Charter school fight heats up

From: POLITICO New York Playbook PM - Tuesday Mar 07,2023 09:08 pm

Mar 07, 2023

Presented by the 5 Borough Housing Movement

Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. (D-Bronx) speaks at a rally in front of City Hall Park on March 7, 2023, in support of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to allow more charters to operate in New York City.

Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. (D-Bronx) speaks at a rally in front of City Hall Park on March 7, 2023, in support of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to allow more charters to operate in New York City. | Madina Toure/POLITICO

Elected officials joined hundreds of parents, teachers, charter leaders and advocates in front of City Hall Park Tuesday to urge the state Legislature to back Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to allow more charter schools to operate in New York City.

Charter backers want the Legislature to support Hochul’s proposal, which calls for scrapping the regional cap on the number of charters that can be issued in the city and permanently reviving “zombie charters” that were previously approved but later closed down.

Two elected officials were in attendance — Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. (D-Bronx) and Assemblyman Brian Cunningham (D-Brooklyn).

Cunningham — whose district covers Flatbush, Crown Heights and Prospect Lefferts Gardens — said he grew up in Brooklyn and went to public schools. But he said he trusts parents “to make the right choices for their children.”

He said Hochul and the Legislature have done an “incredible job” supporting district schools, including fully funding Foundation Aid, the primary source of state money for public schools.

“This choice is not a choice of saying that one doesn’t matter over the other, it is giving parents the choice to choose between two [options],” Cunningham said.

Zaccaro, a charter parent, also said he went to public schools and called for openness to all options.

“I’m here today to lend my voice and those views of my constituents and all of you who stand here today that say we need options and we need options now," he said.

Students, parents and advocates were holding posters with slogans such as “NYC NEEDS MORE CHARTERS” and “MY CHILD, MY CHOICE.”

As to how talks are progressing in Albany and the latest discussions with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Crystal McQueen-Taylor, executive director of pro-charter group StudentsFirstNY, said most of the conversations taking place currently are with the members.

“There are two members here who came to stand up and there are also other members that we’re working to continue to cultivate and make sure that they’re listening to parents and they’re listening to constituents,” McQueen-Taylor told reporters following the rally. — Madina Touré

IT’S TUESDAY: Stay with us each afternoon as we keep you updated on the latest New York news in Albany, City Hall and beyond.

A message from the 5 Borough Housing Movement:

New York City is facing a housing supply crisis that’s harming outer borough communities of color. That’s why a diverse and growing coalition is calling on State lawmakers to support converting unused office space to new housing, create an incentive to maximize affordability in conversions, and lift the FAR cap to unlock more affordable housing. Learn more at https://5borohousing.org/

From the Capitol

Gov. Kathy Hochul delivers remarks during a public safety event in Rochester on March 7, 2023.

March 7, 2023 - Rochester, NY - Governor Kathy Hochul delivers remarks during a public safety event in Rochester. (Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul) | Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

HOCHUL TALKS BAIL: Hochul said Tuesday she is open to negotiating her proposal to make further changes to the state’s controversial bail laws, but stressed the importance of addressing current inconsistencies in the law.

“I believe that bail reform is really important to get finished this time,” Hochul told reporters in Rochester after announcing a drop in shootings in the city. “We started the process last year. It did not quite achieve what we wanted to because there is an inconsistency in the law now, and it's confusing for judges.”

Hochul is proposing to give judges more direction to set bail by eliminating a "least restrictive means" standard. Mayor Eric Adams is also advocating for giving judges more authority, but legislative leaders have appeared cool to any changes, saying more judicial discretion could be at odds with efforts to keep fewer people in jail on minor infractions.

“You get different outcomes based on the luck of the draw on what judge you get,” Hochul continued. “I'm willing to look at all proposals that the Legislature wants to put forward, but this is one of my top priorities.”

A message from the 5 Borough Housing Movement:

From City Hall

Mayor Eric Adams released a new plan at City Hall on March 7, 2023, on how to address the influx of asylum seekers to the city.

Mayor Eric Adams released a new plan at City Hall on March 7, 2023, on how to address the influx of asylum seekers to the city. | Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

ASYLUM-SEEKER BLUEPRINT: Adams announced a shift Tuesday in City Hall’s strategy to accommodate the influx of migrants that includes beefing up relocation efforts that would see asylum-seekers resettle in cities in New York and elsewhere in the country.

The mayor also announced a new Office of Asylum Seeker Operations and a new 24/7 intake center.

“This blueprint we are releasing today highlights what we have accomplished since the crisis … it’s also going to show the changes we have put in place to move from an emergency response to a steady state of operation,” Adams said at the City Hall press briefing.

Read more from POLITICO's Joe Anuta here.

A message from the 5 Borough Housing Movement:

TELL STATE LAWMAKERS: SUPPORT CONVERSIONS AND LIFT THE FAR CAP!

A growing number of advocates and community groups are joining the push to convert New York City’s unused office space into affordable housing and lift the FAR cap.

Supporters include:

● Borough-based chambers of commerce and local business improvement districts
● Community boards and neighborhood-based non-profits
● Racial and social justice advocates

More elected officials are joining the effort too, including State lawmakers, City Council members and members of Congress.

See all of our supporters and recent announcements from elected officials at https://5borohousing.org/.

We can’t afford to miss this opportunity to help address the City’s housing shortage. State lawmakers must act now to support conversions, create an incentive for affordability and lift the FAR cap.

If State lawmakers fail to act, they will be failing the New Yorkers who are relying on Albany for answers to our housing supply crisis.

Learn more at https://5borohousing.org/

On the beats

ENERGY: A coalition backing a mandate to electrify new homes and phase out fossil fuel combustion in existing buildings has launched a Facebook ad campaign highlighting the volatile price of natural gas. The Better Buildings NY coalition, which includes environmental groups such as Natural Resources Defense Council, Alliance for a Green Economy and WE ACT for Environmental Justice, announced it spent in the “high five figures” on the ads to support all-electric buildings requirements. “Tell Governor Hochul it’s time to get off gas and transition to a clean and affordable heating future,” the 47-second ad concludes.

Hochul’s budget proposal included a ban on fossil fuel burning equipment, including furnaces and stoves, in new buildings with exceptions for restaurants, hospitals and manufacturers among others. The start date is later than some environmental advocates and Senate Democrats prefer, targeting alignment with new statewide building codes.

The proposal faces opposition from the fossil fuel industry, particularly fuel suppliers and natural gas utilities facing an existential threat to their business. Smarter NY Energy, which is backed by the propane industry, has been running Facebook ads opposing the state’s climate plan that included the proposals in Hochul’s budget. In her 30-day amendments, the governor included a new exemption for agricultural buildings to be defined by the state’s building codes council.

Hochul has also backed a phaseout of the sale of replacement gas furnaces starting in 2030 for single-family homes and residential buildings less than three stories and 2035 for larger and commercial buildings. That means a homeowner would likely need to invest in a heat pump if their gas, propane or other fuel furnace breaks down after that date. Hochul’s 30-day amendments also added an exemption from this equipment phaseout proposal and the new building requirements for “emergency replacement of existing equipment.” NYSERDA has estimated that the current up-front cost of a heat pump conversion is higher than a gas replacement and that a conversion from gas does not offer an economic return. — Marie J. French

FROM THE DELEGATION

George Santos boards an elevator at the U.S. Capitol.

Rep. George Santos is facing increasing criticism from his fellow New York GOP House members.

REPS VS. SANTOS: New York’s House Republicans are distancing themselves from their colleague Rep. George Santos and deceptive claims about his past. The move is coming largely from the four newly elected GOP members in New York, who fear that donors and voters might refuse to support Republicans because of Santos' many scandals.

Read more from POLITICO's Olivia Beavers here.

Around New York

— A proposed court settlement between Suffolk County police and civil rights activists would fund $3.75 million in comprehensive reforms. (WNYC)

— Saratoga Black Lives Matter leader was charged with disorderly conduct. (Times Union)

— University of Buffalo president defends anti-transgender speaker, citing free speech. (Buffalo News)

— A new pilot program aims to help low-and moderate-income families living in New York City recover more quickly from flooding. (THE CITY)

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