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Statements by Council Members Regarding: Court Ruling on Arizona Immigration Law |
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 7-28-2010 Statement from Council Member Danny Dromm, Chair of the Immigration Committee: "I support the federal judge's decision to block key elements of Arizona's immigration law from going into effect because these types of draconian measures against our immigrant population are totally unacceptable. It is our duty and our obligation as people, and as citizens of the United States to ensure that everyone’s rights are respected and that everyone is protected under the law. What these provisions of the Arizona law were essentially going to do is allow the police to use racial profiling to enforce the law and that is wrong and unconstitutional. I'm glad that the judge had the good sense to prevent this from happening." Statement from Council Member Julissa Ferreras: “I commend Judge Boltonc for rejecting Arizona’s unjust law, and thank Attorney General Holder, a son of East Elmhurst, Queens, for his leadership and action in this case. We now need to move ahead towards comprehensive reform of our broken system. Millions of immigrants must be allowed to attain legal status.” Statement from Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito: |
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Early childhood classrooms must be protected |
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 By Karen Alford
NEW YORK TEACHER
Study after study confirms what we already know: early childhood education is the foundation for future academic success. It can mitigate the disadvantages that many youngsters start their lives with and put them on the path of a sound education and bright future. Unfortunately, we are now looking at cuts to both city and state budgets. While we don’t know the exact numbers, we hear that 6,400 teachers are in danger of being cut in the mayor’s latest budget proposal. We would surely lose the rich early childhood curriculum that we know is essential, only to see it replaced by bare-bones, test-driven approach for even the youngest learners and class sizes that dictate management over individual attention. After-school and other “extras” would also be eliminated. |
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City’s Plan to Revamp Day Care Gets Panned |
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By Micah Landau NEW YORK TEACHER
May 20, 2010 
The Administration for Children’s Services came under heavy fire from City Council members and labor leaders at an April 28 oversight hearing on the agency’s proposal to restructure subsidized child care in New York. According to the testimony of agency Commissioner John Mattingly, the purpose of the restructuring is to “raise educational standards, increase family supports and strengthen professional development for teachers.” However, labor leaders such as Tammie Miller, chapter chair for the UFT’s 28,000 family child care providers, panned the plan. Miller was especially upset that neither she nor leaders from the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators or District Council 1707 were consulted during the plan’s creation — despite the impact its implementation would have on their members. “None of us was anywhere near when this discussion happened,” Miller said. “We weren’t invited to the table.” |
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BALCONY: A Contract is a Contract is a Contract! Governor Paterson Must Not Act Unilaterally in Budget Battle |
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By Alan Lubin, Co- Chair BALCONY, BUSINESS AND LABOR COALITION OF NEW YORK The future of New York State demands that a solid foundation of respect exist between state government and its workforce. That respect cannot exist if the public and private sector workers who retain state contracts cannot count on those contracts being honored. BALCONY (www.balconynewyork.com) understands the gravity of the budget deficit facing New York State and that it must be addressed. However, for Governor Paterson to unilaterally abrogate contract law is not only an inappropriate means of trying to balance the budget it also sets a perilous precedent that the New York State government cannot be taken at its word. Additionally, it sours the dialogue between the State and labor at a crucial juncture when consensus and not divisiveness is necessary to prevent the fiscal crisis from deepening while New Yorkers wait for a finalized budget. We must find common ground. Whatever his reasons, Governor Paterson’s decision to bypass the Legislature and withhold $2.1 billion from school districts, his decision to withhold scheduled and collectively bargained pay raises from state employees, and his decision to freeze all bridge and road construction, is the wrong message to New Yorkers. Essentially, these cuts indicate that the Governor believes that progress and safety, as well as New Yorker’s education and health, are less important than protecting Wall Street bonuses. |
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By Kismet Barksdale