Contact: Roslyn Singer
Director of Communications, OU Advocacy
212-613-8227/202-489-4180
rsinger@ou.org

In response to an announcement this afternoon by Police Commissioner William Bratton that the New York City Police Department will provide security assessments at non-public schools, OU Advocacy-Teach NYS issued the following statement:

“We are grateful for Police Commissioner Bratton’s public acknowledgement this afternoon that the City bears responsibility for the security of all schools, including non-public schools. Today’s announcement is a modest first step toward ensuring the safety and security of all of our children. While we appreciate Commissioner Bratton’s leadership on this issue, we continue to question Mayor De Blasio’s failure to support passage of Intro 65, legislation that enjoys widespread and bipartisan support.

“This bill, currently before the City Council, would provide security guards for non-public school students, on a basis comparable to that provided in public schools. This important legislation is sponsored by 44 of 51 members of the New York City Council. Despite this overwhelming support the Mayor has refused to back this critical legislation. We are committed to continuing our work to make sure that the hundreds of thousands of non-public school students in this city are as safe as students in the public school system.”