Hi John,

With state budget negotiations coming to a head during the overlap of Passover, Holy Week, and Ramadan this year, we’re reflecting on the great responsibility New York's leaders face as they decide the fates of millions of people.

Despite being ten days past due, Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie remain in a stalemate over budget proposals that carry profound implications for millions of people's lives. Email them now urging them to pass a moral budget for New York’s children and families.

As negotiations stalled in Albany, meanwhile families and communities were gathering to celebrate and observe one of the holiest times of the year for many millions of New Yorkers.

We asked three women leaders from three different faiths to share the spiritual and moral significance of the holidays they're observing. In this video, Rabbi Mira Rivera talks about Passover, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis speaks about Holy Week and Easter Sunday, and Linda Sarsour discusses Ramadan. They share some of the values and lessons these holidays teach, to guide us in being good members of our communities and societies.

What do Islam, Christianity, and Judaism teach us about how to be good New Yorkers? The moral teachings that Linda, Rev. Dr. Jacqui, and Rabbi Mira describe are shared across their three faiths and beyond: feeding the hungry, treating people with dignity and respect, protecting the most marginalized, and sharing responsibility for each other. These are many of the same values that inform our fight for education justice.

As we reflect on what it means to be a good member of our society, we must ask, what does it mean to have a moral budget? Budgets are moral documents. With the passage of a budget, our State leaders have the power to lift people out of poverty, to further education equity, to ensure working families can put food on their tables, and to provide all of our children a path to a bright future.

But with great power comes great responsibility. Budgets also have the power to inflict great harm. Governor Hochul and the State Legislature bear a responsibility to us, the people they represent. This Ramadan, Passover and Easter, we urge them to pass a moral budget for New York’s children and families. Email them now.

In solidarity,

Zakiyah Ansari

Alliance for Quality Education

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