Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Gotham Gazette Lowers Itself to Using Tea Partyish Terminology for Democrats

So, you Google for information about 2017 New York City municipal races, and you get
Fox News / Tea Party -type terminology about candidates of the Democratic Party: Democrat, as in 'Democrat Party.' (The competing candidates are listed below, after the links to articles calling out the childish name calling that the Gotham Gazette used.)

Either the writer, Ben Max, at the Gotham Gazette is massively ignorant, or the writer is trying to employ a rightist dig against Democratic candidates: using the adjective-turned noun for Republicans and Libertarians, but using the epithet "Democrat."

There are several articles analyzing the conservatives' turning the term 'Democrat' into an epithet:

From 'The Economist:'
What's wrong with the "Democrat Party": It's not ungrammatical. It's discourteous

From 'The Minnesota Post:'
‘Democrat Party:’ The GOP’s childish name game

From Wikipedia:
Democrat Party (epithet) | Wikipedia

Ben Max's repeated use of 'Democrat' epithet: (He must have laboriously gone through and removed the letters, "ic" for each of the Democratic candidates.)

Below is a list of candidates for many city races of 2017. Keep in mind that some candidates will appear on multiple ballot lines, though we will not necessarily list them all.

Gotham Gazette will be editing this list on a running basis leading to Election Day, November 7, as well as adding more to our 2017 election coverage, including more detail about candidates, races, issues, campaign endorsements and fundraising, debates, and more.

---General election list updated October 3, 2017---

Mayor
Bill de Blasio, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Nicole Malliotakis, Republican & Conservative & Stop de Blasio
Bo Dietl, Dump the Mayor
Sal Albanese, Reform
Aaron Commey, Libertarian
Akeem Browder, Green
Mike Tolkin, Smart Cities

Public Advocate
Letitia James, incumbent, Democat & Working Families
Juan Carlos "J.C." Polanco, Republican & Reform & Stop de Blasio
James Lane, Green
Michael O'Reilly, Conservative
Devin Balkind, Libertarian

Comptroller
Scott Stringer, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Michel J. Faulkner, Republican & Conservative & Reform & Stop de Blasio
Alex Merced, Libertarian
Julia Willebrand, Green

Bronx Borough PresidentRuben Diaz, Jr., incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Steven DeMartis, Republican
Antonio Vitiello, Conservative
Camella Price, Reform

Brooklyn Borough President
Eric Adams, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Benjamin Kissel, Reform
Vito Bruno, Republican & Conservative

Queens Borough President
Melinda Katz, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
William Kregler, Republican & Conservative
Everly Brown, Homeowners NYCHA

Manhattan Borough President
Gale Brewer, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Frank Scala, Republican
Daniel Vila Rivera, Green
Brian Waddell, Reform & Libertarian

Staten Island Borough President
James Oddo, incumbent, Republican & Conservative & Reform & Independence
Tom Shcherbenko, Democrat & Working Families
Henry Bardel, Green

Brooklyn District Attorney
Eric Gonzalez, Democrat, incumbent (named acting District Attorney in 2016)
Vincent Gentile, Reform

Manhattan District Attorney
Cy Vance, Democrat, incumbent
(Marc Fliedner announced in early October that he's embracing a write-in campaign for Manhattan DA)

City Council District 1
Margaret Chin, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Bryan Jung, Republican
Aaron Foldenauer, Liberal
Christoper Marte, Independence

City Council District 2 - open seat (held by Rosie Mendez)
Carlina Rivera, Democrat & Working Families
Jimmy McMillan, Republican & Rent is 2 Damn High
Donald Garrity, Libertarian
Manny Cavaco, Green
Jasmin Sanchez, Liberal

City Council District 3
Corey Johnson, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Marni Halasa, Eco Justice

City Council District 4 - open seat (held by Dan Garodnick)
Keith Powers, Democrat
Rebecca Harary, Republican & Women's Equality & Reform & Stop de Blasio
Rachel Honig, Liberal

City Council District 5
Ben Kallos, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Frank Spotorno, Republican

City Council District 6
Helen Rosenthal, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Hyman Drusin, Republican
William Raudenbush, Stand Up Together

City Council District 7
Mark Levine, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Florindo Troncelliti, Green

City Council District 8 - open seat (held by Melissa Mark-Viverito)
Diana Ayala, Democrat & Working Families
Daby Carreras, Republican & Reform & Stop de Blasio & No Rezoning 4 Ever
Linda Ortiz, Conservative

City Council District 9
Bill Perkins, incumbent (elected in February special election), Democrat & Working Families
Jack Royster, Republican
Pierre Gooding, Reform
Tyson-Lord Gray, Liberal
Dianne Mack, Harlem Matters

City Council District 10
Ydanis Rodriguez, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Ronny Goodman, Republican

City Council District 11
Andrew Cohen, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Judah David Powers, Republican & Conservative
Roxanne Delgado, Animal Rights

City Council District 12
Andy King, incumbent, Democrat
Adrienne Erwin, Conservative

City Council District 13 - open seat (held by James Vacca)
Mark Gjonaj, Democrat
John Cerini, Republican & Conservative
Marjorie Velazquez, Working Families
John Doyle, Liberal
Alex Gomez, New Bronx

City Council District 14
Fernando Cabrera, incumbent, Democrat
Randy Abreu, Working Families
Alan Reed, Republican & Conservative
Justin Sanchez, Liberal

City Council District 15
Ritchie Torres, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Jayson Cancel, Jr., Republican & Conservative

City Council District 16
Vanessa Gibson, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Benjamin Eggleston, Republican & Conservative

City Council District 17
Rafael Salamanca, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Patrick Delices, Republican
Oswald Denis, Conservative
Elvis Santana, Empower Society

City Council District 18 - open seat (held by Annabel Palma)
Ruben Diaz, Sr., Democrat
Carl Lundgren, Green
Michael Beltzer, Liberal
William Russell Moore, Reform
Eduadro Ramirez, Conservative

City Council District 19
Paul Vallone, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Konstantinos Poulidis, Republican
Paul Graziano, Reform

City Council District 20
Peter Koo, Democrat, incumbent

City Council District 21 - open seat (held by Julissa Ferreras-Copeland)
Francisco Moya, Democrat & Working Families

City Council District 22
Costa Constantinides, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Kathleen Springer, Dive In

City Council District 23
Barry Grodenchik, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Joseph Concannon, Republican & Conservative & Stop de Blasio
John Y. Lim, John Y. Lim

City Council District 24
Rory Lancman, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Mohammad Rahman, Reform

City Council District 25
Daniel Dromm, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families

City Council District 26Jimmy Van Bramer, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Marvin Jeffcoat, Republican & Conservative

City Council District 27
I. Daneek Miller, Democrat, incumbent
Rupert Green, Republican
Frank Francois, Green

City Council District 28 - open seat (Ruben Wills was convicted on public corruption charges)
Adrienne Adams, Democrat
Ivan Mossop, Republican
Hettie Powell, Working Families

City Council District 29
Karen Koslowitz, incumbent, Democrat

City Council District 30
Elizabeth Crowley, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families & Women's Equality
Robert Holden, Republican & Conservative & Reform & Dump de Blasio

City Council District 31
Donovan Richards, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families

City Council District 32
Eric Ulrich, incumbent, Republican & Conservative & Independence & Reform
Mike Scala, Democrat

City Council District 33
Stephen Levin, Democrat, incumbent
Victoria Cambranes, Progress for All

City Council District 34
Antonio Reynoso, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families

City Council District 35
Laurie Cumbo, Democrat, incumbent
Jabari Brisport, Green & Socialist
Christine Parker, Republican

City Council District 36
Robert Cornegy, Democrat, incumbent

City Council District 37
Rafael Espinal, Democrat, incumbent
Persephone Sarah Jane Smith, Green

City Council District 38
Carlos Menchaca, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Carmen Hulbert, Green
Devlis Valdez, Reform
Allan Romaguera, Conservative

City Council District 39
Brad Lander, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families

City Council District 40
Mathieu Eugene, Democrat, incumbent
Brian Cunningham, Reform
Brian Kelly, Conservative

City Council District 41 - open seat (held by Darlene Mealy)
Alicka Ampry-Samuel, Democrat & Working Families
Berneda Jackson, Republican & Conservative
Christoper Carew, Solutions

City Council District 42
Inez Barron, Democrat, incumbent
Ernest Johnson, Conservative
Mawuli Hormeku, Reform

City Council District 43 - open seat (held by Vincent Gentile)
John Quaglione, Republican & Independence & Conservative
Justin Brannan, Democrat & Working Families
Angel Medina, Women's Equality
Bob Capano, Reform

City Council District 44 - open seat (held by David Greenfield, who is not seeking reelection)
Kalman Yeger, Democrat & Conservative
Yoni Hikind, Our Neighborhood
Harold Tischler, School Choice

City Council District 45
Jumaane Williams, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Anthony Beckford, True Freedom

City Council District 46
Alan Maisel, Democrat, incumbent
Jeffrey Ferretti, Conservative

City Council District 47
Mark Treyger, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Raimondo Denaro, Republican & Conservative

City Council District 48
Chaim M. Deutsch, Democrat, incumbent
Steven Saperstein, Republican & Conservative & Reform

City Council District 49
Deborah Rose, incumbent, Democrat & Working Families
Michael Penrose, Republican & Conservative
Kamillah Hanks, Reform

City Council District 50
Steven Matteo, incumbent, Republican & Conservative & Independence & Reform
Richard Florentino, Democrat

City Council District 51
Joseph Borelli, incumbent, Republican & Conservative & Independence & Reform
Dylan Schwartz, Democrat & Working Families

*************

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NYC Education Activism Calendar

Get involved with the fight to defend public education!

Oppose & resist Cuomo, DeBlasio, DeVos, Farina!

- The MORE caucus UFT's important upcoming events:
  
  Friday 1/5/18 4:30-6:30pm
  City As School
  16 Clarkson St
  Manhattan
  We will strategize about resisting DeBlasio's plans to close or merge 14 Renewal Schools.
- Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/16+Clarkson+St,+New+York,+NY+10014/@40.7291091,-74.0082884,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c25992ac002507:0x68aa91fb40bff351!8m2!3d40.7291091!4d-74.0060997

Sign the Petition: Terminate Comm. John King's Employment

New York State Board of Regents: Terminate the Employment of State Education Commissioner, John King

2. Petition by
  Coalition for Justice in Education

PETITION TO TERMINATE THE EMPLOYMENT OF NYS EDUCATION COMMISSIONER, JOHN KING
(references substantiating each charge available at www.coalitionforjusticeineducation.com)

John King has served as New York State Commissioner of Education since 2011. During his tenure, the quality of education in NY has continued to decline; particularly in poor and rural districts.

1 The Commissioner’s solutions rely upon blindly accepting NCLB, RTTT and Common Core policies and implementing more high-stakes, standardized testing for evaluation of students and teachers,

2 implementation of an untested national curriculum,

3 undemocratic corporate management strategies for operating schools,

4 more privatization of schools

5 and insistence that poverty-related conditions are not an excuse for low student achievement.

6 Furthermore, Commissioner King: · Refuses to lend credibility to staff and community-voiced concerns that much of Common Core curriculum and testing is developmentally inappropriate for students, and that NYS teachers received no significant training for the implementation of Common Core,

7 Refuses to allow meaningful dialogue about Common Core tests by imposing a “gag order” on teachers and administrators, preventing them from discussing test questions among themselves or with students,

8 Supports policy to allow private corporate vendors to have access to personal student data, without parental consent, for the purpose of marketing educational services,

9 and ·Remains silent on the stress-related suffering by many students taking recent Common Core tests,

10 Promotes the reduction of the reading of fiction in favor of an increase in informational texts (50% informational texts in elementary school, and 70% for 12th grade readings by 2014)

11 with the generally predicted impact of a further reduction in the joy of reading and learning for all students especially those with learning challenges,

12 Continues to advocate more high-stakes, standardized testing, despite research concluding that it is ineffective for motivating students and increasing their learning,

13· Continues to ignore positive research results for the use of performance-based assessment, such as portfolios, performances, presentations and exhibitions, by more NYS schools,

14· Advocates for more closings and privatization of low-performing schools,

15 despite research indicating that charter schools are generally less effective than public schools,

16 and promote more racial and class-based segregation,

17 and create negative impact on community morale, motivation and development,

18· Advocates the use of poorly designed, ineffective corporate strategies, such as APPR, which de-professionalize teaching,

19 We, the undersigned, strongly believe that New York State’s education reform agenda is fundamentally flawed and must be re-directed in a humanistic, research-based manner; directly counter to the direction Commissioner King has taken. New York State children, parents and teachers need an education commissioner who passionately supports and actively works for:
· De-concentrating the impact of poverty in classrooms and schools,
· Institutionalizing performance-based assessments,
· Ending the obsessive use of high-stakes, standardized testing,
· Developing creative, alternative curriculum, assessments and schools,
· Assisting poverty-stricken, low-performing schools through collaboration with teachers, parents community members and students, rather than through closures and privatization,
· Ending corporate reform,
· Using school practitioners and constructivist-oriented consultants for developing and implementing curriculum & assessments,
· Implementing a moratorium on the Common Core Curriculum,
· Transforming the NYSED to serve as helpful consultants to schools and school districts, rather than enforcers of top-down policies that are disrespectful to teachers and harmful to students.

Therefore, we, the undersigned respectfully urge the NYS Board of Regents to terminate the employment of John King as NYS Education Commissioner, and immediately search for, and hire a candidate who strongly reflects the characteristics described above.

Cent. NY English Teacher's Lament: 'I am a teacher, and I am tired'

By Savanna Kucerak, English teacher, Homer C.S.D., as published by NYSUT:

"I am a teacher, and I am tired"

Tired of coming home every night angry, abused, and insulted.

Tired of being treated as a child, as a robot, as a stepping stone for politician$ and publi$hing companie$ to make more money.

Tired of ignorance littering the air: “the Common Core is an exciting time in education!” or “APPR is just showing off the wonderful work you already do!”

Tired of being told to “wait it out,” that the “pendulum will swing the other way eventually” while witnessing the casualties pile up — casualties with names and dreams and futures and the RIGHT to the BEST EDUCATION we can give them.

Tired of being afraid to stand up for what I know is right for our kids and our country because I am afraid of losing my job and being unable to pay my bills.

Tired of my superiors being afraid to stand up for what they know is right for our kids and our country because they, too, are afraid of losing their livelihood.

Tired of wanting to be better, volunteering to do additional work, and watching helplessly as any progress I have made is brushed aside by the newest educational reform acronym.

Tired of being told, “Ohh, sorry, but my hands are tied,” accompanied by a half smile, a shrug of the shoulders.

Tired of spending hours of my life documenting and sorting and filing instead of revising and learning and improving.

Tired of wasting taxpayer money on binders and tabs and computer paper and ink.

Tired of being a taxpayer, watching as my money is spent on binders and tabs and computer paper and ink instead of STUDENTS and STUDENTS and STUDENTS and STUDENTS.

Tired of paying my student loan bills and nostalgically remembering that I chose to be a teacher, that I wanted to teach, blissfully ignorant of what lay ahead.

Tired of my two degrees and experience and individuality being ignored and devalued.

Tired of knowing what’s best for my students, but being told NOT to do it.

Tired of telling the best and brightest young people NOT to be teachers — and meaning it.

Tired of being told that if I love literature, then I’d better choose another profession.

Tired of Googling “what can I do besides teach?” only to close out of the browser every time, knowing there is nothing I’d be better at or love more than what was formerly known as “teaching.”

Tired of living in a country where my dream job no longer exists – where “teacher” is now synonymous with data-collector, test-prepper, script-reader, automaton.

Tired of grappling with the notion that I now have a job instead of a life or even a career.

Tired of disillusionment poisoning even the best of days.

Tired of telling my students that they will be heard if they support their arguments with evidence, yet knowing in my heart that that is a lie.

Tired of worrying about my own future children, who will either be numbers under this developing “educational” system – or dealing with the wreckage of a failed, expensive national tragedy in which all the best teachers have either abandoned this sinking ship or remain on board as empty shells, whispered voices, gasping for air.

I am tired, but I am still here – and there are many of me.

Join us. Say something. Do something.

Our collective future depends on it.”

S.I. parents chafing under the Common Core perversion of curriculum

The Common Core - that's that toxic result of ill-minded state and federal policy plus a tone-deaf collaborationist union leadership.

"My son made a comment to me the other day. He asked, 'Did I become stupid?'" said his father, James Hardison. "We're supposed to be inspiring students, and giving them what they need to be successful. For a 10-year-old child to feel discouraged like this, something is not right." --from SILive.com, 3/28/13, powered by the Staten Island Advance.

Culture of testing takes a toll on Staten Island pupils and their families (photos/video). [Ed.: It's not mere testing, it's testing to support the Common Core, foisted upon America by the unelected, non-educator, David Coleman.]

MORE -Our working conditions are our students' learning conditions

Check Out New Yorker's App on Inequality and the Subway

This cool app at the New Yorker's website, "Inequality and New York's Subway," takes each MTA subway/elevated line and matches stations with U.S. Census-provided household income.

The results are stark. Along the 6 train in the upper half of Manhattan, the results vary from over $150,000 to under $25,000.

New York City has a problem with income inequality. And it’s getting worse—the top of the spectrum is gaining and the bottom is losing. Along individual subway lines, earnings range from poverty to considerable wealth. The interactive infographic here charts these shifts, using data on median household income, from the U.S. Census Bureau, for census tracts with subway stations.