CSI holds out hope for state aid
College wants
$4.4M, slashed by governor, to be restored when 2005-06 executive
budget is unveiled
Staten Island Advance - January 16, 2005
ALBANY -- The College of Staten Island faces the loss of $4.4
million in state aid that would have paid for increased classroom
space at the school.
State lawmakers wanted to funnel CSI the money last summer, but were
stymied when Gov. George Pataki vetoed 195 parts of the state budget
-- the college cash included.
The bulk of the cash was to renovate the college's 2M building,
among other improvements, and its veto was described by CSI
president Dr. Marlene Springer as a "severe blow."
PROVIDED HOPE
A month after the veto, Assemblyman Matthew Mirones (R-East
Shore/Brooklyn) provided some hope for the school: He told the
Advance he spoke to Pataki's chief of staff, John Cahill, who
informed him he was "confident" the college aid would be restored.
Four months later, the money still hasn't arrived. And there are no
guarantees it ever will arrive.
Mirones, asked on Thursday, said he still hopes for "good news" when
Pataki unveils his 2005-06 executive budget on Tuesday.
"Because of the timing, it's premature to comment," he said.
The Democratic-controlled state Assembly passed a $1.7 billion
"supplemental budget" bill on Monday that, if passed into law, could
have allocated CSI its money. Mirones voted for the bill, as did
Staten Island Assemblymen John Lavelle (D-North Shore), Michael
Cusick (D-Mid Island) and Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore).
The Republican-controlled state Senate did not follow suit. Senate
Republican Majority Leader Joseph Bruno called the bill
"grandstanding." Legislative aides have said that once Pataki
unveils his new budget, work on last year's budget becomes moot.
"As far as I can see, if the Senate doesn't take action, we've
lost," said Lavelle. "Hopefully, it will be addressed in the new
budget."
Bob Helbock, a counsel for state Sen. John Marchi (R-Staten Island),
said the senator has "made it clear" the CSI money is a priority and
also hoped the cash could come in the state's 2005-06 budget.
John Hudacs, an Albany-based legislative representative for CSI,
said he remained "hopeful" the college aid would come. He noted
"very good support" for the college aid from the borough's
six-member state delegation.
Hudacs said Pataki's executive branch and state lawmakers "are both
aware of the college's interest in this."
When Pataki vetoed the college aid, among other items, last year, he
said it wasn't because he opposed the various projects. Rather,
Pataki said the state spent too much money and taxed too much.
$$ FOR 2M BUILDING
Had the budget been approved, CSI officials hoped to use $3 million
of the state aid to renovate the 2M building. A bakery and food
storage site at the former Willowbrook State School, which once
occupied the college's 204-acre campus, was to be utilized for extra
classroom space.
The rest of the state aid would have included $678,000 for new
parking, $297,000 to light pedestrian walkways, $223,000 to improve
lighting and $198,000 to refurbish study alcoves.
Meanwhile, the $4.4 million isn't the only aid left for dead by
Pataki's veto. He also rejected aid to "opportunity programs" such
as the Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge Program or
SEEK, which is used by some financially or academically
disadvantaged students at CSI.
By Robert Gavin
Advance Albany Bureau
Reprinted here with permission from the
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