Students, faculty and local politicians gathered on Sunday afternoon in front of City Hall in downtown Manhattan, where they kicked off a rally to oppose New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to cut state funding to the City University of New York. The plan would leave New York City primarily responsible for paying the $485 million dollars which many believe would lead to an increase in tuition costs for students.
New York State Assemblyman Michael Blake took part in the rally, which started at City Hall, then made its way through the Brooklyn Bridge, all the way to Brooklyn Borough Hall. “We have 106 Democratic members in the Assembly that oppose the Governor’s proposal,” Assemblyman Blake said. “We have the numbers and we refuse to let this happen.”
While the Assemblyman says the Democratic majority is prepared to act against the proposal, he highlighted the importance of the state’s funding for CUNY and why it plays a significant role in a bigger issue. “The next three weeks are critical because we vote on the state budget.” Blake said.
Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna was also present for the march across the bridge to the borough hall. There she gave a speech in which she condemned the proposal and showed solidarity with CUNY students and faculty.
“The state is walking away from its responsibility,” Deputy Reyna said in our interview. “We should not be saying pay more money, we should be saying how can we make it easy for you. “
Reyna also highlighted that the people who are impacted by the State’s proposal to reduce its contribution to the publicly funded institution are young people of color, who make up a large portion of the institution's highly diversified population. She also stressed how it would take away the potential for students to excel academically when they also have to focus on finding ways pay for increasing tuition. Similar to Reyna’s perspective on the matter were those of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
“Since it’s founding, CUNY has provided access to quality higher education for all, including communities that were not being served by private institutions,” President Adams wrote in a letter to Governor Cuomo. “The Proposed $450 million cut in state funding for CUNY puts that accessible system in jeopardy and will undermine an institution that has provided New Yorkers with an opportunity to improve their economic situation.”
“Cutting State support for CUNY would undermine the effort to fight income inequality and promote opportunity for all New Yorkers,” said Assemblyman Richard Gottfried in a press release.
The sentiment of students at the rally was that they felt betrayed and are being used as pawns in the conflict between the state’s governor and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio who have been publicly feuding with each other over budgeting policies. The consensus among students is that they are very anti- Cuomo. Chants such as “Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Governor Cuomo has got to go” could be heard up and down the rally march on the Brooklyn Bridge.
The event was organized by the University Student Senate for CUNY in conjunction with members of the New York State Assembly, as well as Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
Students could be heard all along the bridge chanting their disdain for the Governor and his proposal. “Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Governor Cuomo has to go.”
The rally is just one of three that students have already conducted within the past three weeks. Two weeks prior, approximately 500 CUNY students and faculty members made their way to Albany, New York to rally against the ill faded proposal. Earlier in the week, the student body government returned to meet with members of the state’s legislation.
