We, the PTA Executive Board of P.S.15 Patrick F. Daly Magnet School of the Arts, urge all 28 members of the EDC BMT Task Force to vote “No” on the current BMT vision plan on April 11, 2025.


The current proposal for the NYC Economic Development Committee Brooklyn Marine Terminal vision includes not only over 8,600 housing units (75% at market rate), which would essentially double the population of the neighborhood, but also includes plans for a new school.  This is concerning when our own school - one of the oldest and the only fully public elementary school in Red Hook - continues to be plagued by negligent divestment and historically unjust and racist practices that affect our students to this day.

Coupled with the growth of private and charter schools in the area, both of which contribute to the erosion of the right to accessing free, quality public education on a broader scale, the insertion of yet another school amongst predominantly high-rent, luxury housing units would only serve to further segregate the neighborhood.  This is of particular concern to our school community as the majority of our student body reside in NYCHA housing and over 80% of our students qualify for free school lunch.

There has been no formal outreach to our school community or PTA about the BMT plans or the new school site.  We were not invited to be part of a community advisory group.  As a Title I school, we have been identified as an economically disadvantaged institution, but that does not make our interests any less important. On the contrary, if the EDC is serious about its commitment to involve community feedback and participation, it should first and foremost consider the voices of those who are most vulnerable; we believe that includes our 420 students and their respective families.

Please offer our school community - and wider community - a real opportunity for engaging in the planning process by voting “No” on April 11th.  This would allow us more time to help in developing a vision that not only centers restorative justice and equity, but would still be beneficial to all parties involved.  We are not against progress or development, but we are strongly against being excluded from the process.  Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,

The 2024-2025 PS15 PTA Executive Board

Translated versions of this statement (Spanish, Arabic, and simplified Chinese) are available here.

Banner image credit: PortSide New York