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A Summer of Renewal for our Students

This year has demanded that all New York City families and students do so many things differently. They’ve had to think differently, learn differently, and connect differently with teachers, peers, and the whole school community.
At the Department of Education, we know we also have to think differently as we look towards the summer. For the first time ever, we are inviting all students to join us for a free, fun-filled, enriching summer program: Summer Rising.
This year, we will serve any student in grades K-12 in July and August who wants to participate, and I am excited to be partnered with the Department of Youth & Community Development to reimagine what summer can be.
Our children’s days will be filled with innovative academic support, social-emotional learning, and engaging enrichment activities. These programs will be designed by school teams in partnership with local community-based organizations and offered in hundreds of sites across all five boroughs.
After all the trauma and disruptions caused by the pandemic over the past 15 months, our children need a chance to reboot their education in fun and supportive ways as we approach the full reopening of our schools in September.
It is time to begin regaining what the pandemic took away. Summer Rising is an opportunity to do just that, creating spaces for students to learn, grow, play, and explore the city around them – from field trips to Central Park and museums to dance and art classes.
Summer Rising will also provide an enormous relief to families by keeping children safe, supported, and productive this summer.
After enduring months when so many of our students were isolated from their teachers and peers, the opportunity to rebuild those face-to-face relationships will do so much to support their healing process and prepare them for returning to school in the fall.
All K–8 students participating in programs will have access to academic classes and enrichment programming, including field trips, arts activities and outdoor recreation.
Students will also engage in daily community building and social emotional learning activities. We know some students with disabilities may require additional supports to participate in Summer Rising, and those supports will be provided as needed.
In addition, Summer Rising is a chance for high school students to complete courses in progress, make up credits to march towards graduation, and participate in academic acceleration opportunities.
They will also be able to engage in important work experience and internship opportunities, like the Summer Youth Employment Program.
As always, health and safety remain a top priority. Summer Rising will follow the rigorous health protocols that succeeded in keeping our schools among the safest places in the city this school year.
To support these efforts, parents will need to complete a testing consent form for their child so we can keep everyone healthy and safe,
Summer Rising will be the start of revitalizing the powerful joy of learning together as we head toward a strong reopening of our schools and warm homecoming for our students in the fall. I strongly urge the families of every child who can join us over the summer to sign up now.
To learn more about the options available for your child or to sign up, go to nyc.gov/summerrising. All programs are free, in-person, and have something to offer for everyone.

Meisha Porter is New York City Schools Chancellor.

City Spending Money We Don’t Have

You don’t need a degree in economics to understand the common sense principle that you can’t spend more money than you have.Yet year after year, our City Council and mayor are in a race to outspend prior fiscal years.
The most recent budget proposed by the mayor is well over $98 billion and fails to take into account the money from the federal government , without which the city and state would be reeling in bankruptcy. Instead of proposing a lean and responsible budget, the mayor is driving the city into further debt.
The city’s out of control taxation, fines and fees is causing a population shift away from New York City to states like Florida and Texas. People who move to Florida can save up to 33% of their income taxes.
Our elected officials tax the heck out of the rich and big corporations, failing to understand that they can easily leave and cause decreasing revenue collections as a result of their departure. We saw this in Long Island City when Amazon was chased out by our elected officials, devastating collateral businesses and causing tremendous job loss and opportunities.
Supporting businesses and companies meant creating good-paying jobs and opportunities. Today’s Democrats believe that the rich are evil and that corporations are demonic.
More pernicious is the real truth. The budget gets bigger and bigger on the backs of the working class. Our elected officials pander to special interests and lobbyists for donations and endorsements.

John J. Ciafone is a lawyer and Democratic candidate for City Council in northwest Queens.

Need to address safety in subways

Workers are steadily returning to their offices in Manhattan and across the five boroughs, but a new poll shows that 60 percent of them still fear for their safety.
But they aren’t worried about contracting COVID-19, they’re worried about their physical safety as they return to the city’s subway system.
Stations across the city were nearly deserted for the first few months of the pandemic last year except for the brave men and women working on the front lines, paving the way for an unsavory element to feel more comfortable taking over the system.
We have all heard the stories of random attacks, including people being assaulted or pushed onto the tracks or both, that have become far too common in the mass transit system. If the city is going to get back to work, people need to feel comfortable using the subways.
Would more cops patrolling the platforms and trains help? Mayor Bill de Blasio recently added 250 more cops to the 3,000 already safeguarding the subways, and it certainly can’t hurt.
But in addition to the criminal element, there is a far bigger problem with the homeless and mentally ill living in the stations. More cops won’t necessarily solve that issue.
Instead, the city and MTA need a social solution. They need people who are trained in dealing with the homeless and mentally ill to join the police in engaging these individuals and try to get them help.
Simply locking them up and then releasing them back on the street won’t accomplish anything.
After a year of us all worrying about our health due to the pandemic, we need to feel safe in the subways as our lives slowly return to normal.

104th Precinct Police Blotter (5/24/2021-5/30/2021)

Monday, May 24
Jaron Reid was arrested at 1740 Stanhope Street for robbery by Officer Duran.
Victor Rodriguez was arrested at 64-02Catalpa Avenue for criminal possession of a weapon by Detective Fogus.
Christopher Mancebo was arrested at Woodhaven Boulevard and 64th Road for robbery by Officer Foppiano.
Patryk Laszczkowski was arrested at 64-02 Catalpa Avenue for criminal obstruction of breathing by Detective Rochford.
Zhen Li was arrested at the rear of 59-55 70th Street for criminal mischief by Officer Incantalupo.

Tuesday, May 25
Kelvin Douglas was arrested at 64-02 Catalpa Avenue for grand larceny by Detective Moon.
Thomas Stallone was arrested at 64-02 Catalpa Avenue for felony assault by Detective Lodato.
Sean Davis was arrested at 1590 Gates Avenue for petit larceny by Officer Rosalez.

Wednesday, May 26
Aulexis Rochell was arrested at 1824 Hart Street for criminal mischief by Officer Jiminez.

Thursday, May 27
Johnny Ortiz was arrested at 1680 Madison Avenue for criminal mischief by Officer Nessler.

Friday, May 28
Angel G. Pagan was arrested at Troutman Street and Flushing Avenue for aggravated unlicensed operator by Officer Lenoci.
Francesco Daguanno was arrested at 1723 Menahan Street for misdemeanor assault by Officer Hopson.
Angel Maros was arrested at 2047 Gates Avenue for resisting arrest by Officer Gutierrez.

Saturday, May 29
Nothing To Report

Sunday, May 30
Angamarca Zhicay was arrested at 61-17 Linden Street for driving while intoxicated by Officer Mark.
Brandon Slay was arrested at 78-19 Myrtle Avenue for criminal mischief by Detective Golen.
Elizabeth Hayden was arrested at 80-00 Cooper Avenue for misdemeanor assault by Officer Calvagna.
Grace E. Shin was arrested at 329 Wyckoff Avenue for petit larceny by Officer Calybrooks.

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