Letters to the Editor
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
‘Girl’s Murder Sets Off Child Welfare Debate’
It’s absolutely mind-boggling that the first thing former City Council Member Eva Moskowitz did after the tragic murder of P.S. 256 student Nixzmary Brown was point fingers at school personnel [“Girl’s Murder Sets Off Child Welfare Debate,” Lauren Elkies, Page 1, January 13, 2006]. The again, maybe it’s not so surprising.
As chair of the Education Committee, Ms. Moskowitz often went after teachers and other educators without knowing the facts. After Nixzmary’s death, she accused the school of doing “the bare minimum” to notify school officials that the little girl was being abused.
Actually, the opposite is true: School officials, including the guidance counselor and social worker, not only filed reports, but followed up. They made repeated visits to the girl’s home and tried reaching the parents by phone, at their residence, and at work. The mayor acknowledged that the school officials did all they could do – and more – to try to help the little girl.
If Ms. Moskowitz had bothered to wait for the facts, rather than accuse dedicated educators of not doing enough, she could have praised them for going the extra mile. But, as she proved in some of her Star Chamber hearings – most notably her unbridled, unfair, and uninformed attack on the teachers’ contract – she doesn’t want facts; just headlines.
RANDI WEINGARTEN
President
United Federation of Teachers
Manhattan
‘Pataki and Tuition Tax Break’
Education tax credits are not an attack on public school children. They are a boon. In fact, they do not take one single dollar out of the public school system [“Pataki Signaling His Support For Tuition Tax Break,” Jacob Gershman, Page 1, January 11, 2006].
Parents of children enrolled in public schools are paying out-of-pocket for tutoring, after-school programs and other educational expenses. They would get some of that money back from the State. Parents of children enrolled in independent and religious schools would similarly get back a portion of the funds that they spend on their children’s education.
Education tax credits are simply about giving all of New York’s children every possible educational advantage. That is why this common sense approach to education policy, as you reported, has the bipartisan support of Republican Senators like Marty Golden, Assembly Democrats like the Brooklyn Democratic chairman, Vito Lopez, and hopefully our governor, George Pataki.
JAMES D. CULTRARA
Director for Education
The New York State Catholic Conference
www.nyscatholic.org
Albany, N.Y.
‘Illegals and Lost Wages’
Denying Gorgonio Balbuena full compensation for his lost earnings wouldn’t just harm him and his fellow undocumented workers, it would erode the ability of all New Yorkers to fair wages and safe working conditions [“Court to Decide If Illegal Immigrants Eligible for Lost Wages,” Daniela Gerson, New York, January 11, 2006].
Like it or not, undocumented workers are part of our economy in New York, and in the nation as whole, where they make up an estimated 5% of the workforce.
If we say that some people in our economy don’t have an enforceable right to basic labor protections, including the state’s minimum wage, applicable safety regulations, and damages for lost earnings, we give all employers an incentive to cut costs by hiring those who lack these expensive rights. Pretty soon, those rights seem too expensive for anyone.
The off shoring of jobs has already wreaked an appalling toll on the job prospects and wages of working New Yorkers: We shouldn’t also be forced to compete in a domestic labor market with someone legally entitled to only a Mexican wage rate, much less nothing at all.
AMY M. TRAUB
Associate Director of Research
Drum Major Institute for Public Policy
www.drummajorinstitute.org
Manhattan
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