Dear Neighbors & Friends,
This week, I hosted the 8th Annual
Dyslexia Awareness Day: Advocating for Literacy for All at the state Capitol. I’m proud that our coalition for literacy equity and dyslexia support grows stronger every day. This year we brought together 150 advocates, parents, and students from across the state!
During our town hall, attendees spoke out about their experiences, parents shared advocacy strategies, and experts highlighted the benefits of high-quality social emotional programs in schools. You do not want to miss these incredibly powerful stories:
If you would like a clip of yourself speaking at the Town Hall, email us at [email protected].
What’s Next? Please share the event videos. I wrote an
op-ed urging New York to address our literacy crisis and ensure all kids can read, and I ask you to share it on
Twitter,
Facebook, or
Instagram. Lastly, please email or call your
Assemblymember and
Senator to make sure they co-sponsor and fight for these bills:
- Train Teachers in the Science of Reading (A4659 Simon / S6713 Jackson): Ensures that future teachers are trained in the science of reading while they are studying in institutions of higher education.
- Dyslexia Screening for Incarcerated People (A1645 Simon / S2304 Myrie) Requires a reading level assessment and dyslexia screening for certain individuals who are incarcerated.
- Early Screening for Dyslexia (A4198 Simon / S5232 Thomas) Requires school districts to conduct screening for all children.
- Dyslexia Task Force (A133 Carroll / S2599 Hoylman-Sigal) Establishes a dyslexia task force and implements the findings.
Thanks to all of you who attended! Together, we will create change. I’m also grateful that NY State Education Commissioner Dr. Betty Rosa attended, along with our co-sponsors Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, and Zellnor Myrie and Assemblymembers Bobby Carroll and Harvey Epstein. Another big thank you to the event supporters: Eye to Eye, Literacy Academy Collective, Bridge Prep Charter School, Education Council Consortium, Advocates for Children of NY, Decoding Dyslexia NY, Churchill School and Center, Education Trust NY, Dyslexia Allies of Western NY, & Mary McDowell Friends School.
Sincerely,
Jo Anne Simon
E. Jean Carroll’s Historic Victory. Justice was delivered for E. Jean Carroll after 30 years of pain. This is historic. She not only proved sexual abuse and was awarded significant damages for her physical and mental pain and suffering, but also proved common law defamation with a large monetary award for damage to her reputation. Thank you E. Jean Carroll for your courage, grace & style throughout this litigation, and to all the survivors who are seeking justice. She was able to pursue this case under New York’s Adult Survivors Act.
Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse Act: Look Back Period. One of the things we learned while passing the Child Victims Act a few years ago was the shocking number of adults who suffered from sexual violence and abuse but had not known enough about their rights to pursue them legally in a timely manner. This included numerous instances of physicians who preyed on their patients. In response, the legislature passed the Adult Survivors Act which provides for a one year window to file suit regardless of when the assault occurred. That one year window is now open and closes on November 24, 2023. We encourage anyone who might be protected by this law to look into their newly reinstated right to pursue a civil action for damages. Learn more.
Honoring Judy Heumann: Disability Rights Icon. This week on Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day, I honored the legacy and passing of Judy Heumann, the mother of the disability rights movement. I was privileged to meet Judy on multiple occasions, and she has inspired me since the beginning of my career. She dedicated her life to fighting for inclusion and against separate but equal policies and led the historic 504 sit-in to secure regulations implementing the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. I can think of no better way to honor Judy’s legacy than to pass a resolution honoring her leadership, her vision, her kindness, her courage. I was also pleased to vote in support of legislation to increase access to services and to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Congestion Pricing. I’m thrilled that our first-in-the-nation congestion pricing plan was approved by the federal government. This plan will fund public transit, combat climate change and improve street safety by reducing congestion and reliance on cars. The plan includes $200 million for mitigation measures to reduce the effects of pollutants in disadvantaged communities.
I’ve spent decades advocating for congestion pricing, and I’m proud to have helped pass this historic bill in 2019. The state legislation included partial exemptions for people with disabilities, and those with lower incomes who live in lower Manhattan.The plan will also reduce traffic on the BQE as we plan for the future of that corridor. Key to that goal is ensuring equalization of tolling. I’ll be weighing in with the MTA’s Traffic Mobility Review Board to ensure that it propels New York towards a future of sustainable and equitable mass transit.
Jordan Neely: You might have heard about the tragic incident on our subways. Jordan Neely was undergoing a mental health crisis on the subway and was choked to death after another passenger, Daniel Penny, put him in a chokehold. Eventually, Penny was charged with second-degree manslaughter. Jordan Neely needed mental health resources and support, not a death sentence. His mother was also tragically killed in 2007 in a separate incident. Our system failed Jordan in many ways here. We must seek justice for Mr. Neely, who was just laid to rest.
9th Street Bike Lane. Significant activism in the wake of the tragic fatality of bicyclist Sarah Schick from the community, advocates for street safety, and elected officials has resulted in NYC DOT’s plan for an upgrade. The segment of the 9th Street bike lane between Smith Street and 3rd Avenue will be extended to the protected bike lane network leading to Prospect Park and beyond. Concrete barriers will protect curbside bike lanes while continuing to allow access to driveways on the corridor. Additionally, bike corrals will be installed on pedestrian islands on 9th Street between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue for additional bike parking while preventing vehicles from illegally parking on pedestrian islands. This is also intended to improve sightlines between people walking and biking and people driving. Thanks to everyone who advocated for this step toward a safer 9th Street, including Transportation Alternatives BK and Bike New York.
Cooling Assistance Benefit. The application period for the 2023 Cooling Assistance benefit opened on May 1, 2023, and will end close of business on August 31, 2023, or until funds are no longer available (whichever comes first). Applications for the Cooling Assistance benefit can be submitted in-person, by phone, or through ACCESS HRA. Eligible households receive a cooling benefit of up to $800 for the purchase and installation of an air conditioner. If one cannot be installed safely, a fan will be provided. Please visit this link for further information.
Applications for the NYCHA-CUNY Scholarship. NYCHA annually provides numerous scholarships to support residents pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees at CUNY colleges. All scholarships award one-time $1,000 grants to eligible public housing residents and Section 8 recipients who are pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees at CUNY colleges, have 24 or more credits, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Learn more here. Applications are due June 27, 2023, and must be submitted via NYCHA’s Self-Service Portal (select “NYCHA-CUNY Scholarship” in the left-side navigation section). Email questions to [email protected].
Community Events & Resources:
- Atlantic Ave ArtWalk from May 20-May 28. The Atlantic Avenue LDC is bringing back ArtWalk this year from May 20 to Sunday 28. The 1.5-mile self-guided event will feature artwork from local artists, local businesses, and provide the community with a fun and enriching activity in the heart of Brooklyn.
- Fix Atlantic Sign-On Letter to NYC DOT. I recently joined my colleagues and community members to demand again that NYC DOT implement street safety measures that are long overdue along Atlantic Avenue. We honored the memory of Katie Harris and others who have lost their lives needlessly to preventable traffic violence. Please join us in signing onto a letter to the DOT Commissioner.
- Need Leaf Bags? If you have leftover leaves from the fall and want to do some spring cleaning, stop by our office to pick up DSNY’s brown paper lawn & leaf bags (leaves, flowers, twigs, and grass clippings can be put out for DSNY to pick up as compost).
- Phil for All: NY Philharmonic Ticket Access Program. The NY Philharmonic offers a limited quantity of $10 seats for their 2022–23 concerts, 4-8 weeks in advance, as part of their “Phil for All” program. Those who qualify for $10 seats include: Current or former US Military, Medicare / Medicaid recipient, SNAP or WIC recipient, Public housing resident. Undocumented New Yorkers. Click here to learn more and apply. Contact their Customer Relations team at (212) 875-5656 or [email protected] if you have any questions.
