Inevitable that Sheriff Andy would want to make sure Bill de Blasio knows he's the boss.
Cuomo says he can get an extra $250 million for full-day pre-k funding without raising taxes - a kind of one year windfall in the budget.
De Blasio says the funding needs to be sustainable and over a period of years - in short, taxes need to be raised on individuals making $500,000 or more, as his plan calls for.
Cuomo says 2014 (Sheriff Andy's re-election year) is going to be a tax cut year - in other words, no new taxes, not even on individuals making $500,000 to fund NYC full-day pre-K.
De Blasio got support yesterday from labor groups, including the UFT, for his plan.
State Senator Jeff Klein, part of the Senate leadership contingent, endorsed the plan over the weekend.
One side is not going to win this battle.
One of the papers this morning (forget which one at this point) said this is a battle for political primacy in New York State.
I think that's true - and I think it's important that de Blasio win it.
Sheriff Andy has has his way too long in this state.
Interesting to see the UFT take BdB's side, given their love for Andy Cuomo.
ReplyDeleteI think they're sensing the shift in power these days - new pol with few enemies and baggage over the old pol with lots of enemies and baggage. Plus they have to negotiate a contract with BdB - makes sense to side with him.
Deletehow about raising taxes on the rich for smaller class sizes? More art and music? programs to help parents engage with the schools somehow and the child's education?
ReplyDeleteAll of the above is proven to improve 'test scores', without all the testing! Everyone is happier? Universal Pre-K is cool I suppose, but it won't help the schools much.
Part of the tax increase BdB wants is to go for after school programs. But Sheriff Andy only likes tax cuts for rich people, not tax hikes. Tax hikes make his rich friends sad.
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