Cuomo Job Approval Rating Falls Again

Siena poll released today:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s ratings with voters has been largely flat since October, the poll found. His favorability is up slightly, 51 percent to 38 percent. His job performance rating is down slightly, but remains under water: 39 percent to 59 percent.

In October, Cuomo had a 40% job approval rating in the Siena poll.

For all the political twists, turns and machinations he's pulling to try and get these poll numbers up, perceptions of Cuomo and the job he's doing as governor seem to be pretty much baked in these days.

NYSED Uses Rigged Survey To Claim 71.5% Back Common Core

No wonder NYSED made the Common Core survey so long and complicated - they were going to use it to claim they have wide support for their reforms:

A state-backed survey soliciting detailed critiques of the Common Core has drawn responses that are largely supportive of the standards, according to the state Education Department.

The state Board of Regents heard an update Monday on the department’s “AimHighNY” survey, which was launched in October as the state began a review of its first five years with the oft-debated, more-stringent education standards.

So far, about 71.5 percent of the feedback elicited through the survey has been “supportive of the standards,” according to the department’s presentation. The remaining 28.5 percent was not supportive.

The survey is geared toward teachers, administrators and others who deal with the standards every day. Indeed, the majority of the 5,500 survey takers — 62.2 percent — have been teachers. Parents have made up 21.6 percent of the survey pool, with administrators coming in at 6.9 percent.

The way they rigged this is to make the survey an arduous process:

Survey takers can’t just leave general critiques of the standards; Instead, they have to be about specific aspects of the Common Core, down to the grade level, subject matter and detail.

Here's how some would-be survey-takers described the process:

“I started and stopped after 5 minutes. A person would need to be totally familiar with every standard and the curriculum used in a school to be able to complete this survey. This is another slap in the face to the parents, because they will not be able to answer the questions.” -Lorri G.

“This survey is set up horribly and only asks questions about each SPECIFIC standard, and takes over half hour to complete. The important thing to point out to the media is that the standards are copywritten and cannot be changed. Just another false move on NYSED’s part to make it seem like they are listening. Smoke and mirrors.” -anonymous New York parent.

“It’s horrible!!! It is so drawn out and confusing. Just like Common Core. It would take hours to literally answer each question for each grade level for each course and section of each module. They set this up to fail just like common core. They figure no one will take the time to fill it out so it will look like every thing is fine and dandy.” – Monique Armann

“Yet this is open to all, but “all” are having a difficult time navigating the specific and individual standards within the survey. Heck, teachers have a difficult time with them and we have to deal with them on a daily basis in the classroom. Elia, is more or less laying down the gauntlet. “Here’s your chance, teachers. You said the Common Core State Standards are narrow, inappropriate, misguided, ineffective, imposed, relentless, demoralizing, overly complex, nontransparent, inadequate, and unreliable (I may have left out one or two). You may address the standards, individually, in your free time, but beware, if you stray from addressing the standard in any way, we’ll reject it out of hand. Also, did we mention your cookies must be in order on your device? I know we said you can come back to your information, but…well, no. Oh, and you can’t change your mind once you’ve submitted anything. No, why would we let you do that? Really, teachers, we don’t expect you to do this. We’ve made it very difficult for everyone. But, in the end, we will be able to shrug our shoulders and say, we gave NY a chance to respond. Argue that.” -Kristin S.

Here's how Anna Shah of the  Hudson Valley Alliance for Public Education described the survey:

“I wish I had good news, but I’m skeptical about the survey. The survey seems to have been developed, in my opinion, to be cumbersome and burdensome… I don’t believe you can go back and I believe that if you do not complete the survey in one sitting then you are out of luck, and have to start over from scratch.

Frankly, I have serious concerns about the survey because beyond the substance of the questions and its format, the survey appears to require parents to comment on each specific standard. Given the fact that many parents are not educators, I’m not sure that this is a fair question to ask of the “public” at large. How many parents are incredibly familiar with common core standards and the impact they are having on our students? I’m sure parents are probably not as familiar or knowledgeable about each and every standard and corresponding sequence that follows, so the set up of the survey seems to expressly disqualify the average parent from participating at the outset.

More troubling, it explains that information or comments that do not directly relate to a standard will be disregarded. So, for example, generalizations about how the cc curriculum is developmentally inappropriate and is adversely affecting students and children, which the average parent absolutely and positively has legitimate experience with, is likely to be summarily dismissed.

Also of importance, the fact that the survey privacy disclaimer explains that if you choose to complete the survey and submit a response to be considered by the committee, then you are consenting to allowing nysed to data mine your Info and collect information beyond normal procedure- for example nysed specifically explains that they will be tracking your IP AND web use both before and after you take the survey, and collecting information about the sites that you have visited before, after, and during the survey. I have some ideas about why they’re doing this.

Regardless, this is definitely more incentive to urge families to refuse the test, and gives me great concern SED is being less than genuine in putting the survey forward to the public.”

Get the word out there that the 71.5% support NYSED is claiming for Common Core based upon the survey is disingenuous at best, dishonest at worst.

Cuomo's having his Common Core "review" hearings held during school hours (or right after school) in an attempt to limit criticism and NYSED has created a Common Core survey that is long and complicated in order to rig the results.

But polls in New York show how deeply unpopular Common Core is (see here and here) - those NYSED couldn't rig.

Siena Poll: New Yorkers Very Negative On Common Core

More on today's Siana poll.

Governor Cuomo's handling of education was roundly booed by New Yorkers - 68% disapprove of his work on education while 27% approve.

On Common Core, 30% say the CCSS will improve the quality of education in the state, 34% say it will make the quality worse and 20% say it will have no effect.

For those of you scoring at home, that's less than one-third of New Yorkers who think Common Core is good for schools, with 54% saying Common Core will either be bad for the quality of education or have no effect at all.

On the implementation of Common Core, the numbers are even worse for the Common Core shills:

40% say the state's implementation of Common Core has made education worse, 21% say it has had no meaningful effect and 20% say it has improved education.

So 61% say the implementation of Common Core has either made education worse or had no effect while only 20% think it's made things better.

Again, not good numbers for Common Core shills.

In addition, the familiarity of Common Core continues to rise in these polls - 63% of those polled say they are either very familiar or somewhat familiar with the Common Core.

The more people become familiar with Common Core, the less they like it and the lower the support for it goes.

Cuomo thinks he's smart with his Common Core dog and pony show that's going to "review" the standards but not make any meaningful changes to them.

Looking at the polling on Common Core, Cuomo's approval/disapproval on education and his approval/disapproval overall, I think he's going to be surprised when most people see through his Common Core sham.

Siena Poll: 68% Of New Yorker's Are Negative On Cuomo's Handling Of Public Education

A new Siena poll out this morning and the numbers are not good for Governor Cuomo.

58% of those polled disapprove of the job he is doing as governor, 40% approve.

On individual issues, the numbers are even worse.

On public education, 68% disapprove of the job he is doing, 27% approve.

On corruption, 69% disapprove of the job he is doing, 23% approve.

On the economy, 63% disapprove of the job he is doing, 35% approve.

On improving the state's infrastructure, 65% disapprove of the job he is doing, 29% approve.

This is not a popular governor.

These numbers come despite Cuomo's trying to bolster his popularity with the left through a minimum wage hike and extending protections to transgendered people.

And they come despite Cuomo's attempts to pander to parents with his sham Common Core review.

I'll have a bit more on the education numbers in another post.

Suffice to say for now, Governor Cuomo is not in a great position politically.

Siena Poll: 64% Of New Yorkers Negative On Common Core, 59% Negative On Andrew Cuomo

A Siena Poll released this morning shows the following:

19% say Common Core implementation in New York has improved education.

40% say it has made education worse.

24% say it has had no effect.

That's 64% who say it has either had no effect or made things worse.

Considering the enormous time, money, energy and other resources put into the agenda, 64% saying it has either had no effect or made things worse is NOT where you want to be if you're an educrat or politician supporting the Common Core.

Look no further for why Cuomo called for a review of the Common Core a few weeks ago than these poll numbers.

Well, maybe you can look a little further - to Cuomo's own poll numbers:

Job Approval - 39%
Job Disapproval - 59%

He's underwater by 20 points in job approval.

This is why he called for the Common Core review and the minimum wage increase and it's why he has made other "reachouts" to liberals and the base that are supposed to help Cuomo's approval.

So far, the plan is not working.

Cuomo's approval/disapproval numbers in Siena have been under water for a long time now and they're not improving despite his efforts (see here, here, and here.)

And here's what Cuomo's really got to be worried about - with the US attorney investigating the Cuomo administration's Buffalo Billion project, those numbers may get worse before they get better.

There is an emerging pattern of donate, donate, get contract, donate again...between the contractors getting state contracts and the Cuomo campaign.

If anything untoward is found in the US attorney's probe, Cuomo's got no safety net to rely on politically to keep himself upright.

Not with these poll numbers.

As for Common Core, I have a difficult time seeing the polling turn around on that.

I dunno, maybe Cuomo's Common Core Review performs a miracle and makes everything swell with the Core going forward.

But given the opposition to testing we're seeing, so long as the CCSS is tied to the high stakes tests that are rigged for high failure rates and firing teachers, I'm skeptical.

NYC Residents Need To Pay Cuomo Back For His Betrayal On Rent Regulations

Governor Cuomo is holding rent regulations in NYC hostage to his education tax credit giveaway to his billionaire buddy friends - no tax credit, bye-bye rent regulations.

This is not sitting well with tenant advocates who protested outside a $2500 a head Cuomo fundraiser at the Plaza Hotel:

"I'm here because of the rent," said Margie Trisbend, a 70-year-old Bronx resident. "For years, I was paying $723. Last month, it went up to $1,574. If I can't afford my rent, where am I going to go?" Trisbend was skeptical of Cuomo's commitment to renters. "He's not acting in good faith," she said. "He's acting in favor of the landlords."

Carrying banners that mocked the Governor's $1.5 million campaign donation from ethically embroiled real-estate giant Glenwood Management, the crowd stood in a pen of police barricades across from the hotel, chanting "La renta sube sube! El pueblo sufre sufre!"

In recent days, Cuomo has said that he is willing to strengthen rent protections—but only if the legislature agrees to a tax incentive that shunts public money into private schools, a plan his critics point out is especially attractive to the billionaires who donate to his campaigns at events like yesterday's.

"He wants to take money from the poor and give it to the rich," said Everett Stembridge, 57, a Harlem parent of public high school students.

"Our public schools are underfunded. We need money," said Mindy Rosa, a public school teacher. "Why should I pay for private schools, pay for charter schools, when my schools don't have our resources?"

But you have a weapon against Cuomo and his betrayals:

Jean Folkes, a 73-year-old member of the Flatbush Tenant's Association, who has lived in her neighborhood since moving to the country in 1969, wanted to speak directly to the Governor. "Cuomo, where is your humanity? Did money eat your humanity?" she asked. "We have elephant memories. We'll see to it that you lose if you run again. Enjoy your last two and a half years in Albany, if you're not indicted before then."

Yes, holding him accountable if he tries to run for re-election is one way to pay Cuomo back for his betrayal.

But three years is a long time to wait for payback - there's something NYC residents can do right now to pay back Cuomo for his betrayal.

Cuomo's poll numbers have fallen to all-time lows in all three major polls - the Siena poll, the Marist poll, and the Quinnipiac poll.

His support upstate is in the toilet, he has lukewarm support at best in the suburbs - the only thing propping him up from falling below Spitzer levels is the support he enjoys in NYC.

Cuomo's currently set to screw NYC residents by destroying tent regulations if he doesn't get his way on his education tax credit.

Isn't it time NYC residents pay the governor back by withdrawing support and sending him plummeting past the Spitzer line?

Some commenters on this blog think Cuomo doesn't care about poll numbers so long as he's got the support, both political and financial, of his wealthy donors.

I don't think that's the case

Believe me, when the headlines come that Cuomo's in the mid-to high-twenties in job approval because his NYC support has cratered, he'll be paying attention.

Nothing takes a politician closer to irrelevancy faster than poll numbers in the twenties.

That doesn't mean Cuomo won't still try and impose his preferred policies on the state if he falls below the Spitzer line.

But it's a lot harder to be successful at that when you're at 25% approval.

Cuomo Approval Has Fallen 30 Points In Quinnipiac Poll From 2012 To 2015

Quinnipiac poll out today showing Governor Cuomo's approval rating underwater:

A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday morning found Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s approval rating continues to fall as the state government grapples with multiple ethics and corruption scandals.

Voters, meanwhile, blame the concentration of power in state government in the “three men in a room” — two of whom this year were arrested in separate corruption cases brought by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s office.

The poll found 44 percent of New York voters approve of the job Cuomo is doing as governor, down from 50 percent approval shown in a March 17 survey.

...

The numbers track closely to a Siena College poll showing sagging numbers for Cuomo as well.

The trend for Cuomo is horrific:

December 2012: 74% approval 13% disapproval
May 2014: 59% approval 32% disapproval
December 2014: 58% approval 32% disapproval
March 2015: 50% approval 39% disapproval
June 2015: 44% approval 42% disapproval

Right track/wrong track numbers are pretty bad:

Very or somewhat satisfied with way things are going in New York State: 41%
Somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the way things are going in New York State: 58%

52% say Cuomo is part of the problem of ethics in government, 32% say he's part of the solution.

79% blame the "Three Men In A Room" governing culture in Albany either partly or fully for the corruption in state government, 11% say it's not a cause at all.

Sheriff Andy has tried to ride above the Albany cesspool and he fooled a lot of people for a long time (especially in the Q poll, which tended to have higher approval numbers for Cuomo than the other two polls), but he's not fooling too many people anymore.

Cuomo Hits Low In Approval Rating In Siena Poll, 41%-59%

Just as the last Marist poll released two weeks ago showed Governor Andrew Cuomo hitting the lowest job approval numbers of his governorship, a Siena poll out today shows Cuomo hitting bottom on job approval.

His job approval/disapproval number is 41%-59% - and his favorability rating fell too:

“Cuomo, while still viewed favorably by a small majority of voters, has his lowest favorability rating since he's been governor. While his statewide favorability rating dropped by a net eight points in the last month, it fell by a net 19 points with New York City voters and a net 25 points with Republicans,” said Steve Greenberg, a spokesman for the Siena poll. “Similarly, Cuomo's job performance rating is also at an all-time low. More than twice as many voters say he's doing a poor job as compared to those who say he's doing an excellent job. Even Democrats are evenly divided, with 50 percent giving him a positive job performance rating and 49 percent rating him negatively. His job performance rating is significantly under water with Republicans, independents, downstate suburbanites and upstaters.”

I thought all the publicity Cuomo was garnering ministering to his partner, Sandra Lee, both pre-and post-cancer surgery might have turned around his numbers a bit.

But the Siena poll was taken May 18-21 - right during the height of the Sandra Lee PR (see here and here) - and Cuomo's ratings do not appear to have been affected positively by the pictures of Cuomo in a hospital gown ministering to Lee.

It will be interesting to see if there's a positive effect on Cuomo's numbers next time around.

In any case, Cuomo's not at lows in both the Marist and Siena polls - New Yorkers clearly do not like the job this governor is doing and more and more, they don't even really like him despite the PR attempts to humanize him.

Siena Poll: New Yorkers Support Opt-Out Rights 50%-44%

From State of Politics:

Half of New York voters believe parents have the right to opt their children out of state-base standardized tests, a Siena College poll released on Monday found.

...

The poll found voters back allowing parents to opt their children out of state testing, 50 percent to 44 percent.

Across the political and geographic spectrum, too, found support for parents opting their children out of the tests, the poll found. The most recent round of state testing concluded last week.

The poll comes after thousands of students opting out of the math and English language arts round of state testing, which was based off the controversial Common Core education standards.

Cuomo's job approval remains underwater, 44%-55%.

More education findings:

Voters were mixed on how much student test scores should count toward a teacher’s review.

The poll found more than two-thirds of voters believe standardized tests should count for no more than a quarter of a teacher’s evaluation score.

Thirty percent of voters polled say tests shouldn’t count at all toward a teacher’s review, while 28 percent believe an exam should count for half or even more of a teacher’s evaluations.

Cuomo gets support for one part of his agenda:

Nevertheless, New York voters do support one aspect of Cuomo’s education policy definitively: 59 percent back making it easier for school districts to fire poor-performing teachers. 

A mixed poll overall.

Voters Sour On Andrew Cuomo

Jimmy Vielkind at Capital NY:

ALBANY—Amid voter dissatisfaction over his proposed changes to education policy, Governor Andrew Cuomo's job approval fell to 50 percent in a Quinnipiac University Poll released Wednesday morning.

...

The Siena Research Institute has measured Cuomo's job approval as underwater for months.

I've been trying to point this out for months - voters don't much like the job Cuomo is doing as governor.

While Siena has Cuomo's favorability rating at a respectable level (60% last I saw), his job approval has been, as Vielkind wrote, "underwater for months."

And yet, many in the media were ignoring the job approval numbers and leading their pieces with his favorability ratings.

As I've pointed out before, it doesn't matter if New Yorkers have a favorable opinion of Cuomo or not - it matters whether they like the job he's doing or not.

Siena has found for a while now that they do not - he's underwater in that poll.

And now Quinnipiac has him right at the watermark overall and well underwater on education.

Siena Poll: Only 10% Of NYers Blame Teachers For The Failure Of Public Schools

New Siena poll out this morning showing Governor Cuomo's job approval rating at 44%.

The poll asks a few questions about Cuomo's education agenda and which side voters support in the "war of words" between the governor and the teachers unions.

Here is the most striking finding:

Of the following choices, which do you think is the SINGLE biggest reason why note enough children graduate from high school college and career ready?

Teachers 10%
Not Enough Parental Involvement 37%
Insufficient Money Being Spent On Education 18%
Effects Of Poverty 17%
Ineffective State Education Oversight 12%
Other 3%
Don't Know 3%

In addition, Siena asks who voters back in the "war of words" between the governor and the teachers unions over his education agenda:

Teachers Unions 48%
Governor Cuomo 36%
Both 2%
Neither 6%
Don't Know 8%

Finally, Cuomo's job approval rating has fallen yet again - it now stands at 44%-55%.  That's down three points from the last poll.

More on this poll later, but suffice to say for now - other than on the tenure issue where the Siena poll found voters agree that tenure should take 5 years to get, New Yorkers are not siding with Governor Cuomo on his education reform agenda and they do NOT blame teachers for the struggles of public schools in the state.

Cuomo Goes To Afghanistan

I know, I know, you think I'm pulling your leg - but I'm not:

According to public schedule just released @NYGovCuomo is in Afghanistan. No advance notice given.
— Capital Tonight (@CapitalTonight) September 27, 2014

While in Afghanistan, @NYGovCuomo will meet with NY troops, get security briefings, counterterrorism updates his office says.
— Capital Tonight (@CapitalTonight) September 27, 2014

After barely leaving New York State in his first term, he's now made two oversea trips in the past month or so - one to Israel, one to Afghanistan.

He's also held two press conferences with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to discuss the "unprecedented" cooperation and collaboration  he and Christie are engaging in over anti-terrorism security in their respective states.

Dunno exactly when he decided to pivot from "The public workers unions are the biggest enemy facing the State of New York!" to "Must fight terrorism!", but it's pretty clear he's made that transition.

Given his falling job performance numbers (just 42% approve of his performance in the latest Siena poll, 56% disapprove), I'm not sure that pivoting to national security and foreign policy is the way to go for him, but clearly Cuomo thinks it is.

I wonder if he knows something about Hillary Clinton's decision on a 2016 run that the rest of us don't know.

Because given the frenzy with which he's tried to burnish his national security and foreign policy credentials in the last month or so, it's starting to look like he thinks he's running for president.

How Quickly New York Has Soured On The Common Core

Dave Weigel at Slate reacting to the Siena poll that found 49% of New Yorkers want Common Core implementation stopped - including 53% of independents:

The new Siena poll doesn't contain many surprises—Andrew Cuomo easily leads his re-election race, challenger Zephyr Teachout has yet to register, etc. It's really just the question, and answers, about the Common Core education curriculum that surprised me.

In a very short time, opposition to Common Core has evolved from a fringe Republican position that blue-staters laugh at to a position that clearly wins out in blue New York. When independents break against something by a 14-point margin, politicians generally look awkwardly for the escape hatches.

Core supporters and proponents continue to act as if CCSS critics and opponents are on the fringe, but increasingly even the most ardent Core proponent and shill has to see how quickly the opposition to the Core is mounting in New York on the entire political spectrum.

Democrats support the Common Core 47%-40%.

That's the best the Core supporters have here in New York.

Independents oppose it 53%-39% and Republicans oppose it 60%-25%.

Given the trajectory of Core support over the past year, I don't think it's unreasonable to predict that it will be underwater even with Dems in six months or so.

And as Weigel notes, when you start to see independents oppose some program or reform by a 14 point margin, politicians start to bail on that program or reform.

I'm betting even the shrillest of the Common Core shills has to be looking at this Siena poll today and thinking "It's over..."

Daily News Continues To Shill For The Common Core

A Siena poll released today found the following:

BY a 49-39 percent margin, voters want to see implementation of the Common Core stopped rather than continued.

Despite these numbers, Common Core-supporting newspaper the Daily News reports voters are "split" on the Core here in New York.

Here's their headline:

Voters back Cuomo; split on Common Core and hydrofracking: Siena Poll

Since when is 49%-39% - a 10 percent plurality in opposition to the Core - a "split"?

50%-50% is a split.

51%-49% is a split.

Hell, I might even go with 52%-48% is close to a split if the argument you make to back that up is good enough.

But 49%-39% is a "split"?

Nahh - that's a 10 percentage point plurality of NYers who are opposed to the Core.

Leave it to the pro-CCSS hacks at the Daily News, ever the evangelicals for the Common Core, to continue to carry the Gospel of the Common Core to the masses in their Siena poll story headline even as the masses turn against it.

No wonder the print edition of the Daily News isn't long for this world.

When you're buying a newspaper, you kinda want it to, I dunno, cover the news accurately and truthfully.

Times-Union/Siena Poll: 43% Do Not Support Current Use Of Standardized Tests

So many great things in the Times-Union/Siena poll on education issues that was released yesterday.

I have already posted how the public overwhelmingly supports teachers over the NYSED, the Regents and Governor Cuomo when it comes to doing what is right for children.

I have posted too about how the public isn't buying into the argument that schools are suffering from substandard technology and need a couple of billion for upgrades (so that testing can be conducted online, of course.)

Now I'd like to point out how the TU/Siena poll found that 43% of upstate New Yorkers do not support the current use of standardized tests while 29% do support the current use.

28% said they didn't know enough to say.

Now this is no slam dunk number of people opposed to the current use of standardized testing, but is a healthy plurality and if we have learned anything since the CCSS implementation started, the longer the education reform agenda goes, the higher the numbers of people opposed to it grow.

So while it's totally possible that the 28% who didn't know enough about the issue to respond to the question could join with those who support the use of testing as it is now, the likelihood is that a large number of those people will join the opposed group.

We've seen that happen with CCSS overall - the more people become familiar with the Common Core, the higher the negatives it receives in polls and the larger the opposition grows.

In the TU/Siena poll, 46% oppose the implementation of the CCSS while 32% support it and 32% don't know.

These CCSS numbers come pretty close to tracking the standardized testing numbers I noted above.

More and more, the public is coming to understand that CCSS and standardized testing go hand-in-hand.

So just as the opposition to CCSS is going to grow in the coming year, the same is likely to happen for standardized testing.

That's why even the Gates Foundation is calling for a moratorium on stakes attached to the CCSS tests for a couple of years.

They can see what's happening in the public with the CCSS and the standardized testing and they're looking to get a cool off period where the test stakes go out of the news for a while to give the CCSS time to regain some support.

Public Isn't Buying Substandard Technology As Big Problem For Schools

From the Times-Union/Siena poll:

Almost three-quarters, 71 percent, said the biggest problem facing schools is lack of parental involvement in a child's progress, followed by bullying and poor behavior, 69 percent each, and hiring and retaining effective teachers, 61 percent.

One of the least significant problems, respondents said, is substandard technology and facilities: Only 40 percent cited the lack of computers and other high-tech learning tools, with 30 percent worried about the condition of school buildings.

Those numbers are notable in part because New Yorkers in November will vote on a $2 billion state bond issue, proposed by Cuomo, to fund new school technology and infrastructure.

Back in April, Cuomo appointed another one of his famous commissions to try and sell the public on a $2 billion bond act to improve technology in schools:

Though voters are yet to consider a $2 billion bond act for education infrastructure and technology upgrades at New York schools, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday named a commission that would provide recommendations on how best to spend the money.

Included on the commission is Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman and former CEO of Google, a company that is best known for its search engine, but has also entered the laptop and tablet computer market in recent years.

In addition, Cuomo is also turning to Harlem Children’s Zone President and CEO Geoffrey Canada and Constance Evelyn, Superintendent of the Auburn School District in Cayuga County.

“It is a simple fact that disparity remains in our education system, with some schools providing tablets in the first grade and others where the most sophisticated piece of electronic equipment is the metal detector that students walk through on the way to the classroom,” Cuomo said in a statement. “In the State of the State, we called for a $2 billion Smart Schools Initiative to transform our classrooms from the classrooms of yesterday to the classrooms of tomorrow. This panel will help guide this bold initiative and reimagine our classrooms to provide New York’s students with the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century economy.”

The $2 billion borrowing proposal still has to be approved by voters, who are due to consider the ballot referendum this fall.

Cuomo proposed the bond act in January as way to improve technology in the classroom as well as potentially build more space for pre-Kindergarten programs.

As I wrote in April:

Gotta love that Cuomo thinks it's a big plus that some districts are giving tablets to first graders - that tells you everything you need to know about how Cuomo is looking to have this bond money spent.

Strike one.

That he stuck Canada on the commission is strike two and the Google CEO is strike three for me.

I am opposing the Smart Schools Initiative because it's clear Cuomo plans to use the money as a boondoggle for his tech buddies, not to build new schools or provide more classroom space for smaller class sizes.

You know what smart classrooms are?

They're ones where students have the adequate resources to learn, including computer and Internet technology when appropriate, but also enjoy small class sizes and personalized contact with their teachers.

This is not what Cuomo plans to use the money for, however.

Rather, he seems to envision this:

If the TU/Siena poll is any indication, Cuomo is going to have an uphill climb selling the $2 billion dollar Technology Boondoggle Bond Act he's trying to get the public to buy.

The Public Trusts Teachers WAY MORE Than Cuomo, King, And Tisch To Do What's Right For Students

The Times-Union has extraordinary results from a Times-Union/Siena poll on education issues in today's paper - the public overwhelmingly support teachers over the governor, the Legislature, the Board of Regents, and NYSED Commissioner King to do what is right for students.

The poll was conducted by Siena and here's the question I want to look at closely today:

Now after thinking about education in New York these past few minutes, I'm going to read you the names of several individuals and groups involved in public education.  Tell me for each if you: completely trust them to do what is best for New York's students, somewhat trust them, only trust them a little, or do not trust them at all to do what is best for students.

Here is how those polled responded:

Andrew Cuomo:

Completely Trust - 9%
Somewhat Trust - 41%
Only Trust A Little - 17%
Do Not Trust At All - 30%

John King:

Completely Trust - 4%
Somewhat Trust - 39%
Only Trust A Little - 16%
Do Not Trust At All - 21%

Teachers Unions:

Completely Trust - 16%
Somewhat Trust - 41%
Only Trust A Little - 19%
Do Not Trust At All - 21%

Local School Board:

Completely Trust - 19%
Somewhat Trust - 52%
Only Trust A Little - 13%
Do Not Trust At All - 13%

Legislature:

Completely Trust - 4%
Somewhat Trust - 37%
Only Trust A Little - 24%
Do Not Trust At All - 32%

Board of Regents:

Completely Trust - 11%
Somewhat Trust - 48%
Only Trust A Little - 20%
Do Not Trust At All - 18%

Teachers in Local Schools:

Completely Trust - 40%
Somewhat Trust - 48%
Only Trust A Little - 7%
Do Not Trust At All - 4%

To put this into perspective, the public either completely or somewhat trusts teachers to do what is right for NY students by an 88%-11% margin, completely or somewhat trusts their local school boards to do what is right for NY students by a 71%-26% margin, completely or somewhat trusts Cuomo to do what is right for NY students by a 50%-47% margin, completely or somewhat trusts King to do what is right for NY students by a 43%-37% margin, completely or somewhat trusts the Regents 57%-37% and completely or somewhat trusts teachers unions to do what is right for students 57%-40%.

In short, teachers are the most trusted individual or group involved in education, the second most trusted group is the local school board.

Trailing WAY BEHIND these two groups are the Board of Regents and the teachers unions.

Trailing behind that is Governor Cuomo, with a 3% plurality of trust over distrust.

Even further under that is NYSED Commissioner John King (he also only has a slim plurality trusting him to do what's right for students but he's well under 50%.)

The one group that is more distrusted than trusted to do what is right for students is the Legislature.

This poll was conducted upstate and there is a lot more to dig into in coming days - including on CCSS, technology spending, parental involvement, testing and teacher evaluations.

But I felt it was important to get a post up today about this extraordinary poll that shows teachers are BY FAR the most trusted of individuals or groups to do what is right for NY students while Cuomo and King barely enjoy pluralities of trust over distrust and King is well under 50% in that trust.

Also, take note of the numbers teachers unions get in the poll - they're tied with the Regents in public esteem (though with slightly higher negatives.)

That's something to be thinking about going into the coming teacher tenure fight here in New York.

One final point I want to bring up here.

Merryl Tisch said a few years ago that the public widely dislikes teachers, but they would like them more once a teacher evaluation system was put into place to hold them accountable for student performance.

The Siena/Times-Union poll shows wide skepticism around Ms. Tisch's battery of reforms, including teacher evaluations, but the one thing it does NOT show skepticism in is the trust the public has for teachers.

Working Families Party Leadership Doesn't Sound Like They Want To Take On Cuomo

In response to the Siena College poll that showed a liberal Working Families Party candidate could do some serious damage to Governor Cuomo's totals in the 2014 general election, Working Families Party Executive Director Dan Cantor released this statement:

 “Most people are decent, and they want decent, progressive policies from their government. That’s why the Working Families Party was originally formed, and it’s what we’re fighting for today.”

Not exactly a call to arms to take on Cuomo, is it?

What The Siena Poll Means For Cuomo's Re-Election Chances

The Siena poll released today revealed some vulnerabilities for Sheriff Andy Cuomo and his re-election campaign, including the revelation that a third party candidate from the left could take a big chunk out of Cuomo's re-election totals and the finding that an overwhelming majority of New Yorkers think the quality of education under Cuomo has either stayed the same or gotten worse (41% say gotten worse; 38% say stayed the same; 15% gotten better.)

But the other number to look at in the Siena poll is how his job performance rating remains underwater:

Overall, Cuomo’s favorable rating dipped slightly: from 58 percent to 34 percent last month to 57 percent favorable, 38 percent unfavorable this month.

His job performance rating remains unchanged, with 45 percent saying Cuomo is doing a good or excellent job as governor.

His personal favorability rating is in a pretty good place for a politician in the fourth year of his first term (not sure what people are seeing in him that I'm not, but whatever...)

But his job performance rating continues to be well underwater, with 45% saying he is doing a good or excellent job as governor and 54% saying he is doing a fair or poor job (1% said they didn't know.)

In a generic, "Would you vote for Cuomo for re-election" question, Cuomo only gets a 50%-41% yes/no response, though those numbers shift in Cuomo's favor if a name is attached to the opponent slot, with Cuomo beating Astorino 58%-28%.

If a third party candidate jumps in the race, those numbers fall to 39% for Cuomo, 24% for Astorino, 24% for a third party candidate.

These are not great numbers going into an election year with a fairly strong Republican candidate opposing him (and by strong, I mean not a circus performer like Crazy Carl Paladino or The Donald) and the possibility of a third party challenger from the left taking votes away from him.

If I had to bet money on the election, I would still take Cuomo for the win, but I think you can make a case that unless Cuomo and his minions are able to smear Astorino as a crazy person or nail him with a scandal, Cuomo's got a real race on his hands that he should be considered the favorite to win but is not the slam dunk that the Paladino race was.

There are two wild cards that I see in the deck right now:

The first is, what does the Working Families Party do in its May convention?

Do they endorse Cuomo (the way Cuomo has been pushing them to) or do they run a third party candidate?

I suspect they'll lukewarmly endorse Cuomo rather than throw a major monkey wrench into the race and risk Cuomo's wrath (and retribution), but you never know how things play out because there is a lot of anger within the WFP ranks even if the leadership might want to make nice with Sheriff Andy.

The second wildcard is what happens in the Moreland investigation.

Preet Bharara has not ruled out investigating Cuomo himself for alleged tampering into the investigations the commission was conducting and if anything unseemly about Cuomo is found and revealed, this poses a serious problem for Sheriff Andy going into the November election.

I suspect Bharara will take his time on the investigation and we may not hear anything much before Election Day (Bharara has already told us that investigations take time, that a baby comes out in nine months but criminal investigations rarely finish forming in that time frame), but Moreland and what Bharara does (if anything) to Sheriff Andy plays a part in how the election plays out in November,

So lots of good news in today's Siena poll if you want to see a diminished Andrew Cuomo going into his re-election battle, and while I wouldn't get too excited about the prospect of Cuomo losing in November, I would say that you should grab some refreshments for the election season because Cuomo's vulnerable and he's going to have an actual battle on his hands.

Siena Poll: Overwhelming Majority Of New Yorkers Say Education Hasn't Improved Under Cuomo

We're going to have a whole host of bad news for Sheriff Andy Cuomo from the Siena poll that was released today.

The biggest piece of bad news from the poll is that a third party candidate would do some serious damage to Sheriff Andy's totals against GOP challenger Rob Astorino, as I posted about earlier.

But there's more bad news for Sheriff Andy in the poll too - bad news like this:

The survey by Siena College finds only 15 percent think the quality of education has improved under Cuomo, 41 percent think it's gotten worse, and 38 percent say it's unchanged.

79% of New Yorkers say the quality of education in New York State has either stay the same or gotten worse - with the biggest group saying it's gotten worse.

Only 15% of New Yorkers think the quality of education has gotten better under Sheriff Andy's leadership.

Cuomo may want to shove the responsibility for education policy off onto the Regents or SED (although his budget does more to steer education policy than either the Regents or SED), but voters aren't buying it.