For City Council
In most of New York’s City Council districts, Tuesday’s primary will surely decide the winner in November. And one crucial issue divides the city’s Democrats: whether to side with the special interests that control the public-school system or with the hundreds of thousands of children whom that system fails to teach.
In that light, The Post recommends voters support the following choices in council races where one candidate supports charter schools and other reforms that offer real educational hope. Council District 2 (East Village/Lower East Side):
Ronnie Cho, a former MTV vice president and Obama White House official, is solid on charters and school reform, and has been endorsed by former US Education Secretary Arne Duncan. CD 8 (East Harlem/South Bronx): Assemblyman
Robert Rodriguez believes all children should have access to good schools and high-quality charters. In Albany, he has been a reliable advocate for charters and quality education. CD 13 (Throggs Neck/City Island): Assemblyman
Mark Gjonaj was a small-business owner before entering politics five years ago and decisively trouncing Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera. Ever since winning that 2012 race, he has rallied ’round the school-reform flag. CD 14 (West Bronx): City Councilman Fernando
Cabrera has a strong record of delivering solutions for his constituents while also fighting for charters. CD 18 (Soundview/Castle Hill): The Rev.
Rubén Diaz Sr., long a refreshing maverick in the state Senate, wants to continue delivering for his community from the council. An outspoken supporter of charter schools and stalwart friend of religious freedom, he’s a sure bet to make City Council meetings a lot more fun.
CD21 (Corona): Going with Assemblyman Francisco Moya would be a no-brainer even if he wasn’t pro-kid: His opponent is a convicted felon. Hiram Monserrate was expelled from the state Senate in 2010 for slashing his girlfriend and did prison time for mail fraud. Just as no bank should hire a known embezzler, Monserrate’s crimes make him unsuitable for a return to elected office.
CD 41 (Bed-Stuy/Brownsville): In a multi-candidate field, Henry Butler gets our nod. A Bed-Stuy native who grew up in public housing, this father of two boys believes in education reform, parent choice, investing in high-quality teachers and giving schools the resources and support they need.
CD 7 (Washington Heights/Inwood): This race isn’t about schools, but hate, and Councilman
Mark Levine doesn’t need our support. But his opponent has engaged in a relentless stream of anti-Semitic rants online and in public, using more than $99,180 in taxpayer funds to finance his campaign against “Greedy Jewish Landlords.” Let Levine win by a landslide.