Top NYC Political Scientists Raise Thousands of Teacher Union Donations to Criticize Charter Schools

Surprise Surprise!

A stunning example of New York politics at work is that two of the most vocal opponents of charter schools in the state legislature are also among the largest recipients of campaign funds from the New York teachers union and its political action committee.

State Senator John Liu (D-Queens), chairman of the New York City Education Committee, earned $33,300 from his first Senate run in 2018, placing him 3rd behind Senator John Mannion (D-Syracuse) . , who received $35,100 in the same period.

The money for the anti-Charter polls came from both the New York State Teachers’ Union, the parent of the city’s mighty United Federation of Teachers, and its Teachers’ Voice for Education PAC, records from the State Board of Elections show.

The Rev. Ruben Diaz, a former state senator and founder of the Charter Association of Hispanic Clergy, on Tuesday accused Liu of hypocrisy for receiving a first-class public education in New York but depriving parents of the school choice for their children. .

“What is wrong with John Liu? He received a good education at the Bronx High School of Science.

“He took advantage of it. What about black and Hispanic children?” Diaz protested, referring to the majority of students flocking to city charters.

“John Liu and other legislators don’t care about our children while UFT gives them money for their campaigns. They must stop fearing UFT and serve their communities.”

Yating Chu, founder and president of the city’s Asian Wave Alliance political club – also called Liu – who was fined $26,000 in 2017 over a campaign finance scandal that sent a political aide and fundraiser to federal prison, “the only Asian parent I know.” those who are against charter schools.”

Chu claimed that Liu’s ties to the UFT were also behind the passage last year of his controversial bill limiting public school class sizes to between 20 in kindergarten and 25 in high school.

“The teachers’ union certainly benefited from this,” she said.

Chu added, “As chairman of the New York City State Senate Committee on Education, he should be the one to fight to make sure all kids get the best free education.”

Rebecca Shiroff, a former member of the Fayetteville-Manlius Syracuse District School Board, said of Mannion, a former teacher, “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he gets union money and is strongly against charter schools.

“I put myself in the shoes of parents who live in the inner city, especially in Syracuse, one of the poorest cities in the country. I look at it and it absolutely breaks my heart,” she said of the lack of more school choice.

Former Republican Assemblyman John Salso also said, “No wonder Mannion is deeply in touch with the teachers’ union – the majority [politicians] belong to a specific interest group.

“Here is the presentation of the people!” Salka added.

In a prepared statement, Liu’s spokesman said his boss believes the city’s charter school cap “has historically served to strike a balance between giving parents a so-called ‘choice’ against the city’s constitutional obligation to keep public schools open.”

Press Secretary Scott Sieber said the balance “should not be upset, especially now that enrollment in charter and public schools has dropped markedly.”

Seeber also said that Liu has “proudly accepted campaign support from the teachers’ union over the years, steadily turning down much larger contribution offers from wealthy charter bankers.”

Sieber did not immediately respond to a request for documentation of these proposals.

A spokesman for Mannion said, “His opposition to charter school expansion is based on his thirty years of personal experience in the classroom and in the public school system.”

The only state senator to have received more from the teachers’ union since 2018 is Democrat Monica Martinez of Happoj, a former teacher and school administrator who received $40,000 in August 2020 before her reelection loss that year.

But Martinez has not taken a public position on the charters and has not received any union funds since.

State Senators opposed to the Democratic Charter with large union dues since 2018 also include: Brad Hoylman-Segal of Manhattan, $25,400; Rachel May of Syracuse, $23,650 and Michelle Hinchy of Kingston, $23,580.

Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins ​​(D-Yonkers) told reporters that “many” members of her conference “are not necessarily happy with the lifting of regional restrictions” on charter schools.

Stewart-Cousins ​​denied on Tuesday that campaign money was behind it.

“No connection. We are doing our job and will continue to do our job,” she said.

Content Source

News Press Ohio – Latest News:
Columbus Local News || Cleveland Local News || Ohio State News || National News || Money and Economy News || Entertainment News || Tech News || Environment News

Related Articles

Back to top button