Page 9 - QT-11-26 03-12-26

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 9

Velázquez, Booker, Frost Introduce Bicameral Bills to Tenants Demand Negative Rental
Strengthen Music And Arts Education Adjustment, Improvements To 311, And

Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D- Our Schools Month’ because ac- National Association of Secondary Accountability For Negligent Landlords
NY), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), cess to music programs should not School Principals, National Con-
and Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) depend on a student’s zip code, certs, National Dance Education At Queens Rental Ripoff Hearing On
introduced two pieces of legisla- income level, or background. When Organization, National Education
tion to strengthen music and arts students can learn, perform, and Association, National Federation March 5th, 2026
education in schools nationwide. create, they gain skills that carry of State High School Associa-
The Music In Our Schools Month into every part of their lives. En- tions, National Music Council, (Continued from page 8) the most expensive city in the
Resolution, led by Velázquez and suring every student has access to Nuvo Instrumental, Organization country and the world, and we
Frost in the House with Booker in high-quality music education is an of American Kodály Educators, at Chhaya CDC. are paying thousands of dollars
the Senate, would affirm the im- investment in their growth and in Percussive Arts Society, Quadrant “‘La renta sube sube, el pueblo for uninhabitable, dilapidated
portance of music education, high- the strength of our communities.” Research, Recording Academy, sufre sufre’ is a chant we say, housing with insufficient heat and
light the benefits students receive - Rep. Maxwell Frost Rhythm and Blues Preservation which means the rent gets higher hot water, hazardous mold and
from its instruction, and recognize The GAAME Act will amend the Society, Rock and Soul Forever and higher while the people suf- rodents, including mice and rats,
the dedication of music educators Elementary and Secondary School Foundation, Save the Music Foun- fer. Many of our members are not ceilings and walls caving in, to
across the country. The Guarantee Act (ESEA) to encourage the use of dation, State Education Agency Di- able to pay their rents and are get- name a few examples of the hor-
Access to Arts and Music Educa- Title I funds to: rectors of Arts Education, Wurrly ting utility shut off notices--in the rors our tenants continue to face.
tion Act of 2026 (GAAME Act), 1. Bolster the number of certified LLC, and Young Audiences Arts wealthiest city in the world, this is Fully public, decommodified, and
led by Velázquez in the House music and arts educators available. for Learning. no way to live but it’s the reality invested in housing is the only
with Booker in the Senate, would 2. Purchase equipment for music The following organizations of so many in our city. We look way, structurally, institutionally,
incentivize the use of federal funds and arts courses (sheet music, in- support the Music In Our Schools forward to Mayor Mamdani keep- and systemically, to improve the
to improve access to music and struments, etc.) Month Resolution: American As- ing his promise of delivering a material living conditions of all
the arts for disadvantaged and 3. Provide further professional sociation of Colleges for Teacher rent freeze, but what will ease the tenants and to ensure their hous-
low-income students, taught by development for certified music Education, American Federation burden for thousands of tenants is ing security in their communities.
certified arts and music educators. and arts educators. of Teachers, AASA-The School for their rent to be rolled back.” - We oppose the fact that
“Access to music and arts educa- 4. Improve access to sequential, Superintendents Association, The Organizer with the Ridgewood NYCHA and Section 9 tenants
tion shouldn’t depend on a student’s standards-based arts and music American Orff-Schulwerk Asso- Tenants Union. were excluded from these rental
zip code or family income. Music education taught by certified edu- ciation, American String Teachers “We at Astoria Tenants Union rip-off hearings, and we stand
builds confidence, sharpens critical cators. Association, Arts Ed NJ, Associa- unequivocally stand with tenants against the demolition of any
thinking, and opens doors that stay The GAAME Act and the Music tion for Popular Music Education, and not landlords, nor the com- public housing units. With 7000
open for a lifetime,” said Congress- In Our Schools Month Resolution Chorus America, College Band modification of housing for prof- vacant units in NYCHA and over
woman Velázquez. “As federal arts are cosponsored by: Rep. Yvette Directors National Association, its at the expense of people under 350,000 documented vacant units
funding faces unprecedented cuts, Clarke (D-NY), Rep. LaMonica CMA Foundation, Drum Corps any circumstances. Housing is a in the private market, our gov-
we have a responsibility to fight for McIver (D-NJ), Rep. Eleanor International, Education Through human right and should not be a ernment needs to seize these via
the programs and educators that Holmes-Norton (D-DC), Rep. Music, The Feierabend Associa- commodity that costs anything; eminent domain and convert them
make a difference in classrooms Dina Titus (D-NV), Rep. Dwight tion for Music Education, Hawaii the concept and idea of paying into permanent housing for home-
across the country. I’m proud to Evans (D-PA), and Rep. Danny Youth Symphony, JazzSLAM, rent for shelter should not exist less and housing-insecure New
join Senator Booker and Repre- Davis (D-IL). Kindermusik International, League in any form. Yorkers; this is cheaper and more
sentative Frost in introducing these The following organizations sup- of American Orchestras, Mis- The root issue that these ethical than our shelter system.
bills to invest in music education port the GAAME Act: American souri Alliance for Arts Education, rental ripoff hearings and hous- ICE is colluding with landlords,
and the students who benefit from Association of Colleges for Teacher Music Publishers Association of ing policy officials tend to ignore and we need an indefinite eviction
it,” Education, American Federation the United States, Music Teachers is that the rent is just too damn moratorium with rent rollbacks
“For generations, music and the of Teachers, The American Orff- National Association, Music Travel high for everyone while the cost for New Yorkers. Power to the
arts have strengthened our schools Schulwerk Association, American Consultants, Music Workshop, Na- of living soars and wages do not tenants!” - Doreen Mohammed
across our state and country help- String Teachers Association, Arts tional Art Education Association, across New York City. This is of Astoria Tenants Union.
ing students build confidence, cre- Ed NJ, Association for Popular National Association for Music
ativity, and critical thinking skills,” Music Education, Chorus America, Education, National Association CUNY Chancellor Matos Rodríguez
said Senator Booker. “Unfortu- College Band Directors National of Elementary School Principals, Visits Early Childhood ‘CUNY Recon-
nately, nearly four million students, Association, CMA Foundation, National Association of Music
especially low-income and under- Drum Corps International, Educa- Merchants, National Association nect’ Class at BMCC
served students, don’t have access tion Through Music, Educational of Secondary School Principals,
to music or art programs because of Theatre Association, The Feiera- National Education Association, City University of New York visited the Psychological Founda-
a lack of funding. These two pieces bend Association for Music Edu- National Federation of State High Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodrí- tions of Early Development and
of legislation affirm music’s vital cation, Hawaii Youth Symphony, School Associations, National guez today visited a child develop- Education class located in the col-
role in our schools and will direct JazzSLAM, Kindermusik Inter- Music Council, National PTA, ment class at Borough of Manhattan lege’s early childhood teaching lab.
federal resources to expand arts national, Missouri Alliance for Nuvo Instrumental, Organization Community College to showcase The lab mirrors an early childhood
and music education so that every Arts Education, Music Publishers of American Kodály Educators, the University’s early childhood center so students can get hands-on
child in New Jersey and nationwide Association of the United States, Percussive Arts Society, Quadrant education program offerings. The practice with childhood education
has access to the benefits of music Music Teachers National Asso- Research, Recording Academy, class for aspiring teachers and day activities. The class is offered by the
and arts programs.” ciation, Music Travel Consultants, Rhythm and Blues Preservation care workers qualifies for Governor BMCC Teacher Education Depart-
“As a musician, I’ve seen first- Music Workshop, National Art Society, Rock and Soul Forever Kathy Hochul’s CUNY Recon- ment as part of the Child Care and
hand how music education can Education Association, National Foundation, Save the Music Foun- nect program, which provides free Early Childhood Education associ-
shape a young person’s confidence, Association for Music Education, dation, State Education Agency Di- community college for eligible ate degree program, which offers
discipline, and sense of belonging. National Association of Elemen- rectors of Arts Education, Wurrly adult learners pursuing degrees an infant and toddler track as well
I’m proud to co-lead the resolution tary School Principals, National LLC, and Young Audiences Arts in high-demand fields, including as a preschool and early elementary
designating March as ‘Music in Association of Music Merchants, for Learning. education. The University is work- track.
ing to expand its pipeline of early “BMCC is a launch pad for the
Council Analysis Identifies Nearly $1.7 Billion in Potential childhood education programs to next generation of early childhood
help bolster New York’s workforce educators,” said BMCC President
Resources For FY 2026 in this critical sector as Gov. Hochul Anthony E. Munroe. “Today’s class
and Mayor Zohran Mamdani work shows exactly why BMCC’s teacher
Findings suggest the City can without drawing down New York Among the resources identified toward an ambitious goal for afford- training programs are a cornerstone
avoid tapping the Rainy Day City’s Rainy Day Fund (formally in the Council’s preliminary anal- able, universal child care statewide. of New York’s future. Through the
Fund the Revenue Stabilization Fund). ysis, beyond current projections “I am proud our students are Governor’s CUNY Reconnect ini-
In its Preliminary Budget released from the Office of Management learning child development skills tiative, we are opening a tuition free
Separate Council forecast shows in February, the Administration of and Budget (OMB), are nearly $1.4 at BMCC as they prepare to pursue pathway for adult learners — many
relatively stronger revenue out- Mayor Zohran Mamdani proposed billion from debt service adjust- a wide range of careers serving of whom are parents themselves
look than the Office of Manage- utilizing nearly $1 billion from ments, reductions in long-standing children,” said CUNY Chancel- — to become the highly qualified
ment and Budget for FY 26 & 27 the fund in the current fiscal year. agency vacancies that remain un- lor Matos Rodríguez. “CUNY is early education professionals our
The proposed drawdown of the filled, and unrecognized interest always ready to meet the needs of city needs. I’m proud that BMCC is
Speaker Julie Menin and Fi- Rainy Day Fund would lead to a earnings from entities such as the the city and state and help ensure playing a major role, helping New
nance Chair Linda Lee released vote by the Council by the end Retirees Health Benefits Trust and that we have well-trained early York achieve Governor Hochul’s
the New York City Council’s of March through a Revenue and cash holdings. childhood educators as Governor and Mayor Mamdani’s vision of
March 2026 Economic and Tax Expense Modification to the FY “The Rainy Day Fund was cre- Hochul and Mayor Mamdani work universal, affordable child care by
Revenue Forecast, alongside an 2026 budget sent by the Admin- ated to help protect New Yorkers to make free child care a reality for building a stronger, more diverse
initial analysis identifying nearly istration on February 24. during a true fiscal emergency, 2-year-olds in New York. We also early childhood workforce.”
$1.7 billion in potential savings The Rainy Day Fund was cre- and has never been tapped,” want to remind any adult learn- During the Chancellor’s visit,
and additional revenue for Fis- ated in 2021 by the Administration said Speaker Julie Menin. “Our ers without a degree that they can students learned about sensory de-
cal Year (FY) 2026, which ends of Mayor Bill de Blasio. Since its analysis suggests we are not in start on this career path with a free velopment in children through four
June 30. launch, it has gradually climbed such an emergency position today. CUNY community college educa- separate breakout activities that in-
The Council’s analysis suggests to $2 billion and has never been The Council believes there are tion through the Governor’s CUNY cluded making scent jars, Play-Doh,
the City can maintain fiscal disci- drawn down, even during the re- Reconnect program.”
pline and protect critical services cent migrant funding crisis. (Continued on page 10) Chancellor Matos Rodríguez (Continued on page 11)