Bx Prez Targets Education in State of Borough Speech

By REZA MALEK

Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr. sharply criticized CUNY and the Department of Education in his 2016 State of the Borough Address Thursday morning at Cardinal Hayes High School.

The speech covered topics ranging from infrastructure, housing, tourism, sanitation, and other topics crucial to the only mainland borough. However, the audience seemed to react more to education.

Diaz proposed that the Department of Education foot the bill for remedial classes to ensure that all students were college-ready.

“If you earn a public high school diploma, shouldn’t you be prepared to be in college?” he asked, pointing out that “more than 78 percent” of CUNY community college students who graduated from a public high school took remedial courses last year. “Students should not be forced to pay to catch up in college after their high school failed them. I propose that the Department of Education absorb the cost of remedial classes at CUNY for public high school graduates.”

The Democratic borough president also weighed in on the raging controversy regarding public versus charter schools.

“I support charter schools, and I also support public schools, but what i support more than anything are our children,” he said.

Echoing some of the themes from the Democratic presidential race, Diaz added, “People of this city cannot afford to pay extra. We need to do more to keep our college students from accumulating debt.”

In regards to all upcoming proposals and developments, including education, President Diaz said that “we are planning with a purpose. This has been an incredible year, and 2016 promises to be even greater.”