Dear Friend,I'm hoping you can take a moment to help out an amazing group of students who are organizing to stop the MTA's plan to end free student MetroCards.
The Public Advocate's Office has been working hard to raise awareness about the importance of the MetroCard program and the impact that its elimination could have on students from low income families. Today, we are asking you to support hundreds of students from the Urban Youth Collaborative and Students for Transportation Justice who, along with Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, will be meeting with the MTA's Chairman Jay Walder this Wednesday, March 17, to urge him to save their MetroCards.
The students, with the help of the Working Families Party, have put together a "parents and teachers" petition that they will take to the meeting to make clear to the MTA how important free student MetroCards are. They have asked us to help spread the word about this petition.
If you are a parent or a teacher, can you take a minute to sign on and share this petition with others who might be interested?
The petition, which is available online www.savestudentmetrocards.org , says:
"We are parents, teachers, and family members awed by the enthusiasm of NYC students who are going all out to save their school MetroCards. These students shouldn't pay for Albany, the City and the MTA's budget troubles. We support them in their fight. Please save Student MetroCards."
We want to gather 5,000 signatures before the meeting on Wednesday. These students have been fighting for months to pressure leaders from the MTA, City Hall and Albany to save their MetroCards, and it's time to show that parents and teachers have a huge stake in this, too.
Please sign the petition and help save free student MetroCards. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 212-669-7200 if you have any questions.
Respectfully,
Jose Davila
Director Community Organizer Department
Office of the New York City Public Advocate
PS. Please sign the petition now and forward it to your friends!