DEMAND MAYOR de BlASIO
HONOR HIS PROMISE TO OUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
In an emotion-filled 2014 City Hall press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio flanked by ex Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver promised a major overhaul to help the special needs kids of the city. Mayor de Blasio said at the time, “Each and every child in this state is entitled to a sound, basic education. Unfortunately, our public school system is not always able to accommodate children with special education needs, and many parents must turn to non-public schools. Parents have had to sue the city for reimbursement of tuition, placing an undue financial burden on these families. Worse yet, parents have to fight this battle year after year...”
Two years have passed since the mayor ceremoniously made those lofty comments, however, unfortunately it turned out to be all talk- and little to nothing has been done in all this time to remedy any of the problems. In fact, the situation has gotten worse and the Mayor repeatedly ignores the calls and emails from other city politicians such as Senator Simcha Felder, which ask him to respond to this issue.
At a recent hearing in Albany with the mayor in attendance, Senator Felder did not waste any time by opening with a resolute reminder to the mayor of the previous de Blasio commitments that are on the record for two years now. Then he bluntly said to the mayor, “That never occurred.” Senator Felder then went on to scold the mayor by letting him know that, “Children and families are still suffering humiliation, and financial hardship.”
If a child has Autism or Downs Syndrome, “there’s no fix for that” said the Senator, so he asks the mayor why these children have to repeatedly apply for their aid year after year after year, costing their families exorbitant legal fees. Senator Felder also cited as an example at the hearing, how numerous calls and letters from the senator in an attempt to help the children habitually went unanswered by City Hall. Felder said that New Yorkers, and families with special needs children now “demand a response!” In his epic and indomitable speech, Senator Felder then told the mayor, “New Yorkers are tired of being insulted and lied to.”
“Why do New Yorkers have to be over-taxed, over-fined, over-ticketed, and can’t be treated like mature adults.. instead of like children who you decide you can’t discipline any other way- and smack them across the face over and over by charging them?! It doesn’t make sense! It doesn’t make sense!” Felder shouted as a sense of frustration echoed throughout the Albany chamber, while de Blasio sat quiet as if he was now a school child being scolded by the teacher for giving excuses about why he didn’t do his homework. When the mayor finally was permitted to speak, he gave a few fairly lame excuses, which were basically a poor attempt to run around Senator Felder’s initial inquiries- and the senator wasn't buying it. Felder, ever the warrior champoining this cause, then held the mayor’s feet to the fire and responded back by saying, “The mayor obviously didn’t hear anything I said.”
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION SO THE MAYOR WILL BE FORCED TO HEAR US ALL, LOUD AND CLEAR; AND THE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN OF NEW YORK CITY WILL FINALLY GET THE ASSISTANCE THEY DESPERATELY NEED (AND WERE PUBLICLY PROMISED TWO YEARS AGO BY DE BLASIO).
Special needs children and their families are suffering humiliation, and financial hardship, being forced to pay exorbitant legal fees because of these broken promises, which are plunging these families into debt and bankruptcy.
Please help now! By signing the petition you are asking Mayor de Blasio to keep all of his promises to the children, so they don't wind up in financial ruin, without an education, or G-d forbid out on the streets (or in homeless shelters) with their families from the massive debt now being incurred through an unnecessary sea of endless red tape, lies, and inaction by City Hall.
These angelic, special needs souls deserve our support. They cannot fight for themselves.
