politics – Ed in the Apple: Blogging on the Intersection of Education and Politics Title

Are Mulgrew and Mamdani “Going to War?”

Hours after the para pay bump became law the City announced it was challenging the law in the courts. The pay bump was introduced in the City Council over a year ago, hearings, numerous tweaks and a final approval 49-0. The Mayor could sign, veto or allow the bill to become law, he chose the thirdContinue reading “Are Mulgrew and Mamdani “Going to War?””

Can Mamdani Survive as an Affordability and a Socialist Mayor?

A line in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, “misery acquaints us with strange bedfellows,” and I add, “visa – versa.” On the night of June 25th, the Democratic primary, the Mamdani endorsements rolled to victory, victory against incumbents, with virtually unknown candidates. Mamdani has coattails even when he wasn’t on the ballot, Michael Lange, whose Narrative WarsContinue reading “Can Mamdani Survive as an Affordability and a Socialist Mayor?”

Is the Mamdani Brand A Ripple or a Tsunami?

Is the face of election politics undergoing a generational change? In the June, 2025 Democratic mayoral primary the pollsters predicted a Cuomo victory in the last Ranked Choice Voting transfer, Mandani won in the first transfer. In the November 2025 general election, pollsters once again predicted a Cuomo victory, Mandani won with a majority. InContinue reading “Is the Mamdani Brand A Ripple or a Tsunami?”

Kudos to UFT Leadership: Understanding the Art of Politics

Many decades ago the Delegate Assembly determined contract bargaining demands at monthly meetings, delegates would step to the microphone and move to add a demand, an up or down vote, the list of demands was long, very long. A delegate asked, “Al, if we get everything, how much would it cost?” Shanker stepped back fromContinue reading “Kudos to UFT Leadership: Understanding the Art of Politics”

A Fourth of July Fable

On July 4th President Trump’s Favorability Rating (FR) was at 38% and the stock markets hitting all time highs. As the summer edged closer to the November 3rd midterms his FR trickled down a few points although the president appeared unconcerned, after all the campaign actually begins after Labor Day. On Labor Day the president’sContinue reading “A Fourth of July Fable”

How Would You Rate the Chancellor?

At the end of a school year the pedagogical staff is assessed, for teachers the Matrix, for supervisors the Principal Performance Review and for the Chancellor, well ChatCPT says the mayor with input from the Panel for Educational Priorities, a majority of whom are appointed by the mayor. In elementary, 6-8, 6-12 and 9–12 schools parents, teachers andContinue reading “How Would You Rate the Chancellor?”

Hail to King Zohran

Since the founding fathers politics has been run by the machine, meaning the power brokers within the party. Neighborhood political clubs, captains on every block, candidates selected in the proverbial smoke-filled room dominated the political landscape. With the SCOTUS Citizens Unlimited decision the landscape began to change, unlimited “independent expenditures” flooded campaigns with dollars. The shadowyContinue reading “Hail to King Zohran”

June 23rd Democratic Primary: Your Vote Matters and Activism is Essential

Let’s begin with a stand up and shout moment watch the Robert de Niro speech, you’ll love it and on an ominous note, Paul Krugman asks whether we are living in the repetition of a point in history, So in a real sense we are living in the midst of a reenactment of the decline and fallContinue reading “June 23rd Democratic Primary: Your Vote Matters and Activism is Essential”

Engaging the UFT Membership in the Upcoming Contract Negotiations

The current UFT Contract ends 11/28/27; however, the terms and conditions of the current contract remain in full force and effect until the successor contract is ratified. In NYS public employee labor agreements, aka, contracts, don’t expire, they just designate a date to negotiate the next agrement. Prior to the Taylor Law contracts did expire andContinue reading “Engaging the UFT Membership in the Upcoming Contract Negotiations”

Is the Mayor Planning to Defund the Affinity District Partner Organizations?

The NYS budget cycle is April 1 to March 31, if the governor/legislatures fail to reach an agreement the legislature passes a “continuing resolution” to keep the state solvent, meaning the ability to pay bills and pay state employees. Cuomo prided himself on timely budgets, each of Governor Hochel’s budgets has been late and thisContinue reading “Is the Mayor Planning to Defund the Affinity District Partner Organizations?”