MAYOR GIULIANI IS JOINED BY EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND LABOR LEADERS TO URGE NEW YORKERS TO VOTE YES ON SCHOOL BOND ACT REFERENDUM
Pledges To Work to Make Sure New York City Gets Its Fair Share
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani was joined today by New York City Schools Chancellor Rudolph F. Crew, Board of Education President William C. Thompson, Jr., United Federation of Teachers President Sandra Feldman, Board of Education members, and leaders in education, business and labor to announce their support of the "School Facility Health and Safety Bond Act of 1997." If approved by the electorate on November 4th, the Bond Act would authorize the issuance of $2.4 billion in bonds for the construction, expansion and modernization of public school facilities.
Among the civic leaders joining the Mayor at the City Hall press conference were NYC Central Labor Council President Brian McLaughlin; Building and Construction Trade Council of Greater New York President Ed Malloy; Randi Weingarten of the United Federation of Teachers; New York City Partnership President Robert Kiley; School Construction Authority Executive Director Martin Raab; School Construction Authority Chair Howard Wilson; Jack Rudin, founder of "Better Schools=Better New York," a coalition of business and labor leaders who are organizing a campaign in support of the Bond Act; and Lew Rudin, President of the Association for a Better New York.
"A YES vote on the Bond Act Referendum is a vote for the future of our children," Mayor Giuliani said. "It will further ensure that vital capital funds are available to improve the school infrastructure and make certain that New York City's school children have adequate and safe environments for learning.
"I commend the members of the 'Better Schools=Better New York' Coalition and the efforts of business and labor leaders to make New Yorkers aware of the importance of this referendum. It is critical that we work collectively over the next two weeks to ensure the passage of the Bond Act. And following its approval by the electorate, we will work diligently to ensure that the City receives fair and equitable treatment in its share of funding.
"Over the past three and a half years, substantial progress has been made in reforming our school system," the Mayor noted. "I trust that the State is now willing to invest significant capital resources into our system because it has more confidence than ever before that the reforms we have made will mean that funds will be spent effectively and responsibly."
Chancellor Crew said, "Passage of the Bond Act will bring us closer to our goals of providing sufficient capacity for a growing student population, upgrading the maintenance of aging facilities and preparing for exciting new initiatives to reduce class size, introduce rigorous new standards at all levels and expand pre-kindergarten programs."
Board of Education President Thompson said, "Our children will be the real victors if this Bond Act is approved by voters. They will benefit from dollars that will fund projects to reduce overcrowding, rehabilitate outdated schools and bring 21st century technology to their classrooms."
"The School Facility Health and Safety Bond Act of 1997," if approved by the voters, authorizes the State to raise up to $2.4 billion to improve public schools. Funding would be available for projects to expand physical capacity in schools, provide technology to school facilities and address other capital needs.
Mayor Giuliani will also testify before the State Board of Regents in support of the Bond Act at hearings to be held this afternoon at City Hall.
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