ALBANY — State lawmakers failed to renew mayoral control of city schools this week but they did find time to dole out $52 million in pork-barrel grants before they left the Capitol.
The spending included $500,000 for a solar-powered carousel in Buffalo and more than $29 million to local schools and libraries across the state, according to a report from the Empire Center Public Policy.
Lawmakers quietly approved the funding in a series of resolutions passed by the Senate and Assembly before they ended their annual session Wednesday night.
“They couldn’t get their act together to do a lot of important things but this they got done,” said the Empire Center’s E.J. McMahon.
Other grants included $15,000 for an obesity awareness program at the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness; $100,000 for the Central Queens YMCA; and $800,000 to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum to replace a portion of Pier 86.
© 2017 Daily News
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