Mayor’s Dead Serious About School $ Campaign

Any thoughts that Mayor Michael Bloomberg was grandstanding in his initial threats to challenge the state senate in an effort to secure a court-ordered multi-billion dollar payment for the city public school system went out the window last week when the determined, wily mayor dropped the other shoe.

After previously shaking up senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno with threats to his continued control of the state senate, the mayor zeroed in on Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver by canceling school construction projects in his district and others throughout the city for lack of funding.

The cancellations, the mayor figures, in an election year, will bring down the wrath of school advocates and students’ parents on Silver, Bruno and Governor George Pataki for their refusal to abide by a judge’s order to give the city $9 billion for school construction and an additional $5.6 billion a year for shortchanging the city’s school system for decades.

Among the 21 much-needed school building projects set aside, at least four are in Queens in the district of state Senator Serphin Maltese, whom the mayor has threatened to challenge in this year’s election by backing City Councilmember Joseph Addabbo Jr., an Ozone Park Democrat.

Another Queens pol singled out by the mayor was Assemblymember Catherine Nolan (D–Ridgewood), chair of the key Education Committee.

The mayor’s latest challenge intensifies the pressure on Maltese and Bruno. More importantly, by attacking Silver and Bruno he is targeting two-thirds of the state’s top leadership figures who can override Pataki’s intransigence and stubborn and disrespectful refusal to comply with the court order from the state Court of Appeals, the highest tribunal in the state.

Hoping to jack up the pressure, the mayor, in his latest move, also urged New Yorkers to contact their Albany legislative representatives, going so far as advising the public to call 311 to get their representatives’ telephone numbers.

He also asked the public to withhold campaign contributions from incumbents seeking re-election.

Joining the mayor in a show of support as he made his latest strategy gambit were City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, Kathryn Wylde, president of the New York City Partnership, a major business organization and Edward Malloy, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council, a noted fundraiser whose election endorsements are eagerly sought by candidates.

Bloomberg followed up last week’s salvo in the campaign for school funds with another appeal to the public to shower Albany officials and lawmakers with telephone calls demanding the schools’ cash be given to the city. Speaking on his regular Sunday radio broadcast, the mayor exhorted his listeners: “Tell them enough is enough. Enough excuses. Enough politics. Enough hoping we’ll go away.We’re not going away.”

Reacting to the mayor’s announcement, Silver accused the mayor of reneging on a promise to build a 630-seat school near Ground Zero in Silver’s district. The mayor told Silver that he and Bruno and Pataki “should get together and do what the courts have said they should be doing”—release the school funds.

Judging by past performances, it’s a good bet the mayor is going to continue this effort. Previously, he put up a similar campaign to win control of the schools and to get approval for the West Side Stadium and the 2012 Olympics. He lost on the last two.

But it appears he’s bringing more urgency and political muscle to this battle, in an environment—an election year—that is well suited to winning his point.

MAYOR WINS MAJOR COURT RULING: A day after the mayor’s latest volley in the school funds campaign, the Court of Appeals in Albany issued a decision saying in effect that the mayor does not have to enforce a law created by a city council override of a mayoral veto if the mayor believes the override results in a violation of a state or federal statute. The council would have to prove the override does not in fact violate a state or federal law before the mayor would be forced to enforce it.

The narrow four-to-three decision upholding a lower court ruling now raises questions about powers of the council vis-avis the mayor as enumerated in the City Charter and may be the forerunner of many more court battles before those powers are more clearly established. At this point, the mayor seems to have the upper hand.

MAYOR–COUNCIL RELATIONS IMPROVING: The Court of Appeals ruling came amidst indications that the council, under new Speaker Christine Quinn and Finance Committee Chairman David Weprin were inclined toward more amicable budget negotiations with the mayor and his administration.

Weprin and Quinn were reported to have sought a meeting with administration officials to try to restore $320 million in annual reductions from libraries, senior centers, cultural institutions and afterschool programs. In exchange, the council would support extension of the mayor’s annual property tax rebate of $400 to city property owners.

PALTRY ROOKIE COP PAY CRITICIZED: The new $25,100 basic annual salary for police recruits is inviting much comment, most of it critical of the paltry sum. Bloomberg blamed the salary cap on the PBA, which denied it; and Congressmember AnthonyWeiner termed the amount an embarrassment to the city.

“In a time of increased terror threats, we need to focus on enticing the next generation of police officers to join the force, not drive them away,” Weiner said.

CROWLEY WINS MAJOR COMMITTEE POST: Congressmember Joseph Crowley (D–Queens/The Bronx) has won a seat on the influential Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats. This follows seven years of service on the Committee on International Relations. As part of his new assignment, Crowley said, he’s looking forward to getting the peace process in Northern Ireland on a secure footing and cooperating with America’s European allies in preventing a nuclear Iran.

RISKS IN TANNING: As the rate of skin cancer in the United States keeps growing, members of Congress feel there should be more information circulated about the risks of indoor tanning. Toward this end, Congressmember Carolyn Maloney (D–Queens/Manhattan) has introduced a bill requiring the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine whether the current labeling of indoor tanning beds provides sufficient information about the risks associated with indoor tanning.