Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan Assemblywoman
Catherine
Nolan

Reports to the
Community

Summer 2008

Dear Neighbor,

This year has been one full of changes. Albany continues to need reforms and I will continue to fight for a better political system. A local change was the relocation of our 47th Street district office. We are excited about the new location in the center of Queens Boulevard.

The district continues to deal with increased development and I continue to work with local communities to ensure the best interests of residents are served, as with the Dutch Kills recertification process or Hunter’s Point South. I will continue to oppose over development of our neighborhoods.

As Chair of the Assembly Education Committee I have helped pass legislation that ensures our schools are doing their best to educate students. Two recent bills protect students by revoking the certification of both teachers and administrators who have broken the law. I also submitted testimony recently at Contracts for Excellence Hearings to urge the NYC Department of Education not to have budget cuts that will undermine its commitment to the Contracts for Excellence measures that were geared toward improving our schools.

I feel we have accomplished our goals for the 2008 legislative session. As always I look forward to hearing from you, and thank you for the opportunity to represent you in the New York State Assembly.

Sincerely,
signature
Catherine Nolan




Nolan Relocates District Office to
Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside

In June Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan relocated her district office to 41-02 Queens Boulevard, #2B, in Sunnyside. “Our 47th Street office holds many years of good memories for me and my staff. It was the kind of place where a friendly staff welcomed people from our community and made them feel welcome. We plan to bring that atmosphere with us to the new office,” said Assemblywoman Nolan. On October 4 we will hold an open house at the new office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Metrocard

The office will be located in a new building in the center of Queens Boulevard surrounded by stores, banks and two-family homes. The new building was built on a vacant lot that was empty after a fire had destroyed the former building some years ago.

Constituents will be happy to know that Nolan’s office has arranged for the MTA Metrocard Bus to stop near their new office, in front of CVS, on the second Thursday of each month. Nolan’s office is next door at 41-02 Queens Boulevard, Suite 2B, Sunnyside 11104. The office will retain the same phone number of 718-784-3194. District Manager Diane Balleck will continue to help local area residents in need of assistance. The Ridgewood office will continue to be located at 61-08 Linden Street, Ridgewood 11385. Both offices are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.


Upcoming Nolan Office Events:

Cathy Nolan’s State Fair

September 27 • 9 a.m.
St. John’s Ridgewood United Methodist Church
17-37 Linden Street, Ridgewood, NY 11385

Local and State agencies will be on hand to pass out information on their programs and answer questions.


Open House at the new Sunnyside Office

October 4 • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Stop by to visit our new District Office at
41-02 Queens Boulevard, Suite 2B




NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT

Senior Wait List Opens at Woodysun HDFC

Woodysun HDFC, a United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 8 senior building is in the process of opening its waiting list. Woodysun is located at 44-20 64th Street in Woodside, Queens and is geared toward singles and couples age 62 or older, and for mobility impaired individuals.

The building has a full-time social worker, a laundry, a live-in superintendent, a 24-hour guard service and a community room with exercise programs, recreation activities and monthly excursions. Demand for housing with coordinated support services is high because it improves quality of life for seniors.

“This is an ideal place to live and it is so important for seniors to have the choices that allow them to stay in the communities they love in homes that are affordable,” said Assemblywoman Nolan.

Section 8 guidelines require rent to be 30% of gross income. To request an application, mail a post card to Woodysun, HDFC, 44-20 64th Street, Woodside, NY 11377.




All Saints Church Strawberry Festival

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Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan attended the All Saints Church Strawberry Festival in Sunnyside. She is shown here with Jimmy Van Bramer of the Queens Public Library and Sunnyside Drum Corps Executive Director Tony Lana and some of the other members.




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Community Leaders Were Honored

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Assemblywoman Nolan attended a 100th Anniversary Dinner Dance at Terrace on the Park on June 19, 2008. Numerous community leaders were honored at the event, including Assemblywoman Nolan as Woman of the Year. Also honored were Honorable Robert Rothermel as Man of the Year; Mr. Alan B. Lubin and Ms. Veronica Montgomery Costa as Labor Leaders of the Year; Public Service Awards went to the Honorable Joseph Crowley and the Honorable Betsey Gotbaum; Mr. Bruce Bendell and Ms. Annette Rodriquez Soriano as Business People of the Year; Community Service Awards went to Ms. Debbie Egel and Ms. Patricia Grayson; and, a Lifetime Achievement Award went to Mr. Gerard Tate.




Thank You
“Thanks to so many of our neighbors who wrote to me after my hip replacement surgery, as you can see I was represented at the Ridgewood Allied War Vets memorial day parade by my son Nicky, age 10 and my good friend and colleague Assemblywomen Audrey Pheffer. I look forward to being up to full speed soon and thanks again for all the support!
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NEWS YORK STATE ASSEMBLY NEWS


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Education Chair Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan welcomed Dr. Manuel Rivera, New York State Deputy Secretary of Education to a meeting of the Standing Committee.
Assemblywoman Nolan Testifies at Hearing to Urge NYCDOE to Create a Plan for Contracts for Excellence

Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Chair of the New York State Assembly Education Committee, submitted testimony to the Contracts for Excellence Hearings, joining education advocates to urge New York State Department of Education Commissioner Richard Mills to enforce the requirements of the Contracts for Excellence.

She called on New York City Education Chancellor Joel Klein to create a central plan for distribution of state funds, and to ensure that the public is given adequate notice so that meaningful community participation can occur in the development of the City’s Contracts for Excellence. Legislators and education advocates have also been vocal in their criticism of the City’s proposal to cut education funding by $500 million, a move that would undermine the State’s 2008-09 Foundation Aid increases of $622 million.

“We must not allow the City to shortchange our schoolchildren, and I will do all I can to ensure that the Contracts for Excellence are implemented properly,” said Assemblywoman Nolan.

The Campaign for Fiscal Equity law suit funneled an unprecedented level of funding to New York City public schools. The four-year commitment to increase funding provides enhanced accountability in the use of tax payer dollars in education. Each year districts must submit a new plan to the State Education Department outlining how they plan to use funds. New York City Department of Education does not have such a plan in place, and has failed to comply with regulations about public notice.

“We have kept our promise to New York City School children. The Contracts for Excellence help guarantee a financial investment is made in our lowest performing schools by directing resources towards our neediest student populations. Now NYCDOE plans to distribute funding without a plan and then find out from principals what programs they intend to implement. We need to know that the standards for small class size, which were the cornerstone of the Contracts for Excellence, remain a priority for the Department of Education.”

— Assemblywoman
Catherine Nolan

Assemblywoman Nolan said, “We have kept our promise to New York City School children. The Contracts for Excellence help guarantee a financial investment is made in our lowest performing schools by directing resources towards our neediest student populations. Now NYCDOE plans to distribute funding without a plan and then find out from principals what programs they intend to implement. We need to know that the standards for small class size, which were the cornerstone of the Contracts for Excellence, remain a priority for the Department of Education.”

Assemblywoman Nolan said she believes the city must postpone all currently scheduled hearings until the NYCDOE is in full compliance with the requirements of the state regulations. “It is important to the integrity of the process that DOE hold additional hearings once detailed information about how the funds will be used is made available to the public”.

“Our children’s education must not be compromised by economic cycles. We have kept the promise and now the city must keep their end of the deal. Without the ability to trust one another we will lose this critical opportunity to serve public school students as the resolution of Campaign for Fiscal Equity law suit intended,” said Assemblywoman Nolan.





Assembly Passes Bill Allowing Home Schooled Students with Special Needs to Receive Services

Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Chair of the New York State Assembly Education Committee, announced passage of a bill that will provide programs and services to home schooled students with special needs.

“By working together we were able to accomplish our goal of passing legislation that will support the education of home schooled students.”

— Assemblywoman Nolan

“This legislation would ensure students with disabilities who are home schooled are able to receive the necessary services whether it is occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy or special education. We met with a coalition of interested parents from Brooklyn to Binghamton and they wanted to work with the Assembly,” said Assemblywoman Nolan.

A ruling by the State Education Department allowed school districts to stop providing services to students with special needs who are home schooled. This left many without these important services throughout the past few months. The Assembly and Senate worked to resolve the problem by passing legislation recognizing home schools as nonpublic schools solely for the purpose of the dual enrollment statute so that home schooled students may receive special education programs and services as soon as possible.

Teacher and Administrators License Revocation Bills

It’s vital that we can have trust in those who control the purse strings of our public schools. And it’s equally vital that we adequately punish any school administrator who violates that trust by using taxpayer dollars for his or her personal gain.

I recently sponsored legislation that passed the Assembly to combat fraud by school administrators (A.11513-A). The measure will revoke the professional license of any school administrator or supervisor convicted of defrauding the government in excess of $1,000 and remove that person from his or her job.

We took this step to help prevent embezzlement by school administrators. When a school district leader abuses his or her power to that degree, that person should no longer serve our children or our community. This is a tough bill that will send corrupt school administrators a message: Not in this state.

“I am very pleased to have worked with Speaker Silver in addressing these issues which are profoundly important to schools and families. Parents need to know with certainty that when they send their children to school each morning they will be in a safe environment where they are free to learn. By revoking the teaching certificate of any teacher convicted of a sex offense we can protect our students and provide parents with the necessary assurance that the school has investigated each teacher’s background completely and thoroughly.

In addition, by revoking the certificates and terminating employment of school administrators who defraud the government we effectively protect our school communities.”

photo Assemblywomen Catherine Nolan, Education Chair and Council of School Supervisors and Administrators President Ernest Logan.

Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan Celebrates Women Veterans with Resolution

“New York recognizes the brave women of our armed forces– the women who selflessly and repeatedly answered the nation’s calls to action,”
— Assemblywoman Nolan
Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan helped pass a series of Assembly Resolutions celebrating the distinguished service of New York’s women veterans. On resolution declares June 12, 2008 as a Women Veterans Recognition Day, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Women Armed Service Integration Act (K.1957).

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