CUNY staff, local leaders rally in Downtown Brooklyn over unsafe building conditions
Staff members say they deal with things like holes in the ceiling, mold, leaks and more.
CUNY staff and local leaders rallied on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall Wednesday to sound the alarm about unsafe conditions at their buildings.
Staff members say they deal with things like holes in the ceiling, mold, leaks and more.
The group is calling on CUNY and the city to provide funding to fix the issues.
“There is a risk of a tile, I'll fall on my head. Squirrels or raccoons inside the campuses, or, as you see, exposed plumbing and black mold," said Arturo Enamorado, a lecturer at Kingsborough Community College.
Associate Professor Jean Grassman says something needs to change.
“People don't realize that they have the right to have a safe workplace. And so, we're wanting to make that a reality," said Grassman.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso was at the rally. He says the conditions are a distraction to students.
“If you’re more worried or you're distracted by mold or leaky roofs, than you are being able to pay attention to your teacher. It's a problem," said Reynoso.
A spokesperson for CUNY issued a statement to News 12 about the situation.
“The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff is CUNY’s top priority. That’s why, over the past two years, the University has invested $850 million in our facilities, completing or advancing more than 100 projects. In the coming year, our goal is to allocate another $400 million for repairs and maintenance, ensuring our colleges continue to provide a high-quality learning environment," the spokesperson wrote.
