*Do charter schools mirror the city? The New York Times found that Latinos are underrepresented in charter schools as compared to their presence in public schools citywide. Given the raging battle over charter schools, you could see that as good or bad…thoughts? (P.S. Don’t miss the interactive map.)

*Cutbacks at the MTA are mixing up bus routes through Sunset Park—the B37 and B70 will diverge from their well-known paths, and many aren’t happy about it, the Brooklyn Eagle reports.

*The Eagle takes a look back at “Operation Blockbuster,” the big South Brooklyn crack bust of 2008

*Legit or scam? The diet product Herbalife has carved out a firm foothold among immigration groups. Feet in Two Worlds reports.

*Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the end of May announced a huge biotech facility will go into the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park. The Wall Street Journal gives some additional background on the mayor’s startup projects.

*In case you haven’t found your spot yet, the Brooklyn Eagle has links to suggestions for the best spots to watch the World Cup.

Photo taken by EyOne

In December, the Metropolitan Transpiration Agency passed controversial budget cuts which would, among other things, discontinue a program that provides free MetroCards for over half a million students in New York City. Under the current plan, students would begin to pay half price for rides this September, and full price fares at the start of the 2011 school year. The Urban Youth Collaborative opposes the cuts, and says eliminating the cards will affect students’ ability to attend school.

The group, sponsored in part by Sunset Park’s UPROSE, will hold a protest at MTA headquarters tomorrow, February 1 at 12:30 pm.

Here is the information sent in an email this weekend:

Location: 347 Madison Ave, between E 44th st and 45th st
Time: 12.30 pm
Train Directions: 4.5.6.. line to 42ND St Grand Central
B.D.F.V to 47-50th st Rockefeller Center

WE REALLY WANT YOU TO COME OUT & ACT TO MAKE A CHANGE!
If you have an organization or affiliate interested in participating,
please contact us ASAP!
Urban Youth Collaborative.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact the event
administrators via facebook:

Khaair Morrison, email:khaairmorrison@aol.com
Sharmin Hossain, email: sharmin.hossain@hotmail.com

Feel Free to email us or message us via facebook.

*NYC schools have gone mobile: the city this week announced an upgrade to Notify NYC that will allow parents to receive updates on school emergencies, dismissals, and closures by cell phones. The upgrade to this emergency system offers subscribers real-time updates on everything from snow days to school relocations in up to five zip codes by phone, email or text message. Interested? You can subscribe here.

*Speaking of schools, you can see how your local one fared at the New York Post website. You can sort the Post’s list by name, borough and other categories. Check out your school and report back–did it make the grade? Do you think your school is better, or worse, than the score reflects? Leave a comment!

*The MTA has mounted a new site that provides real-time updates on delays and service changes to New York’s 26 subway lines, meant to help regulars in its 468 stations keep on the go.

The M/R station at 25th St and 4th Ave. Picture by Jim Henderson, accessed on Wikipedia Commons.

Less that a week after the NYPD issued new rules on its use of Tasers, two NYPD officers in the 25th Street R stop in Brooklyn held a woman while a third immobilized her with a stun gun. Five other officers stood by.

A rider caught the whole thing on video, and posted it to the blog Feministing. The reader who shot the video described the incident like this:

“This morning at 11:30am a young woman was having an altercation with about 8 folks from the nypd at the R/M 25th st stop in bklyn. After it was over and she was on her way to the turn style, they came back to arrest her. When she resisted, they tasered her. Clearly, I don’t know the background, but she was one, unarmed, woman and the tasering was undeniably excessive.

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Sometimes it’s just about knowing where to look.

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