City Teachers’ Union Votes to Back Espaillat Over Rangel

[hrmjustin]

Jill Colvin

The United Federation of Teachers, one of the most powerful unions in the city, has voted to recommend backing State Senator Adriano Espaillat in his bid to unseat Charlie Rangel, the dean of New York’s congressional delegation.

In a statement released after the vote this afternoon, the union’s president, Michael Mulgrew, praised Mr. Espaillat’s record on education, and argued the Washington Heights lawmaker “understands what New York schools need and will make sure the voices of teachers, parents and students are heard in Congress.”

“He has been a vocal champion for pre-k funding and for additional state aid for education, and a proponent of Community Schools, which put needed health and community services where they have the most impact – inside city school,” said Mr. Mulgrew. “He has also been a leading voice for banning standardized tests for our youngest students, supported a three-year moratorium against the use of Common Core testing for student promotion and placement, and has backed giving the city and state Comptrollers the power to audit charters, particularly charter practices that limit the enrollment and retention of high-needs students.”

Read more at http://observer.com/2014/05/city-teachers-union-votes-to-back-espaillat-over-rangel/#ixzz318NwMP3y

[hrmjustin]

1. Carolyn Maloney to Fund-Raise for Charlie Rangel

http://observer.com/2014/05/carolyn-maloney-to-fund-raise-for-charlie-rangel/

[hrmjustin]

2. Mulgrew Says Espaillat Endorsement Decision ‘One of the Toughest Parts of the Job’

http://observer.com/2014/05/mulgrew-says-espaillat-endorsement-decision-one-of-the-toughest-parts-of-the-job/