News Press

Over 100 Business Leaders Call for Extending Mayoral Control

June 08, 2017

CEOs Stephen Schwarzman and Charles Phillips Join Mayor de Blasio to Urge Albany to Reauthorize Mayoral Control

Mayoral Control of New York City schools will lapse at the end of June if the legislature does not act to extend it. Today, the Partnership for New York City released a letter signed by 105 business leaders urging Governor Cuomo and leaders of the State Senate and Assembly to make the current governance system permanent, so that it is no longer subject to political uncertainty and horse-trading.

Partnership Co-Chair Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone, Executive Committee Member Charles Phillips of Infor and President & CEO Kathryn Wylde will join Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Farina at a press conference at City Hall to announce the business community’s strong support of the current system and to highlight the accomplishments in education achieved with mayoral control under Mayors Bloomberg and de Blasio.

“Mayoral control is working, as demonstrated by the consistent improvement in graduation rates and student performance since its enactment. However, we still have more work to do to strengthen our public schools and to support our city’s students and teachers. We urge Albany to extend mayoral control permanently so we can continue building on that progress,” said Steve Schwarzman, Co-Chair of the Partnership for New York City and Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Blackstone.

“Technology is the city’s fastest growing industry, but its continued success depends on our schools producing the talent we need to fill the jobs of the future. Mayoral control has enabled the school system to respond quickly and effectively to rapidly changing workplace demands and must be continued,” stated Charles Phillips, Chairman & CEO of Infor and a member of the Executive Committee of the Partnership for New York City.“If the legislature fails to extend mayoral control before the close of session, the resulting disruption of the school system would be a terrible setback for education in New York City. Albany will, hopefully, not be that irresponsible,” stated Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO, Partnership for New York City.

“If the legislature fails to extend mayoral control before the close of session, the resulting disruption of the school system would be a terrible setback for education in New York City. Albany will, hopefully, not be that irresponsible,” stated Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO, Partnership for New York City.

See full text and all signatories