Nyc Education Cuts Further Marginalizes Minority Communities

FROM THE OFFICE OF STATE SENATOR KEVIN PARKER (D-21)

Contact: Vaughn Mayers | mayers@nysenate.gov | 718-629-6401 ph |718-629-6420 fax

NYC EDUCATION CUTS FURTHER MARGINALIZES MINORITY COMMUNITIES

For Immediate Release: June 16, 2011

 (Brooklyn, NY) Today Senator Parker joined the Alliance for Quality Education, New York City Coalition for Educational Justice, New York Communities for Change, Class Size Matters, United Neighborhood Houses, Mirabal Sisters and the United Federation of Teachers to say “no” to Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed budget cuts to education for New York City’s already failing public school system. "High needs schools, which are mostly populated by children of color and impoverished children, have been disadvantaged for far too long. The Mayor’s proposed budget cut does not address the concerns of working families in my district or throughout the city,” stated Senator Parker (D-Brooklyn).

“For every teaching position that is left unfilled and every eliminated program, there will be a consequence that students simply should not be subjected to. There are other options that, if implemented, would protect NYC students. It's important that funding intended for schools be used only to springboard our children's future," continued Parker.

The “other option” Senator Parker is referring to is the extension of the “millionaire’s tax.” As a staunch supporter of the tax, Senator Parker has constantly urged the Mayor to support extending the tax to keep vital education programs and services intact for the city’s future leaders. Instead, Bloomberg has denounced the tax and proposed a budget that outlines $400 million in education cuts which include: $79 million in cuts to early childhood education, 6,000 teacher layoffs, and $34 million to community-based after school programs. “The Mayor’s cuts will only exacerbate the problems New York City faces in preparing our students to be successful in college and their future endeavors,” concluded Parker.

About Senator Kevin Parker

Senator Kevin S. Parker is intimately familiar with the needs of his ethnically diverse community that consists of 311,000 constituents in Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington and Borough Park. He is the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, former Majority Whip and First Vice Chair or the Association of Black, Puerto Rican Asian Legislators.

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