Category: Action Updates

Just a few short weeks from the start of a new school year that will be full of new challenges and additional costs, Governor Cuomo is considering a 20 percent cut in school aid. But if we want a sustainable, long term solution for our schools, we need immediate action from our legislators. Email your State … Continue reading Cuomo’s cuts would hurt Black & Brown students the most

Yesterday, Governor Cuomo declared that he can’t raise taxes on wealthy New Yorkers, who he insists are already fleeing to second homes in the Hamptons and the Hudson Valley — so instead, he will close our budget deficit by slashing funding for public schools. New York State’s legislators can and must act immediately to tax … Continue reading It’s time for NY to tax the wealthy & invest in schools

Governor Cuomo has chosen to hold state education aid hostage in a political game of chicken with Congress, and New York’s students are the ones paying the price. Last week the New York State budget office informed school districts statewide that it was cutting 20 percent of the state aid to school. Statewide, New York’s schools … Continue reading NY’s schools just lost $5 billion in state aid

As school districts plan to reopen in the fall — whether in person, remote, or a combination of the two — and beyond, one thing is certain: our students deserve a quality education, and that basic right is being denied to too many Black, Brown and low-income students. Our children deserve a school reopening that … Continue reading Tell Our State Leaders: Enact Revenues Now!

We need New York’s elected leaders to protect children, not billionaires. School districts have been forced to make cuts to vital services and programs all while New York’s 112 billionaires collectively saw their wealth increase by $59.5 billion in the past four months. In the midst of uprisings and a public health crisis, lawmakers are … Continue reading The rich are getting richer

With less than a week until the New York City budget is finalized, Mayor de Blasio is STILL proposing a cut of $800 million from New York City public schools — including cutting mental health supports for students. Just this week the Mayor laid off counselors in high need schools across the city — yet he has proposed to … Continue reading Defund the NYPD, Fully Fund Public Schools

Against the backdrop of police violence toward Black and Brown communities, cities around the nation are at last recognizing the danger and harm that police officers in schools represent to Black and Brown students. Now, Rochester has an opportunity to end the presence of police in our own public schools. Email Rochester City Council now and … Continue reading Remove Police From Rochester’s Schools

This has been an incredibly painful week filled with constant reminders for why we are engaged in the struggle for liberation. We mourn the brutal murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and all of those that have lost their lives to police violence. Protests against the violent murder of George Floyd by police … Continue reading Tell Mayor de Blasio: Defund the NYPD, invest in schools

When New York’s State Legislators return to work next week, they say they will be focused on addressing impacts of the pandemic. Yet right now, State Legislators have no plans to pass revenue-raising bills like taxing the ultra rich — the single most important thing that New York could do immediately to protect our communities. Click … Continue reading Tax the ultra rich, or cut school funding? Call State Leaders