Harlem state Sen. Bill Perkins slammed charter schools this morning before the start of a day-long legislative hearing, saying they’re as corrupt as Wall Street and should have strict oversight.
“As in the financial industry, there is a lack of transparency in the charter [school] industry,” he said before a packed crowd gathered in a lower Manhattan hearing room.
Perkins called the schools a “money-making scheme” similar to Enron and Goldman Sachs, saying Wall Street’s biggest backers “are involved in the charter industry.”
EDUCATION REFORM NOW RESPONDS TO PERKINS WITH AD
Even though charters in his Harlem district have greatly outperformed students in nearby traditional schools, Perkins has proposed legislation that would cripple the charter-school movement.
Charter advocates describe him as the most anti-charter lawmaker in the state Legislature.
Along with other powerful state lawmakers, Perkins has benefited from the teachers union’s largesse.
Critics say the union’s influence has blocked the effort to lift the legislative cap on the number of charters, which are privately run and publicly funded.
Since running for Senate in 2006, the political arm of the New York State United Teachers — the UFT’s statewide affiliate — has pumped $10,750 into Perkins’ campaign coffers.
After Perkins’ explosive diatribe, Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Nassau County), a supporter of charter schools, requested to give an opening statement.
But Perkins, who chairs the committee holding the hearing, refused.
“You’re entitled to all points of view,” said Johnson, who was jeered by the pro-union crowd who packed the audience.
The fireworks didn’t end there.
After United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew testified, Johnson grilled him about other problems such as teacher tenure, teachers not getting paid for not working and low graduation rates.
Johnson mentioned the union’s clout in Albany and about Perkins being in the union’s pocket — an allegation highlighted by The Post earlier this week.
“Be careful,” Mulgrew warned.
Mulgrew then pointed out that Johnson received $65,000 in contributions from charter interests.
In his first question to Mulgrew, Perkins joked about being a union lap dog.
“I’m going to have to ask you to please take a moment to reach into your pockets and to see if I’m in your pocket, because it’s been reported time and time again that Senator Perkins is in your pocket,” said Perkins, as the crowd responded with laughter.
The hearing will continue into the afternoon.