Gov. Cuomo today looked to walk back the war of words with Mayor Bloomberg over the law governing teacher layoffs, report our Jonathan Lemire and Ken Lovett:
“I didn’t think he was critical of me,” Cuomo said of Bloomberg with a smirk. “I think the mayor was frustrated in dealing with the legislative process in Albany.”
Aides to Bloomberg and Cuomo have been sniping at each other since Tuesday,
when the governor released his own bill designed to deal with teacher layoffs
shortly after
the Senate passed a plan backed by the mayor
.
Bloomberg wants an all out repeal of “first in, last out” a law that requires layoffs be based on seniority.
They say the governor’s plan to create a new statewide evaluation system of teachers doesn’t address the issue, meaning seniority would remain the only criteria used for layoffs.
Over the past few days, Bloomberg aides called the Cuomo proposal a “scam” and a gift to the teachers union.
Cuomo aides shot back, comparing the Bloomberg-backed bill with Wisconsin-style efforts to evade collective bargaining with the teachers.
The governor said his bill would not only pertain to teacher evaluations, but also layoffs, promotions, raises and bonuses.
Update
: A source said Cuomo and Bloomberg spoke Thursday and agreed both bills are starting points that share common goals.
Following a budget address on Staten Island this afternoon, Cuomo sought the high road.
“I understand where the mayor wants to go and I’m committed to helping in,” Cuomo said. “I have know the mayor a long time and I consider him a personal friend.”
Even so, Cuomo rejected Bloomberg’s bid to have the governor include the LIFO repeal legislation in his budget amendments submitted Thursday.
“I don’t think that is correct as a legal matter,” the governor said. “Appropriation bills deal with money.”
Cuomo said he is working toward a “merit-based system” that uses “objective criteria” in dealing with teachers beyond seniority.
Bloomberg has said he needs a quick resolution in anticipation of more than 4,600 teacher layoffs this spring.
Cuomo said he understands the “emergency nature of the situation” but also said the key is coming up with a bill that can be signed into the law.
The Assembly does not support the Bloomberg-backed bill.
“We can have a chorus of divergent voices or we can actually get something done,” he said. “As governor, my role is actually to get something done.”
He said a final bill may prove a model for future evaluation systems covering police, fire and hospital workers.
