Weekend News Summary
Initiative uses Fieldston restaurants to put food into community fridge
News 12
Mar. 6, 2021
A community fridge in Fieldston is feeding the hungry and giving business to nearby restaurants.
Mar. 6, 2021
A community fridge in Fieldston is feeding the hungry and giving business to nearby restaurants.
A Riverdale woman who helps stock the fridge says she came up with a plan to help keep it full by taking advantage of its location. The fridge, on Broadway, is surrounded by restaurants - and says that the best way to help is by getting people to purchase a meal.
Claudy's Kitchen, which serves Peruvian food, is offering a meal to customers that will also be put in the fridge for $7.99. It includes chicken and rice along with a water bottle and green sauce. Once prepared, it's off to the fridge.
Lee Michele, the woman behind the initiative and the founder of Moms Feed the Bronx, says the goal is to build community partnerships to feed neighbors.
The Final Stop kept the fridge running for its first month of operation. Now, the Jerusalem Cafe is helping keep it powered.
Who's running in the special election for city council district 11
Who's running in the special election for city council district 11
Bronx Times
Mar. 5, 2021
As New York City prepares for one of its largest election cycles in recent memory, there is one city council race that will directly impact the northwest Bronx's District 11 which encompases the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Norwood, Wakefield, and Woodlawn.
There are six candidates poised to replace former Councilman Andrew Cohen, who has moved on to a judgeship at the start of 2021.
Those running in this Tuesday, March 23 special election include: Eric Dinowitz, Mino Lora, Dan Padernacht, Jessica Haller, Carlton Berkley, and Kevin Pazmino.
The Bronx Times asked each candidate a few questions to get to know them:
Eric Dinowitz
Mar. 5, 2021
As New York City prepares for one of its largest election cycles in recent memory, there is one city council race that will directly impact the northwest Bronx's District 11 which encompases the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Norwood, Wakefield, and Woodlawn.
There are six candidates poised to replace former Councilman Andrew Cohen, who has moved on to a judgeship at the start of 2021.
Those running in this Tuesday, March 23 special election include: Eric Dinowitz, Mino Lora, Dan Padernacht, Jessica Haller, Carlton Berkley, and Kevin Pazmino.
The Bronx Times asked each candidate a few questions to get to know them:
Eric Dinowitz
Why are you running?
As a public school special education teacher for almost 14 years, I saw that the needs of our children extended far beyond the walls of the classroom. As a former Chapter Leader for the UFT, I saw that the needs of my colleagues extended beyond the Principal's office. And as Chair of Community Board 8's Aging Committee, I've seen that the needs of our seniors are not being met. All of these experiences in public service inspired me to run to bring real change to the community I grew up in and am now raising my family in.
What you do for a living, your relationship to the district, and which neighborhood you live in?
I was a public school special education teacher for almost 14 years, including at the JFK and Walton campuses in the Northwest Bronx. I was born and raised in the district, and am now raising my family here. I live in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district and how will you solve them?
COVID-19 Vaccines: As we fight to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not vaccinating people fast enough or in an equitable way.
Education: Our schools are not providing the resources our students need to thrive. The school to prison pipeline is an issue I would take on immediately.
Accessible transportation: The Bronx is underserved in terms of transportation options, and I am committed to bringing more accessible transportation to my district, especially for older adults and people with disabilities.
Saving our small businesses: Our small businesses were struggling even before the pandemic. My plan for helping our businesses recover is to immediately reinstate the NYC Small Business Emergency Grant Program
What will you do differently than Councilman Cohen?
One of my goals is to expand upon his constituent services, and make my office the best resource to anyone in need in my district. I have done significant constituent services as a neighbor and as a Democratic District Leader, and I will build upon that community outreach. My office will help constituents connect with city agencies, legal services, and state and federal offices for any assistance they need. I also come from a different background than Council Member Cohen, including my experience as a public school special education teacher. I will look to solve problems through that lens, with the welfare of my students, workers, seniors, and people with disabilities in mind.
What's your political experience?
I am currently the Democratic District Leader for Assembly District 81.
What endorsements do you have?
I have been endorsed by elected leaders including Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Congressman Ritchie Torres, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, State Assemblymember Chantel Jackson, Council Member Mark Treyger, Council Member Kevin Riley, and Council Member Danny Dromm.
I have been endorsed by several unions, including the UFT, New York City Central Labor Council, 32BJ, DC37, HTC, Uniformed Firefighters Association, Local 2507-EMS Workers, RWDSU, SEIU NYC Local 246 and BAC Local 1 and 7.
I have also been endorsed by groups such as the Stonewall Democratic Club, the Ben Franklin Reform Democratic Club, the Bronx Democratic Party and the Liberty Democrats.
Mino Lora
Why are you running?
I understand many of the challenges district residents face because I've lived them. I'm an immigrant from the Dominican Republic who built a new life here. I've worked minimum wage jobs, spent a decade without health insurance and recently survived COVID. I'm running to represent a district that is majority working-class and people of color, half of us are Latino and third of us are immigrants. As an artist and organizer, teacher and nonprofit executive – running for office was never part of my plan. But I kept seeing the same injustices over and over again. So here I am! If I'm elected, I'll be the first Latina and immigrant to represent the District.
Tell us about yourself, what you do for a living, your relationship to the district, and which neighborhood you live in?
I'm an educator and the executive director of People's Theatre Project – a social justice arts nonprofit delivering free programs to 1,000 Bronx and Upper Manhattan students a year. I founded PTP during the 2008 recession, using the $400 I saved from waiting tables, and built it into the million-dollar organization it is today. I have kept programs running and my staff employed during the pandemic.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district and how will you solve them?
New York City in general and the Bronx in particular were the national epicenters for the pandemic and that hit poor, working and minority communities, like most of District 11, the hardest. As we prepare to build a more resilient and humane city, we'll need the people most affected to be empowered in decision-making processes that work toward justice. Failing to engage tenants, immigrants, small businesses owners, students, frontline and essential workers, at minimum, would be a dereliction of duty by every elected official in NYC. As Councilwoman, I will listen carefully to the people of the district as I fight for:
Small business relief and recovery. I will urgently work to pass the City Council's various small business recovery programs.
Housing that is affordable. NYC needs to determine affordability levels by using local or neighborhood-based median income rather than Area Median Income because the AMI fails to adequately house residents at prices they can afford.
Fully-funded and equitable public schools. Cutting $707 million from the DOE budget in FY21 is a moral failure.
Prioritize the availability of green public transportation in all areas. Public transportation, especially bus service, should be expanded to eliminate transportation deserts, and bike lanes should be expanded to connect more Bronx neighborhoods.
What will you do differently than Councilman Cohen?
The first job of whoever wins the special election will be working on the City budget. I will not accept an austerity budget, a budget full of cuts for essential services for the people of New York City. I will work with State legislators to fight for fair taxes for the super wealthy, who gained billions of dollars during the pandemic, while millions of New Yorkers lost their jobs.
What's your political experience?
In my role on the Leadership Council of the New York Immigration Coalition, I brought my students to Albany to fight for school and adult literacy funding, met with Senator Schumer to successfully advocate for the inclusion of immigrants in COVID relief, and partnered with the Governor's Office to ensure vaccinations didn't wouldn't include invasions of privacy by ICE.. When the City's summer youth employment program (SYEP) was cut from the city's budget, I brought together 14 arts and culture nonprofits to create a free virtual arts camp for over 200 children and secured the funding to operate it.
What endorsements do you have?
Working Families Party, CWA District 1, New York Immigration Coalition Action, The Jewish Vote, Citizen Action of NY, No IDC NY, Run for Something, Downtown Women for Change, and Deputy Leader & Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer.
Dan Padernacht
As a public school special education teacher for almost 14 years, I saw that the needs of our children extended far beyond the walls of the classroom. As a former Chapter Leader for the UFT, I saw that the needs of my colleagues extended beyond the Principal's office. And as Chair of Community Board 8's Aging Committee, I've seen that the needs of our seniors are not being met. All of these experiences in public service inspired me to run to bring real change to the community I grew up in and am now raising my family in.
What you do for a living, your relationship to the district, and which neighborhood you live in?
I was a public school special education teacher for almost 14 years, including at the JFK and Walton campuses in the Northwest Bronx. I was born and raised in the district, and am now raising my family here. I live in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district and how will you solve them?
COVID-19 Vaccines: As we fight to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not vaccinating people fast enough or in an equitable way.
Education: Our schools are not providing the resources our students need to thrive. The school to prison pipeline is an issue I would take on immediately.
Accessible transportation: The Bronx is underserved in terms of transportation options, and I am committed to bringing more accessible transportation to my district, especially for older adults and people with disabilities.
Saving our small businesses: Our small businesses were struggling even before the pandemic. My plan for helping our businesses recover is to immediately reinstate the NYC Small Business Emergency Grant Program
What will you do differently than Councilman Cohen?
One of my goals is to expand upon his constituent services, and make my office the best resource to anyone in need in my district. I have done significant constituent services as a neighbor and as a Democratic District Leader, and I will build upon that community outreach. My office will help constituents connect with city agencies, legal services, and state and federal offices for any assistance they need. I also come from a different background than Council Member Cohen, including my experience as a public school special education teacher. I will look to solve problems through that lens, with the welfare of my students, workers, seniors, and people with disabilities in mind.
What's your political experience?
I am currently the Democratic District Leader for Assembly District 81.
What endorsements do you have?
I have been endorsed by elected leaders including Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Congressman Ritchie Torres, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, State Assemblymember Chantel Jackson, Council Member Mark Treyger, Council Member Kevin Riley, and Council Member Danny Dromm.
I have been endorsed by several unions, including the UFT, New York City Central Labor Council, 32BJ, DC37, HTC, Uniformed Firefighters Association, Local 2507-EMS Workers, RWDSU, SEIU NYC Local 246 and BAC Local 1 and 7.
I have also been endorsed by groups such as the Stonewall Democratic Club, the Ben Franklin Reform Democratic Club, the Bronx Democratic Party and the Liberty Democrats.
Mino Lora
Why are you running?
I understand many of the challenges district residents face because I've lived them. I'm an immigrant from the Dominican Republic who built a new life here. I've worked minimum wage jobs, spent a decade without health insurance and recently survived COVID. I'm running to represent a district that is majority working-class and people of color, half of us are Latino and third of us are immigrants. As an artist and organizer, teacher and nonprofit executive – running for office was never part of my plan. But I kept seeing the same injustices over and over again. So here I am! If I'm elected, I'll be the first Latina and immigrant to represent the District.
Tell us about yourself, what you do for a living, your relationship to the district, and which neighborhood you live in?
I'm an educator and the executive director of People's Theatre Project – a social justice arts nonprofit delivering free programs to 1,000 Bronx and Upper Manhattan students a year. I founded PTP during the 2008 recession, using the $400 I saved from waiting tables, and built it into the million-dollar organization it is today. I have kept programs running and my staff employed during the pandemic.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district and how will you solve them?
New York City in general and the Bronx in particular were the national epicenters for the pandemic and that hit poor, working and minority communities, like most of District 11, the hardest. As we prepare to build a more resilient and humane city, we'll need the people most affected to be empowered in decision-making processes that work toward justice. Failing to engage tenants, immigrants, small businesses owners, students, frontline and essential workers, at minimum, would be a dereliction of duty by every elected official in NYC. As Councilwoman, I will listen carefully to the people of the district as I fight for:
Small business relief and recovery. I will urgently work to pass the City Council's various small business recovery programs.
Housing that is affordable. NYC needs to determine affordability levels by using local or neighborhood-based median income rather than Area Median Income because the AMI fails to adequately house residents at prices they can afford.
Fully-funded and equitable public schools. Cutting $707 million from the DOE budget in FY21 is a moral failure.
Prioritize the availability of green public transportation in all areas. Public transportation, especially bus service, should be expanded to eliminate transportation deserts, and bike lanes should be expanded to connect more Bronx neighborhoods.
What will you do differently than Councilman Cohen?
The first job of whoever wins the special election will be working on the City budget. I will not accept an austerity budget, a budget full of cuts for essential services for the people of New York City. I will work with State legislators to fight for fair taxes for the super wealthy, who gained billions of dollars during the pandemic, while millions of New Yorkers lost their jobs.
What's your political experience?
In my role on the Leadership Council of the New York Immigration Coalition, I brought my students to Albany to fight for school and adult literacy funding, met with Senator Schumer to successfully advocate for the inclusion of immigrants in COVID relief, and partnered with the Governor's Office to ensure vaccinations didn't wouldn't include invasions of privacy by ICE.. When the City's summer youth employment program (SYEP) was cut from the city's budget, I brought together 14 arts and culture nonprofits to create a free virtual arts camp for over 200 children and secured the funding to operate it.
What endorsements do you have?
Working Families Party, CWA District 1, New York Immigration Coalition Action, The Jewish Vote, Citizen Action of NY, No IDC NY, Run for Something, Downtown Women for Change, and Deputy Leader & Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer.
Dan Padernacht
Why are you running?
"Dan understands that the choices we make today will determine how we rebound from the pandemic. Dan is running for City Council because our City needs experienced leaders that understand how government works and who can make difficult decisions. Dan is the only attorney in the race and the only candidate who has run a city agency," Padernacht said in a statement.
Tell us about yourself, what you do for a living, your relationship to the district, and which neighborhood you live in?
Padernacht was born and raised in the Northwest Bronx. He grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Kingsbridge and attended P.S. 95, J.H.S 143, and Fordham Prep. Dan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Fairfield University and a Juris Doctor from UIC John Marshall Law School.
During school, Dan represented the United States in the International Negotiation Competition for Law Students in Singapore. After law school, he opened a law practice in Van Cortlandt Village. Dan's family has lived in our community for three generations.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district and how will you solve them? What would you do differently than Councilman Cohen?
"Dan understands that the choices we make today will determine how we rebound from the pandemic. Dan is running for City Council because our City needs experienced leaders that understand how government works and who can make difficult decisions. Dan is the only attorney in the race and the only candidate who has run a city agency," Padernacht said in a statement.
What's your political experience?
For 12 years, Dan has been a member of Bronx Community Board 8 (CB8). Dan was head of the agency for 3 years as Chair of the Board. Dan has also acted as Chair of the CB8 Traffic & Transportation Committee for 8 years and Vice-Chair of the Land Use Committee for 4 years.
His tenure on the Board includes roles on the CB8 Aging, Executive, Housing, Hudson River Greenway, Law, Rules & Ethics, and Public Safety committees. Dan also served as Chair of the Croton Filtration Monitoring Committee.
What endorsements do you have?
Padernacht's endorsements include: Assemblyman Michael Blake, Bill Samuels, Dionel Then and the Northwest Bronx Democrats.
Jessica Haller
"Dan understands that the choices we make today will determine how we rebound from the pandemic. Dan is running for City Council because our City needs experienced leaders that understand how government works and who can make difficult decisions. Dan is the only attorney in the race and the only candidate who has run a city agency," Padernacht said in a statement.
Tell us about yourself, what you do for a living, your relationship to the district, and which neighborhood you live in?
Padernacht was born and raised in the Northwest Bronx. He grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Kingsbridge and attended P.S. 95, J.H.S 143, and Fordham Prep. Dan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Fairfield University and a Juris Doctor from UIC John Marshall Law School.
During school, Dan represented the United States in the International Negotiation Competition for Law Students in Singapore. After law school, he opened a law practice in Van Cortlandt Village. Dan's family has lived in our community for three generations.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district and how will you solve them? What would you do differently than Councilman Cohen?
"Dan understands that the choices we make today will determine how we rebound from the pandemic. Dan is running for City Council because our City needs experienced leaders that understand how government works and who can make difficult decisions. Dan is the only attorney in the race and the only candidate who has run a city agency," Padernacht said in a statement.
What's your political experience?
For 12 years, Dan has been a member of Bronx Community Board 8 (CB8). Dan was head of the agency for 3 years as Chair of the Board. Dan has also acted as Chair of the CB8 Traffic & Transportation Committee for 8 years and Vice-Chair of the Land Use Committee for 4 years.
His tenure on the Board includes roles on the CB8 Aging, Executive, Housing, Hudson River Greenway, Law, Rules & Ethics, and Public Safety committees. Dan also served as Chair of the Croton Filtration Monitoring Committee.
What endorsements do you have?
Padernacht's endorsements include: Assemblyman Michael Blake, Bill Samuels, Dionel Then and the Northwest Bronx Democrats.
Jessica Haller
Why are you running?
I am a climate activist, tech entrepreneur, and working mom of four.
I'm running because NYC is facing a health crisis, an economic crisis, a housing crisis, the crisis of systemic racism, on top of the climate crisis, and I know how to create solutions to address them all.
The Bronx needs a leader with the experience and ability to deliver for this community. I've started companies and created jobs. I've led non-profits. I've worked with the NYC government to improve constituency outreach.
I will be an independent voice to stand up to the political machine that has failed us, and deliver a more resilient, sustainable and equitable city.
Tell us about yourself, what you do for a living, your relationship to the district, and which neighborhood you live in?
I am a working mom of four that left the corporate world to address the growing threat of climate change, even before anyone was asking the questions about what to do about the crisis. I'm an entrepreneur who creates solutions that work. I've lived my entire life along the 1 train and moved to the Riverdale section of the Bronx to raise my family back in 2000.
I've organized communities in this district for The People's Climate March, to create a Farmers Market, to improve interfaith dialogue. I've worked for cleaner air, better health care, and to elect bold leaders. The future of our district is bright, now we just need to elect someone with the fearlessness to lead.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district and how will you solve them?
First: we need economic recovery rooted in justice. I've put forward the Bronx Pandemic Reconstruction program, which would create 10,000 jobs by offering unprecedented training opportunities through green technology and infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and child and elder care jobs.
Second: we must increase affordable housing. We must equitably distribute affordable housing throughout the district and city and make sure it's built sustainably.
Third: the climate crisis. Across the city, we must pass a faster and broader implementation of the Climate Mobilization Act. I will reverse historic environmental injustices that have left the Bronx with some of the highest asthma rates in the country, and invest in green jobs and infrastructure.
What will you do differently than Councilman Cohen?
The NYC Budget determines how we allocate our money, and it represents our values. In the 2020 NYC Budget, the NYPD received more than its share of funding versus other social service agencies. I would not have voted to support the 2020 Budget, and I will only support future budgets that promote a resilient, sustainable, and equitable city.
Councilman Cohen also did not support a bill to ban the use of pesticides in our parks. These poisonous pesticides are used more in low-income communities, endangering children's health.
What's your political experience?
Most of my experience is in the private and non-profit sectors, and I worked with the New York City Comptroller's office under John Liu to develop and implement a system to improve constituent outreach and services. Making systems work better is what I excel at and I will use that experience to make our city services work better for us all. With the budget challenges our city faces, it is critical that we become more efficient and better utilize our resources to create a more equitable and resilient city.
I have written environmental policy platforms for several candidates, including Sen. Alessandra Biaggi in 2018.
What endorsements do you have?
Oliver Koppell; Former Bronx City Councilman and New York Attorney General
Melissa Mark-Viverito; Former Speaker of the NYC City Council
Ruth Messinger; Former Manhattan Borough President, former Democratic Nominee for Mayor
Elizabeth Crowley: Candidate for Queens Borough President, former NYC City Councilwoman
Helen Rosenthal; City Councilwoman
North Bronx Racial Justice
Bronx Climate Justice North
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
Open NY
Women for the Win
21 in '21
VoteMama
NY League of Conservation Voters
Jewish Climate Action Network. NYC
Concerned Citizens for Change
American Institute of Architects
No IDC NY
Carlton Berkley
Courtesy of Carlton Berkley
Why are you running?
I am running because a group of residents in the neighborhood asked me to run for the vacant seat.
Tell us about yourself, i.e. what you do for a living, your relationship to the district, and which neighborhood you live in?
I have been married for 37-years and am the father of three adult children and have two grandchildren. I am a retired NYC Police Detective and a Deacon at the Walker Memorial Baptist Church of the Bronx, New York. I am a small business owner where I teach security guard training along with private investigations. I attend community meetings and neighborhood social gatherings with the residents where we discuss matters important to the neighborhood. I open my place of business for such meetings and gatherings. I also open my business for the teenagers and young adults to have their meetings/social gatherings to listen to their concerns and mentorship. I have been residing in Wakefield for the last 25 years.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district and how will you solve them? What will you do different than Councilman Cohen?
There are so many challenges facing the district. Every area has their fair share of problems from transportation, crime, homelessness, shelters, education parks etc. I will work very hard to bring the necessary relief to the residents. I will make my presence known in every part of the district and not favor one area over another. I will also be transparent in everything I do.
What's your political experience?
I have no political experience, however I do know that I will make good, just and common sense decisions.
What endorsements do you have?
I have no official endorsements during this campaign other than the residents of Wakefield.
Kevin Pazmino
My name is Kevin Pazmino and I am a first generation American. My mother is from Colombia and my father is Ecuadorian. I was raised by my mother with my brother in low-income housing in Rockland county NY.
Sen. Chuck Schumer celebrates 'big win for all New Yorkers' after COVID stimulus passes
I am a climate activist, tech entrepreneur, and working mom of four.
I'm running because NYC is facing a health crisis, an economic crisis, a housing crisis, the crisis of systemic racism, on top of the climate crisis, and I know how to create solutions to address them all.
The Bronx needs a leader with the experience and ability to deliver for this community. I've started companies and created jobs. I've led non-profits. I've worked with the NYC government to improve constituency outreach.
I will be an independent voice to stand up to the political machine that has failed us, and deliver a more resilient, sustainable and equitable city.
Tell us about yourself, what you do for a living, your relationship to the district, and which neighborhood you live in?
I am a working mom of four that left the corporate world to address the growing threat of climate change, even before anyone was asking the questions about what to do about the crisis. I'm an entrepreneur who creates solutions that work. I've lived my entire life along the 1 train and moved to the Riverdale section of the Bronx to raise my family back in 2000.
I've organized communities in this district for The People's Climate March, to create a Farmers Market, to improve interfaith dialogue. I've worked for cleaner air, better health care, and to elect bold leaders. The future of our district is bright, now we just need to elect someone with the fearlessness to lead.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district and how will you solve them?
First: we need economic recovery rooted in justice. I've put forward the Bronx Pandemic Reconstruction program, which would create 10,000 jobs by offering unprecedented training opportunities through green technology and infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and child and elder care jobs.
Second: we must increase affordable housing. We must equitably distribute affordable housing throughout the district and city and make sure it's built sustainably.
Third: the climate crisis. Across the city, we must pass a faster and broader implementation of the Climate Mobilization Act. I will reverse historic environmental injustices that have left the Bronx with some of the highest asthma rates in the country, and invest in green jobs and infrastructure.
What will you do differently than Councilman Cohen?
The NYC Budget determines how we allocate our money, and it represents our values. In the 2020 NYC Budget, the NYPD received more than its share of funding versus other social service agencies. I would not have voted to support the 2020 Budget, and I will only support future budgets that promote a resilient, sustainable, and equitable city.
Councilman Cohen also did not support a bill to ban the use of pesticides in our parks. These poisonous pesticides are used more in low-income communities, endangering children's health.
What's your political experience?
Most of my experience is in the private and non-profit sectors, and I worked with the New York City Comptroller's office under John Liu to develop and implement a system to improve constituent outreach and services. Making systems work better is what I excel at and I will use that experience to make our city services work better for us all. With the budget challenges our city faces, it is critical that we become more efficient and better utilize our resources to create a more equitable and resilient city.
I have written environmental policy platforms for several candidates, including Sen. Alessandra Biaggi in 2018.
What endorsements do you have?
Oliver Koppell; Former Bronx City Councilman and New York Attorney General
Melissa Mark-Viverito; Former Speaker of the NYC City Council
Ruth Messinger; Former Manhattan Borough President, former Democratic Nominee for Mayor
Elizabeth Crowley: Candidate for Queens Borough President, former NYC City Councilwoman
Helen Rosenthal; City Councilwoman
North Bronx Racial Justice
Bronx Climate Justice North
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
Open NY
Women for the Win
21 in '21
VoteMama
NY League of Conservation Voters
Jewish Climate Action Network. NYC
Concerned Citizens for Change
American Institute of Architects
No IDC NY
Carlton Berkley
Courtesy of Carlton Berkley
Why are you running?
I am running because a group of residents in the neighborhood asked me to run for the vacant seat.
Tell us about yourself, i.e. what you do for a living, your relationship to the district, and which neighborhood you live in?
I have been married for 37-years and am the father of three adult children and have two grandchildren. I am a retired NYC Police Detective and a Deacon at the Walker Memorial Baptist Church of the Bronx, New York. I am a small business owner where I teach security guard training along with private investigations. I attend community meetings and neighborhood social gatherings with the residents where we discuss matters important to the neighborhood. I open my place of business for such meetings and gatherings. I also open my business for the teenagers and young adults to have their meetings/social gatherings to listen to their concerns and mentorship. I have been residing in Wakefield for the last 25 years.
What are the biggest challenges facing the district and how will you solve them? What will you do different than Councilman Cohen?
There are so many challenges facing the district. Every area has their fair share of problems from transportation, crime, homelessness, shelters, education parks etc. I will work very hard to bring the necessary relief to the residents. I will make my presence known in every part of the district and not favor one area over another. I will also be transparent in everything I do.
What's your political experience?
I have no political experience, however I do know that I will make good, just and common sense decisions.
What endorsements do you have?
I have no official endorsements during this campaign other than the residents of Wakefield.
Kevin Pazmino
My name is Kevin Pazmino and I am a first generation American. My mother is from Colombia and my father is Ecuadorian. I was raised by my mother with my brother in low-income housing in Rockland county NY.
Sen. Chuck Schumer celebrates 'big win for all New Yorkers' after COVID stimulus passes
NY Daily News
Mar. 6, 2021
For Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the long ride back from Washington D.C. rarely felt so sweet as on Saturday after winning passage of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus package.
"We delivered for New York and the whole country," Schumer told the Daily News, his voice hoarse from lack of sleep. "Up and down the line, this is a big win for all New Yorkers."
As he returned home to Brooklyn, the weary lawmaker made no effort to hide his satisfaction with engineering the first big win of President Biden's new term.
Schumer ticked off a list of big-ticket items that will make an immediate difference in people's lives, like aid to restaurants and shuttered theaters, and billions to help the city, state and MTA avoid punishing budget cuts.
And then there's the business of $1,400 extra cash in most taxpayers' bank accounts.
"The thing that will matter most to the people is the checks," he said.
Schumer boasted of pushing the sprawling bill to passage by the narrowest of margins after a punishing all-night session in which GOP lawmakers sought to derail it. The bill passed by a 50-49 vote that required Schumer to keep every Democrat in line.
"It was very hard to do, but we did it," Schumer said.
He praised his Democratic colleagues, including moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), who voted with his party after winning a tweak to the unemployment aid that other Democrats opposed.
"(Manchin) cut his deal and then he voted for the package which was not an easy thing to do for a senator from West Virginia," Schumer said.
Despite winning no Republican support, Schumer predicted the go-it-alone approach would bear fruit in future legislative fights.
He believes some Republicans will vote for a coming giant infrastructure package in part because the strategy Democrats pursued on the COVID stimulus bill showed they are willing to go it alone.
"We told the Republicans we wanted their support, but we were willing to do it without them," Schumer said. "That's what we did."
Upper East Side residents protest planned NYC-funded homeless shelter
Mar. 6, 2021
For Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the long ride back from Washington D.C. rarely felt so sweet as on Saturday after winning passage of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus package.
"We delivered for New York and the whole country," Schumer told the Daily News, his voice hoarse from lack of sleep. "Up and down the line, this is a big win for all New Yorkers."
As he returned home to Brooklyn, the weary lawmaker made no effort to hide his satisfaction with engineering the first big win of President Biden's new term.
Schumer ticked off a list of big-ticket items that will make an immediate difference in people's lives, like aid to restaurants and shuttered theaters, and billions to help the city, state and MTA avoid punishing budget cuts.
And then there's the business of $1,400 extra cash in most taxpayers' bank accounts.
"The thing that will matter most to the people is the checks," he said.
Schumer boasted of pushing the sprawling bill to passage by the narrowest of margins after a punishing all-night session in which GOP lawmakers sought to derail it. The bill passed by a 50-49 vote that required Schumer to keep every Democrat in line.
"It was very hard to do, but we did it," Schumer said.
He praised his Democratic colleagues, including moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), who voted with his party after winning a tweak to the unemployment aid that other Democrats opposed.
"(Manchin) cut his deal and then he voted for the package which was not an easy thing to do for a senator from West Virginia," Schumer said.
Despite winning no Republican support, Schumer predicted the go-it-alone approach would bear fruit in future legislative fights.
He believes some Republicans will vote for a coming giant infrastructure package in part because the strategy Democrats pursued on the COVID stimulus bill showed they are willing to go it alone.
"We told the Republicans we wanted their support, but we were willing to do it without them," Schumer said. "That's what we did."
Upper East Side residents protest planned NYC-funded homeless shelter
NY Post
Mar. 6, 2021
New Yorkers are protesting plans for a homeless shelter again — this time on the Upper East Side.
The 88-bed "safe haven" shelter, slated for 419 E. 91st St., would be too close to schools and recreation sites, according to a petition on change.org that has more than 1,500 signatures.
"Hundreds, if not thousands, of children frequent this city block, often times alone, in commute[sic] to school and sport activities," the petition states.
Tina Ferriola, who runs NYC Elite Gymnastics next to the site, launched the signature drive because of "safety concerns across the board."
"We care very much about helping people that are struggling," Ferriola told The Post. "We care very much about the safety of the children, too."
One woman who signed the petition described the block as the "worst possible" for a shelter.
"Please keep our innocent children safe first and foremost," she wrote. "I implore this city to show some common sense, decency and respect for the children of the Upper East Side."
Besides the gymnastics school, the athletic center for the all-girls Sacred Heart school is on the block as is a petting zoo called The Ant Farm.
The Goddard Riverside nonprofit would run the seven-story shelter in conjunction with the city. Scheduled to open next year, the facility would offer meals and services, recreation space and a rooftop smoking area to both men and women. The residents can bring pets, too.
Residents of the building could stay up to a year as they transition into permanent housing, said Roderick Jones, Goddard Riverside's executive director.
Unlike traditional shelters, those in "safe havens" don't have to leave during the day.
Goddard hopes working with the community will avoid the kind of uproar that happened after the city turned the Lucerne Hotel, at 201 W. 79th St., into a shelter for homeless men, Jones told The Post. Many Upper West Siders complained the men were harming the neighborhood's quality of life.
"We're operating with an open hand. We're listening to the community and working with them to address concerns," Jones said.
The Community Board backed the plan Jan. 20.
Area resident Jordan Stein told the board he understood some of his neighbors' concerns, but thought the shelter would be an improvement over the city's traditional shelters.
"This type of safe haven housing is really the future of homeless services," he said.
De Blasio plans to ditch hybrid learning next school year for full-time remote or in-person options
Mar. 6, 2021
New Yorkers are protesting plans for a homeless shelter again — this time on the Upper East Side.
The 88-bed "safe haven" shelter, slated for 419 E. 91st St., would be too close to schools and recreation sites, according to a petition on change.org that has more than 1,500 signatures.
"Hundreds, if not thousands, of children frequent this city block, often times alone, in commute[sic] to school and sport activities," the petition states.
Tina Ferriola, who runs NYC Elite Gymnastics next to the site, launched the signature drive because of "safety concerns across the board."
"We care very much about helping people that are struggling," Ferriola told The Post. "We care very much about the safety of the children, too."
One woman who signed the petition described the block as the "worst possible" for a shelter.
"Please keep our innocent children safe first and foremost," she wrote. "I implore this city to show some common sense, decency and respect for the children of the Upper East Side."
Besides the gymnastics school, the athletic center for the all-girls Sacred Heart school is on the block as is a petting zoo called The Ant Farm.
The Goddard Riverside nonprofit would run the seven-story shelter in conjunction with the city. Scheduled to open next year, the facility would offer meals and services, recreation space and a rooftop smoking area to both men and women. The residents can bring pets, too.
Residents of the building could stay up to a year as they transition into permanent housing, said Roderick Jones, Goddard Riverside's executive director.
Unlike traditional shelters, those in "safe havens" don't have to leave during the day.
Goddard hopes working with the community will avoid the kind of uproar that happened after the city turned the Lucerne Hotel, at 201 W. 79th St., into a shelter for homeless men, Jones told The Post. Many Upper West Siders complained the men were harming the neighborhood's quality of life.
"We're operating with an open hand. We're listening to the community and working with them to address concerns," Jones said.
The Community Board backed the plan Jan. 20.
Area resident Jordan Stein told the board he understood some of his neighbors' concerns, but thought the shelter would be an improvement over the city's traditional shelters.
"This type of safe haven housing is really the future of homeless services," he said.
De Blasio plans to ditch hybrid learning next school year for full-time remote or in-person options
Chalkbeat
Mar. 5, 2021
The goal for New York City schools next year is to have two options: five days a week in person or fully remote, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday.
Though the mayor has yet to reveal specific plans on what school will look like next year, the hints he dropped on WNYC's Brian Lehrer show were the clearest yet about aiming to do away with the hybrid, or blended, model where students split time learning in classrooms and online.
The city is pursuing a full reopening of buildings for any student who wants to attend, de Blasio said, while also acknowledging that some parents may not be ready to send their children back to school. For those families, the city will likely offer a fully remote option.
"It's our expectation that we can accommodate everyone, in person, five days a week," the mayor said. "The fact is a lot is going to happen because it's a long way from now, from March to September, and a lot could happen — good, bad or mixed — with the coronavirus. But my hope is that we have advanced so far by September that there's literally no one who wants to be remote anymore."
He added: "I do not foresee blended being a part of the equation any more."
The hybrid model has proven particularly difficult for schools to pull off because it requires extra staffing for multiple versions of school: online and in person. Polling has found that parents across the country have also found it frustrating, and are more likely to be dissatisfied with the academic and social support their children are getting, while creating complicated childcare puzzles for families.
The mayor did not provide any details about how the city will solve the logical challenges of continuing to provide a remote option, such as whether virtual school would be run centrally by the education department or by individual schools.
The mayor also promised to provide more details "next week" about the city's plan to reopen high school buildings, which have been closed since November.
De Blasio's plan for next year makes many assumptions, perhaps the biggest being that socially distanced classrooms will no longer be necessary — and that families and educators will feel comfortable returning. Those could prove to be tall hurdles, with new strains of the coronavirus circulating in the city, and no vaccines approved yet for children. De Blasio has underestimated the importance of building public trust before: After pushing to reopen schools this summer, about 70% of families decided to keep their children home.
But the mayor said that parents shouldn't expect this fall to look anything like the current landscape, touting the ramp-up of vaccine supply and vaccination sites. The city has already administered at least one dose to more than 2 million people.
"There's a lot moving and changing, and of course, the schools have just been absolutely, consistently safe," de Blasio said. "Folks who are trying to judge September according to today's reality are making a mistake."
The city's plans to deal with pandemic-related school disruptions and reopening in the fall have lagged compared to many other school systems across the nation, which have already laid out plans for extended summer school classes and tutoring efforts, for example.
Officials in New York City have said schools will focus on supporting mental and emotional help, and rely on virtual solutions to help students catch up on missed learning, but even those plans have been vague.
"We're already late planning for next year," said Mark Cannizzaro, president of the union representing principals and other school administrators.
The federal government is expected to earmark 20% of its education stimulus money to addressing "learning loss," and Cannizzarro believes that schools should be empowered to make their decisions, in consultation with their school leadership teams and superintendents, on how to tackle these problems.
"Some communities might want a Saturday program. Some might want an afterschool program. Some might want a reading intervention program in early grades," he said. "One of the big mistakes this system makes too often is a one-size fits all approach, and that usually happens because there's not enough lead time. If you give schools enough lead time, you can get buy-in. But we need to know now what's happening next year."
Cannizzaro was hopeful that individual schools could potentially handle full remote learning if they didn't also have to offer hybrid learning and had enough lead time to figure out how many students would opt into the different modes.
"This year we've had to hire so many substitute teachers. Too many kids had to change teachers during the course of the year. That caused another level of anxiety," he said. "This is completely avoidable for next year if we start planning now."
De Blasio to reopen high schools for in-person learning in September
Mar. 5, 2021
The goal for New York City schools next year is to have two options: five days a week in person or fully remote, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday.
Though the mayor has yet to reveal specific plans on what school will look like next year, the hints he dropped on WNYC's Brian Lehrer show were the clearest yet about aiming to do away with the hybrid, or blended, model where students split time learning in classrooms and online.
The city is pursuing a full reopening of buildings for any student who wants to attend, de Blasio said, while also acknowledging that some parents may not be ready to send their children back to school. For those families, the city will likely offer a fully remote option.
"It's our expectation that we can accommodate everyone, in person, five days a week," the mayor said. "The fact is a lot is going to happen because it's a long way from now, from March to September, and a lot could happen — good, bad or mixed — with the coronavirus. But my hope is that we have advanced so far by September that there's literally no one who wants to be remote anymore."
He added: "I do not foresee blended being a part of the equation any more."
The hybrid model has proven particularly difficult for schools to pull off because it requires extra staffing for multiple versions of school: online and in person. Polling has found that parents across the country have also found it frustrating, and are more likely to be dissatisfied with the academic and social support their children are getting, while creating complicated childcare puzzles for families.
The mayor did not provide any details about how the city will solve the logical challenges of continuing to provide a remote option, such as whether virtual school would be run centrally by the education department or by individual schools.
The mayor also promised to provide more details "next week" about the city's plan to reopen high school buildings, which have been closed since November.
De Blasio's plan for next year makes many assumptions, perhaps the biggest being that socially distanced classrooms will no longer be necessary — and that families and educators will feel comfortable returning. Those could prove to be tall hurdles, with new strains of the coronavirus circulating in the city, and no vaccines approved yet for children. De Blasio has underestimated the importance of building public trust before: After pushing to reopen schools this summer, about 70% of families decided to keep their children home.
But the mayor said that parents shouldn't expect this fall to look anything like the current landscape, touting the ramp-up of vaccine supply and vaccination sites. The city has already administered at least one dose to more than 2 million people.
"There's a lot moving and changing, and of course, the schools have just been absolutely, consistently safe," de Blasio said. "Folks who are trying to judge September according to today's reality are making a mistake."
The city's plans to deal with pandemic-related school disruptions and reopening in the fall have lagged compared to many other school systems across the nation, which have already laid out plans for extended summer school classes and tutoring efforts, for example.
Officials in New York City have said schools will focus on supporting mental and emotional help, and rely on virtual solutions to help students catch up on missed learning, but even those plans have been vague.
"We're already late planning for next year," said Mark Cannizzaro, president of the union representing principals and other school administrators.
The federal government is expected to earmark 20% of its education stimulus money to addressing "learning loss," and Cannizzarro believes that schools should be empowered to make their decisions, in consultation with their school leadership teams and superintendents, on how to tackle these problems.
"Some communities might want a Saturday program. Some might want an afterschool program. Some might want a reading intervention program in early grades," he said. "One of the big mistakes this system makes too often is a one-size fits all approach, and that usually happens because there's not enough lead time. If you give schools enough lead time, you can get buy-in. But we need to know now what's happening next year."
Cannizzaro was hopeful that individual schools could potentially handle full remote learning if they didn't also have to offer hybrid learning and had enough lead time to figure out how many students would opt into the different modes.
"This year we've had to hire so many substitute teachers. Too many kids had to change teachers during the course of the year. That caused another level of anxiety," he said. "This is completely avoidable for next year if we start planning now."
De Blasio to reopen high schools for in-person learning in September
Crain's
Mar. 5, 2021
Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will have an announcement next week on high schools, the last tranche of the public education system whose students are still in remote learning a year after the pandemic shut down in-person learning.
"I want literally every kid to be able to come back to every school," de Blasio said Friday on his weekly radio show with WNYC's Brian Lehrer.
New York City is planning for a full September return to school, de Blasio said. Parents who are not comfortable sending their kids back will still be given the option of continuing online-only, though the mayor hopes that isn't the case. "I do not foresee blended being a part of the equation anymore," de Blasio said. "We will be fully open in September."
NYC's "Cycling Boom" Gets Boost With Several New Public Projects
Mar. 5, 2021
Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will have an announcement next week on high schools, the last tranche of the public education system whose students are still in remote learning a year after the pandemic shut down in-person learning.
"I want literally every kid to be able to come back to every school," de Blasio said Friday on his weekly radio show with WNYC's Brian Lehrer.
New York City is planning for a full September return to school, de Blasio said. Parents who are not comfortable sending their kids back will still be given the option of continuing online-only, though the mayor hopes that isn't the case. "I do not foresee blended being a part of the equation anymore," de Blasio said. "We will be fully open in September."
NYC's "Cycling Boom" Gets Boost With Several New Public Projects
Gothamist
Mar. 6, 2021
Getting around the city on a two-wheeler may become an even more ubiquitous and hassle-free experience thanks to several bike-friendly projects announced this week.
Among them is the Department of Transportation's lofty goal of installing a total of 10,000 bike racks, which officials kicked off Friday. Commissioner Hank Gutman welcomed the installation of the six new racks in the east Bronx, including separate intersections at Bronx Park East—one on Unionport Road and the other at Bronxdale Avenue. Both racks were placed near the Bronx River Greenway, an 8-mile path that connects from Soundview in the South Bronx to Nereid Avenue at the Bronx-Westchester County border. Other racks were installed in Pelham Bay this past week.
The installation of all new racks is expected to be completed by the end of 2022, adding to the existing 28,000 racks across the city.
Gutman called the initiative part of the DOT's overall plan to accommodate "the city's cycling boom."
"Bike parking signals that cycling is safe, welcome, and available for New Yorkers," said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. "We also look forward to upcoming safety improvements in the East Bronx, which will align with our NYC 25x25 vision to give more street space to people and help us reach our Vision Zero goals."
The DOT's program announcement comes two weeks after the DOT announced a new e-scooter ride-sharing pilot program that will launch in the Bronx neighborhoods of Soundview, Throggs Neck, Eastchester, and Co-op City this spring. The list of e-scooter companies have not yet been announced.
Maggie Scott Greenfield, executive director of the Bronx River Alliance, which looks to beautify the Bronx River, called the programs an "investment" for the Bronx.
"More bicycle racks and safer street connections to the Bronx River Greenway connects our communities to the trails and green spaces around the river and encourages healthy, active transportation," Greenfield said. "We look forward to the completion of these projects and the expansion of transportation options for the people of the Bronx."
The announcement of the rack program comes as the state is also making commitments to create a smoother riding experience in the city. On Friday the Cuomo administration announced a $5 million earmark to the Hudson River Park Trust for the construction of a pedestrian and bike path between West 57th and 59th streets in Manhattan. According to a press release, the creation of the paths—erected on piles over the Hudson River—will create a "seamless link" to the Empire State Trail while expanding the width of the path to be 40 feet.
In announcing the news, Governor Andrew Cuomo said this will "make commutes and recreation more enjoyable for both the local community and thousands of visitors."
The kids are not alright
Mar. 6, 2021
Getting around the city on a two-wheeler may become an even more ubiquitous and hassle-free experience thanks to several bike-friendly projects announced this week.
Among them is the Department of Transportation's lofty goal of installing a total of 10,000 bike racks, which officials kicked off Friday. Commissioner Hank Gutman welcomed the installation of the six new racks in the east Bronx, including separate intersections at Bronx Park East—one on Unionport Road and the other at Bronxdale Avenue. Both racks were placed near the Bronx River Greenway, an 8-mile path that connects from Soundview in the South Bronx to Nereid Avenue at the Bronx-Westchester County border. Other racks were installed in Pelham Bay this past week.
The installation of all new racks is expected to be completed by the end of 2022, adding to the existing 28,000 racks across the city.
Gutman called the initiative part of the DOT's overall plan to accommodate "the city's cycling boom."
"Bike parking signals that cycling is safe, welcome, and available for New Yorkers," said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. "We also look forward to upcoming safety improvements in the East Bronx, which will align with our NYC 25x25 vision to give more street space to people and help us reach our Vision Zero goals."
The DOT's program announcement comes two weeks after the DOT announced a new e-scooter ride-sharing pilot program that will launch in the Bronx neighborhoods of Soundview, Throggs Neck, Eastchester, and Co-op City this spring. The list of e-scooter companies have not yet been announced.
Maggie Scott Greenfield, executive director of the Bronx River Alliance, which looks to beautify the Bronx River, called the programs an "investment" for the Bronx.
"More bicycle racks and safer street connections to the Bronx River Greenway connects our communities to the trails and green spaces around the river and encourages healthy, active transportation," Greenfield said. "We look forward to the completion of these projects and the expansion of transportation options for the people of the Bronx."
The announcement of the rack program comes as the state is also making commitments to create a smoother riding experience in the city. On Friday the Cuomo administration announced a $5 million earmark to the Hudson River Park Trust for the construction of a pedestrian and bike path between West 57th and 59th streets in Manhattan. According to a press release, the creation of the paths—erected on piles over the Hudson River—will create a "seamless link" to the Empire State Trail while expanding the width of the path to be 40 feet.
In announcing the news, Governor Andrew Cuomo said this will "make commutes and recreation more enjoyable for both the local community and thousands of visitors."
The kids are not alright
City and State
Mar. 5, 2021
During a Wednesday press conference, Gov. Andrew Cuomo echoed President Joe Biden's call to get kids back into classrooms as soon as possible by prioritizing teachers for vaccinations.
Cuomo also made similar comments a week earlier, implying that once teachers are vaccinated there should be no impediment to bringing kids back to school. "There is damage being done to children with remote learning," the governor said during a press briefing last Monday. "You're going to find mental stress for children who have been home. You'll see emotional issues because children have been home. We want to open schools."
A growing number of health experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have also been encouraging states to reopen schools over concerns that attending school remotely may be negatively affecting children's academic growth as well as their mental health.
While stopping the accumulation of more damage to children's learning and psycho-social development is an urgent priority for New York, undoing the damage already done is another challenge. Some educators and mental health experts say that children returning to classrooms simply isn't enough to fully combat the mental health issues many have been dealing with.
Students who are attending school remotely have been found to be more stressed than those still going to in-person classes. A lack of socialization and supportive resources offered by schools, including meals, guidance counselors and assistance from teachers, have helped contribute to poor mental health among children who are attending school remotely since the onset of the pandemic. Additionally, many students studying remotely are experiencing new stressors, such as faulty internet service, distracting siblings and overwhelmed parents.
As of Oct. 17, 2020, there was a significant increase in the number of children who were brought to hospital emergency rooms across the U.S. due to mental health issues last year, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report published in November. There was a 24% increase in children ages five to 11 admitted to emergency rooms, compared for mental health-related reasons and a 31% increase among children ages 12 to 17, compared to those admitted in 2019. The CDC's data appears to reflect what has also been occurring in New York. For example, Central New York pediatricians have reported seeing a record number of patients experiencing mental health crises, some as young as four years-old.
Child psychiatrists have also been warning that the pandemic may be creating more of a suicide risk in children who are having trouble dealing with the various stressors it has placed on them. "The kids that we are seeing now in the emergency department are really at the stage of maybe even having tried or attempted or have a detailed plan," Dr. Vera Feuer, director of pediatric emergency psychiatry at Cohen Children's Medical Center of Northwell Health in New York, told NPR. "And we're admitting to the hospital more kids than usual because of how unwell they are."
Research has also indicated that classrooms and schools do not possess a high threat of COVID-19 transmission.Children under the age of 18 are much less likely to contract the disease and are far less likely to develop severe symptoms or die – they are also less likely to transmit the disease to others.
Now that the state has received a vast supply of Johnson & Johnson vaccines – and more shipments are anticipated to arrive over the next few months – it's looking more likely that teachers will be inoculated and able to safely return to in-person teaching soon.
But can simply returning children back to school diminish the mental health crisis that emerged as a result of the pandemic, or does more need to be done? Afterall, many of the state's schools do not look the same as they did when children were last in class. Desks are far apart to create six feet of distance between students and teachers – some schools have even made use of plastic partitions to prevent the spread of free-floating germs – and face masks are mandated.
"There's no cafeteria socializing with your friends in the lunchroom anymore," Nicholas Ferreira, senior vice president of youth development at The Child Center of NY, a children's counseling center that offers mental health programs in various public schools and has partnered with Thrive NYC, told City & State. "The socialization is there for sure and you're out of the house and you have a teacher in front of you, who can explain things better and help you through things but the experience (of being in school) is nothing like it was before."
Some New York City schools offer mental health and wellness programs and have guidance counselors and social workers. More often than not, the resources, when available to students, are stretched thin.
"We have a lot of students, 2,400, and we have basically zero social workers," a teacher who works at a public high school in Manhattan, who asked to remain anonymous to protect their job, told City & State. "Our (few) guidance counselors are extremely overwhelmed and they have about 400 students each and they rotate them every semester."
"The support network we have in place is really, in my opinion, not great, but that's almost true for every school I've worked in. Most schools I've seen are really lacking in mental health support, such as social workers and guidance counselors," they continued.
The lack of mental and behavioral support for children in public schools predates the COVID-19 pandemic but the need for these services have been amplified by the crisis. In New York City there are only about 3,000 guidance counselors available to aid the public school system's student population of 1,126,501.
Even as the need for more mental health services for children within the state becomes increasingly apparent, New York City and New York state do not appear to have developed plans to provide these services to all students. Neither the state nor the city's departments of education responded to a request for comment.
Some state lawmakers have already begun talking about ensuring that some of the federal funding New York is expected to get goes directly toward schools to pay for mental health support.
"We want to make sure that this next tranche of federal money goes to schools, not to the state, and is used for expenses related to COVID, including compensatory learning, summer school, the costs of paying for PPE, new air filtration systems – all the costs related to having kids come back and addressing their mental health needs. Whether it's psychologists, social workers, or guidance counselors, these kids are going to face quite a bit when they get back to school full time," state Senate Education Committee Chair Shelley Mayer told City & State in an interview earlier this week.
Still, mental health experts agree that a more concerted and targeted effort will need to be made to combat increases in mental health issues among the state's children now and long after the pandemic's end. "We're still going through the trauma (of COVID-19) and it hasn't ended," Linda Rodriguez, senior vice president of behavioral health and early childhood at The Child Center of NY, said. "Even if funding opens up now, this (addressing children's mental health) does need to be a long-term planning commitment."
Biden Bets on the Poor to Juice the Economy
Mar. 5, 2021
During a Wednesday press conference, Gov. Andrew Cuomo echoed President Joe Biden's call to get kids back into classrooms as soon as possible by prioritizing teachers for vaccinations.
Cuomo also made similar comments a week earlier, implying that once teachers are vaccinated there should be no impediment to bringing kids back to school. "There is damage being done to children with remote learning," the governor said during a press briefing last Monday. "You're going to find mental stress for children who have been home. You'll see emotional issues because children have been home. We want to open schools."
A growing number of health experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have also been encouraging states to reopen schools over concerns that attending school remotely may be negatively affecting children's academic growth as well as their mental health.
While stopping the accumulation of more damage to children's learning and psycho-social development is an urgent priority for New York, undoing the damage already done is another challenge. Some educators and mental health experts say that children returning to classrooms simply isn't enough to fully combat the mental health issues many have been dealing with.
Students who are attending school remotely have been found to be more stressed than those still going to in-person classes. A lack of socialization and supportive resources offered by schools, including meals, guidance counselors and assistance from teachers, have helped contribute to poor mental health among children who are attending school remotely since the onset of the pandemic. Additionally, many students studying remotely are experiencing new stressors, such as faulty internet service, distracting siblings and overwhelmed parents.
As of Oct. 17, 2020, there was a significant increase in the number of children who were brought to hospital emergency rooms across the U.S. due to mental health issues last year, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report published in November. There was a 24% increase in children ages five to 11 admitted to emergency rooms, compared for mental health-related reasons and a 31% increase among children ages 12 to 17, compared to those admitted in 2019. The CDC's data appears to reflect what has also been occurring in New York. For example, Central New York pediatricians have reported seeing a record number of patients experiencing mental health crises, some as young as four years-old.
Child psychiatrists have also been warning that the pandemic may be creating more of a suicide risk in children who are having trouble dealing with the various stressors it has placed on them. "The kids that we are seeing now in the emergency department are really at the stage of maybe even having tried or attempted or have a detailed plan," Dr. Vera Feuer, director of pediatric emergency psychiatry at Cohen Children's Medical Center of Northwell Health in New York, told NPR. "And we're admitting to the hospital more kids than usual because of how unwell they are."
Research has also indicated that classrooms and schools do not possess a high threat of COVID-19 transmission.Children under the age of 18 are much less likely to contract the disease and are far less likely to develop severe symptoms or die – they are also less likely to transmit the disease to others.
Now that the state has received a vast supply of Johnson & Johnson vaccines – and more shipments are anticipated to arrive over the next few months – it's looking more likely that teachers will be inoculated and able to safely return to in-person teaching soon.
But can simply returning children back to school diminish the mental health crisis that emerged as a result of the pandemic, or does more need to be done? Afterall, many of the state's schools do not look the same as they did when children were last in class. Desks are far apart to create six feet of distance between students and teachers – some schools have even made use of plastic partitions to prevent the spread of free-floating germs – and face masks are mandated.
"There's no cafeteria socializing with your friends in the lunchroom anymore," Nicholas Ferreira, senior vice president of youth development at The Child Center of NY, a children's counseling center that offers mental health programs in various public schools and has partnered with Thrive NYC, told City & State. "The socialization is there for sure and you're out of the house and you have a teacher in front of you, who can explain things better and help you through things but the experience (of being in school) is nothing like it was before."
Some New York City schools offer mental health and wellness programs and have guidance counselors and social workers. More often than not, the resources, when available to students, are stretched thin.
"We have a lot of students, 2,400, and we have basically zero social workers," a teacher who works at a public high school in Manhattan, who asked to remain anonymous to protect their job, told City & State. "Our (few) guidance counselors are extremely overwhelmed and they have about 400 students each and they rotate them every semester."
"The support network we have in place is really, in my opinion, not great, but that's almost true for every school I've worked in. Most schools I've seen are really lacking in mental health support, such as social workers and guidance counselors," they continued.
The lack of mental and behavioral support for children in public schools predates the COVID-19 pandemic but the need for these services have been amplified by the crisis. In New York City there are only about 3,000 guidance counselors available to aid the public school system's student population of 1,126,501.
Even as the need for more mental health services for children within the state becomes increasingly apparent, New York City and New York state do not appear to have developed plans to provide these services to all students. Neither the state nor the city's departments of education responded to a request for comment.
Some state lawmakers have already begun talking about ensuring that some of the federal funding New York is expected to get goes directly toward schools to pay for mental health support.
"We want to make sure that this next tranche of federal money goes to schools, not to the state, and is used for expenses related to COVID, including compensatory learning, summer school, the costs of paying for PPE, new air filtration systems – all the costs related to having kids come back and addressing their mental health needs. Whether it's psychologists, social workers, or guidance counselors, these kids are going to face quite a bit when they get back to school full time," state Senate Education Committee Chair Shelley Mayer told City & State in an interview earlier this week.
Still, mental health experts agree that a more concerted and targeted effort will need to be made to combat increases in mental health issues among the state's children now and long after the pandemic's end. "We're still going through the trauma (of COVID-19) and it hasn't ended," Linda Rodriguez, senior vice president of behavioral health and early childhood at The Child Center of NY, said. "Even if funding opens up now, this (addressing children's mental health) does need to be a long-term planning commitment."
Biden Bets on the Poor to Juice the Economy
Political Wire
Mar. 6, 2021
"Mr. Biden's $1.9 trillion economic relief package, which cleared the Senate on Saturday and could be headed for the president's signature in a matter of days, would overwhelmingly help low earners and the middle class, with little direct aid for the high earners who have largely kept their jobs and padded their savings over the past year."
"For the president, the plan is more than just a stimulus proposal. It is a declaration of his economic policy — one that captures the principle Democrats and liberal economists have espoused over the past decade: that the best way to stoke faster economic growth is from the bottom up."
Mar. 6, 2021
"Mr. Biden's $1.9 trillion economic relief package, which cleared the Senate on Saturday and could be headed for the president's signature in a matter of days, would overwhelmingly help low earners and the middle class, with little direct aid for the high earners who have largely kept their jobs and padded their savings over the past year."
"For the president, the plan is more than just a stimulus proposal. It is a declaration of his economic policy — one that captures the principle Democrats and liberal economists have espoused over the past decade: that the best way to stoke faster economic growth is from the bottom up."
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