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	<title>The Wonkster &#187; Crime &amp; Safety</title>
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	<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster</link>
	<description>Gotham Gazette&#039;s blog about New York policy and politics</description>
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		<title>Calls for Lopez&#039;s Resignation</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/08/24/calls-for-lopezs-resignation/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/08/24/calls-for-lopezs-resignation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Aug 2012 20:14:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scott stringer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vito lopez]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=11112</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The New King&#8217;s Democrats, a group that has been battling Brooklyn political boss Vito Lopez for political power on the local level have called for the embattled Assemblyman to resign following his censure by the Assembly for sexual harassment. &#8220;Yet again, Vito Lopez has embarrassed Brooklyn and the Democratic Party.  We have long been used [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The New King&#8217;s Democrats, a group <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/index.php/component/fpss/track/47/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5nb3RoYW1nYXpldHRlLmNvbS9pbmRleC5waHAvY2l0eS81Mi1vcGVuLWdvdmVybm1lbnQvMTQzMy1iYXR0bGluZy10aGUtYm9zcy1pbi1icm9va2x5bg,,">that has been battling</a> Brooklyn political boss Vito Lopez for political power on the local level have called for the embattled Assemblyman to resign following his censure by the Assembly for sexual harassment. &#8220;Yet again, Vito Lopez has embarrassed Brooklyn and the Democratic Party.  We have long been used to stories about his corruption, cronyism and nepotism,&#8221; said Alex Low, president of NKD. &#8220;Today&#8217;s news marks a new low.  Vito&#8217;s time has come.  We encourage other leaders to join us in demanding his resignation and calling for fresh leadership.&#8221;</p>
<p>The tide of calls for Lopez to resign seems to have started. Scott Stringer tweeted: &#8220;Assemblymember Vito Lopez has violated any trust that voters placed in him, and he should step down immediately.</p>
<p>Common Cause issued a statement , stating: &#8220;It is clear that Assembly Member Lopez should resign not only from the Assembly but also from his chairmanship of the Kings County Democratic Party.&#8221;</p>
<p>Here is Common Cause&#8217;s full statement: <span id="more-11112"></span></p>
<p>&#8220;Assembly Member Vito Lopez&#8217; shocking and abhorrent sexual misconduct demands a swift and strong penalty. Speaker Silver has acted judiciously by adopting the Standing Committee of Ethics and Guidance&#8217;s appropriate sanctions, stripping the powerful assembly member of his committee chairmanship and seniority. We particularly applaud the courage of the two unnamed employees of the State Assembly for coming forward with their complaints against a powerful senior member of the Assembly. It is clear that Assembly Member Lopez should resign not only from the Assembly but also from his chairmanship of the Kings County Democratic Party.</p>
<p>It is often the case that those who feel empowered to sexually harass one or two employees fail to stop there. It may well be that this is only the most recent instance of Assembly Member Lopez&#8217; gross misconduct. We call on the Joint Committee for Public Integrity to conduct the necessary broad investigation to assure New Yorkers and other employees of the State Legislature that such conduct will not be tolerated.</p>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;">ssembly Member Vito Lopez&#8217; shocking and abhorrent sexual misconduct demands a swift and strong penalty. Speaker Silver has acted judiciously by adopting the Standing Committee of Ethics and Guidance&#8217;s appropriate sanctions, stripping the powerful assembly member of his committee chairmanship and seniority. We particularly applaud the courage of the two unnamed employees of the State Assembly for coming forward with their complaints against a powerful senior member of the Assembly. It is clear that Assembly Member Lopez should resign not only from the Assembly but also from his chairmanship of the Kings County Democratic Party.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;">It is often the case that those who feel empowered to sexually harass one or two employees fail to stop there. It may well be that this is only the most recent instance of Assembly Member Lopez&#8217; gross misconduct. We call on the Joint Committee for Public Integrity to conduct the necessary broad investigation to assure New Yorkers and other employees of the State Legislature that such conduct will not be tolerated.</div>
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		<title>Williams and Cabrera Comment on Shootings</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/08/24/williams-and-cabrera-comment-on-shootings/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/08/24/williams-and-cabrera-comment-on-shootings/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Aug 2012 18:47:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[City Hall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jumaane Williams]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=11110</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this morning’s shooting and their families and friends.  It was a terrible act of gun violence and thankfully many more people were not hurt in midtown Manhattan.  But it’s not the only act of gun violence in our city this summer.
“Just last night, a 13-year-old [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;">“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this morning’s shooting and their families and friends.  It was a terrible act of gun violence and thankfully many more people were not hurt in midtown Manhattan.  But it’s not the only act of gun violence in our city this summer.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;">“Just last night, a 13-year-old child was heading to the store in Brownsville when he was gunned down and killed. We should be outraged and frightened by each and every one of these incidents, and they should strengthen the resolve of every elected official to do whatever necessary to pass meaningful and common-sense gun control measures. We all need to find ways to end gun violence in our city. Whether it’s on 34th street in Midtown Manhattan, a playground in the Bronx or a school yard in Brooklyn.”</div>
<p>Councilman Jumaane Williams and Fernando Cabrera want to remind New Yorker&#8217;s that gun violence is an everyday reality for a number of their constituents. The men co-chair the Council&#8217;s Gun Violence Taskforce and issued this statement in reaction to the shooting at the Empire State Building:</p>
<p>“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this morning’s shooting and their families and friends.  It was a terrible act of gun violence and thankfully many more people were not hurt in midtown Manhattan.  But it’s not the only act of gun violence in our city this summer.</p>
<p>“Just last night, a 13-year-old child was heading to the store in Brownsville when he was gunned down and killed. We should be outraged and frightened by each and every one of these incidents, and they should strengthen the resolve of every elected official to do whatever necessary to pass meaningful and common-sense gun control measures. We all need to find ways to end gun violence in our city. Whether it’s on 34th street in Midtown Manhattan, a playground in the Bronx or a school yard in Brooklyn.”</p>
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		<title>NY Pols React to Shooting at Empire State Building</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/08/24/ny-pols-react-to-shooting-at-empire-state-building/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/08/24/ny-pols-react-to-shooting-at-empire-state-building/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:31:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Governing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[andrew cuomo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charlie Rangel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eric Schneiderman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Gianaris]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=11100</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[At least one person was killed and 10 people shot today when a gunman opened fire at the Empire State Building today. The incident will surely spark more debate about preventing gun violence in the wake of the shooting at a theater in Aurora Colorado and at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin. A number of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>At least one person was killed and 10 people shot today when a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/25/nyregion/several-people-shot-one-fatally-outside-empire-state-building.html?hp">gunman opened fire</a> at the Empire State Building today. The incident will surely <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/index.php/city/1434-the-political-reality-of-stemming-gun-violence">spark more debate about preventing gun violence</a> in the wake of the shooting at a theater in Aurora Colorado and at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin. A number of New York&#8217;s elected officials have issued statements on the shooting.</p>
<p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo:</p>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;">&#8220;Today&#8217;s shooting near the Empire State Building is a tragedy for New York City and our entire state. My administration, including members of the State Police, is actively monitoring the situation and working closely with city law enforcement agencies to ensure that the safety of New Yorkers and those visiting New York City comes first. I commend members of the New York Police Department, as well as the first responders and civilians, who acted bravely and took swift action to save the lives of others and prevent this tragedy from becoming much worse. Our state has no tolerance for senseless acts of violence that harm our people, and we will do everything possible to ensure that law enforcement officials have the tools they need so residents of the city and tourists can enjoy everything New York City has to offer without fearing for their own safety and security. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I send my condolences to the friends and family of the innocent victim who died in this attack, and wish those who were injured in today&#8217;s shooting a speedy recovery.&#8221;</div>
<p>&#8220;Today&#8217;s shooting near the Empire State Building is a tragedy for New York City and our entire state. My administration, including members of the State Police, is actively monitoring the situation and working closely with city law enforcement agencies to ensure that the safety of New Yorkers and those visiting New York City comes first. I commend members of the New York Police Department, as well as the first responders and civilians, who acted bravely and took swift action to save the lives of others and prevent this tragedy from becoming much worse. Our state has no tolerance for senseless acts of violence that harm our people, and we will do everything possible to ensure that law enforcement officials have the tools they need so residents of the city and tourists can enjoy everything New York City has to offer without fearing for their own safety and security. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I send my condolences to the friends and family of the innocent victim who died in this attack, and wish those who were injured in today&#8217;s shooting a speedy recovery.&#8221;</p>
<p>Attorney General Eric Schneiderman:</p>
<p>“Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims of today’s tragic shootings and their families. For those of us in government, and in law enforcement, the news of yet another mass shooting so close on the heels of the massacres at the Sikh temple in Wisconsin, and in Aurora, Colorado, should make it crystal clear that our current laws have failed to protect the public from gun violence. We must redouble our efforts to protect public safety so that New Yorkers don’t have to live in fear of the next deadly attack.”</p>
<div>Rep.  Charles Rangel:</div>
<div>
<div>&#8220;I am shaken by the news that a man randomly shot at innocent people at the Empire State Building, especially at an hour when many New Yorkers are starting their workday and hundreds of tourists are visiting.  My thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and the families and friends who lost their loved ones. I hope that those who are wounded will heal quickly and recover from the psychological harm that they endured.</div>
<div>This year, our nation has been plagued by frequent and senseless gun violence that has taken the lives of so many people across the country.  These arbitrary shootings are acts of terrorism that are paralyzing our communities.  We must unite to focus our policies on enacting stricter gun control laws that will prevent potentially harmful individuals from accessing such deadly weapons. It is the only way to make certain that our communities safer.&#8221;</div>
</div>
<div>Sen. Michael Gianaris:</div>
<div>“My prayers go out for the victims of this morning’s horrific incident caused by yet another act of senseless gun violence. It is long past time to fix our gun laws to prevent future tragedies from occurring. To the victims’ families, stay strong and know our hearts are with you.”</div>
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		<title>Con Ed lockout on hold thanks to power of Cuomo, storms</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/07/26/con-ed-lockout-on-hold-thanks-to-power-of-cuomo-storms/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/07/26/con-ed-lockout-on-hold-thanks-to-power-of-cuomo-storms/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:40:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[andrew cuomo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[con edison]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=11065</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Gov. Andrew Cuomo has faced some criticism for not getting involved in the Con Edison labor dispute earlier &#8212; but better late than never.
With storms on the horizion, Cuomo announced today that he has convinced both sides to have &#8220;necessary personnel&#8221; return to work for the sake of public safety.
&#8220;At my request and in the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo has faced some criticism for not getting involved in the Con Edison labor dispute earlier &#8212; but better late than never.</p>
<p>With storms on the horizion, Cuomo announced today that he has convinced both sides to have &#8220;necessary personnel&#8221; return to work for the sake of public safety.</p>
<p>&#8220;At my request and in the interest of the safety of New Yorkers, Con Ed  and Local 1-2 have agreed that the necessary personnel will immediately  return to work to prepare for the possibility of an approaching storm  and will remain on the job for the duration of any emergency and any  following repairs,&#8221; Cuomo said in a statement.</p>
<p>This follows a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/nyregion/con-ed-and-union-to-meet-over-lockout-after-nudge-from-cuomo.html?ref=nyregion">letter</a> he sent yesterday asking for the state to oversee meetings between labor and management.</p>
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		<title>Sanders responds to Kelly&#039;s defense of stop-and-frisk</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/07/11/sanders-responds-to-kellys-defense-of-stop-and-frisk/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/07/11/sanders-responds-to-kellys-defense-of-stop-and-frisk/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:27:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[James Sanders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ray kelly]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10986</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Seventy seven people have been shot in the city between July 2nd through the 8th of this month. Addressing the violence, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told reporters yesterday: &#8220;There doesn’t seem to be any major community response. Many of them will speak out about stop-and-frisk [but are] shockingly silent when it comes to the level [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Seventy seven people <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nypd-commissioner-raymond-kelly-rails-community-leaders-silence-a-week-77-people-shot-city-article-1.1111799?localLinksEnabled=false">have been shot</a> in the city between July 2nd through the 8th of this month. Addressing the violence, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nypd-commissioner-raymond-kelly-rails-community-leaders-silence-a-week-77-people-shot-city-article-1.1111799?localLinksEnabled=false">told reporters</a> yesterday: &#8220;There doesn’t seem to be any major community response. Many of them will speak out about stop-and-frisk [but are] shockingly silent when it comes to the level of violence right in their own communities.&#8221;</p>
<p>His statement has unsurprisingly raised the ire of a number of community leaders.</p>
<p>Count Councilman James Sanders as one of those outraged by Kelly&#8217;s comments.</p>
<p>“Commissioner Kelly seems to be speaking out of both sides of his mouth – asking why there is no outrage over existing gun violence and then championing a policy that has failed to prevent it.  Put simply, if stop-and-frisk was working, gun violence would be going down, not up. Our communities would be safer, not more dangerous. And people would feel more willing to engage their local precincts in community action against violence criminals, not afraid for their own civil liberties when approached by police.</p>
<p>Sen. Eric Adams told <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/kelly_rage_damn_it_m4bCTjDTAGpeUkdC9XJCKN?utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_content=Local">the NY Post</a> that Kelly &#8220;basically said black elected officials don’t care about the safety of their community.’’</p>
<p>Here is Sanders&#8217; full statement:<span id="more-10986"></span></p>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;">“I’m puzzled by the Commissioner’s bizarre statements today, and cannot help but wonder if he is paying attention to what people are actually saying about stop and frisk.  Even as the Commissioner was making this unfortunate, one size-fits-all statement, I was in Springfield Gardens at the site of a tragic shooting over the weekend, calling for greater community involvement and cooperation in policing and standing shoulder to shoulder with my neighbors to decry the violence on our streets.  Perhaps, if the Commissioner truly had his ear to the ground, he would hear the anguished cries of the parents who have lost children, like little Isaiah Rivera, and would push for a renewed spirit of cooperation between community and police, rather than advancing divisive tactics that have been wholly ineffective in curtailing gun violence.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;">“Commissioner Kelly seems to be speaking out of both sides of his mouth – asking why there is no outrage over existing gun violence and then championing a policy that has failed to prevent it.  Put simply, if stop and frisk was working, gun violence would be going down, not up. Our communities would be safer, not more dangerous. And people would feel more willing to engage their local precincts in community action against violence criminals, not afraid for their own civil liberties when approached by police.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;">“I have called for people to take a stand against violence; I have called on our federal representatives to reinstitute the Brady Bill; I have called for further integration and involvement of the community in policing; I have called for gun buy backs and amnesty weapons programs that have been proven far more effective in removing guns.  I now call on the Commissioner to join me in the effort to advance effective programs that protect the innocent and our civil liberties while returning New York City to its standing as the safest big city in America.”</div>
<p>“I’m puzzled by the Commissioner’s bizarre statements today, and cannot help but wonder if he is paying attention to what people are actually saying about stop and frisk.  Even as the Commissioner was making this unfortunate, one size-fits-all statement, I was in Springfield Gardens at the site of a tragic shooting over the weekend, calling for greater community involvement and cooperation in policing and standing shoulder to shoulder with my neighbors to decry the violence on our streets.  Perhaps, if the Commissioner truly had his ear to the ground, he would hear the anguished cries of the parents who have lost children, like little Isaiah Rivera, and would push for a renewed spirit of cooperation between community and police, rather than advancing divisive tactics that have been wholly ineffective in curtailing gun violence.</p>
<p>“Commissioner Kelly seems to be speaking out of both sides of his mouth – asking why there is no outrage over existing gun violence and then championing a policy that has failed to prevent it.  Put simply, if stop and frisk was working, gun violence would be going down, not up. Our communities would be safer, not more dangerous. And people would feel more willing to engage their local precincts in community action against violence criminals, not afraid for their own civil liberties when approached by police.</p>
<p>“I have called for people to take a stand against violence; I have called on our federal representatives to reinstitute the Brady Bill; I have called for further integration and involvement of the community in policing; I have called for gun buy backs and amnesty weapons programs that have been proven far more effective in removing guns.  I now call on the Commissioner to join me in the effort to advance effective programs that protect the innocent and our civil liberties while returning New York City to its standing as the safest big city in America.”</p>
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		<title>NYC Jails Action Coalition Pushes Reform</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/07/09/nyc-jails-action-coalition-pushes-reform/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/07/09/nyc-jails-action-coalition-pushes-reform/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jul 2012 22:12:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nina Goldman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[department of corrections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DOC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYC JAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rikers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Schriro]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10954</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A recently formed coalition is calling for a reduction in the use of solitary confinement and what they refer to as a &#8220;culture of brutality&#8221; in the city&#8217;s jail system.
The New York City Jails Action Coalition, which formed in December of last year and is comprised of members of organizations that have worked on the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A recently formed coalition is calling for a reduction in the use of solitary confinement and what they refer to as a &#8220;culture of brutality&#8221; in the city&#8217;s jail system.</p>
<p>The New York City Jails Action Coalition, which formed in December of last year and is comprised of members of organizations that have worked on the issues for years, held its first protest outside the Board of Correction on 51 Chambers St. earlier today.</p>
<p>&#8220;The United Nations has likened solitary confinement to torture,&#8221; said member Richard Sawyer, referring to a <a href="www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/SRTorture/StatementHRC16SRTORTURE_March2011.pdf">statement by the UN&#8217;s Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment</a> that specifically called out the U.S.&#8217;s disproportionate use of punitive segregation.</p>
<p>The issue of solitary confinement has recently <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/opinion/the-abuse-of-solitary-confinement.html">been discussed</a> on a national level, and NYC JAC is using that momentum to promote their cause.</p>
<p>Sawyer specifically condemned the practice of putting someone in 10-day solitary confinement for &#8220;horseplay,&#8221; but Department of Correction spokeswoman Sharman Stein said the term trivialized the problem.</p>
<p>&#8220;The Department&#8217;s first responsibility is to protect everyone in its custody. When an inmate assaults another inmate or an employee, he cannot remain in his housing unit, nor should he,&#8221; read an official DOC statement. &#8220;There are   consequences for harming others.&#8221;</p>
<p>NYC JAC and its member groups recommend the city adopt a policy similar to one in Mississippi, where punitive segregation is only used as a last resort. In Mississippi&#8217;s case, the policy change <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/us/rethinking-solitary-confinement.html?ref=opinion&amp;pagewanted=all">led to reduced violence</a> – a point the coalition emphasizes.</p>
<p>The coalition also alleges that the DOC condones brutal practices, and spends millions settling <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/nyregion/suit-says-new-york-citys-jails-condone-guards-beatings-of-inmates.html">lawsuits from former inmates</a> The DOC has denied those allegations.</p>
<p>The New York City jails system is one of the largest in the U.S., with a daily population of 13,000 <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/doc/html/stats/doc_stats.shtml">as of 2010</a>.</p>
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		<title>Cuomo chides Senate Republicans on marijuana bill</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/06/20/cuomo-chides-senate-republicans-on-marijuana-bill/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/06/20/cuomo-chides-senate-republicans-on-marijuana-bill/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:35:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Civil Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[andrew cuomo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dean Skelos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10848</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Gov. Andrew Cuomo took to the airwaves this morning to criticize Senate Republicans for not backing his plan to reduce charges for carrying small amounts of marijuana.
Cuomo has previously shied away from criticizing legislators he has to negotiate with, especially Senate Republicans, who brought his landmark same-sex marriage bill to a vote. Cuomo&#8217;s deal on [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo took to the airwaves this morning to criticize Senate Republicans for not backing his plan to reduce charges for carrying small amounts of marijuana.</p>
<p>Cuomo has previously shied away from criticizing legislators he has to negotiate with, especially Senate Republicans, who brought his landmark same-sex marriage bill to a vote. Cuomo&#8217;s deal on redistricting also saved Senate Republicans major headaches – if not their majority.</p>
<p>But Cuomo was clearly irked his marijuana bill met with resistance. Speaking to Fred Dicker on Talk 1300, Cuomo said he believed that the Conservative Party had influenced Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos into backing away from the bill.</p>
<p>&#8220;I think there&#8217;s no doubt that the state Senate heard the conservative wing of the party and they&#8217;re reacting to it,&#8221;¯ Cuomo said. The governor also went further, saying that Conservative values don&#8217;t appeal to most New Yorkers. &#8220;To the extent the Republican Party is successful, it&#8217;s because they are moderate&#8230; There is just no place in this state for extreme conservative theory.&#8221;</p>
<p>Senate Republicans have been fairly clear that they <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/index.php/state/1371-senate-dems-look-to-natl-issues-for-help">plan to use</a> their relationship with Cuomo as a campaign tool, while Senate Democrats want to try to put a wedge between Senate Republicans and mainstream Democratic values.</p>
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		<title>NYCLU Unveils &quot;Stop and Frisk Watch&quot; App</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/06/06/nyclu-unveils-stop-and-frisk-watch-app/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/06/06/nyclu-unveils-stop-and-frisk-watch-app/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jun 2012 22:38:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kamelia Kilawan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civil Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nyclu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYPD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stop and frisk]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10797</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
The New York Civil Liberties Union wants citizens to document police street stops using a new smartphone app.

The NYCLU unveiled its &#8220;Stop and Frisk Watch&#8221; app earlier today in front of police headquarters.

The app, available as on the Android platform, allows witnesses of police street stops to record them and send the clip to the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">The New York Civil Liberties Union wants citizens to document police street stops using a new smartphone app.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;">
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">The NYCLU unveiled its &#8220;Stop and Frisk Watch&#8221; app earlier today in front of police headquarters.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;">
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">The app, available as on the Android platform, allows witnesses of police street stops to record them and send the clip to the NYCLU. It also tracks the locations of street stops.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;">
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&#8220;It’s for bystanders,&#8221; said NYCLU Executive Director Donna Leiberman. &#8220;And hopefully this will help us shine some much needed light on police practices. Everybody in New York knows the numbers. But I think this will help us continue to put the human face on stop-and-frisk.”</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;">
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">The police did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment about the app.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;">
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Critics of stop-and-frisk say the NYPD policy predominantly targets young black and Latino men. But police defend the tactic, saying it promotes public safety in the city&#8217;s communities. About 685,000 stops were made by the police last year.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;">
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Dawit Getachew, 26, an advocate for Copwatch and a Harlem resident who said he has been subjected to stop-and-frisk, was among the activists who showed up to lend their support for the app.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;">
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">“There are many instances that go unreported because people don’t know what to do, so this is a huge opportunity for people to feel empowered to fight back,&#8221; he said of the app.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;">
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Steve Kohut, of Communities United for Police Reform, noted that the tool will help “see the abuse, experience the abuse and now document the abuse” so that the police can no longer deny it.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;">
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Lieberman said the NYCLU hopes the new app will “connect directly with affected communities.”</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;">
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">The app, designed by Jason Van Anden, also includes a survey for users who would like to report questionable NYPD action they see or experience and a “Know Your Rights Card” instructing those who are confronted by police officers about their rights.</p>
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		<title>Reaction to Cuomo&#039;s marijuana bill</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/06/04/reaction-to-cuomos-marijuana-bill/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/06/04/reaction-to-cuomos-marijuana-bill/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jun 2012 01:00:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Civil Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[andrew cuomo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christine Quinn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hakeem Jeffries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jumaane Williams]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[karim camara]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYPD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[raymond kelly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sheldon Silver]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10774</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When news broke today that Gov. Andrew Cuomo wanted the Legislature to lower the penalty for possessing 25 grams or less of marijuana from a misdemeanor to a violation, the perception was that he was taking a shot at Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the city&#8217;s stop-and-frisk program.
But Bloomberg announced his support for the measure along [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When news broke today that Gov. Andrew Cuomo wanted the Legislature to lower the penalty for possessing 25 grams or less of marijuana from a misdemeanor to a violation, the perception was that he was taking a shot at Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the city&#8217;s stop-and-frisk program.</p>
<p>But Bloomberg announced his support for the measure along with a host of city-based legislators and groups.</p>
<p>Police Commissioner Ray Kelly even attended Cuomo&#8217;s news conference to announce the plan.</p>
<p>&#8220;This is an issue that disproportionately affects young people — they wind up with a permanent stain on their record for something that would otherwise be a violation,&#8221; Cuomo said. &#8220;The charge makes it more difficult for them to find a job. Together, we are making New York fairer and safer, and ensuring that every New Yorker has access to [a] justice system that doesn’t discriminate based on age or color.&#8221;</p>
<p>The move seemed targeted at New York City &#8212; 94 percent of the more than 500,000 arrests for 25 grams or less of marijuana in the state took place in the five boroughs.</p>
<p>The New York Police Department&#8217;s stop-and-frisk program<a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/index.php/city/1373-stop-and-frisk-lawsuit-gets-class-status"> has been the target of massive criticism</a> because it is said to disproportionately target and result in the convictions of black and Latino youth. Cuomo said that 82 percent of those arrested for carrying marijuana were black and Latino.</p>
<p><span id="more-10774"></span></p>
<p>Here is Bloomberg&#8217;s statement:</p>
<p>“Last year, Police Commissioner Kelly issued a policy order directing officers to issue violations, rather than misdemeanors, for small amounts of marijuana that come into open view during a search (on.nyc.gov/KY01fN). The Governor’s proposal today is consistent with the Commissioner’s directive, and strikes the right balance by ensuring that the NYPD will continue to have the tools it needs to maintain public safety &#8211; including making arrests for selling or smoking marijuana. Thanks to the NYPD, our city has come a long way from the days when marijuana was routinely sold and smoked on our streets without repercussions. By preventing these crimes, and targeting police resources to where they are needed most, we have cut crime by 35 percent over the past decade. Commissioner Kelly will be attending the Governor’s press conference later today to show our support for his proposal, and we look forward to working with legislative leaders to help pass a bill before the end of session.”</p>
<p>Sen. Danial Squadron:</p>
<p>&#8220;The &#8216;in plain view&#8217; marijuana possession statute, and the inconsistent way in which it is enforced, call out for reform.</p>
<p>In large parts of our City, entire communities feel like suspects targeted by law enforcement instead of citizens protected by it. It is simply unfair that some New Yorkers &#8211; especially young black and latino men &#8211; are disproportionately singled out when it comes to enforcing this statute, one of the factors leading to major concerns with the way stop and frisk is implemented.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s why Governor Cuomo&#8217;s call to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana in public view is an important step toward ending these inequities. By changing our state law, the Governor&#8217;s proposal can help ensure consistency and prevent a minor offense from undermining the future of many young New Yorkers.</p>
<p>Thank you to Governor Cuomo for taking the lead on repealing this statute, and to all of my colleagues in government who are working toward the reforms in police-community relations our City needs. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to quickly pass this much-needed reform before the end of the legislative session.&#8221;</p>
<p>Communities United For Police Reform:</p>
<p>“The Governor&#8217;s welcome proposal would end the tens of thousands of racially-biased arrests that result from unlawful searches and false charges during stops.  It would keep thousands of youth of color out of the punitive justice system, and make clear that the vast majority of the NYPD’s stop-and-frisks are unlawful and useless.  These discriminatory and unlawful practices cost the city of New York $75 million in 2011.  Albany’s decisive action on this would be a step towards stopping the NYPD’s out of control use of aggressive and racially discriminatory tactics that target hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers in neighborhoods across the city.”</p>
<p>Councilman Jumaane Williams:</p>
<p>&#8220;I support Governor Cuomo&#8217;s efforts to correct our state&#8217;s laws in relation to the possession of small amounts of marijuana in public view,&#8221; said Council Member Williams. &#8220;The discrepancies in the law, combined with the exponential rise of stop, question and frisks that overwhelmingly target communities of more color, have had devastating consequences for thousands of young men whose public records have been unfairly damaged. These arrests have cost New York City millions of dollars in litigation and related fees, dollars which ought to be targeted to programs that can direct our youth towards positive life choices. I hope the change that ultimately results will mirror previously introduced legislation from Assembly Member Jeffries and Senator Grisanti.&#8221;</p>
<p>Council Speaker Christine Quinn:</p>
<p>“I enthusiastically applaud Governor Cuomo for taking action to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana in public view.”</p>
<p>“Tens of thousands of lives a year are permanently damaged as a result of the current law, with communities of color disproportionately affected. The fact of the matter is that Black and Latino men are the most likely to be stopped, questioned and frisked and are then ordered to empty their pockets during these encounters. Low level arrests for marijuana can have devastating life-long consequences. After an arrest, individuals can face unemployment, loss of housing for themselves and their families, rejection from colleges and universities and an inability to secure school loans.”</p>
<p>“The Governor’s action today is an important step forward, and will avoid further devastation of young New Yorker’s futures. I urge the legislature to act on this proposal quickly.”</p>
<p>“That said, the NYPD, Mayor, and City Council have more work to do to reform stop and frisk policies. I strongly believe that broad based reforms are needed in training, monitoring, supervision, transparency and accountability. These changes must occur as soon as possible to reduce the unacceptable number of stops and heal the divide between the NYPD and the communities they serve.”</p>
<p>“I know that we can both keep crime at its historic low and protect the civil rights of all New Yorkers. That must be our commitment to the people of New York City.”</p>
<p>Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver:</p>
<p>&#8220;What Governor Cuomo is proposing, is a logical and, unfortunately, necessary clarification of the law as it exists today. It has become clear that marijuana possession is being used, regrettably, to permanently scar and taint the records of thousands of young citizens, predominantly people of color, who have no record of prior criminal conviction. It is excessive on its face and we need to address the issue thoughtfully and swiftly.&#8221;</p>
<p>Assemblymember Karim Camara, Chair of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus:</p>
<p>&#8220;We commend Governor Cuomo for working to bring fairness to our justice system. This legislation will ensure that possession of a small amount of marijuana, whether public or private, is treated as a violation and not as a misdemeanor. This minor offense has dragged down the future of too many New Yorkers, particularly minority youth, leading to the deterioration of communities across the state. By properly updating the law, the Governor is helping to create a safer and stronger state for all New Yorkers.&#8221;</p>
<p>Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries:</p>
<p>&#8220;Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo is advancing legislation to standardize penalties associated with marijuana possession, in order to end existing practices, which needlessly scars thousands of lives and waste millions of dollars in law enforcement resources, while detracting from the prosecution of serious crime. For years, thousands of New Yorkers, who are disproportionately Black and Latino youth, have been charged with unnecessary misdemeanors, thereby creating barriers for future employment and intensifying tensions between law enforcement and communities. This legislation will ensure that individuals who possess small amounts of marijuana are sanctioned appropriately while avoiding permanent damage on their records. I thank the Governor for treating all New Yorkers justly under New York State law.&#8221;</p>
<p>Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly:</p>
<p>&#8220;The proposed legislation takes a balanced approach and comports with the spirit of the NYPD operations order issued on the subject last year. Further, the department&#8217;s ongoing quality of life enforcement is supported by preserving the penalties for smoking marijuana in public.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>NYPD stop-and-frisk procedures modified</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/05/17/nypd-stop-and-frisk-procedures-modified/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/05/17/nypd-stop-and-frisk-procedures-modified/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 16:58:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cristian Salazar</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[City Hall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Civil Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10722</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160;
New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said he has instituted a new procedure to regulate how street stop-and-frisk encounters by patrol officers are monitored and supervised.
In a letter sent earlier today to Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Kelly said top-ranking officials in each police precinct will now be required to audit reports of street stops by [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="font-size: 23px;">&nbsp;</p>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said he has instituted a new procedure to regulate how street stop-and-frisk encounters by patrol officers are monitored and supervised.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">In a letter sent earlier today to Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Kelly said top-ranking officials in each police precinct will now be required to audit reports of street stops by officers. This is in addition to a review undertaken at weekly Compstat meetings by the chief of the department, he wrote.&Acirc;ļæ½</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">&#8220;I believe these measures will help us more closely monitor the daily street encounter activity of precinct personnel,&#8221; he wrote.ļæ½</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">He also said that the department has republished an order prohibiting racial profiling and has created a new training course that &#8220;provides personnel with an additional level of clarity in determining when and how to conduct a lawful stop.&#8221;</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Quinn, who released Kelly&#8217;s letter, said in a statement that the changes announced were &#8220;an important step forward&#8221; but said more needs to be done to reduce the number of stops and &#8220;bridge the divide between the NYPD and the communities they serve.&#8221;ļæ½</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">A federal judge yesterday granted class-action status to a lawsuit against the city&#8217;s stop-and-frisk practices. The lawsuit alleges that the NYPD has systematically targeted blacks and Latinos and trampled on Constitutional protections against unreasonable searches.&Acirc;ļæ½</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Over 200,000 stops were made on city streets in the first three months of this year, an increase of over 2011.</div>
<p>New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said he has instituted a new procedure to regulate how street stop-and-frisk encounters by patrol officers are monitored and supervised.</p>
<p>In a letter sent earlier today to Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Kelly said top-ranking officials in each police precinct will now be required to audit reports of street stops by officers. This is in addition to a review undertaken at weekly Compstat meetings by the chief of the department, he wrote.</p>
<p>&#8220;I believe these measures will help us more closely monitor the daily street encounter activity of precinct personnel,&#8221; he wrote.</p>
<p>He also said that the department has republished an order prohibiting racial profiling and has created a new training course that &#8220;provides personnel with an additional level of clarity in determining when and how to conduct a lawful stop.&#8221;</p>
<p>Quinn, who released Kelly&#8217;s letter, said in a statement that the changes announced were &#8220;an important step forward&#8221; but said more needs to be done to reduce the number of stops and &#8220;bridge the divide between the NYPD and the communities they serve.&#8221;</p>
<p>A federal judge yesterday granted class-action status to a lawsuit against the city&#8217;s stop-and-frisk practices. The lawsuit alleges that the NYPD has systematically targeted blacks and Latinos and trampled on Constitutional protections against unreasonable searches.</p>
<p>Over 200,000 stops were made on city streets in the first three months of this year.</p>
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		<title>Espada Found Guilty of Theft</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/05/14/espada-found-guilty-of-theft/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/05/14/espada-found-guilty-of-theft/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 21:03:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[andrew cuomo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gustavo Rivera]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pedro Espada]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10668</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Former state Sen. Pedro Espada has been found guilty of embezzling from his Bronx health care network.
After finding Espada guilty of theft, the jury continued to deliberate other charges, including conspiracy and fraud. Espada&#8217;s son, who also worked at the Soundview network, is also on trial.
The senior Espada, who had long cast himself as an underdog [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Former state Sen. Pedro Espada has been <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/nyregion/ex-senator-espada-guilty-of-embezzling-from-soundview-health-network.html">found guilty</a> of embezzling from his Bronx health care network.</p>
<p>After finding Espada guilty of theft, the jury continued to deliberate other charges, including conspiracy and fraud. Espada&#8217;s son, who also worked at the Soundview network, is also on trial.</p>
<p>The senior Espada, who had long cast himself as an underdog fighter, had blamed his political foes for stirring up the allegations against him.</p>
<p>Common Cause is using today&#8217;s verdict to call for more aggressive ethics investigations from the state-level Joint Commission on Public Ethics.</p>
<p>Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause/NY, said in a statement that Espada is &#8220;the poster child for corruption and the wholesale flaunting of our campaign finance and ethics laws.&#8221;</p>
<p>Espada was at the center of the 2009 state Senate coup that left the body paralyzed for a month. He was eventually named senate majority leader as part of a deal that allowed him to return to the Democrats.</p>
<p>A good number of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle refused to even speak to Espada while he carried the title. Before the coup, Espada had wracked up thousands of dollars in unpaid fines from the state and city board of elections. He also faced accusations he didn&#8217;t even live in his district.</p>
<p>In early 2009, just before the coup, Espada <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/iotw/20090601/200/2931">granted the Gazette a rare interview</a> and took us on a tour of his alleged Bronx residence and one of the health clinics. At the time, Espada mocked and challenged then Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to come after him.</p>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">After five years of investigating me in his own tenacious way he should have said, to remove the taint that he himself had helped develop over me, he should have said he investigated Soundview and regrettably several people did bad things but Sen. Espada is absolutely not guilty of any wrongdoing. If I had been, I would have been charged. I&#8217;m sure personally he regrets that because what goes around really does come back around.&#8221;</div>
<p>Espada lost his seat in a primary election to Gustavo Rivera in 2010.<span id="more-10668"></span></p>
<p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo issues this statement on the conviction:</p>
<p>&#8220;As Attorney General, I brought an action against Pedro Espada for siphoning millions of dollars from a taxpayer funded not-for-profit and using the money to support a lavish lifestyle for himself, his family, and his friends, as well as for supporting his political operation. Mr. Espada was the prime example of government corruption.</p>
<p>&#8220;I worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York to initiate a criminal case, delegating my Deputy Chief of Staff, Mitra Hormozi, to become a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in order to facilitate the criminal action. These efforts between state and federal investigators culminated in today’s jury verdict, convicting Mr. Espada of multiple felonies.</p>
<p>&#8220;I commend the diligent work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI in seeing that justice was done in this matter.</p>
<p>&#8220;Those who would abuse the public trust have a pointed lesson in the downfall of former Senator Espada. My comments at the time I filed the original charges bear repeating: in New York, we will have no tolerance for government corruption. As Attorney General and as Governor, I have fought to bring performance, integrity and pride back to what was, at one time, the best state government in the nation. We are making progress.</p>
<p>&#8220;Mr. Espada has made many accusations and comments about me since my actions began. Today the jury spoke loud and clear making Mr. Espada a convicted felon.</p>
<p>&#8220;The State Department of Health will continue to work with other area health care providers in the Bronx as well as the insurance plans that cover Soundview patients to ensure that those individuals will have ready access to quality health care.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>Cuomo visits Westchester to call for agency for disabled</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/05/10/cuomo-visits-westchester-to-call-for-agency-for-disabled/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/05/10/cuomo-visits-westchester-to-call-for-agency-for-disabled/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 19:33:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[andrew cuomo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dean Skelos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Carey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sheldon Silver]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10645</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Gov. Andrew Cuomo visited the College of New Rochelle in Westchester County today to push for legislation that would create a new agency to investigate reports of abuse of the disabled.
&#8220;This bill puts forth unprecedented reforms that will transform how New York state protects and cares for people with special needs and disabilities,&#8221; Cuomo said [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo visited the College of New Rochelle in Westchester County today to push for legislation that would create a new agency to investigate reports of abuse of the disabled.</p>
<p>&#8220;This bill puts forth unprecedented reforms that will transform how New York state protects and cares for people with special needs and disabilities,&#8221; Cuomo said in a statement. &#8220;This is exactly the type of agency that the patients and their family and friends deserve.&#8221;</p>
<p>Cuomo announced the legislation on Monday.</p>
<p>Last month, Cuomo <a href="http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/128097/cuomo-were-basically-done-where-are-the-stripers/">told reporters</a> he thought the legislative session would be relatively quiet. However, Cuomo has made it clear the new agency is a major legislative priority and that he will lobby legislators and the public on the issue until he is able to sign it into law.</p>
<p>Both legislative leaders <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/searchlight/20120508/203/3716">have said</a> they expect to be able to pass the law by the end of the session, which ends in June.</p>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">&#8220;This bill puts forth unprecedented reforms that will transform how New York State protects and cares for people with special needs and disabilities,&#8221; said Governor Cuomo. &#8220;This is exactly the type of agency that the patients and their family and friends deserve. I urge the Senate and Assembly to pass this bill so we can start implementing these reforms as soon as possible.&#8221;Cuomo said earlier this week that the legislation is a legislative priority for him and the leaders of both legislative houses said they thought they could pass the legislation by the end of the season. The legislation is designed to address what has been called a corrupt, abusive system by a number of observers. Earlier this year Cuomo told reporters that he expected a quiet legislative session because he had achieved the majority of his legislative agenda. But now Cuomo appears geared up to lobby and legislators and the public on the legislation until he is able to sign it into law.</div>
<p>Advocacy groups have generally been supportive of the legislation, though the father of a 13-year-old autistic boy smothered to death by a caretaker has <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/nyregion/signs-of-supportā€¦">criticized the legislation</a> for not being more proactive. The boy&#8217;s father, Michael Carey, told <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/nyregion/signs-of-supportā€¦">The New York Times </a>he felt the state should invest in cameras and training and limit caregiver overtime.</p>
<p>More about the Justice Center can be found at www.Justice4SpecialNeeds.com. A report by the governor&#8217;s special advisor on vulnerable persons is <a href="http://www.governor.ny.gov/assets/documents/justice4specialneeds.pdf">available here</a>.</p>
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		<title>What Does the State Budget Deal Mean For NYC?</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/03/27/what-does-the-state-budget-deal-mean-for-nyc/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/03/27/what-does-the-state-budget-deal-mean-for-nyc/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:08:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[andrew cuomo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10578</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is budget week in Albany and now we have an official acknowledgement that a deal has been reached. The budget deadline is at the end of the month but legislators really dealt with the hard stuff during December&#8217;s special session and the late night legislative spree earlier this month. So what does the budget [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is budget week in Albany and now we have an official acknowledgement that a deal has been reached. The budget deadline is at the end of the month but legislators really dealt with the hard stuff during December&#8217;s special session and the late night legislative spree earlier this month. So what does the budget have in store for the city?</p>
<ul>
<li>The juvenile justice &#8220;Close to Home&#8221; initiative is of <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/albany/20120227/204/3685">particular interest</a>. NYC will be able to place and treat its juvenile delinquents in the five boroughs rather than sending them upstate.</li>
<li>Funding for the MTA capital plan, with $770 million coming directly from the state. &#8220;The five-year MTA capital plan contains $22.2 billion for projects critical to transit in New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley, and that will produce tens of thousands of jobs. The first two years of the MTA capital plan were funded at $9.1 billion. The Budget will help allow the MTA to obtain the full $13.1 billion needed to achieve the five year capital plan and complete some of the largest construction projects in the history of New York.&#8221;</li>
<li>The Office of New Americans will be established to help immigrants better participate in &#8220;the state&#8217;s economy and civil life.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<p>Also Gov. Andrew Cuomo is going ahead with a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/nyregion/budget-provision-raises-worries-about-cuomos-reach.html">controversial provision</a> that will give him increased powers over state spending:</p>
<p>&#8220;To achieve greater efficiency in government operations and improve performance, the Budget enacts the Governor&#8217;s proposal to ensure fiscal flexibility in order to expedite government consolidation and streamlining. The interchangeability provisions give the state the authority to move certain funds between state agencies that will save money in back office functions such as business services, information technology and call centers. This will allow the state to move functions from one state agency to another to improve efficiency, ensure better performance, and reduce costs for taxpayers. The transfers will not be used to alter or shift programmatic functions of the agencies.&#8221;</p>
<p>Here is the full release from Cuomo&#8217;s office:</p>
<p><span id="more-10578"></span></p>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">GOVERNOR CUOMO, MAJORITY LEADER SKELOS, AND SPEAKER SILVER ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT ON 2012-2013 BUDGET</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced an agreement on the 2012-2013 New York State Budget.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget continues the Governor’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while creating jobs and strengthening communities across the state. It closes a multi-billion dollar deficit with no new taxes, fees or gimmicks, limits spending growth to two percent or below for the second year in a row, and launches the New York Works Task Force to invest billions of dollars to rebuild the state&#8217;s roads, bridges, parks, and other infrastructure and create tens of thousands of jobs.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The New York Works Task Force is the centerpiece of Governor Cuomo&#8217;s jobs program and will reinvent state economic development with an innovative new strategy that will put New Yorkers back to work rebuilding the state&#8217;s infrastructure. The Task Force will create tens of thousands of jobs by coordinating comprehensive capital plans, overseeing all investment in infrastructure projects, and accelerating hundreds of critical projects across the state.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Governor and legislative leaders also announced agreements on key economic development and transportation initiatives, important reforms to improve government efficiency, and measures to strengthen communities across the state.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">&#8220;For the second straight year, New York State has worked and created a balanced budget based on fiscal responsibility, job creation, government efficiency, and the premise that we must invest in our communities,&#8221; Governor Cuomo said. &#8220;The cornerstone of this budget is the New York Works program, a new and smarter strategy for putting New Yorkers back to work by rebuilding our aging infrastructure and helping put our state&#8217;s economy back on track, just the way we have put our state government back on track. I commend Majority Leader Skelos and Speaker Silver for working with us to achieve this historic early progress.&#8221;</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said, &#8220;By working together with Governor Cuomo and our colleagues in the Assembly, we have turned the corner in Albany, and for the second year in a row reached a Budget agreement that continues to protect taxpayers and help the private sector create jobs. This agreement puts us in a position to deliver another early budget that controls spending and taxes, and builds on the bipartisan successes we achieved last year. I applaud Governor Cuomo for his leadership and continued partnership, and look forward to enacting a final budget that realizes many long-held Senate Republican priorities.&#8221;</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, &#8220;Throughout this process, the Assembly’s focus has been on providing the resources necessary to protect our children, students, and our most vulnerable citizens. This budget includes much needed increases in education spending, including an increase in base aid for community colleges for the first time in five years, and vital restorations to programs that protect our state’s neediest citizens. By working together we have made real progress in continuing to rebuild New York’s economy and make the state work to deliver better services for its people. I thank Governor Cuomo and Senate Majority Leader Skelos for continuing to work together with us to make New York State a better place for all New Yorkers to live and work.&#8221;</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The key provisions of the Budget include:</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">New York Works</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Establishes the New York Works Task Force</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The New York Works Task Force will coordinate capital plans across 45 agencies and authorities, oversee investment in projects and access to funding, and facilitate the creation of tens of thousands of jobs.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Prior to the New York Works initiative, there was no comprehensive state plan for the $16 billion in annual capital expenditures by 45 state agencies and authorities. In some cases, including with respect to projects by the Port Authority, the MTA, and the Department of Transportation, billions of dollars of taxpayer or commuter funds are being used to fund transportation plans in the same region with no coordination between the agencies. For the first time, the New York Works Task Force will develop a coordinated capital infrastructure plan among agencies and authorities. The Task Force, made up of leaders in finance, labor, planning and transportation will also recommend financing options for projects and methods to accelerate construction of critical infrastructure.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The New York Works Task Force will consist of fifteen members. Nine of the members will be appointed by the Governor and six by the Legislature. All major state agencies and authorities will participate in an implementation council to coordinate capital planning.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">All New York Works projects will be posted on the web with real-time updates so that New Yorkers can track the progress of projects in their community. The full list will be posted online over the next several days.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Rebuild Roads and Bridges</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget funds the New York Works Program with $232 million in state capital funds and $917 million in new Federal funds for a total of $1.2 billion in new spending to accelerate repair, replacement and improvement of deficient roads and bridges. This funding is over and above the $1.6 billion already allocated this year to the core transportation capital program for roads and bridges. This program is in addition to the advancement of the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project that will inject billions more into the regional and state economy.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Thirty-two percent of the state&#8217;s bridges are rated deficient and forty percent of the state&#8217;s pavement surface is rated deficient. The additional $1.2 billion in accelerated projects selected by the Department of Transportation will include $212 million to address bridge deck and structural replacement or rehabilitation needs on approximately 115 bridges, $250 million for more than 2,000 miles of low cost pavement preservation and pavement treatments, and $700 million for transportation projects of regional or statewide significance throughout the state that had been delayed due to resource constraints.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The New York Works Program&#8217;s Accelerated Bridge and Pavement program will expedite projects of regional significance to immediately create jobs, address critical infrastructure needs, and achieve savings. The Accelerated Bridge and Pavement program represents a different way of doing business for New York State. Rather than executing 100 different contracts for 100 different bridges, projects will be consolidated under regional contracts – a more efficient process that will enable the state to complete critical projects on time and under budget.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Second Round of Regional Council Awards</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Last year, Governor Cuomo created 10 Regional Councils that developed long term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. These Councils were part of a process that awarded $785 million for job creation and community development. The Budget authorizes a second round of funding for the Regional Councils, including $220 million to implement regional strategic plans – $150 million in new capital funding and $70 million in tax credits from the Excelsior Jobs Program.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">In addition, resources from a wide range of existing agency programs will be available to businesses and sponsors for economic development purposes that are consistent with Regional Council plans through the innovative Consolidated Funding Application. This process allows one-stop access for project sponsors to apply and compete for over $500 million in additional funding available through existing agency programs.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Buffalo Regional Innovation Cluster</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget includes funding for the first phase of a multi-year $1 billion economic development package for Buffalo. The Governor has challenged the area&#8217;s Regional Council to develop a viable plan to create thousands of jobs and spur at least $5 billion in new investment and economic activity. The Budget includes $100 million for the first year, consisting of $75 million in capital and $25 million from the Excelsior Tax Credit Program.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">New and Expanded Round of NY SUNY 2020</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget includes $30 million of capital funding for a new round of the Governor&#8217;s NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grants. When combined with an equal share from SUNY, the University&#8217;s 60 campuses, excluding the university centers, will compete for three $20 million challenge grants.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Energy SuperHighway Initiative</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget includes $16.2 million to New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for research and development programs and the development of the 2013 State Energy Plan which is part of the Governor&#8217;s Energy Highway Initiative. The initiative will develop an action plan for both short-term and long-term actions that will facilitate billions of dollars in private investment in Energy Highway projects. The Task Force recommendations will be a core component of the 2013 State Energy Plan.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Funding the MTA Capital Plan to Improve Transit in Metropolitan New York</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget includes the Governor&#8217;s plan to support full funding of the MTA with $770 million of direct funding from the state. The five-year MTA capital plan contains $22.2 billion for projects critical to transit in New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley, and that will produce tens of thousands of jobs. The first two years of the MTA capital plan were funded at $9.1 billion. The Budget will help allow the MTA to obtain the full $13.1 billion needed to achieve the five year capital plan and complete some of the largest construction projects in the history of New York. The MTA Capital Program will also continue to fund the four mega projects underway: 2nd Avenue Subway, Eastside Access for the Long Island Rail Road, the Fulton Street Transit Center and the extension of the 7 Subway to the far Westside. The program will also fund new subway and rail cars, new energy-efficient &#8220;green&#8221; buses, station rehabilitation, enhanced communications and signals, new rail yards, as well as new elevators and escalators.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Repairing New York&#8217;s Dams and Flood Control Infrastructure</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation maintains 106 flood control projects, of which 91 have been rated &#8220;minimally acceptable&#8221; or &#8220;unacceptable&#8221; by the Army Corps of Engineers. Additionally, the Department owns 577 dams statewide. Of the DEC owned dams, DEC engineers classify at least 24 dams as &#8220;high&#8221; and &#8220;intermediate&#8221; hazard structures, where failure poses serious threat to human life or significant property damage. The New York Works Funds will designate $102 million, leveraging more than $100 million in matching funds, to repair aged and otherwise failing structures, including levees, flood walls, dams, pumps and channels. The $102 million will include $18.5 million to repair state-owned dams, $56 million to perform maintenance of flood control facilities such as levees, and $27 million to implement coastal hazard and inlet navigation maintenance projects, plus over $100 million in matching funds.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Rebuilding New York&#8217;s State Parks</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The New York Works Fund will provide $89 million, leveraging $143 million in total funding, to rehabilitate state parks, representing the single largest infusion in history of capital dollars for New York&#8217;s parks. Currently, 83% of state parks are deteriorating. Projects will be funded in every region of the state, making improvements in 48 state parks and historic sites that serve 37 million visitors annually. This investment in New York&#8217;s parks system will enhance the visitor experience and enable our state parks to reemerge after years of decline.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">New York State Gaming Commission</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Following the landmark agreement made earlier this month to begin the process of amending the state constitution to allow casino gaming in New York, the Budget enacts the Governor&#8217;s proposal to create a New York State Gaming Commission, including the merger of the Division of Lottery and the Racing and Wagering Board. This reform reorganizes the state&#8217;s gaming regulatory functions into a single oversight body. The new Commission would be comprised of seven members, five appointed by the Governor, and one apiece appointed by the Senate Majority Leader and the Assembly Speaker. The gaming industry constitutes a vital sector of New York&#8217;s overall economy and contributes to economic development and job creation across the state. Under this agreement, the regulation of gaming will be conducted in the most efficient, transparent and effective manner possible, and eliminate unnecessary regulation redundancies. The new State Gaming Commission will help ensure that all gaming activity conducted in New York is of the highest integrity, credibility, and quality, and that the best interests of the public are served.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Fiscal Integrity</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">State Spending Growth Held to 2%</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">For the second year in a row, the Budget maintains two percent or less year to year growth in state spending, consistent with the tax cap on local governments. State Funds will total approximately $88.8 billion in 2012-13. The Budget achieves flat state agency spending through the ongoing redesign of agency operations to reduce duplication, redundancy and waste. Since Governor Cuomo took office, out year deficits have been reduced by a cumulative $72 billion since taking office.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">All Funds Spending Reduced</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">All Funds spending will total approximately $132.6 billion, a decrease of $135 million from last year. This is the second consecutive year with a net reduction in All Funds spending, the first time this has happened in at least three decades.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Government Performance</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Increase in School Aid:</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget includes a total of approximately $20.4 billion for school aid, including performance grants to reward academic improvement and school district efficiencies. This represents an increase of $805 million in total education spending, with most of the allocated increase targeted to high needs school districts. The budget includes a total of $125 million to be allocated for performance grants, including $50 million in continuing payments to the school districts who will receive awards in the first round of grants, and an additional $75 million in awards to a second round of school districts.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Interchangeability</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">To achieve greater efficiency in government operations and improve performance, the Budget enacts the Governor&#8217;s proposal to ensure fiscal flexibility in order to expedite government consolidation and streamlining. The interchangeability provisions give the state the authority to move certain funds between state agencies that will save money in back office functions such as business services, information technology and call centers. This will allow the state to move functions from one state agency to another to improve efficiency, ensure better performance, and reduce costs for taxpayers. The transfers will not be used to alter or shift programmatic functions of the agencies.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Transforming State Procurement Process</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget includes new measures to allow state agencies to purchase common goods and services through centralized contracts. The Office of General Services (OGS) will be able to buy in bulk – from pens to cars – harnessing the state&#8217;s purchasing power to save $100 million in 2012-2013 and a projected $755 million over five years. The budget further eliminates the duplicative and wasteful review of statewide centralized contracts, accelerating the opportunity for agencies to use the new centralized contracts and achieve savings as soon as possible. Local governments and not-for-profits will be able to participate in the new centralized contracting process, increasing the state&#8217;s purchasing power, while passing down reduced costs to localities and multiplying the savings OGS will achieve for the taxpayers.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Consolidation</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">In addition to creating a New York State Gaming Commission through the merger of the Division of Lottery and the Racing and Wagering Board, the Budget includes transferring the management and operations of the Belleayre Ski Center from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA). Given ORDA&#8217;s expertise in managing other ski centers (Gore and Whiteface), Governor Cuomo proposed this transfer to improve operations and opportunities for tourism at Belleayre Mountain.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget further includes the elimination of 25 boards and commissions that are no longer active or whose missions have been completed or become redundant. A list of affected entities is here: http://www.governor.ny.gov/assets/documents/EliminatedAgenciesandCommissions.pdf.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">To continue making government more efficient, the bill includes mergers and consolidations of boards that have related missions. The agreement includes the following mergers:</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">·<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Department of Agriculture &amp; Markets: New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Advisory Board is merged with the Animal Health Issues Committee</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">·<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Department of Health: Breast and Cervical Cancer Detection and Education Program Advisory Council is merged with the Ovarian Cancer Information Advisory Council.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">State Relief for Local Medicaid Expenses</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget provides significant mandate relief in Medicaid spending for all counties and New York City. The Budget includes a state takeover of growth in the local share of Medicaid costs and implements a phased takeover of local government Medicaid administration expenses. In 2013-14, local government Medicaid growth will be reduced to two percent, and then reduced by an additional one percent annually over the subsequent two years so that in 2015-16, counties and New York City will no longer have to contribute toward the growth of Medicaid expenses. The takeover of the three percent Medicaid growth factor will save counties and New York City $1.2 billion over five state fiscal years. The phased takeover of local government administrative costs of Medicaid will accomplish statewide economies of scale, lead to associated savings and help New York achieve reforms proposed at the State and Federal levels.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Reform Teacher Disciplinary Hearings</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget includes several reforms to the teacher disciplinary process. The reforms include allowing the State Education Department to set reasonable limits on the costs of teacher disciplinary hearings, disqualify hearing officers who fail to comply with statutory deadlines and allow the State make use of new technology to help reduce the cost of the hearing.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Medicaid Spending</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget continues the two year appropriation structure and limits Department of Health Spending to four percent, commensurate with the Medicaid spending cap. In addition, the Budget proceeds with the Medicaid Redesign Team’s recommendations, including investment in affordable housing for high cost populations, enhancements in essential benefits and relief to essentially community providers.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Community Building</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Public Assistance</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget provides funding for core supportive services for needy populations and implements measures to improve program performance. Governor Cuomo secured additional funding through the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, allowing for an increase of 5% in the public assistance grant effective July 1, 2012, to be followed by an additional 5% increase on October 1, 2012. These are the final increments of a multi-phase increase in the public assistance basic grant, which has not been increased since 1990.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Community Colleges</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget includes an additional $31.3 million in support for local community colleges, raising base aid from $2,122 to $2,272 per full-time equivalent student. Community colleges are important economic drivers that educate students, retrain workers, and partner with local businesses. This additional support will allow community colleges across the state to expand class offerings, keep tuition affordable, and hire additional faculty.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Higher Education</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Consistent with the provisions in the NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant Program, the Budget maintains General Fund operating support for SUNY and CUNY colleges at prior-year levels. The Budget also accommodates the authorized 2012-13 tuition increases by providing $113.2 million in additional spending authority for SUNY and $66.6 million for CUNY.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Juvenile Justice – Close to Home</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget launches Governor Cuomo&#8217;s Close to Home Initiative that will help the state reduce crime, improve outcomes for youth and the communities in which they live, and increase the efficiency of the juvenile justice facility system. The Close to Home legislation allows New York City to take responsibility for the care of lower risk youth who come from the City. While youth committed to secure level juvenile justice facilities will continue to be in State custody and facilities, New York City youth currently in State non-secure and limited secure facilities will be transferred to City-administered programs and facilities. Youth from New York City needing this level of care going forward will be in the custody of New York City and served in settings that are appropriate for their educational, mental health, substance abuse and other service needs, without compromising public safety. New York City will take over this responsibility from the State with regard to youth in non-secure placements no sooner than September 1, 2012, and for youth in limited secure placements no earlier than April 1, 2013, following the approval by the State of comprehensive implementation plans for each level of care.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Housing Assistance</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget provides $14.3 million for 208 urban and rural community-based organizations that to help create additional home ownership opportunities and assist with the development and management of affordable rental housing.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Foreclosure Relief Unit</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget provides $9 million for the continuation of mortgage foreclosure counseling services through Homes and Community Renewal, with additional services financed with proceeds of the National Mortgage Servicing Settlement Agreement. In addition, the Department of Financial Services will establish a new Foreclosure Relief Unit to provide counseling and mediation services to help New Yorkers stay in their homes.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Increased Resources to Enhance Bus Inspections</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget gives DOT the ability to increase bus inspections and improve passenger safety. DOT will be able to conduct an additional 5,000 to 7,000 roadside inspections with funding agreed to in the budget. Currently, bus operators undergo two routine inspections per year by DOT, regardless if they meet DOT standards or not. This law will enhance public safety by allowing DOT to conduct follow-up inspections if an operator fails any of its previous inspections.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Office of New Americans</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">The Budget establishes an Office of New Americans within the Department of State to support efforts to assist legal permanent residents to better participate in the state&#8217;s economy and civic life. The Office of New Americans will focus on expanding access to English language education services, promoting U.S. citizenship and civic involvement, and expanding business opportunities for new American business owners.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Translation Services for Pharmacy Prescriptions</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">This Budget requires the State Education Department and the Department of Health to issue regulations that will require chain pharmacy stores to provide oral and written translation services to customers with limited English proficiency who are filling prescriptions. Such critical services will ensure that these customers fully understand the nature of the medication they&#8217;re receiving and the instructions for its use so that a language barrier does not become a threat to their successful treatment.</div>
<p>GOVERNOR CUOMO, MAJORITY LEADER SKELOS, AND SPEAKER SILVER ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT ON 2012-2013 BUDGET</p>
<p>Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced an agreement on the 2012-2013 New York State Budget.</p>
<p>The Budget continues the Governor’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while creating jobs and strengthening communities across the state. It closes a multi-billion dollar deficit with no new taxes, fees or gimmicks, limits spending growth to two percent or below for the second year in a row, and launches the New York Works Task Force to invest billions of dollars to rebuild the state&#8217;s roads, bridges, parks, and other infrastructure and create tens of thousands of jobs.</p>
<p>The New York Works Task Force is the centerpiece of Governor Cuomo&#8217;s jobs program and will reinvent state economic development with an innovative new strategy that will put New Yorkers back to work rebuilding the state&#8217;s infrastructure. The Task Force will create tens of thousands of jobs by coordinating comprehensive capital plans, overseeing all investment in infrastructure projects, and accelerating hundreds of critical projects across the state.</p>
<p>The Governor and legislative leaders also announced agreements on key economic development and transportation initiatives, important reforms to improve government efficiency, and measures to strengthen communities across the state.</p>
<p>&#8220;For the second straight year, New York State has worked and created a balanced budget based on fiscal responsibility, job creation, government efficiency, and the premise that we must invest in our communities,&#8221; Governor Cuomo said. &#8220;The cornerstone of this budget is the New York Works program, a new and smarter strategy for putting New Yorkers back to work by rebuilding our aging infrastructure and helping put our state&#8217;s economy back on track, just the way we have put our state government back on track. I commend Majority Leader Skelos and Speaker Silver for working with us to achieve this historic early progress.&#8221;</p>
<p>Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said, &#8220;By working together with Governor Cuomo and our colleagues in the Assembly, we have turned the corner in Albany, and for the second year in a row reached a Budget agreement that continues to protect taxpayers and help the private sector create jobs. This agreement puts us in a position to deliver another early budget that controls spending and taxes, and builds on the bipartisan successes we achieved last year. I applaud Governor Cuomo for his leadership and continued partnership, and look forward to enacting a final budget that realizes many long-held Senate Republican priorities.&#8221;</p>
<p>Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, &#8220;Throughout this process, the Assembly’s focus has been on providing the resources necessary to protect our children, students, and our most vulnerable citizens. This budget includes much needed increases in education spending, including an increase in base aid for community colleges for the first time in five years, and vital restorations to programs that protect our state’s neediest citizens. By working together we have made real progress in continuing to rebuild New York’s economy and make the state work to deliver better services for its people. I thank Governor Cuomo and Senate Majority Leader Skelos for continuing to work together with us to make New York State a better place for all New Yorkers to live and work.&#8221;</p>
<p>The key provisions of the Budget include:</p>
<p>New York Works</p>
<p>Establishes the New York Works Task Force</p>
<p>The New York Works Task Force will coordinate capital plans across 45 agencies and authorities, oversee investment in projects and access to funding, and facilitate the creation of tens of thousands of jobs.</p>
<p>Prior to the New York Works initiative, there was no comprehensive state plan for the $16 billion in annual capital expenditures by 45 state agencies and authorities. In some cases, including with respect to projects by the Port Authority, the MTA, and the Department of Transportation, billions of dollars of taxpayer or commuter funds are being used to fund transportation plans in the same region with no coordination between the agencies. For the first time, the New York Works Task Force will develop a coordinated capital infrastructure plan among agencies and authorities. The Task Force, made up of leaders in finance, labor, planning and transportation will also recommend financing options for projects and methods to accelerate construction of critical infrastructure.</p>
<p>The New York Works Task Force will consist of fifteen members. Nine of the members will be appointed by the Governor and six by the Legislature. All major state agencies and authorities will participate in an implementation council to coordinate capital planning.</p>
<p>All New York Works projects will be posted on the web with real-time updates so that New Yorkers can track the progress of projects in their community. The full list will be posted online over the next several days.</p>
<p>Rebuild Roads and Bridges</p>
<p>The Budget funds the New York Works Program with $232 million in state capital funds and $917 million in new Federal funds for a total of $1.2 billion in new spending to accelerate repair, replacement and improvement of deficient roads and bridges. This funding is over and above the $1.6 billion already allocated this year to the core transportation capital program for roads and bridges. This program is in addition to the advancement of the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project that will inject billions more into the regional and state economy.</p>
<p>Thirty-two percent of the state&#8217;s bridges are rated deficient and forty percent of the state&#8217;s pavement surface is rated deficient. The additional $1.2 billion in accelerated projects selected by the Department of Transportation will include $212 million to address bridge deck and structural replacement or rehabilitation needs on approximately 115 bridges, $250 million for more than 2,000 miles of low cost pavement preservation and pavement treatments, and $700 million for transportation projects of regional or statewide significance throughout the state that had been delayed due to resource constraints.</p>
<p>The New York Works Program&#8217;s Accelerated Bridge and Pavement program will expedite projects of regional significance to immediately create jobs, address critical infrastructure needs, and achieve savings. The Accelerated Bridge and Pavement program represents a different way of doing business for New York State. Rather than executing 100 different contracts for 100 different bridges, projects will be consolidated under regional contracts – a more efficient process that will enable the state to complete critical projects on time and under budget.</p>
<p>Second Round of Regional Council Awards</p>
<p>Last year, Governor Cuomo created 10 Regional Councils that developed long term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. These Councils were part of a process that awarded $785 million for job creation and community development. The Budget authorizes a second round of funding for the Regional Councils, including $220 million to implement regional strategic plans – $150 million in new capital funding and $70 million in tax credits from the Excelsior Jobs Program.</p>
<p>In addition, resources from a wide range of existing agency programs will be available to businesses and sponsors for economic development purposes that are consistent with Regional Council plans through the innovative Consolidated Funding Application. This process allows one-stop access for project sponsors to apply and compete for over $500 million in additional funding available through existing agency programs.</p>
<p>Buffalo Regional Innovation Cluster</p>
<p>The Budget includes funding for the first phase of a multi-year $1 billion economic development package for Buffalo. The Governor has challenged the area&#8217;s Regional Council to develop a viable plan to create thousands of jobs and spur at least $5 billion in new investment and economic activity. The Budget includes $100 million for the first year, consisting of $75 million in capital and $25 million from the Excelsior Tax Credit Program.</p>
<p>New and Expanded Round of NY SUNY 2020</p>
<p>The Budget includes $30 million of capital funding for a new round of the Governor&#8217;s NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grants. When combined with an equal share from SUNY, the University&#8217;s 60 campuses, excluding the university centers, will compete for three $20 million challenge grants.</p>
<p>Energy SuperHighway Initiative</p>
<p>The Budget includes $16.2 million to New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for research and development programs and the development of the 2013 State Energy Plan which is part of the Governor&#8217;s Energy Highway Initiative. The initiative will develop an action plan for both short-term and long-term actions that will facilitate billions of dollars in private investment in Energy Highway projects. The Task Force recommendations will be a core component of the 2013 State Energy Plan.</p>
<p>Funding the MTA Capital Plan to Improve Transit in Metropolitan New York</p>
<p>The Budget includes the Governor&#8217;s plan to support full funding of the MTA with $770 million of direct funding from the state. The five-year MTA capital plan contains $22.2 billion for projects critical to transit in New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley, and that will produce tens of thousands of jobs. The first two years of the MTA capital plan were funded at $9.1 billion. The Budget will help allow the MTA to obtain the full $13.1 billion needed to achieve the five year capital plan and complete some of the largest construction projects in the history of New York. The MTA Capital Program will also continue to fund the four mega projects underway: 2nd Avenue Subway, Eastside Access for the Long Island Rail Road, the Fulton Street Transit Center and the extension of the 7 Subway to the far Westside. The program will also fund new subway and rail cars, new energy-efficient &#8220;green&#8221; buses, station rehabilitation, enhanced communications and signals, new rail yards, as well as new elevators and escalators.</p>
<p>Repairing New York&#8217;s Dams and Flood Control Infrastructure</p>
<p>The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation maintains 106 flood control projects, of which 91 have been rated &#8220;minimally acceptable&#8221; or &#8220;unacceptable&#8221; by the Army Corps of Engineers. Additionally, the Department owns 577 dams statewide. Of the DEC owned dams, DEC engineers classify at least 24 dams as &#8220;high&#8221; and &#8220;intermediate&#8221; hazard structures, where failure poses serious threat to human life or significant property damage. The New York Works Funds will designate $102 million, leveraging more than $100 million in matching funds, to repair aged and otherwise failing structures, including levees, flood walls, dams, pumps and channels. The $102 million will include $18.5 million to repair state-owned dams, $56 million to perform maintenance of flood control facilities such as levees, and $27 million to implement coastal hazard and inlet navigation maintenance projects, plus over $100 million in matching funds.</p>
<p>Rebuilding New York&#8217;s State Parks</p>
<p>The New York Works Fund will provide $89 million, leveraging $143 million in total funding, to rehabilitate state parks, representing the single largest infusion in history of capital dollars for New York&#8217;s parks. Currently, 83% of state parks are deteriorating. Projects will be funded in every region of the state, making improvements in 48 state parks and historic sites that serve 37 million visitors annually. This investment in New York&#8217;s parks system will enhance the visitor experience and enable our state parks to reemerge after years of decline.</p>
<p>New York State Gaming Commission</p>
<p>Following the landmark agreement made earlier this month to begin the process of amending the state constitution to allow casino gaming in New York, the Budget enacts the Governor&#8217;s proposal to create a New York State Gaming Commission, including the merger of the Division of Lottery and the Racing and Wagering Board. This reform reorganizes the state&#8217;s gaming regulatory functions into a single oversight body. The new Commission would be comprised of seven members, five appointed by the Governor, and one apiece appointed by the Senate Majority Leader and the Assembly Speaker. The gaming industry constitutes a vital sector of New York&#8217;s overall economy and contributes to economic development and job creation across the state. Under this agreement, the regulation of gaming will be conducted in the most efficient, transparent and effective manner possible, and eliminate unnecessary regulation redundancies. The new State Gaming Commission will help ensure that all gaming activity conducted in New York is of the highest integrity, credibility, and quality, and that the best interests of the public are served.</p>
<p>Fiscal Integrity</p>
<p>State Spending Growth Held to 2%</p>
<p>For the second year in a row, the Budget maintains two percent or less year to year growth in state spending, consistent with the tax cap on local governments. State Funds will total approximately $88.8 billion in 2012-13. The Budget achieves flat state agency spending through the ongoing redesign of agency operations to reduce duplication, redundancy and waste. Since Governor Cuomo took office, out year deficits have been reduced by a cumulative $72 billion since taking office.</p>
<p>All Funds Spending Reduced</p>
<p>All Funds spending will total approximately $132.6 billion, a decrease of $135 million from last year. This is the second consecutive year with a net reduction in All Funds spending, the first time this has happened in at least three decades.</p>
<p>Government Performance</p>
<p>Increase in School Aid:</p>
<p>The Budget includes a total of approximately $20.4 billion for school aid, including performance grants to reward academic improvement and school district efficiencies. This represents an increase of $805 million in total education spending, with most of the allocated increase targeted to high needs school districts. The budget includes a total of $125 million to be allocated for performance grants, including $50 million in continuing payments to the school districts who will receive awards in the first round of grants, and an additional $75 million in awards to a second round of school districts.</p>
<p>Interchangeability</p>
<p>To achieve greater efficiency in government operations and improve performance, the Budget enacts the Governor&#8217;s proposal to ensure fiscal flexibility in order to expedite government consolidation and streamlining. The interchangeability provisions give the state the authority to move certain funds between state agencies that will save money in back office functions such as business services, information technology and call centers. This will allow the state to move functions from one state agency to another to improve efficiency, ensure better performance, and reduce costs for taxpayers. The transfers will not be used to alter or shift programmatic functions of the agencies.</p>
<p>Transforming State Procurement Process</p>
<p>The Budget includes new measures to allow state agencies to purchase common goods and services through centralized contracts. The Office of General Services (OGS) will be able to buy in bulk – from pens to cars – harnessing the state&#8217;s purchasing power to save $100 million in 2012-2013 and a projected $755 million over five years. The budget further eliminates the duplicative and wasteful review of statewide centralized contracts, accelerating the opportunity for agencies to use the new centralized contracts and achieve savings as soon as possible. Local governments and not-for-profits will be able to participate in the new centralized contracting process, increasing the state&#8217;s purchasing power, while passing down reduced costs to localities and multiplying the savings OGS will achieve for the taxpayers.</p>
<p>Consolidation</p>
<p>In addition to creating a New York State Gaming Commission through the merger of the Division of Lottery and the Racing and Wagering Board, the Budget includes transferring the management and operations of the Belleayre Ski Center from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA). Given ORDA&#8217;s expertise in managing other ski centers (Gore and Whiteface), Governor Cuomo proposed this transfer to improve operations and opportunities for tourism at Belleayre Mountain.</p>
<p>The Budget further includes the elimination of 25 boards and commissions that are no longer active or whose missions have been completed or become redundant. A list of affected entities is here: http://www.governor.ny.gov/assets/documents/EliminatedAgenciesandCommissions.pdf.</p>
<p>To continue making government more efficient, the bill includes mergers and consolidations of boards that have related missions. The agreement includes the following mergers:</p>
<p>·<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Department of Agriculture &amp; Markets: New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Advisory Board is merged with the Animal Health Issues Committee</p>
<p>·<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Department of Health: Breast and Cervical Cancer Detection and Education Program Advisory Council is merged with the Ovarian Cancer Information Advisory Council.</p>
<p>State Relief for Local Medicaid Expenses</p>
<p>The Budget provides significant mandate relief in Medicaid spending for all counties and New York City. The Budget includes a state takeover of growth in the local share of Medicaid costs and implements a phased takeover of local government Medicaid administration expenses. In 2013-14, local government Medicaid growth will be reduced to two percent, and then reduced by an additional one percent annually over the subsequent two years so that in 2015-16, counties and New York City will no longer have to contribute toward the growth of Medicaid expenses. The takeover of the three percent Medicaid growth factor will save counties and New York City $1.2 billion over five state fiscal years. The phased takeover of local government administrative costs of Medicaid will accomplish statewide economies of scale, lead to associated savings and help New York achieve reforms proposed at the State and Federal levels.</p>
<p>Reform Teacher Disciplinary Hearings</p>
<p>The Budget includes several reforms to the teacher disciplinary process. The reforms include allowing the State Education Department to set reasonable limits on the costs of teacher disciplinary hearings, disqualify hearing officers who fail to comply with statutory deadlines and allow the State make use of new technology to help reduce the cost of the hearing.</p>
<p>Medicaid Spending</p>
<p>The Budget continues the two year appropriation structure and limits Department of Health Spending to four percent, commensurate with the Medicaid spending cap. In addition, the Budget proceeds with the Medicaid Redesign Team’s recommendations, including investment in affordable housing for high cost populations, enhancements in essential benefits and relief to essentially community providers.</p>
<p>Community Building</p>
<p>Public Assistance</p>
<p>The Budget provides funding for core supportive services for needy populations and implements measures to improve program performance. Governor Cuomo secured additional funding through the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, allowing for an increase of 5% in the public assistance grant effective July 1, 2012, to be followed by an additional 5% increase on October 1, 2012. These are the final increments of a multi-phase increase in the public assistance basic grant, which has not been increased since 1990.</p>
<p>Community Colleges</p>
<p>The Budget includes an additional $31.3 million in support for local community colleges, raising base aid from $2,122 to $2,272 per full-time equivalent student. Community colleges are important economic drivers that educate students, retrain workers, and partner with local businesses. This additional support will allow community colleges across the state to expand class offerings, keep tuition affordable, and hire additional faculty.</p>
<p>Higher Education</p>
<p>Consistent with the provisions in the NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant Program, the Budget maintains General Fund operating support for SUNY and CUNY colleges at prior-year levels. The Budget also accommodates the authorized 2012-13 tuition increases by providing $113.2 million in additional spending authority for SUNY and $66.6 million for CUNY.</p>
<p>Juvenile Justice – Close to Home</p>
<p>The Budget launches Governor Cuomo&#8217;s Close to Home Initiative that will help the state reduce crime, improve outcomes for youth and the communities in which they live, and increase the efficiency of the juvenile justice facility system. The Close to Home legislation allows New York City to take responsibility for the care of lower risk youth who come from the City. While youth committed to secure level juvenile justice facilities will continue to be in State custody and facilities, New York City youth currently in State non-secure and limited secure facilities will be transferred to City-administered programs and facilities. Youth from New York City needing this level of care going forward will be in the custody of New York City and served in settings that are appropriate for their educational, mental health, substance abuse and other service needs, without compromising public safety. New York City will take over this responsibility from the State with regard to youth in non-secure placements no sooner than September 1, 2012, and for youth in limited secure placements no earlier than April 1, 2013, following the approval by the State of comprehensive implementation plans for each level of care.</p>
<p>Housing Assistance</p>
<p>The Budget provides $14.3 million for 208 urban and rural community-based organizations that to help create additional home ownership opportunities and assist with the development and management of affordable rental housing.</p>
<p>Foreclosure Relief Unit</p>
<p>The Budget provides $9 million for the continuation of mortgage foreclosure counseling services through Homes and Community Renewal, with additional services financed with proceeds of the National Mortgage Servicing Settlement Agreement. In addition, the Department of Financial Services will establish a new Foreclosure Relief Unit to provide counseling and mediation services to help New Yorkers stay in their homes.</p>
<p>Increased Resources to Enhance Bus Inspections</p>
<p>The Budget gives DOT the ability to increase bus inspections and improve passenger safety. DOT will be able to conduct an additional 5,000 to 7,000 roadside inspections with funding agreed to in the budget. Currently, bus operators undergo two routine inspections per year by DOT, regardless if they meet DOT standards or not. This law will enhance public safety by allowing DOT to conduct follow-up inspections if an operator fails any of its previous inspections.</p>
<p>Office of New Americans</p>
<p>The Budget establishes an Office of New Americans within the Department of State to support efforts to assist legal permanent residents to better participate in the state&#8217;s economy and civic life. The Office of New Americans will focus on expanding access to English language education services, promoting U.S. citizenship and civic involvement, and expanding business opportunities for new American business owners.</p>
<p>Translation Services for Pharmacy Prescriptions</p>
<p>This Budget requires the State Education Department and the Department of Health to issue regulations that will require chain pharmacy stores to provide oral and written translation services to customers with limited English proficiency who are filling prescriptions. Such critical services will ensure that these customers fully understand the nature of the medication they&#8217;re receiving and the instructions for its use so that a language barrier does not become a threat to their successful treatment.</p>
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		<title>Deal on &quot;Close to Home&quot;</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/03/26/deal-on-close-to-home/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/03/26/deal-on-close-to-home/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:57:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Civil Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Al Sharpton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[andrew cuomo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Andrew Lanza]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diane Savino]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joseph Lentol]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[karim camara]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Martin Golden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mike bloomberg]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10576</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Rev. Al Sharpton have issued a joint statement praising an apparent deal that would allow New York City the ability to control placement and treatment of its juvenile delinquents. For more on what exactly the legislation would do check out my recent story.
“For too long, too many of our City&#8217;s young [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Rev. Al Sharpton have issued a joint statement praising an apparent deal that would allow New York City the ability to control placement and treatment of its juvenile delinquents. For more on what exactly the legislation would do check out <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/albany/20120227/204/3685">my recent story</a>.</p>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">“For too long, too many of our City&#8217;s young people have been shunted off upstate – hundreds of miles from family, school and community and far from the support they need to get back on course. Today&#8217;s budget agreement includes a landmark overhaul of our juvenile justice system, paving the way for young people in the system to receive services close to their families and more easily transition back into their communities and productive lives.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">“We have been championing this kind of change together since our visit to the Finger Lakes Residential Center in December 2010, where the injustice and inadequacy of the status quo was on full display. We are grateful to Governor Cuomo for making the ‘Close to Home’ initiative a top priority for his administration. Building on the City&#8217;s legacy of juvenile justice reform – reducing the use of detention and placement, increasing community-based alternatives and lowering recidivism rates, all the while making our City even safer – ‘Close to Home’ will address the needs of our young people and improve public safety.”</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">“In addition to the Governor, we thank Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos for making this a reality; Assemblymembers Amy Paulin, Karim Camara and Joseph Lentol, who first introduced legislation and led the way in Albany on this critical issue; and Senators Diane Savino, Martin Golden, Andrew Lanza and Steve Saland, who provided thoughtful leadership during budget deliberations. We also thank Speaker Christine Quinn and the City Council for their support of the initiative.”</div>
<p>“For too long, too many of our City&#8217;s young people have been shunted off upstate – hundreds of miles from family, school and community and far from the support they need to get back on course. Today&#8217;s budget agreement includes a landmark overhaul of our juvenile justice system, paving the way for young people in the system to receive services close to their families and more easily transition back into their communities and productive lives.</p>
<p>“We have been championing this kind of change together since our visit to the Finger Lakes Residential Center in December 2010, where the injustice and inadequacy of the status quo was on full display. We are grateful to Governor Cuomo for making the ‘Close to Home’ initiative a top priority for his administration. Building on the City&#8217;s legacy of juvenile justice reform – reducing the use of detention and placement, increasing community-based alternatives and lowering recidivism rates, all the while making our City even safer – ‘Close to Home’ will address the needs of our young people and improve public safety.”</p>
<p>“In addition to the Governor, we thank Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos for making this a reality; Assemblymembers Amy Paulin, Karim Camara and Joseph Lentol, who first introduced legislation and led the way in Albany on this critical issue; and Senators Diane Savino, Martin Golden, Andrew Lanza and Steve Saland, who provided thoughtful leadership during budget deliberations. We also thank Speaker Christine Quinn and the City Council for their support of the initiative.”</p>
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		<title>Jumaane Williams Responds to Kelly</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/03/16/jumaane-williams-responds-to-kelly/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/03/16/jumaane-williams-responds-to-kelly/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:28:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[City Hall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jumaane Williams]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ray kelly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stop and frisk]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10572</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[City Councilman Jumaane Williams has responded to  NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly&#8217;s contentious appearance before the Council yesterday. Williams specifically addresses Kelly&#8217;s insistence that council members haven&#8217;t offered any alternatives to the stop and frisk programs they say harass their communities.
&#8220;What my colleagues, members of the media and observers witnessed yesterday was a NYPD Commissioner on [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>City Councilman Jumaane Williams has responded to  NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly&#8217;s <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/nyregion/kelly-head-of-nypd-fights-back-at-council-hearing.html?_r=1&amp;ref=nyregion">contentious appearance before the Council</a> yesterday. Williams specifically addresses Kelly&#8217;s insistence that council members haven&#8217;t offered any alternatives to the stop and frisk programs they say harass their communities.</p>
<p>&#8220;What my colleagues, members of the media and observers witnessed yesterday was a NYPD Commissioner on the defensive, forced to defend the fiscal and environmental consequences of unjust policing practices like the department&#8217;s use of stop, question and frisk,&#8221; said Williams in a statement. &#8220;Faced with the legitimate concerns of council members, unfavorable polling data and statistics from his own department which call their policies into serious question, Commissioner Kelly alleged that there is no leadership coming from my colleagues or I on reducing violence in communities of more color. <span id="more-10572"></span></p>
<p>As co-chair of the Task Force to Combat Gun Violence, which I and others had championed before its implementation, I find this laughable. No one is more committed to reducing violence in communities of more color than the members of those communities. We work closely with our local precincts, clergy councils and block associations to advocate for the best police coverage of our streets; by the way, that effort is hampered by a greater focus on overtime pay over hiring more patrolmen, an approach several of my colleagues called into question yesterday. It is a false choice to have to decide between tackling gun violence and responding to improper policing that threatens basic civil liberties. In fact, dealing with both results in building better police-community relations, which are the bedrock of effective cooperation and safer streets. This is in direct contrast with the Commissioner&#8217;s stop, question and frisk policy, which he has failed to effectively prove correlates with shootings and homicides in our highest-risk precincts, based on his department&#8217;s own statistics.</p>
<p>That is real leadership, something Commissioner Kelly has failed to demonstrate on this crucial issue. Real leadership would be standing up and admitting that&#8217;s there more than concern over stop, question and frisk, but that there&#8217;s a serious problem. Real leadership would be meeting with young black and Latino New Yorkers and listening to their concerns. Real leadership would be advancing gun buyback programs, rather than deriding it as some sort of &#8216;chicken soup&#8217;; just one bowlful in my district last November produced more than 10% of all the guns recovered by almost 700,000 stop, question and frisks last year. Real leadership would be de-emphasizing quotas, or &#8216;productivity goals&#8217;, and re-emphasizing good police work. Real leadership would be actually speaking with other city agencies like the Department for Youth and Community Development to discuss the relationship between violent crime and youth development; gun violence is a epidemic with multiple symptoms such as chronic poverty and underfunded youth services, and not addressing all of those symptoms in concert is senseless.</p>
<p>In the absence of Commissioner Kelly&#8217;s real leadership, my colleagues and I will continue to pursue meaningful reform that brings about safer streets for all New Yorkers, as opposed to discriminatory and lazy policing.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>No Presser For Cuomo?</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/03/15/no-presser-for-cuomo/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/03/15/no-presser-for-cuomo/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:46:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Demographics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Governing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[andrew cuomo]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10568</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After a typical Albany late night/early morning where a number of major pieces of legislation were rushed to the floor for a quick vote with little or no debate Gov. Andrew Cuomo does not seem to be in a rush to get in front of a gaggle of reporters.
Cuomo&#8217;s plan of attack includes two radio [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>After a typical Albany late night/early morning where a number of major pieces of legislation were rushed to the floor for a quick vote with <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/03/14/deals-done-in-the-dark/">little or no debate</a> Gov. Andrew Cuomo does not seem to be in a rush to get in front of a gaggle of reporters.</p>
<p>Cuomo&#8217;s plan of attack includes two radio appearances&#8211;one with his <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/albany/20110308/204/3482">favorite messenger</a>&#8211;and a &#8220;video message&#8221; to New Yorker&#8217;s which I assume will be available <a href="http://www.governor.ny.gov/">here</a> later today.</p>
<p>&#8220;Approximately 10:07 AM Governor Cuomo will be a guest on Live from the State Capitol with Fred Dicker. The show can be heard streaming live at www.talk1300.com.</p>
<p>Approximately 11:06 AM Governor Cuomo will be a guest on The Capitol Pressroom with Susan Arbetter. The show can be heard streaming live at http://www.wcny.org/temp-stream.html.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>Waiting For a Deal</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/03/14/waiting-for-a-deal/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/03/14/waiting-for-a-deal/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:15:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Demographics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[andrew cuomo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Sampson]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10545</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Albany is in a holding pattern as legislators seem to be hammering out a deal with Gov. Andrew Cuomo that could wrap up redistricting, Tier 6, the DNA database and perhaps the budget. Senate Minority Leader John Sampson issued this statement decrying linking redistricting to other issues:
“Rumors are swirling that, in true Albany fashion, the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Albany is in a holding pattern as legislators seem to be hammering out a deal with Gov. Andrew Cuomo that could wrap up redistricting, Tier 6, the DNA database and perhaps the budget. Senate Minority Leader John Sampson issued this statement decrying linking redistricting to other issues:</p>
<p>“Rumors are swirling that, in true Albany fashion, the awful redistricting provisions have been tied to the creation of Tier VI. If this is true and both are allowed to move forward, we will be disenfranchising minorities while simultaneously eliminating retirement security for working families in a classic Albany backroom deal. Senate Democrats will not be party to these cynical maneuvers.”</p>
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		<title>Bronx &quot;Close to Home&quot; Forum Scheduled</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/02/29/bronx-close-to-home-forum-scheduled/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/02/29/bronx-close-to-home-forum-scheduled/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:06:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10534</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The fifth public hearing on Gov. Andrew Cuomo&#8217;s &#8220;Close to Home Program&#8221; has been scheduled for April 2 from 6-8 p.m. in the Bronx at the Bronx Museum 1040 Grand Concourse. The Administration for Children&#8217;s Services is holding the series of five forums to get public input on taking New York City&#8217;s juvenile delinquents out [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The fifth <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/02/27/acs-schedules-forums-on-close-to-home/">public hearing</a> on Gov. Andrew Cuomo&#8217;s <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/Crime%20and%20Safety/20120225/4/3685">&#8220;Close to Home Program&#8221; </a>has been scheduled for April 2 from 6-8 p.m. in the Bronx at the Bronx Museum 1040 Grand Concourse. The Administration for Children&#8217;s Services is holding the series of <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/02/27/acs-schedules-forums-on-close-to-home/">five forums</a> to get public input on taking New York City&#8217;s juvenile delinquents out of the state system and providing services to them near their homes in the city. You can read more about the initiative that is part of Cuomo&#8217;s proposed budget <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/Crime%20and%20Safety/20120225/4/3685">here</a>.</p>
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		<title>ACS Schedules Forums on &quot;Close to Home&quot;</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/02/27/acs-schedules-forums-on-close-to-home/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/02/27/acs-schedules-forums-on-close-to-home/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:57:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Albany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gotham City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[andrew cuomo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[michael bloomberg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ronald Richter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10527</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Administration for Children&#8217;s Services has scheduled four of five community hearings on Gov. Andrew Cuomo&#8217;s &#8220;Close to Home Initiative&#8221; that would take New York City&#8217;s juvenile delinquents out of the state detention system and allow the city to provide them with the placements they think are best for them and near their homes. As [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/acs/html/home/home.shtml">Administration for Children&#8217;s Services</a> has scheduled four of five community hearings on Gov. Andrew Cuomo&#8217;s &#8220;Close to Home Initiative&#8221; that would take New York City&#8217;s juvenile delinquents out of the state detention system and allow the city to provide them with the placements they think are best for them and near their homes. As I <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/Crime%20and%20Safety/20120225/4/3685">wrote today</a>, the initiative is part of Cuomo&#8217;s budget and has been something Mayor Michael Bloomberg has <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/albany/20110516/204/3528">been pressing</a> for for years&#8211;as the state system is costly and known for <a href="http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/albany/20100111/204/3145">violence and mismanagement</a>.</p>
<p>ACS Commissioner Ronald Richter says that his agency and the State <a href="http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/">Office of Children and Family Services</a> have been meeting almost weekly to set up the system that will see the state hand over control of the city&#8217;s juvenile delinquents. Under Cuomo&#8217;s initiative non-secure offenders will be transferred to the city in September and limited secure offenders would be transferred in April 2013.</p>
<p>&#8220;We have a number of reasons to be very encouraged by it,&#8221; Richter said of the &#8220;Close to Home Initiative,&#8221;  &#8220;families haven&#8217;t had a chance to be involved in rehabilitation and it has long been a missing piece of the juvenile justice system. They don&#8217;t have a don’t have parent their to help them figure out why they made these bad choices. It has been a real deficit in  the juvenile  justice system and they also haven&#8217;t had the opportunity for an accredited education. We are going to give them one and  that’s a big deal for us.&#8221;</p>
<p>Richter says he is excited to start the hearings so that he can hear from city residents about how to move forward.</p>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m hoping we will be attentive to appropriate cautionary notes. We will listen to the kids, parents and legislators to make sure we are reflective of their concerns. We cant just make a new juvenile justice system in September. Its wrong to suggest everything will be ideal on that day. We are always trying to improve.&#8221;</p>
<p>Here are the dates of the four scheduled hearings. Another hearing in the Bronx is expected to be set by the end of the week: <span id="more-10527"></span></p>
<p>Brooklyn&#8211;East  New York/Brownsville</p>
<p>Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 6:00pm-8:00pm</p>
<p>Van Dyke Community Center NYCHA</p>
<p>392 Blake Avenue, Brooklyn, NY  11212</p>
<p>Queens&#8211;Jamaica</p>
<p>Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 6:00pm-8:00pm</p>
<p>Queens Educational Opportunity  Center</p>
<p>158-29  Archer Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11433</p>
<p>Manhattan&#8211;East  Harlem</p>
<p>Friday, March 16, 2012, 6:00pm-8:00pm</p>
<p>Silberman School of Social Work at  Hunter College</p>
<p>2180 Third Avenue  (corner of 119<sup>th</sup> Street), New York,  NY 10035</p>
<p>Staten Island&#8211;Stapleton</p>
<p>Monday, March 26, 2012, 6:00pm-8:00pm</p>
<p>Gerard Carter Community Center</p>
<p>230 Broad Street, Staten Island, NY 10304</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Williams Criticizes Bloomberg&#039;s Defense of Browne</title>
		<link>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/01/27/williams-criticizes-bloombergs-defense-of-browne/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2012/01/27/williams-criticizes-bloombergs-defense-of-browne/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:52:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David King</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[City Hall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Civil Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crime & Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jumaane Williams]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mayor Michael Bloomberg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paul Browne]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/?p=10498</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;There is no logical basis for Mayor Bloomberg&#8217;s defense of Deputy Commissioner Browne&#8217;s job performance. Based on the facts, he cannot have been both honest and competent in his handling of &#8220;The Third Jihad&#8221; and its aftermath. He lied to the public on multiple occasions and his actions deepened the divide between the NYPD and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">&#8220;There is no logical basis for Mayor Bloomberg&#8217;s defense of Deputy Commissioner Browne&#8217;s job performance. Based on the facts, he cannot have been both honest and competent in his handling of &#8220;The Third Jihad&#8221; and its aftermath. He lied to the public on multiple occasions and his actions deepened the divide between the NYPD and the New York City community, which harms our ability to best police and protect our city.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">If this was the first error in judgment Deputy Commissioner Browne had made, it would be excusable. Sadly, it is not, and the public record shows this without dispute. In just the last six months, he has been caught in lies ranging from phantom punches and elbows to fake excuses about pepper spraying at Occupy Wall Street. There is even evidence that suggests that Deputy Commissioner Browne may have lied under oath about his involvement in a 2004 Critical Mass ride. You can have your doubts about whether any one of these incidents has been truly justified, but you cannot look at the entirety of his record and claim that the man in charge of public information hasn&#8217;t been engaged in a campaign of overt misinformation or complete incompetency. This behavior would not be accepted by any other city agency, and it certainly should not be accepted by the NYPD or the city&#8217;s taxpayers that afford him his six-figure salary.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Police accountability seems to be treated as a dirty term, if not a non-starter, for Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Kelly, but the calls from New Yorkers get more intense every day. If they will not recognize the problems festering within the NYPD, then we need an independent oversight committee and/or the intervention of the Justice Department to do it for them. The City Council must also use whatever resources it has at its disposal to get real answers. As chair of the Oversight and Investigations Committee, I am eager to be a part of that effort which is greatly needed and long overdue.&#8221;</div>
<p>Councilman Jumaane Williams is blasting Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his defense of New York Police Department Commissioner Paul Browne&#8217;s job performance following <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/nyregion/police-commissioner-kelly-helped-with-anti-islam-film-and-regrets-it.html">revelations about the Third Jihad anti-Muslim propaganda video</a> screened by the NYPD. Bloomberg described Browne as,  &#8221;honest and as competent as anybody in the business of representing the city and giving out information&#8221;.</p>
<p>Williams strongly disagrees with that assessment. He has called for Browne&#8217;s resignation and issued this statement:</p>
<p>&#8220;There is no logical basis for Mayor Bloomberg&#8217;s defense of Deputy Commissioner Browne&#8217;s job performance. Based on the facts, he cannot have been both honest and competent in his handling of &#8220;The Third Jihad&#8221; and its aftermath. He lied to the public on multiple occasions and his actions deepened the divide between the NYPD and the New York City community, which harms our ability to best police and protect our city.</p>
<p>If this was the first error in judgment Deputy Commissioner Browne had made, it would be excusable. Sadly, it is not, and the public record shows this without dispute. In just the last six months, he has been caught in lies ranging from phantom punches and elbows to fake excuses about pepper spraying at Occupy Wall Street. There is even evidence that suggests that Deputy Commissioner Browne may have lied under oath about his involvement in a 2004 Critical Mass ride. You can have your doubts about whether any one of these incidents has been truly justified, but you cannot look at the entirety of his record and claim that the man in charge of public information hasn&#8217;t been engaged in a campaign of overt misinformation or complete incompetency. This behavior would not be accepted by any other city agency, and it certainly should not be accepted by the NYPD or the city&#8217;s taxpayers that afford him his six-figure salary.<span id="more-10498"></span></p>
<p>Police accountability seems to be treated as a dirty term, if not a non-starter, for Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Kelly, but the calls from New Yorkers get more intense every day. If they will not recognize the problems festering within the NYPD, then we need an independent oversight committee and/or the intervention of the Justice Department to do it for them. The City Council must also use whatever resources it has at its disposal to get real answers. As chair of the Oversight and Investigations Committee, I am eager to be a part of that effort which is greatly needed and long overdue.&#8221;</p>
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