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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMMarch 20, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
New Leadership. New Direction. A New Philadelphia.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2007
CONTACT: Melanie Johnson
(215) 545-9700
(267) 984-2027 cell
melanie@nutter2007.com
Philadelphia, March 20, 2007 – Today, on the front steps of Community College of Philadelphia, mayoral candidate Michael Nutter told the CCP strikers that the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia needs to weigh in and end this strike.
“Aren’t Mayor’s supposed to provide leadership when a situation like this happens,” said Nutter. “Where is the leadership?”
“In my last year in City Council, I proposed an amendment to increase CCP’s budget by $1 million for FY 2007. In the Mayor’s recently proposed budget for FY 2008, the Mayor cut the City’s funding to CCP by $1 million. Where does this leave the students? Mayor Street can end this strike by putting the money back on the table right now.”
Nutter noted that the City is supposed to provide one-third of CCP’s budget, but currently provides less than 20 %. “The result of this chronic under-funding is that low-income and working class students and adults have to make up the difference and in many cases, they can’t afford to get a college education,” he said. “The City needs to support CCP because it is the one way that we can make education affordable. CCP is the pathway to education and opportunity for many young people and adults. The teachers and the students are all paying a high price for this educational work stoppage.”
“The Mayor can end this disruption for the students at CCP by restoring the $1 million to the FY 2008 budget and advancing the funds needed to close the gap between the CCP administration and their faculty and non-professional staff.”
“Students need to be learning and teachers need to be teaching – the City of Philadelphia needs to end this strike now. I came today to let you know that someone is paying attention. I see you everyday when I drop my daughter off at her public school. I’m the person who is paying attention,” said Nutter.
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PO Box 58550 • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
Phone: (215) 545-9700 • Facsimile: (215) 545-4088
www.NutterForMayor.com
Paid for by Nutter for Mayor, Kahiga A. Tiagha, Esq., Treasurer