Parents, students, and teachers in District 33 all agree that the biggest problem facing public schools in this part of the Bronx is overcrowding.

"There are too few teachers and too many students. I had to find a tutor to teach my daughter math because she isn't learning it in school and was falling behind," said Awilda Rivera, 51.

According to Kiara Herrera, 20, the issue goes back to the time when she went to school; the situation has gotten worse because of the budget cuts.

"The classes are very full," added her friend Lisa Correas, also 20.

Ana Reyes, who is 39 and has 5 children, can't be sure if the problem is the teachers, the schools, or the district, but she does know one thing: there are too many children in the classroom for just one teacher.

José Vargas, the leader of the UFT (United Federation of Teachers) union in the Bronx, explained that the district has always been overpopulated by an average of 10 to 30 percent. Vargas thinks that the district needed to find ways to either increase the classrooms or the number of teachers per class.

State Senator Pedro Espada Jr., Senate majority Leader (D-District 33) and Gustavo Rivera, who is running against him during the primary elections on September 14th, are aware of the situation.

"Last year, the senator had meetings with the Department of Education to discuss how to eliminate overcrowding," said Franck LaBoy, spokesman for Espada. LaBoy affirmed that Espada has tried to initiate campaigns to halt the privatization of the schools.

Rivera said that, according to the Department of Education, the district is filled to 93 percent of its capacity, but that this isn't true. He aims to work alongside educational institutions in the district and the community, which he calls "the educational corridor of the Bronx."

"This is one of the areas with less resources and a higher population. It's absolutely necessary that we deal with education proactively. If we put our heads together, we can improve the system," said Rivera.

Yesterday, the Teacher's Union endorsed Rivera. Vargas explained that Rivera, having been a university professor, is familiar with the circumstances, and that his plan has more options than Espada's.

"Espada has met with us and said what any other politician would say. But when the time comes to take action, he doesn't step up to the plate," said Vargas.

Jonathan Halabi, a math teacher at the High School of American Studies at Lehman College, has confidence in Rivera because of his background as a professor, and said that Espada has not done anything to help education progress.