Support those who support our educators

Kew Gardens Hills: To Mayor Mamdani: As president of the United Jewish Teachers, I’m writing because your first budget fails to honor your public commitment to NYC’s paraprofessionals. The original legislation, which enjoys overwhelming support in the City Council, would have provided recurring annual compensation essential to recruiting and retaining qualified paraprofessionals while recognizing the invaluable work they perform. Paras remain among the lowest-paid education professionals, and this budget leaves them behind.

During your campaign, you acknowledged that inadequate pay has contributed to severe staffing shortages and pledged to support recurring compensation. “When it comes to paraprofessionals, we have so many vacant positions because these positions simply do not pay enough,” you said at a mayoral debate. “I support legislation in the Council… which would create a recurring annual bonus so we can actually fill those positions.”

Those were not simply campaign promises to UFT members, they were commitments made to thousands of paraprofessionals who continue to wait for meaningful action. I urge you to work with Council Speaker Julie Menin, the City Council and UFT President Michael Mulgrew to revisit legislation that provides recurring annual compensation. You campaigned on affordability and on standing with working people. Omitting paraprofessional compensation from your first budget is inconsistent with those commitments.

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