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for larger version       Simon says...
From the Desk of Lew M. Simon, Democratic District Leader, 23rd A.D. Part B We’d like to take this opportunity to wish all those who are celebrating Passover a Happy Passover to you and your family and to all those celebrating Easter a joyous Easter to you and your family. As we are all aware our local school boards will end on June 30, to be re placed by Community Educational Council for each district.A0 We have a major problem with the system of picking members of these councils.A0When we voted for local sch ool boards, every registered voter in the district and parent voters who had a child in the district schools could vote.A0Now the only voters are the president, vice president and secretary of the local parents association. This system disenfranchises most parents and other residents of the district.A0Only a select group votes.A0In some schools there is a large and active parent’s association. The officers may represent hundreds of interested parents.A0In other sch ools there may be six to ten members.A0The officers will represent themselves.A0These parent electors will get equal votes. The only reason we see for this change was that in the past the average voter was about 55 years of age and had no children in school.A0A few had grandchildren in the schools. All taxpayers should have the right to vote in these elections as voters have all over the United States.A0To limit the vote means that the schools will need to make an alliance with each other to get candidates elec ted to the local board. We must make sure that all schools in District 27 are fairly and equitably served.A0It is im portant to advocate for proper funding for textbooks and other materials needed and to make sure that all subjects like music appreciation, hands on science labs, adequate physical education and after school centers for all are available.A0There are 33 candidates for this council in Dis trict 27.A0Please forgive my ignorance, but Department of Education officials refused to make the list of candidates available or release their bios or statements.A0I obtained a list privately and list the school for those people I knew about. A0The candidates are Lizzette Agosto, Anthony Allia (PS 207) Laury Amedee (PS 104) Sayuika Bedessie (PS 108) Brendy Belony, Kelvin Bowers (PS 105, Selena Budhai, Marie Charles-Depas (PS 215) Cheryll Crews (MS 210) Maria Curcio (PS225) Adrienne Evans, Tanya Harrington, Edward Hartmen, Gillian Hazel, Mara Hoch hauser (PS 146, Nita Howlett (PS 104) Laura Lesko, Chanel Manohar (PS 108) Laura Mercado, Sylvia Mines (PS 225), Roopnarine Mohabir (PS 108 and IS 137) Kelly Neville, Verenise Nunez, Carol Panico, Martitza Por rata (PS 63) Tim Poulos, Matthew Regan (PS114) Myrna Selfridge, Noni Signoretti (PS 114) Keroline Sim monds, Kery-Ann Venturas, Patri cia Washington and Mari lyn Wilson (PS 232). The Department of Edu cation refuses to give us the candidate’s address or telephone numbers so we can arrange a meeting for the candidates.A0We are aware there were two forums in the district, one at MS 180 and one at MS 210, but most parents and other interested persons have no information about the candidates.A0If you are a candidate and read this please call us. The controversy that occurred after last month’s Community Board 14 meeting about the renaming of Beach 91 Street for Richie Allen became a nasty, hot battle.A0Last Monday City Councilman Joe Addabbo had a meeting in his office to try to get everyone together for a solution.A0At this meeting Jonathan Gaska, District Manager Community Board 14, Delores Orr, Chair Community Board 14 and Pres ident of the Rockaway Beach Civics, the local civics in the area, Gail Allen mother of fallen fire hero Richie Allen, community activist and fireman Pal mer Doyle and yours truly. The Councilman and Delores Orr had suggested that Beach 91st and the Boardwalk have a dual sign for Richie Allen and Duke Kahanamaku.A0Gail Allen, Palmer and myself stayed the course and supported naming Beach 91 Street Richie Allen’s Way.A0We said the location of the name for the Duke should be moved to Beach 89 or Beach 90th Street. Palmer and I suggested bringing the issue to a vote at the next Board 14 meeting. Jonathan Gaska said he would not really like to go that route and we could lose.A0Well, we stayed the course.A0 Delores Orr promised to call the Board of the Rockaway Beach Civics by Friday and let us know of their decision. Thank God wisdom took hold and the Rockaway Beach Civics did the right thing by calling Gail Allen on Wednesday evening.A0They’ve agreed to support Beach 91st Street and the Boardwalk being renamed Richie Allen’s Way. A lot can get accomplished when we all work together for the betterment of the Rockaway peninsula.A0Thank you Councilman Joe Addabbo for setting up the meeting.A0Thank you to the Rockaway Beach Civics who do a fine job in the community for your support.A0 Thank you Palmer Doyle.A0We made a great team with Mrs. Allen.A0We look forward to working together in the future. Our next bus trip to Atlantic City will be on Saturday, April 17.A0We leave at 4 p.m. and return at 6 a.m.A0 The cost is $30 with $17 returned.A0 Movies are shown and bagels and cream cheese courtesy of Rockaway Bagels are served on the bus.A0Call 718-945-1216 for reservations. The dwelling at 186 Beach 113 Street is one of the SRO’s formerly owned by Michael Andrews (Sue-Me Inc.)A0This house received a peremptory vacate order on 11/1/99.A0It was or dered closed because there was an imminent danger to the safety and life of the occupants, City law states that after an SRO is closed for years it can no longer be an SRO.A0We have been working diligently since before last summer to have a STOP WORK order by the NYC De partment of Buildings for not having the proper permits for doing work.A0 Just last month the Department of Buildings issued permits to allow rebuilding of this SRO. After my constant appearances and badgering the Queens Commissioner of the Department of Buildings issued a STOP WORK order.A0Last week a fire broke out in the basement of 186 Beach 113 Street.A0Questions have come to my mind concerning the possibility that this was an insurance job by the owner.A0We will work diligently with the neighbors to protect their right to stop this SRO in its tracks.A0 We hope the NYC Department of Buildings will do the right thing and declassify this house. On Friday March 26, Senator Malcolm Smith had his 4th annual Dinner Dance at Antun’s.A0One of the group’s honorees was the board of Bay Towers for their strong leadership and diligent work on behalf of their tenants.A0Their Board consists of Terry Har ris, President, Sandra Wilson, Miriam Camacho, Mary Burns, Dolo res Floyd, Frank Whyte and Vera Donateir.A0Good time was had by all.A0 BCHS band did a great job. On Wednesday evenings there is still a place to play bingo.A0The Ozone Park Jewish Center, which is located at 107-01 Cross Bay Blvd. Two blocks from the Rockaway Boulevard stop on the A train has bingo every Wed nesday.A0I will be proudly serving by calling and selling.A0 The game is from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:0 p.m.
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