Statement By Senator Marty Golden On Governor's Approval Of School Construction Aid Package

Today is a great day for Brooklyn, for New York City and New York State.

For all families, for students and for our future, today we have made a large investment in New York. And we have come together today, in celebration of the future of New York’s students at this announcement, after much hardwork and dedication by all; Governor George Pataki, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, and members of both the State Assembly and State Senate.

On behalf of the State Senate, I am very proud to have worked with my colleagues to insure that the schools of New York receive the very best opportunities to grow and develop.

For there is nothing more vital to the growth on an individual than that of a solid education. It is the foundation of one’s life and nothing but a sound and solid education is acceptable.

A fine education allows a youngster to learn and to grow into an adult. A fine education allows for an individual the tools necessary to pursue their dreams and reach their goals. A fine education offered by our public school system is vital to keeping families here in New York, and if we keep families in New York, we keep communities and with communities, we prosper and thrive as a society and as towns, villages and municipalities.

The students today are the winners, for this funding will go a long way to addressing the overcrowding in our schools. From today forward, all of New York’s children and students will have a better opportunity to learn and prepare for the future.

From today forward, the students of New York will have more modern classrooms, better facilities, and more classroom space. The success of our students over the past few years, as we have seen math and reading scores rise, will only be enhanced by the investment we are making today. The future of New York is bright and this record level of funding is making it even brighter.

The leaders of the world are in the classrooms of New York. We have done the right thing to aid them.