It’s Bill de Blasio’s own “two cities” problem.
The mayor-elect plans to charge rent to well-funded charter schools that serve kids in poor neighborhoods, while 34 top cultural institutions — including museums and music venues with huge endowments and million-dollar CEOs — continue to use city space without paying rent.
The cultural organizations — which receive tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funding — include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the New York City Ballet, the Bronx Zoo, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Snug Harbor Cultural Center.
The nonprofits have legal arrangements with the city that gives them free space.
“Both leases and licenses are used for cultural institutions in city-owned buildings, and the institutions do not pay rent to the city. Revenue stays with the cultural organizations for mission-related programming and operations,” Department of Cultural Affairs spokeswoman Danai Pointer said.
De Blasio, who backs the rent-free deals, never discussed them during the mayoral campaign.
Charter parents and operators say de Blasio’s push to charge their schools rent smacks of a double standard favoring the rich.
“Wow, that’s a horrible double standard. It’s really unfair,” said Charles Taylor, whose son, Fernando, attends fourth grade at the Harlem Link Charter School.
“We don’t want a ‘tale of two cities’ on who is paying rent. It’s an injustice by a man who is looking to create a more fair and just society. ‘Mr. Equity’ should be more fair and considerate to charter schools.”
Ian Rowe, CEO of Public Prep, which runs two schools on the Lower East Side and another in The Bronx, called the rent-free deals “surprising” and “amazing.”
“These are very well-endowed organizations,” he said. “That’s a double standard.”
Rowe acknowledged that the cultural groups benefit the city, but noted that the charters do, too.
“We’re serving poor kids in public-school space. We’re public schools. We just want fairness,” Rowe said.
But de Blasio on Sunday defended both the rent-free policy for arts organizations and his plan to charge some charters rent.
“This comparison is apples to oranges,” said his Blasio spokesman Eric Koch. “On the issue of charter schools, Bill’s position is clear: He believes that only well-resourced charters should contribute to our public schools.”
De Blasio, he said, believes the rent subsidy is justified because the organizations boost tourism and generate revenue for the city.