Today at the Baltimore Board of Estimates meeting we had to listen yet again to Mayor Rawlings-Blake give a HIGH FIVE to the banks that ravaged the city's communities with subprime mortgage fraud for a simple donation they will write off their taxes. Wells Fargo and BOA were the leading subprime loan fraudsters who still owe billions of dollars to Maryland alone for fraud and yet, the politicians of those communities embrace these banks as they pretend to be supporting those families fleeced.
I listened to MLK's speech read in the City Hall entrance with Jack Young of all people standing with the reader....'I was touched'! says Jack Young as he spent the last decade working as hard as he could dismantling all of the gains by people of color and poor. Black contractors should not apply says this Board of Estimates and City Council. Using the poor to gain profits for the rich.....YEAH! THAT WAS FOR WHAT MLK WAS GOING!
The second scam for the citizens of Baltimore is the Youth Works program that was devised by ALEC as a way to maximize corporate profits by getting subsidized employees to do work that needed to be done anyway. Why hire someone when you can get the city to give you half the wages in this Youth Works program. Rawlings-Blake likes to say Baltimore leads in this 'innovation' but the truth is this program is in all cities in one form or another. Look at the other youth program.....VISTA or Ameri-corp. It too has youth working for very low wages being subsidized by the public to usually do work that used to be public employees making decent money.
In both cases we see a manufactured system of handing workers over to labor for almost no money paid by the business. Remember when students were sent to work for the public sector to gain lessons in civics and add to the public sector? THAT IS WHAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE REPLACING....MOVING BENEFITS FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO THE PRIVATE. Are these youth from both programs getting hired after these internships? The numbers of those finding permanent work is very low!
Below you see NY with the same 'innovative' youth program as Baltimore.
Are we glad kids are working? YES. Do we want yet another way businesses take our public revenue? NO.
Governor Cuomo Launches NY Youth Works Program to Address Inner City Jobs Crisis
NY Youth Works Program Provides $62 Million for Job Training and $25 Million in Tax Credits to Combat High Unemployment among Inner City Youth
Albany, NY (January 23, 2012)
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of "NY Youth Works," a statewide program to combat the unacceptably high unemployment rates among inner city youth in communities across New York. The new program, passed last month in an extraordinary session of the state legislature, includes $25 million in tax credits for businesses that hire unemployed and disadvantaged youth and $62 million to support job training programs.
"With unemployment at over 40 percent among youth in our inner cities, New York must stand up and make sure our young people are a central part of our state's economic recovery," Governor Cuomo said. "To rebuild New York, we must invest in the next generation of New Yorkers and give our young people opportunities to grow and succeed. This program will bring together government and the private sector to join forces and make a lasting impact on families, communities, and our state’s economy."
The Governor and legislative leaders designed the NY Youth Works program to provide permanent, unsubsidized employment for youth across New York State. Under the program, thousands of young people can receive work readiness, occupational training and digital literacy training to build a foundation for future success. Businesses will also be offered up to a $3,000 wage subsidy in the form of tax credits to immediately put inner-city youth to work for six months. An additional tax credit of up to $1,000 will be available to employers who retain the participating youths for an additional six months. The program is a central part of Governor Cuomo's urban agenda which is designed to revitalize underserved communities across the state and address the chronic needs of those living in poverty.
Businesses interested in participating in the NY Youth Works program should visit http://www.jobs.ny.gov/youthworks. Youth interested in participating in the program can visit their local One-Stop Career Center, a listing of which can be found at http://labor.ny.gov/workforcenypartners/osview.asp, or call the New York State Department of Labor at (877) 226-5724. Eligible participants for “NY Youth Works” include unemployed, low-income youth aged 16 through 24 who are located in one of the following areas: Albany, Brookhaven, Buffalo, Hempstead, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, New York City, Rochester, Schenectady, Syracuse, Utica, and Yonkers.
Senate Minority Leader John Sampson said, "We can no longer ignore the unemployment crisis among high-risk youth in inner city communities. By putting in place the NY Youth Works program, Governor Cuomo is leading the way at confronting this major issue and providing a real solution to create jobs and incentivize businesses to give opportunities to our young people. Our first priority must be getting our state's economy back on track, and I commend the Governor for his leadership in ensuring the youth in our cities have the tools they need to put their careers in the right direction."
Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson said, "There is an unemployment crisis in our urban communities that must be addressed, and I commend Governor Cuomo for his leadership in launching the NY Youth Works program to incentivize businesses to hire inner city youth. For these young people to contribute to our state and economy throughout their careers, we must make investments in their future now, and this program does just that. I thank the Governor for his efforts to make sure urban youth are not left out of the state's economic recovery."
Senator José Peralta said, "I am proud to stand with Governor Cuomo today at the launch of the important NY Youth Works program. It is high time that government step up to address the need for jobs in inner city areas, and this program will help businesses hire at-risk youth and jumpstart their careers and future. I thank the Governor for making sure creating opportunities for our inner city youth is a major part of our state's economic recovery."
Deputy Speaker Earlene Hooper said, "I thank Governor Cuomo for taking the lead on this important issue of youth unemployment in our communities. We cannot stand by as our communities suffer, and creating jobs for our young people must be a top priority to rebuilding our neighborhoods. Governor Cuomo has been a strong voice in advocating for the need for new jobs and opportunities in our communities, and I praise him for launching the NY Youth Works program that will be a major step toward revitalizing our cities and neighborhoods."
Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, "This program launched by Governor Cuomo will be a big step toward putting young people in our urban communities to work. For too long, unemployment has been too high among our youth, and the NY Youth Works program will bring together businesses and government to invest in these young New Yorkers. I thank the Governor for his leadership and work to put in place this program that will be a big support for our communities."
Assemblyman David Gantt said, "We cannot afford to stand by idly as young people in our cities are unable to find work. Governor Cuomo has taken the lead in making sure our youth have employment opportunities so they can begin their careers on the right foot. The NY Youth Works program is an innovative and resourceful way of bringing together the public and private sector to create jobs and support businesses and young people. I commend the Governor for his leadership."
Assemblyman Sam Roberts said, "Governor Cuomo is right for emphasizing the importance of putting young people in urban communities to work. Creating jobs must be the centerpiece of any plan to get the economy running again. And nowhere is unemployment worse than in our cities and among inner city youth. I praise the Governor for launching this important program that will help to rebuild our neighborhoods and give our young people new hope and opportunities."
Assemblyman Phil Ramos said, "To get our state's economy running again, we must create jobs in every corner of the state. Nowhere is the jobs crisis worse than among inner city youth, and that is why the NY Youth Works program is such a critically needed program to address this need. I support and thank Governor Cuomo for leading the way on this initiative and for his efforts to create opportunities for young people in urban communities."
Assemblyman Felix Ortiz said, "I praise Governor Cuomo for putting the NY Youth Works program front and center of his agenda to revitalize inner city communities. The first step to rebuilding our communities starts with addressing the unacceptably high unemployment rates among our young people. This program will give local employers incentives to put at risk youth to work- giving them new opportunities and hope for the future. I thank the Governor for leading this effort."
Assemblyman Carl Heastie said, "After years of ever increasing unemployment rates and abysmal job growth, finally something is being done to combat the jobs crisis in inner city communities across New York State. Governor Cuomo should be commended for launching the NY Youth Works program which holds the potential to launch an economic recovery in the hardest hit parts of our cities and give our young people much needed jobs. I look forward to continuing to work together with the Governor to create jobs and make sure our inner cities are not forgotten as we get our state's economy back on track."
_________________________________________________
This is a concerted effort to capture labor for as cheaply as possible and neo-liberals are leading the way in instituting these programs!
Intern Abuse?
Posted by: Michelle Conlin on May 5, 2009
Meet the newest class of labor-market slogger: the perma intern.
The perma interns are those scarily young types moving into those cubicles vacated by layoff victims. They may even be your digital sherpa, guidling the clueless you through the dizzying terrain of social networking. It is not your imagination. They are indeed staying in the internships longer than you—or they—ever expected.
Flung into the worst labor market since the 1940s, these college-educated strivers are stuck on the lowest rung of the labor market. Making matters worse: the shriveling—and in some cases disappearing—pay. Free labor, anyone?
This has some fretting over intern abuse. “I believe that employers are taking much more advantage of interns, actually giving us work like if we were full time employees,” says an intern at a international shipping company in Miami.
No doubt many companies are keeping interns on board for longer stints to cover up for the fact that they’ve had so many layoffs. Says perma intern, Ruben Sanchez: “I believe that I have been taking on projects not normally given to interns. I have handled highly classified information from “secret” clients due to the lack of employees.”
Intern Abuse?
I asked Lauren Berger, The Intern Queen, about what was going on.
Here’s what she had to say:
“With an increased amount of layoffs and the inability to hire full-time employees, companies are turning to interns to get the work done. Companies that used to use only one or two interns are now asking me for five or six at a time.
Large employers who used to pay their interns have cut their paid internship programs and turned them into either no program or unpaid programs.
Many companies have interns running their entire social media campaigns. Students have already integrated social networking tools like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter into their everyday lives so it’s much easier to have a student run these areas than hiring a new employee that might have to first learn about them.”
Berger also mentioned another development: the rise of the “adult intern.”
Says Berger, “Adults that have been recently laid off or are trying to transition into second careers, are starting to look for internships. These types of internships have been termed “alternative internships.”
Adult interns? Scary.
____________________________________
I want to say that I am not suggesting that these are not good people who are in these programs....I am saying they are being used to supplant community leadership and because they are transitory this never leaves a leader in the community these programs are trying to help. This VISTA programs fills Baltimore at a time of historical unemployment for citizens.
The students are funded by in this case......a private non-profit and taxpayers. What about employment for residents? In Baltimore most of these VISTAS are students from out of town.
AmeriCorps* VISTA AmeriCorps*VISTAs, or Volunteers
in Service to America, commit a year of their lives to build capacity for a nonprofit, government agency, or community organization to fight poverty in America. The VISTA program is different from other volunteer programs because VISTAs are committed 24/7 to creating sustainable change.
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has selected Greater Homewood Community Corporation (GHCC) to provide a substantial professional development program to our VISTA members. With more than three decades of experience in recruiting, training, and managing AmeriCorps members, GHCC is uniquely qualified for this role and is proud to support the development of future nonprofit leaders.
2013-14 GHCC-Sponsored AmeriCorps*VISTA Program
GHCC is excited to welcome 17 full time 2013-14 AmeriCorps*VISTA members in July, and an additional 8 members beginning in November 2013, to serve for a period of one year on projects designed to build organizational capacity and create sustainable solutions to eradicate poverty in Baltimore City and other Maryland communities.
___________________________________________
THE ENTIRE PUBLIC SYSTEM IS BUILT ON FALSE DATA AND CORRUPTION. THIS IS WHY FRAUD AND CORRUPTION IS RAMPANT.
We saw how Youth Works takes students out of the public sector and civics learning......we see the education system being filled with temporary people as well. EDUCATION AND CIVICS MAKES A DEMOCRACY WITH CITIZENS!
SEE HOW RIDICULOUS ALL THESE HEADLINES ARE IN MARYLAND AND BALTIMORE LEADS THE WAY!
Remember when O'Malley declared crime down in Baltimore and then we found that not only were police not responding to crime calls but when they did they were altering the events to make themselves look better?
Remember when we heard that under O'Malley access to health care was never better and then we found out that people's life spans were 20-30 years shorter in the communities he was supposedly helping....social services being just a ponzi scheme?
Remember when Baltimore was called a leader in innovation and environmental policy and then we found out that none of the policies that were said to be implemented did what they were supposed to? Corporations built on water's edge and super tankers coming up the Chesapeake (there won't be any invasive species!)
Remember when O'Malley initiated Open Government/Meetings and we found out it was all window-dressing?
Well, this is the same thing. O'Malley received years of education ratings that were predicated on soft rigor and skewed data. While throwing copious amounts of money into building a corporate education system public education K-college was ignored. You'll see other states with rigor and funding are not having the same fall in scores.
What is important is that Race to the Top isn't about achievement....it is about restructuring the public schools into for-profit private education and O'Malley is ranked first in that area!
Number of Md. schools getting top rating falls Under state's new ranking system, schools must note academic progress
Maryland saw a dramatic decrease in the number of its elementary schools that received the highest rating for academic progress under a tough new school ranking system, according to results the state released Tuesday.
Only 47 of the state's 892 elementary schools made it into "strand 1," the rung for schools that have made the most progress under the system, called the School Progress Index. That was down from 255 schools that met the criteria the year before, when the system was put into place. Schools are ranked on a scale of 1, the highest, to 5, the lowest.
Even schools from neighborhoods that promote them as the best in the state didn't make their way into the top ranking.
Schools such as Roland Park in Baltimore City, Rodgers Forge and Fifth District in Baltimore County, Clarksville and Centennial Lane in Howard County, Severna Park in Anne Arundel and North Harford in Harford County were labeled "strand 2" schools. Schools that might not always be considered top fliers — including New Town and Cromwell Valley in Baltimore County — earned "strand 1" status.
Only three of 230 middle schools met all the standards under the ranking system, far fewer than the year before.
The state also saw a nearly tenfold increase in the number of elementary schools ranked in the worst category.
State officials said parents shouldn't worry.
"The sky is not falling on Maryland education," said Jack Smith, chief academic officer for the Maryland Department of Education.
The decrease in performance across the state from last year is the result, in part, in the drop in statewide test scores. The drop has been attributed to a change in curriculum, which began last year and is fully in place this academic year.
The new rating system, which is required under a waiver the state received from the No Child Left Behind law, is likely to confuse parents. Schools are graded against their past performance rather than solely on the percentage of students who pass state tests, as they were in the past.
Every school is expected to improve its achievement on state tests, as well as close the gaps between its lowest- and highest-performing students. Unlike in previous years, the federal government does not require sanctions or other punitive changes at schools that don't meet the standards.
In many elementary schools in the state, 95 percent of children are passing state tests, so it is difficult for the schools to improve further. Therefore, a school that has a lower percentage of students passing but made good progress from last year might be rated higher than the perennial top performers.
In some cases, Smith said, the highest-performing schools might have trouble raising achievement of special education students or those learning English as a second language. The new system shines a light, he said, on those kinds of differences.
"We have worked hard to come up with a new way of looking at it that reflects the complexity of the children we serve," Smith said.
The current system was created in a rush, after the U.S. Department of Education gave states the opportunity to apply for a waiver from No Child Left Behind. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said the nation could not meet the requirement of the law that every child be proficient in reading and math by 2014.
If the old standard had remained in place, Smith said, nearly every school in the state would have been considered a failing school.
"That is not a reasonable statement," Smith said.
The federal waiver was for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years, and the state will have to reapply this year.
Smith said the state will try to create a simpler and more stable approach that parents can understand.
Some schools, he said, have gone from the bottom to the top in a year, an indication that the rating system is too sensitive a tool.
New this year, the state also factored in scores on the state science tests, given in grades five and eight. The results were flat this year, although a much lower percentage of students are passing science tests than reading and math. In fifth grade, 67 percent passed; in eighth grade, 71.4 percent did.
While the state did not release a list of "strand 1" schools. Baltimore County said four of its schools had earned strand 1 status, while the number of strand 1 and 2 schools went from 83 last year to 31.