GothamSchools — daily independent reporting on NYC public schools

One Bronx public school parent wants to make an unusual barter with Mayor Bloomberg.

If the city brings back after-school programs for her four children in the Bronx, Evelyn Rivera will stop smoking, she told reporters from AM New York today.

“Stress brings the cigarettes back every time: Reduce the stress of New Yorkers and they’ll stop,” she said.

Principals’ budgets are being cut by 4 percent this year to save the city $313 million. Since 2007, schools have seen a total cut of 12 percent and many schools said goodbye to their after-school programs years ago.