New York Desk

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

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NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

CITYWIDE


REPORT: BOOST RESOURCES FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS


New York charter schools have provided a successful alternative to traditional public schools and should receive more resources and legislative leniency, a report released yesterday found. The report, which was released by the Progressive Policy Institute, the Washington-based think tank affiliated with the Democratic Leadership Council, found that “Beyond improving student learning in individual schools, New York City charter schools act as ‘seeds of change’ for the entire school system in a variety of ways, some planned by school officials and some unexpected.”


The report recommends that the state should allow enough charter schools to open to meet demand. Under New York’s current system, only 100 charter schools can open in the state.


The report also recommends that charter schools should be integrated into the city’s overall “school improvement strategy” and that charter schools should be helped to find suitable facilities.


The director of education policy at the policy institute, Andrew Rotherham, said, “Charter schooling can really be used strategically to meet some of the challenges of ‘No Child Left Behind.'”


He said the advantage of the schools, which are publicly funded but run by private organizations, is that they “create more quality public choices,” and “expand opportunities for disadvantaged students,” and convince more citizens to “buy into” public education.


The report praises Mayor Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein for their commitment to open 50 new charter schools over the next five years.


– Staff Reporter of the Sun


QUEENS


WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY IN ARSON


A New Jersey woman pleaded guilty yesterday to setting a fire in a Queens apartment building that killed a teenager and seriously injured her sister, the Queens District Attorney’s office announced yesterday.


Ok Ki Gang, 26, of Palisades Park, N.J., started the fire in the Bayside apartment building at about 3:40 a.m. on February 29 by lighting a towel on fire with a cigarette lighter and then placing it on a sofa. Hana Yoo, 14, died in the fire, and her sister, Meena Yoo, 12, suffered acute respiratory and nervous-system damage.


According to the D.A.’s office, Gang was convicted on second-degree manslaughter charges, although she could have been charged with murder in the second degree. A spokesman for the D.A.’s office said it decided to go with a lesser charge because at the time of the crime, Gang was “hopelessly” addicted to crack cocaine. Gang, who faces between five and 15 years in prison, will be sentenced on October 27.


– Special to the Sun


BROOKLYN


TERROR SUSPECTS SEEK ACCESS TO YEMEN


Defense lawyers for two men accused in a major Brooklyn terrorist funding investigation are asking a federal judge for permission to interview witnesses in Yemen.


In his request, a lawyer for Mohammed Mohsen Yahya Zayed gave a preview of his client’s likely defense. The lawyer, Jonathan Marks, said he needs the Yemeni witnesses to show that his client opposed terrorism and was manipulated by government informants into conspiring to funnel money to Al Qaeda. Prosecutors say such a defense represents an admission of guilt by Mr. Zayed.


Mr. Zayed’s co-defendant, Sheik Mohammed Ali-Hassan al-Moayad, also wants to interview witnesses to show that his client opposed terrorism, his lawyer said yesterday.


Prosecutors say Mr. al-Moayad used a Brooklyn-based mosque and several businesses to send $20 million to Al Qaeda. They also say he and Mr. Zayed, his alleged assistant, agreed to funnel money to terrorist groups during a 2003 meeting with government informants in Germany.


In a court filing this week, two assistant U.S. attorneys, Kelly Moore and Pamela Chen, argued that the proposed testimony is irrelevant. Prosecutors, who would attend any depositions, also said it is unsafe to travel to Yemen and accused Mr. al-Moayad of publicly calling for revenge for his arrest.


– Staff Reporter of the Sun

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NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.


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