on the The New York Times City Room blog about our success so far.
Michael Barbaro says that "The infusion of cash is a potent display of force."
Here's the first bit:
September 1, 2010, 10:42 am
Manhattan's Stealth Fundraiser
by Michael Barbaro
Scott M. Stringer -- fund-raising beast?
Very much under the radar, Mr. Stringer, the Manhattan borough president and likely 2013 mayoral contender, raised $655,000 in the latest filing period, records show, by far the biggest haul of any candidate in New York City.
Thanks,
Scott
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MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND CHANCELLOR KLEIN ANNOUNCE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND OPENING OF 26 NEW LOCATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein today announced the opening of 26 new school locations, adding more than 17,000 new seats for the 2010-11 school year. The new buildings, annexes and leased spaces represent the most new classroom seats to come on line in one year since the School Construction Authority (SCA) was created in 1988 - putting the Department of Education on track to add nearly 100,000 new school seats across the City by 2013. The 80,000 new seats already created since 2003 are reducing pockets of overcrowding and ensuring that students have the opportunity to learn in modern facilities fully equipped to prepare them for success. The Mayor and Chancellor were joined at the newly-constructed Mott Haven Educational Campus by Housing and Urban Development Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrión, Jr., Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis M. Walcott, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., Assemblyman Michael Benjamin, Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo, Deputy Chancellor for Operations Kathleen Grimm and School Construction Authority President Lorraine Grillo.
"Today we are reaffirming our commitment to the future of our City's schools," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Modernizing our schools is a part the bold education reforms that have helped turn around the public school system here in New York City. Thanks to strong support from the State and City Council, we are in the midst of the largest school construction effort in New York City history."
"Since the beginning of this Administration, we've made it a top priority to fix how school construction is done in this City," said Deputy Mayor Walcott. "As a result, we've consolidated our school construction efforts to get the most value for taxpayers, and targeted our capital planning to the neighborhood level. It's thanks to these efforts, and the close partnerships we've fostered with local community groups and elected officials, that we are able to celebrate the largest number of new school seats coming online in over twenty years."
"We've already seen historic levels of new school construction under the Bloomberg Administration, and this year is no different," said Chancellor Klein. "These new state-of-the-art school facilities will provide New York City students outstanding educational environments for years to come. I want to thank all of the dedicated staff at the School Construction Authority, as well as our partners in City and State government for providing the resources we need to keep building great new schools for our children."
The Mott Haven Educational Campus covers nearly nine acres and is the largest public school construction project to be completed since the City created the School Construction Authority. The newly-constructed, 280,000 square feet facility will be the home to more than 2,300 students, most of them secondary school students. The campus includes three district high schools, two charter school programs for elementary and high school grades, and one District 75 special education program. New Explorers High School, Urban Assembly for Careers in Sports, Bronx Leadership Academy II High School, Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) Academy Charter School, and the District 75 program will permanently stay on the Mott Haven Campus. KIPP New York City College Prep Charter High School will temporary locate on the campus until a permanent location is identified. Design efforts for the Mott Haven Educational Campus began in 2005 in close collaboration with South Bronx Churches - an affiliate of Metro Industrial Areas Foundation (Metro IAF). The campus includes multiple gymnasiums and science labs, an outdoor football field, and auditorium and cafeteria space that all schools will share.
"This wonderful mayoral announcement of 17,000 new school seats at the start of the school year demonstrates the importance of education in this great City," said Housing and Urban Development Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrión, Jr. "It is no secret that high quality schools are an integral part of any healthy and vibrant community, and, as such, our most important investment. That is why today's announcement is so significant: it reconfirms the Mayor's and Chancellor's commitment to ensuring that our children receive the best education possible."
"The New York City Council is pleased that 17,000 new seats are coming online in September as both replacement seats and to help address some of the overcrowding problems in certain areas of the city," said City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. "This is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to eliminate overcrowding and reduce class size citywide. I want to thank SCA, DOE and my colleagues for their continued collaboration and diligent work in improving our schools."
"It is always worth celebrating the opening of new schools in the Bronx, and the announcement of four brand new, long-awaited high schools at the Mott Haven Campus is welcome news in this community and the entire Bronx," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. "These new schools have been a priority of my office for years, and I am happy that this long held dream of a vibrant Mott Haven Campus has become a reality. I thank Mayor Bloomberg, Chancellor Klein and the School Construction Authority for making the development of this new campus a priority, and I look forward to working closely with the schools that will be housed here."
"It's another great day in the Bronx as we open the Mott Haven Education Campus. Mott Haven, The Eagle Academy for Young Men, and the other new schools opening across the city, are in response to the needs of New York families," said Assemblyman Michael Benjamin. "As New York continues educate future American leaders, we will do so by building state-of-the-art, energy efficient classrooms. Mayor Bloomberg, Chancellor Klein and the School Construction Authority must be commended for their ability to begin a school year with a record number of new seats."
"By targeting out school construction efforts in the neighborhoods that need them most, we are able to relieve pockets of overcrowding and invest our capital dollars wisely," said School Construction Authority President Lorraine Grillo. "The Mott Haven Campus, and all of our other projects opening this year, are a real testament to the hard work of our design and construction teams at the SCA, as well as our partners in the architecture and construction communities."
"We are proud to partner with the Department of Education on the Mott Haven Educational Campus just as we are proud to partner with them on all development," said Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. "This project is just one example of the quality work we provide to build a City for future generations of New Yorkers to enjoy."
Over the last seven years, the City has lowered the cost of building new schools, improved construction efficiency, and implemented a comprehensive capital planning process that ensures school construction keeps pace with student demand. Through these efforts, more than 80,000 new school seats have been constructed since 2003, including 19,198 in the Bronx, 18,900 in Brooklyn, 16,900 in Manhattan, 30,233 in Queens, and 4,669 in Staten Island. The City now projects school enrollment down to the neighborhood, taking into account pockets of population growth and housing development within school districts, so that taxpayer dollars are being effectively spent in the areas with the greatest need for investment.
The School Construction Authority manages new school construction and renovation of the City's existing school buildings. Construction of these nearly 17,000 new seats was largely funded through the $13.1 billion school capital plan of 2005-09. Funded equally by the City and State, it's been the largest school construction effort in New York history, and has enabled the SCA to renovate 86 percent of public school buildings throughout the five boroughs.
Since 2002, the City has:
Some of the 26 new locations will be new homes for existing schools. Others will house schools that are opening for the first time in September 2010. The Mott Haven Campus, for example, will be home to both existing and new school organizations. There are also new additions or annexes for schools that are expanding. Below is a list of the 26 new buildings, seats, and schools that will open for the 2010-11 school year.
Bronx
Brooklyn
Manhattan
Queens
