my opponent Peter Harckham introduced a new bill in the state senate that would defund schools that have "race-based mascots" like "Fighting Irish," “Warriors," "Spartans," Scotties" or "Flying Dutchman." No, really. Even the Valhalla Vikings, Mahopac Indians and Horace Greeley Quakers would be at risk of losing their state funding if they didn't change their school nickname and mascot.
New York is facing a massive increase in violent crime, at least a $13 billion deficit, hundreds of thousands are still out of work, thousands of small businesses have been decimated by the lockdowns, parents, teachers and students still don’t know if they’re going back to school, and this is what my opponent is focused on? Defunding schools if he doesn’t like their mascot? Is he serious?
School mascots are a local decision. They don’t need a grandstanding politician in Albany threatening to cut even more state funding if they don’t bend to his will and whims. Local school districts are already facing devastating cuts to school aid and have received little to no guidance on how they should safely reopen in the fall. Our state senator should be focused on that -- not mascots.
This is a major reason why I decided to run-- Albany needs to get its priorities straight. That starts with changing the politicians that care more about mascots than jobs, education and public safety.
Rob Astorino, Republican for New York State Senate in the 40th District.
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