The NY Daily News reports:
Taxpayers would be forced to pay for busing kids from yeshivas that have after-hours academic programs under a plan quietly floated by Senate Republicans.
The state and city already split the cost of busing kids to private schools during the regular school day.
But over the objections of Mayor Bloomberg, the Senate GOP wants to go further by requiring bus service for schools that offer classes until at least 5 p.m.
According to Bloomberg aides, 25 yeshivas and three charter schools would qualify at a cost of $3 million to the city and state under the GOP plan.
Costs are expected to soar in future years as more yeshivas and private schools stay open longer to take advantage of the change.
“In a difficult time of budget cuts, when the city is struggling to protect core services, it defies imagination that the Legislature would create expensive new mandates to benefit specific groups,” said Bloomberg spokesman Mark Botnick.
The little-noticed proposal in the Senate’s recent budget plan is said to be gaining traction in negotiations among state leaders.
Critics call it an election-year gift to the influential Brooklyn Jewish community at a time when the GOP is battling to claim a seat that used to belong to convicted ex-Sen. Carl Kruger — a charge Senate officials deny.
Republicans say Brooklyn Jewish leaders requested the change after an Orthodox boy, Leiby Kletzky, was murdered last year walking home from camp.
“All city students deserve a safe passage home from school,” said a GOP spokeswoman.
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6 Responses
This is exactly why David Storobin, and all future REPUBLICAN and/or CONSERVATIVE nominees must be at least viable candidates in our communities, so that BOTH parties no longer take us for either granted or as a lost cause (this does not take into account the clear natural home of Orthodoxy, both morally and fiscally, should always have been the Republican/Conservative parties). The democrats have been claiming to help us for years, yet within 24 hours of us electing a republican, lo and behold, legislation is starting to move to truely help ALL jewish families that have kidsin yeshiva, even if they dont take bussing, it helps our yeshivos!
And I must say that Bloomberg is a disgrace!, this guy came in so weak in the last elections, (I think our district was the only one in Brooklyn which gave him a majority of the votes!) Instead of thanking and be appreciative to the community, he works against us!. He should be ashamed of him self.
what do the “askunim” who say vote democrat say to this?
btw bloomberg has no shame
#2 the mayor WON all of brooklyn except one area in flatbush try again J-E-W-S VOTE thats the problem or actually frum jews we just talk lew is lossing by 120 votes where were we to send this high tax liar home
Bloomberg has plenty of money when it comes to funding radical Toeva people. It’s the frum community that he destests, and he uses the lame excuse of “no money” to help them.
Could it be that GOP senate is proposing financial aid to private schools? Whats next vouchers? Ah wait, that’s a good thing. Hmm where does Fidler stand on Vouchers? Same place where the Teacher’s Union is.
And if the budget is to high, maybe we should actually do what David Greenfield once suggested. Instead of spending 3K per child a year of Gov. bussing, put the contract up for a bid to any private company. I am paying 1,600 a year for private bus. Much less then what the state spends.
DOE claims it costs them 11.5K per child a year. I can’t think of an Orthodox Yeshiva in Brooklyn that wouldn’t be happy to have every student come in with a 6,000 vouvher. The reason some of us are asked to pay 7 or 8k a year, is that because the Yeshivas have to take kinds that can’t even pay 5 or 4. But if everyone gets at leased 6k, it will balance out nicely.