Editorial
Op-ed
More than a mistake
How many more times must a Black
person be shot and killed by a police
offi cer in America before this
country fully realizes that something has
gone terribly wrong?
Daunte Wright, 20, joined the list of casualties
Sunday night when a police offi cer
shot and killed him in a “routine” traffi c
stop in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The offi cer who pulled the trigger on him
claimed it was a tragic mistake; she allegedly
thought she had pulled out her Taser,
not her gun.
A Glock handgun, similar to that which
the offi cer had, weighs 34 ounces of heavy
metal; by comparison, a Taser, made largely
of plastic, weighs just eight ounces. The
weight difference alone makes the offi cer’s
claim almost implausible.
Even if this incident was merely a tragic
mistake, as the offi cer claims, it proves her
incompetence as a police offi cer — and she
should no longer be on the force. But the
fi rst instinct to draw her gun, rather than
her Taser, seemed to subconsciously say it all.
Police unions and their supporters in
government have bristled at any new governance
of police. In New York, they’ve
seethed at attempts to restrict the use of
chokeholds and ending qualifi ed immunity,
which effectively protects cops from being
sued for civil rights violations.
But this case — along with other highprofi
le police deaths such as George Floyd
and Breonna Taylor — further underscores
the urgent need for police reform in
America, and in New York.
There must be a culture change within law
enforcement that ensures “equal justice under
law” for every American. In this moment of
time, we shouldn’t have to live in a society
where families of color have to give “the talk”
to their children as to how to behave in interacting
with police, lest they risk being shot.
No person in this country should get
behind the wheel thinking that if they get
pulled over for an infraction, they may not
live to drive away. It is this scenario that
causes further anxiety among Black and
Brown Americans, and further distrust in
offi cers sworn to protect and serve them.
The answer is not to tell them not to be
anxious or mistrustful.
The answer is to eliminate the anxiety
and mistrust by reforming police departments
to protect citizens and offi cers alike
— and to get rid of any offi cer incapable
or unwilling to equally protect and serve.
Publisher of The Villager, Villager Express, Chelsea Now,
Downtown Express and Manhattan Express
PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER
CEO & CO-PUBLISHER
EDITOR IN CHIEF
REPORTERS
CONTRIBUTORS
ART DIRECTOR
ADVERTISING
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
PUBLISHER’S LIABILITY FOR ERROR
The Publisher shall not be liable for slight changes
or typographical errors that do not lessen the value
of an advertisement. The publisher’s liability for
others errors or omissions in connection with an
advertisement is strictly limited to publication of the
advertisement in any subsequent issue.
Published by Schneps Media
One Metrotech North, 3rd floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (718) 260-2500
Fax: (212) 229-2790
On-line: www.thevillager.com
E-mail: news@thevillager.com
© 2021 Schneps Media
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA SCHNEPS
ROBERT POZARYCKI
EMILY DAVENPORT
MARK HALLUM
DEAN MOSES
ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
BOB KRASNER
TEQUILA MINSKY
MARCOS RAMOS
CLIFFORD LUSTER
(718) 260-2504
CLUSTER@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
GAYLE GREENBURG
JULIO TUMBACO
ELIZABETH POLLY
New York Press Association
Member of the National
Newspaper Association
Member of the
Member of the
Minority Women Business Enterprise
Prepare your young learner
with 3-K and Pre-K for All
Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter
BY SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR
MEISHA PORTER
As educators, our job is to prepare
our students for a successful, productive
life, empowered with the
skills they need to chase their dreams—and
early childhood programs are where it all
begins.
That’s why Mayor de Blasio and I are so
excited to announce the expansion of 3-K
for All to every school district by September,
providing 40,000 three-year-olds with
free, full-day, high-quality, early childhood
education citywide.
These programs are a child’s fi rst step
to success throughout the rest of their
education and beyond, and I encourage
families to explore the 3-K and Pre-K for
All options available in their communities
and apply. Applications for the 2021–22
school year are open!
As parents and guardians, you know
just how quickly our youngest children
learn—from birth to age fi ve is a critical
period of growth and 90 percent of brain
development happens during this time.
Our 3-K and Pre-K for All classrooms are
full of joy and discovery, and they offer the
perfect environment for children to learn to
problem-solve, ask questions, and explore
the world around them as they grow. In
addition, our programs are free or low cost,
saving families an average of $10,000 a
year on childcare costs.
I remember when the South Bronx’s
District 7 was one of the fi rst few districts
to offer 3-K for All in 2018 and what it
meant for so many families in need to have
access to free, full-day, high-quality early
childhood education for their children.
I want every family to have that kind of
support, and we’ve made so much progress
expanding early childhood education in
NYC MAYORAL PHOTOGRAPHY UNIT
every borough over the last three years.
Today, all NYC school districts offer pre-
K programs, and there is a free, full-day
pre-K seat for every four-year-old child
citywide. That means any New York City
family with a child born in 2017 can apply
to pre-K for the upcoming school year by
the new April 19 deadline.
In addition, we are excited to now offer
3-K programs in every school district
citywide. All New York City families with
children born in 2018 can apply to 3-K for
the upcoming school year by the May 28
deadline.
There is a 3-K seat for every three-yearold
in school districts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 19,
23, 27, 31, and 32; and we will offer 3-K
seats to as many families as possible in the
new districts. Families across the city can
still apply to programs in any district, and
your child has priority to attend 3-K for All
programs in your home district. You can
fi nd out your school district by calling 311
or visiting schools.nyc.gov/Find-a-School.
Programs in the new districts will be added
to the application throughout April and
May.
In all school districts, in addition to
the free 3-K and Pre-K programs in their
communities, families who qualify based
on their income and needs also have the
opportunity to apply to free or low-cost
extended school day and year programs,
including Head Start.
Children who attend 3-K and Pre-K for
All programs get a strong start in school
and life, and as incoming Schools Chancellor
these are the kinds of opportunities I
want to build on and create for our students
so they can dare to dream and learn. No
matter the circumstances, we are here to
provide children across New York City with
a safe, nurturing learning community each
and every day.
8 April 15, 2021 Schneps Media
/www.thevillager.com
link
link
/www.thevillager.com
/Find-a-School
link
link
