Over the past few weeks, I’ve been the target of vicious and unsubstantiated personal attacks and accusations in the CECD2 election—an attempt to distort who I am, what I stand for, and my vision for the children and families of District 2. Disagreement is a natural part of public service, but publishing falsehoods as fact is not. It’s actually defamation.

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Let me set the record straight:

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• I am not, and have never been, a member of the MAGA movement. I am not affiliated with Moms for Liberty in any capacity—I do not work with them, coordinate with them, or receive support from them. While I know individuals across the ideological spectrum, that does not imply endorsement or alignment. Furthermore, neither I nor any education advocacy group I’ve worked with is backed by billionaires. For the record, I don’t even know any billionaires.

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• Two weeks ago, several local politicians signed a letter to the Chancellor alleging dysfunction within CECD2. I was disheartened to see respected leaders lend their names to a document riddled with inaccuracies. The letter falsely claimed that a proposed by-law amendment would eliminate public comment sessions—an assertion that is both incorrect and legally impossible.  The first of the council’s two public comment sessions often exceeds two hours. The proposed amendment, proposed by another councilmember, called for only the second session to be canceled, and I suggested only in the event of a time constraint. Another claim suggested attendance records had been manipulated after minutes were approved. In reality, two of the cited meetings had not yet been approved and contained clerical errors. I personally reviewed each case, ensuring that every excusal had been properly documented and submitted in accordance with Council rules. No member should face removal for legitimate, documented absences. I pledged to provide supporting documentation for every correction, and I followed through, attaching documentation to every corrected set of minutes. My attendance and punctuality at our CECD2 meetings have been near-perfect, missing one meeting all term.

 

Unfortunately, while hurling insults and false accusations against me, some candidates and their surrogates overlook how other Councilmembers have used meetings to push their personal politics and ideology rather than focusing on educational policy. Instead of prioritizing the voices of District 2 parents and students, these efforts have centered the opinions of outside activists, discouraging meaningful participation in discussions that directly impact our schools, leaving many parents fearful to come and speak  at our meetings about any number of issues that concern them and their families.

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Beyond the letter, anonymous and inflammatory flyers have repeatedly circulated near my son’s school, distorting and/or fabricating my positions on key education issues. To clarify:

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On class size: I support smaller classrooms and welcomed the recent funding approval. But implementation matters. Thousands of new teachers will be needed—where will they come from, how well will they be trained, and will they be deployed to underserved community schools? Meanwhile, overcrowding remains a real issue. In some neighborhoods, families already struggle to secure spots at their local schools. Lower class sizes could lead to rezoning, forcing some children to attend schools far from home. Gifted and talented programs, as well as sought-after middle and high schools, may need to reduce enrollment. We need to be smart about this.

 

On LGBTQ+ support: As the council’s only open-LGBTQ member, I proudly co-sponsored Resolution 247: In Support of Our D2 LGBTQ+ Students and Families and played a key role in securing its passage. Repeatedly litigating a non-binding vote concerning a discussion about school sports has hijacked our council, essentially blackmailing us into capitulation. 

I entered this race because I care deeply about public education and the well-being of our children. I believe in honest, respectful dialogue and the power of facts over fear.

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Together, we’ve made meaningful progress. With my support and leadership, we reinstated geographic priority for select Manhattan high schools, reducing long commutes and improving access for our kids to local schools. We expanded honors tracks in middle schools. We pushed for greater transparency in literacy education. I have consistently advocated for student safety and support—defending school safety agents, securing access to Narcan, protecting students in temporary housing from Mayor Adams’ 60-day shelter limit, and fighting to end early voting in school buildings to minimize disruptions. I fought to preserve the SHSAT contract for our specialized high schools.

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To everyone who has reached out with support, questions, or concerns—thank you. I remain committed to transparency, fairness, and collaboration. District 2 deserves leadership rooted in integrity, not division. Feel free to reach out if you want to talk more.

 

Sincerely,
Craig