The state Senate’s deputy majority leader is a busy guy.

Jeff Klein — who represents parts of the Riverdale/Kingsbridge area — last week announced he was working on an alternative proposal on mayoral control of the schools, warned constituents of scams by chimney sweeps, and touted the Senate’s passage of a bill he sponsored that will increase availability of state-subsidized pharmaceuticals for seniors.

The mayoral control proposal would merge community education councils — which are advisory councils elected by parents’ association officers from each school district — with community boards. The school districts would be redrawn to match the borders of community board catchment areas, which are smaller. Each community board would grow by an additional 12 members, who would retain the same responsibilities that education council members now have. It’s unclear if those 12 would also vote on community board matters.

The proposal would also require the Department of Education to give public notice in advance of some major decisions, as well as open its books wider to the city Independent Budget Office.

Mr. Klein has also been taking some heat.

On May 28, tenant advocates from the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, Housing Here and Now, and the Real Rent Reform Campaign protested on Duane Street as Mr. Klein spoke at City Hall’s On/Off the Record Breakfast in a nearby restaurant. As they’ve already done with Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., they were hoping to pressure Mr. Klein to fast-track legislation repealing vacancy decontrol and increasing protections for tenants.

Mr. Klein said Tuesday that he supports a bill that would change vacancy decontrol so that rent-controlled apartments would be deregulated when a tenant leaves after rent reaches a level tied to the consumer price index. It is currently set at $2,000. His legislation would also set an income limit. He said he also supports a temporary moratorium on the conversion of affordable Mitchell-Lama apartments to co-ops.