Gov squashes hope his sex-rap act will pass

ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo on Friday said he does not see the Child Victims Act and other bigticket items passing before the state legislative session ends next week.

Just two days after giving victims hope by introducing his own bill designed to help survivors of child sex abuse seek justice as adults, Cuomo threw a cold dose of reality on them.

The governor said while he supports the act and would be open to working on compromise legislation, he doesn’t see it happening.

“I’m not optimistic about passage of a Child Victims Act, but hope springs eternal,” he said.

The Legislature is scheduled to end its annual session on Wednesday.

Survivors were incensed at what they saw as Cuomo raising the white flag.

“Maybe he should come up to Albany and negotiate,” said upstate investor and abuse survivor Gary Greenberg of Cuomo, who has spent little time in recent weeks at the Capitol. “Get back here and get us a Child Victims Act.”

Cuomo’s bill is identical to one that passed the Assembly last week, but is being blocked by the Republicans in the state Senate.

Assembly bill sponsor Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) also expressed surprise at Cuomo’s comments.

“It’s not a very positive statement going in (to the last week of session),” Rosenthal said. “I would hope he’d approach passage of the bill with a little more gusto.”

Cuomo also expressed pessimism about the Legislature passing an extension of the expiring law giving Mayor de Blasio control over the city school system or dozens of local tax extenders, including the New York City personal income tax.

He said the taxes expire toward the end of the year and he expects the Legislature will likely return later in the year to pass them and see then if there is any movement on mayoral control.

“It could change, but that’s what I would bet right now,” Cuomo said.

The Senate wants pro-charter school provisions passed in exchange for extending the mayoral control law. Cuomo on Thursday floated the idea of a threeyear mayoral control extension coupled with a charter school component.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has repeatedly ruled out any trading mayoral control for charter school provisions.

The Assembly recently passed its own bill that included a straight two-year extension of the mayoral control law as well as renewals for dozens of local taxes that the Senate GOP wants to deal with separately.

A spokesman for de Blasio said it’s now time for Albany politicians to work, not just throw their hands up.

“State government’s work is not done and officials shouldn’t leave Albany next week until it is. Our city’s 1.1m school kids depend on it,” tweeted the rep, Eric Phillips.

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said, “With just one week left in the legislative session, I am committed to working with all parties to extend mayoral control and achieve common sense reforms that ensure every child receives the first-class education they deserve.”

“It’s time for everyone to get to the table,” he added.