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QC02072013

FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com february 7, 2013 • THE QUEENS COURIER 21 Keep the engine running STRIKE DEEMED LEGAL, ADDS FUEL TO UNION’S FIRE BY ALEXA ALTMAN aaltman@queenscourier.com Nearly three weeks after 9,000 drivers and matrons abandoned their buses, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled the strike legal, delighting drivers who remain unfalteringly behind their original demands. “I’m glad that they deemed it legal,” said Maria Gentile, a bus driver from Howard Beach. “This puts more pressure on the city to step up to the plate and get the kids back to school.” Gentile, who called the ruling “one step closer to victory,” said she and the other drivers just want to get back to work. Since the strike began on January 16, drivers have been fighting to preserve the Employee Protection Provision (EPP), an amendment added in 1979 that guarantees drivers will keep routes, regardless of which company oversees the bid. Contrary to statements made by city officials, the strike is legal because drivers are required to adhere to Department of Education (DOE) — New York City school bus company’s largest employer — standards and protocol. Last weekend, members of the Local 8751, Boston’s union of school bus drivers, marched alongside Local 1181 near City Hall in support of the strike. Gentile said that during the rally, people she presumed to be city employees were circulating through the crowd, attempting to convince people to abandon the union. Local 1181 members could not be swayed, she said. The Courier received attendance rates from the DOE for every Wednesday since the strike began. On January 16, the first day of the strike, attendance was at 87 percent citywide and 49.1 percent for disabled students. On January 23, attendance was at 90.2 percent citywide and 61.9 percent for disabled students. On January 30, attendance was 90.5 percent citywide and 73.4 percent for disabled students. According to a statement issued by Local 1181 President Michael Cordiello, Members of Local 1181 celebrated when the citywide school bus strike was deemed legal by a federal labor board last week. drivers will be back to their routes and children will get back to their routines faster if Bloomberg agrees to meet them at the bargaining table. “All we ask is that he suspend the bids, and is willing to discuss ways to reduce costs within the school bus transportation industry, which the union has shown has nothing to do with keeping the most experienced school bus crews on the road,” said Cordiello. Public Advocate and mayoral hopeful THE COURIER/PHOTO BY ALEXA ALTMAN Bill de Blasio has urged Bloomberg to join Local 1181 in contract talks and to retract the existing request for bids for over 1,000 routes. “Walking away from the table means walking away from parents. Parents need the mayor to get back in the game and get drivers back behind the wheel,” said de Blasio. “Families, especially those of kids with special needs, can’t endure three more weeks of this. It’s within the mayor’s power, and it’s his responsibility, to resolve this dispute.” SPOTLIGHT ON: QUEENS SUPREME COURT Judge Jeremy Weinstein: Access to justice BY MAGGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com The Queens Supreme Court is a unique system that is orchestrated by one man and his team, Judge Jeremy Weinstein. Judge Weinstein became the civil court’s Administrative Judge six years ago, and has worked tirelessly to assure just and fair trials for all people that pass through. “Queens is unique,” said Weinstein. “You want to make things run smoothly.” In his position, Weinstein is responsible for more than 50 judges and three courthouses. He deals with the assignment of judges, assignment of cases, various issues that are raised within courthouses, as well as the court’s personnel. His role is mainly administrative, and he oversees the Supreme Court Civil Matters, the Civil Matters Court, the Housing Court and the Small Claims Court. However, Weinstein was not always at the top of the very tall ladder; he worked his way up. After graduating from Jamaica High School, Weinstein attended York College, and then Brooklyn Law School. He started his career in politics, serving as the Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the State of New York, an Associate Counsel to the Speaker of the State Assembly and a State Senator, before being elevated to Minority Whip. After his senate district was reapportioned, Weinstein made the jump PHOTO COURTESY OF THE QUEENS SUPREME COURT Administrative Judge Jeremy Weinstein is responsible for making the Queens Supreme Court run smoothly and efficiently. from politics to law, and began dealing with mainly civil issues. In 1993, he was appointed a judge, and in 2007 he became the Administrative Judge of the Queens Supreme Court, Civil Term. “From keeping the building heated, to making sure that significant cases are heard in a timely matter, it’s a different challenge every day,” said Weinstein of his position. “But, that’s what I like about it.” The Queens Supreme Court hears matrimonial cases, guardianship cases and foreclosure cases. “It all becomes my responsibility to make the court run as best we can,” he said. “The most important thing we can do is give people access to justice in a timely fashion, and to ensure that their cases will be heard competently and professionally.” Fundraiser for family of Sandy Hook victim BY ALEXA ALTMAN aaltman@queenscourier.com Two months after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the heart of a neighborhood remains with the family of a little boy who perished in the gunfire. A Sunnyside group is planning a fundraiser for the bereaved family of six-year-old Benjamin Wheeler, who spent his earliest days in Sunnyside, romping through nearby parks and riding the No. 7 train. Ben’s parents, Francine and David, lived in Sunnyside until Ben was seven months old, when they moved with Ben and his older brother Nate to Newtown, Connecticut. Francine was one of the founding members of Sunnymoms, a collective of local parents who share recipes, baby sitter recommendations and parenting tips. Now, along with friends from the neighborhood, Sunnymoms is organizing an event to honor Ben’s memory and raise money for the Wheeler family. “It didn’t take long to realize there was more we could do for that family,” said family friend Roger Hitts, who is coordinating the event. The same group held a vigil for Ben and Sandy Hook Principal Dawn Hochsprung in December at Sunnyside Gardens Park, a favorite spot of Francine’s when she lived in the neighborhood. “The Wheelers were so loved in this community,” said Hitts, whose daughter was a playmate of Nate and Ben. “They were such a real wonderful family who was dealt the worst hand they could think of.” The Saturday, February 23 event, held at the Sunnyside Community Services Center, invites local families for an afternoon of face painting, balloon sculptures and snacks. Musicians will perform songs by The Beatles, Ben’s favorite band. Hitts said the event is to remain family-oriented, adding that “there’s not going to be people making speeches on gun control.” If you would like to make a donation, contributions can be sent to: The Ben Wheeler Fund c/o Newtown Savings Band 39 Main Street Newtown, CT 06470 Donations can also be made through PayPal, via the email address benwheelerfun@yahoo.com


QC02072013
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