UPDATE: Tim Furman: Friday is Call Madigan Day. + Glen Brown: Call “Prince” Madigan on Friday. “Should this matter to you? The answer is an emphatic ‘Yes.’” « Fred Klonsky

Glen Brown: Call “Prince” Madigan on Friday. “Should this matter to you? The answer is an emphatic ‘Yes.’” « Fred Klonsky:

The in box. Logan Square says no to school closings.

by Fred Klonsky

From Will Guzzardi:

Dear friends,As you may have seen in the news, Chicago Public Schools is considering a lot of changes next year. Next week, communities across Logan Square are banding together to demand that our great schools stay open and growing. I hope you’ll stand with us!For the past few months, I’ve been helping parents and teachers at Brentano Math and Science Academy organize around this issue. Brentano is a great neighborhood elementary school with a vibrant curriculum, an active new principal, strong test scores, and room to grow for our growing

A message from retired Illinois teacher Ken Previti.

by Fred Klonsky

South Austin says no to school closings. VIDEO.

by Fred Klonsky

Popout

Tim Furman: Friday is Call Madigan Day.

by Fred Klonsky

Chicago blogger and schools activist Tim Furman adds his voice to the chorus of those asking you to call Democratic Party Chairman and Speaker of the House Mike Madigan. Tell him that he must talk to unions to find real pension solutions.
Madigan displayed his not-so-rare arrogance last week, telling the We Are One Coalition of public employee unions to basically drop dead in response to their request for a meeting with political leaders to discuss pension solutions.
Tim Furman’s blog:

Today is call/fax Mike Madigan day. I believe we’re also calling our representatives and senators. 

Tony at the Red Line Tap.

by Fred Klonsky

“I’m buying, Klonsky,” said Tony as I draped my coat over the stool next to his.
“Uh. Fine.” I said.
“Marty. Get Klonsky an Old Style. And put it on my tab.”
I winced. “An Old Style?”
Marty gave Tony one of her looks and then saying nothing, reached into

Glen Brown: Call “Prince” Madigan on Friday. “Should this matter to you? The answer is an emphatic ‘Yes.’”

by Fred Klonsky

Glen Brown’s blog:

“…We now come to the case where a citizen becomes prince not through crime or intolerable violence, but by favor…, which may be called a civic principality. To attain this position depends not entirely on worth or entirely on fortune, but rather on cunning assisted by fortune. One attains it by help of popular favor or by the favor of the aristocracy… (Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince, 63)…
“[There will also be those who] endeavor to exalt and create a prince in order to be protected by his authority… A wise prince will [thus] seek means by which his subjects will always, and in every 

Pilsen and Little Village say no to school closings.

by Fred Klonsky

Sarah Jane Rhee/loveandstrugglephotos.com.