James Davis, president of the Professional Staff Congress, the union that represents CUNY faculty and professional staff, released the following statement responding to President Thomas Isekenegbe’s announcement that Bronx Community College will shift to remote work and online classes until after Thanksgiving because of the continued lack of heat on campus:
“Bronx Community College can’t keep the heat working because years of delayed maintenance and underfunding have left CUNY short staffed and unable to keep our buildings in safe, working order. The cold that BCC students, 93% of whom are Black and Latinx, felt in class this week was a chilling reminder of how little regard the political establishment has for our communities. And Mayor Adams, who cut CUNY’s City funding by 3% last year, is cutting another 3%!
“Our union shouldn’t have had to demand a shift to online classes to keep students, faculty, and staff safe. BCC should have had heat.
“The people of the Bronx should be furious! The lawmakers in the Bronx should be pounding on the doors of City Hall and the Capitol demanding a New Deal for CUNY and all the money necessary to finally fix BCC. And they should be in BCC President Isekenegbe’s ear everyday demanding progress and accountability.”
“Bronx Community College can’t keep the heat working because years of delayed maintenance and underfunding have left CUNY short staffed and unable to keep our buildings in safe, working order. The cold that BCC students, 93% of whom are Black and Latinx, felt in class this week was a chilling reminder of how little regard the political establishment has for our communities. And Mayor Adams, who cut CUNY’s City funding by 3% last year, is cutting another 3%!
Published: November 16, 2022
