State Senate Chooses Charter Over Public Schools

The 2015 state budget has nearly $150 billion for spending in the upcoming year. Within the budget, $25 million was to be set aside for the senate to spend. The State Senate was able to spend this money for any additional school aid, public institutions or non-profit organizations. State Senate leaders have decided that the $25 million of the Budget will go to charter schools instead of public schools.

 In the beginning of the school year in 2014, there were over 70,700 applicants to NYC Charter Schools, with only 21,000 seats available. In New York City, there is about 200-charter schools, a majority residing in Brooklyn. Charter schools consist of different minority groups but the schools help a lot of kids who are economically disadvantaged.

Charter schools are at a constant battle with public schools, fighting over whom

deserves to receive more money from the state and the taxpayers. Charter schools are publicly financed but run privately. Issues with charter school funding claim that they pull money away from public schools, while charter schools argue that they receive less money but do the same if not more work that public schools to help students. In NYC charter schools receive roughly $13,777 per student for one school year.

With this type of spending that is set aside in the state budget, it can be very unclear at times to where this money is being spent. Yes, the spending is going towards charter schools, but what are they using the money for? School aid in the budget can’t account for every school but can target schools that really need it.

Will raised minimum wage reduce suffering of the low class?

April 15th marked the day when protesters around the United States staged rallies across the U.S, as thousands of people requested that states government increase Minimum wage. Mass movement around the protest is subject to wage increase at $15 an hour, unlike the federal minimum wage and New York state minimum wage which are $7.25 per hour and $8.75 respectively. Activists described Wednesday the 15th as a national movement day for unions workers, construction workers, and non-union sector workers.


Above: Protesters holding up signs for increased minimum wage

Protests for the raise in the minimum wage gained wide spread attention across New York City and New York state to other cities across the U.S such as San Francisco, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, etc. The minimum wage movement started in late 2012 making it more than two years since it first began to receive attention. Moreover, the rallies kicked off around multiple locations in NYC from Central park to Columbus Circle, 57th street mid-Manhattan, Columbia University area, and other locations.

The movement was also centered on April 15th because it is also Tax day. Organizers mentioned that while multimillion dollar companies enjoy huge tax breaks, it is important to bring into light the number of low wage workers dependent on low pay and excessive work hours to make ends meet.



New York City Controller reported that increasing the minimum wage to $15 will boost New York City's paycheck and its economy significantly. The problems of increasing minimum wages such as affordability by some businesses were not discussed by officials during the conferences. However, Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo have also shown their support for the movement. Gov. Cuomo made use of his official twitter account to show some support, saying it will also help to reduce the inequality in the class gap between rich and poor.

The Fight for $15 website has more information on local rallies and support for the minimum wage hike.

Going to jail for a violation

With the recent transparency issues with the New York State Government, these same transparency issues can also be seen in law enforcement. Governor Cuomo along with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio are calling for law enforcement reform. Reforming the City’s summons process to make it more efficient is a top priority for New York State. With the court systems already backed up months, overworked judges and clerks, any changed would be welcomed.

The reform package would include many measures to help ensure a speedy trial, which is stated as our sixth amendment. With hundreds being locked up at Rikers Island before they are even convicted of a crime, New York States Court System has to be changed. People who receive summons this year will receive robocalls and text messages about their court dates to try to speed up the process. They are also allowing people to show up to court one week before their court date to try and catch up. Thirty-eight percent people did not show up to their summonses, which led to a dramatic increase in warrants for missed court dates. Currently the New York State Court System can not handle this influx of “criminals”.

With the recent influx in individual getting simple summonses, the court system can not handle the surge. Trying to automate the system will hopefully create a smoother process allowing more people to reminded about their court dates. If more people know about their court dates, then maybe there will not be so many warrants issued which seems to be the main problem. To learn more about the New York State Court System click here

It Can Wait

Since 2011 when texting and driving became a traffic violation, the number of tickets issued has increased more than 700 percent.  The increase is tickets issued it due to more people having cell phones and feeling like they cant put it down. Statewide agencies are also cracking down on this new epidemic on our roads.

Police agencies handed out over 75,000 tickets in 2014 just for texting and driving alone. New York City makes up more than fifty percent of these violations with nearly 50,000 tickets being issued.

Governor Cuomo, a proud supporter against texting and driving thanks local and state agencies for cracking down on a new pandemic. Under the most recent New York State law, drivers caught using their phones to text face five points on their license and up to a $450 fine. Junior driver face their drivers license becoming suspended for a first time offense and revoked for their second offense. Texting while driving is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Causing over 3,000 deaths per year and over quarter million injuries, it is a hot topic for Lawmakers and the Governors office.

The Governor publicized Operation Hang Up, which statewide law enforcement agencies target people texting while driving with the use of special patrols. The need to protect the lives of New Yorkers and keep the roads safe for motorists is a hot topic in Albany. With cell phones being so prevalent in our lives, it seems like something needs to be done to keep the roads safe. To learn more about texting and driving visit “It Can Wait” presented by AT&T.  Make the pledge to not text and drive.