[ProgressiveEd] Fwd: important state and city news, and how you can help!
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[email protected]
Thu, 17 Apr 2003 13:09:02 EDT
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Message-ID: <046101c304f8$4ab37020$6445a8c0@Leonie>
From: "Leonie Haimson" <[email protected]>
To: "Leonie Haimson" <[email protected]>
Subject: important state and city news, and how you can help!
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 11:44:51 -0400
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Alot of important news from Albany and the Mayor over the last few days:=20
The leaders of the State Legislature announced a tentative agreement to rest=
ore most of the cuts to education and health proposed by the Governor. The=20=
deal made by Speaker Silver of the Assembly and Senate Majority Leader Bruno=
would restore about $700 million for the next fiscal year and about $1-1.1=20=
billion over the next school year to education. This is good news. =20
The bad news:
1- The Governor actually proposed $1.3 billion in cuts to education, so the=20=
agreement doesn't cover the full amount. Plus, experts calculate that we ne=
ed another $650 million from the state just to maintain current services.
2- The agreement between the leaders didn't specify which areas will be save=
d, and which will be cut, so we still don't know if it will include full fun=
ding for smaller class size or preK, programs that are especially important=20=
to us.=20
3- Silver and Bruno didn't specify what revenues would be raised to fund the=
se restorations, though reportedly they are leaning towards the temporary su=
rcharge on upper-income brackets recommended by our revenue coalition: (for=20=
more on this, see http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/76286p-70329c.html.=
)
3- The deal doesn't yet include a commuter tax, or other additional revenue=20=
for NYC, critical so the city doesn't have to make additional cuts of its ow=
n to education and other areas.
4- The Governor says he will veto all efforts to either restore these cuts o=
r raise revenue to do so. Thus, even if the agreement passes, the Legislatu=
re may have to override all of his vetos, which will be difficult to achieve=
, particularly since the Conservative party has already threatened that they=
will run candidates against any Republican who votes to raise taxes.
Other important news:=20
Yesterday, I attended a budget briefing on the Mayor's new cuts to education=
, some of them already in place, and more that will occur if we don't get th=
e additional revenue we need from the state in the form of a commuter tax. =20
Again, there is good news and bad. The good news is that the Dept. of Educa=
tion is not currently planning to lay off teachers, or increase class size.
The bad news:
1- The $178 million contingency cuts from education, announced in January,=20=
are now going to be put into place. These include layoffs for many school l=
unch workers, substance abuse counselors, paraprofessionals, and school aide=
s. Ten percent of school aides will be laid off, including 1340 positions i=
n all, many of whom currently monitor hallways and cafeterias. About 75,000=
students who were previously "encouraged" to attend summer school will no=20=
longer be offered a seat, with the program now serving 195,000 instead of th=
e 270,000 who attended last year. Most of the students denied a seat are in=
grades K-2nd -- so if the summer school program was effective for these kid=
s, we may see many more students who fail their exams in 3rd and 4th grade.=20=
Other cuts include the elimination of the funding that gave teachers and pr=
incipals $200 each to buy supplies like paper.
2- There will be another $120 million in painful education cuts if the city=20=
doesn't receive permission from the state to restore a commuter tax or raise=
other revenue of at least $1 billion: Even fewer kids will be offered seat=
s in summer school. Another 10% of school aides will be eliminated. All ci=
ty-funded afterschool programs will be eliminated -- which could cause the l=
oss of most privately-funded afterschool programs as well, many of which req=
uire matching funds from the city.
3- If we don't get all the education aid we need from the state, including t=
he $478 million that the Governor proposed cutting -- one item of which was=20=
the state funding for class size reduction -- the schools will see even more=
drastic cuts, including most likely a smaller teaching force and an increa=
se in class size, not just for grades K-3rd, but across the system.
Of course, there are going to be painful consequences in areas other than ed=
ucation already planned, and more to come if NYC doesn't get the permission=20=
to raise revenue, just some of which are summarized in a NYTimes article at=20=
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/17/nyregion/17CUTS.html
The state leaders expect to go on a short break starting this afternoon, to=20=
resume their negotiations next week. They hope to announce the final agree=
ment next Friday, April 25, with a vote by the full Legislature either April=
28 or 29th. If the agreement is passed, the Governor will have two weeks t=
o either sign it, or more likely, veto it.
We all need to call our elected officials, either today, tomorrow, or early=20=
next week, including Silver and Bruno, with the following simple message:
1- They need to restore all of Pataki's cuts to education, especially the fu=
nds for smaller classes;
2- They need to restore the commuter tax for NYC as well.
I know many of you will be on vacation starting this afternoon, so I wanted=20=
to contact you before then. Here is an easy (and free!) way to contact your=
elected officials:
1- use the New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness's Toll-Free Action Line (1-877-25=
5-9417) to call your reps in the Senate and the Assembly. If you don't know=
who they are, just go to=20
http://www.cmap.nypirg.org/netmaps/MyGovernment/NYC/MyGovernmentNYC.asp?cmd=3D=
start. and plug in your zip code and address.
2- Please also call Bruno and Silver at the phone nos. provided below. If th=
eir phones in Albany don't answer or are busy, try their local offices.
Even if you've called already, please make these calls again; if you haven't=
yet, please do so as soon as you're able. They should only take five minute=
s out of your life. Look at this as a necessary contribution to your child=
's future, as well as the future of other children here in NYC.
Have a happy and productive holiday!
Leonie Haimson
Class Size Matters
124 Waverly Pl.
New York, NY 10011
212-674-7320
[email protected]
www.classsizematters.org
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver:=20
telephone: 518-455-3791 or 212-312-1420
Fax: 518 -455-5459 or 212- 312-1418=20
Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno:=20
telephone: 518-455-3191 or 518-583-1001=20
Fax: 518- 455-2448=20
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D2><STRONG>Alot of important news from A=
lbany=20
and the Mayor over the last few days:</STRONG> </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The leaders of the State Legislature announ=
ced a=20
tentative agreement to restore most of the cuts to education and health prop=
osed=20
by the Governor. The deal made by Speaker Silver of the Assembly=20=
and=20
Senate Majority Leader Bruno would restore about $700 million for the n=
ext=20
fiscal year and about $1-1.1 billion over the next school year to=20
education. <STRONG>This is good news.</STRONG> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The bad news:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>1- <STRONG>T</STRONG><STRONG>he Governor ac=
tually=20
proposed $1.3 billion in cuts to education, so the agreement doesn't cover t=
he=20
full amount.</STRONG> Plus, experts calculate that we need another $65=
0=20
million from the state just to maintain current services.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>2- The agreement between the leaders didn't=
specify=20
which areas will be saved, and which will be cut, so <STRONG>we still d=
on't=20
know if it will include full funding for smaller class size or=20
preK,</STRONG> programs that are especially important to=20
us. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>3- Silver and Bruno didn't specify what rev=
enues=20
would be raised to fund these restorations, though reportedly they are=20
leaning towards the temporary surcharge on upper-income brackets=20
recommended by our revenue coalition: (for more on this, see <SPAN class=3D=
subhead><A href=3D"http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/76286p-70329c.ht=
ml">http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/76286p-70329c.html</A></SPAN>.)</=
FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>3- <STRONG>The deal doesn't yet includ=
e a=20
commuter tax</STRONG>, or other additional revenue for NYC, critical so=
the=20
city doesn't have to make additional cuts of its own to education and o=
ther=20
areas.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>4- <STRONG>The Governor says he will veto a=
ll=20
efforts to either restore these cuts or raise revenue to do so</STRONG>.&nbs=
p;=20
Thus, even if the agreement passes, the Legislature may have to override all=
of=20
his vetos, which will be difficult to achieve, particularly since the=20
Conservative party has already threatened that they will run candidates agai=
nst=20
any Republican who votes to raise taxes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Other important news: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><STRONG>Yesterday, I attended a budget brie=
fing on=20
the Mayor's new cuts to education, some of them already in place, and more t=
hat=20
will occur if we don't get the additional revenue we need from the=
=20
state in the form of a commuter tax. </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D+0><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D2><STRONG>Again, there=20=
is good=20
news and bad.</STRONG> The good news is that the Dept. of Education=20
is not currently planning to lay off teachers, or increase class=20
size.</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The bad news:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>1- <STRONG>The $178 million contingen=
cy cuts=20
from education, announced in January, are now going to be put into=20
place.</STRONG> These include layoffs for many school lunch workers,=20
substance abuse counselors, paraprofessionals, and school aides. =
Ten=20
percent of school aides will be laid off, including 1340 positions in a=
ll,=20
many of whom currently monitor hallways and cafeterias. About=20
75,000 students who were previously "encouraged" to attend=20
summer school will no longer be offered a seat, with the program now serving=
=20
195,000 instead of the 270,000 who attended last year. Most of th=
e=20
students denied a seat are in grades K-2nd -- so if the summer school progra=
m=20
was effective for these kids, we may see many more students who fail their e=
xams=20
in 3rd and 4th grade. Other cuts include the elimination of the fundin=
g=20
that gave teachers and principals $200 each to buy supplies like=20
paper.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>2- <STRONG>There will be another $120 milli=
on in=20
painful education cuts if the city doesn't receive permission from the state=
to=20
restore a commuter tax or raise other revenue of at least $1=20
billion</STRONG>: Even fewer kids will be offered seats in summer=20
school. Another 10% of school aides will be eliminated. All=20
city-funded afterschool programs will be eliminated -- which could cause the=
=20
loss of most privately-funded afterschool programs as well, many o=
f=20
which require matching funds from the city.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D2>3- <STRONG>If we don't get all the ed=
ucation=20
aid we need from the state, </STRONG>including the $478 million that th=
e=20
Governor proposed cutting -- one item of which was the state funding for cla=
ss=20
size reduction -- the schools will see even more drastic=20
cuts, including <STRONG>most likely a smaller teaching force=
and=20
an increase in class size,</STRONG> <STRONG>not just for grades K-3rd, but=20
across the system.</STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Of course, there are going to be painful=20
consequences in areas other than education already planned, and more to come=
if=20
NYC doesn't get the permission to raise revenue, just some of which are=20
summarized in a NYTimes article at </FONT><A href=3D"http://www.nytimes.co=
m/2003/04/17/nyregion/17CUTS.html"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>http://www.=
nytimes.com/2003/04/17/nyregion/17CUTS.html</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The state leaders expect to go on a short b=
reak=20
starting this afternoon, to resume their negotiations next week. They=20=
hope=20
to announce the final agreement next Friday, April 25, with a vote by=20=
the=20
full Legislature either April 28 or 29th. If the agreement is passed,=20=
the=20
Governor will have two weeks to either sign it, or more likely, veto=20
it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><STRONG>We all need to call our electe=
d=20
officials, either today, tomorrow, or early next week,</STRONG> including Si=
lver=20
and Bruno, <STRONG>with the following simple message:</STRONG></FONT></=
DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D2>1- <STRONG>They need to res=
tore=20
all of Pataki's cuts to education, especially the funds for smaller=20
classes;</STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>2- <STRONG>They need to restore t=
he=20
commuter tax for NYC as well.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I know many of you will be on vacation star=
ting=20
this afternoon, so I wanted to contact you before then. =20
Here is an easy (and free!) way to contact your elected=20
officials:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2><FONT face=3DArial>1- use the </FONT><FONT face=3DArial>=
New=20
Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness's Toll-Free Action Line (1-877-255-9417) to call=
=20
your reps in the Senate and the Assembly. If you don't know who t=
hey=20
are, just go to </FONT></FONT>
<DIV align=3Dleft><A href=3D"http://www.cmap.nypirg.org/netmaps/MyGovernme=
nt/NYC/MyGovernmentNYC.asp?cmd=3Dstart. " target=3D_blank><FONT class=3DHe=
lvetica10 face=3DArial size=3D2>http://www.cmap.nypirg.org/netmaps/MyGover=
nment/NYC/MyGovernmentNYC.asp?cmd=3Dstart.=20
</FONT></A><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D2>and <FONT class=3DHelvetica10>p=
lug in=20
your zip code and address.</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>2- Please also call Bruno=
and=20
Silver at the phone nos. provided below. If their phones in Albany don'=
t=20
answer or are busy, try their local offices.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><STRONG><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT></STRONG>&nbs=
p;</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><STRONG>Even if you've called already, plea=
se make=20
these calls again; if you haven't yet, please do so as soon as you're=20
able.</STRONG> They should only take five minutes out of your life. &nb=
sp;=20
</FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Look at this as a necessary contribu=
tion to=20
your child's future, as well as the future of other children here in=20
NYC.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Have a happy and productive holiday!</FONT>=
</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Leonie Haimson<BR>Class Size Matters<BR>124=
Waverly=20
Pl.<BR>New York, NY 10011<BR>212-674-7320<BR></FONT><A href=3D"mailto:leon=
[email protected]"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>[email protected]</FONT></A><BR><A =20=
href=3D"http://www.classsizematters.org"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>www.c=
lasssizematters.org</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial><BR><FONT size=3D2></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><STRONG><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT></STRONG> =
</DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D2><B><FONT class=3DHelve=
tica10>Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver</FONT></B><FONT class=3DHelvetica10=
>: </FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT class=3DHelvetica10 face=3DArial size=3D2>telephone:=
=20
518-455-3791 or 212-312-1420</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT class=3DHelvetica10 face=3DArial size=3D2>Fax: 518 -=
455-5459 or=20
212- 312-1418 </FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT class=3DHelvetica10><BR><FONT face=3DArial size=3D=
2></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D2><B><FONT class=3DHelveti=
ca10>Senate=20
Majority Leader Joseph Bruno</FONT></B><FONT class=3DHelvetica10>:=20
</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT class=3DHelvetica10><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D=
2>telephone:=20
518-455-3191 or </FONT><FONT size=3D2>518-583-1001</FONT> </FONT></FONT></DI=
V>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT class=3DHelvetica10 face=3DArial size=3D2>Fax: 518-=20=
455-2448=20
</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV></BODY>=
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