A message from PEF Retirees President Steve Muscarella
Makesureyourviewsareheardin2010
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FormerPEFPresidentRogerBenson, IrishphilosopherGeorge financedbyadvertisingandcommittedto
inhisremarkstothe2009PEF Berkeley:“Ifatreefallsin earningprofits.
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O
ConventioninSeptember,discussedthe aforestandnooneis Weexpectthepresstobean
barrageofnewspaperarticles,cartoons, aroundtohearit,doesit instrumentofsocialjustice,toworkin
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andradioandTVattacksonpublic makeasound?” thepublicinterestandtobeanobjective
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employees,ourpensions,ourbenefitsand Inourcase,weknow safeguardagainsttheabuseofpower.We
ourunion. theaudienceandthe shouldinsistthepressprotectthepublic
BensoncalledonPEFtorespondto mediumtoreachitexist. welfareandourdemocracy.
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thosecontinuingattacks.IsayallPEF
retireesandmembersshouldtakeuphis
challengeandm
MUSCAR
However,ifwefailtovoice Ourchallengeistomakesomuch
ourissuesorarguments, noiseourissueswillnotbedenied.We
akeaNewYear’s oriftheygounreported, knowjusticeandfairnessarenot
resolutionthatin2010wewillwrite ourpointofviewwon’taffectthepublic automatic;wemustfighttomaintainour
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“letterstotheeditor”andphonethe debateandwillbeignoredandirrelevant. rightsandbenefits.
mediatorefutethepropagandaand Wecan’tallowthepoliticallyconnected Makeyour2010resolutiontoprotect
misinformationthatimpugnsusas specialinterestsorthewealthyand democracyinournationandensure
public-sectorworkersandretirees. powerfultodeterminewhat’sonthe fairnessinoursociety.Havethecourage
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OurformerPEFpresidentwentonto publicagendaorwhatcourseofaction tospeakout.
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say,“Unlessourmessageisheard,itjust ourgovernmentpursues,especiallyon Let’sallworktoplaceourissueson
doesn’texist.” issuessuchasourpensionsandhealth thepublicagenda.Letthemediaknowwe
Rogerwasparaphrasingthesocial benefitsthataresocriticaltoourdaily haveadeepconcernforourcountryand
thinker,MarshallMcLuhanwhoposited, lives. ithasaresponsibilityandobligationfor
“Themediumisthemessage.”Roger’s Inrecentyears,manypeoplehavelost truthandtoreportallsidesoftheissues,
commentalsomirrorstheriddleposedby confidenceinthemedia,whichislargely includingours.
Family Court judges take
closer look at youth placement
ByDARCYWELLS aresystemicofallfacilities. mentalhealthservices,lackofspecial
Thereisroomforimprovement “Insteadoftryingtofixtheproblems, educationteachersandaneedtomove
inNewYork’sjuvenilejusticesystem, thecommissionerisadvocatingclosing towardatherapeutic,ratherthana
butlabelingtheentiresystemafailureis someupstateOCFSfacilitiesandshifting correctional,modelofrehabilitation,”
doingadisservicetoallthoseinvolved, youthsintovoluntaryagencies,”said Bryniensaid.
accordingtoPEFPresidentKenBrynien. Brynien. “Ourmemberswhoworkinthese
Brynien,anactivememberofthe “Familycourtjudgesneedtobeaware facilitiesagreewiththosefindings.Now,
governor’sTaskForceonTransforming ofthemismanagement,understaffingand let’sworktowardimplementingneeded
NewYorkState’sJuvenileJusticeSystem, lackofaccountabilityatthesevoluntary changes,notshiftingresponsibilityfor
hasreachedouttoalljudgespresiding agencies.” rehabilitatingyouthstolessaccountable,
overfamilycourtproceedingsinNewYork, Inthelettertothejudges,Bryniensaid lesstransparentprograms.”
warningofthedangersofshifting PEFisfullyawareoftheneedtoreform Bryniensaidtheunionwillcontinueto
troubledyouthsfromstate-operated thejuvenilejusticesystem,butdumping fightanyfurtherproposedclosuresof
detentionfacilitiestoprivatelyrun youthsintoprivately-runfacilitiesisnot OCFSfacilities.
agencies. theanswer. “Wearecommittedtorepairingthe
Brynienwrotealettertothejudgesin “CommissionerCarrionhasidentified systemandworkingwithmanagementto
responsetoamemotheunionrecently theproblemareas:lackofadequate achievethatgoal,”Bryniensaid.
obtained.
Thememowenttojudgesstatewide,
presidingoverfamilycourtproceedings
andwasissuedbythetwosupervising
judgesoffamilycourtsbothinand
outsideofNewYorkCity.Itwasin
responsetoarecentvisitbystateOfficeof
ChildrenandFamilyServices
CommissionerGladysCarrion.
Accordingtothememo,Carrion
acknowledgedtothejudgesthe
DISCUSSINGREFORM—ExpertsgatheredatTheNewSchoolinNewYorkCityin
conditions,describedinarecentreportby
OctobertodiscusswaystoreformNewYork’sjuvenilejusticesystem.Theeventwas
sponsoredbytheCenterforNYCAffairs.Shownare:SylviaRowlands,directoroftheBlue
theU.S.DepartmentofJusticeidentifying
Skyprogram;PEFExecutiveBoardmemberandOCFSyouthcounselorJohnRuiz;
problemsrelatedtothecareand
AssemblymanWilliamScarborough;LarryBusching,chief,FamilyCourtDivision,NY
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2009/January2010 PEFInformationLine:1-800-55
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