N.Y. Mayor Tempers Rhetoric on Charters in Face of Ad Blitz

With his poll numbers taking a hit over his criticism of charter schools, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio struck a conciliatory tone on the issue Sunday at a Manhattan church, The New York Times reports.

Mr. de Blasio’s address, acknowledging missteps in pursuing his education agenda and emphasizing common ground, comes amid a $3.6-million advertising campaign blasting his decision to deny space in public school buildings to three charter schools in the nonprofit Success Academy network.

The ad blitz was launched last month by advocacy group Families for Excellent Schools with financial support from philanthropic charter backers, including the Walton Family Foundation and billionaire investor Paul Tudor Jones, according to the Times. A Quinnipiac University poll last week found that voters disapproved of Mr. de Blasio’s handling of schools by a 49-38 margin, and his overall approval rating slipped from 53 percent to 45 percent since January.

Seeking to ease tensions, the mayor has privately contacted charter leaders and business executives in recent days with assurances that he is not out to “destroy” charter schools, which flourished in the city under his predecessor, Michael R. Bloomberg, the Times says.