Brown On Budget Cuts To NYC Public Schools

5 Comments:

• 1 MichaelB
  · Apr 7, 2008 at 7:40 pm

  Now that congestion pricing has been defeated, funds for education will be even scarcer as we compete with a mass transit system that’s desparately short of cash. Also, we’ll lose out on the tax revenue that would have come from the increased economic activity that resulted from the decrease in traffic congestion.

  Why did the UFT oppose this plan? Was it for the tiny number of teachers who drive into the zone each day?

• 2 Leo Casey
  · Apr 7, 2008 at 9:52 pm

  MichaelB:

  Your information is incorrect. We did not oppose congestion pricing. In fact, we brought people to the Delegate Assembly to discuss the issue, and when it became clear that there were strongly felt, divided feelings on the issue, we did not take a position.

  Leo

• 3 MichaelB
  · Apr 8, 2008 at 5:14 pm

  Hmm…That doesn’t seem like much of an answer. Am I to assume that the UFT leadership doesn’t have opinions on issues and doesn’t lobby the delegates?

• 4 Leo Casey
  · Apr 10, 2008 at 6:21 pm

  What you should assume is that we think that leadership includes listening to delegates, and when they are deeply and passionately divided over an issue, we take that into consideration — which, in this case, meant taking no position.

• 5 MichaelB
  · Apr 12, 2008 at 8:48 pm

  Does this mean you won’t discuss congestion pricing?