Staten Island lawmakers have sent a joint letter to New York City Mayor Eric Adams urging his administration to act immediately to prevent potential school bus service disruptions that could impact thousands of students and families across Staten Island and the entire city.

The letter, which is signed by Assemblymembers Sam Pirozzolo (R,C-Staten Island), Michael Reilly (R,C-Staten Island), Michael Tannousis (R,C-Staten Island/Brooklyn) and Councilman David Carr (R,C-Staten Island/Brooklyn), calls on the mayor to exercise leadership and ensure the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP), where a majority of members are appointed by his administration, promptly approves the five-year contract extension between the Department of Education and school bus vendors.

In the letter, the officials stress that while the city's 30-60-day extension provides short-term relief, the issue must be resolved quickly to avoid destabilizing the system. They emphasize that school transportation is a lifeline for working parents and a critical part of daily life for students, particularly on Staten Island, which continues to face major transit challenges.

“It is unprecedented that a Mayor is unable to rally members of the PEP and shows a failure to manage Mayoral Control, which you have fought so eagerly to maintain,” the letter reads. “Your administration must demonstrate leadership and decisiveness now to avoid disruption, confusion, and hardship for our children and families.”

The lawmakers also highlighted the invaluable contributions of school bus drivers, attendants and mechanics who work long hours to safely transport students each day, urging the mayor to stand with them by supporting contract stability and continuity of service.

“Every day, school bus workers begin their routes before sunrise and finish long after most of the city has gone home,” Assemblyman Pirozzolo said. “They carry our most precious cargo, our children (our future), and deserve stability and support from City Hall.”

“This is not the time for political division or bureaucratic nonsense. It is the time for stability and accountability for the students who rely on yellow buses every day and for the families who depend on this service to make their lives work.”

A copy of the full letter is attached.