Separate and Unequal: Shocking Disparities Between Charter Schools and Public Schools that Share the Building
As the state legislature is negotiating over whether or not to raise the cap on charter schools, parents and students community groups have raised questions about the need for reform in charter schools. At the same time, parents from two Harlem public schools that are in the same buildings as charter schools have released [...]
Visit StandUpScott.org
Visit our new website, StandUpScott.org, to sign a petition urging Congressman Scott Murphy to make good on his commitment to his constituents and those who helped elect him by voting for the final health care reform bill.
Add your voice to the petition:
The Reform Governor? Let’s Hope So!
by Jessica Wisneski, Legislative Director
After a year in state politics like 2009, which included dysfunction, slashing of programs New Yorkers need, and the death of numerous bills designed for the public good, yes, 2010 can be a year of real reform. We won’t win on every issue, but returning our democracy to its rightful owners, the public, is possible in 2010. Yesterday, Governor Paterson unveiled the mother of all reform packages, even the kitchen sink was included: public financing of elections.
Public Financing is Linchpin of Ethics Reform
In his State of the State address, Governor Paterson announced his intent to push for passage of public financing of elections for legislative and statewide offices in New York. Last year, the Assembly passed a public financing of elections bill, and the Senate’s public hearings drew strong support. With the Governor now strongly pushing for reform, all three must come together to make sure a public financing of elections bill gets signed into law.
Faces of Change: Osman Muse
Osman moved to the US from Somalia with his parents when he was in the 6th grade. He remembers that when he got here, he felt like he was “trapped in outer space” because he had no way to communicate with people.
Osman couldn’t speak English, and his parents couldn’t speak English either.
On the heels of winning a new education funding formula in New York, which provided high-needs school districts with fair funding, in May 2007, Citizen Action volunteers collected surveys from over 270 parents in Buffalo. The surveys asked parents about how the new money coming into the school district should be spent. Read More…
The Grinch that (Almost) Stole Health Care Reform
by Bob Cohen, Policy Director
In the classic Christmas tale by Dr. Suess, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” the Grinch descends on the town of Whoville and steals all the town’s Christmas decorations and gifts. In Binghamton, on December 16th, several hearty health care supporters gathered to ask a few remaining Senators, including Connecticut’s Joe Lieberman, not to be the Grinch that stole health care reform by filibustering the bill and stopping it from passing.
Our Victory is the Vote
by Karen Scharff, Executive Director
The Senate is moving their health care bill forward. The bill is not what we envisioned when we first started this fight. Because the bill is a far cry from what we wanted, it’s hard to see past our desire for comprehensive reform and look at what we’ve achieved. But, we have to realize that this marks the first time in decades that meaningful health care reform won a vote on the Senate floor.
Why We Need a Strong Estate Tax
by Bob Cohen, Policy Director
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on this page about the campaign by the right wing and its corporate allies to weaken the estate tax in America — the only tax on wealth, and therefore the only check on extremely rich individuals passing on their wealth to their children and grandchildren without making an appropriate contribution to the society that helped them achieve their wealth.
Faces of Change: Gloria Marshall
For about 15 years, residents of the Northside of Binghamton, NY haven’t been able to buy fresh fruit, vegetables or meat without taking a bus or cab to grocery stores in other areas. But, because of the work of one Northside resident and a group of passionate and unrelenting neighbors, on November 24, 2009, the City of Binghamton broke ground for the new $1.8 million Save-A-Lot grocery store.
This is the story of Gloria Marshall, a 33-year resident of Binghamton’s Northside neighborhood. She really enjoys her neighbors and living in her community.
Keep Wall Street in Check
Last Friday, the House passed a comprehensive financial reform package that would go a long way to protect consumers and hold the banks and Wall Street accountable. We need to make sure that our Senators support a strong Consumer Financial Protection Agency and vote against exemptions (like auto-dealers, for example) and other weakening amendments the financial industry lobbyists want.
