The last act of a potentially tragic drama: for your kids, make three calls today!

So far there is no budget deal apparent; the  Mayor’s office reportedly rejected an offer by union leaders to provide funds from their reserve fund to prevent layoffs because he thought the conditions were too onerous, including limiting the expansion of consultants:

“At issue is preventing the reduction of the municipal work force; they said the Bloomberg administration was using consultants to replace city workers who left or retired as a way to gradually eliminate positions from its payroll. “ (Times) 

Bloomberg news cites the last time in 1988 when the Council voted their own budget over the mayor’s veto, and  Giuliani impounded the funds for almost six months.   

Daily News  says that “Council members say they need a budget deal by Monday – Tuesday at the latest – in order to have time to print bills and take care of procedural matters ahead of the June 30th budget deadline.”

This now looks really bad.  If teachers are laid off this will be the first time in the city’s history at a time of rising city revenues.  Council insiders say that phone calls from parents could really make the difference between massive layoffs and none at all.

So this is the time to make your voice heard, before its too late:

1 – Call 311: tell them you will never forgive Bloomberg if he eliminates 6,000 teaching positions, and you will hold him personally responsible for hurting NYC kids.

2-call your Council member; number by clicking here: The message is the same same, or tailor it, but make it clear that s/he must be sure to restore these positions, for the sake of our kids.

3-call Speaker Quinn’s office: ditto.  Her phone numbers are here:

(212) 564-7757 (if you are her constituent) or (212) 788-7210 (if you are not.)

We have now  reached the last scene of the last act of a potentially tragic drama that will determine the future of our schools and our children for years to come.  Class sizes, especially in the early grades, have been shown to have a significant effect on their likely success later in life.  See this and this study.

See also this report from the Public Advocate’s office, which shows that in the 1970’s, the last time teachers were laid off, it took a decade or more for schools to recover in terms of their teacher/student ratio.

Even if you have called before, do it again.  Do it for your kids and do it now!

And please forward this message to others who care.
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Here is the email I got after I called 311, acknowledging my complaint; feel free to post yours in the comments section, but make the call now!

From: reply@customerservice.nyc.gov [mailto:reply@customerservice.nyc.gov]
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2011 12:41 PM
To: LEONIE@ATT.NET
Subject: City of New York Auto Acknowledgment Correspondence # 1-1-662625007

Dear LEONIE HIMSON:
Thank you for contacting the City of New York. Your message has been forwarded to the appropriate agency for review and handling.

For future reference, your service request number is 1-1-662625007.

Sincerely,

The City of New York

This is an auto-generated system message. Please do not reply to this message. Messages received through this address are not processed. Thank you.

The information you have provided is as follows:
Form: Customer Comment
Topic: ED
Name: LEONIE HIMSON
Street Address: 124 WAVERLY PLACE
City, State Zip: NEW YORK, NY 10011
Country:
Email: LEONIE@ATT.NET
Message:
CALLER SAYS IF THE MAYOR ILLIMINATES THE 6000 TEACHING POSITIONS SHE WILL HOLD HIM PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HURTING OUR KIDS. HE WILL NEVER RECOVER HIS REPUTTATION