Students Pass Legislation: Student Safety Act

I think it’s an insult when I hear people say that they felt like their schools felt safe, so what are other young people talking about?!  Congratulations if you went to a school that had one safety officer and no metal detectors or scanners, or that you went to a school that is over policed, but the reality is that not ALL students have that privilege.  We say that our youth are the future, but then we over police their schools and the minute a student doesn’t measure up they are pushed out of the college track and into the jail track.  Passing the Student Safety Act is the first piece of legislation that these young people can claim, because they along with other thousands of young people worked on it to pass it.  These students that come from low-income communities of color, that go to schools that people deem “problem schools,” are the ones that live and lived through the everyday life of a student that has/had to deal with the feelings of being criminalized.  EVERY STUDENT deserves the right to a good education.  Transparency will prove what young people have been saying all along.  This is not to get rid of School Safety Agents, but a step in EVERYONE taking ownership of a system that isn’t working, in a system that is criminalizing our black and brown young people, and step in working together to find solutions that will be more beneficial to our young people and change the environment of our NYC public schools for the better. 

Who better than to tell you than the students themselves!  If we don’t wake up and learn to care for each other, meaning ALL of our students, and not just a selected few, then we will lose our humanity.  To some of these young people the Student Safety Act seemed like an ideal dream that maybe one day would become a reality and now it has.  It’s easy to give up, it’s easy to say let’s just kick “the troubled ones” out, it’s easy to dismiss an issue that doesn’t directly impact you, and it’s easy for the media to highlight the negative side of a young colored person, but it’s hard to go out there an organize other young people on cold days to say fight for your rights.  It was hard to outreach to young people that are not directly affected, but understood why the act was important.  And everyday it is hard to prove that ALL young people deserve a chance at a life through obtaining a high and equal education, but we do it and we do it every day!! 

Bloomy Has Done It again!!

Well ladies and gentlemen it would seem that our Mayor has done it again.  If you didn't know, there was an uproar about the new NYC Chancellor Cathy Black.  Cathy Black called her self "a born sales woman."  That is where the problem begins.

Cathy Black is now running the largest district in the country with NO educational background.  Now Bloomy has constantly referred to students as being 'consumers' so in his mind Cathy Black, a business woman, would be a perfect fit for the job.  Well sorry to burst your bubble Bloomy, but students are not consumers and Cathy Black is an incompetent dolt that is not adequate for the job.   But surprise, surprise she got her waiver that Mayor B was fighting so hard for-who would've guessed?  Would you like to know how they did it?  Well, while Bloomy was taking heat from all sides they decided to make a compromise, in other words they gave her a babysitter.  Deputy Chancellor Shael Polakow-Suransky is her "Chief Acedemic Officer." In other words, because they know that she has no experience and isn't fit for this position, which is a REQUIREMENT, they paired her up with some one who was.  It's a sad when student's are living under Mayoral Control.  

Natalie Ravitz stated, "We need to put our politics aside and recognize that it is in our children's best interest to have Cathy Black as our next chancellor."  Well, this is what I have to say," WHO ARE YOU TO TALK?"  First, off we are not YOUR kids.  Cathy Black's children both attend a private boarding.  As for you Ravitz, I get that you are a spokesperson and get paid to say what they tell you, but that statement coming out of your mouth, a mouth that has no education background, further proves my point.  Another thing, do you, Ravitz, have children?  If so, are they in the public school system, cause if that isn't the case there is no way that you can relate or even dare tell parents, students, and real educators what is in OUR best interest!

Politicians aren't the only ones that have something to say about Cathy Black, now best friends of Celeb's are putting in their two cents.  Gayle King, you all may know her as Oprah's sidekick, she says that Cathy Black is "scary smart." Ladies and gentlemen this is proof that are education system is so far gone, and people are lying through their teeth when all we can say is that a person is "scary smart."  

None of these names have children in the public system today.  They have no right, should not even dare to go against what OUR parents, OUR children, and OUR REAL educators believe and feel about this issue.  They say that to put our politics aside, well I say,"Put YOUR political agendas aside, own up to the system that you continue to allow to stay broken, and SHUT THE HELL UP!  It's not you that have to go into these schools everyday to be criminalized, it's not you that have to hear that their five year old was handcuffed to a chair, and it's not you that have to look into the eyes of hopeful students knowing that this system has set them up for failure. It is the students, it is the parents, and it is our educators so don't you dare to think that contrary.

Facebook equals Drama

It was one outing.  So I hang out with this guy one time and all of a sudden I'm this horrible person, becuase I didn't set a time to go out again with him.  In my mind, it wasn't a date and I know I made that clear.  Second, I had to go to Detriot the following weekend and then my phone was off, so don't begin acting like a teenage girl on her period that becomes all emotional, because I didn't call you back.  I have a life and I have more important things to do that do worry about OMG if I don't call you back it's going to be the end of the world.  Get over it dude.  Third, leaving subliminal messgaes on facebook isn't going to make you come crawling to you any faster.  Crawling (please, negative on that one).  We had a good time lets leave at that.  I think he was hearing wedding bells in his head, because he calls up a close firend of mine to talk about me in a sexual manner (wow like my close firend isn't going to tell me).  So this close friend is like my cousin and so he tells me the 411 and I'm officially creeped out; totally blocking the guy out of my life.  So when I do try to get to the root of his problem I get no reponse from him and he wants to complain that I don't call (whatever).  So i'm over it, but little ingrate comtinues to write subliminal messages that kids write on their AOL away messages...dude you are twenty three years old try to at least act like you got a degree in college, act like you have a brain, and at least act like you have the balls to say things to my face other wise why bother.    

NYC Students Take Action

What a success!!!  Thousands of NYC students made history June 11th at noon when they decided enough is enough let's walk out.

As you know students from around the city have been working hard around this metro card issue.  First, the students of the Urban Youth Collaborative get a meeting with the President of the MTA, Jay Walder to urge him to put in 1/3 of the cost towards funding student metro cards being $65 million dollars.  It doesn't stop there, the students then take the fight to the State and Assembly.  The President of the Senate, Senator Sampson proposed $65 million towards funding student metro cards.  The students, although grateful for the proposal, urge senators to vote no on a budget less than $65 million.  The Students also urge the Assembly to put pressure on their colleges to raise the proposed $35 million to $65 million.  Students didn't forget about Gov. Patterson either.  They rallied outside his New York office June 10th and made calls to his office to urge him not to pass a budget that didn't include $65 million towards student metro cards.

After, continued pressure on the MTA and State, the students thought it was about time to put Mayor Bloomberg in the hot seat.  Our BILLION dollar 'EDUCATION' Mayor called the walk out 'cute' on his radio show yesterday.  Well, while we are 'cute', Michael Bloomber is CHEAP!  On Bloombergs radio show he states that he is putting $45 million dollars and yet he stated clearly before that he was not putting money for the student metro cards.  Which is it Bloomberg?  Funding or no funding?  Solely relying on cuts will not make this economic 'crisis' any better.  How can our BILLION dollar Mayor not have a solution to our MILLION dollar problem?  He is one of the riches men in the COUNTRY so he could literally pay the 1/3 of the agreement, being $65 million right out of his own pocket, but no instead of reassuring students that he is working on this issue he remaind SILENT for MONTHS!  He prides himself on being 'one of the people' simply because he takes the train (after been driven to the station).  Yet, when students decided to take this issue directly to him he was no where to be found the ENTIRE WEEK.  So much for being 'one of the people' Bloomy.  

Students across the city organized a student walkout, held a press conferense, rallied in city hall park, and ended the day by marching over the Brooklyn Bridge.  Thousands of students decided that they were done watching the State, MTA, and Bloomberg point fingers at each other and they were done playing their political game.  As future PRO Active leaders they took matters into their own hands and reached out to organizations to ensure their safety.  The Mayors response to studdents being involved in their government is a poor one and it tells me that the leadership in government is easily bought as he already proved in his third re-election. 

The Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC), Annenberg Institute, and other allies worked around the clock to ensure that students had the proper legal support when walking out of their schools.  Many thanks to UYC, Annenberg Institute, and New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) for their legal support!  Many thanks to the teachers that also walk out to show support to their students and to the parents that came out and gave their blessing for their children walking out in protest for their rights. 

Critics may say that these 'children' should have been in class and shame on the city council members that who came out to support the students endeavor, but you know what I say, SHAME ON YOU!  Shame on you for being narrow minded and ignorant to the truth.  The students walked out to say, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH."  Students are tired of facing cuts from every angle.  They are tired of having valuable teachers laid off, funds taken over night from their schools, tired of being treated like criminals when all they want to do is go to school to recieve an education.  Then to have their means of transportation to recieve that education taken from them it was too much.  When a force pushes you push back and that exactly what they did.  

I am proud to be one of the many supporters and students to make this happen.  Insulting and belittling students tells me that we have made our mark and that our government knows not to take us lightly.  The City of New York, that State, and the MTA have not even begun to see what we are capable of.  This will not be the end, because when the people begin to organize they are a force to be reckoned with even more so when the people are students.  I assure you it is only a matter of time before organized students around the country come together for their biggest moment yet.     

HERE COMES THE BOOM!!

Alright folk, so I'm not the best writer but I believe in writing what is important!!  As you know the students of NYC are facing the biggest issue yet the CUTTING OF METRO CARDS!!

So in 1994, the mayor at the time decided that the city would no longer pay 1/3 of the cost of student metro cards.  Unfortunately, the MTA took on the task of paying majority of the cost between the state and what the city was no longer paying.  The MTA is working out of debt and cannot pay majority of the cost it will be for metro cards!!  

Lets face it, I'm tired, you're tired of hearing he city, the state, america in genral's broke...WELL YOU'RE ALWAYS BROKE AND I'M DONE WITH THE EXCUSES!!!  Organized students of the Urban Youth Collaborative have met with Jay Waldner, the Prsident of the MTA, and go the vote on student metro cards pushed back.  Knowing that the MTA is working out of debt the student felt it was time to take it to the next level.  The students of the Urban Youth Collaborative went to Albany and decided that it was time to pressure senators and the assembly to vote no on any budget around student metro cards that was under $65 million dollars. 

It doesn't stop there, OH NO, organized students of the Urban Youth Collaborative will be planning a series of actions to hold our BILLION DOLLAR MAYOR BLOOMBERG ACCOUNTABLE for student metro cards!!!  The Youth of NYC will not allow this to happen.  Billion dollar mayor how come you have not said anything to our million dollar problem?!  Bloomberg could easily put the money himself for metro cards, but he would rather see his business of pushing youth into the prison system thrive. 

It is appalling that the 'education mayor' won't step up and do what is right for ALL of NYC High School Students.  If the Mayor does not come out and PUBLICLY say that he is in support of a $65 million dollar budget towards student metros then he is saying that he is in support of segregating black and brown youth from their white and more affluent counterparts, because lets face it the students that WON'T be able to pay for student metros are young people who come from low income working class, black, and brown communities so lets be REAL about it...anyone that doesn't agree to the budget of $65 million dollars towards metro cards means that they are in support of SEGREGATING NYC HS STUDENTS!!!

If young people are the future, the future leaders of NYC then how can you deny them access to a EQUAL education.  STOP WITH THE EXCUSES AND DO YOUR JOB!!  EDUCATION IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE, thats why we go for free, and so to the SENATE, ASSEMBLY, CITY, AND MTA, the Urban Youth Collaborative and students across the city say, "VOTE NO TO ANY BUDGET UNDER $65 MILLION DOLLARS!!"

Trust me when I say that if the students of NYC don't get what they rightfully deserve then WE WILL take ACTION and perform OUR CIVIL DUTY.  We are done playing games, we are unafraid and growing in numbers, be ready for what comes next!!!

Obama, Shame On You!!

What will our President do when over 100,000 people march and rally in front of his door step on the 21st of March.  So When he gave his speech he barely spoke about IMMIGRATION!!  That was a bad move.  To some this issue is "too complicated", or "in the works", but what he had to say diturbed many communities. 

Yours truely will be one of many mobilizing thousands of people to head to DC and march to the white house.  The people realize that we have to hold him accountable and realiza just how much of serious issue immigration is.  Its time that you started to be real and honest, as he's always saying, and state what you are doing about the issue!!  Personally, I am tired of hearing that I never said that this change would be easy or that you need the help from us to make change happen.  You may be a great speaker, but if people would really listen they would here that you dont say anything. 

Now I'm not bashing Obama, because I do think that he is doing right by the people in some areas, but if you really want 'the peoples opinion on change' the you should ask them.  I challenge every privalleged person to spend a week in a poor persons shoes and see if you will say that it is that we dont try.  The truth is is that this is still a rascist country and you all wake up and see it for what it really is then maybe you will understand. 

IMMIGRATION, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, etc really look at who is benefiting in the end and who isnt.  FYI there is no more middle class, there is only rich and working class aka poor people.  YOU WANT REAL CHANGE...YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT TO SEE WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION , EDUCATION ISSUES AND OTHERS...then asked the undocumented worker that slaves in the kitchen for 6 dollars or less, ask the students from BUSHWICK, BEDSTUY, BROWNSVILLE,how they are failing in school, because they dont have the same resources that other schools recieve.  TRUST ME it has nothing to do with the fact that students are lazy, or that the teachers are teaching poorly, its that fact that a charter school gets more money than public schools and so therefore they can provide more and better resources for their students.  THINK ABOUT IT!!

You cant make decisions for us, none of you in the white house can espicially when you have not lived a day in our shoes, or gone through our struggle.  You need to remember that this land belongs to the people and TRUST when the time calls for the people to take back what is rightfully theirs...THEY WILL AND WHEN IT GOES DOWN WE WILL BE MILLIONS STRONG...WHAT WILL YOU DO THEN?!? WE WILL NOT BE IGNORED!!!

What Is Going On?

So here is the scoop...THE STATE IS BROKE?!  You are probably thinking, but how can this be?  Well I'll tell you why the state is 'broke'.  Recently, the was an uproar when the head of MTA (Jay Walder) decided that he was going to cut student metro cards.  

In 1944, we know that a deal was struck and New York City and the New York State agreed to each pay $45 million for student metro cards.  After 50 years, of Albany and NYC paying for student metro cards...Giuliani ended city funding in 1994! Now to add on to all the craziness, without any one knowing, ealier this year NY State cut the amount they paid for metros down to $25 million...then AGAIN, to get this, $6 MILLION in November!!  Now, because the State cut their part the head of MTA feels that they shouldn't have to pay for student metro cards.  Their excuses are that they are facing a cap of $400 million and that cuts to cards and metro service will save the MTA $170 million yearly.  Talk about being in it for the money,

Here we have the same people that got BAILED OUT and here they are saying that they don't have it within their budget to supply students with metro.  Students have been going to school for free, why should they have to pay?  For a country that strives on education being first, why is it that every time we are in an 'economic crisis', our students education is put on the back burner as a last priority?  How are we suppose to build leaders, when the same 'leaders' we put into office aren't doing their job.  This come out of hard working people that pay their taxes so if our taxes aren't enough to pay for a childs way to get to school, then I want to know where my money is going?

Students around the city have been gathering together to fight for their right to go to school.  Over 585,000 students use metro cards to go to school.  If you didn't think that you were blantly telling students that their education wasn't important, well you are now.  You cut metro cards then, the already high drop out rates, will increase.  Neighborhoods that do not have enough high schools as it, and that are already over crowded, will face even more over crowding.  Students that have the urge to still continue attending school will have to resort to civil disobedience, which simply will result in them being fed into the jail system. 

Students are planning a huge event brought to you by  the Urban Youth Collaborative.  The details of the even will be announced soon.  My next article will be an update with a link from the media site that covers it.

The Latest With Me

Could you forgive someone who cheated on you?  I've asked the people that I associate with and some say that they can forgive and forget, while others find that even though they are eable to forgive they can't forget and that creates a barrier between their significant other. 

I find that I am able to forgive, but I don't forget.  I don't have it at the fore front of my mind 24/7, but i just learn to let go.  I find that I am able to  love that person just the same.  It hurts sometime just as it should, but I've learned not to duel, because when you duel you only torture yourself, and I feel that it gets in the way of truely building trust with the significant other again. 

I ask this question, because people say that I am stupid for being with someone that has supossidly cheated, because mind you this is only by ear, I've always believed that if you don't see it with your own eyes then the information might not be true.  Although, they might be right, but it's hard to determine that when the person delivering the message doesn't like the person you are with.  So after thinking it through I forgave him.  I kept this to myself and surprisingly I find that it does not in the least bother me.  I've seen good relationships go south due to a mistake, and stubborness.  Personally I have learned to ignore what others say, because I realize that when it is their turn to be in love and stay with that person no matter what they wouldn't want to be judged even though they judge me, because I realize that narrow minded people can only relate when it affects them.  So can you forgive someone if they cheated on you, whatever the circumstances may be?

Want To Give Up?

Have you been driven to the point where you just couldn't take it anymore?  Have you been driven to the point where you were ready to give it all up? 

I'm stading on the edge and all I want to do is walk away.  I ask myself does that mean that I'm giving up after fighting so hard and for so long?  I know I love him, but will that translate to him thinking that I don't love him?  Why are relationships so complex?  When a woman accepts all aspects of you as a man then why do men push them away.  Is it because their a good woman and they don't want them to be stressed, but that's the thing in a relationship you give up the I for an US.  i find myself wanting to stay and make our relationship work and grow, but that choice is being taken away everytime he decides to leave.

We can't control others actions that are not our on, but thats not fair to the ones the choice is being taken from.  I want to love someone who loves me, but loves even when times get tough whether or not I am the cause or he is the cause of the tough times.  Unfortunately, time isn't always on your side, but giving ultimatums can backfire...so do I close the door emotionally to my heart and walk away or do you stay and wait patiently hoping that things will change?

Tick, Tock...What's your answer?

Physical Vs. Emotional

Is cheating phisically worse thann cheating emotionaly?  Now I  just think that it's a trick question.  Both are just as bad.  When you are intimate with someone emotionally if things get too ugly it can ruin both parties involved.  When you become emotionally attached like lets say by giving them your heart and they break it you feel, weak, vunerable, you feel like a fool; a misguided puppy.  Now when they have your heart and they give their body that once used to be the physical contact of your love then you feel angry, cheap, and at times insecure,  Whether it is cheating physically or emotionally don't do, because then you are only setting yourself up to get hurt.  Why would you want to put your self in a position where you would then have to choose between your love and your lover?   Like all things in life some things just aren't simple and it sucks unfortunately, but thats the way that it is.  in the end it's a matter of choice and whether or not you can live with it.

Double Standards

Can women do what men can do?  In teen relationships who has more to lose?  Women always have more to lose than men and it's a known fact.  When a couple splits, it's ok for the guy to move one as quickly as he wants, but if a girl does it then she's wrong for not waiting.  The same thing if someone is single.  A man can have multiple partners and he is seen as being a player, but if a female does it then she's considered fast, a tramp,  or whore. 

Women are suppose to be dignified, and have morals of self respect.  Women are suppose to meet "good" men through friends, and all that jazz, and yet, it's ok for men to have all the fun and go out parting, drinking, and trying to hook up with as many women as possible. 

LISTEN

Women are always complaining that men don't listen.  Let's reverse the roles!  Women need to listen to their significant others!  Why?!  Well, because men have things to say and they also want to be heard, but it's not so simple.  My sister and I have had the pleasure of having our lovely boyfriends be upset with us, because we weren't listening.  Now, there is a difference btween listening and listening to the person and actually giving a damn.  Now we all have those people in our lives, who are always talking to us, but we learn to tune them out. 

It's fair to say that when men here us talking so much they tune us out and the same goes for females.  As females we have to learn to be "understaing".  I'm just joking, we all have double stanards that we keep when we want it to benefit us.  What I'm trying to say is if we want men to do simple things for us then we have to be able ti give that back in turn. 

Busy at Work

Bushwick's youth are on the move.  Through a local community organization called Make the Road New York, these you are being inspired to become our future leaders.  Currently the youth in Their local communtiy oraganization have been working to try and pass a bill called the Student Safety Act.  Currently in New York city schools students do not have any way to report misconduct by School safety Agents without fear of retaliation.  School Safety Agents are trained by NYPD and yet they are not held accountable in the same way. 

Students are told to report any misconduct to the IAB (Internal Affairs Bureau), but how can anyone report a cop to other cops.  The Student Safety Act is going to utilize the CCRB (Civilian Complaint Review Board).  Some may say that," but it doesn't work well."  That is true, but by passing the Student Safety Act it will be a step in improving the CCRB as well as providing a safe, anonymous way to report any misconduct by School Ssfety Agents.  The DOE (Dept. Of Education), and the NYPD both have to report quartely to the City Council Members about their findings.  This allows raw data to be public for the community so that the people can see what is really going on  in their childrens schools.  The youth have voiced loud and clear that they are students not criminals and ould like to be treated as such.  It is time that they people of NY listened and became a part of this fight that will benefit not only students in NY, but across the states. 

The youth of Bushwick have been busy at work holding press conferences, having lobby visits, rallies, and getting 26 signatures signed on to the Student Safety Act getting the majority of votes.  The youth of Make the Road New York are on their way to victory and they are not going to stop.  These are the future leaders of tomorrow.  NYC youth holds potential for greatness and it is time that we came together in support of that.

 The following clips talk about the Student Safety Act.  I hope  that they are both inspiring and informative.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-dAsEFguls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_VlL05uwG0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ECL5A0cu0c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu-a0wOx940

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otJqZspn4RA

Love's Trials

What do you do when the person that you love feels that they are not good enough for you?  How are you suppose to react when the last thing you hear them say is I am not good enough for?  When does the viscious cycle of blaming ones self end before the pain consumes us whole?  Well, you can simply do nothing or you can choose to fight to stay.  When you are with someone, who is in constant need of reasssurance, you need to let them know that they are good enough, that they must give themselves credit for all the things that they have done in their lives.  Encouraging your significant other helps the relationship to grow.  You have to learn to become each others support system.  Between the two, you both need to know how to balance each other out.  No.  No it is not easy, but that is what is so brilliant about it, that is it not easy.  I mean ladies honestly, if a guy was that easy to be with what would he have to foofer you?  i prefer someone that I can go through the ups and the downs with, because I know that when it is all said and done, I will know that we did things together, and that he won't split the minute things get too hot. 

Ladies let me tell you, sometimes I have to reassure my boyfriend, because he's insecure about himself, to the point that I feel so drined and exhaughsted, but you know what it is worth it.  Why?  Well, when I go home and I get to lay next to a warm body at night, because I stayed and fought to make our relationship work and you find yourself alone; you can tell me that wanting things to work isn't worth it.  No one wants to be alone.   We all want that special someone to protect us while we sleep, embracing us in their arms.  Why wouldn't you want that?  Yes, there will be dramma, but here is NEWS for YOU, there will ALWAYs be some type of drama going on that you two will eventually have to go through, it's simply wheather or not you choose to go through it alone or with someone you love.  I would rather work through the drama then to risk losing someone I love and risk not havong him at all.  YOU are CRAZY to let a good thing pass you by.  This is for my LADIES and Gentlemen.  Do not ever let a good thing pass you by.  Do not allow someone you love to slip through your fingers, because in life we cannot carelessly disregaurd, or take for granted that ones that we love and care about, especially your significant other.