Today's Lead: Court Upholds Ban On Worship In Schools
A Federal appeals court ruled yesterday that a City policy banning religious groups from using space in public schools for worship does not violate the U.S. Constitution. The 2-1 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Manhattan is the latest in a nearly 20-year legal saga that started with a small Bronx church that tried to hold weekend services at its local school. The ruling does not prohibit the City from offering space, but allows it to deny use. Unlike his predecessor, Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he supports religious organizations' right to hold services in schools, pointing out that they pay a rental fee like any other non-profit doing so. Out of the 50 largest U.S. school districts, New York was the only one to entirely ban religious worship. The City has also not been allowing public schools to host partisan political activities or for-profit events.
New from Gotham Gazette
De Blasio's Homelessness Reset: Advantage Lessons Learned
John Surico takes a detailed look at past homelessness policy and how Mayor de Blasio will be looking to address the problem of New York City's 53,000-plus homeless.
ICYMI from Gotham Gazette
Creating the Workforce The City's Tech Economy Needs
Kristen Meriwether examines Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen's outline for workforce and economic development in the new tech economy.
Preliminary Budget Questions Remain
An op-ed from CM Helen Rosenthal discussing her approach to the budget and key questions she still has after the council's March preliminary budget hearings.
From Pre-K Tunnel Vision to Vision Zero
Kristen Meriwether reports that after Mayor de Blasio secured pre-K funding in the state budget, he'll soon be turning his Albany attention to his Vision Zero traffic safety plan.
Other Stories We're Following
Brooklyn Housing Court Can’t Find New Home (NY Times)
Median Rent In Brooklyn Hits $2,890 (Daily News)
Speed Camera Dispute Erupts Between Cuomo, de Blasio (Daily News)
Correction Officers Union Criticizes Incoming Commissioner (WSJ)
Bronx Junk Food Ads Outweigh Healthy Ones 11 To 1 (NY Post)
Comptroller Wasn't Told Of Public Financing Pilot (Times Union)
Rikers Warden Demoted After Inmate Dies In Overheated Cell (NY Times)
Finalists Chosen In Storm-Proofing City Design Competition (Crain's)
What The State’s Charter Push Did To Mayoral Control (Capital)
Taxi Nominee Disagrees With de Blasio On Outer Borough Cabs (Capital)
Today's Lead: City Adds Thousands Of New Pre-K Seats
The city began accepting applications for 4,268 new full-day pre-kindergarten seats this fall at 140 public schools across the five boroughs, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday. That's a 26 percent increase over the current school year. Many of the new seats are in high demand districts. The announcement comes shortly after the state agreed to provide funding for the new seats. De Blasio's goal is to expand to 73,250 pre-K seats by 2015. Officials expect 40 percent of the new pre-K slots to be located in public schools, with the rest run by community-based organizations.
New from Gotham Gazette
Creating the Workforce The City's Tech Economy Needs
Kristen Meriwether examines Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen's outline for workforce and economic development in the new tech economy.
Preliminary Budget Questions Remain
In a Gotham Gazette op-ed, Council Member and budget expert Helen Rosenthal discusses her approach to the budget and key questions she still has after the council's March preliminary budget hearings.
ICYMI from Gotham Gazette
From Pre-K Tunnel Vision to Vision Zero
Kristen Meriwether reports that after Mayor de Blasio secured pre-K funding in the state budget, he'll soon be turning his Albany attention to his Vision Zero traffic safety plan.
Other Stories We're Following
Supreme Court Contribution Ruling Could Impact NY (Capital)
Traffic Fatalities Down 26 Percent (Daily News)
City To Overhaul Workforce Training Programs (Crain's)
Fracking Is Frozen, But The Gas Flows From Elsewhere (Capital)
Cuomo Drops Plan For College Classes For Inmates (NY Times)
Teachers, Nurses, Professors Contracts First: Union Rep (DNAinfo)
Lawmakers Push For Reforms After Queens Library Scandal (Daily News)
Program To Help Cos Get A Kit To Combat Overdoses (NY Times)
Privacy Concerns Nix Student-Data Plan (Associated Press)
Mayor Still Backing City-Based Minimum Wage Hike (NY Observer)
Fixing The Port Authority: Here's What's On The Table (WNYC)
Today's Lead: The Mayor, Post Budget
Mayor Bill de Blasio and his administration looked to reboot their relationship with the press yesterday after budget battles with Albany came to an end this week. De Blasio met with city hall reporters in acasual setting and trumpeted winning pre-kindergarten funding as "A real liftoff moment for this administration." He downplayed his budget disagreements with his former boss Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who at times seemed particularly interested in thwarting the new mayor. "We had some disagreements, its not exactly a state secret." de Blasio said. His administration is also looking to strengthen its communications team with a veteran press aide, new speechwriters and web media experts. Even with the state budget finalized, de Blasio's interaction with Albany is far from over as he is expected to launch a major push for his Vision Zero traffic safety plan in the capital in the coming weeks.
New this morning from Gotham Gazette
Kristen Meriwether reports that after Mayor de Blasio secured pre-K funding in the state budget, he'll soon be turning his Albany attention to his Vision Zero traffic safety plan
ICYMI from Gotham Gazette
David King looks at what the Albany budget deal means for New York City
Kristen Meriwether reports on the newly appointed, first-ever inspector general of the NYPD, including two key areas he may investigate
Other Stories We're Following
Lawsuit Threatens City's Property Tax System (Capital)
Report Traces Port Authority Flaws to Crumbling Business Model (NY Times)
City Students Begin Common Core Tests As Debate Continues (NY 1)
Council's Progressive Caucus Elects New Leadership Team (NY Observer)
Anti-Gun Control Rally in Albany Brings Out Donald Trump (Daily News)
Former Chiefs Weigh In on Splitting up Port Authority (Wall Street Journal)
Upgrading City's Gas Pipes Could Take Decades (Wall Street Journal)
Senate Leader's Budget Measure Would Delay Bronx Medical Center(Capital)
How Big is NYC's Tech Sector? (Crain's)
Katz Asks Queens Library Head to take Leave of Absence (DNAinfo)
Today's Lead: $140 Billion State Budget Finalized, With Complaints
Both houses of the legislature passed the state budget yesterday in marathon sessions that lasted late into the night. It is the fourth on-time budget in a row for New York State, but advocates say it leaves much to be desired. Legislators representing the city lament the lack of tuition funding for undocumented immigrants, the absence of approval for additional cameras to clock speeding drivers and the lack of a comprehensive public campaign financing system. Good government advocates are upset that Gov. Andrew Cuomo quietly announced on a conference call on Saturday that he would shutter his Moreland Commission on Public Corruption if the legislature passed tweaks to the state's ethics laws and a trial campaign finance system that only applies to the comptroller race - a deal which was indeed struck. Cuomo will sign the budget at a press conference this morning. The Assembly is scheduled to be in session while the senate won't return until April 23.
The latest from Gotham Gazette
David King looks at what the Albany budget deal means for New York City
Kristen Meriwether reports on the newly appointed, first-ever inspector general of the NYPD, including two key areas he may investigate
Other Stories We're Following
Councilman Introduces Paid Vacation Bill (Crain's)
All Employers Must Give Time Off Starting Tomorrow (Crain's)
NY Casino Licenses to Cost Millions (NY Times)
Gas Pipes For East Harlem Blast to Undergo Further Tests (NY Times)
Senator Wants to Legalize Internet Poker in New York (the Post Standard)
West Side of Manhattan Unready For Commuter Boom (NY Post)
Sandy Victims Still Waiting For Build It Back Funds (Daily News)
Firm That Ran Council Speakers Campaign Now Lobbies Her (Daily News)
State Could Change City's Pre-K Funding (Wall Street Journal)
Bloomberg Considering New Political Site (Capital)
Port Authority Wants to Build Another Bus Terminal (DNAinfo)
Today's Lead: Legislators Set to Vote on Controversial Budget Deal
State legislators will begin a marathon session today where they will vote on a budget agreement that was reached late Friday night and into Saturday morning. Today's session is expected to last well into Tuesday. As is, the agreement sets aside $300 million in prekindergarten funding for New York City, establishes a city renters' tax credit and focuses on tax relief for upstate homeowners. The budget strips de Blasio of some of his power to control city charter schools as it mandates the city find space for charters in public buildings or pay for alternative space. A deal was not reached on The DREAM act and good government groups are unhappy with the campaign finance portion of the budget that would create a trial system for this year's comptroller race only. Those groups are urging Comptroller Thomas Dinapoli not to participate in the system because of its hasty assembly and are calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders to come up with a more comprehensive deal. Cuomo told reporters on Saturday that he will end his Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption as long as legislators pass the deal they reached that includes the campaign finance trial, stronger bribery laws and a new elections enforcement position at the State Board of Elections.
New at Gotham Gazette
Compromise Yields Minimal Reform In On-Time Budget
David King looks at what the impending Albany budget deal means for New York City.
What Will The New NYPD IG Inspect?
Kristen Meriwether reports on the newly appointed, first-ever inspector general of the NYPD, including two key areas he may investigate.
Other Stories We're Following
Schumer Rips Port Authority For Security Breaches at World Trade Center (NY 1)
Tish James Renews Public Advocate's Legislative Role (NY Observer)
De Blasio Announces Push For Hurricane Recovery (NY Times)
Mayor Betting on Pre-K to Succeed (NY Times)
De Blasio Expanding Communications Team (Daily News)
Bill Bratton Slams Ray Kelly (Daily News)
Budget Blocks Attorney General From Controlling Settlement Cash(Bloomberg)
Moreland to Refer Cases Before it Closes (Capital)
Is the Budget Technically Late? (Wall Street Journal)
Mixed Grades For De Blasio on State Budget (Wall Street Journal)
Family Leave Bill Gains Momentum in Albany (Crain's)
Today's Lead: Tentative Deal To Protect Charters In State Budget
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislative leaders struck a tentative deal on charter schools during budget negotiations yesterday that would increase per-charter pupil spending statewide and force the City to provide rent assistance to charters. Per pupil funding would rise $1,100 over three years, starting with $250 the initial year, then $350 the next, and $500 the third. The boost would amount to an increase of about 3.4 percent. Also, the city would be forced to look for space for charters in public schools, or provide rent money for them to use in private spaces, which could cost up to $40 million a year. According to the deal, a third-party arbitrator would make a final ruling if the City and a charter school disagree over a co-location plan and the City would be barred from charging rent for space in public school buildings. The deal would also force the City to find space for the three Success Academy schools run by Eva Moskowitz whose co-locations were rolled back last month. The plan does not, however, offer building aid for charters to replace the $210 million in capital funding that Mayor Bill de Blasio recently diverted away from charters.
New at Gotham Gazette
Legislature Will Have Hard Time Silencing Moreland
Gotham Gazette's David King reports from Albany that State legislators are looking to defund the Moreland Commission on public corruption in the state budget, but that even if they are successful in doing so, the investigations being done by Moreland are likely to live on.
ICYMI at Gotham Gazette
Idle Time: City Car Owners Could Be In For A Shift
by Adam Wisnieski
Council Member Survey Says: How Should We Divide Our Money?
by Kristen Meriwether
Other Stories We're Following
De Blasio's Child Welfare Reforms Faliling, Officials Say (DNAinfo)
Council Sees Flawed Mental Health System On Rikers (NY Times)
Budget To Include $1.1 Billion For Schools (Journal News)
Queens Library Head Worked 30 Hour Week Second Job (Daily News)
City Jobless Rate Rises For First Time In Nearly Two Years (NY Times)
Complaints Mount In Council About Mark-Viverito (Capital)
Ambulances Take Nearly 10 Minutes To Get To Emergencies (NY Post)
Citi Bike Racks Sit Unused In Brooklyn Boondocks (NY Post)
Experts Bullish On Citi Bike (Wall Street Journal)
Today's Lead: NY Schools Most Segregated In Nation
New York State public schools are the most racially segregated in the nation, and New York City schools are largely to blame, according to a new report by the Civil Rights Project at the University of California at Los Angeles. In New York City, 19 of the city's 32 community school districts had elementary and middle schools with enrollments that were less than 10 percent white in 2010.
According to the report, New York City charter schools are the most segregated, with less than 1 percent white enrollment at 73 percent of charter schools. But some charter leaders argue that the sector can't win, that charter schools are already accused of trying to attract the most talented students. Charters typically give preference to students who live in the district where they're located and have traditionally been created in highly segregated, low income neighborhoods. The report suggests that the housing segregation of the city is at the root of most of the schools' segregation.
The report's authors argue that the city should offer parents an unscreened choice in choosing public schools. The current high school choice system, which uses entrance tests at top schools, excludes most black and Latino students. The city's Department of Education spokesman, Devon Puglia, brushed off the findings, saying officials "value the incredible diversity among our students."
New from Gotham Gazette
Council Member Survey Says: How Should We Divide Our Money?
An update on city council rules reform from Gotham Gazette's new city reporter Kristen Meriwether
ICYMI at Gotham Gazette
What's Next for East Midtown
an op-ed by Council Member Dan Garodnick
Beyond Pre-K: What Else is at Stake for NYC in the State Budget
by David King
Other Stories We're Following
Queens Assemblyman's Office Raided (Wall Street Journal)
City's Surplus Gets Even Bigger (Crain's)
Council To Address Death Of Inmate In Hot Cell (Associated Press)
Mayor Puts Charter Leaders On Co-Location Panel (NY Post)
Citi Bike System Successful, But Wobbly From Start (NY Times)
Cuomo Seeks Homelessness Impasse Resolution (Wall Street Journal)
City Growth Reversing Decades-Old Trend (NY Times)
Council Proposes 10-Cent Plastic Bag Fee (Associated Press)
Councilman Wants Schools To Offer Halal Lunches (Daily News)
Teacher Pension Transparency At Appeals Court (Albany Times Union)
Former Construction Aide Tapped For Sandy Rebuilding Effort (DNAinfo)
De Blasio Slow To Make Police-Oversight Appointment (Capital)
New Permit To Speed Demolition Of Sandy-Damaged Homes (DNAinfo)
MTA: We Don't Need Cuomo's $40 Million (Daily News)
Today's Lead: $300 Million Deal For City Pre-K Close
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislative leaders may be close to a budget deal that provides $300 million in funding for New York City pre-kindergarten. Albany lawmakers stressed that no figure was settled yet, but Cuomo said the final number would depend on how much a municipality needed and capacity to spend, and then referred to the city asking for $300 million. The amount is $40 million less than Mayor Bill de Blasio has been seeking and does not necessarily create a dedicated annual funding source, which the mayor has been calling for. It appears that de Blasio's desired tax increase on the city's highest earners to pay for pre-K and middle school after-school programming will not be a part of the deal. De Blasio has said the city is ready to provide full-day pre-K for 53,000 kids by this September, and have 73,000 enrolled by year two. Rather than receiving the funds up front, a district will first have to spend money on pre-K and then seek reimbursement from the state. It's still unclear how much funding the city will receive in after-school funding.
Other Stories We're Following
Donors Funnel $28 Million To State Politicians (NY Post)
Mayor: ‘Miscommunication’ On Homeless With Gov (Wall Street Journal)
Lawmakers Approve 'National Popular Vote' Bill (Associated Press)
Silver: Charter Aid In Budget Limited To Money (Capital)
Rangel, Espaillat Battle Causes Rift Among Minority Legislators (NY Post)
Fired Officer's Complaint Adds Details To Rikers Death (NY Times)
Brooklyn Brewery Owner Suggests Park-Funding Solution (Capital)
Interfaith Medical Center Files Plan To Exit Bankruptcy (Crain's)
2 CNN Producers Held For Trespassing At WTC (NY Times)
NYPD To More Quickly Neutralize Shooting Suspects (Daily News)
Budget Talks Pull Governor Toward Left (Wall Street Journal)
City Plans Taxi Accessibility Surcharge (Associated Press)
Today's Lead:Late Push For Homeless Rent Subsidies Looks Doomed
It may be too late for Mayor Bill de Blasio to secure state funds to provide rental subsidies for homeless families leaving the city's shelter system. Gilbert Taylor, de Blasio's commissioner of homeless services, told the City Council yesterday he planned to head to Albany to seek state funding for the subsidy program but a spokesperson for Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it was too late in this year's budget negotiations to expect the change. The state budget is due by the end of the month. The Cuomo administration said the de Blasio administration never submitted a formal request for the funding changes. The two administrations have been wrestling over pre-kindergarten funding and charter schools for weeks now.
New at Gotham Gazette
A Gotham Gazette op-ed by Council Member Dan Garodnick detailing his outlook on the next phase of finding the right rezoning plan for East Midtown.
ICYMI
by David Howard King
State Budget Talks Remain Fluid (YNN)
Senate Leaders Say Prison For Inmates is 'Non Starter' (Pressconnects)
Feds Accuse Rikers Officer of Ignoring Dying Plea (NY Times)
17 Months After Hurricane, Recovery Plods Along (NY Times)
Wife of Celebrity De Blasio Supporter Wins Gig With City (Daily News)
Council Proposal Would Levy Fee on Plastic Shopping Bags (NY Post)
Councilman Wants Lights, Sirens Added to Snow Plows (Daily News)
Council Forms Budget Negotiating Team (Capital)
De Blasio Continues Apology Tour on Charter Schools (Crain's)
Advocates Seek More State Education Funding (Albany Times Union)
Espaillat Brings Beefed Up Campaign Machine to Second Rangel Fight(Politicker)
Today's Lead: FEMA To Pay For 110 Public Housing Boilers
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Senator Chuck Schumer announced over the weekend that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has agreed to pay $100 million for new boilers at 110 public housing buildings in the city that have been stuck with unreliable temporary boilers since superstorm Sandy. The boilers heat nearly 9,000 homes in buildings across the Rockaways, Coney Island, and the Lower East Side of Manhattan. FEMA also agreed to reimburse the city for the $56 million it's spent to rent the temporary boilers. Before the agreement, new boilers were being held up because the city had to negotiate with FEMA over each boiler. But now, cost estimates from independent engineers will be accepted. The new boilers will be more water-resistant, isntalled at higher elevations, and burn natural gas instead of oil. Installation is scheduled to begin within six months.
New from Gotham Gazette
Beyond Pre-K: What Else is at Stake for NYC in the State Budget
While the debate over pre-K funding continues to dominate the headlines, there are several other key budget decisions being made in Albany. David King's latest dispatch from the capital outlines several under-the-radar aspects of budget negotiations to be aware of. Read more here.
Other Stories We're Following
Central Park Case Settlement Could Cost Millions (Wall Street Journal)
Beneath Cities, A Decaying Tangle Of Gas Pipes (NY Times)
De Blasio Wants Conservancies To Share With Poorer Parks (Politicker)
De Blasio Softens Rhetoric On Charters (WNYC)
Citi Bike Operators Doing Shabby Job (Daily News)
De Blasio Won't Bail Out Citi Bike (Politicker)
Proposals For Long Island College Hospital Made Public (DNAinfo)
Activists Upset With Klein Over DREAM Act (NY Times)
NY Attorney General Wants DREAM Act In Budget (Daily News)
Bill Would Require NYPD To Share Collision Reports (WNYC)
New Rules Guide Restaurants On How To Avoid Fines (Crain's)
Port Authority Didn’t Pay To Install WTC Security Cameras (NY Post)
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