Brooklyn Borough President

BOROUGH PRESIDENT ANGRILY REACTS TO NAVY RECRUITER'S SUGGESTION THAT MOST BUSHWICK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AREN'T FIT TO SERVE

“I am incredibly angry and outraged that Naval Commander Edward Gehrke, recruiting chief for the New York City region, believes that most students at the Bushwick Outreach Center and Bushwick High School can’t pass a Naval qualifying exam and ‘most have too many drug and/or police issues to even be considered for enlistment.’ To make such a blanket condemnation of an entire group of hard working and dedicated Brooklyn students is ridiculous, incredibly demeaning and just plain wrong. Many Brooklynites have made and will continue to make the ultimate sacrifice by serving our country with distinction. I do not want a single Brooklyn high school student to be dissuaded by Commander Gehrke’s asinine assertion. Brooklyn’s talent pool is incredibly rich, and Commander Gehrke should spend more time aggressively recruiting in our high schools throughout the borough and less time dismissing potential recruits.”