Parents whose children were not assigned to a public school UPK program can apply through June 20 for enrollment at UPK programs offered by CBOs such as parochial schools, youth groups and day care centers. These programs, the mayor stressed, would be held to the same educational and environmental standards as New York City public schools. There are about 25,000 available UPK seats offered by CBOs in all five boroughs, and additional seats will be made available in the weeks to come, according to the Mayor’s office. Though admissions will continue as late as Oct. 1, de Blasio advised parents to apply before June 26, the last day of the city’s school year, for the “best chance of finding the right” preschool program. “Parents can apply to as many locations as they want to,” the mayor said. “The important thing is to apply, and apply now.” Each of the public schools and CBOs offering full-day and half-day UPK are listed and mapped online at www.nyc.gov/prek. Parents can also find more information about the program by sending a text message to 877877. During his remarks, de Blasio— as he did during his April visit with Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña, TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 • 28 Mayor Continues Pre-K Push In Ridgewood -CONTINUED FROM PG. 3- Ben Carson News & Opinion -CONTINUED FROM PG. 4- Mobster Gets Life For Homicides bust resulting in the arrests of nearly 100 reputed gangsters. One of the murder witnesses took the stand at Vernace’s federal trial in 2013 and admitted to lying under oath during the Queens case, fearing retribution if he told the truth, law enforcement sources noted. “For more than four decades, Vernace dedicated his life to committing crimes for the mafia. He rose through the ranks to become a powerful Gambino family leader by making money from crime and committing brutal acts of violence,” U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Loretta E. Lynch said in a statement last Tuesday. “We hope the murder victims’ families are able to take some measure of comfort from the fact that, with this life sentence, one of the killers has now been brought to justice.” “Vernace made a life of being a key player in the Gambino crime family where his activities led to his convictions for heroin trafficking, robbery, loansharking, gambling, firearms, as well as the vicious double murder,” added FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge George Venizelos. “Today’s life sentence ensures the rest of Bobby Glasses’ life will only be seen inside of a federal facility.” Federal prosecutors said the double shooting occurred on the night of Apr. 11, 1981, when an unidentified Gambino family associate got into a dispute with others in the Shamrock Bar over a spilled drink. The associate reportedly left the bar and went to a nearby social club, where he picked up Vernace and a second, unidentified suspect. Shortly thereafter, authorities said, the three mafia members returned to the Shamrock Bar and confronted Godkin and D’Agnese as bar patrons looked on. Before pulling the trigger, it was reported, Vernace allegedly held a gun to Godkin’s head and taunted him, while one of the accomplices threatened D’Agnese with a weapon. Godkin was shot in the chest at point blank range, while D’Agnese was shot in the face. Following the gunfire, Vernace and his cohorts fled from the scene. Law enforcement sources said Vernace went into hiding following the shooting and emerged years later to become a leading Gambino officer. He eventually got his own crew based at a defunct café on Cooper Avenue in Glendale and served on a three-member panel that led the entire crime family. Prosecutors stated he engaged in a variety of criminal activities including robbery, loansharking and illegal gambling. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan M. Norris, Amir H. Toossi, M. Kristin Mace and Claire S. Kedeshian prosecuted the case. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 3- Mayor Bill de Blasio continued his prekindergarten expansion push with a roundtable discussion and press conference at Ridgewood’s P.S. 239 on Tuesday, June 3. (photo: Robert Pozarycki) who was not in attendance Tuesday—praised students and educators at P.S. 239 for creating an environment that offers a “sense of family.” “I love this school,” the mayor said. “I loved it when I visited last time. I love it this time. Something very special is happening here, and you can understand why parents want their children in this school. It is that amazing nurturing community, that sense of family. And the dedication of the professionals you see here is extraordinary.” Package Of Vision Zero Safety Bills Passes Council If You See Breaking News On Your Block... Contact The Times Newsweekly Call 1-718-821-7500 Email [email protected] between freedom and tyranny. If the secular liberals, who are very clever, succeed in dividing us during the next two national elections, America as we know it will be gone. We can stop this, but we must work together. I disagree with those who think it is going to take decades to undo the damage that already has been done. Americans are exceptional and extremely resilient. We cannot allow ourselves to be defined by those who wish to fundamentally change our society. I am convinced that Americans with common sense will soon regain power. It is essential that we not use the opportunity to exact revenge upon the liberals. Rather, we must govern by the Constitution in a way that is fair for all. It is not reasonable to have favorites and to enforce laws selectively. Most importantly, it is not the place of our government to rule the people; the government must always remember that it is in place to serve the people. I believe that when people who were being manipulated by the secular liberals, including the media, have an opportunity to see how much better off they are when the proper relationship between the people and the government is restored, they will adopt a different attitude. This will empower them and the entire nation. Now is the time to rise above partisan politics and recognize the incredible blessings God has bestowed upon our nation. It is time to elevate common sense, decency, honesty and compassion to their proper positions. Rather than simply repeating the words, we must actually achieve “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Ben S. Carson is professor emeritus of neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University. resulting in serious injury or death of another individual. Additionally, her Resolution 51 also seeks tougher state penalties against drivers who leave the scene of accidents without properly reporting them to authorities. Other items in the City Council’s Vision Zero Action Plan legislative package are as follows: • Intro No. 46, which requires the city Department of Transportation (DOT) to repair missing or damaged traffic signals within 48 hours of receiving notification. It also permits the DOT to use alternative traffic control measures should the repair or replacement take longer than 24 hours. • Intro No. 80 requires the DOT to review safety guidelines of bridge workers. • Intro. No. 140 requires the DOT to establish at least seven “Neighborhood Slow Zones” over the next two years. Each slow zone would institute a 20 mph speed limit and include the installation of speed humps where necessary. The law also mandates that the DOT set up school speed zones at 50 locations each year. • Intro. No. 167 targets motorists who perform “stunt behavior” on the streets, such as wheelies, donuts, burnouts and revving. First violations would result in a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to 60 days in jail and/or a $600 fine, with jail time and financial penalties increasing for subsequent charges over the next decade. • Intro. No. 171 would authorize the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) to suspend any licensed driver who receives summonses for one or more moving violations or is involved in accident resulting in serious injuries or death stemming from moving violations. Upon the conviction of one or more violations that were a cause of critical injury or death, the TLC license would be revoked. • Intro. No. 174 requires the TLC to review and investigate vehicles and drivers involved in any accident resulting in critical injury or death, regardless of cause or fault. • Intro. No. 238 institutes new penalties for drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians or bicyclists who have the right of way. For a first offense, the driver could be hit with a $50 fine and/or 15 days in jail, with elevated charges and penalties for subsequent violations. • Intro. No. 272 would aggregate points issued by the TLC and state Department of Motor Vehicles for the purpose of suspending or revoking licenses from drivers who found to be repeatedly driving recklessly. • Intro. No. 277 mandates that the TLC quarterly report to the city Council the specific type of vehicle involved in every crash, as well as the number of accidents resulting in critical injury or death. • Intro. No. 43 requires the DOT study accidents resulting from left turns. According to a 2012 DOT study, left turn crashes outnumbered right turn crashes by a 3 to 1 margin. • Resolution 68 calls on the state legislature and governor to approve increased penalties fro driving on the sidewalk. • Resolution 117 asks the state legislature and governor to grant New York City authority over the speed light camera program. • Resolution 118 asks the state legislature to grant New York City homerule over the red light camera program. • Resolution 144 urges the state legislature and governor to authorize a law to create a misdemeanor charge for a driver who injures a pedestrian or bicyclist while failing to “exercise due care” on the street. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 6-
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