It looks like it was a short summer vacation for Albany lawmakers. After leaving the Capitol just last week, they are being called back to work in a special session by Governor Cuomo tomorrow afternoon.

There’s some important unfinished business for them to address – with Mayor de Blasio’s control of city schools set to expire on Friday if the legislature doesn’t act.

Perhaps recognizing that an educational crisis could occur on his watch, the governor is now rounding up lawmakers after almost cavalierly declaring earlier this month in an interview with NY1 that he would “bet against” lawmakers reaching a deal.

But with a deal for mayoral control now apparently within reach, there’s a poison pill lurking in the form of a sweetener for the pact. According to The Times’ Jesse McKinley, the governor may ask lawmakers to expand accidental disability pension benefits for New York City police officers, firefighters and corrections officers.

It would be a quintessential moment in state politics if a thirteenth-hour pension deal is rammed through in order to keep the city’s schools from running off the rails.

Mayoral control of New York City public schools shouldn’t be about who’s mayor or whether someone likes charter schools or if you want firefighters to get more money if they’re hurt. The governor has the power to cut any strings that are attached to a mayoral control deal so he should prepare his scissors. Otherwise, this will be a low moment in a State Capitol reeking with lousy deals. Let’s hope this session is truly special.

 

Bob Hardt