[BwayDems] February 2011 - Monthly Update from Assembly Member O'Donnell

[Daniel O'Donnell]

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O'DONNELL NEWS -- February 2011
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Community Office: 245 West 104th Street  •  (212) 866-3970


O'DONNELL OPPOSES CO-LOCATION OF SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL AT 
BRANDEIS EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS
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At the Department of Education public hearing on January 25, 2011, 
Assembly Member O'Donnell submitted testimony to the NYC Department of 
Education (DOE) stating his fundamental opposition to the proposal to 
co-locate the Success Academy Charter School at the Brandeis Educational 
Campus.

In his testimony, O'Donnell stressed that DOE was not following the 
legal procedures for co-location of a charter school, that the law 
requires that "the community is fully notified and actively involved in 
these decisions from the beginning; those most impacted by co-locations 
deserve a real voice and can speak directly to the potential benefits 
and challenges of a particular site under consideration." He continued 
that the DOE "fails to include the community in early discussions about 
which sites may be considered for co-location, and later in the process 
neglects to truly integrate testimony from the hearing process."

O'Donnell also emphasized that given the current economic climate, the 
proposed co-location would be a gross misallocation of resources because 
it would necessitate an inappropriately expensive retrofitting of the 
current high school's facilities so as to accommodate the Success 
Academy's proposed K-5 population.

On January 28, 2011, AM O'Donnell also wrote to DOE Chancellor Cathleen 
Black, reiterating his opposition to the proposed co-location and 
discussing the negative impact this co-location could have on the 
schools and students currently thriving at the Brandeis Educational 
Campus.  O'Donnell is especially concerned about DOE's pattern of 
closing schools with the most challenging student populations and giving 
this space to charter schools, an issue he initially identified when DOE 
proposed in 2009 to phase out P.S. 241 on West 113th Street and give the 
resultant space to Harlem Success Academy.



O'DONNELL INTRODUCES IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
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Building on last year's great legislative successes, Assembly Member 
O'Donnell is currently in the process of introducing a number of 
significant bills for this year's new legislative session.  Last year's 
victories included the signing into law of the anti-bullying Dignity for 
All Students Act (DASA) and five other pieces of legislation, such 
"Ian's Law," which prevents insurance companies from canceling entire 
categories of coverage in order to deny coverage to high-cost patients, 
as well as a bill that protects the housing rights of domestic violence 
victims forced to flee rent regulated apartments..

O'Donnell's new legislation will continue his fight for the rights of 
our most vulnerable citizens and toward achieving true equality for all 
in our society.  The bills include A2459, a bill that provides for the 
end of MCI rent surcharges once the cost of the improvements has been 
recovered, and A2494, which would require judges issuing an order of 
protection to inquire as to the possession of a firearm by the 
defendant.  Assembly Member O'Donnell will also continue being the prime 
sponsor of the Marriage Equality Act.  Read future Monthly Updates and 
Community Newsletters for the status of Assembly Member O'Donnell's 
legislative initiatives.



MANHATTAN VALLEY PUBLICATION AVAILABLE
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In the fall of 2009, Assembly Member O'Donnell initiated an in-depth 
study of Manhattan Valley's strengths and areas of need.  After these 
results were compiled, he engaged the community in a visioning process 
about the future of this diverse and dynamic neighborhood.  If you would 
like a copy of the publication describing the process and its results, 
please contact his Community Office at (212) 866-3970 or at 
odonnelld at assembly.state.ny.us.




ASSEMBLY MEMBER O'DONNELL'S UPCOMING FREE LEGAL CLINIC FOR TENANTS
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An opportunity for constituents with housing issues to consult with a 
volunteer attorney. Call Joyce at (212) 866-3970 to make an appointment.

**Thursday, February 24th**



RESOURCES FOR HELP WITH TAX FILING
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Do you need help filing your taxes?  Assembly Member O'Donnell has 
compiled a list of community organizations that can help you work 
through this complicated and often stressful process.

For a copy of this resource, call Assembly Member O'Donnell's Community 
Office at (212) 866-3970 or email odonnelld at assembly.state.ny.us.



CELL PHONE DRIVE DEADLINE EXTENDED
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By popular demand, the donation dates for Assembly Member O'Donnell's 
Cell Phone Drive have been extended until the end of February!

A donated cell phone can be a lifeline for domestic violence survivors 
when faced with an emergency situation. CALL TO PROTECT is a national 
campaign to collect cell phones to support organizations that provide 
needed services to domestic violence survivors. Please bring your used 
cell phone to Assembly Member O'Donnell's Community Office; 245 W. 104th 
Street (between Broadway and West End). For more information, please 
visit www.calltoprotect.org.
**January 1st – February 28th, 2011**



APOLLO THEATER OPEN HOUSE
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The legendary Apollo Theater is hosting a free Open House!  This event 
includes a self-guided tour and explorations of the Theater and its 
history, film screenings, health tests, entertainment, and information.
**February 5th and 6th** from Noon to 5PM, at 253 W. 125th Street.



FREE THEATER TICKETS FOR YOUTH-BASED COMMUNITY GROUPS
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Community organizations that serve low-income youth may qualify for free 
tickets to an upcoming performance of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, 
presented by Frog & Peach Theatre Company and running from **April 21st 
through May 15th** at the West End Theatre, Church of St. Paul & St. 
Andrew, 263 W. 86th Street.

For more information on tickets, please call 646-351-7450 or email 
info at frogandpeachtheatre.org.  Since 1996, the Upper West Side's own 
Frog & Peach has been adapting Shakespeare to make it more accessible, 
exciting, and relevant, or in the words of the New York Times, "a very 
different kind of Shakespeare; thrilling, raucous and fun!"



UPCOMING KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION DEADLINE
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REMINDER:  The NYC Department of Education is currently accepting 
Kindergarten applications.  The deadline for all applications is **March 
4th**.

For more information, call 718-935-2009 or visit 
www.nyc.gov/Schools/ChoicesEnrollment/Elementary.



FREE CANCER SCREENINGS
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Free cancer screenings for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer are 
being offered by the Columbia University Northern Manhattan Cancer 
Screening Partnership for uninsured residents of Manhattan.

The screenings for breast and cervical cancer are available for women 
age 40 years and older, and colorectal cancer screening is being offered 
for both women and men age 50 and older.  United States citizenship is 
not required.

For more information or to get screened, call (212) 851-4516.



LIFEGUARDS WANTED!
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The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation has begun recruiting 
lifeguards for the 2011 summer season.  If you are interested in this 
well-paid summer job, the qualifying test is now being offered in 
locations around New York City.  If you qualify, you will join the 
Municipal Lifeguard Training Program to learn the necessary skills for 
employment this summer!

For more information go to www.nyc.gov/parks or contact 
lifeguard at parks.nyc.gov.



ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND GRANTS AVAILABLE
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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is 
currently accepting grant applications for urban and community forestry 
projects throughout neighborhoods and parks to provide environmental, 
economic, and social benefits.  These grants are available to 
not-for-profit organizations with a public ownership interest in a 
property or that are acting on behalf of a public property owner, public 
benefit corporations, public authorities, municipalities, and school 
districts.

For further information or a copy of the application, go to the DEC 
website at www.dec.ny.gov, email mckramar at gw.dec.state.ny.us, or call 
(518) 402-9425.

Applications must be postmarked or delivered by **4:00PM, February 10th, 
2011**.



Atención!
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La oficina comunicaría del Asambleísta Daniel O'Donnell ahora tiene 
empleados que hablan español para asistir al publico, tiempo completo de 
lunes a viernes desde 9:00 AM -5:30 PM. La oficina comunicaría esta 
localizada en el 245 West 104th, con la calle Broadway. También pueden 
contactar la oficina en horario de trabajo al 212-866-3970.

Attention!
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Assembly Member O'Donnell's community office has full-time 
Spanish-speaking staff available to assist you, Monday through Friday 
from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. The office is located at 245 West 104th Street, 
just off Broadway. You can also call 212-866-3970 during business hours.



-- 
Office of Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell
245 W. 104th Street
New York, NY 10025
p (212) 866-3970
f (212) 864-1095
odonned at assembly.state.ny.us
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=069


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