By: John Furman
In March, the Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc. will be organizing a series of marches and demonstrations of local parents, students, teachers, and community members to demand education justice in New York. In the wake of Betsy DeVos’ confirmation, the People’s March for Education Justice will focus on resistance to the Trump-DeVos agenda on public education and will advocate for a more progressive state education agenda. We will ask Governor Cuomo to reject charter school expansion as well as extend and expand the millionaire’s tax to provide full funding to public schools.
In addition to Utica, marches are already planned for Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Kingston, New York City, and Schenectady.
We will be marching to demand: An end to the systemic racism and economic injustice that defines school funding in New York State
Fully and equitably funding public schools statewide, including the $4.3 billion in Foundation Aid owed to schools as a result of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity and rejection of Governor Cuomo’s plan to repeal this funding Raise the Age and stop the criminalization of our youth Ending the state’s over-reliance on high-stakes testing An end to the privatization of public education and rejection of Governor Cuomo’s plan for a massive expansion of privately-run charter schools Expansion of childcare funding and delivering on Governor Cuomo’s unfulfilled promise for universal full-day pre-K Making SUNY and CUNY free for all Ensuring all public schools, colleges and universities are Sanctuary Schools which will not aid federal officials in the detainment or deportation of students Extending and expanding the millionaire’s tax, closing the Wall Street hedge fund carried interest loophole, and eliminating wasteful corporate tax giveaways made in the name of economic development. These plans would bring billions to fund high-quality education for all and so much more.We are seeking help to organize a march in Utica. Please contact the Central New York Citizens in Action at (315) 725-0974 or email cnycitizenaction@gmail.com for more information on how you can assist in our organizing efforts.While We Were Dreaming – President Trump Stole What We’ll Need When We Wake Up.Deep cuts to domestic spending to fuel increases in defense expenditures make American dreams impossible to become realities.
These plans would bring billions to fund high-quality education for all and so much more.We are seeking help to organize a march in Utica. Please contact the Central New York Citizens in Action at (315) 725-0974 or email cnycitizenaction@gmail.com for more information on how you can assist in our organizing efforts.While We Were Dreaming – President Trump Stole What We’ll Need When We Wake Up .Deep cuts to domestic spending to fuel increases in defense expenditures make American dreams impossible to become realities.
On March 2, the Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc. along with more than 2,000 federal, state and local organizations making up the NDD (Nondefense discretionary) United coalition, delivered to Congress a letter calling on Congress and the President to “work together to protect NDD programs from further cuts and end sequestration.” The letter continues, “Such sequestration relief must be equally balanced between nondefense and defense programs.”
John Furman, President of the Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc. said: “We are calling on Representatives Claudia Tenney (R-NY 22nd District), Elise Marie Stefanik (R-NY 21nd District) and Representative John Katko (R-NY 24th District) to listen to Central New York residents and oppose cuts to NDD programs. Overall NDD appropriations have been cut severely and disproportionately in recent years. More cuts will have a painful impact on Central New York, depriving residents of vital and necessary services in areas such as infrastructure and housing, veterans services, education and job training, National Parks, medical and scientific research, and public health, safety and security. Local governments and nonprofit agencies rely on federal funding to provide many services to residents. Cuts will hurt real people, devastate the local economy, deprive children and seniors of services, and undermine our health and security.”
One-third, or $54.3 billion, of New York State’s FY 2018 All Funds Budget is comprised of federal funds. Under President Donald J. Trump, and with a newly-empowered, Republican-dominated Congress taking control of the federal budget, the potential for substantial cuts in domestic spending poses gargantuan challenges for the New York State budget and the budgets of local government entities throughout the state (as in other states and localities around the country). local governments are also highly dependent on federal aid receive a total of roughly $16 billion annually in federal funding. Federal aid received by local governments around the state mainly goes to social welfare, public health, and transportation programs. While federal aid represents six percent of local government revenues, state aid accounts for 23 percent of local revenue; so, local governments would certainly be affected if significant federal budget cuts severely constrain the state’s financial picture and its ability to provide local assistance.
“While we were dreaming, the President stole what we’ll need when we wake up,” said NDD United co-chair Benjamin Corb following the President’s remarks. “The reality is, every single area the President highlighted in his dramatic close are areas that rely on a robust investment from the federal government in non-defense discretionary spending, the very part of the budget President Trump is slashing by $54 billion in order to pay for his military buildup.”
Examples of Nondefense discretionary or “NDD” programs are veterans affairs, medical and scientific research; education and job training; infrastructure; public safety and law enforcement; public health; weather monitoring and environmental protection; natural and cultural resources; housing and social services; and international relations. Each day these programs support economic growth and strengthen the safety and security of every American in every state and community across the nation.
