The State Legislature reconvened in Albany today for an extraordinary session called by the governor to take up his plan to close a deficit of more than $3 billion for the remaining four and a half months of this fiscal year. On the table is a midyear $223 million cut to New York City schools.
Please call your local Senator and Assembly member NOW and tell them: Protect the classroom!
We understand that times are tough. We have proposed alternative strategies that will help us get us through the immediate crisis. But what we are not willing to do is let budget cuts hurt the schoolchildren in the classrooms of New York City.
City schools have already absorbed $400 million in cuts this fall; many principals have reduced after-school programs, academic intervention services, school supplies and staff. More cuts in the middle of the year would be particularly disruptive, since schools have already planned their spending for the rest of the year.
Call the State Assembly at 1-518-455-4100, between 8 a.m. and midnight, Monday through Friday, and ask to speak to your local Assembly Member.
Don’t know who your Assembly Member is? Look it up here.
Call the State Senate at 1-518-455-2800, between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday (closed Veterans Day), and ask to speak to your local Senator.
Don’t know who your state Senator is? Look it up here.
Urge your state legislators to protect classrooms from midyear cuts today!
Sincerely,
Michael Mulgrew
UFT President
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