The local paper for the Upper er East Side ON THE HIGH LINE WITH NEW DIRECTOR Q&A, P. 22
A MOVE TO END UNEQUAL PERKS
2014
NYPRESS.COM
OurTownEastSide @OurTownNYC
QUART ENDORSES SEAWRIGHT FOR NY76
City council members drafting legislation to prevent unequal access to amenities in apartment buildings BY DANIEL FITZSIMMONS
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22 In Brief
NEWS
Following several recent reports of buildings on the Upper West Side that bar rent-regulated tenants from using amenities such as gyms, playrooms and roof gardens, City Council members Corey Johnson and Mark Levine are drafting legislation that would prevent such discrimination. Louis Cholden-Brown, the legislative affairs director for Johnson, said the bill is currently being drafted and will seek to change the NYC Human Rights Law in a way that would, “bar discrimination on the class of tenancy.” Developers and management companies use amenities as a way to attract market-rate tenants, and in some buildings, prevent rent-regulated tenants or others who participate in some form of subsidized housing from using facilities in the building such as fitness centers, pools, playrooms, rooftop green spaces or storage areas. The practice has received a fair amount of media attention, but until now, little by way of an official reaction or response. Councilman Mark Levine said one of the most egregious cases is occurring at Stonehenge Village, an apartment building on West 97th Street, where a sign on the gym door advises marketrate tenants not to hold the door for their regulated counterparts, and that only market-rate tenants should have access to the gym. “This is a rapidly growing problem at a time when so many buildings are converting market-rate, and my district has a large number of them because we have so many legacy buildings,” said Levine. Levine said he finds himself having a “very visceral reaction to the idea that in someone’s own home they can walk by a sign saying that because of
WEEK OF MAY
CALLING ALL TEACHERS EDUCATION CUNY develops its own crash course in finding and training 1,000 new pre-K teachers BY MARY NEWMAN
While students across the city celebrate the final months of school, the Department of Education is coming to grips with the fact that the deadline to hire 1,000 new PreK teachers by fall 2014 is fast approaching. Since implementing his Universal Pre-K plan, Mayor de Blasio has faced criticism over the scope of the project, and concerns that there’s too much to be done to be ready by September. The administration has defended itself by insisting that the only potential speed bumps preventing the success of the program are financial. Since Gov. Andrew
Cuomo’s promise to fully fund the program through existing state revenues, the microscope now falls on the city’s execution. The Department of Education has formed a $6.7 million partnership with City University of New York to develop a fast-paced training and certification program to hire the 1,000 pre-K teachers needed for the fall. CUNY has partnered with the NY Early Childhood Professional Development Institute in developing two options for recruiting and training 400 new teachers by fall 2014. “We realize that this isn’t an easy undertaking, but the Department of Education knew it had to be proactive in accomplishing the goals set out by Mayor de Blasio,” explained Executive Director Sherry Clearly. “Our focus is to elevate early childhood education, and identify and train the best teachers that apply.”
The first group of people they are targeting for recruitment are those with a bachelor’s degree, who want to make a career change into teaching. The DOE has been running advertisements around the city to inform people of the Fast Track Study Plan. Participants will receive full academic and financial support to assist them during the 14-month Master’s program. One of the most important requirements for all applicants is that they have a B-2 certification (birth to 2nd grade early education). The second group of people that the DOE is recruiting are teachers who hold Master’s Degrees but aren’t B-2 certified. Both options are going to be offered at five CUNY campuses; City College, Brooklyn College, Lehman College, Queens College, and Hunter College.
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Assemblyman Dan Quart has endorsed democrat Rebecca Seawright in her candidacy for the NYS Assembly’s 76th District. The seat is currently held by Micah Kellner, who announced in February he would not be seeking re-election. “Rebecca Seawright will be a great partner in representing communities in Community Board 8 in the New York State Legislature,” said Quart in a statement released exclusively to Our Town. “She’s a dedicated and effective voice for our neighborhoods and our values, and I know that she will be a passionate and determined advocate for all New Yorkers. Quart represents Assembly District 73, which runs parallel and below the 76th District on Manhattan’s East Side. In addition to Quart, Seawright has the endorsements of Comptroller Scott Stringer, Borough President Gale Brewer, Public Advocate Letitia James and the East Side Democratic Club, among others.
MALONEY: 2ND AVENUE SUBWAY MILESTONES Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who vowed last July to hold the MTA accountable for hitting milestones in the 2nd Avenue subway project, announced that phase one will be completed by December 2016, as planned. Phase one involves the completion of tunnel and track work between 96th Street and 63rd Street, where the 2nd Avenue line will hook up with the Q Train. Maloney said that portion of the track will serve 200,000 New Yorkers on day one. “The MTA has all of the federal and state funding needed to build the project, the designing is all done, tunneling is finished and blasting operations have been completed,” Maloney said.