Opinion

Carl McCall’s conflicts

All is sweetness and light these days between erstwhile bitter political rivals Andrew Cuomo and Carl McCall.

Indeed, the governor has just appointed McCall, a former state comptroller, to chair the State University board of trustees.

That’s bad news.

True, McCall has worked hard on the governor’s behalf since the 2002 Democratic gubernatorial primary — a race Cuomo was forced to leave shortly before the balloting began.

And Cuomo clearly does owe McCall.

But bestowing the chairmanship of SUNY is not the way to pay that bill.

On education, McCall is particularly problematic. He’s close — way too close — to teachers unions, which explains his opposition to mayoral control of the New York City schools.

That probably also explains his hostility to charter schools — which is a very big deal, given that SUNY is one of the main issuers of charters in the state.

Then there’s the fact that McCall used his past state position — which made him sole trustee of the state’s huge pensions fund — as a jobs factory for his friends and relatives.

Given the number of jobs available on the SUNY payroll, this doesn’t bode well.

Meanwhile, the president of SUNY’s Fashion Institute of Technology is one Joyce Brown — McCall’s wife.

Though the conflict of interest seems blatant, SUNY officials insist that none exists, since McCall will recuse himself from any decisions involving FIT, as he’s done since joining the board four years ago.

But it makes no sense for SUNY’s chairman to be completely removed from the activities of one of its campuses.

Nonetheless, the governor has gone ahead and appointed McCall.

Presumably, this squares any and all political obligations.

But a word to the wise, Andrew: Keep a very close eye on the SUNY board.