De Blasio’s pre-K point person says he’s ready
Eliza Shapiro
It had been a long week for Richard Buery, the man running Mayor Bill de Blasios administration-defining pre-K program.
Last Wednesday, with just a few days until 53,000 four-year-olds were to start their first day of pre-K, comptroller Scott Stringer called the safety of the programs into question over a contracts issue with City Hall, with Buery at the center of the dispute.
The administration sprung into action to defend its programs, and Buery did much of the explaining, in interviews on WNYC and NY1, and during a 90-minute press conference. It was Buery who was singled out for praise by elected officials assembled for the event as the driving force behind de Blasio's signature program.
Until recently, most reporters couldnt pick the Brooklyn native out of a crowd, and Buery's official title as deputy mayor for strategic policy initiatives doesnt hint at what Buery was hired to do: ensure the mayors pre-K expansion works when school starts on Thursday.
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2014/09/8551676/de-blasios-pre-k-point-person-says-hes-ready?top-featured-1