There is some hopeful news right now from Albany on mayoral control of our schools as the April 1 deadline for a state budget is almost here.
This is from City & State earlier today:
While bail reform highlights divides between Democratic legislators, they appear united against gubernatorial priorities like a four-year extension of mayoral control of New York City schools.
I very much doubt the New York State Legislature will do right by the children of NYC by ending mayoral control but at least they aren't giving into Governor Kathy Hochul's request for a four-year extension. Here is the full piece on education in the state budget:
Education
The governor and state lawmakers are not fighting over Foundation Aid like they used to, but they remain apart on other issues. This includes extending mayoral control over New York City schools for four years, as Hochul has proposed, or a “New Deal” for CUNY and SUNY that both chambers backed in their one-house budget resolutions. Hochul might not back the plan’s call for tuition-free college, but she might warm up to other aspects like a push to help deteriorating campuses fund repairs. One area of agreement is expanding the Tuition Assistance Program to cover incarcerated people, but mayoral control and other contentious issues might have to wait until the second half of the legislative session.
In addition to being a member of the UFT, I am also in the CUNY teachers union called the Professional Staff Congress. The PSC is urging full member involvement in this fight for a New Deal for CUNY. I was asked to lobby my state representatives and given their phone numbers earlier today. The PSC has had many actions in this fight.
When was the last time the UFT asked us to get involved in anything as a collective? A long-long time ago. For example, the unions say they want Tier VI pension reform. Why aren't the union leaders telling hundreds of thousands of government workers in New York to be on the phone daily to pressure the legislators to make Tier VI equal to Tier IV?
Adams is still gonna claim the city is broke. He will more than likely pull the same shit like the 2005 contract where we will have to work a longer day in exchange for a "raise". Of course he will dangle a $1,000 signing bonus and all the newbies will vote for it. They are not going to stick around till they are 62 so why would they bother voting against it?
ReplyDeletesure would love to see that happen before july 1 when i retire.....
ReplyDeleteContinuing with mayoral control is an obvious tragedy for minority children. The purpose of mayoral control is to mismanage and wreck public school education and to pay back greedy charter school operators
ReplyDeleteand their hedge fund patrons for the financial support. At the same time, mayoral control is wrecking our educational institutions that serve our democracy and promote a more equitable society. Our nation is becoming increasingly divided on the issues of race, wealth and public health. Mayoral control in New York state has been an autocratic nightmare championed by creepy politicians like Andrew Cuomo, Bill de Blasio and Michael Bloomberg. It has been a disaster for democracy.
Why? Because the UFT works for the democrat party not us. As long as they keep getting teachers to vote for democrats they’re achieving their goal. That’s why they’re not asking us to bombard politicians with phone calls. NYC had the most progressive democrat elected twice as mayor. Now NYC and it’s teachers can sit and stew in the pile shit created by the democrat agenda.
ReplyDelete659. im also not a fan of right wing politics. we need a left wing party. economic liberalism will be the death of us all.
DeleteAnd we would do so much better under Republicans. See George Pataki Administration saying an 8th grade education is adequate.
ReplyDeleteHopefully working class folks will wake up sooner rather than later. It's ridiculous to fight for parties that couldn't care less about your well being. It's like fighting over Nabisco and Keebler. Wake up and stay Woke.
ReplyDeleteWhy exactly does the DOE pay the rent for charter schools?
ReplyDeletePlease democrats, keep using the term woke. It’s the number one priority of American voters. Keep selling it as hard as you can.
ReplyDelete7 am.. honestly, the people that fear it seem to use it more these days. not to mention it is a term that dates back to the 1930s. even Leadbelly used it. but go ahead, keep scapegoating, and pretending a phrase regarding social consciousness is the cause of our problems here in the US.
Delete7:00 what part of "It's ridiculous to fight for parties that couldn't care less about your well being" do you have a problem with? You totally ignore that and fixate on the word "woke". It's a trigger for you. WAKE UP.
ReplyDelete