It has been hard not to feel frustrated as protest is being restricted across the country, and now here, in New York State, where proposals to limit where people can gather and speak out are being considered by our state legislature. Lawmakers are weighing so-called buffer zones around houses of worship (S.8599/A.9335) that would give … Continue reading This is not the direction New York should go.
We are now in a second budget extension, with leaders again moving past the deadline instead of reaching a final agreement. Decisions are still being made about what will be included in the enacted budget, and our leaders need to hear directly from us before anything is finalized. Nearly 20,000 children remain on child care waitlists … Continue reading Don’t Leave Out Child Care Workers or CCAP from the Final Budget
New York City Council just passed two bills that could restrict where you’re allowed to protest – or even gather – but the fight isn’t over, and there’s still a real chance to stop one of them. At a time when Trump and the far right are attacking dissent and criminalizing protest across the country, … Continue reading Stop NYC Intro 175-B and Protect the Right to Protest
Governor Hochul let today’s deadline pass and chose a budget extender through next Tuesday over a final agreement. We have all seen how our calls to Tax the Rich have been falling on her ears. New Yorkers are asking for something different from what the Governor is advancing in Albany. The majority of New Yorkers are calling for … Continue reading No Final Budget Without Taxing the Rich.
As our state budget is negotiated behind closed doors by a small group of leaders, a major decision about how New York City’s schools are governed has been folded into the equation, and is now being used as a bargaining chip. Year after year, other non-budgetary issues, in this case mayoral control, get tied to … Continue reading This is about how power is used in our state budget negotiations.
In response to New York City Council passing Intros 1-B and 175-B, the public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education issued the following statement: “We are furious and deeply disappointed that the members of the New York City Council voted to pass the ‘no free speech buffer zone’ bills, knowing this legislation expands police … Continue reading AQE Condemns Passage of Bills Restricting First Amendment Rights
We’re in the final stretch of New York’s state budget negotiations, and decisions are being made right now about what will be included in the enacted budget. Nearly 20,000 children are on the child care waitlist statewide, including 17,000 in New York City, while child care programs struggle to stay open and families are left … Continue reading Child Care Workers and CCAP Can’t Be Left Out of the Final Budget
New York’s state budget is due by the end of this month, so right now, leaders are negotiating whether the final deal will include the updates to Foundation Aid we’ve been calling for so it reflects what students need today and what it actually costs to provide an education. There is still time to shape … Continue reading Don’t let the final budget ignore the real cost of educating students
