Peter Goodman

Is New York City Facing a Fiscal Crisis? What are the Implications?

There is no Spring Training for Mayors, a month into his tenure Mamdani faces a yawning deficit, yes, he inherited the deficit, it belongs to our new mayor. In June, 2025 Mayor Adams (and City Council) passed a $114 B budget, restoring a long list of proposed cuts. Seven months later the newly elected Comptroller,Continue reading “Is New York City Facing a Fiscal Crisis? What are the Implications?”

A Primer: Getting Things Done in City Hall and Albany

“It’s all politics.” (Grrr!) The dictionary definition of politics is simply the process by which governing decisions are reached. In a government classroom we may begin with Athenian Democracy, men met and decided how the city-state of Athens would be governed, only the male citizens, not the slaves, not women, the governors were randomly decided,Continue reading “A Primer: Getting Things Done in City Hall and Albany”

The Key to Impactful Instruction: “Ownership of Practice”

From the mayor: I changed my mind, I no longer oppose mayoral control and an appointment, a new chancellor, a long time superintendent. Over his first few weeks the mayor’s team has skillfully rolled out his public relations machine The “machine” placed “puff pieces” in NY Times and Chalkbeat, snippets of the new chancellor’s accomplishmentsContinue reading “The Key to Impactful Instruction: “Ownership of Practice””

Can the Mayor Multi Task? Addressing Chronic Absenteeism Should Be At the Top of His List

The end of year data shows NYC is one of the safest cities in our nation, Gothamist reports, New York City is on track to record one of its lowest-ever yearly homicide totals in 2025. The homicide totals in recent years are drastically lower than those going back to the 1990s, when the city onceContinue reading “Can the Mayor Multi Task? Addressing Chronic Absenteeism Should Be At the Top of His List”

Does the First Amendment Protect Teachers from Speech Outside of the Classroom?

The Texas Education Commissioner has sent a letter to Texas school superintendents announcing investigations into teachers and staff who have “posted and/or shared reprehensible and inappropriate content on social media” about the assassination of Charlie Kirk TEA states the posts “could constitute a violation of the Educators’ Code of Ethics” and could result in sanctions.Continue reading “Does the First Amendment Protect Teachers from Speech Outside of the Classroom?”

A Socialist Mayor in a Capitalism Driven City: Can They Co-Exist?

The culmination of an election is a coronation, the swearing in with pomp and circumstance and the Mamdani ceremony fit the bill. Thousands of supporters, taking place on the steps of City Hall, a choir from an elementary school with Mandy Patinkin, a poem written for the occasion, Bernie Sanders administering the oath of officeContinue reading “A Socialist Mayor in a Capitalism Driven City: Can They Co-Exist?”

Mayor Mamdani Chooses a Chancellor

Mayor-Elect, and only hours away from Mayor Mamdani began briefing insiders re his choice for chancellor, Kamar Samuels, a Department of Education lifer. See NYT here and Gothamist here. On the cynical side I’m asked, “Whose his rabbi?” You don’t make it to the finish line without the right push. Chancellors these days run theContinue reading “Mayor Mamdani Chooses a Chancellor”

Will Mayor Mamdani, City Speaker Menin and Governor Hochul “Play Nice?”

As the ball drops and Mayor/Elect Mamdani becomes Mayor Mamdani and on New Year’s Day his block party and inaugural speech to tens of thousands of NYers: a victory lap and rolling out his platform: affordability and public safety will be at the top of his list. A week later the 51-member City Council will electContinue reading “Will Mayor Mamdani, City Speaker Menin and Governor Hochul “Play Nice?””

Putting the Cart Before the Horse: Should We Take “The Road Less Traveled?”

Our current chancellor is aggressively campaigning to be continued in her job: the first question should be, are we satisfied with the current education model? Eric Nadelstern, a former deputy chancellor offers prescient advice, Mamdani’s biggest mistake at this time would be to focus on a governance system before his administration has come up with a better system ofContinue reading “Putting the Cart Before the Horse: Should We Take “The Road Less Traveled?””

Who’s the Next Chancellor? and Who’s Going to Select Her/Him?

Chalkbeat, the online education news site (If you don’t subscribe (it’s free), you should) muses re the next chancellor and mentions a number of names, speculation, mere guesses. First, changing chancellors in midstream is not recommended, you either inherit the last chancellor’s leadership team or replace them in the middle of the school year, neitherContinue reading “Who’s the Next Chancellor? and Who’s Going to Select Her/Him?”