In a letter to the editor, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla says that a vote for Republican gubernatorial nominee is a vote against their public schools.
Over the last two years we’ve come to see how vital our public school system is to our community. When the pandemic forced us to close schools, it underscored how many basic necessities our schools provide for Hoboken’s children; not just education, but meals, emotional support, and access to the internet.
I was incredibly proud of our Hoboken Public Schools for being one of the only districts in the entire State to open full time for the 2020-2021 school year.
They could not have done this if they didn’t have a strong and supportive financial foundation. So when I hear Jack Ciattarelli continually attack our community, it underscores for me how much is at stake for in our election for our school children.
In the past month alone, Mr. Ciattarelli has made no less than 11 comments about slashing funding for the Hoboken Public School District, reiterating this fact once again at a campaign rally yesterday in Hoboken.
His focus on the price tags of homes rather than the needs of our schoolchildren shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the City and our school district.
His proposed funding formula will immediately lead to budget shortfalls for our school district, including our early childhood education program.
This leaves the district with no other choice but to raise taxes in order to maintain the high level of education and care our children deserve.
He is peddling a “reverse-Robin Hood” policy that will redistribute resources to wealthy communities at the expense of districts like ours. This “us vs. them “ approach is simply bad policy.
I strongly urge Hoboken residents to vote for Governor Phil Murphy, who has proven to be a friend and partner to the City of Hoboken and our public school system, understanding the nuanced needs of our school community are not reflective of median income or home values.
He secured $150 million to safely reopen schools and close the digital divide for all 231,000 students statewide, including those in Hoboken.
He’s set aside funding for tutoring, after school programs, and summer programs, as well as for additional mental health resources for children as they transition back to school in-person, again directly benefiting Hoboken’s students.
And Governor Murphy has been committed to, and focused on, providing universal early childhood education to our state’s youngest students.
He has a proven track record of prioritizing our students needs and providing the necessary investments to ensure a top-notch education.
The choice is clear and the stakes for our children couldn’t be higher: re-elect Governor Phil Murphy.
Ravi S. Bhalla
Mayor, City of Hoboken