I'm surprised that the single-payor bill, which just passed in the State Assembly, was not mentioned in this article. If adopted it could revolutionize how we get our healthcare and it would make so much better for so many of us. Especially those of us whose credit was RUINED by lousy insurance companies.
Really like Gov. Cuomo's tactics as far as attracting business to NYS. The problem is the CORRUPTION in Albany, UNIONS( police officers on Long Island) are making out with record pensions/ overtime, Zombie homes( record amount of foreclosures on homes in NY) too much HOMELESSNESS/ POVERTY everywhere. How in the world can a single person or a family of 4 save any money making under $1,000 a week(NET)???? The reason why society is soooooo frustrated with politicians( especially the Republicans) nothing ever gets accomplished because the Republicans/ Democrats fight like a bunch of kindergartners. Why are the school taxes going up again on Long Island??? Every single year the school taxes pass. Gov Cuomo promised the taxpayers the taxes should not exceed 2% on school taxes. If NYS wants too attract " Millenials" affordable housing/ lower taxes, weaker unions with the P.B.A. otherwise multi- generational families will continue to live in homes, ILLEGAL RENTALS, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS which continue too flood the public schools. Gov. Cuomo prove to the taxpayers that your 2nd term will " Practice what u preach" and u will win a 3rd term as GOV. The job u are doing is " pretty good"!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Mr. Cuomo, please stop talking and put those words into actions. Take care of the sleaze in Albany, fire all who are under indictment strip these thieves fo their state funded pensions; take care of taxes that are paid......we are the highest in the United States people on Long Island are leaving in droves because of the waste due in part to obscene pensions.........Chief of Police in Old Westbury gets to retire with a million + pension. Funny we in the private sector are given vacation/sick days and if we don't use them we lose them and do not get paid for them either if they are lost. Something, and I mean serious consideration needs to be done when negotiating contracts with the PBA, obscene amounts that are paid out are disgusting. DO IT NOW governor if you want to be taken seriously. We NY'ers are tired of your rhetoric and empty words. The municipal pension system is killing the taxpayer and unless you do something quick Long Island will be a ghost town.
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Cuomo is trying to reinvent himself as an honest populist. Meanwhile good old A.G. Bharara continues to work behind the scene investigating the legal quagmire that is Albany and the Cuomo administration. And little Andrew is not going to like the results.
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Lets give Albany the simplest fix possible. We throw out everyone currently in office. We send in a new crew who have NEVER held public office. I guaruntee that by using plain old fashioned common sense that a Legislature like that would do a far better job than the current "Ship of Fools" in service today!
2
Must correct/point out the bias here. Jesse McKinley, reporter, (or perhaps the editor stuck this in) writes:
"Both Mr. Cuomo and Republicans would also like to increase the number of charter schools, but the Assembly — whose Democrats are strongly backed by public school teachers’ unions — have been cool to such proposals."
What about who "backs" Mr. Cuomo and "the Republicans"? Hedgefund investors in charter schools, other major businesses with interest in privatizing education for $$ opportunity. Are we to believe that it's all great and fine 'but for' the unions which back the democrats? Please NYT! And to think your critics call you liberal!!!
PS How about reading Donna Lieberman of the NYCLU letter to the editor last week. It was about Cuomo's tax break for private schools, but included how charter schools are part of that, and the 1% financial interest:
("Unfortunately, the proposal by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York to divert money from public schools to private [and privately operated charter schools] and religious schools is not about improving public education for all children. It is not about choice.
It is about allowing hedge funds and millionaires to siphon money away from public schools to support their narrow idea of what education should look like.") NYT should clarify for 'balance" who supports Republicans and Cuomo if its repeating Cuomo/republican talking points on who supports Democrats
"Both Mr. Cuomo and Republicans would also like to increase the number of charter schools, but the Assembly — whose Democrats are strongly backed by public school teachers’ unions — have been cool to such proposals."
What about who "backs" Mr. Cuomo and "the Republicans"? Hedgefund investors in charter schools, other major businesses with interest in privatizing education for $$ opportunity. Are we to believe that it's all great and fine 'but for' the unions which back the democrats? Please NYT! And to think your critics call you liberal!!!
PS How about reading Donna Lieberman of the NYCLU letter to the editor last week. It was about Cuomo's tax break for private schools, but included how charter schools are part of that, and the 1% financial interest:
("Unfortunately, the proposal by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York to divert money from public schools to private [and privately operated charter schools] and religious schools is not about improving public education for all children. It is not about choice.
It is about allowing hedge funds and millionaires to siphon money away from public schools to support their narrow idea of what education should look like.") NYT should clarify for 'balance" who supports Republicans and Cuomo if its repeating Cuomo/republican talking points on who supports Democrats
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Unions were started by Democrats in the 1860,s to keep Blacks out of the construction industry in Boston then supported by the Cpmmunists in the 1880's. The reason, destroy Personal Responsibility and Individual Freedom as they are still doing now!
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The problem with any legislative agenda in Albany is that while the major players have changed, the system itself is corrupt. The public never knows what their representatives are doing.
Despite the ease of posting information on the internet everything still passes through the the Speakers. This allows our so called representatives to hide behind this smoke screen and engage in back room horse trading that's more about their own legislative perks than the welfare of the citizens of the state. If something passes, it's "look what I did." But if it doesn't the answer is always "I couldn't get it passed the speaker."
The article describes the "reluctance of the new leaders to take risks" which really means they haven't had time to figure out how to manipulate votes to insure their control over their respective houses.
This is not democracy. The speakers have too much power and the rest of the legislatures are more interested in their own status than serving the needs of their constituencies.
We need more transparency. We need regular news stories on pending legislation. We need a web site were we can easily see how our representative voted on every piece of legislation, both in committee and on the floor. Only then can the voters keep our representatives from hiding behind the power of the speakers and hold them accountable.
Despite the ease of posting information on the internet everything still passes through the the Speakers. This allows our so called representatives to hide behind this smoke screen and engage in back room horse trading that's more about their own legislative perks than the welfare of the citizens of the state. If something passes, it's "look what I did." But if it doesn't the answer is always "I couldn't get it passed the speaker."
The article describes the "reluctance of the new leaders to take risks" which really means they haven't had time to figure out how to manipulate votes to insure their control over their respective houses.
This is not democracy. The speakers have too much power and the rest of the legislatures are more interested in their own status than serving the needs of their constituencies.
We need more transparency. We need regular news stories on pending legislation. We need a web site were we can easily see how our representative voted on every piece of legislation, both in committee and on the floor. Only then can the voters keep our representatives from hiding behind the power of the speakers and hold them accountable.
4
Cuomo was never qualified to be Governor, he lacks moral rectitude on every front. Low voter turnout gives these sort of politicians their seat, majority indifference.
He gives off a very unpolished, seedy, kind of persona, that makes one think of "corruption" when he speaks.
He gives off a very unpolished, seedy, kind of persona, that makes one think of "corruption" when he speaks.
6
Mr Cuomo and the Legislature need to get their own "Houses" in order before they can tackle such a sweeping agenda. Mr Cuomo has some very good ideas but he is the master at throwing stones and creating scapegoats that he believes will garner support from the public. The polls have shown time and time again that he is off target with voters. His attacks upon Public Schools have been a major miscalculation. The annual rush to get out of Albany creates hurried bills that can have detrimental effects on many citizens in New York. Powerful Lobbyists should not be allowed to write Legislation. The insanity must end. Then and only then will people start to have faith in our representative government.
2
New York voters get what they deserve. How can one expect moral behavior from people who are are best amoral.
I can remember when there were doubts that Nelson Rockefeller could be elected because of his divorce. Now they have a governor who is shacked up with his girl friend. If a person isn't afraid to show his contempt for propriety imagine what he'll do in private.
I can remember when there were doubts that Nelson Rockefeller could be elected because of his divorce. Now they have a governor who is shacked up with his girl friend. If a person isn't afraid to show his contempt for propriety imagine what he'll do in private.
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Andrew zcuomo is but another Albany self-interested and duplicitous hack. Smarter than the average " entitled" politician, but whose condescion shines clear. Look no farther than the last election, where his behavior towards his main opponents was belittling and one of ignoring them. A registered Democrat I voted for one his opponents, a party I seldom pull the lever for. Cuomo's " So you're gonna vote for---?" attitude was unacceotable then.
Now that he's lording over a den of thieves in Albany as chief , his disparagment of those whom he is supposed to be serving, us, NY State constituents, who needs another article about his agenda? It's clear enough- anything for me, you? You get crumbs, when I feel like doling them out.
Now that he's lording over a den of thieves in Albany as chief , his disparagment of those whom he is supposed to be serving, us, NY State constituents, who needs another article about his agenda? It's clear enough- anything for me, you? You get crumbs, when I feel like doling them out.
3
You wonder why is ratings are so low. What do you expect when Cuomo priority is nail salons over ethics reform?
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I am glad to read that Cuomo's legislative agenda faces obstacles. Tax credits for private school donations is just plain wrong. Since it costs the state tax revenue, it is no different than the state giving money directly to those schools. And the Dream Act is wrong because it targets a select group. College costs are so high, that most of the middle class cannot afford college too. Low interest loans or free tuition to state /city schools should be made available to everyone,
2
It must be embarrassing for The New York Times to continually report out the failings of this empty-suit in light of their editorial endorsement of him.
If it isn't, shame on them.
If it isn't, shame on them.
8
I am tired of them ALL.
3
Did anyone truly think that things would change,really?
We need a better election system, where candidates are listed by last name - not by party on the ballot
We need a better election system, where candidates are listed by last name - not by party on the ballot
4
Rent regulations give way too much power to our politicians. This power corrupts. The only way to end the corruption is to deregulate everything and take away the power.
NY has 20 million people and 17.5 million of us are hurt by rent stabilization. The policy should be ended.
NY has 20 million people and 17.5 million of us are hurt by rent stabilization. The policy should be ended.
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Tax free zones which have created no jobs, subsidies to Pepsi & IBM by ESDC which have created no jobs. Still no comment from Cuomo about GW bridge closings, and lets not forget his "lets clean up Albany" mantra that never happened. Now we have a friend of Cuomo/large donor running Empire State Development for $1 dollar a year. Let's not forget all his REBNY friends who are destroying the middle class.
14
Witnessing Andrew Cuomo's visit to the Kiryas Joel Rebbe on Sunday before the last election before he continued on to E. Ramapo for his next Hasidic endorsement, the private school tax breaks to private schools fulfill his election endorsement promise to the Hasidic bloc vote, just like his father Mario did. Check them out on You Tube.
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Gee Hillary did the same exact thing when she was running for Senator, couldn't wait to visit Kiryas Joel during her "listening" tour
2
The plight of current students has been been sidelined as a result of Cuomo's insistence on abstract notions of accountability. If today's education system allows, as he maintains, ineffective teachers to continue drawing a paycheck without being held accountable, graduates will leave high school unprepared, neither career nor college ready.
To be sure, education is a very complex notion, a dynamic course of lived interactions that are in many ways dependent upon individual dispositions and contexts for learning. Why have we placed our faith in (and surrendered the rights and sensibilities of teachers to) standardized tests? We should more carefully scrutinize these assessments - the degree to which they are assumed valid is not only problematic, but dangerous. What can we confidently say these test results represent?
How compelling is the argument that our country isn't competitive? Given the reliance upon standardized testing, claims that we foster creativity in schools have become a hollow rhetorical flourishes. Similarly, far too little attention has been paid to the precipitous decline in teacher morale and the impact this has on how our children conceive of learning. Fear is a very ineffective way to motivate people to learn.
As a high school teacher, I can assure you that your children are very bright. They can see how little teachers are invested in the educational system in its current manifestation, how rarely teachers can speak with passion. This they learn.
To be sure, education is a very complex notion, a dynamic course of lived interactions that are in many ways dependent upon individual dispositions and contexts for learning. Why have we placed our faith in (and surrendered the rights and sensibilities of teachers to) standardized tests? We should more carefully scrutinize these assessments - the degree to which they are assumed valid is not only problematic, but dangerous. What can we confidently say these test results represent?
How compelling is the argument that our country isn't competitive? Given the reliance upon standardized testing, claims that we foster creativity in schools have become a hollow rhetorical flourishes. Similarly, far too little attention has been paid to the precipitous decline in teacher morale and the impact this has on how our children conceive of learning. Fear is a very ineffective way to motivate people to learn.
As a high school teacher, I can assure you that your children are very bright. They can see how little teachers are invested in the educational system in its current manifestation, how rarely teachers can speak with passion. This they learn.
7
The Cuomo administration is in knots since the indictments handed to both the speaker and the Senate leader. Cuomo is running scared and lying low lately. The Dream act is a bad bill, our own citizens who are needy should be taken care of first - no question. We are dead in the water enacting anything of consequences. The strongest of Ethics laws should have been passed, they are not - what's new in Albany?
11
Governor Cuomo has lost all credibility and what little support he was able to muster for the last election. He turns out to be a member of the good ol' boys club and we have gotten more of the same.
All we can do now is hold our noses and wait for the next governor and hope that he or she will take actual steps to clean up the cesspool in Albany.
All we can do now is hold our noses and wait for the next governor and hope that he or she will take actual steps to clean up the cesspool in Albany.
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Yet it should surprise anyone for this is how he was in his previous term. People voted for him for partisan purposes and then lament how little has changed. Well, duh. Until the voters wise up and actually hold politicians accountable by not just reelecting them just because they have a D or R appended to their name you can expect more of the same. Otherwise, the only "message" pols like Cuomo get is that they can do whatever they want.
4
Didn't vote for him the first go round and certainly not the second. I don't trust any politiican at all. They promise the world and we get shafted again. Those who vote strictly along party lines should think long and hard at their choices. Those who continue to vote like blind sheep should quit complaining. There is not one politician who is willing to stand up to special interests NONE, how about a politician who actually cares for their constituents? And not put special groups ahead of other but do what is right for ALL? We are stuck with a professional politician like Cuomo for 3 more years I don't expect any changes at all. He's good at rhetoric but can't seem to actually accomplish anything. Shocking.
3
There are more "political ads" than there were in the entire Cuomo re-election season. From Cuomo's stentorian voice comes a plea for tax breaks for parents who send their children to private and religious schools. This comes on the heels of the election when the ads promoting Cuomo's relentless Charter advocacy ran for months. Cuomo asks to "Don't steal possible," when he could make just that happen by making good on the settlement agreed to in the suit by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity that proved in court that the state *systematically* underfunded urban districts in favor of affluent suburban ones. Started under Pataki, the settlement has been ignored subsequently by Governors Spitzer, Paterson and Cuomo. The settlement was for $2 billion. The original judgment was twice that, at $4 billion.
On the other side are construction workers and unions in support of 421-A, to create at least some affordable housing in NYC, which is rapidly going the way of the horse and buggy.
I'm waiting to see when the Times thinks it might be worth revisiting its political cowardice in endorsements in the last election. ALL of this happens with the Times' assent.
On the other side are construction workers and unions in support of 421-A, to create at least some affordable housing in NYC, which is rapidly going the way of the horse and buggy.
I'm waiting to see when the Times thinks it might be worth revisiting its political cowardice in endorsements in the last election. ALL of this happens with the Times' assent.
14
Come on, Preet, you are our only hope to stop Cuomo's anti-public schools pro-lining the pockets of the wealthy with our tax dollars.
18
Ashamed how the public looks to an appointed official to hold a politician accountable. The ballot box is a better way, but that reality seems lost on too many.
2
Amen!
Let's review Cuomo's priorities: disband the Moreland commission, give away more taxpayer money to non-citizens (the Dream Act), the "yes means yes" (which who knows what that actually means and what practical effect it will have) and supporting charter schools.
There are no places for this bad Governor to hide anymore. The hideyholes of Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos have been upended and Cuomo the bottom dweller is looking desperately for the next place to hide from voters and make his bad deals while trumpeting his "successes." Coincidentally, his popularity dropped to new levels and his unfavorable ratings rose again to personal highs.
There are no places for this bad Governor to hide anymore. The hideyholes of Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos have been upended and Cuomo the bottom dweller is looking desperately for the next place to hide from voters and make his bad deals while trumpeting his "successes." Coincidentally, his popularity dropped to new levels and his unfavorable ratings rose again to personal highs.
11
Cuomo will not run for a third term, but will delay that announcement for as long as he can. He understands that a third term is political death. Not that he has a rosy political future, but he knows not to have a slow lingering disintegration.
8
Tax breaks for the well off sending their kids to private schools. More charter schools which means weakening teaching qualifications, low cost use of tax payer created resources by for profit education companies and no job security for teachers. Why a son of a son of immigrants is so intent on destroying the public school system on which our nation depends and which is a major foundation of a secular democracy is beyond my comprehension. I hope his hope for his agenda fills his mouth with ashes.
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As a product of Catholic grammar and high School I can attest to the effectiveness of alternatives to public education. As a graduate of CUNY I can credit public education for my journey from poor to the 1%. Charter schools are outperforming public schools to the chagrin of the teachers unions. Competition and performance are good for business and education. Public schools need to reform by eliminating tenure and reducing non performers. Excuses don't cut it. The teachers union will go the way of Kodak unless they regain public confidence and educate children. Non public schools save tax payers money by reducing student count and some tax benefit should go to parents who sacrifice to send their children to private schools. Even president and Mrs. Obama utilize private schools although they support the unions which are steadfastly democratic supporters. Embrace change.It is necessary for the future of our children and grand childrens ability to achieve the American dream.
2
It's funny, everyone here complaing of charter schools vs. public schools. Looking over the recent school budget vote across Long Island most if not all budgets passed in high numbers yet we hear of teachers having to buy supplies for their students.................where is the money going if not into schools? Could it be their pensions? Salaries? Do a little research and the salaries of superintendents and retired officials will blow your mind. Something is fishy in the state of NY if you ask me.
1
Stop with the tax credit already. Basically, you are shifting the costs of private schools onto taxpayers.
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