Andrew Gounardes Dropped the Ball on NYS Funding Afterschool
In June, Senator Andrew Gounardes knew that some schools in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights would not receive funding for their afterschool programs.
Yet, Andrew Gounardes failed to tell families and the community that programs on this side of his district were cut. No one is speaking out from the other side of Gounardes’ district, so their programs must have been funded!
In July, some parents found out that they had to pay thousands for afterschool, while at other schools it is free. (Info)
In August, District 20’s Community Education Council held a meeting and parents were upset that afterschool was cut. Senator Gounardes did not attend, even though he could have attended remotely through Zoom. Gounardes didn’t send a representative from his office with information either.
In August, we saw Senator Gounardes ask Bay Ridge parents to attend a fundraiser for his former employee’s not-for-profit. I’m not sure it’s ethical for a senator to use his position to ask constituents to attend a fundraiser for his friend. Gounardes did not reveal the head of this organization was his former staffer.
The Daily News did a story about the afterschool programs being defunded in our area on August 22nd. (Info here) That’s when Gounardes decided to communicate. It took him TWO MONTHS to share this information! (See here)
Other politicians are sharing information about childcare – Gounardes did not even do that!
Senator Gounardes put $250,000 towards the ferry to Governor’s Island. (Info) People who are hanging out on Governor’s Island on the weekend can afford to pay for their own ferry ride! Many families can’t afford to pay for afterschool.
Year ago, Andrew Gounardes would have been the first person calling out a politician who allowed school programs to be defunded! Now Gounardes is a silent man, who doesn’t share information or have community meetings because he dropped the ball!
By now, Senator Gounardes should have communicated a plan to replace the missing funds!
Hugs,
marlene
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