Albany police on Tuesday dealt a major blow to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, leaving him increasingly isolated as he seeks to expand his control over the Big Apple’s public schools.
Lawmakers left the extension of mayoral powers in the spending bill released late Monday and early Tuesday, casting serious doubt on whether the provision will be included in the final budget in the coming weeks. .
“Teachers know best how to teach. They know best, not one person in city hall!” State Sen. John Lew (D-Queens) said Monday in Albany. He told the assembled hundreds of educators from the American Federation of Teachers.
New York City-based teachers unions are among the fiercest and strongest opponents of the mayor’s control, citing Adams’ record of cutting school budgets and opposition to a law passed last year mandating class size requirements. It is one of the
Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
“We need real checks and balances. No one person can just say, ‘Whatever I decide, it doesn’t matter.’ Research, facts don’t matter. That’s exactly what I want. ’ We believe that should not happen,” UFT President Michael Mulgrew told the Post hours before the state Senate and Assembly budget plans were released.
Mr. Adams defended his control over the schools at last weekend’s SOMOS conference in Albany.
Responding to questions from an audience that included several teachers, Adams said the mayor’s control allows him to quickly adapt to challenges such as the influx of about 30,000 immigrant families into the school system.
“Hold us accountable. We’re going to move the needle. We’re going to move the needle,” Adams reiterated. “But it cannot be controlled by a pseudo-mayor.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul had pleased Mr. Hizzoner with a four-year extension of mayoral powers in her budget proposal earlier this year.
Lawmakers could also vote to extend the mayor’s powers outside the budget, as they did the last time it expired in 2022.
