While the failure to get the charter cap in NY State lifted this legislative session was not a surprise, it is still a complete, total, utter disgrace. Shame, shame!
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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/24/nyregion/24albany.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

June 24, 2006

Legislature Deals Setback to Mayor in Declining to Allow More Charter Schools

By JENNIFER MEDINA

ALBANY, June 23 — As the smoke cleared in Albany, the Bloomberg administration's push to create more charter schools, a plan that was strongly backed by the governor, fell short. So did a plan to send millions of dollars to programs for needy families. And a proposal to allow early retirement for public workers.

For Gov. George E. Pataki, the biggest loss was the Legislature's refusal to lift the cap on charter schools. But it was an even bigger setback for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. He has made charter schools a top priority in his bid to revamp the city school system and has vowed to open as many as 75 more by the end of his term.

Earlier this year, the state reached its cap of 100 charter schools, so Mr. Pataki proposed increasing the number allowed statewide by 150.

And in Albany, where the saying goes that nothing is done until everything is done, Mr. Pataki tied his charter school plan with other programs in a last-ditch effort to get the Legislature to go along.

In the end, they all sank.

The city will be unable to open any of the planned charter schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein had so fervently sought. The defeat is even more stinging, given that Mayor Bloomberg had helped raise more than $41 million for the New York City Center for Charter School Excellence, a nonprofit group designed to help the city's 47 existing charters.

The final flurry of activity surrounding charter schools punctuated a contentious debate among both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, who are divided in their support for the privately run and publicly financed schools...