Parents & Scientists: Bloomberg Plans for Toxic Schools Inadequate

In a series of articles in the NY Metro, investigative reporter Patrick Arden has explored Mayor Bloomberg's controversial plans to reclaim toxic sites to build schools. As Arden explains, the plans will not result in a complete clean-up. Instead, complex engineering systems will be required to continuously vent toxic fumes out of contaminated soils and away from children and teachers. One problem is that the Mayor's administration refuses to provide any plan for long term monitoring of these systems. In today's article, Arden quotes two Pace University scientists:

Schlesinger and Cervino noted the ventilation system would have a monitor to ensure it was working. They asked if another monitor could be installed to detect levels of specific chemicals being released from the site.

“Even if the controls are working, we still want a monitor in that school,” Cervino said. “We asked, ‘If it’s not about the money, why wouldn’t you do it?’ They said, ‘Because we’re doing everything within the law.’

The local community board has opposed the construction plans.

In the Bronx, parents and community leaders exasperated with the Administration's refusal to provide a monitoring plan for the Mott Haven schools site have filed a lawsuit. See Metro coverage here and Post here. Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott blasted these concerned parents, calling their actions "unconscionable". Oddly enough, we didn't hear a peep from Walcott when the Daily News reported how School Construction Authority bigwigs had diverted school repair funds into a well-appointed lounge for themselves.

Spitzer's School Budget Has Not Yet Passed

Those of us who, like me, wanted much more from Gov. Eliot Spitzer's proposed plan for public school spending should remember that his proposal is still just that. It hasn't passed and faces interesting opposition in the NY State Senate.

The GOP-controlled state senate's budget bill includes much, much, more money for education (More $500 million more) most of it designed to go to rich NY State districts. The Spitzer proposal, while it increases the amount of cash for every district in New York State, changes the funding formula so that poorer districts in need get more than richer districts not in need. Senator Bruno calls this "class warfare" and, in a way, he's right. Because of the intensely political way state money has been given out in NYS, people residing in poorer school districts pay much higher tax rates (for worse schools) than people in wealthier districts (for better ones). People in NYC, especially, pay for the better schools in NYC suburbs.

While, in my view, the Spitzer proposal does not properly ensure smaller class sizes and panders to Mr. Bloomberg's penchant for random reorganization of the schools (by helping to pay for it) it does address the past unfairness of the funding formula.

On St. Patrick's Day, this Saturday, those campaigning for passage of the Spitzer budget, notably the Alliance for Quality Education will demonstrate at the offices of GOP State Senators Padavan, Golden & Maltese. Get a schedule, bus to the demonstrations, or leafets, or for more information call AQE at 718-222-1089 or Email nycinfor@aquny.org. Although I think victory on class size is crucial and has not yet been won, I think that Governor Spitzer's budget is a good, if imperfect, step. So I'll be there, Saturday. Will You?