Lawmaker calls for ethics probe of aide to Richard Carranza

A Queens lawmaker has reported a top Department of Education official to both an ethics tribunal and the city agency that investigates misconduct in public schools for urging underlings to attend a political rally supporting embattled Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza.

Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) told The Post Wednesday that he’s asked both the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board and the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools to investigate a whistleblower’s complaint about DOE Community Affairs Director Sadye Campoamor.

Another lawmaker, Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-Staten Island) also confirmed he’s separately asked COIB to review the same complaint.

At issue is an email Campoamor sent from her work account Monday night to 66 members of a school diversity advisory group – many of whom are DOE employees.

The correspondence asked recipients to attend a Tuesday rally specifically organized to defend Carranza after Holden, Borelli, and seven other pols called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to fire the chancellor unless he drops his “divisive” race agenda.

“Please join the City Council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus and allies for a press conference in support of Chancellor Carranza agenda to advance equity and ensure opportunity for all 1.1 million NYC public school students,” wrote Campoamor, a former lead organizer for de Blasio when he was public advocate.

Holden cried foul.

“For a DOE staff member to send out a mass email to fellow department staff with an invitation to a political press conference is proof of where their concerns lie,” he said.

“Instead of focusing his effort on taking the criticism into account to better educate our children, the chancellor and his team believe that their time is better served lobbying my colleagues to do his bidding.”

COIB prohibits public servants from coercing “anyone to engage in a political action.”

City guidance adds, “Requesting a subordinate to do something political can be easily mistaken as an implied order.”

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The DOE whistleblower wrote to Holden that Carranza “continues to have members of his team organize meetings, events and demonstrations in support of his agenda. Those not in support clearly fear retaliation and retribution.”

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Borelli said “it’s surprising that DOE officials would encourage people to either get involved in a political matter, or support the chancellor personally.”

Besides coming under fire from critics for instituting “divisive” school system policies based on ethnicity, Carranza also faces a lawsuit by three white veteran DOE administrators alleging he has fostered a “hostile atmosphere.”

As first reported by The Post, the plaintiffs, all women, claim they were demoted or pushed aside for less qualified people of color.

COIB and the special commission’s office declined to comment.

However, DOE spokesman Doug Cohen defended Campoamor, saying “sending emails like this is part of Sadye’s job as the director of community affairs, which includes regularly updating School Diversity Advisory Group members on information and events about school diversity and equity.

“She did not pressure anyone to attend, and the email did not violate any rules,” he insisted. “She shared a public press advisory to make members aware of the event.”