POWER TO THE PARENTS !!!



Quote:

@Pamrapo:

I respect Team Fulop's unbiased process, Sue Mack's service and her knowledge; she MUST have rejected Team Healy's endorsement. That is guilt by association. She should have voted NO like Carol Lester and Sterling Waterman for the budget which increases taxes but reduces spending on kids' class room text books and possible lay-offsin this economy for which Team Fulop is fighting for! On the other hand JCEA and Team Healy wants to vote YES to the budget question and lay-off low-level people!

Quote:

He is a math teacher at Lincoln High School.
- If so, Why did the BoE allow him to run?
- Why is that no one challenged ?

I am curious to see a specific NJSA..

http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/fu ... ndary_stories_left_column

Be a leader not a follower
Hudson Reporter
Apr 17, 2011 | 140 views | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Dear Editor:

The Board of Education must play a major role in shaping Jersey City. The BOE manages the business of education and is responsible for the future of our children and whether or not the children are able to compete in the global job market when they become of age. Members must show by example what it is like to be a leader and not a follower. They must make it clear that being smart is cool, failure is not an option and one must never accept mediocrity. The Board of Education members need to be decision makers and make decisions that allow students to compete, excel, and succeed in achieving a better life for them and their family. Furthermore, the BOE must meet the challenges of disruptive change and develop strategies to help these students to learn discipline, have a chance to move to a higher level as professionals, i.e. doctors and lawyers. You don?t have to be Harvard to know that.

Part of education is common sense. Common sense tells us that Jersey City schools are failing. Students must appreciate their education and want to go to school to learn. We are a wealthy country of great resources where many children do not want to attend school yet the poorer countries and third world nations would love to attend school and they unfortunately can?t because it is too costly and they are not able to afford it. Technically, here at home, a child from an economically disadvantaged family can receive a free education from grammar school through college. There are no excuses nor can there be. Education may be the key to success but the BOE has to be their lock smith.

Here at 25 Nelson Avenue my family and I will be supporting the Jersey City Board of Education candidates Marvin Adames, Carol Harrison-Arnold and Suzanne Mack. We fully believe these three candidates, as One Team, are the best choice to represent our children, the Board of Education and the tax payers of Jersey City. Please make a note as a reminder and circle your calendar to make sure you don't forget to vote on Wednesday, April 27, between the hours of 2 pm and 9 pm, for Marvin Adames, Carol Harrison Arnold and Suzanne Mack. You will have an impact on the future of our children and the taxes you pay in Jersey City.

James Francis Waddleton

Read more: Hudson Reporter - Be a leader not a follower

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Don?t be fooled
Hudson Reporter
Apr 24, 2011 | 0 views | 0 0 comments | 0 0 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Dear Editor:

I applaud the letters that were written by Vidya Gangadin & Aury Masa-Nunez which were published on Sunday, April 10 in the Jersey City Reporter.

As a parent of public school children and 20 nephews and nieces in the school district I believe these two candidates have the ability and the heart to deliver to the students of the Jersey City Public Schools. I believe in the involvement of parents in the decision making and I believe these two mothers demonstrate that commitment. The foundation of education in our Jersey City Public Schools begins with the children, teachers and the parents who should be the driving force and instrumental in bringing positive change to our school district. I believe these two parents from what I have witnessed at the recent debates can contribute to the turning around of our schools.

To my supporters and friends please don?t be fooled or duped by candidates who I called ?Ground Hog? candidates who pop up out of the hole every February to answer to the call of education. Some of these candidates who are invisible throughout the process and clueless to the various challenges and issues we face as parents.

I believe these two individuals will be devoted as demonstrated in their letters from the heart to the success of our schools. This is why as a parent and current board member I support these two candidates who will contribute to the diversity of our district. I believe their energies will be invested in our students. To my family members, friends and supports on April 27 please vote for Vidya Gangadin and Aury Masa-Nunez for their year round commitment and who are true stakeholders to our students.

Sincerely,

Angel L. Valentin

Read more: Hudson Reporter - Don?t be fooled

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Dan Levin supports Vidya Gangadin
Hudson Reporter
Apr 24, 2011 | 0 views | 0 0 comments | 0 0 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Dear Editor:

As a parent of two public school children, taxpayer, homeowner and longtime advocate for good government policies, I am asking the voters of Jersey City to support Vidya Gangadin, 7A for the Jersey City Board of Education.

Our schools face tremendous challenges with failing test scores, low high school graduation rates and a top heavy bureaucracy forcing teacher layoffs. Everyday parents send their children to school with concerns that their child is being challenged academically, is in a safe environment and is healthy. Taxpayers are concerned about their increasing burden due to continued reductions in state aid and misguided tax abatement practices.

Why Vidya?

Vidya Gangadin is a finance professional and active parent with four children attending public schools.

Vidya has worked as financial analyst and operations manager with experience managing budgets, reviewing and bidding out goods and services, identifying operational efficiencies and improvements, prioritizing the utilization of limited resources and implementing best practices. She understands the need to seek out and cut costs while protecting critical core classroom resources, maintaining class size and finding alternatives to teacher layoffs.

She is a parent leader and volunteer serving as a PTA Vice President, on the Citywide Advisory Council, the School Leadership Committee and Jersey City Coalition of Parent Teacher Organizations. Vidya is a true stakeholder with a first-hand perspective and experience in tackling the challenges within our schools.

Vidya Gangadin will serve as a necessary voice for the parents, grandparents and caregivers of the 28,000 children who attend public school in Jersey City. She will stand for her children, my children and yours.

Vote 7-A for Mom!



Sincerely,



Daniel Levin

onejerseycity.org

Read more: Hudson Reporter - Dan Levin supports Vidya Gangadin

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It is time for our voices to be heard!
Hudson Reporter
Apr 24, 2011 | 0 views | 0 0 comments | 0 0 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Dear Editor:

My name is Nabil Youssef; I am honored to become one of the Jersey City Board of Education candidates. I have 18 years experience as a high school math teacher eleven of those years are invested in The J.C.P.S. system. I am a parent of two children that attend The J.C.P.S., I am teacher in the morning and a parent at night which gives me the opportunity to see the classroom and homework dilemma.

It is time for a real change in the system for new ideas and new faces. Stop saying, ?it is working,? when the data and result of the state exams say the following, ?In Jersey City, 37 schools out of 44 failed to meet AYP.? As taxpayers we are rated the highest paying city and state nationwide. Our children deserve a better education. The district educates a student for 12 years (1-12 grades) in our system, it cost the state about ($211,000) in the 12 years to earn a high school diploma (state pays about $17,600 a year/per student) a percent from that money for each student comes from our tax money in Jersey City. Stop it ? enough is enough!

The main questions I would ask any candidate running for a seat in the elections is,

A) Why you running for that seat?

I am running because I believe in public education and have seen our education deteriorate. I?ve also been asked to run by many students, parents, and teachers. All of us share a main goal, saving public education.

B) How will you contribute in fixing the system?

1. Implementing technology, new curriculums and helping to fix Scheduling (schedule students in the classroom according to there needs and strengths not according to there last names. Stop assuming that all students learn at the same pace or are on the same level).

2. Stop irresponsible spending while looking for more transparency. (Our district has over spent in programs the last 10 years millions of dollars.)

3. If elected I will make sure that the Students, Teachers, Our Community, and Parents Voices are heard. They should have a positive role fiscally and be able to vote in any plan before the JCBOE can go ahead and profit. I know where our needs and our strengths are based.

I am a candidate that is running 100 percent independent. The only obligation I have is to the J.C.P.S. Students, the Jersey City tax payers and voters. I have no obligation to any politicians or union leaders. I feel proud to receive support as an independent candidate our community, union members, teachers, parents, and students. I?ll never let them down Vote for Nabil Youssef ? independent candidate choice (A-6).

Thanking you in advance.

Sincerely,

Nabil Youssef, LHS, Math Teacher, M.A.

JCBOE Candidate A-6

Read more: Hudson Reporter - It is time for our voices to be heard

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These three candidates
Hudson Reporter
Apr 24, 2011 | 0 views | 0 0 comments | 0 0 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Dear Editor:

Carol Harrison-Arnold 2A Sue Mack 5A Marvin Adames 10A. As a third generation Jersey City resident I would like to endorse the above 3 candidates for the upcoming Jersey City Board of Educations (BOE) on April 27, 2011. These three candidates are running as a team with special qualities that when combined enhance their ability once elected to change the future of education in Jersey City for the better. Sue Mack a professional planner is the Vice-President of the BOE and for the last 15 years has been a strong voice for special needs education. Carol Harrison-Arnold a lawyer with a degree from University of Virginia, a community activist who is President of the Monticello Avenue Redevelopment Corporation and former President of Lincoln High School Parents council is a strong advocate for Parental involvement in the school system. Marvin Adames is a lawyer with a degree from Rutgers University who is now the Chief Municipal Prosecutor in Newark. Marvin spends his spare time mentoring children to give them the same opportunities aff orded to him. He is a strong leader in creating a safe environment so children can learn. Each one is a great role model for the children of Jersey City and together they will make us proud for representing not only the interests of the children but the voters and taxpayers of Jersey City. I ask you to please come out and vote on April 27 and vote for these three exceptional and dedicated candidates. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Jeff H Kaplowitz

Jersey City

Read more: Hudson Reporter - These three candidates

http://www.nj.com/hudson/voices/index ... d_as_an_advocate_sch.html

Experienced as an advocate: school board candidate's letter
Published: Friday, April 22, 2011, 1:28 PM Updated: Friday, April 22, 2011, 1:28 PM

The Jersey City school board needs a trustee who is a true stakeholder with a first-hand perspective of our school's challenges and true experience taking on these challenges within our schools. I am running for the board because I am the candidate best qualified for this position. Indeed our schools face tremendous challenges -- the majority of them have been given a failing grade based on standardized testing results, our high school graduation rate is below 70 percent and we have a top heavy bureaucracy that lacks transparency and accountability.

At the same time, the voice of the parent -- the true stakeholder -- has gone unheard. Each morning, parents send their children to school with concerns about whether their child is being challenged academically, is in a safe environment and is healthy.

As a parent of four children (and 13 nieces and nephews) in Jersey City public schools, I empathize with what families experience in our schools every day. I know the frustration of parents whose children are being bullied, are languishing academically or have unhealthy conditions in their schools.

Moreover, my current experience working as a parent leader and volunteer in our schools has provided me with the opportunity to actively take on our schools' challenges. As a PTA vice president, I work with parents on student activities. On our School Leadership Committee, I work with our principal and lead teachers on schoolwide concerns and implement new initiatives. As a member of the Citywide Parent Advisory Council, I advocate for our students and our school at regular meetings with our superintendent, Dr. Epps. And as a member of the JC Coalition of Parent Teacher Organizations, I collaborate with other parent leaders from across our public schools to share resources, information and advocate for reform on a district-wide level.

As a member of the Board of Education, I will use my experience advocating in our schools and over 20 years of work as a financial analyst and operations manager to implement checks and balances on administrative authority, set goals, objectives and benchmarks, cut administrative costs and redirect resources to the classroom. I will avoid teacher layoffs, protect class sizes, implement the necessary resources to help parents support their children's learning and empower our teachers with site-based decision making.

I am a mom, not a politician. I've done the ground work and ask for your vote on April 27 so I may be a voice for our children on the Board of Education.

VIDYA GANGADIN
JERSEY CITY

http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/ ... kes-his-humor-up-a-notch/


NABIL YOUSSEF is a math teacher at Lincoln High School.

Why do you want to serve on the school board?

I am running because I believe in our public education and have seen our education deteriorate. I?ve also been asked to run by many students, parents, and teachers. All of us share a main goal: saving public education.

What qualifications would you bring to the position?

I am currently working in the education field for 18 years as a high school math teacher. Twelve of those years are invested in the Jersey City public school system. During these years I have been studying the system very well and I know where our needs and our strengths are, based on a daily life situation with your children. I earned my master?s degree in Math and Education (GPA 3.97) and right now am looking to get started on my doctorate degree. My children are high achievers as well. I am also a parent of two children that attend the Jersey City Public School right now. I am teacher in the morning and a parent at night, which gives me the opportunity to see the classroom and homework dilemma.

What do you think are the three most pressing issues for Jersey City?s public schools right now?

* Scheduling: we need to schedule students in the classroom according to their need and not according to their last names. Stop assuming that all students are the same.
* Irresponsible spending: we have overspent on programs in the last 10 years, millions of dollars and it is not working. Who chooses these programs for our students and how are these choices determined?
* Students, teachers, our community, and parents voices must be heard and they should have an input in any plan before the JCBOE goes ahead and profits.

What is your opinion on the most recent budget the Board of Education gave the green light to? Do you believe that the budget is too large or small, or that spending priorities are misplaced? If so, how would you work to change that?

Let me put it this way: when the budget was 660 million dollars, I didn?t see any kind of improvement in our students? test results, and now every one talking about 631 million. Is that really making a difference? My point is that it is not about the money, it about the system not working right. I think the budget is more than fine. Like I said before, the JCBOE has overspent on programs that do not work in the past ? for example in the mathematics program ? and has not served our students? needs. If I am elected I promise the Jersey City taxpayer, because I am a taxpayer myself, that I will help select and approve the programs that will benefit our students. I have worked with them for so long in classrooms and all over the district. I know their needs and their strengths.

What is your opinion on charter schools and how they fit ? or don?t fit ? into the overall mission of the Board of Education?

Charter schools are based on a business choice from the governor and his friends. I will explain why.

The state pays for students in public school $17,600 on average per year, and gives the charter schools the amount of $9,900 average per year for the same student, you do the math it is much cheaper for the state to open up the charter schools then to provide the public school the money. If anyone wishes to challenge me and tell me it is about the students, our kids, I will say: ?That is a lie.? I will ask the governor to give the same amount of money to the charter school student and let me see if he will still support the charter school choice. Let us see what happens. It is all about saving money that is their bottom line. Education funding is always the one to suffer with all the cuts. Government spending never gets the cuts like the educational system.

Do you support vouchers for private schools, as being considered in Trenton under the Opportunity Scholarship Act?

Here we go, another way for making business again. The state pays only $8,000 per student per year in vouchers ? that means it is half the amount for the student in public school and the parent pays the balance of the tuition to the private school. The whole idea is to drain the public education found from public school. If I am wrong, let the governor give the parent the $17,600 for every student to go to private school. Then I will believe and support him in vouchers for private and charter schools.

What is your opinion of Jersey City?s teachers union? Do you believe that it helps Jersey City?s children receive a better standard of education? Please explain.

The JCEA leaders are all about politics. They do not help the student in Jersey City, they help themselves. Look at me as an example. I?m currently a JCEA member and I pay my dues. I?m current running for the JCBOE election as a candidate. Do you think the JCEA leaders came out to give me any support or an endorsement, as one of them? The answer is no. I represent the voice of the students and parents and the hard working teacher, but JCEA leaders choose to support Ward E councilman Steven Fulop?s ticket, which he had endorsed in February 18, 2011. The deadline for filing a nomination was on March 8, but both ignored any other candidates running for elections because they have their own political agenda. Altogether it is not about students or teachers or community, it is about their interest. My point is that I was never offered an interview and was not even contacted by any of the JCEA leaders or Mr. Fulop, and this also happened to the other six candidates.

So, my question is: Is this an equal opportunity situation? Where are the morals for an equal opportunity selection of due process in this election, where each candidate is given the opportunity to share their ideas before any endorsement is made? JCEA leaders and Mr. Fulop just jumped ahead of the process, what a shame for the future of a man who will be running to be our mayor in 2013. It is a childish, premature political move and decision for both, and I wish the media would take notice and publish their actions on only taking one side. Besides, the three candidates endorsed will use this move to further their political game and not the future of our children.

Do you believe that teachers should be evaluated based on test scores of their students? If so, explain why. If not, how do you believe teachers should be evaluated?

I do not believe that teachers should be evaluated based on test scores only. We have a big issue in JCBOE where the students in the classrooms are not correctly classified. In any class you will find the top five achievers, 10 mid-level and 15 below-average students. Can someone tell me what the teacher can do to teach the high level students and the mid-level and the lower level student? No matter what the teacher chooses to do, he/she will miss some students because of the allotted teaching time.

This is what I propose: that schools place them in the same level first, so we are then able to measure the progress. For example: if we know the whole class is a below-average class and the teacher takes them to a mid-level or advanced level after a period of time, we should see a general improvement. Why are we measuring just test scores but not the whole advancement of the class? There are many ways to measure progress. In this case, he/she deserves a bonus or merit pay when the level is brought up, and if the teacher in mind is not able to raise the level then he/she deserves to receive a bad evaluation. I think this should be implemented for administrators too, as a measure of the whole progress for the school, and department administrator. What?s fair is fair.

Do you think the instruction at the schools can be improved, and if so, how?

From my experience, as a teacher for 12 years in JCBOE, I believe the instruction at the schools can absolutely be improved. If we do the right thing we have to start right so we can get what we are looking for as a community looking to his education system Jersey City parents, teachers and students and taxpayers deserve a better education system. No way is it acceptable that in Jersey City, 28 schools out of 33 failed to meet AYP.

I have a vision and a mission in education. My vision and mission is to make JC public schools the schools of choices by implementing the following with state of the art technology like use of smart boards in all classrooms and hands on experiences:

Career Guided Initiative (CGI)

We will start the first grade student portfolios which will reflect their needs and strengths. The portfolios will be monitored by the administrators, guidance, teachers, students? study team or school nurses. The portfolio will follow the student from grade to grade beginning from the first to twelfths grades. The second grade teachers will receive the student portfolios before meeting the student to know their needs and strengths and passed on to the next teacher, year after year until the student graduates. We need to stop scheduling students by their last names and ignoring all their needs, strengths and talents. Who said, ?We all learn the same way from the same book?? We need different ways of teaching and to differentiate the curriculum content standards according to the student?s needs and strengths. According to Howard Gardner, ?Knowledge is not the same as morality, but we need to understand if we are to avoid past mistakes and move in productive directions. An important part of that understanding is knowing who we are and what we can do.?

As an introduction, the eighth grader will be primed to take introductory high school level classes. High school levels grades 9-10 will study basic mandatory courses like geometry Algebra, English, etc. The 11-12 grade level, the students and parents choose, according to the student portfolio in their preferred academic achievements.

Choice one: math and science section

The 11-12 grader students will study science and math classes for two years it will include some pre-college classes like pre- calculus, trigonometry, physics and chemistry, etc. and some elective classes. Students who pass the state science exam section will earn a high school diploma of science. In this section all math and science teachers come together as a team to achieve the goals working with an institute: like Liberty Science Center, Stevens Institute of Technology and Jersey City Medical Center. The following will create a co-op program for all students where they will study, practice and get paid through job training in their field. They will connect what they study in the books with real life situations, solving problems and they will be tomorrow?s scientist, doctors and engineers.

Choice two: Art section

The 11-12 grader students will study the arts: language arts, social studies, drama creative writing and some elective classes and will also contain pre-college classes.

The language arts and social studies teachers work together as a team, and with the co-op program in place our students will work in newspapers, social services, and court houses to gain real life experiences for their future career objective. Students who pass the state arts exam section will earn a high school diploma of arts.

Can you imagine how many problems this new system will eliminate? You will work towards a career of your choice as student and to study what you want to achieve. The teacher will finally have the students fully engaged in the classrooms because the student chooses to make a career choice. It is the students? choice. This makes a real difference. The students living in Jersey City go to school in Jersey City they should also have job in Jersey City to help themselves and their parents financially, while giving back to the community and being responsible citizens.

We need to come together as a community to help our students so they can have a better future. Let?s keep them busy and focused on something positive rather than pushing them towards something negative. This will minimize the escalating problems for our community. We know as adults that our children have too much energy. Let?s guide them in the right direction to become good citizens for our great country.

If you agree with my vision, great, I do not need to convince you. But, if you disagree, can you answer one question for me? Why do all colleges and universities in the United States and around the world have a degree guided towards arts or sciences? We should initiate it from high school and not wait until they enroll in the university or college.

Let?s make it happen in Jersey City as an initiative and in our state of New Jersey using this model. We can then implement this system all over our great nation.

If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to parents, students and teachers? Conversely, how will you keep abreast of the school communities? needs and concerns?

I totally disagree as a parent about the transparency of the current system. If you wish to contact any board member currently you have to send a letter to the Board of Education secretary, and the phone numbers are not available for any of the members. In logical terms for any public official the mail and phone numbers are always available to any one who has a concern. I ask the board to open a mail box, an email and a published phone number for all the board members, in case of any concerns from any students, parents, teachers or community member. The JCBOE website could be a great way to communicate with our community. I am looking for transparency ? if we have any problems, needs or concerns we need to highlight it, address it and get a solution immediately.

Anything else you?d like to add?

As a father and a teacher I want the best for all our children. From the first day, I am ready with the knowledge to make it happen. I don?t have to spend time analyzing the system. Together we can make it happen.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/voices/index ... s_quo_not_acceptable.html

Our status quo not acceptable, say Jersey City school board candidates

Published: Wednesday, April 20, 2011, 6:38 AM
Letters to the Editor/The Jersey Journal By Letters to the Editor/The Jersey Journal The Jersey Journal

As candidates for the Jersey City Board of Education we want the children of Jersey City to receive the best public education available, anywhere. It's an aspiration evidently not shared by some of the district leaders, who request a waiver of Dr. Epps' state-mandated salary cap while at the same time propose a budget with teacher layoffs and a tax increase for residents. How is additional compensation justified when under Dr. Epps' leadership our schools have failed to meet the state's mandate of a "thorough and efficient" education as well as the federal standard of "No Child Left Behind"? How can our children be the priority when the superintendent who fails them is rewarded? The district's response to cut teachers to close a budget deficit is an approach that penalizes children because it increases class size and diminishes our teachers' effectiveness. It is time as residents and as a community that we say this is not acceptable.

What is in the interest of our children is a superintendent who acknowledges that our schools are in crisis and steps up with responsible fiscal decisions that support them first and him last. What is in the interest of our community is a superintendent who has a vision that engages all stakeholders; whether they have children in our schools; whether they are taxpayers that underwrite a substantial portion of the $630 million needed to fund education; or whether they just care about the children in their neighborhood. What is in the interest of the district is a superintendent who values transparency and accountability and sets an example that the district can follow.

It's in all our interest to have a superintendent whose conduct leaves no question as to whose interests he serves. The election on April 27, 2011 is very important. Jersey City can elect two individuals committed to serving the community by putting our children first and beginning the arduous work of providing the best public education available. Together we can send a message that the status quo of self-service over public service is not acceptable.

CAROL HARRISON-ARNOLD, A2

MARVIN ADAMES, A10

JERSEY CITY

http://www.nj.com/hudson/voices/index ... nance_professional_l.html

Elect a finance professional: letter
Published: Wednesday, April 20, 2011, 6:20 AM
Letters to the Editor/The Jersey Journal By Letters to the Editor/The Jersey Journal The Jersey Journal
Follow

As a parent of two public school children, taxpayer, homeowner and longtime advocate for good government policies, I am asking the voters of Jersey City to support Vidya Gangadin, 7A, for the Jersey City Board of Education.

Our schools face tremendous challenges with failing test scores, low high school graduation rates and a top heavy bureaucracy forcing teacher layoffs. Every day, parents send their children to school with concerns that their child is being challenged academically, is in a safe environment, and is healthy. Taxpayers are concerned about their increasing burden due to continued reductions in state aid and misguided tax abatement practices.

Why Vidya?

Vidya Gangadin is a finance professional and active parent with four children attending public schools.

Vidya has worked as financial analyst and operations manager with experience managing budgets, reviewing and bidding out goods and services, identifying operational efficiencies and improvements, prioritizing the utilization of limited resources and implementing best practices. She understands the need to seek out and cut costs while protecting critical core classroom resources, maintaining class size and finding alternatives to teacher layoffs.

She is a parent leader and volunteer serving as a PTA vice president, on the Citywide Advisory Council, the School Leadership Committee and Jersey City Coalition of Parent Teacher Organizations. Vidya is a true stakeholder with a first-hand perspective and experience in tackling the challenges within our schools.

Vidya Gangadin will serve as a necessary voice for the parents, grandparents and caregivers of the 28,000 children who attend public school in Jersey City. She will stand for her children, my children and yours.

Vote 7-A for Mom!

DANIEL LEVIN
ONEJERSEYCITY.ORG
JERSEY CITY

Is this a NEW issue? Pre$ume this is not played to take the focu$ away from $omething el$e!

There is a Library Board meeting tomorrow (4/12) at 5:30pm in Five Corners Library, please come and discuss the issues with the board also.

ACTION 21
Community Organization
107B Hutton St / Heights

invite YOU and FRIENDS to the
SPANISH CLASSES ON SUNDAYS FROM 1 P.M. TO 3 P.M.
REGISTRATION AND CLASSES BEGINNING ON APRIL 3 to JUNE 26, 2011

$5.00 REGISTRATION FEE
$20.00 PER MONTH ( CAN'T BEAT IT)!

For information contact: 973-980-8745

some more videos are there in youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/followjcboe#p/u/9/e_C5HC2O2Qk


http://www.youtube.com/user/followjcboe#p/u/10/Wl_BG_hwUtM

The board approved an yearly tax increase of $32 per property. They blame it on Municipality & State. This is going to add to $80m hole that we already have in the city budget. There is enough room for them to avoid passing this burden this year to the city. Dr. Epps left in between the meeting. Dr. Thompson was sick yet came from the hospital to vote on this. The Board Members all don't agree with the process and have issues but they are afraid that the state or some one will dictate terms. What happens in case voters reject this budget on April 27th?

Quote:

Steve:

All I am pointing out is $23.5m increased taxes between calendar and fiscal year 2010 & 2011, and $1.5m decrease (THEY CLAIM) between 2010 & 2011 calendar year. Our TAXES must be REDUCED (not STABLE kind of fairy-tale) in this economy, particularly when Mayor Healy claims that we are in DEEP RECESSION !!! I was told this does NOT include school taxes.

Quote:

There is another User friendly document is in circulation too.

In the above link that you have mentioned the number is same:

sheet 3B_1:

Last ROW:

Amount to be raised by Taxation for Municipal Purposes: $208,650,271

I saw a document with these numbers:

AMOUNT TO BE RAISED BY TAXATION:

CY2011: $208, 650, 271
FY2010: $185, 058, 594
-------------------------------------------
Increase Raised: $23, 591, 677
--------------------------------------------

PROPERTY TAXES BILLED:
Calendar Year 2010: $210, 198, 899
Calendar Year 2011: $208, 650, 271 (proposed cap)
---------------------------------------------------------------
DECREASE IN MUNICIPAL TAXES: $1, 548, 628
--------------------------------------------------------------

Looks like its all how they interpret.

Looks like SHUT-OFF VALVES AGAIN AGAIN & AGAIN did NOT work Spectra? We need to ask SPECTRA Execs to live in the houses where the proposed gas pipelines pass thru!!! This is very scary (cnn.com):

"If gas is leaking out into the street, you know, it's going to follow the path of least resistance and it could seep in the ground, into your home and stuff," Scheirer said. "And any ignition source inside the home could create that explosion."

They all know these items to cut... A 9th grader from McNair can look at it and point out all these areas(including parking spaces). The question is, why are they not doing the right thing for the tax payers?

In case, the mayor is looking to rebuild his image with the tax payers, all he needs to do is, in his own words, "FAIRNESS, FAIRNESS, FAIRNESS."

Cut all the cronies and their luxuries before compromise on tax payers, SAFETY. Is it too much to ask ?

This is going to comeback again next year. This is not getting better, raising health care costs, school board costs, bonds interests, etc., etc., If they think, reval is going to solve the problems, they are VERY wrong!!!

looks like it is a woman...

part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkcvckOUuiQ&feature=player_embedded

part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyni2yCuYy8&feature=player_embedded

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... council_candidates_2.html


Jersey City Police are investigating a break in at a City Council candidate?s home earlier today.

Esther Wintner, one of six candidates running for the unexpired Ward B seat tomorrow, said her jewelry, her son?s guitar and a Kindle, an electronic reading device, were stolen from her home sometime this morning. She was still going through things to determine if anything else had been stolen.

Wintner said she and her husband were out at the time of the break-in and her children were at school.

When her children arrived home, they noticed their rooms had been rummaged through, Wintner said, adding that they immediately called police.

She said a window was pried open and she believes that?s how the person or persons entered her home.

Wintner would not say whether she thought it was campaign-related.

She is running against City Councilman David Donnelly, Isaiah Gadsden, Raymond Skop, Earlin Thomas and Diane Verlingo to finish the unexpired term of Phil Kenny who resigned last year after pleading guilty to federal corruption charges.

Action 21 is in the process of putting up a class to learn Basic SPOKEN SPANISH.... The following are the details:

Start Date: First week of November 2010
Class Strength: 15 (Already have seven students )
Duration: Once a week Sunday 12noon - 2pm
Place: Raphs Internet Cafe, 709 Bergen Ave

This is a course designed to learn basic spoken Spanish in 12 weeks(home work heavy); Action 21 is conducting this.

The fee details are:

Registration: $10 per student
Fee: $20 per month

Please feel free to ask more details.
You can write to: action21organization@yahoo.com

In case, they get more students, they will start another batch...

thanks

from CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/10/california.fire/index.html?hpt=C1

Not in Downtown, try 555 Asian Grocery... in tonnele ave/manhattan ave...

Quote:

The question here is: how come the tax increase is not affecting Mayor or the Council members? They seem to be very happy to pay unlike rest of us !!!

At last, Alfonso found a room yesterday and moved in Academy St. Thanks a lot for all the people who supported this effort...

-1 HOMELESS !!!

Guess what Gov fired Schundler... !!!

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010 ... christie_asks_nj_sch.html