When it Comes to Education Reform, Can the Will of the People Triumph Over Big Money?
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Michelle Rhee's StudentsFirst have collectively donated $1.5 million to ousting LA Unified school board member Steve Zimmer from office. His offense? Questioning the rapid spread of charters. Now their cash is buying smear-tactic TV ads and mailers, leaving Zimmer, a grassroots former teacher and community activist "sick of the idea that school board seats can be bought and sold" and questioning reformers who want to "wage holy wars" instead of building coalitions.