NIXON IN NEW PALTZ
Democratic gubernatorial challenger raps Cuomo, state education funding
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. » Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon came to town Tuesday to rail against a state education funding system that she said cuts college programs and puts an increasing burden on property owners to fund public school districts.
Nixon, a former co-star of TV’s “Sex and the City” and a first-time political candidate, also said Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s tuition-assistance program for students attending state college is more hype than substance.
“Despite Gov. Cuomo’s claims of the widespread impact of his free college program, only 3 percent of SUNY and CUNY students are receiving the Excelsior Scholarship, which our governor said would bring free public college to New York,” Nixon said during a rally in the New Paltz Peace Park, near SUNY New Paltz.
“Excelsior is more headlines and smoke and mirrors than an actual solution to crushing student debt,” she said. “Here at SUNY New Paltz, adjuncts who had been making poverty wages have been laid off. These
cuts hurt students who can’t take classes they need to graduate on time while overworking remaining faculty and staff.”
Nixon addressed about 120 people at a rally organized by the group Radical University Professionals, an independent group of SUNY New Paltz staff members who contend the state budget does not reflect Cuomo’s promises about education.
“In this year’s state budget, state aid only increased
$11 million for the entire SUNY and CUNY system,” Nixon said.
Her appearance in New Paltz came just two days after Cuomo, a two-term incumbent, held a campaign event in Kingston. The two are to face off in a Sept. 13 primary, and the winner will run against the Republican gubernatorial nominee — expected to be Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro — in November.
“As governor, I will fully fund SUNY and CUNY by making the wealthiest New Yorkers pay their fair share,” Nixon said. “We will work
toward a true college-forall program that enables not just 3 percent of students to attend SUNY and CUNY, but all who want to [attend].” She also she favors establishing a commission to raise money for the college-bound children of immigrants, even if undocumented.
Even if Nixon loses the Democratic primary, she still could appear on the November ballot because she has the backing of the Working Families Party. Bill Lipton, the party’s New York political director, said last month that if Nixon loses the primary to Cuomo, his
party leaders will meet with her to find a way to avoid splitting the liberal vote in November and potentially handing the race to the Republican candidate. On Tuesday, though, Nixon declined to say whether she would step aside if Cuomo is the Democratic nominee.
Nixon was joined at the New Paltz rally on Tuesday by Jennifer Metzger, a town of Rosendale councilwoman who is seeking the Democratic nomination in the state’s 42nd Senate District.
Metzger said property tax reform, as it relates to school district funding, is needed.
“We are just one seat away from a pro-education majority in the Senate, and I intend to be the seat that flips it,” she said, a reference to Republicans holding a one-vote majority in the state Senate.
“Relying primarily on local property taxes to fund K-12 education is unfair and unsustainable,” Metzger said. “Many people simply can’t afford to pay another dollar in property taxes. This creates a vicious cycle [that] starves teachers and students of resources and closes off opportunities for the next generation.”
Metzger noted the Rondout
Valley school district, where she lives, was forced to close her sons’ elementary school because of budget cuts.
“They went to three different public schools in three years, and their classes just kept getting bigger and bigger,” she said.
Metzger is one of two Democrats vying to succeed retiring Republican Sen. John Bonacic in the 42nd District. The other is Minisink resident Pramilla Malick.
On the Republican side, Orange County Clerk Annie Rabbitt has declared her candidacy.