Public education is one of the most important responsibilities we share as a society. Our schools shape our children’s futures, anchor our communities, and represent one of the largest investments taxpayers make at the local level.
That is why decisions that permanently affect local schools and school budgets should never be imposed from above.
They should be decided by the people who live there.
A System That Overrides Communities
In New York today, a new charter school can be approved even when a local community strongly objects. An unelected state authorizer can override parents, educators, and taxpayers, despite clear financial and educational consequences for the district.
These decisions can:
- Divert millions of dollars from district schools
- Force cuts to programs, staff, and services
- Increase class sizes
- Destabilize already-strained school systems
And yet, local voters often have no binding say.
That is not democratic. And it is not sustainable.
Charter Schools Are Public Schools and Public Decisions Require Public Consent
Charter schools are publicly funded. They rely on taxpayer dollars. They affect public school systems that communities have built and supported for generations.
In New York, voters already:
- Approve school budgets
- Vote on capital projects and bonds
- Elect school board members
But somehow, a decision that can permanently reshape a district’s finances and enrollment can be made without voter approval.
That inconsistency makes no sense.
A Commonsense Fix: The LOCAL Act
As governor, I will advocate for the LOCAL Act — Local Oversight & Community Approval for Learning.
This reform is simple and fair:
- Charter applications would still be reviewed by education experts
- Fiscal and educational impacts would be clearly disclosed
- No new charter school could open without approval from a majority of local voters
If a community votes yes, the charter moves forward.
If the community votes no, that decision is respected.
This is not about banning charter schools. It is about democratic consent.
Pro-Choice Should Include Community Choice
Supporters of the current system often frame opposition as “anti-choice.” But real choice does not mean overriding communities, it means engaging them.
Charter schools with strong community support will pass a local vote. Charter schools without it should not be forced on a district.
That is not obstruction. That’s accountability.
Ending “Charter Shopping”
Right now, charter applicants can shop their proposals between state authorizers until they get approval — even if education experts or local communities have raised serious concerns.
Requiring local voter approval ends that practice overnight.
It ensures that:
- Community input is real, not performative
- Authorizers take local concerns seriously
- Charter operators must earn trust, not bypass it
Democracy Isn’t a Barrier — It’s a Safeguard
Some critics worry that voters should not decide education policy. But voters already do, every year.
Democracy is not perfect, but it is accountable. When decisions are made by voters:
- The process is transparent
- Leaders must explain consequences
- Communities can course-correct over time
When decisions are imposed from above, none of that exists.
My Governing Philosophy
I believe in:
- Local control
- Majority rule
- Transparency before decisions
- Respect for voters
Whether it is education, development, or local budgets, the people who live in a community should have the final say over what happens in that community.
As governor, I won’t govern by override. I will govern by consent.
One Simple Principle