Local pols decry lack of school funding

Gov. Andrew Cuomo addressed officials from around New York for his Jan. 13 State of the State speech. He announced plans to increase the minimum wage statewide, offer tax credits to one million small businesses, expand the food stamp program and close the so-called LLC loophole, which enables businesses to give vast contributions to political candidates. Mr. Cuomo also promised to provide $1 billion to New York schools in 2016. 

As his voice filled Empire State Plaza with affirmations of the state’s strength and influence, one politician suddenly cried out.

“This is not real. This is not real,” said East New York Assemblyman Charles Barron. “Come to the neighborhoods where the poverty is high. He has a billion-dollar surplus and the poverty is high.” 

He was removed for his disruption of the governor’s speech. Mr. Barron told reporters one of the grievances his outrage stemmed from was Mr. Cuomo’s failure to fund the city’s schools in alignment with the Campaign for Fiscal Equity ruling in 2006.

No other elected officials rose to their feet in dissent during that day, but Mr. Barron was not alone in his frustration over the unbalanced funding distribution.

“It still hasn’t risen to the level that was contemplated in the decision by the court,” northwest Bronx Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said. “There’s been underfunding in every single district.”

According to the assemblyman, the pecuniary slight is significant.

“My districts have been shortchanged by tens of millions of dollars,” he said.

“As of last year, the state continued to owe the schools in my district over $131 million under the Campaign for Fiscal Equity settlement. Sadly, many of these schools are considered ‘failing’ schools and they could greatly benefit from this funding,” state Sen. Gustavo Rivera said in an email.

According to Marvin Shelton, president of the District 10 Community Education Council, District 10 alone is yet to receive its full entitlement of nearly $200 million.

“Once again, New York City children are getting shortchanged,” he lamented.