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There Are Alternatives to Education Cuts
It deeply offends me that our Democratic Governor, David Paterson continues to ignore sound alternatives addressing New York State’s deficits. Instead, his proposed budget cuts slash $686 million from public education. His cuts include $223 million from New York City’s schools. Fifty-one percent of the cuts target high poverty school districts and will impact the most vulnerable and neediest students. These cuts would disproportionately hurt Black and Hispanic students. It would deprive them of class materials and many other education resources. Among Black and Hispanic students, the drop-out rate continues to grow. Patterson’s cuts will make matters worse. Patterson proposes cutting millions of dollars from transitional bilingual and dual language student programs. These cuts would make it more difficult for bilingual students to assimilate into the culture and foster achievement gaps with traditional students. We should not ignore the current fiscal crisis facing New York. However, Black and Hispanic students cannot disproportionately bear the burden of the crisis. The Governor must stop trying to balance the budget on their backs and must weigh fiscally sound alternatives that I proposed. For example my prescription drug bill, allowing us to purchase prescription drugs at much lower prices from Canadian pharmaceutical companies, would save the State millions of dollars. I also sponsored a bill that would vastly improve the State’s efficiency in collecting state sales taxes from credit companies. We can also tap into the state’s “Rainy Day” fund. These alternatives are more preferable than cutting school budgets. The State’s highest court determined that New York has failed its constitutional obligation to provide Black and Hispanic children with a “sound basic education.” As a result, in 2007, the legislature approved landmark reforms that shifted more state funding to high poverty school districts. The Governor’s proposed budget would be a major obstacle to the legislation. Quality education strengthens our families, communities, and economy. It is essential to economic recovery and path out of poverty. Therefore, I will block any proposal by the Governor will cut education funds. Black and Hispanic children should not pay the price for the current financial downturn. Senator Diaz should be commended for taking the time to make sure his official voice is heard on blogs like Room Eight. However, he and his colleagues are employing the same old tactics used by irresponsible legislators all over New York. Instead of facing NY's budget deficits in a serious way, state legislators are either foolishly ignoring the problem or, like Senator Diaz, resorting to worn out statements about "balancing the budget on the backs" of [insert your special interest here]. Now add to this the Senate Democrats' setting a new record for ineptitude (inability to lead their Chamber, Pedro Espada, Hiram Monserrate, poorly timed trips to China, failure to adopt any meaningful legislation, etc.,). Political pundits have uniformly interpreted this year's electoral results as the voters being in a bad mood. The stage is set for a strong Republican showing in 2010 if the State GOP can get its act together. Giuliani/Lazio vs. Paterson/Cuomo, Pataki vs. Gillibrand would just be the beginning. Third party and other insurgents (especially those who lost in Council races this year) might think about running against Democratic officeholders in Democratic primaries on an anti-incumbent theme. Golisano could help to make mischief if he so desired. And no matter the outcome, the Democrats would have no one to blame but themselves.
Unlike earlier comments expressed here, I'd like to thank Senator Diaz for standing up for our children - our future - and preventing cuts from education. What is wrong with the Governor or the other Senators that they are not jumping at any suggestions about how to fill the budget gap? If Senator Diaz's proposals are possible, why not pass them ASAP? And thank you Senator Diaz for reminidng everyone about who said yeah yeah sure sure at the recent Senate Finance Committee hearing and then watch what they say when the budget comes up for a real vote. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Whatever happens to the serfs doesn't matter. Only the manipulation of who gets the blame, which is what I interpret anything like this as being.
Forget this year. My question is what is going to happen in November 2010, which has already been determined by what has been done in the past. Playing game for a few months isn't going to cut it.
I want to hear who should have to pay more and get less, and why, in amounts that add up to $billions and $billions. And what life will be like afterward. Anything else is just posturing.
again i ask how many gazillions does it take to get a kid to sit in a seat and pay attention to a teacher?? in nyc the answer seems to be that there ain't been enough money printed yet to have a nyc kid get an education. when you have a culture with no discipline; no respect for education; no self control, all the money in the world ain't gonna make a difference. bring back the draft. there's no budget deficit in nyc, there's a 20% surplus; all you gotta do is find it.
The Governor isn't making the cuts - the system leaves us no choice - they have milked the cash cow until the cow ran dry. Reform from within - and it has nothing to do with who suffers the most when it comes to our children. An Inspector General quwstioned 16 million in spending on a college campus and was terminated, the general coucil of a college questioned spending by executive members and was terminated, the bumper/rubber/yak rooms we pay for should be closed, wasteful spending is still there and accountabilty taboo on campus, so if you do that first, we probably will not have to cut anyone. Reform first - long overdue. VTY Robert Stein "Reverand" - It is surprising that you're so concerned about the civil rights of ethnic minorities, but could care less about the rights of homosexuals. I pray that you find God soon and wash away the blood that covers your hands.
Education is such a basic requirement that its flow of information cannot be compromised by budget cuts. As pointed out, since this initiaitive will affect the economically weaker section of the society such as Black and Hispanic children, prudency should be displayed in adopting the budget cuts in education. Hope, good sense will prevail over policy makers. Thanks for the post. mens messenger bags
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All the money will be going to the pension enhancements you voted for, the debts you voted for. And retired public employees, which hopefully you will be soon enough, will continue to pay no taxes on their incomes.
You've done deeds -- subsequent words merely add insult to injury. We will be living in the world you and others like you arranged for some time -- even after the downturn is over. The last thing I want to hear is members of the New York State Legislature whining about how terrible it is that taxes are going up, services are being cut, benefits are being reduced, wages and benefits for future public employees reduced. Even as the interests that have kept all of you in office give back nothing and probably grab even more.