The already tenuous relationship between Gov. Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg likely took another hit this afternoon when the governor suggested the mayor was dealing in “propaganda” by warning of teacher layoffs.
“Well, in this budget, there were reductions to school districts and they may have to lay off teachers. Now ,that is a premise that you are assuming, because you’re responding to the -- what I believe is propaganda during the budget debate,” Cuomo said, chiding a reporter who asked a question about changing the state’s "last in, first out" law governing teacher layoffs.
Bloomberg, of course, has warned that state budget cuts could lead to more than 4,600 layoffs and has been fiercely lobbying Cuomo and the Legislature to change the LIFO law.
Cuomo, at a Red Room press conference, wasn’t buying into the talk of layoffs. He fiercely maintained only 19% of the school districts in the state received a funding cut and, of those, the average reduction – when computed with their local taxes – was about 1%.
“I don’t believe any school district that is well-managed is going to need to lay off teachers to deal with a 1% cut,” Cuomo said.
When Cuomo was asked if Bloomberg was dispensing propaganda and if he felt any of the 4,600 layoffs would be necessary, Cuomo responded: “We’ll see what happens, finally.”
“I know there is a theory that says the city has reserve funds as many school districts have reserve funds,” Cuomo said. “I’m advocating that the districts use their reserve funds now.”
Cuomo added “Newsflash: It’s raining. Double Newsflash: It's pouring.”
Afterwards a Cuomo spokesman said Cuomo wasn't referring to Bloomberg specifically in this rant, but of course he was.
Quite directly, actually.
Can Bloomberg get away with layoffs when a much more popular governor is saying he has the rainy day funds to avoid layoffs?
While I've often been a critic of the UFT's "inside baseball" strategies in Albany, they deserve credit for so far getting Cuomo to fend off Bloomberg on seniority.
ReplyDeleteWhile I have my doubts about how the new evaluation systems will play out, the acute and immediate threat to seniority has been parried. Let's take what we can get and commend them.
I think you're right in your analysis, Michael. They rely far too much on that strategy, but so far, it seems to have worked.
ReplyDeleteMulgrew & Company got this one right. It appears that Cuomo, Silver and the assembly and maybe quite a few Senators(even republicans) agree that civil service seniority protections must remain. Bloomberg has probably twisted every are he could and still nada. His third term is turning into a premature lame duck session for his honor.
ReplyDeleteRBE, am I detecting not as much wistfulness for how much better things would have been under a Paladino governorship? Baby steps, I guess.
ReplyDeletePaldino would have been great as governor.
ReplyDeleteShelly would have had all the power.