There's the mother of all battles going on in Albany right now, as the union throws its weight around trying to get a bill lifting the charter cap passed, so NY can get $700M in RTTT funds, while simultaneously and secretly crippling charters by slipping in various poison pills. The UFT is out with its own TV ads, echoing Ravitch's complaints about "Wall Street hedge funds" (they need a geography lesson: hedge funds are in midtown) and "privatization":

Pro-charter-school forces and the teachers union waged warfare over the airwaves while pressure mounted for negotiators to reach a deal to lift the cap on charters as a deadline neared.

Education Reform Now unveiled a 30-second spot on cable and network TV touting the support of President Obama, former President Bill Clinton, presumed gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo and the Rev. Al Sharpton for lifting the cap on charters.

The pro-charter group also sent out a mailer that highlights the leaders' support. The group has spent nearly $2 million on its media campaign -- including the most recent TV and literature blitz.

"Improving education and helping our kids, we trust Barack Obama and Bill Clinton to lead the way," the TV ad says. "Today, they're urging Albany to increase the number of charter public schools so we can get $700 million in aid from Washington."

"Andrew Cuomo, Al Sharpton, Obama and Clinton agree: Increase the number of public charter schools. Give our kids a chance."

The United Federation of Teachers countered with its own 30-second ad urging the public to fight proposed budget cuts and "save our schools."

The ad's narrator blasts the " 'blame the teachers' crowd and the Wall Street hedge funds behind them" that are "spending millions" and "playing politics" -- a not-so-subtle jab at charter-school supporters.

You can see the ad at: www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/05/uft-ad-stop-education-cuts.html

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http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/ad_flurry_in_school_cap_scrap_8jgcTWwcgR9Ey3aQM3Qa5I