C. Richter

Literally hundreds of education advocates, members of many unions and their supporters rallied in New York City Wednesday evening to voice their opposition to a $120 million contract between Verizon and the New York City Public Schools.

Patrick Sullivan, a member of the Education Policy Panel, was one of those who voted against the contract award. In voicing his opposition, he said: “I think we have concerns about Verizon’s conduct under the previous contract and as the Special Commission of Investigations pointed out, we still have funds that need to be returned to the Department from Verizon. The second reason is that I’m not sure that Verizon, given the strike conditions, can actually fulfill its services. A lot of what we have in the school system are the older landlines & copper. I don’t know that the people they are bringing in on a temporary basis can maintain these lines.”

Many times during the evening, the crowd leaped to their feet, fists jutting in the air and roared “SHAME”. The panel ultimately voted to give the contract to Verizon. It was not lost on those familiar with New York City politics, that the panel is ripe with Mayor Bloomberg appointees and basically acts as a rubber stamp on his policy ‘recommendations’.

A primary reason given for the contract award was that the lines had already been installed throughout the school system by Verizon (for which they have not yet been paid) and that any other carrier would have to pay them for their use, thereby increasing costs to the City.

While questions remained regarding previous fraud, panel members were assured that there would be proper oversight. No further mention was made regarding the striking workers or Verizon’s ability to honor the contract with a presently reduced, untrained workforce.

As energizing as the fight was to the protestors, it was obviously disheartening to witness Verizon receiving such a huge contract in light of give-back demands from its middle class union workers.