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Home » PSC Endorses Bill de Blasio for Re-election

PSC Endorses Bill de Blasio for Re-election

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Praises Strong Support of Public Higher Education and Universal Pre-K

The Professional Staff Congress (PSC) announced today its endorsement Mayor Bill de Blasio for re-election. The union is backing de Blasio because of his progressive track record over the last four years, particularly his strong support of public higher education.

PSC President Barbara Bowen said: “Mayor de Blasio came into office promising to fight for universal pre-K, expand the paid sick leave law to cover thousands more workers, and raise the minimum wage for all City employees and contractors. He did that. He has also, with less public attention, increased funding for the City University of New York. And in the weeks since the election of Donald Trump, he has reaffirmed New York’s status as a sanctuary city. As CUNY faculty and staff, we understand the vital role public higher education plays in combating income inequality, and we know that increased City funding for CUNY is making a difference. We also understand the urgency of asserting a progressive agenda at this political moment. There is still more to be done, and we will work with Mayor de Blasio to advance a progressive agenda for New York.”

On Thursday, January 26, PSC’s Delegate Assembly voted to issue the endorsement for de Blasio on the recommendation of the union’s Executive Committee.

Mayor de Blasio has increased funding for CUNY every year he has been in office, including a commitment of tens of millions of dollars for CUNY’s celebrated Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) initiative. ASAP, which has tripled the graduation rate for enrolled community college students, will expand to serve 25,000 students, thanks to the support of Mayor de Blasio and the City Council.

CUNY offers a high-quality education to 500,000 New Yorkers, many of them people of color and immigrants. After years of underfunding at the City and State level, the Professional Staff Congress is calling for a $2 billion increase in annual in City and State funding over the next four years, starting with $300 million in new funding at the State level this year.


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