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POLITICAL NEWSPAPER—Nelson Rockefeller was the Governor of New York and the Republicans were in sway in Albany when this first edition of the Donkey News was published in February 1963. It's editor: C. Melvin Patrick. [[Image - drawing of a donkey]] DONKEY NEWS VOL. 1 NO. 1 FEBRUARY 1963 PUBLISHED BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE • N.Y. DEMOCRATIC COUNTY COMMITTEE N. Y. DEMOCRATS PUSH STATE PLATFORM ACCUSE GOVERNOR OF TAX & SCHOOL 'SELL-OUT' [[Image - ROBERT WAGNER]] [[Image - EDWARD N. COSTIKYAN]] [[Image - WILLIAM H. McKEON]] [[Image - EDWARD R. DUDLEY]] [[Image - ARTHUR H. LEVITT]] WE TOLD YOU SO by Joseph Zaretzki and Anthony J. Travia Democratic Legislative Leaders THE BIG STORY Two years ago we warned that Governor Rockefeller was hatching an insidious plot to foist tuition charges on students attending the colleges of the City of New York. We predicted that in forcing through legislation in 1961 giving the Board of Higher Education of the City of New York the discretion to charge tuition, Governor Rockefeller was preparing the ground for a scheme to coerce the city into imposing tuition at the City University. We said then that the Republican state administration would use its power to withhold state aid funds to City University and thus attempt to force it to abandon its 115-year-old tuition-free policy. We are sorry to say today: "We told you so." Our prediction has become fact. The Board of Trustees of the State University, in promulgating its decision to impose tuition charges on all students at the State University, has told the City University to conform or suffer the loss of state aid. Referring to the so-called "discretionary" power granted the Board of Higher Education with regard to tuition, the State University Board of Trustees declares that "continuation of this unique arrangement in the City of New York is, therefore, a matter for local determination." Governor Rockefeller rammed the tuition provision for the City University and the State University through by use of the offensive "tie-in" technique, packaging it with the scholar incentive legislation and the provision creating the City University. By combining these entirely unrelated matters in one bill, the Governor forced members of the Legislature who favored the grant to students but opposed tuition at the city colleges to vote for the bill. He rejected our plea to separate the proposals. The Republican majority defeated Democratic amendments to delete the tuition provision from the scholar incentive legislation. We still fight to the utmost to prevent the imposition of tuition in the State University colleges throughout the state. We intend to give the most vigorous support to legislation that would take away from the State University Trustees their tuition-imposing power, and to Democratic program legislation that would restore the mandate assuring free tuition at City University. DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY [[Image - BLUMENTHAL]] [[Image - DeSALVIO]] [[Image - DICKENS]] [[Image - KELLY]] [[Image - KRETCHMER]] [[Image - LOPEZ]] [[Image - MARESCA]] [[Image - MARKS]] [[Image - RIOS]] [[Image - ROSSETTI]] [[Image - SOUTHALL]] [[Image - WALSH]] WE WILL..... Legislators representing the voters of New York County are pledged to the man for pushing the New York State Democratic Platform in the current session of the still controlled Republican legislature. To this end you Assemblymen served on 37 Legislative Committees and have introduced 331 pieces of legislations in the Assembly in your behalf. Your State Senators served on 23 Committees in the Senate and have introduced 143 Bills to date in their section of the Senate in your behalf. Your Legislators are opposed to the Rockfeller budget and his new "gimmick" of raising taxes through his new system of "fees." They are opposed to the State University Trustees charging tuition fees in State Universities and are apprehensive of the Republican controlled legislatures moves on Re-apportionment of our County Districts which will make our County lose two Senators and four Assemblymen. On particular area and district problems your legislators are sponsoring legislation which seeks the following benefits for you: WILLIAM F. PASSANNANTE (36 Bills) seeks a Bill which will make it mandatory for Landlords to return security fees back to the tenants with the necessary increments they have earned while in the possession of the landlord. LOUIS de SALVIO (16 Bills) a Bill which would establish an Art Center in Albany to encourage students of the Fine Arts. continued next page This is our Legislative Program Democratic members of the Legislature met recently to discuss the Democratic program for action at the 1963 session of the Legislature. Presiding at the meeting were Senate Minority Leader Joseph Zaretzki and Assembly Minority Leader Anthony J. Travia. The meeting was addressed by Mayor Robert F. Wagner, State Comptroller Arthur Levitt and William H. McKeon, Chairman of the Democratic state Committee. A program for the Democratic Party in the Legislature was outlined and would follow two major approaches in its campaign to get New York State on the move again: First, it will press vigorously its own program implement [[?]] Activi- [[?]] platform adopted at the 1962 Democratic State Conver [[?]] and, in Syracuse, and secondly, it will press Governor Rockefeller to carry out his own numerous campaign promises to the people of New York State. This total Democratic program is based on the concept that New York State must again take a dynamic role in the nation. With this in mind, the two major goals for the Democratic program, First WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE and Second, WELFARE OF OUR CHILDREN. WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE More jobs through the Area Redevelopment Act and the Manpower Development and Retraining Program. Protection of the rights of our working people. The Child Labor Law must be strengthened. Amending the Workmen's compensation, Unemployment Insurance and Disability Benefits Laws and extension of coverage to all workers. Permanent extension of Unemployment Insurance Benefits to 39 weeks. Extension of protection of the State Labor Relations Act to hospital employees with a no-strike provision. Prohibition of the importation of strike breakers. The Condon-Wadlin Law should be repealed. Strengthening of the state's public career service. Support of President Kennedy's Medicare Program and making our inadequate state medical aid to the aged program workable. Providing the needed nursing home and hospital facilities for the great numbers of aged unable to meet the high costs of care unassisted. An adequate program of housing for the aged and an expanded state program to supply the needs of decent housing for all. A continuation of rent control in all areas where it now exists. Further activity and aid in the area of consumer protection; civil rights; State aid to localities; water and air pollution control; mental health services; off track betting as a means to provide new revenues for public needs; natural resources, particularly the Forever Wild provision of the State Constitution and the protection and elimination of pollution of our State's lakes, rivers and streams. In the area of recreation, an expanded State Park system with greater recreational opportunities and a state-wide public campsite program are necessary. Continued protection and support of our state's agricultural industry. Provision for fair and equal representation in the legislature for all of the people; a liberalized voting requirements and a streamlining of legislative procedures. WELFARE OF OUR CHILDREN Amendment of the Dieffendorff shared-cost formula to be replaced by a state-wide average cost per pupil, with the formula to be adjusted as the average changes; mandatory free tuition in the State University; a free tuition policy at the City University of New York; expansion of the State University system; an increase in the number and value of Regents scholarships and State aid to provide adequate child day care centers for children of working mothers. by Domingo Clementi 262
