The Department of Education has no plans to share information with other city agencies to help combat the illegal home conversions that contribute to school overcrowding, the agency’s head told the District 20 Community Education Council on Dec. 10.
“It’s certainly not, I don’t think, the Department of Education’s role to play in this — it would be more of Housing,” said schools chancellor Carmen Fariña.
There is a link between school overcrowding and diced-up homes, a member of the education council said.
“We have a significant overcrowding problem that’s being made significantly worse by tremendous number of illegal conversions of homes, and its a tremendous problem in the community,” said Mark Bramante.
This paper’s analysis of city data shows that the areas around the district’s most crowded schools generate the most complaints to 311 about illegal construction activity.
Residents and lawmakers have publicly called on city schools to alert the buildings department about possible illegal conversions.
“When they’ve got 12 kids listed at one address, they should be telling the Department of Buildings,” said Assemblyman Peter Abbate (D–Sunset Park). “I don’t think the city is taking this seriously right now.”
Fariña said she is well aware of the issue, saying even the local councilman recently buttonholed her about it.
“Vincent Gentile actually cornered me at some meeting to bring this up, so it isn’t that I’m hearing it for the first time,” she said.
But Fariña contended that a dearth of space for new buildings and the time required to construct schools are larger contributors to overcrowding, and said focusing on illegal conversions might vilify students living in the buildings.
9 comments:
"But Fariña contended that a dearth of space for new buildings and the time required to construct schools are larger contributors to overcrowding, and said focusing on illegal conversions might vilify students living in the buildings."
Or... it might save some of their lives...
The DOB is corruption the breeding ground for the city.It's normal for it to be ignored.
DeBlasio wants these "affordable" units legalized, is my understanding. Yes, it's horrible and a blight on neighborhoods.
The department of education will not interact with another agency when illegality is suspected.
But just let one teacher see a mark on a kid's arm or leg and they'll run screaming to ACS about suspected abuse.
I agree w/Anonymous #1: kids will die because, if I have this right, DoE doesn't have money to build more schools??? What kind of reasoning is that? These kids are already sitting in classes - hence the over-crowding.
How many of Farina's pupils living in illegal conversions would even know what "vilify" means?
The head of DOE is on life support .
Affordable housing really means when a neiborhood is changed through crime and graft your home value drops enough so that some slug can buy it dirt cheap and leave car engines on the front lawn like flower pots.really,who doesn't believe Whitestone won't look like east NY in 10 years.
"The head of DOE is on life support"
Was and will always be a rubber stamp for all of the boy mayors education policies.
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