Mayor Addresses Education and Housing Concerns

Mayor Michael Bloomberg focused on his overhaul of the citys education system in the State of the City address on Tuesday that also kicked off his re-election campaign.
In the speech at Hostos Community College in the Bronx, Bloomberg also promised to reward homeowners with a repeat of last years property tax rebate, to curb overdevelopment and to alleviate homelessness and expand affordable housing units.
"New Yorkers want reform. They voted for it. Theyve waited long enough. Its time to deliver," Bloomberg said.
The mayor lauded the implementation of a citywide school curriculum, the ending of social promotion for third graders, and test results that showed improvements in math in most grades.
Noting that English scores did not improve consistently and lamenting the continued overcrowding crisis throughout the city, the mayor added, "Not every student, not every classroom or school has improved. Weve only just begun. But we are moving forward."
Some said the Mayors words, while hopeful, fell short.
"Thats not good enough. Weve got to make sure parents know how to access the schools appropriate for their children," said Councilmember Melinda Katz in response to the mayors promise to build more small schools.
Bloomberg said property owners would receive a $400 tax rebate again this year. He also said the city will work with communities to rezone areas where overdevelopment an issue central to community boards throughout Queens is a problem.
On the other side of the housing issue, Bloomberg said his administration would continue to restructure city services for the homeless and would address the affordable housing crisis by requiring a percentage of units be reserved for moderate and low-income tenants in new developments in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
"For too long, weve focused on crisis management, instead of long-term solutions," he said, touting the number of homeless men, women and children placed in permanent homes last year more than 28,000.
Following the mayors speech, Congressmember Anthony Weiner, who is running for the Democratic nomination for the right to challenge Bloomberg for mayor, accused him of neglecting other boroughs while he strives to pass a plan to build a stadium on the West Side.
"We have a situation where the mayor is focused on one borough the Upper West Side of Manhattan," said Weiner.
sarah@queenscourier.com