Education Umar Fayyaz

Howie Hawkins

"Opt into teacher and school evaluation based on collaboration." (http://www.howiehawkins.org/platform)

I agree with Hawkins idea, that teachers should be evaluated based on how well they perform together and not primarily based on the student test scores. Students have the ability to do bad and make the teacher look bad which isn't fair for their evaluation. This is why I believe that Hawkins idea is a better system for teacher evaluation.

" Free Tuition at CUNY, SUNY, and Community Colleges." ( http://www.howiehawkins.org/platform)

I also agree with this issue because many students are afraid of debts before applying to SUNY or Cuny and even Community Colleges. Free tuition will allow them to financially apply to more colleges or universities. Also for students who are going away for college this will benefit them by taking away their tuition expenses and having them only pay for living and other expenses. Tuition is a big part families look at because it's what students are paying for the most out of their total cost for college.

Education Brian Ahrens

Rob Astrorino

"Astorino, the Westchester county executive, released a 15 point plan to improve public education that, not surprisingly, starts with abandoning the Common Core curriculum. Astorino has made opposition to the Common Core a focal point of his campaign and has gone so far as to create a ballot line dedicated to its repeal."
"I am a product of New York public schools, and I have seen them serve as a ladder to success for a generation of New Yorkers," Astorino said. "Sadly, though, politics and bureaucracy have stifled the ingenuity of teachers in the classroom, and a one-size-fits-all mentality, in the form of the experimental Common Core curriculum, has come down on high from the bureaucrats in Washington, all but negating what's unique in each student. This bold plan will replace Common Core with high standards achieved at the local level, with the input of parents and teachers, and it will make the governor's office directly responsible for school improvements through an executive-appointed State Education Commissioner."


 Astroino feels that the Common Core  is obsolete  and ridiculous  .  He feels  that it degrades  the unique abilities that the students have in them.   

1 - Replace Common Core and with standards and curriculum developed by in-state educators with input from parents.

Reform Board of Regents by creating an elected 13-member board.

- Ensure full funding for special education services.
- Increase life skills training in schools, such as nutritional literacy instruction in middle school and financial literacy instruction in high school.

Begin foreign language instruction in elementary school.

I agree with Astroino's plan for education.  He wants to see the unique potential in each student and testing is just not enough u to determine it.  Some of these tests  are pretty hard.  Some students are not great test takers.  They should look at other things such as collaborations,, projects, and teaching students based on their own intelligence.   Also he wants to reform the regents because New York  is the only state that has this policy and it should be changed.   I also like how ensuring full funding for special education services because these kids need to get the services they need and being a special education student my whole life, this would be important to me and anyone in the future.  I also agree with teaching life skills such as nutrition literacy, and financial literacy because  these students need these skills when they live by themselves when they grow up and they may be lost.  Finally I also agree bringing foreign language to elementary school because students can learn another language earlier and it will help them learn and know it better than learning it later on, which may not grow with their native tongue.  Its good to speak other languages because people need to connect with more people that don't speak English, and learning a language earlier, I feel that students will be better learners and speakers of whatever foreign language they learn. 

Who would i vote for- Atif Razzaq

I would vote for Cuomo because i believe that he has done a brilliant job after being elected back in 2010. One issue that i agree with is fracking. Cuomo believes that if we put windmills and Solar panels all around New York State, it simply looks ugly. Another issue that i agree with is Immigration. Since we have such a large variety of Cultures Religions and and races that this plays a major role in the election.

Who would I vote for? Umar Fayyaz

I would vote for Howie Hawkins because I agree with 60% of his platform and also have the same opinion on most of the issues and plans. I really like Hawkins idea of being against fracking and having the government financially support natural resource infrastructures.

Social Issues- Atif Razzaq

“New York has a long history of welcoming immigrants from around the world, and today we are continuing that heritage with a new law that protects new New Yorkers and solidifies the services we provide,” Governor Cuomo said. “

I agree with this quote because as we look into the future, New York State is such a diverse State because we have so many cultures and Religions. This clearly will play a role in this gubetorial election. Many families that have illegal immigrants in there families will definitely side with the governor that they believe will fulfill there wants. Immigration is on the rise and the candidates for the upcoming elections know that they must make a decision on this immigration as soon as possible. 

Who would I vote for ? Brian Ahrens

I would vote for Rob Astrorino.  He wants to improve business by opening up  jobs in natural gas which creates more jobs  and  to stimulate the economy.  As a result our state will be wealthy and stimulated.  Also I agree on the same views as Astronio such as on Abortion for example.

Taxes Atif Razzaq

"4 percent income tax for individual incomes under $200,000 and 6 percent for those earning more than $200,000."

Rob Astorino is trying to dramatically reduce income taxes for the rich. As other republicans, Astorino believes that if you apply lower taxes on the rich, theres going to be more money for the rich to spend onto the economy. I don't agree with this because i believe that if these taxes stay at their current positions our economy will thrive. There should be no need to reduce taxes because this can mean a cut to other social programs and less for the government to spend on the state itself. 

“To help pay for these cuts, we will pledge to reduce or hold flat state budget spending in each of the next four years, matching my record in Westchester,”

I dont agree with this quote because, just because this worked in Westchester county doesn't necessarily mean that it will work for the State of New York. You have to take a lot of other things into consideration. I believe that its about time that Astorino starts to look into the bigger picture and come up with a new plan before the gubetorial election. 

Who would i vote for? Casey Markus

The answer seems pretty simple to me, even though he has the least votes of the 3, Hawkins is easily the best candidate. He cares about the environment, our education, and where taxes need to go. He is the only true liberal in the running, and he has my vote.

"To Green or not to Green" Atif Razzaq

“My point has been: I’m not going to make the decision emotionally. I want to make the decision based on information,” Cuomo said. “Let’s get a study, and we have that being done now by the health commissioner and the environmental commissioner. Study how fracking has worked in other states, how fracking has worked in other countries; go through the myths or problems, depending on your point of view; and then make a decision based on the science, not on how many protesters show up on one side of the street or the other side of the street.”

I disagree with this quote because environmentally speaking, something has to be done about our environment. Cuomo is in a tug of war situation where as of now he does not want to leak out his personal decision. Even though some officials are assuming that if he gets re-elected, Cuomo will be for fracking. I believe that Cuomo should take this into consideration because this can expand the industry. If you go more green, not only do you create tens of thousands of jobs but it was also generate our future. 

“I literally see them everywhere I go,” he said. “One of my daughters joked—we were pulling up to an event—she said, ‘We must be in the wrong place. 

I agree with this because these solar panels and windmills might make us feel really uncomfatrable espececially for those that live in the cities. We already have limited space and installing these windmills which will take up alot of space will put more limitations. 

Social Issues Casey Markus

Howie Hawkins
Schooling


“Real education reform requires broader social reform to end poverty concentrated in disadvantaged communities by race and class segregation,” (Hawkins) 

I agree with this because charter schools cost a lot of money, and if people cannot afford it (which many can't) they have to go to schools which are usually much worse and much farther than the charter school. It is unfair to those who are economically disadvantaged. The only thing that should separate kids in school should be their mind 

To Green or Not to Green Umar Fayyaz

Howie Hawkins

"Howie Hawkins and his campaign team visited Susquehanna County in Pennsylvania on October 10, 2014. We saw firsthand the negative impacts of fracking operations on people's water, on property values, on the landscape. Fracking cannot be done safely the technology is flawed and the industry denies being responsible for water contamination and continues to fracking." 

This quote clearly shows that Hawkins is against fracking. I agree with him because  technology can not be trusted when it has the ability to endanger or harm the people in anyway. Until fracking can be done safely their will be many negative impacts of it present and harmful to our water.  

"Stop United Water's proposed rate-increasing, water-polluting, habitat-destroying, energy-intensive desalinization plant at Haverstraw Bay in Rockland County. We can better secure sustainable, clean, and affordable water through conservation, land-use planning, green infrastructure, watershed protection, sewage treatment, smart water metering, and usage-based pricing."

Hawkins is planning on creating affordable and sustainable natural resources. I agree with his plan because I believe that the government should pay for these infrastructures to help the people and their future of the environment. Taxes should be used on developing these cleaner and energy efficient natural resources. 

To Green or Not to Green Casey Markus

Its pretty obvious how Howie Hawkins, candidate for the green party, feels about fracking. He is severely against it. Fracking would destroy the environment in his eyes. He even says "It should be abundantly clear that Fracking must be banned in the state of New York. That was the position I took in 2010 when I ran for Governor and that continues to be my position" (howiehawkins.org). He believes that fracking would pollute our water and kill our fish, not to mention the jobs made by it would only be temporary. His plan is to make NYC completely green, use only clean energy, which will make a lot of jobs that he believes will last longer, and he and the green party "Green Party Calls for New York to Go Carbon Free by 2030" to get the government to completely pay for it. I personally agree with this because if we can run off green energy we will be practically self sufficient, despite the costs, and the need for some fuel. This could be the start of a beautiful green revolution, one that could encompass the entire country, and maybe one day, the world.

"To green or not to green" Brian Ahrens

Rob Astrorino

"But back in 2012, in his role as Westchester County executive, Astorino quietly signed legislation prohibiting fracking waste from being treated in the county or used to de-ice its roadways."

"Astorino has called Cuomo's refusal to lift a moratorium on fracking a “dereliction of duty," and said he will allow natural gas drilling, but wants the industry to be regulated. He has also proposed using natural gas revenue to lower taxes and energy bills and to support education."

I agree  with Astroino because we need to have a healthy economy  and in order to create new jobs, and to  have efficient  energy.  However we do need to conserve the environment  and Astorino has  a plan to an extent and I agree with it.  He wants the industry regulated  by having some of these natural gas revenue by lowering taxes and to support education.  This will also benefit the people by going to school more and paying less taxes, if they pay for the environment.  This shows he doesn't want  to get rid of environmental friendly ideas entirely.  He is making jobs and supplying energy for the greater good and with some regulation of the industry by fitting some environmental friendly programs by cutting taxes for those who support this.

Social Issues Umar Fayyaz

 Howie Hawkins
immigration


'The New York DREAM Act would enable 4,500 undocumented students who graduate from high school each year to pursue a college education. 146,000 undocumented youth now in New York will benefit from this law. It would allow undocumented students who meet in-state tuition requirements to access state financial aid and scholarships for higher education." (http://www.howiehawkins.org/platform#immigrantsrights)

I agree with this plan because it gives an opportunity for undocumented students to pursue their career. It also allows them to have a successful future. I believe that the undocumented students should have the equal right of becoming a citizen and not deported. These students will later get jobs after graduating from college and become tax payers which benefits the economy. These students should also receive the same educational opportunities as documented students, such as access to financial aid and scholarships. In general undocumented people should be given the opportunity to become citizens.

Social Issues Brian Ahrens

Rob Astrorino
Abortion
Rob Astroino is  against abortion  being a republican.  He feels like the woman's health and reproductive rights are being violated , he wants to protect us from the Roe V. Wade.   He feels like there is a scam behind the abortions.  He calls Cuomo's favor a "straw man"  where its scam.   He also believes were won't get anything off of it other than  getting money from it.




I agree on this issue because abortion is wrong and your killing an innocent life.  He makes a point that the Woman's rights are at stake and  they should be pro life tho their children.  Killing an unborn is wrong because life begins there.  When do you think life begins?.  If the  parent doesn't want the chill have it adopted or just don't have a child.   The reason why abortion is legal  for economic reasons is that they make Mucho Denero off of it.  Being pro choice means that you're killing the most innocent lifes out there and everyone has a reason to live . Abortion is just a scam for people to make money off of and killing innocent lifes .The unborn needs to protected and Astroino will protect them.

Taxes Brian Ahrens

Howie Hawkins

  "Wants to cut 95% of the taxes
He wants  the 5% and the top 1% of NY to pay taxes"

"He wants to  cut regressive sales and property taxes"

"Wants more progressive estate taxes"

This tax plan seems mostly unrealistic.  Howie Hawkins wants to go back to the 1970s plan but that's not progressive.  If the rich payed all there taxes, they would pay more and have less,  and the more common people wouldn't pay as much ,and this would be  a big gap of taxes.  The $30 billion can be spent on other things such as public services.   I also don't agree with the progressive estate taxes because the people who do die have enough money and only need a certain amount, while the money should go to someone who really needs it.  However one thing I do agree on is   cutting regressive sales and property taxes, which can make affordable living to more people.  Outside of NYC and a few other cities in New York , which pay on rent, everywhere else people own property.  So making affordable taxes for people who own taxes, can keep their homes.

Taxes Umar Fayyaz

"Reduced tax rate of 4% for all income under $200,000 ($300,000 for married couples) and a reduced 6% tax rate for all marginal income earned above $200,000/$300,000."

I agree with this tax plan because this affects majority of the people who make minimum wage and people who need more income to support their families.  Also this will help the the people that make under $200,000 because they will use less government benefits if they are making more money such as food stamps and etc. 

"Eliminate the estate estate tax by 2020."

This is another great progressive tax plan because when a person dies all of the money transfers on to the next person instead of receiving a portion of the money. Many people who are in debt or owe money can benefit from the elimination of estate tax. They can use the money they receive tax free to pay off debts.

Taxes Casey Markus

Despite being a democrat, and the current governor of NY, which makes him head of the party, Cuomo has some more right wing views on taxes. He is constantly trying to get tax breaks, like in his "no excuses" movement. His slogan for this movement was "We Capped Them, Now Lets Cut Them" (Cuomo). He claims that if he cuts property taxes (which is a weak NY tax) we can subsequently create jobs. The best way to show his plan is to show how he lowered taxes.

• The corporate tax rate dropped from 7.1 percent to 6.5 percent, its lowest level since 1968
•  To further help local governments control their costs and taxes, Governor Cuomo worked to enact historic mandate relief, including saving counties and New York City $1.2 billion over five years through Medicaid reform and groundbreaking pension reform that will save local governments, school boards and the state $80 billion dollars over 30 years

It seems that cutting taxes is Cuomo's answer to all of our monetary problems currently, and this is likely how he will do it if re-elected. The question is, will this work? In some ways it has, but Cuomo also says that a lot of affects will be felt long term, so for now all we can do is wait. Honestly I don't see this going anywhere, as tax breaks means more money for the upper class, and the rich just love to hoard their money, but that's only my opinion.

Jobs:Brian Ahrens

Rob Astrorino's job plan

1)  He first wants to  fix and tap into the state's large energy resources.  On his offical  website it says that  "He’ll approve clean and reliable natural gas exploration on day one, so we can lower electric rates, improve air quality, create tens of thousands of new jobs, and bring billions of dollars in new revenue to this state".  This means  that  he will clean up our natural resources, that can  create jobs, bring money to the revenue, and despite he's a republican and he not only he will get republican votes  , this may get some democrats votes on this issue because Democrats favor this issue.  2 other plans  he wants  the regulatory plan where banning  any new rules and review on  the books and to get ride of an old law to lawyers that New York only has and he wants   to use some of the states money  to boost repairs and maintenance  on public roads and bridges.

2) I support Astroino's plan because he makes clear points of what  the state needs.  Roads and bridges  need to be repaired  and fixed , and also this is more necessary outside the city. he is helping  the energy plan of the state which can be  good for the environment and creating jobs, which can show that he  is comprising  the business for republicans while fixing the environment at the same time.  

Sources
"Issues - Rob Astorino for Governor." Rob Astorino for Governor. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2014.
"Rob Astorino's Remedy for New York's Economic Woes." New York Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2014.

Jobs-Atif Razzaq

Andrew Cuomo is on the verge of becoming one of the best governors of New York. Cuomo has turned the face of New York around after being elected in 2010. When Cuomo took office New York was in a devastating position. The economy was collapsing rapidly and no one had a solution. Andrew Cuomo is working on "creating tens of thousands of jobs over the next couple of years." (Cuomo) Over the next couple of years Cuomo is trying to improve the conditions of  more than 100 bridges, and to repair broken highways and other road jobs. I agree with this plan because as a driver i believe that the road conditions are really bad and the roads must be fixed, and for other bridges the conditions of these bridges are in bad shape.

Creating Jobs." Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2014.

"Cuomo 2014." Cuomo 2014. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2014.

Jobs Umar Fayyaz

Howie Hawkins is moving towards a progressive policy to help the people get a job and a living minimum wage $15 dollars and hour. He believes that if no jobs are available in the private sector, public jobs should be available to the unemployed workers. I support his plan because as Howie Hawkins says "Corrupt politics and rule by the economic elites only works for the richest 1% minority. Together, the working class majority can build an independent political movement that empowers New York's 99%."(Hawkins) Also I believe that raising the minimum wage will help a lot of people due to the expense of the economy. I agree that his plan is the most efficient way of creating more jobs to help the unemployed. 



"Howie Hawkins for NY." Howie Hawkins for NY. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2014.

Jobs Casey Markus

Howie Hawkins has an interesting plan for the job reform we so desperately need. He obviously plans to do things like build bridges and buildings and other social programs for temporary work as well as making NYC completely energy efficient. Hawkins even says "We have a world-class study by Cornell and Stanford scientists, engineers, and economists showing that converting to 100% clean energy is technically and commercially feasible with solar, wind, smart-grid, energy-efficiency, energy storage, and other clean energy technologies that are commercially available now. It is a massive jobs program as well. It will take 4.5 million jobs in manufacturing and construction to build out the system in 15 years. The official number of unemployed today is about 750,000. People will be moving to New York to work these jobs. And the electric rates will fall, reducing a major deterrent to the location of manufacturing in New York State, which has the highest electric rates in the lower 48 states" (Hawkins). He plans to make us totally green by 2030.
. That will open up possibilities for TONS of jobs. you can make or keep maintenance on wind turbines or water wheels or solar panels. This idea is brilliant because it makes tons of new jobs that are not underpaying and it makes NYC green at the same time! Its a stroke of genius as well as one of the reasons that people may just have made him the first serious third party candidate in a long time

Candidate Experience Umar Fayyaz

Rob Astorino is the republican candidate for New york gubernatorial election. He earned a bachelors of art degree in communications at Fordham University. He is living in Westchester with his wife Sheila and they're raising three kids. Astorino also has served for 12 years as a councilman on the Mount Pleasant Town Board.  He also has helped create 30,000 new private sector jobs in the counties of New York from 2010-2014. Astorino also reduced the overall spending of the county by 5.2%.


Howie Hawkins is a green party candidate running for the New York gubernatorial election. His involvement in peace , justice movements have helped the society since 1967. Hawkins is also a former marine who helped organized opposition to the Vietnam War. Hawkins also has experience in construction because he worked in New England and organized energy efficient solar and wind installations.

Candidates Experience Casey Markus

For the First time this century, a third party has been added to the ballet for the NY gubernatorial election, Howie Hawkins. His biggest threat in becoming the first Green Governor is none other than the governor, Andrew Cuomo. Both of them have been involved in politics for a long time. Howie has been part of many environmental movements since the 60s, and he was the one that got the green party to be an offical NY party at the last election. Cuomo is the incumbent governor, and has made many changes to the laws. He removed stop and frisk, and put in the broken windows laws. He legalized small amount of marijuana as well, but while being a dem, he has some more conservative views on some topics. Because of his previous skills as a governor, and as a DA, Cuomo is the better qualified for the job, and will likely win the re election as people are likely to be re elected over new runners, as well as being more qualified.

Canditate election Brian Ahrens

Brian Ahrens

Robert Astrorino

Robert Astrorino  was elected in November 2009, as a county Executive for Westchester.  He has previously served on  Mount Pleasant Board of Education, the Mount Pleasant Town Board and the Westchester County Board of Legislators.  He  has a  Spanish Immersion Diploma from the Enforex School of International Studies from Barcelona Spain.  This shows he is fluent is Spanish and can build relationships with the Latino Community. As a result in his county he received a majority of Latino vote in and he has built strong relationships not just with Latinos but with African Americans too.  A republican is building strong relationships with minority groups, where most republicans are not like this.  For education, he has a  Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications at Fordham University, where he also minored in Spanish and Political Science

Howie Hawkins

Howie Hawkins is a environmentalist since 1967 and has been a leader in  the anti-apartheid divestment movement  to end U.S involvement  investing racist labor in South Africa.  He is also educated and helped to organize in the environment.  He has in recent years  has raised awareness of the green party in 2010 and since he got 60,000 votes, he gave this party  a ballot line from then to now. He came in third out of the seven parties in the 2010 election.  

Both canditiates are well educated and hardworking but Astrorino is more qualified than Hawkins.  Although Hawkins has some accomplishments such as getting the green party heard , end racist labor, and to care about the environment, Astrorino  is more of a people's man.  He has developed relationships according to his bio on speaking Spanish and having Latino's majority of the vote in his county, shows he's a man of the people and will listen to minority groups too.  He has been in office before being an executive in a very large county and Astrorino can be capable as being governor of a whole state.  Hawkins hasn't had any major  role in any governmental position. Astrorino  is more experienced  for  being an executive of a large county and building relations with his people especially  minority groups where there voice i'sent heard and  Astrorino can make their voices heard in government.  

Candidate Experience Atif Razzaq

       Andrew Cuomo the current New York Governor is the 56th Governor of the State. Coming into office on January 1st 2011, Cuomo has done a brilliant job in the state of New York. He established housing enterprise for the Less Priveleged after graduating from Fordham University in the Bronx and The Law School of Albany. Prior to being elected governor, Cuomo served as an Attorney General for the state of New York where he investigated the pension system and fraud done by Health insurers. Cuomo clearly has an financial edge over his opponent who is Rob Astorino.


       Rob Astorino is the republican candidate for the New York Gubernatorial Election. From Westchester County Rob Astorino is serving a second term as County Executive after being re-elected by a 13 point margin in a county with a 2-1 Democratic enrollment advantage. In the year of 2009, Rob Astorino addressed that he would do his best to reduce taxes in their county where they have the highest property taxes in all of America. This has brought back more businesses back to the county and has placed this new light which everyone can get a grasp of some hope. Although a good candidate i believe that Andrew Cuomo has done a wonderful job since being elected. He has carried the state of New york through rough times such as Hurricane Sandy and through the rough economic recession
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