Dear Editor:
Recently you published letters questioning state Sen. Frank Padavan's (R-Bellerose) support for New York City schools.
As president of the United Federation of Teachers, I have worked closely with him for many years on numerous issues important to New York City school children and have always found him to be a strong advocate for our students.
The letters you published were directed at the resolution of the CFE lawsuit. Accomplishing things in Albany requires the concurrence of both houses of the Legislature and the governor.
This inevitably leads to compromise. The Senate majority conference has only four New York City members, so it takes a strong voice to keep New York City's interests protected, and Padavan has consistently provided that voice.
Last year, Padavan was critical to the design and ultimate passage of a $13 billion capital plan for New York City, a plan he had been working on for years. This year, Padavan vowed that the final budget would include mandatory class size reductions for New York City schools - and he kept that promise.
While it is true that the Senate education bill did not include class size reductions, the final budget - which is a product of compromise between the Senate, the Assembly and the governor - did.
That budget has $5.4 billion in increased funds for New York City schools over the next four years, and mandatory reductions in class size in all grades.
Padavan deserves the credit for ensuring that the Senate agreed to these critical measures for New York City school children.
Randi Weingarten President,
United Federation of Teachers
