Now we also learn that in this year's state budget, it has been proposed that New York City not share in additional local aid or in reimbursements in healthcare costs. Every single state legislator should recognize New York City as the economic engine of this state. Cutting into the futures of the 7.5 million people that work, live and raise children here is destructive to our budget, the state's budget and economic growth throughout the state. Now, we can begin the negotiations with the critical issues of education, public safety and public health. It should be pointed out right now, we have serious policy differences with the administration's various plans to privatize our public education system.
Public education is about democracy.
We need to believe in it and invest in it. Anything else is abdicating our responsibilities and our beliefs. We will continue to press for a privatization plan for new school construction. We believe this can be done. And we believe the School Construction Authority is filled with bureaucratic red tape.