“I am glad that the Assembly, Senate, and Governor did the right thing by granting a two year extension of Mayoral control – a crucial component of our City’s education system that impacts the lives of over 1.1 million students who depend on it. Schools need to remain accountable, and since Mayoral control began, we have seen a dramatic improvement in quality of instruction and student achievement.
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“This morning’s subway derailment was the latest in a series of distressing events casting doubt on the ability of the MTA to operate efficiently in its current state. Over six million visitors and residents ride the New York City subway system each day, and every one of those individuals deserves to ride in safety. Delays and infrastructure failures are now routine on nearly every line, and this event has further underscored the dangerous point that the system has been allowed to reach.
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“The United States Supreme Court’s decision to allow a part of President Trump’s travel ban to go into effect as the litigation proceeds is deeply disappointing. The President’s executive order is a direct affront to the values our nation was founded on, and we hope that the Court will see the Muslim ban for what it really is — an unconstitutional restriction based on religious beliefs.
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“Journalists are instrumental in keeping the democratic process honest, and Gabe Pressman was a model for turning this mission into a life calling. His decades of immersion in the happenings of New York City gave us a thorough historical record from an irreplaceable perspective, and his contributions to broadcast news helped shape the medium as we know it. Having seen him perform in the Inner Circle show mere months ago, I am astutely aware of his influence on the industry and the impact of his passing on us all.
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“The Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 is not designed to work for all Americans. Instead, it will steal billions of dollars from the poor and middle class to fund giveaways to the wealthiest among us. Developed without public hearings or the input of a bipartisan team of advocates, an all-male panel of Republicans entrusted themselves to act on behalf of millions of Americans whose demoralizing experiences with the healthcare industry they cannot even begin to fathom.
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Exemption will save over 53,000 veterans across the City hundreds of dollars in taxes each year
City Hall – Today, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito joined Committee on Finance Chair Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, Minority Leader Steve Matteo, and Veteran Affairs Chair Eric Ulrich to celebrate the passage of Intros. 1304-B and 1649, which extend the Veterans Property Tax Exemption in the Fiscal Year 2018 budget to include school taxes, and would establish the maximum exemptions allowable under the Exemption for wartime veterans, combat veterans, and veterans with service-related disabilities.
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Council will also vote on Planning for the Behavioral Health Needs of Vulnerable LGBTQ Populations and on Establishing a Workforce Development Program for Disconnected Youth
City Hall – Today, the New York City Council will vote on reforms to the process of posting bail through the Department of Correction. The Council will also vote on enhancing health oversight in the shelter system, and on planning for the behavioral health needs of vulnerable LGBTQ populations.
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“The numbers speak for themselves. Mayoral control works and it’s inconceivable that Majority Leader Flanagan and the Republican-led State Senate would risk jeopardizing the quality education of New York City’s 1.1 million students by prioritizing politics over public education. Test scores are up, graduation rates are on the rise, and our education programs have never been stronger, all because New York City has been empowered to demand accountability from our local schools.
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“ICE has sunk to new lows of moral depravity. Contrary to their repeated claims that they pursue only those who are a threat to public safety, ICE agents are now targeting survivors of human trafficking, some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers. Stationing ICE agents inside New York’s courthouses is a shameful, predatory tactic that will make our City less safe and devastate the trust we have worked so hard to build in the immigrant community.
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Multiple State Legislation Resolutions and a Communication from the Mayor Will Also Receive a Vote
City Hall – Today, the New York City Council will vote to enhance oversight of in-school food service facilities through the publication of cafeteria inspection results. The Council will also vote on multiple state legislation resolutions – or ‘home rules’ – related to benefits for relatives of deceased state workers, real property tax law, and parkland alienation, as well as a Communication from the Mayor regarding the use of speed cameras in school zones.
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