The mayor is still insisting that teacher layoffs in the city public school system are going to take place. Yet Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in his budget address that it would not be necessary at all to lay off any teachers. Also, the mayor, in his Feb. 17 news conference on the city budget, said there was an additional $2 billion in funds.
So my question is why, Mayor Bloomberg, are you so insistent that teachers must be laid off when you suddenly have a $2 billion surplus? Our public schools are at the breaking point already with class sizes having skyrocketed all across the city. Now you want to lay off nearly 6,000 dedicated, hardworking teachers? Have you lost your mind? Where is your common sense, Mr. Mayor?
Well, I guess we should just expect this type of politics. You have appointed someone who has never taught or has any educational background that would qualify her to be the city schools chancellor of our city Department of Education. You refused to listen to the public outcry concerning her being selected and appointed. You do not seem to care what the people of New York City want — only what you want, and that is to appoint political cronies into city positions so you can control how they run the various departments, like corporations.
The city public school system is not a corporation, Mr. Mayor, and it never will be one.
John Amato
Fresh Meadows
