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

[Daniel O'Donnell]

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


A MESSAGE FROM ASSEMBLY MEMBER O’DONNELL
------------------------------------------------------------
On February 23rd, President Obama announced his decision to no longer 
defend the so-called ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ (DOMA), which defines 
marriage as solely between a man and a woman for federal purposes. I 
commend him for taking a stand on this important issue. Without this 
sort of leadership at the highest levels, our country cannot, and will 
not, move forward on issues so central to what it means to be an 
American. While this is by no means the end of DOMA, the President’s 
action was an important first step in the process of dismantling this 
unconstitutional law. Here in New York, I will continue to lead the 
fight for Marriage Equality until this right becomes a reality for all 
New Yorkers.

On February 3rd, I was also pleased to speak in strong support of rent 
regulations at the Real Rent Reform town hall meeting at Goddard 
Riverside Community Center. With the current rent regulation laws about 
to sunset in June, I believe that maintaining and extending these 
regulations is essential. Without these vital protections for tenants, 
our city will be unable to retain any sense of economic diversity and 
lose a key part of what makes our community great.

Finally, the Assembly is currently in the middle of budget negotiations. 
Like last year, our government is facing an imposingly large deficit, 
and I am concerned about the proposed cuts to education, health care, 
and other essential state services. I do not believe the currently 
proposed allocation of these cuts is fair, given that they are occurring 
at the same time as the continuation of the income tax surcharge on our 
wealthiest citizens is being debated, even though it would supply 
billions of dollars to help plug the budget gap. I promise to continue 
to fight to ensure that the sacrifice is not concentrated on our state’s 
most vulnerable and is instead shared across the economic spectrum.



RESOURCES FOR HELP WITH TAX FILING
------------------------------------------------------------
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.



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

**Thursday, March 31st**



FAST-APPROACHING KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION DEADLINE
------------------------------------------------------------
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.



LOBBY AGAINST CUTS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION
------------------------------------------------------------
Alliance for Quality Education is organizing parents and education 
advocates to travel to Albany on **Wednesday, March 9th** to speak with 
legislators about the potentially devastating effects of the proposed 
$565 million in cuts to New York City public schools.

Budget cuts of this size will result in increased class size; the 
elimination of programs such as after-school, arts, college prep, 
sports, tutoring, career and technical education; and letting go of 
guidance counselors and school librarians.

Buses will be leaving from two locations in Manhattan: the Upper West 
Side at 230 West 72nd Street in front of Assembly Member Linda 
Rosenthal's office, leaving at 6am and returning at 5:30pm; and 
Washington Heights at P.S. 192, 500 West 138th Street between Amsterdam 
& Broadway, leaving at 6am and returning at 5:30pm.

Please contact Julian Vinocur at julian at aqeny.org or (212) 328-9268 to 
save a seat on the bus.



FREE LECTURE SERIES
------------------------------------------------------------
John Jay College of Criminal Justice is hosting a free lecture series 
entitled “The 1960s: The Struggle for Justice Intensifies.” The series, 
funded by the New York Council for the Humanities and co-sponsored by 
the Westside Crime Prevention Program and Jewish Association for 
Services for the Aged, began in February and lectures will continue 
until the beginning on May.

For more information on lecture location, dates, and topics, go to: 
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb7/downloads/pdf/announce_1960s_flyer.pdf



SUPPORT FOR WOMEN WITH BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCER
------------------------------------------------------------
SHARE, an organization of breast and ovarian cancer survivors dedicated 
to helping women with breast or ovarian cancer, offers free telephone 
support, education programs, support groups, and advocacy opportunities. 
For more information, go to SHARE’s website at www.sharecancersupport.org

To speak with a cancer survivor for support, call a SHARE hotline:
Breast: (212) 382-2111 or (866) 891-2392
Ovarian: (212) 719-1204 or (866) 53-SHARE



COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
------------------------------------------------------------
As graduation approaches for current high school seniors who plan to go 
to college, the costs of continuing their education can be a large 
concern. However, there are resources available that can help make 
financing college less of a worry.

For information on financial aid programs, including grant, scholarship, 
and loan programs, as well college and career planning advice and many 
other helpful resources, go to HESC.org, the website of the New York 
State Higher Education Services Corporation.



Atención!
------------------------------------------------------------
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!
------------------------------------------------------------
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


############################################################
If you do not wish to receive the next monthly installment of O'DONNELL 
NEWS, simply reply to this email with 'unsubscribe' as the subject. If 
you were forwarded this e-mail and would like to be added to Assembly 
Member O'Donnell's e-mail list, please send an email to 
odonnelld at assembly.state.ny.us with 'subscribe' as the subject.
############################################################