TEACH NYS director David Greenfield recently applauded the $500,000 in security grants earmarked by the New York State Senate for private religious schools. The awards of $20,000 per eligible school are critical to ensure that private school children are able to learn in the safest environments possible. TEACH NYS, the only organization that exclusively advocates for parents of private school children, led a coalition that included Agudath Israel, the Sephardic Community Federation and the Catholic Conference in successfully advocating for these funds.
“Nothing is more important than ensuring the safety of our children,” said Greenfield. “In a post-9/11 world, we need to ensure that every single school, whether public or private, has the best possible security paid for by the city and state.”
In applauding the security grant, TEACH NYS recognized the work of New York State Senator Martin Golden and members of the State Senate Republican Conference, including Senators Maltese, Padavan and Lanza for earmarking these grants. These senators have long been leaders in providing private school students with as much government funding as possible. At least eight yeshivahs have already been selected, based on need, to receive these security funds including Chasidishe, Litvishe and Sephardic yeshivahs. For security reasons, TEACH NYS is not releasing a list of the yeshivahs that will receive this funding because many of them do not have any security systems now.
The hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding can be used for things like security cameras, door buzzers, and blast-proof windows and doors. All of these items will improve the safety and security of our children. Many yeshivahs are having difficulty paying for the increased security costs and are welcoming these government funds.
“Baruch Hashem, by working together we were able to bring back much needed resources to our community,” Greenfield explained. “This is just the tip of the iceberg. We will continue working until government covers its fair share of the total cost of yeshivah education.”
Greenfield, who is running in the 44th Council District to fill Simcha Felder’s seat, has received widespread support and contributions from prominent members of every ethnic community in this diverse district.
Aside for overwhelming communal support, Greenfield enjoys the support of over a half-dozen prominent elected officials including Councilman Domenic Recchia, Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny, Assemblyman Vito Lopez, Senator Carl Kruger and Senator Marty Golden.
He is prepared for the September 2009 primary election, and is also ready for a special election in the event Councilman Felder wins the State Senate race against incumbent Senator Kevin Parker and Councilman Kendall Stewart, and leaves the council prior to the end of his term.
He has Felder’s enthusiastic endorsement and strong support and has raised enough matchable money to qualify for the maximum spending in a possible special election in February 2009 and a subsequent primary in September of 2009.
What is remarkable is that Greenfield, a reformer, raised those funds even after accepting upon himself a good government pledge and choosing not to take any Corporate, LLC/LLP or lobbyist checks. Greenfield explained his personal decision to reject contributions from lobbyists by saying, “I just can’t understand how I can take money from people who get paid to influence my decisions. As a frum Jew, I have to hold myself to a higher standard than any other candidate for public office.”
