$100,000 to teach kids critical thinking

June 16, 2007
Council Budget Is Adopted, With Members’ Pet Projects Identified
By RAY RIVERA
New York Times

…Eighteen members put their names on a $360,000 earmark for the Brooklyn Alliance, the borough’s chamber of commerce, for the purpose of “funding support for fireworks on Coney Island and economic development initiatives.”

There was also $100,000 for Chess in the Schools Inc., for using “chess to teach critical thinking and problem solving.” That item had a dozen signatures, including those of Ms. Quinn, Gale A. Brewer of Manhattan and Eric N. Gioia of Queens.

David I. Weprin, chairman of the Council Finance Committee, said the disclosure of member items as well other changes “made this the most open budget in the nation.”

Here is the full article.