Rumbling Thunder: Who Can Best Navigate the Impending Budget Tsunami?

First, have you voted? Ballots must be received by Thursday, May 30th by 9 am. Don’t procrastinate!!!  A leader of one the opposition caucuses advocated working with Republicans as well as Democrats, the problem is there are none. The Republicans in Congress are all onboard, the issue that divides the Republicans is the magnitude ofContinue reading “Rumbling Thunder: Who Can Best Navigate the Impending Budget Tsunami?”

Laws and Sausages: We Need Leaders Who Can Navigate the Current Toxic Politics

“You never want to see how sausages and laws are made”  Both houses of Congress are racing to write a wide range of budget bills, called markups. Since both houses have Republican majorities, the bills must satisfy the caucuses within the Republican Party. The Freedom Caucus, the most conservative are demanding dramatic reductions in Medicare,Continue reading “Laws and Sausages: We Need Leaders Who Can Navigate the Current Toxic Politics”

Can I Be Laid Off? Are Our Pensions in Jeopardy?

At the end of Mulgrew’s Town Hall livestream a member asked “Can I be laid off?”, a question on the mind of many in the audience. Mulgrew restated the theme of his remarks, we are facing an “existential crisis,” the future of public education and teacher unions are at risk, and we must fight backContinue reading “Can I Be Laid Off? Are Our Pensions in Jeopardy?”

Vote in the UFT Election: The Future of Public Education and Your Personal Freedom Maybe Be At Risk

On May 1 ballots in UFT leadership election will go in the mail to the 189,000 members: teachers, paraprofessionals, guidance counselors, school secretaries and a number of other service providers, retirees votes are “fractional” to keep percentage of votes consistent, a long standing bylaws provision.  All the officer, executive board and convention delegate positions areContinue reading “Vote in the UFT Election: The Future of Public Education and Your Personal Freedom Maybe Be At Risk”

Can a President Be Removed From Office if S/He is Physically or Mentally “Unfit for Office?”

Our current and former president are the oldest presidents to hold office, and Republicans were sharply critical of Biden, some arguing he was mentally incapable of holding office. The actions of the current president appear haphazard, at times simply angry and vindictive, at times seemingly driving the nation into an economic collapse, some question his sanity,Continue reading “Can a President Be Removed From Office if S/He is Physically or Mentally “Unfit for Office?””

Preparing for the Battles Ahead and Fighting Together

Always should begin with the good news, Mayor Adams’ announcement, the city would hire 3700 new teachers to comply with the Class Size Reduction law, in addition to vacancies created by retirement and resignations. Now the disturbing news: The tornado funnel in the distance is closing in, the House just passed a budget, the SenateContinue reading “Preparing for the Battles Ahead and Fighting Together”

Storm Clouds Gathering, Rolling Thunder in the Distance

The Governor and the state legislative leaders are pushing towards a budget agreement; however, governors commonly include numerous non budgetary items into the budget. Remarkably, in spite of enormously unresolved consequential issues, at the top of the list to be included in the budget is a “bell to bell” ban on cell phones in school. Shouldn’tContinue reading “Storm Clouds Gathering, Rolling Thunder in the Distance”

Will the Elimination of the US Department of Education and Trump Budget Cuts Jeopardize My Job?

The first message Linda McMahon, the new Secretary of Education sent to her staff was we’re shutting down. What happens to the Title 1 Dollars? The 1.5 billion federal education dollars formerly going to New York State? Trump, McMahon and their acolytes shout education belongs to the states: time for a little history lesson.  Yes, theContinue reading “Will the Elimination of the US Department of Education and Trump Budget Cuts Jeopardize My Job?”

What are the UFT Election Endorsement Procedures? And, Why They Matter

To the extent possible the UFT is a membership-driven organization, of course, with 190,000 members, a complex task. Only 25% of members voted in previous elections, the same percentage as the public in elections despite early voting and no excuse-absentee balloting. Unions play a major role in elections, actually in the primary election, the cityContinue reading “What are the UFT Election Endorsement Procedures? And, Why They Matter”

Would “Mayor” Cuomo Protect New York City, Our Schools and Teachers from Trump?

A few days before Christmas in 1991, two months before the “first in the nation” New Hampshire presidential primary Mario Cuomo stepped up to microphone in Albany, the plane to New Hampshire was revving its engines, and announced he would not be a candidate for the presidency. The speciation over his decision has been parsedContinue reading “Would “Mayor” Cuomo Protect New York City, Our Schools and Teachers from Trump?”