Neighborhood Chatter: Mandated Phys Ed, MLK Knights Honored, Parking Ticket Increase

MLK Knights Honored On Feb. 6, Councilwoman Gale Brewer honored the Martin Luther King High School Knights soccer team in a ceremony on the steps of City Hall. The varsity team won their 14th Public School Athletic League title in 17 years. The Knights finished their season with an almost perfect record of 21-1. Since 1994, the Knights have amassed an impressive record of 344-25-14, and this past year were ranked 10th in the country in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's final poll of the season. "The lessons they've learned on the field, particularly teamwork and sportsmanship, will remain with these students throughout their entire lives," Brewer said in a statement. Mandated Physical Education Pretty soon it might be mandatory for New York City schoolchildren to play that dreaded game of dodgeball, or some similar activity. On Thursday, Feb. 7, Council Members Melissa Mark-Viverito, Robert Jackson, Letitia James and Gale Brewer held a press conference on the steps of City Hall, with Women's City Club and American Heart Association, urging the Department of Education to make physical education mandatory.  The Women's City Club released a report that showed New York's inadequacies with physical education classes in public schools, including a shortage of PE teachers. The Women's City Club also recommends a plan of improvement by necessitating mandated PE time and space in school buildings. Paying a Parking Ticket: It'll Cost You! Drivers beware: Without any apparent notice, the service charge for paying an average $115 New York City parking ticket online has increased from $2 to $2.86. According to driver-advocate and parking watchdog Glen Bolofsky, who runs parkingticket.com, that's a 43 percent increase. "In essence, the city is charging its citizens a premium for something that actually eases the city's workload, streamlines costs and reduces man hours," Bolofsky said in a statement. Drivers who think they do not deserve a parking ticket can report it on parkingticket.com through "Worry Free Parking," where users can contest tickets that they receive through the city.  It's worth a try. Parkingticket.com guarantees that it can reduce or dismiss their customer's tickets.