Crime & Safety

McDowell Supporters to Give 15,600-name Petition to Prosecutor

The Connecticut Parents Union says it will present the prosecutor with a 15,600-signature petition before the court appearance Wednesday of Tanya McDowell, accused of wrongfully enrolling her child in Norwalk schools.

The following news release was sent out this morning by the Connecticut Parent's Union, a group supporting Tanya McDowell, who was arrested late last month on a first-degree larceny charge after police accused her of lying about living in Bridgeport when she enrolled her child in a Norwalk school.

Gwen Samuels, president of the group, said that despite earlier reports that McDowell would switch to another lawyer, she was still keeping Darnell D. Crosland as her attorney.

This is the news release, as sent by the Connecticut Parent's Union:

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Subject: MEDIA ALERT: May 11, 2011 THE CT PARENT'S UNION ASKING PROSECUTOR SUZANNE VIEUX TO DROP CHARGES AGAINST HOMELESS MOTHER TANYA MCDOWELL

*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***

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For Immediate Release
Monday, May 11, 2011
Contact: Gwen Samuel
Tel: [removed, see editor's note at bottom]
Email: gwen@ctparentsunion.org

THE CT PARENT's UNION WILL PRESENT A CHANGE.ORG PETITION WITH OVER 15,600 "SIGNATURES" ASKING PROSECUTOR SUZANNE VIEUX TO DROP CHARGES AGAINST HOMELESS MOTHER TANYA MCDOWELL

WE MUST PUT CHILDREN FIRST!

Press Conference:

When:  May 11, 2011

Time: 9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. [For Protecting the Educational Rights of
Homeless and ALL Children, and Support for Homeless Child & Mother Tanya
McDowell]

Where: Norwalk Superior Court (Front)
      17 Belden Avenue
      Norwalk CT 06851

What:

In Norwalk, Connecticut on Thursday April 16, 2011, Tanya McDowell, a
homeless mother was arrested for sending her five year old son to a school
district where she had no permanent residence. Ms. McDowell states she only
wanted a better education for her child.

This is the second public case, in the last few months, where a mom was
arrested for sending their child to an out of district school. The first
mother, Kelley Williams-Bolar of Ohio, was charged with first degree
larceny for sending her children to an out of district school.

A change.org petition, started by a concerned Norwalk resident, Anthony
Crisci has generated over 15,600 signatures asking for the charges to be
dropped against mother Tanya McDowell. (Link to petition page.)

In addition, last week, 26 children were kicked out of Norwalk Public
Schools for the "theft" of educational services. No arrests were made. [Norwalk Patch editor's note: according to this recent report in The Hour, 26 students said to be improperly enrolled from outside the district were removed from the schools in this past school year, not last week.]

The CT Parent's Union is concerned about whether Norwalk Public Schools are
protecting the educational rights of children, which includes homeless
children.

In regards to the 26 children kicked out of schools in Norwalk, the CT
Parent's Union wants to know whether there was administrative due process
given for these 26 children prior to their being removed from their Norwalk
school. The CT Parent's Union also questions the timing of the removals and
was this decision in the best interest of the children:

  1. It is time to ensure homeless children and ALL children have access to a great education
  2. It is time to end laws that penalize and arrest parents for accessing great public schools for their children

Here are the economic results of a 1% increase in the education levels of
Connecticut's future work force as outlined by the State Department of Education:

  • Connecticut: $5 billion more economic activity each year
  • Fairfield County: $ 1.8 billion
  • Greater Hartford: $1.6 billion
  • Greater New Haven: $800 million
  • Southeastern CT: $300 million

Higher levels of education equal better community, higher employment, lower
taxes, stronger businesses and less crime.

Note: During the throes of the recession, the number of homeless people in
the United States increased, and the number of homeless families increased
at an even greater rate, according to a report released Wednesday. The
findings by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, although not
surprising, confirm the harsh toll that the recession - which began in
December 2007 and ended in June 2009 - took on families. Historically,
people struggling with mental illness, substance abuse or other chronic
problems have been the focus of government homelessness efforts, and until
recently the number of such homeless people had been declining. But the
recession, which has led to rising unemployment and declining social
services, has slowed progress among the chronically homeless and increased
numbers of the newly homeless, among them many families, according to the
alliance's report. (Link to report.)

Editor's note: This news release has been reviewed, an editor's note has been added in the middle, Samuel's telephone number has been removed, minor style changes have been made, and bald web links have been put behind the words "Link to this report." Otherwise, the text of the news release is published here the way it was received.


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