As the clock ticks down to November 3rd diesel prices continue to soar, Iran is a forever war, mortgage rates climbing, Republican candidates ask the president not to campaign in their district, a number of journalists comment on the upcoming election The MAGA Flag is in Tatters, , listen here, worthwhile. In the Spring ofContinue reading “How Will the November 3rd Midterms Impact the Upcoming Contract Negotiations and Beyond?”
Tag Archives: politics
The Upcoming UFT Contract Negotiations: “Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail”
The current UFT Contract “ends” November 28, 2027 and the UFT has begun the negotiations process. Negotiation sub committees reflecting all the titles, 700 members have met and will continue to meet to create bargaining demands.that reflect the views of the members. First, a primer: under provisions of the Public Employee Relations Act, commonly called the Taylor Law laborContinue reading “The Upcoming UFT Contract Negotiations: “Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail””
Why Is Polling Wrong So Often?
A week or so after an election the NY Times carries an article trying to explain why the polls were wrong, let’s explore: what is a poll? A poll is a “random, stratified sample” of prime voters at a particular time and place. Who are prime voters and how do we know? Ballots are secret,Continue reading “Why Is Polling Wrong So Often?”
Mulgrew v Mamdani and the Office of Collective Bargaining
The Constitution requires the “advice and consent” of the Senate (Article 2, section 2, clause 2), hearings and a vote to confirm probably hundreds of members of the executive branch, from cabinet members to ambassadors and on and on. The Mayor of New York, appoints, or reappoints about three hundred positions, without any approval, theContinue reading “Mulgrew v Mamdani and the Office of Collective Bargaining”
“We Exist in a Marketplace of Favors,” The World of Realpolitik
We are a contentious species, we bicker, at times dissemble, and at the same time speak of ethics and morality. In classrooms, twenty-five hundred years later we regal Socrates as a great teacher, and forget he was condemned to death for teaching the youth of Athens to think critically (Socrates needed a union!). We justContinue reading ““We Exist in a Marketplace of Favors,” The World of Realpolitik”
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”
