“In just 15 days Yonkers will find out whether we are treated fairly in this year’s State Budget.

If we aren’t, our schools face a $45-$60 million budget gap and potential teacher layoffs.

That’s why I joined City Councilmembers, teachers and other union leaders this week to meet with our Albany leaders and tell them this year’s State Budget must finally treat Yonkers fairly.

We met with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who now is one of the three people who will negotiate this year’s budget, and with Senate Education Committee Chair Senator Shelley Mayer, whose Committee is in charge of all Senate education legislation.

Our message was simple: Don’t agree to any State Budget unless it treats Yonkers fairly.

We also met with our new Assemblyman Nader Sayegh and long-time Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, as well as the Governor’s budget staff, and warned that without a fair budget we may have to cut hundreds of teaching positions.

If you want to know what you can do, call the Governor and your Albany representatives. Express your appreciation for their past support of Yonkers Schools, and urge them to stand strong for Yonkers.

Together we can provide the children of Yonkers with the education they deserve.

With everyone’s help I am confident this will be the year Albany stops shortchanging our city.”