On Christmas Eve morning I jumped up early, it was snowing, I got to Russ & Daughters, a New York institution a few minutes after it opened, already packed with the cognoscenti. Smoked Salmon (Nova, Gaspe, Scotch, Norwegian, Pastrami), Sable, an array of herring and on and on. The food of the Gods and Goddesses. I clench my number, twenty people ahead of me, we chat, A neophyte young couple, “What should we order?” Me: “Make sure you try the Celray.”
Will this be the last joyous holiday season?
On January 20th Trump will place his hand on a bible, the bible may be trembling, and take the oath of office, “… and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” followed by the signing of innumerable “Executive Orders ” I suspect scores of documents that have the force of law, effectively skirting the legislative process
The enemies list is long and “teacher unions” and “public schools” near the top of the list
The New York Health Bill will fade, without support from the president, waivers allowing funds for Obamacare, no longer needed at the federal level for NYS residents to flow to the state, will not happen. A major stumbling block for the bill is cost: who pays the $5 billion a year?
At the same time Trump is “getting even,” attempting to disembowel his perceived enemies the opposition caucuses in the UFT will be flailing away at union leadership,; instead of working together, weakening the union. You would almost think they’re a Trumpian Fifth Column within the union.
In the midst of fighting Trump a dozen or so candidates will be vying for the Democratic designation in the June 24th primary, a Ranked Choice Voting election with 8:1 Matching Funds .
Voter turnout in NY is among the lowest in the nation, in hotly contested 2021 mayoral primary only 25% of registered voters participated In 2021 the union livestreamed interviews with the candidates, I believe 12,000 members watched, the union endorsed Scott Stringer, a long time friend, accused of a #metoo event, hotly denied, sank Scott’s campaign.
BTW, the governor’s State of the State speech is January 14th, how will she respond to the new president?. Gavon Newsom, the California governor, and a possible 2028 presidential contender is already at war with Trump, Hochul, with very low voter approval ratings and competition from within the Democratic Party and an aggressive Republican opponent in November, how does she fight off a Democrat on the left in the primary and, if she wins the primary, a Republic on the right? Would the state teacher union support her? How about the UFT?
The UFT Contract is up November 27, 2027, and who knows how Trump will diminish the power of teacher unions to negotiate contracts, and, with Elon and company, and the next generation of chatbots, maybe we should watch Will Smith in I Robot/
..
Ed in the Apple: Blogging on the Intersection of Education and Politics Title 