Thursday, July 30, 2009

Kevin Baker On Barack Hoover Obama


see his article in the July, 2009 issue of Harper's Magazine
Barack Hoover Obama: The best and the brightest blow it again
Three months into his presidency, Barack Obama has proven to be every bit as charismatic and intelligent as his most ardent supporters could have hoped. At home or abroad, he invariably appears to be the only adult in the room, the first American president in at least forty years to convey any gravitas. Even the most liberal of voters are finding it hard to believe they managed to elect this man to be their president.....

Arne's Best Move Gets Busted


Evidently his best move got busted. See Chicago's George Schmidt and CORE (Caucus of Rank and File Educators)Shred Arne Duncan and the Chicago Corporate Model

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Brother Beware Redux


As I'm taping Robert Jackson the thought struck me that his riff on the lunacy of the recent appointments to the Board of Education was very similar to Louis Jordan's truths in his song, "Beware, Brother Beware."
Hey, fellas, yes you fellas, listen to me
I got somethin' to tell you
And I want you to listen to every word
And govern yourselves accordingly
Now, you see these girls with these fine diamonds
Fine furs and fine clothes
Well, they're lookin' for a husband
And you're listening to a man who knows
They ain't foolin', and if you fool around with them
You're gonna get yourself a schoolin'
Now listen, if she saves you dough
And won't go to the show, beware
If she's easy to kiss and won't resist
Beware, I said beware
If you go for a walk
And she listens while you talk
She's tryin' to hook you
Ain't nobody lookin' she asks you to taste her cookin'
Don't do it, don't do it
And if you go for a show
And she wants to sit back in the back row
Bring her down front, bring her home down front
If you wanna go for a snack
And she wanna sit in a booth in the back
Beware, brother
And listen, if she's used to caviar and fine silk
And when you go out with her
She want a hot dog and a malted milk
She's trying to get you brother
If you're used to goin' to Carnegie hall
But when you take her out night clubbing
All she wants one meatball
You better take it easy, [Incomprehensible] take it easy
If she grabs your hand and says
"Darling, you’re such a nice man"
Beware, I’m telling you.....

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

City Councilmember Robert Jackson Denounces Mayoral Control

City Councilmember Charles Barrron Denounces Mayoral Control

State Assemblymember Inez Barron Denounces Mayoral Control Agreement

Mike Takes A Page From Tony Bernazard's Book


Bernazard, 52, allegedly removed his shirt and challenged several Double-A players to a fight prior to the All-Star break. He allegedly went after middle infielder Jose Coronado, according to the New York Daily News, after he accused players on the team of underage drinking.

This also could have been just a rouge to see some Mets' hunks shirtless

Monday, July 27, 2009

Tony Avella On Bill Thompson And Willets Point


Two segments (here combined) from ny1.com. First, reported by Bob Hardt : "On Friday nights program, mayoral candidate Tony Avella had some tough words for his fellow Democrat in the mayor's race, Bill Thompson."

Second, reported by CeFaan Kim: "City Councilman and mayoral candidate Tony Avella is ramping up his attacks against the city's plan to move five Willets Point businesses to College Point."

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Dominican Day Parade 2009 Part 2

I thought it was strange that Mayor Mike didn't show up at the Dominican Parade, but then all of a sudden I viewed these. Imagine! The guy is rich enough to clone himself all over the place. Maybe he even bought the parade. I don't know, it was hot and muggy. Maybe I just imagined this stuff.

Dominican Day Parade 2009 Part 1


I went to the parade today to march with Tony Avella but I looked all over and never found him.

Woke Up This Morning

Cigars, Cigarettes, Body Parts?

Cigars, Cigarettes, Tiparillos?

Friday, July 24, 2009

A New Sopranos' Series

Recipe To Raise Test Scores


from ednotesonline
The Not-So-Secret Recipe for Increased Scores:
1. Negotiate a $118 million testing company contract that dumbs down the tests.
2. Eliminate social studies and science, throw out the arts and turn schools into test prep factories.
The Mayor’s Sure-Fire Recipe for Increasing Graduation Rates:
1. Transfer failing students to special programs (Goodwill, drug programs) that are not required to report dropouts.
2. Offer failing/ truant students the opportunity to do a simple project for credit in lieu of attending/ passing classes all term. (Credit Recovery).
The Miraculous Recipe to Close the Achievement Gap between Students of Color and White Students:
In scaling scores, make it easier for students to move from a Level 1 to Level 2 and from 2 to 3 (requiring fewer correct answers for Level 2). Voila –– the gap is closed.
The Mayor’s Secret Recipe for Improving Scores of English Language Learners (ELL):
Give extra test time to these students even though have mastered English and passed the NYSSLAT test that moved them out of ELL programs.
Bake and watch the cake rise.
Anonymous said...
AND, component retesting along with ordering counselors to place students in YABC programs to pad the graduation stats. Thompson is correct, the DOE is the Enron of public education. Those in the schools need to support Thompson regardless of their political affiliation. Or else, line up to be slaughtered if a third term becomes reality.

Rabbi's Endorsement Of Mike

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Mets' Possible Choice Of New GM Arrested


Rumors that the Mets would fire Omar Minaya and hire Rabbi Seymour Kassin as their General Manager will never transform themselves into reality as the Rabbi was arrested today. Evidently the Rabbi was being considered for his promise of securing Roy Hallady from Toronto.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Mike Chamberlain Meets Joba Chamberlain

Schmucks In Our Time


from politickerny
Michael Bloomberg's war of words with the State Senate just got bloodier.
At a press conference in Sunset Park about development plans there, Bloomberg was asked about one of his earlier comments about state senators who are delaying the renewal of mayoral control; in that comment, Bloomberg evoked Neville Chamberlain in explaining why further attempts at negotiation with Democratic opponents of mayoral control would be counterproductive. (At a press conference today in Manhattan, some of the senators in question said the remark was inappropriate since, in the analogy, the Democratic conference in the State Senate would be, well, Nazi Germany.)
Asked today whether he meant to compare the senators to the Nazis, the mayor said, "I certainly did. What part of that did they not understand? This is ridiculous."
UPDATE: The exact question, from New York 1 reporter Rita Nissan, was, "Your comments about Chamberlain on Friday--they’re upset by that and they feel they are owed an apology. They feel that you compared them to Nazis."

Monday, July 20, 2009

The Billionaire With Blinders


from Tony Avella
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 20, 2009
INTERVIEWS: James Trimarco, (718) 855-7038, (646) 244-0479
Mariah Craven, (718) 855-7035
TONY AVELLA CALLS BLOOMBERG COMMENTS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND NYC SCHOOL FACULTY
New York City – New York City Councilman and Mayoral candidate Tony Avella (D-Queens) sharply criticized Mayor Michael Bloomberg after hearing his outrageous comments on the Mayoral Control bill that stalled in the state Senate last week.

Avella said he was shocked by what he heard on Bloomberg’s weekly radio address. The mayor told radio host John Gambling that the latest version of the bill would get parents too involved in schools, and that their involvement would cause disruptions.
“I never thought I’d hear someone who claimed to be in favor of improving schools trying to cut parents out of the equation,” Avella said. “Parental involvement is essential to good schools. Apparently the mayor doesn’t understand that.”
During last week’s address, Bloomberg said, “they want to have this slush fund to train parents so that parents can disrupt the schools. I want our principals and our teachers to run the classroom…. [C]an you imagine?! We’re going to have people on the streets to tell our police department how to work? No, we don’t want to do that.”
Bloomberg was referring to a portion of the revised Better Schools Act that calls for the creation of a center for parent and student service and empowerment. The center would educate parents and students about ways to get involved in the school system and would encourage more participation in parent-teacher associations and school leadership teams.
“I don’t know where Mayor Bloomberg got the idea that parents are the problem,” Avella said. “This is about everyone in the community working together to make sure our kids get the best possible education.”
Avella knows how to create successful partnerships between parents and teachers. Schools in his Queens district are among the best-performing in the city, in part because he has been able to facilitate strong relationships between parents and teachers.
“Bloomberg’s statements are further proof that the Mayor is a billionaire with blinders on,” Avella said. “We need the community’s input on how our schools are run. We need their input on how our police officers are doing, as well. What we don’t want is a Mayor who wants to wave a royal scepter and exclude us from our own City government.”

Call In The State Troopers

Sunday, July 19, 2009

War Of Words Continues Over School Control


from ny1.com
Lawmakers gathered on the steps of City Hall Sunday to urge the mayor to negotiate, not attack, the State Senate over the mayoral control of city schools law, which expired during the more than four-week stalemate.
Since then, governance of city schools has reverted back to the Board of Education.
More than a half-dozen state senators were on hand for Sunday's rally, where they argued that the mayor should not have complete control the city's public school system. They said Mayor Michael Bloomberg should be willing to compromise because they are not backing down.
"We believe it would be meshuganah not to include parents in the education of our children," State Senator Hiram Monserrate, a Democrat from Queens, said, reusing a Yiddish term used by Bloomberg. "As opposed to loosely using the word meshuganah, we would also say we don't need a yenta on the other side of this argument and this debate. Raising the issues that he has raised in the manner he has raised them is unfortunate."
"Enough with the fighting, enough with the finger pointing," said State Conference Leader John Sampson, a Democrat representing Brooklyn. "The mayor has to understand that the passion we are exhibiting is passion for the love of our school children. It's not about political rhetoric. At this point, we are call to communicate, negotiate, because it's our responsibility as representatives of the 1.1 million children in the city schools to understand; it's not about mayoral control, it's called parental involvement."
In response to today's press conference, the mayor's spokesman released a statement saying:
"The bill they pledged to put to a vote is the produce of seven months of public input and careful legislative deliberation. The circumstances have not changed to require further negotiations, and we do not stand in the way of their agreement.
On Friday, the mayor slammed the State Senate for breaking for the summer without renewing the law. He says it is being held up by a small group of people.

Politicians With Cahones


from classizematters
On Thursday night, the NY State Senate brought S5576, the Better Schools Act
to the floor, which would create moderate curbs on the Mayor's dictatorial
control, including set terms for PEP members and one less than a mayoral
majority on the board.
The legislation was defeated, 15-40, mostly because of upstate, suburban and
Republican opposition, while two thirds of the Democratic NYC Senators voted
for it. Then they called a recess and went home.
The names of the 14 NYC Senators who voted for the bill are below:
Adams, Eric
Addabbo, Joseph P., Jr
Diaz, Ruben
Duane, Thomas
Espada, Pedro, Jr.
Hassell-Thompson, Ruth
Huntley, Shirley L.
Kruger, Carl
Monserrate, Hiram
Montgomery, Velmanette
Parker, Kevin S.
Perkins, Bill
Sampson, John L.
Stavisky, Toby Ann

State Senator Shirley Huntley


Speaking the truth to power

Eric Adams On Mayoral Control


I'm proud that he's my State Senator

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Pull My Finger And I'll Save The Middle Class


The mayor is spending a fortune on advertising, you would think this picture (sans my caption) would have been looked at more carefully.

Now See Here Mister Roberts!


from the gotham gazette
Senator Eric Adams insisted the vote was about making a point. Adams then slammed the press for being pro-mayoral control. He said reporters who were standing behind him were likely to attack him in their papers.
“When did we become an extension of city hall? asked Adams. “How dare him tell the governor you have to call them back until they pass this bill?” he asked referring to Bloomberg. “Are we not the Senate?”
Adams finished by appealing to Republicans for support. He asked them what they would do if their school districts were run like Bloomberg runs New York’s schools.

Friday, July 17, 2009

The Lashings Of Mayor Queeg


from Liz Benjamin's nydaily news blog
Using some of his strongest language to date, Mayor Bloomberg gave the Senate Democrats a tongue-lashing this morning - even calling some of them out by name - for failing yet again to pass a bill reauthorizing his control over the public school system.
During his weekly WOR radio show, Bloomberg told host John Gambling Gov. David Paterson should force the Senate to return to Albany "every single day" for the rest of the summer until they pass a mayoral control bill, even employing the State Police to "drag them back" if necessary.
"This is what he should do," Bloomberg said of Paterson, noting that he has been "defending" the governor throughout the Senate stalemate. "Giving them the summer off is as we say in Gallic, ‘Meshugenah'".
"I cannot for life of me understand what the agenda is of the people, there were 15 people last night who voted for a bill which would end all of the progress that we’ve made in the schools, in terms of bringing down crime and improving test scores and graduation rates and bringing down the drop-out rate."
"You wonder what goes through their heads, and they all come from neighborhoods where improvements in the schools have been dramatic. And you wonder what on earth they are thinking about in term of voting for a bill that would literally end all of that.”
Bloomberg accused the opponents of the Assembly bill, which would largely preserve his power, of wanting to "ruin the schools: and accused them of trying to establish a "slush fund to train parents so parents can disrupt the schools."
He also called the allegation that the administration refused to negotiate "total bull".

Those 15 Senators are heroes. They know the mayor's statistics are based on easier tests, bogus schemes like credit recovery, deliberate attempts to push out low scorers from the test pool and a tantalizing temptation to cheat by the offering of bonuses for higher scores. Add to that media sycophants like Gambling.
btw, A tongue lashing from the Mayor? He's probably an expert at that.

Dancing Landsmen At The All Star Game


I wonder whether there has ever been three MOT at the all-star game?

Friday, July 10, 2009

No Space For You


nyceducator hits the mark on the differentiated nature of decision making in the nyc school system
Eva Moscowitz has stolen just a little more of PS 123. ...
PS 123 went from an F to a B rating, and as a reward, Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Klein have taken away several more of their classrooms. This is what happens to good schools in Mayor Bloomberg's New York--no space for you. They call that "accountability," I believe.
If there's space, it goes to charters. If not, charters take it anyway. For neighborhood schools they have trailers. They won't do for Moskowitz school students.
In fact, not even regular classrooms are not good enough for charter schools. That's why Moskowitz needs to renovate them, and if some thoughtless teacher left stuff in it, or prepared it for September, that's the way the chalkboard crumbles.......

Thursday, July 09, 2009

White House Renovator


According to Gary Babad News
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is secretly working with former City Council member Eva Moskowitz to put a charter school in the White House, GBN News has learned. According to sources at City Hall, Ms. Moskowitz, who has been aggressively expanding her charter school empire in Harlem by taking over space in existing schools, will use similar tactics in the Executive Mansion.
To assist in this effort, Mr. Bloomberg has reportedly enlisted the services of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. The sources said that this week’s massive cyber attacks, which have crippled many Government web sites, are indeed, as suspected, the work of the North Koreans. Their intent, though, is not military, but rather an effort to distract the White House and Secret Service while Ms. Moskowitz moves classroom equipment into the Lincoln Bedroom.......

I think the renovation is going on in other parts of the White House

Be A Clown: A Better Version


I'll remember forever,
When I was but three,
Mama, who was clever,
Remarking to me;
If, son, when you're grown up,
You want ev'rything nice,
I've got your future sewn up
If you take this advice:

Be a clown, be a clown,
All the world loves a clown.
Act a fool, play the calf,
And you'll always have the last laugh.
Wear the cap and the bells
And you'll rate with all the great swells
If you become a doctor, folks'll face you with dread,
If you become a dentist, they'll be glad when you're dead,
You'll get a bigger hand if you can stand on your head,
Be a clown, be a clown, be a clown.

Be a clown, be a clown,
All the world loves a clown.
Be a crazy buffoon
And the demoiselles'll all swoon.
Dress in huge, baggy pants
And you'll ride the road to romance.
A butcher or a baker, ladies never embrace,
A barber for a beau would be a social disgrace,
They all'll come to call if you can fall on your face,
Be a clown, be a clown, be a clown.

Be a clown, be a clown,
All the world loves a clown.
Show 'em tricks, tell 'em jokes
And you'll only stop with top folks.
Be a crack jackanapes
And they'll imitate you like apes.
Why be a great composer with your rent in arrears,
Why be a major poet and you'll owe it for years?
When crowds'll pay to giggle if you wiggle your ears?
Be a clown, be a clown, be a clown.

Be a clown, be a clown,
All the world loves a clown.
If you just make 'em roar
Watch your mountebank account soar.
Wear a painted mustache
And you're sure to make a big splash.
A college education I should never propose,
A bachelor's degree won't even keep you in clo'es,
But millions you will win if you can spin on your nose.
Be a clown, be a clown, be a clown.

Be a clown, be a clown,
All the world loves a clown.
Be a poor silly ass
And you'll always travel first-class,
Give 'em quips, give 'em fun,
And they'll pay to say you're A-1.
If you become a farmer, you've the weather to buck,
If you become a gambler, you'll be stuck with your luck,
But jack you'll never lack if you can quack like a duck
(Quack, quack, quack, quack)
Be a clown, be a clown, be a clown.

Shopping For Political Party Endorsements


an excerpt from Tom Robbins in the Village Voice
Down with the working class: Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg arrived at the Working Families Party mayoral forum last Thursday evening, determined to add one more bauble to his political collection. New York's wealthiest man strolled confidently into a hall packed with union members and community organizers.
He carried a red binder and was trailed by a retinue of aides. There were a lot of them because Bloomberg is the best-paying employer in politics. Above all else, he is a magnificent salesman, and one of his top selling points is this: You, too, can have a piece of me.
This pitch has already won him endorsements by the Republican and Independence parties, both of which he has scorned in recent years. Persuaded by the mayor's high poll numbers and always tantalizing wealth, those parties quickly got over any hurt feelings. Did the mayor say two years ago that political parties "don't stand for anything"? Did he shed his Republican registration as if he were scraping gum off his shoe? Well, what of it? That was then, and this is now.
Now it's the turn of the Working Families Party to face this mayor's seductive charms, and even this high-minded organization is having a tough time of it. Party leaders insist that a Bloomberg endorsement is the longest of long shots. The real question, they say, is whether Bloomberg's low-key rival, city comptroller William Thompson, can get the designation, or whether the little party's mayoral ballot line will remain safely blank, just as it was in 2005 when the last Democratic candidate, Freddy Ferrer, faced off against the free-spending Bloomberg.
But the same officials—who got a taste of Bloomberg largesse last summer when four of his closest friends donated $60,000 to the party—refuse to rule out a possible Bloomberg nod. Others, with ties to some of the powerful unions that sit on the party's decision-making committee, adamantly maintain that when Working Families chooses a candidate this Thursday, it will be none other than Michael R. Bloomberg.
If so, it will be a consumer fraud on par with Bernie Madoff's investment earnings reports. Just 10 months ago, when the mayor decided he wanted to change the rules so that he could win the third term he is now seeking, no group stood taller in opposition than Working Families. The law was clear, the party maintained, confirmed by two separate public referendums.

Be A Clown


I just love this excerpt from Barrett's article from the previous post
Carlo Scissura, Brooklyn's new member, quickly proved himself the comedic equal of the man who appointed him, Markowitz, who loves to preen around in a blue and gold boxing robe to celebrate his borough's official colors. Scissura, who is also Markowitz's chief, actually declared: "This board is not a rubber stamp." Scissura's last public school position was as a member of a community school board under the old system -- a post he was thrown out of by the prior chancellor, Harold Levy, when he failed to show up for an educational seminar all members were required to attend. When Scissura ran for city council in 2001 he falsely claimed in his campaign literature that he was a board member when he'd been out of office for months.

I should have made Marty's nose brown to go with my version of "Be A Clown"
Be a clown and love to brown
That's the way to get down
Act a fool, on Mike's behalf
Let the King choose the staff
Wear the chain, fight the smells
And you'll rate with all the great swells

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Send In The Clowns


Aren't I rich
And I've got a pair
I muffle all challenging sounds
Education, who cares?
Send in the clowns.
The electorate? Go piss
Only I can approve
You go wander aimlessly around,
I'm the one with the moves
Where are the clowns?
Send in the clowns.
Don't bother, they're here.

from Wayne Barrett at the Village Voice
The Empty-Suit Board of Ed, Wednesday, Jul. 8 2009 @ 5:59PM
The new vocabulary test for Scott Stringer, Helen Marshall, Marty Markowitz and Jim Molinaro, just issued by Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, poses a multiple choice question seeking a synonym for the post all of them hold, borough presidents:
( ) zeroes
( ) "neutered beasts"
( ) stickmen
( ) trifles
( ) blank cartridges
( ) Tom, Dick and Harry
( ) All of the above
Last week the four beeps (that's what the tabloids used to call borough presidents when, in days of yore, they had the power to at least make a sound loud enough to be heard) made their most significant appointments in years -- naming new members to the newly reconstituted Board of Education, which temporarily rules the nation's largest school system again. Thanks to the stalemate in the state senate, the mayoral control bill expired on June 30, seven years after it was adopted, and the $18.4 billion system reverted to the laws in place before Mike Bloomberg's prized legislation.
For a second, borough presidents, who controlled five seats on the old and re-invented seven-member board, actually mattered. But the Bronx's Ruben Diaz was the only of the five with the guts to say he would actually exercise the independent judgment the charter conveys to every elected public official, and appoint someone who would not just do Imperial Mike's bidding.
The New York Post, which has for months turned its news pages into a serial advertisement for mayoral control, chirped that the new board might as well be called "The Board of Bloomberg."
Queens' Helen Marshall, who used to be a rather feisty councilmember, actually went so far as to install Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, whose cubicle is a few feet from the mayor's at City Hall, eviscerating any notion of a separation of powers, precisely what the old law envisioned and required.
This claque then picked Walcott as its chair and met for a grand total of eight minutes, refusing to publish an agenda, allow even a moment of public comment, or meet again until after schools open in September.
The Post crowed that the new board's resolutions "gave Klein more power than he would have" if the assembly bill extending mayoral control had also passed the senate.
"They shouldn't have given Klein all that power," says Brooklyn Assemblyman Jim Brennan, a leading member of the education committee. Brennan points out that the old law, which passed in 1969, granted contracting powers to the board, not just the chancellor, and that the assembly's bill, which was backed by Bloomberg and approved by a 121 to 18 vote in the assembly, imposed some new restraints on the chancellor's contracting authority. But the resolution passed by the new board gave Klein absolute power over all contracts, prompting Brennan to charge that the board "abused their power."
Cathy Nolan, the chair of the assembly education committee, ducked Voice attempts to get her to comment on the differences between the assembly bill and the new board's resolution.
Carlo Scissura, Brooklyn's new member, quickly proved himself the comedic equal of the man who appointed him, Markowitz, who loves to preen around in a blue and gold boxing robe to celebrate his borough's official colors. Scissura, who is also Markowitz's chief, actually declared: "This board is not a rubber stamp." Scissura's last public school position was as a member of a community school board under the old system -- a post he was thrown out of by the prior chancellor, Harold Levy, when he failed to show up for an educational seminar all members were required to attend. When Scissura ran for city council in 2001 he falsely claimed in his campaign literature that he was a board member when he'd been out of office for months.
When the Voice called Molinaro's office to get a little biographical info on his appointee, Ed Burke, who is Molinaro's top aide, a Molinaro staffer said they couldn't answer any questions about their own deputy borough president. They told us they were instructed to refer all questions to Klein's press army. All we wanted to know was if Burke had kids in public schools. As it turns out, none of the members appointed by Molinaro, Markowitz and Stringer -- Burke, Scissura and Jimmy Tan -- have children, one more way the new board is out of step with the assembly bill, which required that two public school parents be named to the Panel on Educational Policy, the facsimile of the board that's existed since 2002.
Stringer, who was publicly ruminating about running for the U.S. Senate just a few weeks ago, insisted in a Voice interview that the new board's abject subservience to Bloomberg "didn't diminish borough presidents," but showed how willing they were "to take decisive action without seeking political advantage" at a crisis moment. Asked to explain why there was no public comment or agenda, Stringer said: "That was not us." Pressed about the delegation of full contracting powers, Stringer said that he "fully intends to raise that issue" and put the assembly bill's contracting powers "in place in the very near future" if the Albany deadlock continues.
His defense was that it was an emergency and that every action they took was predicated on the notion that it was "temporary" and would only last a couple of weeks. Asked repeatedly why the resolution couldn't just as easily have limited the contracting powers to those under the old law or the new assembly bill, Stringer said simply that "the mayor and Marty," a reference to Markowitz, negotiated that.
To see how far we've come, the last Board of Ed president was Bill Thompson, who rode that job into his current position as comptroller. Robert Wagner and David Dinkins were Stringer predecessors whose records as Manhattan borough president carried them into Gracie Mansion, and former Bronx Borough president Fernando Ferrer was the last Democratic nominee for mayor. Now, not all the clowns are in Albany.

The Taking Of PS 123


from Juan Gonzalez at the daily news on July 3, 2009 and ednotes online from July 4th
Classrooms being packed up without teachers or principals knowledge at P.S. 123 in Harlem.
No one was expecting the moving men when they arrived Thursday morning at PS 123 in Harlem. Not Principal Beverly Lewis, nor any of her staff, nor any of the school's parent leaders. "These strangers suddenly appeared, went up to the third floor, removed the cylinder locks from a bunch of classroom doors and started moving out all the furniture and computers, and piling everything up in the gym," said one teacher who was conducting a summer school class when the men arrived. The tense confrontation that followed reveals why Harlem has become Ground Zero in a growing neighborhood resistance to mayoral control of schools. It is a wakeup call to the politicians in Albany not to give Mayor Bloomberg a blank check to run roughshod over parents and teachers. The moving men claimed they had orders to empty and refurbish all the school's third-floor rooms to make way for an expansion of the Harlem Success Academy.
That's the charter school operation run by former City Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz. The same one Schools Chancellor Joel Klein routinely praises as Exhibit A for educational reform. Moskowtiz's program currently uses a few third-floor rooms at the school.
The teachers at Public School 123 are no ordinary bunch. They and the parents have opposed the unilateral decision Klein made in May to turn over more of their valuable classroom space to Harlem Success. Theirs is not a failing school and they were told talks were continuing over how to divide the space. They saw the sudden arrival of the workmen Thursday as a signal that the discussion was over. So several of them rushed upstairs to confront the strangers, blocked the doorways and occupied the rooms.
"I told them, you're not taking my books and furniture out of here," said one teacher.
Police were called in. After an hour-long standoff, an official from school headquarters called to say that no one had authorized Moskowitz's movers to be in the school. The workmen then vacated the building, leaving furniture and boxes strewn in the hallways and piled high in a corner of the gym. Afterward, Harlem leaders labeled it a sneak attack. "This is mayoral control run amok," said State Sen. Bill Perkins. "Eva Moskowitz has been treated with such privilege by the mayor and Joel Klein, she acts as if she doesn't need any authorization to do things." "We had an agreement with DOE that no construction is to begin in the school until there is another meeting with all sides to work out space needs," said a spokeswoman for City Councilwoman Inez Dickens. DOE officials conceded there was a "mistake in communications." "As soon as we were made aware of the situation today, we told the charter school to stop," DOE spokeswoman Melody Meyer said. Moskowitz denies impropriety. "There is a space allocation agreement that the DOE has clearly, repeatedly, consistently and in writing said would become effective on July1," Moskowitz said. The renovations of the new rooms for Harlem Success can't be delayed, she said, because classes at her school begin on Aug. 12 - weeks earlier than the regular public schools. "Dr. Lewis and the [teachers' union] are deliberately taking steps to prevent us from renovating these rooms," Moskowitz said. Lewis declined to comment. Bloomberg recently made some bizarre remarks about possible "riots in the streets" if Albany doesn't renew mayoral control. Well, the teachers and parents at PS 123 sent a very different message Thursday: In Harlem and all over this city, parents and teachers are getting fed up with mayoral dictatorship.

School Turf War Fuels Protest In Harlem: AKA The Taking OF PS 123


from ny1.com
School Turf War Fuels Protest In Harlem
A turf war between a Harlem public school and a charter school reached a boiling point Tuesday after the charter school brought in movers.
Outraged parents and students from PS 123 say Harlem Success Academy began removing furniture, books and teachers' belongings without their knowledge.
A spokesperson for the academy says there was an agreement for the expanding charter school to begin moving in.
"There needs to be a different approach. You can't bogart, you can't butch kids, you can't just come over and take over the space just because there is a need," said City Councilman Robert Jackson.
"We will be sharing the school and we need to work together," said Harlem Success Academy teacher Danique Dayloving. "When I walk to school I see kids from 123 and I see kids from Harlem Success Academy. We all live in the same neighborhood. So we all work together and I hope we continue to work together."
The Department of Education plans to downsize PS 123 by seven classrooms to make room for the charter school.

I happened to be there. Just to show you the bias of the media, 99% of the story was the protest and the view of the school being "bogarted" yet ny1 had the need to include Danique Dayloving. Quite a name!

Friday, July 03, 2009

Tony Avella On Education


from the Working Families Party Mayoral Forum of July 2 at about the 1 hour 20 minute mark
h/t to Leonie Haimson for transcription
question to Avella; what is your plan to turnaround failing schools?
Avella: “I am absolutely not a fan of charter schools and I never have been. The whole reason they came about is because the regular public schools were failing…Why did we come up with another system, why not fix the schools that are failing?
As mayor I would make sure that all schools would be distributed equally throughout the city….up- to –date equipment, best computers, best teachers. Eventually, charter schools would go away..there shouldn't be a two tier system.
It would be my pleasure as Mayor, to say to Joel Klein you are fired don’t let the door hit you on the way out. He is an absolute disgrace. And I’m absolutely amazed that this farce of a new Board of Education has now given him the chance to stay and given him all the powers…this is an absolute disgrace..
Bob Masters: “now, I believe that additional funds go to low-performing schools now … (NO – that’s not what the DOE does; they have an abstract funding formula that denies low-performing schools extra funds! And would have cut funds from most of the low-performing schools in Harlem.)
Avella: “I’m not going to touch extra funds for low-performing schools…If you start to distribute funds equally –each child will get the same advantage. If I’m elected, the day after the general election I would start sitting down w/ the principals, teachers and parents to discuss what how to come up with system that we could all be proud of. Why aren’t we listening to you. If I’m listening to enough, we stop teaching to the test, we have to educate kids. Making sure that parents are involved and that funds are distributed adequately.

Artie Shaw: My Heart Belongs To Daddy

One Of Daddy's Girls At Work


from
Juan Gonzalez, the best reporter in NYC
Classrooms being packed up without teachers or principals knowledge at P.S. 123 in Harlem. No one was expecting the moving men when they arrived Thursday morning at PS 123 in Harlem. Not Principal Beverly Lewis, nor any of her staff, nor any of the school's parent leaders. "These strangers suddenly appeared, went up to the third floor, removed the cylinder locks from a bunch of classroom doors and started moving out all the furniture and computers, and piling everything up in the gym," said one teacher who was conducting a summer school class when the men arrived. The tense confrontation that followed reveals why Harlem has become Ground Zero in a growing neighborhood resistance to mayoral control of schools.
It is a wakeup call to the politicians in Albany not to give Mayor Bloomberg a blank check to run roughshod over parents and teachers.
The moving men claimed they had orders to empty and refurbish all the school's third-floor rooms to make way for an expansion of the Harlem Success Academy.
That's the charter school operation run by former City Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz. The same one Schools Chancellor Joel Klein routinely praises as Exhibit A for educational reform. Moskowtiz's program currently uses a few third-floor rooms at the school. The teachers at Public School 123 are no ordinary bunch. They and the parents have opposed the unilateral decision Klein made in May to turn over more of their valuable classroom space to Harlem Success.
Theirs is not a failing school and they were told talks were continuing over how to divide the space. They saw the sudden arrival of the workmen Thursday as a signal that the discussion was over. So several of them rushed upstairs to confront the strangers, blocked the doorways and occupied the rooms. "I told them, you're not taking my books and furniture out of here," said one teacher. Police were called in. After an hour-long standoff, an official from school headquarters called to say that no one had authorized Moskowitz's movers to be in the school. The workmen then vacated the building, leaving furniture and boxes strewn in the hallways and piled high in a corner of the gym. Afterward, Harlem leaders labeled it a sneak attack. "This is mayoral control run amok," said State Sen. Bill Perkins. "Eva Moskowitz has been treated with such privilege by the mayor and Joel Klein, she acts as if she doesn't need any authorization to do things." "We had an agreement with DOE that no construction is to begin in the school until there is another meeting with all sides to work out space needs," said a spokeswoman for City Councilwoman Inez Dickens. DOE officials conceded there was a "mistake in communications."
"As soon as we were made aware of the situation today, we told the charter school to stop," DOE spokeswoman Melody Meyer said. Moskowitz denies impropriety.
"There is a space allocation agreement that the DOE has clearly, repeatedly, consistently and in writing said would become effective on July1," Moskowitz said.
The renovations of the new rooms for Harlem Success can't be delayed, she said, because classes at her school begin on Aug. 12 - weeks earlier than the regular public schools. "Dr. Lewis and the [teachers' union] are deliberately taking steps to prevent us from renovating these rooms," Moskowitz said. Lewis declined to comment. Bloomberg recently made some bizarre remarks about possible "riots in the streets" if Albany doesn't renew mayoral control. Well, the teachers and parents at PS 123 sent a very different message Thursday: In Harlem and all over this city, parents and teachers are getting fed up with mayoral dictatorship.

Their Hearts Belong To Daddy


alternate title: who let the dogs out
The Mayor's "Got The World On A String" Board Of Education Collaborators in order
Deputy Mayors Edward Skyler and Patricia Harris were appointed by the mayor.
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall appointed Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott
Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President, appointed his chief of staff Carlo Scissura
Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President, appointed his general counsel Jimmy Yan
James Molinaro, Staten Island Borough President, appointed his first deputy borough president Edward Burke
The jury is still out on the Bronx?
While tearing off a game of golf
I may make a play for the caddy
But when I do, I don't follow through
Cause my heart belongs to Daddy
If I invite a boy some night
To dine on my fine food and haddie
I just adore, his asking for more
But my heart belongs to Daddy
Yes, my heart belongs to Daddy
So I simply couldn't be bad
Yes, my heart belongs to Daddy
Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, DAAAAD
So I want to warn you laddie
Though I know that you're perfectly swell
That my heart belongs to Daddy
Cause my Daddy, he treats it so well
While tearing off a game of golf
I may make a play for the caddy
But when I do, I don't follow through
Cause my heart belongs to Daddy
If I invite a boy some night
To cook up some hot enchilada
Though Spanish rice is all very nice
My heart belongs to Daddy
Yes, my heart belongs to Daddy
So I simply couldn't be bad
Yes, my heart belongs to Daddy
Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, DAAAAD
So I want to warn you laddie
Though I know that you're perfectly swell
That my heart belongs to Daddy
Cause my Daddy, he treats it so well

Who Let The Dogs Out

Thursday, July 02, 2009

He's Got Them All On a String


Every once and a while he has to take the dogs out

Who let the dogs out
(woof, woof, woof, woof)
(woof, woof, woof, woof)
(woof, woof, woof, woof)
(woof, woof, woof, woof)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
(woof, woof, woof, woof)
When the party was nice, the party was jumpin' (Hey, Yippie, Yi, Yo)
And everybody havin' a ball (Hah, ho, Yippie Yi Yo)
I tell the fellas "start the name callin'" (Yippie Yi Yo)
And the girls report to the call
The poor dog show down
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
I see ya' little speed boat head up our coast
She really want to skip town
Get back off me, beast off me
Get back you flea infested monger
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
I'm gonna tell {Hey, Yippie, Yi, Yo}
To any girls calling them canine {Yippie, Yi, Yo}
Tell the dummy "Hey Man, It's part of the Party!" {Yippie Yi, Yo}
You fetch a women in front and her mans behind {Yippie, Yi, Yo}
Her bone runs out now
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
Say, A doggy is nuttin' if he don't have a bone All dogy hold ya' bone, all doggy hold it
A doggy is nuttin' if he don't have a bone All dogy hold ya' bone, all doggy hold it
Wait for y'all my dogs, the party is on
I gotta get my girl I got my myind on
Do you see the rays comin' from my eye
What could you be friend
That Benji man that's breakin' them down?
Me and My white short shorts
And I can't seek a lot, any canine will do
I'm figurin' that's why they call me faithful
'Cause I'm the man of the land
When they see me they doah-ooooo(howl)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)
Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)

Who let the dogs out (woof, woof, woof, woof)

Mike's Stringers: The Full Cast Recording


Marty Markowitz of Brooklyn appointed his chief of staff Carlo Scissura
Scott Stringer of Manhattan appointed his general counsel Jimmy Yan
James Molinaro of Staten Island appointed his first deputy borough president Edward Burke
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall appointed Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. appointed Dolores Fernandez, the former president of Hostos Community College
Deputy Mayors Edward Skyler and Patricia Harris were appointed by the mayor.

from nycedutionnews
.....Most shocking to many of those watching was the way in a resolution introduced by Carlos Scissura, the Brooklyn representative, the new board voted not only to re-appoint Klein with no end date to the contract, (unless they held a new vote to remove him) , but also to sign away all their decision-making and oversight authority to him. They even gave the Chancellor the unlimited authority to unilaterally approve contracts of any amount, including no-bid contracts, with no oversight or no approval process required.

He's Got The Board On A String


an excerpt from ny1.com
The mayor congratulated the board and the borough presidents for their actions today, but said the State Senate needs to take urgent action to renew mayoral control.
"The Senate has through its inactions handed our city a current governing structure not too dissimilar from the governing structure of the Senate, one made up of multiple and conflicting lines of authority, certainly the flaw of gridlock," said the mayor. "The temporary school board has attempted to sidestep all those consequences. But as prudent as its actions today have been, bear this in mind. These are band-aids, not solutions.”
Borough Presidents Helen Marshall of Queens, Marty Markowitz of Brooklyn and Ruben Diaz Jr. of the Bronx echoed the mayor's sentiments, saying that mayoral control should be preserved.
"This was a place where none of is wanted to be," said Diaz.
“This is the continuation of mayoral control within the confines of the reality of constituting a new Board of Education. That is the lens that we’re looking at,” said Stringer.

I think Stringer's lens is brown

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

I Got The Scott On A String



A work in progress
I've got the Scott on a string,
As I orchestrate an overthrow
Got the string around my Stringer
What a world! What a life!
I'm King Mike

I've got a song that I sing,
And I make the media echo
I give them all my zingers
Lucky me! Can't you see
I'm King Mike

Being King is a beautiful thing
As long as I hold the string.
I tell them all where to go
As I shout Tally Ho

I've got the Scott on a string,
Along with piles and piles of dough
Got the string around my Stringer.
What a world! What a life!
I'm King Mike

Stringer's Unsurprising Support Of Bloomberg


many public school parents were shocked that Stringer did not appoint Patrick Sullivan to the reconstituted Board of Education, but others wrote

He moved to the other side? He was born and raised there!
Stringer was an Assembly member who voted FOR Mayoral control and despite a number of critical reports on CEC effectiveness, overcrowding, the lousy capital planning process, etc. he has not recanted his pro Mayoral control position. Removing Patrick, the only reasoned and critical voice in the wilderness (of Tweed), is a real blow to the parents of Manhattan and the whole city.

I guess that's why he's named Stringer

A Recipe For Vichyssoise : Scott Stringer And Marty Markowitz


See ednotesonline

Remembering Jackson And Mays



A baseball fan friend of mine commenting on the recent passing of two celebrities
What I remember most about Mike Jackson was his sharp breaking curve; good movement on his fastball; and he changed speeds well.
He pitched in 1005 major league games over 17 seasons, for 9 different teams, including Seattle, twice. In 1994, with San Francisco, he had an E.R.A. of 1.49, with 51 Ks in 42.1 innings pitched. In 1998 with Cleveland, he saved 40 games, with an E.R.A. of 1.55...then in 1999 with Cleveland, saved 39 games.
I can't say that I have any recollection of his dance moves...although he did seem to be a popular member of the bullpens that the camera would, from time to time, pan to.
...and I have no idea if he could sing...I'm not sure how relevant that was to his pitching. Oh, and by the way, he was 45, not 50.
...and as for Billy Mays, wasn't that one heck of a catch he made in the 1954 World Series!

Defining And Qualifying Tribalism


On a public school parent's list serve the Chancellor's lawyer decried the call for a midnight eviction notice of his boss as tribalism. Let's remember who the real good and bad guys were at Little Big Horn and
which tribe was truly racist and had a belief that was not affected by reason and and was incapable of nuance, that is binary,
picture below from gotham schools