By Azi Paybarah, Capital NY
For a few moments this afternoon, four of the five leading 2013 mayoral candidates were gathered together on the steps of City Hall.
They were there to protest Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s practice of shutting down failing schools and, according to critics, opening up smaller charter schools in those facilities which cater to more selective student bodies that are, collectively, easier to teach. The result, according to charter-school critics, is a false impression of progress.
At the event were former city comptroller Bill Thompson, who was the 2009 Democratic nominee, current comptroller John Liu, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. Council Speaker Christine Quinn was invited, but did not attend, though she released a supportive statement that was distributed at the event.
Next week, Quinn will deliver her annual State of the City speech. Stringer—who attended today’s event with some of his new campaign hires, like Anson Kaye—will deliver his State of the Borough speech, and Liu is preparing to deliver his own speech about fiscal policy and the city.
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