Lawmakers Oppose Black's Appointment as Schools Chancellor

Some local lawmakers are opposing Mayor Michael Bloomberg's appointment of Cathie Black as the city's new schools chancellor. Brooklyn Councilman Charles Barron, who held an event at City Hall on Thursday, said Black isn't right for the job.

"You have to have a superintendent's license, you have to have three years of education [experience], and you have to have a degree in education," he said. "She has none of that."

Barron also criticized the mayor for his decision. "Bloomberg sees education as a product, parents as customers, and that he needs managers because he sees it as a business," Barron said.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Bloomberg praised Black for her managerial experience. She has held executive positions at several magazines, including USA Today and New York magazine. She also served as the chairwoman of Hearst Magazines.

Other lawmakers who've opposed her appointment include state Senator-elect Tony Avella of Queens, Assemblymember Inez Barron of Brooklyn, and Councilman Robert Jackson of Manhattan.