Dear friends,
The big news is that NYS has a budget agreement and that it reflects many of the issues we have been working on — an education budget that finally reflects the judicial victory that promised the city a fair share of funding, tax increases on the rich, an excluded workers fund, rent relief for those who need it.
NYS will now have the highest top tax rates in the nation, including two new tax brackets. The tax increase will affect approximately 50,000 wealthy New Yorkers, who have fared extremely well in the pandemic. New tax revenue and an infusion of billions of federal dollars will fund the enormous budget.
In Albany, the revenue bill is nicknamed the Big Ugly. Because of its scope and size, it is not always easy to tell exactly what’s in and what’s out. I fear that Fair Pay for Home Care did not make it in. We live to fight another day.
Yesterday, the NYC DOE announced that usually-mandatory testing for 3rd to 8th graders will not be occurring, except if families opt in for their children to be tested. New York State did not receive a waiver for testing from the Biden Administration; with the support of state officials, Chancellor Porter is satisfying the mandate to conduct testing by offering the in-person testing to families who wish to participate.
This post is late and incomplete (where are the actions!?), which leads to my important announcement. I have signed on to do some policy writing for The People’s Plan, “a collective vision for a City that provides dignity, care, and justice for all New Yorkers.” This work is an opportunity to use what I have learned from writing Work from Home for Justice to serve a broader audience. The policy documents for the The People’s Plan will be used to educate candidates and elected officials. In taking this on, I recognize the need to let something go. That something is my Wednesday posts.
Check out the Housing Platform in the The People’s Plan.
Have a great day!
with love,
L