Assemblymember Brennan Launches Petitions, Calls Meeting To Discuss Cuomo's Education & Public Transit Budgets

Photo by Frank

Assemblymember Jim Brennan is not happy with the budget and corresponding legislature recently proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, and he is not about to let it slide. The local representative is inviting neighbors to sign online petitions regarding education and public transport, as well as to attend a meeting discussing these issues at 6:30pm this Wednesday, March 4 at PS 139 (330 Rugby Road at Cortelyou Road in Ditmas Park).

“[I]ncreasing the use of test scores to fire teachers and principals and close schools will not work to improve our public schools; just result in greater demoralization of staff and rejection by students and parents,” reads a statement from Brennan’s office responding to Cuomo’s education-related proposals, which include lengthening New York’s probationary period for educators from three to five years before they are eligible for tenure, putting more emphasis on students’ test scores when evaluating instructors and faculty, and increasing the legal number of charter schools in the state from 460 to 560 before extending over $1 billion in aid for schools.

“Adding 100 more charter schools, along with current charter expansion, will divert tens of thousands of students and hundreds of millions of dollars and much needed resources away from our public schools, undermining and destabilizing them,” the statement continues, later urging Cuomo to help bring $2.2 billion more in state aid to New York schools in accordance with the 2006 verdict in Campaign for Fiscal Equity v. State of New York.

Also concerning to Brennan is Cuomo’s offer of $1 billion of the $15 billion the MTA identified in their 2015-2019 Capital Program as necessary to provide customers with functioning and updated systems through the next several years ($32 billion in capital needs were specified in total, though the MTA has identified $17 billion in other funding). Without the necessary state allotted funds, Brennan worries, riders may face reduced service or even harsher fare hikes.

If you share Assemblymember Brennan’s views, you can make your voice heard by signing one or both of his petitions…

… and attend Wednesday night’s meeting to learn and talk more.