NY Times Follows Thompson Story Up With De Blasio Story
Yesterday the Times put a front page story out that essentially said Bill Thompson is a crook.They've done "expose" stories on Quinn, Weiner, and now Thompson, so I figured the de Blasio "expose" was coming soon. Tonight they're out with it, and if this is all they've got on him, it's not much.They say de Blasio used the public advocate's office to advance his own career.They say de Blasio'svclose
Andrew Cuomo Declares War Against Public School Teachers
Why did Andrew Cuomo say he believes "failing" public schools deserve "the death penalty"? At first, when I read on the Internet that Cuomo had this, I thought the writer meant he said something close to it in a hyperbolic way.But no, Governor Cuomo actually said it: “There is going to be have to be a death penalty for failing schools . . . where we say the children come first, before the bureaucr
Scary Labor Day Thought
From Dean Baker:Ezra Klein gives us some terrifying news in a Bloomberg column today. President Obama’s economic team think they are doing a great job, hence the desire to bring back former teammate Larry Summers as Fed chair. This is terrifying because the economy this Labor Day is described by a set of statistics that can only be described as horrible.We are almost 9 million jobs below the trend
De Blasio's Cozy Relationship With The Real Estate Industry
Dunno why the NY Post and NY Daily News editorial boards are upset at the prospect of a de Blasio mayorality.As Dana Rubenstein shows in an extensive post at Politicker, de Blasio was very happy to cut deals on the Atlantic Yards mess, the Gowanus Canal sell-out to Toll Brothers, and a Fourth Avenue rezoning for taller buildings that the Bloomberg administration wanted.It's not exactly selling out
Joe Lhota Shows Once Again Why He Will Not Be Mayor Of NYC
The Daily News has a story about two kittens on the B/Q train line who wandered onto the tracks and had to be saved.The subway lines were shut down in order to save the two male kittens.GOP mayoral candidate and former MTA chairman Joe Lhota said the subways should not have been shut down in order to save the kittens: Mayoral hopeful Joe Lhota would have let curiosity — or a racing subway — kill t
YESTERDAY
NY Times: Bill Thompson Is A Crook
Devastating NY Times article out tonight on Bill Thompson.Here's the beginning:As a first-time candidate for New York City comptroller, William C. Thompson Jr. was feted at a downtown fund-raiser in 2001 by two luminaries of the black business world: the hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and Mr. Simmons’s money manager, a veteran Wall Street financier who made his fortune promoting hybrid securities k
Bill Thompson Gets Desperate
This really smacks of desperation:It’s better to tell the truth than to blie. Thus argued Bill Thompson’s mayoral campaign this afternoon as they pushed forward with what they clearly feel is a winning issue against front-runner Bill de Blasio: undisclosed meeting with lobbyists. Mr. Thompson’s camp hit Mr. de Blasio on the issue yesterday, but came back today armed with a new website–www.BilldeBl
Something To Keep In Mind About Bill De Blasio
Just in case you think Bill de Blasio is a true "liberal", the Daily Beast runs with the following:In 2004 de Blasio was a paid adviser to John Edwards’s presidential campaign. And in this year’s mayoral race, his rhetoric about “a tale of two cities”—a line he has used to critique growing income inequality—has echoed Edwards’s rhetoric from 2004 about the “two Americas.” Yet while serving on the
Daily News Bases Anti-De Blasio Story On One Anonymous Facebook Commenter
Those fine journalists at the Daily News are at it again.Dante de Blasio’s Afro — which has been the subject of fascination and admiration — became an issue after his dad’s campaign made it the focus of a new social media blitz, urging supporters to tweet the hashtag #GoWithTheFro, to build momentum for the Democrat.Scoffers accused the lanky liberal of exploiting Dante’s ’do.Critics chided the el
Three Polls Show De Blasio In The Lead
First Quinnipiac had de Blasio at 36%, Quinn 21%, Thompson 20%.Now the Times/Siena poll has de Blasio at 32%, Thompson at 18%, Quinn at 17%And an AM New York/News 12 poll finds de Blaiso leading with 29%, Thompson in second at 24%, Quinn in third with 17%.With 11 days to go, here is how the AM New York/News 12 pollster sees the race:"It's a momentum game," pollster Mike Berland said. "Clearly, de
AUG 29
Quinn, Weiner Booed At Rally For Fast Food Workers
Quinn and Weiner are fooling no one with their "We're for the little guy"shtick:City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and former Congressman Anthony Weiner received a round of boos this afternoon when they appeared at a fast food workers rally–one they were there to support–in Union Square. Ms. Quinn and Mr. Weiner joined the three other leading Democratic mayoral candidates and a slew of other pol
Maybe The Elites Should Get Out Of The House More
Harry Enten links to the Politicker article covering the Anybody But Quinn rally yesterday and says:It's just hard to understate how much a certain % of the population dislikes Quinn http://t.co/UEgdrbKbGO— Harry Enten (@ForecasterEnten) August 29, 2013Farrell McManus responded with this:@ForecasterEnten Media just now seeing this. They tend to be more on elite side and they think everyone loves M
Bill Thompson Has No Plan To Get Rid Of School Trailers
Bill Thompson and the UFT leadership held a rally over school trailers today:Mayoral hopeful Bill Thompson vowed Thursday to get rid of the trailers used as makeshift classrooms at overcrowded city schools.Democrat Thompson, the chosen candidate of the teacher’s union, seized on one of their pet issues in denouncing the 357 trailers -- some infested with mold -- still being used to house kids.“Rig
Wayne Barrett: Christine Quinn Made Deal With Devil With Vito Lopez
While Bill Thompson and Christine Quinn try and make something big out of a Daily News attack on Bill de Blasio today over alleged meetings with "lobbyists" that de Blasio had, Wayne Barrett reports the following about Christine Quinn: So much of what happens at the City Council occurs under the radar that few noticed when Speaker Christine Quinn started her second term in January 2010 with appoin
Now We Know Why Spitzer Was Reaching Out To The UFT
Yesterday I wondered why Eliot Spitzer was reaching out the UFT with a "make nice" gesture over the teachers contract.Today, Quinnipiac shows us why:When Quinnipiac University surveyed the field two weeks ago, they found ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer with a dominating 19-point lead over Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. Well, things have changed a little bit in their latest poll. Mr. Stringer an
The Corporatists Go On The Attack Against De Blasio
The Quinnipiac poll showing de Blasio not only in the lead in the Democratic Primary but closing in on the 40% needed to avoid a runoff has the corporatists in this city terrified.As Politicker noted, they went on the attack this morning.The NY Post in particular was in hysterics:Surprise! Bill de Blasio is far ahead in the Democratic race for mayor. The latest Quinnipiac poll’s numbers put him at
Anybody But Quinn People Give Christine Quinn A Nice Parting Gift
From Politicker:Advocates hoping to swing the election by urging voters to elect “Anybody but Quinn” gathered across the street from the closed St. Vincent’s Hospital this evening for a get-out-the-vote rally they billed as an early “retirement party” for City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.The event–which included the presentation of a series of mock parting gifts in honor of Ms. Quinn’s desired
AUG 28
Board Of Education Candidates Supporters Trade Alcohol For Votes
Here's a novel way to knock off incumbent candidates:A University of Alabama Greek organization offered incentives to members in exchange for voting in the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education election, according to an email obtained by AL.com Monday.The email, sent to sorority members residing in District 4 from a ranking member of the chapter's executive board, encourages members to vote for Cason
Bill Thompson's Support Among Black Voters Plummets
I posted yesterday about the Times story that said Thompson was having trouble with some black voters because of his nearly incoherent stop-and-frisk policy stance.Today's Quinnipiac poll captures that trouble in a colorful graph (via Azi Paybarah):The Times story reported that the de Blasio ad with his son, Dante, was resonating with some black voters.Dunno if the ad is the reason, but take a loo
Quinnipac Poll: De Blasio 36%, Quinn 21%, Thompson 20%
Now we know why the attacks against de Blasio have been so hard and heavy from the establishment - it's because he's pulling away.Not only is de Blasio closing in the lead, besting his next closest opponent Quinn by 15 percentage points, he's closing in on the magical 40% to avoiud a runoff.If the Q poll numbers are anywhere close to accurate, Quinn is finished:In a runoff, de Blasio beats Quinn 5
Will De Blasio Still Have Momentum In Today's Quinnipiac Poll Release?
Harry Enten says little leaks here and there about the Quinnipiac poll release today suggest de Blasio will still have momentum in those poll numbers. Then there is this:Everyone assumes the NYC Democratic primary will go to a runoff. That CW might change soon.— Steven Shepard (@HotlineSteve) August 28, 2013Couple of things to say here in the hour and a half or so before the poll is released.First
Spitzer Calls For "Fair Contract Negotiations" With UFT
Looks like Spitzer wants to make nice with Mulgrew and the UFT:NEW YORK -- Two weeks before the New York City primary, former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) plans to wade into the complicated world of education policy. According to a policy memo obtained by The Huffington Post, Spitzer, who is running for city comptroller, plans to propose auditing how the city spends money on testing and test pr
Julie Cavanagh Breaks Down The APPR Decisions
A great post from Julie Cavanagh at MORE Caucus on the choices to be made both individually and collectively by teachers in the new evaluation system.After going through the new system in a bit of detail, she concludes:1. Make decisions based on outcomes: what will result in the best “scores” for your staff? (What tool? Who will the target population be? How will they be measured?) 2.
Rod Paige: If MLK Jr. Were Alive, He Would Be On Board With Education Reform
From the NY Post:Paige said America has come a long way on race relations in a short period of time. The former teacher-in-chief gave the United States a grade of B for advancing civil rights — and pointedly recognized the progress made in his native Mississippi.He said discrimination still exists, but described it as “episodic,” not government-sanctioned and systemic.“There are opportunities out
Eva Moskowitz: Success Through Attrition And Suspension
A devastating column by Juan Gonzalez in the New York Daily News on how Eva Moskowitz gets those high test scores:Success Academy, the charter school chain that boasts sky-high student scores on annual state tests, has for years used a “zero tolerance” disciplinary policy to suspend, push out, discharge or demote the very pupils who might lower those scores — children with special needs or behavio
AUG 27
Howard Dean On What De Blasio's Candidacy Means
There aren't too many Democrats I like or respect these days, but Howard Dean is one.Here is what Dean did today:Top Bloomberg aide Howard Wolfson went on NY1 last night and criticized Bill de Blasio's mayoral platform, arguing that the public advocate was inconsistent on term limits and would bring New York City back to the high-crime era of the 1970s. This morning, de Blasio appeared with 2004 p
Know A Man By The Enemies He Makes
NYC Educator says if Weingarten, Bloomberg and Wolfson don't like de Blasio, there may be something to him.I think he makes a good point.Diane Ravitch made some good points in her endorsement of de Blasio as well.Let's see - Ravitch for, Weingarten/Wolfson/Bloomberg against.Hmm, which side am I on...
Bill Thompson And Black Community Support
This NY Times article looks at Thompson and de Blasio on stop-and-frisk and finds most people just don't buy Thompson's position:Mr. Thompson, a former city comptroller, enjoyed overwhelming support among blacks when he ran against Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in 2009. But this year, he must win over voters like Anthony Padgett, 55, a father of two who works as a housekeeper at a Brooklyn hospital.
“It’s two claps and then a sizzle.”
The NY Times took a stab at charter school teacher burnout and attrition rates today.Norm Scott did a nice job of taking the themes the charter school operators hawk around their teachers - experience is a detriment, 5 weeks TFA training is more than enough to give teachers the skills they need, anybody with more than a couple of years experience gets burnt out - and applies them to the journalism
DNAinfo: Eva Moskowitz Plans To Open 100 News Success Academy Charter Schools
From DNAinfo:WILLIAMSBURG — The controversial charter network Success Academy plans to open 100 New York schools in the next decade, DNAinfo New York has learned.The charter chain already has 20 schools in the city with another seven slated to open next year, despite fierce opposition from public school advocates in Williamsburg, Hell's Kitchen, Gramercy, Harlem and other neighborhoods.It received
AUG 26
Bloomberg Semds Hooward Wolfson On NY1 To Attack Bill De Blasio
First former UFTer Randi Weingarten attacked de Blasio today, now Howie Wolfson, one of the slimiest people on the face of the planet (and also a former UFT consultant) attacked de Blasio as well:Just in case it wasn’t already clear from the barbs on his Twitter feed, Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson is not a fan of Bill de Blasio’s vision for the city. During an appearance tonight on NY1, the man who
Randi Weingarten Attacks Bill De Blasio Over Pre-K Plan
Fresh from stealing a microphone from a 9 year old so that she could do what she does best - get the spotlight on herself and talk - Randi Weingarten tried to grab the spotlight again today by attacking Bill De Blasio as an impractical dreamer:Former city Controller Bill Thompson on Monday deployed national teachers' union boss Randi Weingarten to pooh-pooh Bill de Blasio’s plan to fund pre-K wit
Where The Mayor's Race Stands With 14 Days To Go
We should have some public polls released soon. Those will give us a sense of where things stand.But here's where I see things two weeks out:It's still a three candidate race with Quinn looking like she has one runoff slot locked up, de Blasio and Thompson fighting for the other, and Quinn having an uphill battle in the runoff.Quinn hasn't been able to get above the mid-twenties in any poll since
The Measures Of Student Learning Mess Michael Mulgrew Gave Us
As NYC Educator posted this morning, NYC teachers will now have 20% of their evaluation based upon "local" measures of student performance.For many teachers outside of academic subjects, this means they will be evaluated based on scores of students in subjects other than their own.For example, art teachers may be evaluated on the scores of their students' ELA or math Regents exams.Same goes for vo
Research Group Financed By Bloomberg Philanthropies Hails Bloomberg Education Policy
The Daily News has a story out today about research group MDRC releasing a report that shows how Bloomberg's small schools initiative has improved graduation rates of students compared to other schools in the system.The group claims the following on their website:(New York, August 26, 2013) — MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan education and social policy research firm, released new findings today from
AUG 25
Randi Weingarten Grabs Microphone From 9 Year Old So She Can Speak
Asean Johnson, a 9 year old boy, was reading a speech about attacks on public education at yesterday's 50th anniversary March on Washington commemoration.Before Asean could finish his speech, AFT President Randi Weingarten grabbed the microphone from him so she could do what she does best - put the spotlight back on her and talk.See for yourself:There was a strict time limit on speakers yesterday,
The NY Times/Quinn Endorsement: If You Like The Third Bloomberg Term, You'll Love The Fourth
The NY Times endorsement of Christine Quinn for mayor has gotten a lot of play in the media in the past day, but in their zeal to proclaim her the best candidate in the Democratic primary for mayor, they forgot a couple of things:The Times' endorsement omits any mention of Quinn's involvement in the city council "slush fund," as well as term limits [COUGH COUGH]. Or the problems over her temperame
Common Core Developers - A Private Club You Are Not In
The Atlanta Journal Constitution has a story today about who makes money off the Common Core. The main article is behind a paywall, but AJC.com does have a snippet and I found this part particularly interesting:Achieve Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group that has been heavily involved in writing the standards, receives funding from corporate titans such as Microsoft, the Bill and Melind
AUG 24
Does Anyone Really Vote Based On Newspaper Endorsements?
The neo-liberals at the Times endorsed Quinn.I am not surprised.Some people thought de Blasio might get the endorsement.I didn't think that would happen.When you look at their neo-liberal positions on so many other issues at the NY Times, the Quinn endorsement makes the most sense - phony liberals endorsing another phony liberal.As Dan Levitan put it, the newspaper that endorsed the 2nd and 3rd Bl
Common Core Test Scores Are Now Accessible - NYC Parents Blog Has Some Great Advice Before You See Your Child's Scores
See that advice here.My favorite point is:Know that these tests are part of a movement to privatize public education by convincing parents that our children are underperforming, compared with other countries, and a massive restructuring of the public education system is the only thing that will save the future of the US; this would involve higher standards, better teachers (which requires a de-uni
Anthony Weiner In Car Crash
From the Daily News: Mayoral wanna-be Anthony Weiner got in a three-car pile up on the FDR drive Saturday at 8:30 a.m., according to the fire department. “This morning, on the FDR drive, there was a chain reaction car accident,” spokeswoman Barbara Morgan confirmed. “All are OK.” She did not say who was traveling with Weiner at the time.Gee, I hope he wasn't texting while he was driving.
Will Somebody Explain How The NYSED And NYCDOE Are Going To Calculate These Growth Measures For APPR For Me?
From the menu from hell known as the Measures Of Student Learning that was imposed upon us by NYSED Commissioner John King, we learn that the PSAT will be used as the baseline for growth measurements for ELA and math teachers who teach classes that end in a Regents exam.Exactly how does the PSAT align to the ELA or math Regents exams?Were these tests devised to see how much "growth" students made
One Michigan Lawmaker Wants Governor Rick Snyder, Lawmakers And Education Officials To Take The Common Core Tests Students Take
This sounds good to me:LANSING -- With the fight over the Common Core State Standards set to resume in both House and Senate hearings next week, one opponent in the legislature wants lawmakers taking the same tests students will face. Rep. Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills), who has been vocally opposed to the standards, is sponsoring a bill that would require state officials including the governor
It's Time For Bill Gates To Get Out Of His Public Education Malanthropy Work And Go Save Microsoft
Microsoft is a disaster.CEO Steve Ballmer announced his retirement on Friday, though it seems he was pushed from the company for his many failures:The company portrayed the departure as voluntary, but it comes amid rising complaints among investors and a month after a disappointing earnings report sent the company’s share price down by 11 percent.Among the problems was a $900 million write-off rel
