for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com june 13, 2013 • The queens CourieR 33 Help students achieve their DREAMs BY ASSE MBLYMEMBER FRANCIS CO MOYA New York City is a microcosm oped street talk What do you think of the increased penalties for It’ll save lives because the penalties are stricter. It’ll definitely cut down on the number of accidents, too. Charlotte Legaz BY JOHANN HAMILTON It will save lives and people should stop doing it. It’s annoying to everyone else. I don’t know if people will stop doing it now, but they really should. Fanny Coot It’s a good idea. I don’t think it’ll prevent people from doing it, but it does matter. Once people get hit with one or two summonses, they may not do it again. George Legaz I think it’s business as usual. The implementation of this new law would be hard to regulate. What would police do differently to catch people that they don’t do now? Jameson Bosco It’s wrong to text and drive and it should be penalized. You just can’t concentrate on the road if you’re texting. Fran Gardner It’s a good law and it will prevent a lot of accidents. It probably won’t stop people from doing it, though. Justice Bosco I don’t think people should text and drive. I would hope that people would take the law into consideration, though, because of the detriment that texting and driving can cause. Teya Francis I feel like the new law might not change anything, but I hope it does. Vinny Balhiev getting caught texting while driving? of the world, and its diversity is what has made it the cultural and economic hub of the nation. Over the centuries, waves of immigrants have built businesses, churned economic activity and brought fresh perspectives. Today’s immigrants are no different. To deny our young, promising immigrants now is to deny our history and track record of success. Currently, we hold our undocumented students, who are here by no decision of their own, back from their potential. Thousands of these students across the state strive to achieve just like their peers, but are barred from the basic financial resources – loans, grants – that make it possible for so many young people in this country to pursue higher education. Last month, the New York State Assembly decided to address this issue in a sincere way. With overwhelming support, we passed the New York State DREAM Act, which for the first time will open up entitlement funding from Tuition Assistance Programs (TAP) to undocumented students. Just prior to its passage, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli issued a report touting the DREAM Act’s vast economic benefits, and it echoes what DREAM supporters have been saying for years. By investing in promising students, no matter where they were born, you create a better-educated workforce that attracts good jobs to the state which help build a robust middle class. At a cost of less than $20 million a year, the state will see that amount repaid and then some. Since its passage in the Assembly, the bill has been stuck in limbo in the Senate. In resisting this bill, New York State Senate Republicans are proving to be lagging behind their counterparts across the nation. U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has publicly come out in favor of a DREAM Act. Texas Governor Rick Perry signed similar legislation in his own state. If we are going to see this legislation pass in the final two weeks of the session, Governor Andrew Cuomo must show the same leadership he has shown on marriage equality, gun control and raising the minimum wage. The governor once again can continue to take action on issues facing the nation as a whole and cementing New York’s reputation as a progressive leader by supporting the DREAM Act. We have less than two weeks in Albany to give these students a chance to pursue their dreams. I implore my colleagues in the Senate and in the governor’s mansion to find courage to put politics aside and do what is right. Moya represents Assembly District 39 VISIT QueensCourier.com TELL US WHAT YOU THINK...
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