On the brief side...
Cuomo Backs Federal Mortgage Protection Bill

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has endorsed proposed federal legislation that would institute new safeguards to protect against fraud and bad practices in the real estate appraisal industry that have led to the present foreclosure crisis in the United States.

Cuomo made the endorsement after meeting with members of Congress to brief them on the findings of his nine-month investigation into the mortgage industry.

"My office's investigation of the housing market has found systemic conflicts of interest in the appraisal industry that clearly necessitate legislation," Cuomo stated. "Government regulation can help the marketplace by providing protections for investors and consumers alike."

Cuomo's office recently filed a suit against Appraise IT, one of the largest real estate appraisal management companies and its parent company for colluding with Washington Mutual Bank (WAMU), the largest savings and loan in the country, to inflate the appraisal value of homes.

solidarity don't work? What happens when people are physically or psychologically assaulted because of who they are or what they believe? You have a hate crime." Borough President Helen Marshall in her introductory remarks said a number of troubling incidents involving symbols of hate had occurred recently in various parts of the city, so the conference was very timely. She said part of the focus of the conference would deal with what to do if you are the victim of a hate crime., or if a hate crime is committed in your community. Present at the meeting were representatives of the Queens District Attorney's office; the Jewish Community Relations Council; the Anti-Defamation League; Inspector Michael Osgood of the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force; City Councilmember John Liu; Daniel Dromm of the Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee, and Andrew Jackson of the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center.

In the scheme, Cuomo said, Appraise IT used a list of preferred "Proven Appraisers" who provided inflated appraisals of homes.

The attorney general said the action taken by his office was against one of the most blatant offenders in the industry. He added, "As an industry-wide problem, the foreclosure crisis demands an industry-wide solution, and the proposed legislation is an important first step toward ending the abuses in the housing market nationwide." Plant Trees Near Schools To Protect Children

For the safety of young students attending P.S. 117 and M.S. 217 in Briarwood and for aesthetic considerations as well, City Councilmember James Gennaro and Assemblymember Rory Lancman have arranged for planting trees between the two schools.

The tree planting ceremony took place last Friday, with students and principals present as well as local resident Sey Schwartz, a civic leader whose idea it was to plant trees there, the lawmakers said.

Gennaro and Lancman explained that a safety hazard existed between the schools, which are adjacent to each other. They explained there was little to no curbing along the sidewalk between the schools and parents would often drive onto the sidewalk to quickly drop off or pick up their children. Now the hazard has been removed. Peralta Starts Drive To Aid Flood Victims

Vallone Gets Funding For P.S. 126 Renovations

Joined by local officials and community leaders, Assemblymember Jose Peralta (D- Corona) called upon his constituents to help victims of Tropical Storm Noel in the Dominican Republic and Mexico, where hundreds died and many others were displaced.

Among those joining him were the Guardian Angels, who stand ready to collect contributions of merchandise, water, food, medicine, blankets, small cots and clothing.

For more information, contact Yonel Letellier at 718-458-5367 or 718-710-6154. Hate Crimes Conference

A first-of-its-kind Hate Crimes Conference was held last Wednesday at Queensborough community College in Bayside. The host was the Harriet & Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center and Archives, which is located at the school.

Dr. Arthur Flug, the center's executive director, set the tone for the session, asking: "What happens when all the programs that promote brotherhood, tolerance and intergroup

City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. recently attended a dedication ceremony at P.S. 126 in Astoria where a $100,000 renovation project had been completed and dedicated to Principal Janice Scott who will soon retire after 13 years of service.

The funding, which was secured by Vallone from the city council, covered renovations and

improvements to the science

and photo labs and dance and chorus rooms.

Vallone commented, "Children need to learn from more than just books and charts. To stay ahead in today's world, we need state-of-the-art facilities to give our students the ability to succeed. Even more important is a commitment to the arts and sciences, which are the seeds that help our children's imaginations to blossom and take them wherever they want to go."- Compiled by John Toscano