“Students deserve the opportunity to participate in music and the arts as part of a well-rounded education,” said Council Member Crowley. “It is a privilege to bring CASA programs to our communities, and I congratulate the students who sang in today’s performance.”

“The alarming increase in violence needs to be addressed,” said Council Member Crowley. “I have a duty as Chair of the Criminal Justice Services Committee to investigate these serious issues, and the public deserves to hear from the City on how they intend to improve conditions before one of our inmates or staff is seriously injured or killed.”

According to the City’s own statistics, jail violence is up in all major categories. From fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2012, stabbings have increased 65 percent, use of force incidents resulting in injury increased 40 percent, and inmate assaults on staff increased 39 percent. In the first four months of fiscal year 2013, no improvement has been seen. The preliminary Mayor’s Management Report notes that violent inmate-on-inmate incidents are up 15 percent, and assault on staff has increased 21 percent.

Said COBA President Norman Seabrook, who oversees the second largest law enforcement union in New York City and whose members run the second largest municipal jail system in the nation, “Whether Dr. Schriro wants to admit it or not, jail violence is once again on the rise. Just this past Wednesday night, one of New York City’s Boldest was brutally punched in the face numerous times by an inmate in the Robert N. Davoren Center and was rushed to the hospital with a fractured nose and a broken elbow. The inmate who committed this barbaric assault is still sitting in jail and has not been re-arrested as required by law. This is outrageous! If a Correction Officer or any law enforcement officer for that matter, were called to testify before a legal body and failed to do so, they would be immediately subpoenaed or risk facing contempt.  Who has permitted Dr. Schriro to slight New York City taxpayers by not testifying before the City Council today and telling the public the truth about the increased violence in the jails?”

“Inmates are manipulating the system and circumventing the disciplinary system,” said Assistant Deputy Wardens/Deputy Wardens’ Association President Sidney Schwartzbaum. “There are presently 800 prisoners awaiting time in segregation, and 70 percent of the inmates who committed stabbings should have been serving time in segregation but were not. The Department of Correction must testify at a City Council hearing and offer solutions to deal with violent inmates.”

“This administration needs to wake up,” said Correction Captains’ Association President Patrick Ferraiuolo. “Rikers Island holds thousands of violent inmates, many of them with gang affiliations; however, the Mayor insists on post cuts. I have a real concern when we are judged by people who have no clue about the dangers we face.”

On Real Time, Real Talk, Council Member Crowley, Seabrook, Schwartzbaum, and Ferraiuolo discussed how a decrease in uniformed personnel, a leadership vacuum following the resignation of several high-ranking department chiefs, and the lack of enough punitive segregation units by the Department of Correction has made their already dangerous jobs—patrolling one of the nation’s largest jail systems—even more perilous.

Council Member Crowley examined the rise in jail violence during a November 2011 hearing about the Department of Correction’s strategic plan. Commissioner Dora Schriro testified that there more than 900 violent inmates who should have been moved to punitive segregation that were not. At the hearing, Commissioner Schriro also presented statistics about jail violence that conflicted with existing reports from the City. Almost two years after that initial hearing, with no improvements, Council Member Crowley noted it was essential for the Department of Correction to testify to the committee about jail violence.

“I sponsored this forum so residents are better informed about how their property taxes are calculated and gave the tools to a homeowner to dispute an assessment,” said Council Member Crowley. “Too many people in Queens pay more than their fair share compared to luxury buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan that receive multiple tax breaks, and I am committed to working with city and state officials to ease the burden on middle class families.”

If a resident believes the Department of Finance has incorrectly assessed his or her property, they can appeal to the NYC Tax Commission. The Tax Commission is an independent agency that reviews Department of Finance property values. More information and forms can be found online athttp://www.nyc.gov/html/taxcomm/html/home/home.shtml. The application deadline for appealing an assessment is March 15, 2013 for Class 1 properties and March 1, 2013 for Class 2, 3, and 4 properties.

Property owners are also encouraged to view their property descriptions online at http://nyc.gov/finance. Discrepancies in the city records about your property, such as incorrect data about square footage, can have an effect on property values. Any errors must be submitted to the Department of Finance by March 15, 2013 for Class 1 and 2 properties and a new notice of property value will be sent.

There are also numerous exemptions for property owners, such as the Veteran’s Exemption, Senior Citizen Homeowner’s Exemption, and the NYS School Tax Relief (STAR) Exemption. These programs help save property owners money on their taxes.

Any resident with questions about property taxes is encouraged to call Council Member Crowley’s office at 718-366-3900.

“Maspeth is a better place to live and raise a family because we have this high school,” said Council Member Crowley. “The new state of the art building is providing the facilities for 21^st Century learning for our students.”

Maspeth High School was one of the last public high schools in New York City to receive local priority zoning. This has ensured local residents have the opportunity to attend. Council Member Crowley has been a strong advocate for local schools and believes attending schools in your own community help students and families.

Today’s opening ceremony featured performances by the Maspeth High School String Orchestra, the International Thespian Society, and the Dance Company. Along with Borough President Marshall, Council Member Crowley was joined by State Senator Joe Addabbo, Council Members Leroy Comrie and Diana Reyna, and Assemblymember Catherine Nolan.

“It is dedicated groups like the Friends of Ridgewood Library that help our public libraries continue to serve our communities,” said Council Member Crowley. “Ridgewood Library has seen an increase in visitors since the Council funded its renovation, and it is important to strengthen our libraries as community centers. I look forward to working with Friends of Ridgewood Library to ensure that the Queens Library system receives the support and funding it needs.”

“Congratulations to the new board of the Friends of the Queens Library at Ridgewood,” said Jennifer Manley, Queens Library vice president for government and community affairs. “Around the borough every single day, Friends of the Library put on special programs, hold fundraisers and support their local libraries. Over the years, the Ridgewood Friends have been critical in making the library the great community place it is. I wish you continued success in the coming year.”

If you are interested in joining Friends of Ridgewood Library, contact the community library manager at 718-821-4770. To learn more about other Friends of Library groups and how you can help, contact the Queens Library Office of Government and Community Affairs at 718-990-0817.

“Deputy Inspector Michael Cody worked tirelessly with the community to serve and protect,” said Council Member Crowley. “While it is sad to see him move on, I look forward to working with Captain Manson to help residents and keep our streets safe.”

“Pre-k programs offer an early start and build greater academic success for our students,” said Council Member Crowley. “The expansion of full-day classes at PS 91 is a tremendous benefit for our students and school community, and I will continue to work hard to build more educational opportunities.

The DOE runs pre-kindergarten classes in public schools and through Community Based Organizations (CBO). The CBOs with universal pre-kindergarten classes in Council Member Crowley’s district include the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council, Christ The King, Maspeth Town Hall, and more. Public schools with classes include PS 68, PS 87, PS 88, PS 153, PS 229, and PS 239.

Applications for universal pre-kindergarten begin in early March. Families will be able to apply online or at the DOE enrollment office at 28-11 Queens Plaza North in Long Island City. For more information on universal pre-kindergarten programs and how to apply, visit schools.nyc.gov or call Council Member Crowley’s office at 718-366-3900.

Macerich, the owners of Atlas Park, generously donated the former Stein Mart department store space to FoF for six months to use as a center for firefighters to receive supplies and counseling. Macerich had also donated the former Borders site to Council Member Crowley to use as a donation center following the storm.

“Friends of Firefighters provide a wealth of services for New York’s Bravest, who risk their lives every day to keep us safe,” said Council Member Crowley. “I want to thank Macerich for donating this space for Friends of Firefighters, and Nancy Carbone and the organization for helping those in need.”

“Friends of Firefighters is grateful to Council Member Crowley for her assistance in setting up the distribution center, which has been an extremely helpful resource for the FDNY families affected by Hurricane Sandy,” said Nancy Carbone, executive director of FoF. “It is a place where the families can find everything from toiletries to tools and appliances, all which have been donated by supporters around the country.”

FoF has helped more than 400 firefighters and their families since Hurricane Sandy. Donations of cleaning supplies and other necessities are welcome. To learn more, please call FoF at 718-643-1240 or visit friendsoffirefighters.org.

“New Yorkers on their way to work or school should not have to deal with the dangers of secondhand smoke—a known human carcinogen—while waiting for the bus,” said Council Member Crowley. “I thank the DOT for working with me to spread awareness that smoking is prohibited in bus shelters and protecting the health of City residents.”

The US Environmental Protection Agency, the US National Toxicology Program, and the World Health Organization all classify secondhand smoke as a known human carcinogen. Thousands of chemical compounds are in tobacco smoke, and they have been linked to lung cancer, asthma, respiratory tract infections, and heart disease.

Council Member Elizabeth S. Crowley and Elmhurst Hospital offered free flu vaccines at the Peter

Cardella Senior Center on Tuesday morning. Outreach was focused on seniors from the Peter Cardella Senior Center and parents and teachers at nearby PS 88, and more than 20 people took advantage of the free vaccines.

Flu-related illnesses have reached an epidemic level in New York, and Council Member Crowley is urging all residents to get vaccinated. The City urges everyone six months and older to get vaccinated. It is especially important for at-risk populations, including pregnant women, children younger than five, and adults older than 50.