Hochul Aide Calls LI "Racist;" As 25 School Districts Oppose Take-Over

By Niall Fitzgerald

Over 25 Long Island school districts have now voted to join or support the lawsuits to stop Gov. Kathy Hochul's "Regionalization" scheme to take-over local school districts on Long Island and upstate.

And Hochul's attorney angrily - and falsely - responded by charging Long Island with "racism."

Over the past few days, the School Boards in Wyandanch, Manhasset, Shoreham-Wading River, and East Meadow have all voted to join Cold Spring Harbor, Oyster Bay-East Norwich, Cold Spring Harbor - and nearly two dozen other districts - in filing a lawsuit against Hochul and her administration.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman held an emergency press conference to blast Hochul's schools power grab. He was joined by Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino; North Hempstead Supervisor Jen DeSena;  Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin; and several State Senators and Assembly members.

"Schools are the backbone of the communities they represent," stated County Executive Blakeman. "This is an attack on suburban communities."

Hochul's Education Commissioner issued an "Emergency" Order at the end of September - under the label of "Regionalization" - that would appoint "Regional Superintendents" under NYS BOCES, who take power from local elected school boards - and force the local Superintendents to instead to obey the new NYS Regional Superintendents.

It was a naked power-grab to take over Long Island's schools - many of which are the best school systems in the country.  But Hochul "exempted" five districts - New York City, Yonkers, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo - all run by Hochul political allies.

The attorney representing Long Island's school boards, Nicholas Rigano, Esq., of Melville, issued a seven-page "cease and desist" letter to Hochul's Education Commissioner.

In response, Hochul's Albany-based "education counsel," Daniel Morton-Bentley sent a rude reply, accusing the school districts of racism - citing "racial discrimination by Long Island real estate agents," and "a persistent lack of lending to people of color..." As if that has anything to do with running schools.

Governor Hochul is now targeting Long Island for "punishment" - by attacking local children and the schools that parents, teachers and administrators have spent decades building into among the best schools in America.

And using crude and false political attacks to justify her power-grab.

Shame on you Kathy Hochul - hurting children to advance your political power.