January 6, 2013 Dear Mayor Bloomberg: As parents, community leaders and elected officials who care about the

city's public schools, we are shocked by your comments that compare the United Federation of Teachers to the National Rifle Association. Coming three weeks after the senseless killings in Newtown, CT., such an offensive comparison not only vilifies New York City teachers, but also mocks the work they do every day to educate, uplift and protect our children. Your comments are particularly inappropriate given the fact that the UFT was among the first organizations to provide counseling and assistance to the teachers and staff of Newtown after the tragedy. You have earned a national reputation for speaking out against the excesses of the NRA. Your comments Friday, however, show astonishingly poor judgment and are unworthy of you, your position and your record. You owe the teachers of New York City and their union an immediate and unconditional apology. Sincerely,

Peter Abbate New York State Assembly Eric Adams New York State Senate Joseph Addabbo New York State Senate Inez Barron New York State Assembly James Brennan New York State Assembly Gale Brewer New York City Council Margaret Chin

New York City Council William Colton New York State Assembly Leroy Comrie New York City Council Marcos Crespo New York State Assembly Elizabeth Crowley New York City Council Steven Cymbrowitz New York State Assembly Bill de Blasio New York City Public Advocate Michael DenDekker New York State Assembly Jeffrey Dinowitz New York State Assembly Daniel Dromm New York City Council Billy Easton Alliance for Quality Education Rafael Espinal New York State Assembly Rabbi Michael Feinberg Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition

Julissa Ferreras New York City Council Lewis Fidler New York City Council Al Hagan Uniformed Fire Officers Assoc. Leonie Haimson Class Size Matters Brad Hoylman New York State Senate Robert Jackson New York City Council Letitia James New York City Council Corey Johnson New York City Council candidate Michael Kink Strong Economy for All Peter Koo New York City Council Karen Koslowitz New York City Council Liz Krueger

New York State Senate Yetta Kurland Activist/ radio host Rory Lancman New York State Assembly Marc Landis New York City Council candidate Stephen Levin New York City Council Mark Levine New York City Democratic District Leader John Liu New York City Comptroller Alan Maisel New York State Assembly Julie Menin Former Chairperson Manhattan Community Board 1 Michael Miller New York State Assembly Joan Millman New York State Assembly Francisco Moya New York State Assembly New York City Coalition for Educational Justice

Felix Ortiz New York State Assembly Juan Pagan New York City Parents Union Kevin Parker New York State Senate Jose Peralta New York State Senate Nick Perry New York State Assembly Dan Quart New York State Assembly Domenic Recchia Jr. New York City Council Antonio Reynoso New York City Council candidate Donovan Richards New York City Council candidate Camille Rivera United New York Annette Robinson New York State Assembly Linda Rosenthal New York State Assembly

Wanda Salaman Mothers on the Move John Sampson New York State Senate Jeremy Saunders Vocal NY Diane Savino New York State Senate William Scarborough New York State Assembly Toby Ann Stavisky New York State Senate Scott Stringer Manhattan Borough President William Thompson Former New York City Comptroller Javier Valdes Make the Road New York Jimmy Van Bramer New York City Council Helene Weinstein New York State Assembly Mark Weprin New York City Council

Jonathan Westin New York Communities for Change Ocynthia Williams Parent Advocate Ruben Wills New York City Council