They have trouble with spelling, grammer and showing up to class on time - and we're not talking about the students.
The City of New York tried to expel 26 teachers from the classroom last year for gross incompetance - such as English teachers who couldn't write or speak the language properly.
But officials maintain that stingent union rules prohibited them from succeeding in just half those cases - even when hearing officers actually agreed with the principal's assessments.
That's because the city has to prove not only that the teachers can't do their jobs but also that they have no shot at ever improving. "What happens is every single thing is litigated or grieved or has had a fuss made about it," said Mayor Bloomberg, who, along with Governor Cuomo, has demanded statewide adoption of new teacher evaluations.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Environmentalism's Appeal: Slow Industrial Progress
In turning down the Keystone XL Pipeline the President has uncovered an ugly little secret that has always lurked beneath the surface of environmentalism. Its basic appeal is to the affluent. Despite all the professions of being "liberal" and "against big business," environmentalisms main appeal is that it promises to slow the progress of industrial progress. People who are already comfortable with the present state of affairs - who are established in the environment, so to speak - are happy to go along with this. It is not that they have any greater insight into the mysteries and workings of nature. They are happier with the way things are. In fact, environmentalism works to their advantage. The main danger to the affluent is not that they will be denied from improving their estate but that too many other people will achieve what they already have. As the Forest Service used to say, the person who built his mountain cabin last year is an environmentalist. The person who wants to build one this year is a developer.
Environmentalism has spent three decades trying to hide this simple truth. How can environmentalists be motivated by self-interest when they are anti-business? Doesn't that align them with the working classes? Well, not quite. You can be anti-business as a union member trying to claim higher wages but you can also be anti-business as a member of the aristocracy who believes "trade" and "commercialism" are crass and not attuned to the higher things in life. Environmentalism is born from the latter, not the former. It has spent decades trying to pretend it has common cause with the working people. With the defeat of the Keystone Pipeline, this is no longer possible. Too many blue-collar and middle-class jobs have been sacrificed on the alter of carbon emissions and global warming.
Environmentalism has spent three decades trying to hide this simple truth. How can environmentalists be motivated by self-interest when they are anti-business? Doesn't that align them with the working classes? Well, not quite. You can be anti-business as a union member trying to claim higher wages but you can also be anti-business as a member of the aristocracy who believes "trade" and "commercialism" are crass and not attuned to the higher things in life. Environmentalism is born from the latter, not the former. It has spent decades trying to pretend it has common cause with the working people. With the defeat of the Keystone Pipeline, this is no longer possible. Too many blue-collar and middle-class jobs have been sacrificed on the alter of carbon emissions and global warming.
I-93 Border Toll will be Considered to Fund Transit
State Representative Sean Garballey on Tuesday announced that the legislatures MBTA caucus will consider adding a NH/Mass Border Toll to raise funds to help pay for transit funding shortfalls that includes expansion projects such as the Green Line extension into Somerville and Medford.
Click here to read full story.
Click here to read full story.
Monday, January 23, 2012
GOP has first candidate for 9th District seat
By Brian Boyd
A Plymouth businessman has announced he will seek the Republican nomination for the new 9th Congressional District.
Christopher Sheldon, a management consultant and Plymouth County Charter Study Commissioner, has formed a campaign committee, he announced in a news release Friday.
"Like many from the South Shore, South Coast, Cape and Islands, I am very concerned about the direction of our country and especially our economy," Sheldon said in the release. "I believe in the American dream and I believe that, if we start now, there is still time to get our nation back on track."
He cited professional politicions and partisanship as impediments to solving problems in Washingron, and he said there is a need for someone with business and economic experience who is willing to work across party lines. Sheldon has tentatively scheduled a formal announcement of his candidacy and a campaign kick-off event for March 30.
The new 9th district, created as part of the redistricting process following the 2010 census, encompasses Cape Cod and parts of the South Shore and South Coast, including New Bedford.
U.S. Rep. William R.Keating, D-Mass, who currently represents part of the new district, and Bristol County and District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter are seeking the Democratic Nomination.
A Plymouth businessman has announced he will seek the Republican nomination for the new 9th Congressional District.
Christopher Sheldon, a management consultant and Plymouth County Charter Study Commissioner, has formed a campaign committee, he announced in a news release Friday.
"Like many from the South Shore, South Coast, Cape and Islands, I am very concerned about the direction of our country and especially our economy," Sheldon said in the release. "I believe in the American dream and I believe that, if we start now, there is still time to get our nation back on track."
He cited professional politicions and partisanship as impediments to solving problems in Washingron, and he said there is a need for someone with business and economic experience who is willing to work across party lines. Sheldon has tentatively scheduled a formal announcement of his candidacy and a campaign kick-off event for March 30.
The new 9th district, created as part of the redistricting process following the 2010 census, encompasses Cape Cod and parts of the South Shore and South Coast, including New Bedford.
U.S. Rep. William R.Keating, D-Mass, who currently represents part of the new district, and Bristol County and District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter are seeking the Democratic Nomination.
Additional Dates for Town/Ward/City Bootcamps
The MassGOP has added more Boot Camps in addition to the January 28th Boot Camp which was completely booked shortly after the date was announced. The training is intended for Republican Town, Ward and City Committee leaders that want to grow their committee with new members and fresh ideas. The program is completely new and updated for 2012.
The program is being offered by the leadership of the Attleboro Republican City Committee, which has a long history of local Republican success. Elected Republicans representing Attleboro include two State Representatives and a State Senator, the Mayor, the leadership and majority of the members of the City Council including the President, and the leadership of the School Committee.
The Massachusetts Republican Party partnering up again with Howard Bibeault and Susan Blais of the Attleboro Committee is inviting the leaders of the local Town and Ward and City Committees to attend a full day of free training classes. In one day participants can learn how to GROW their Committees with new members and new ideas on how to get Republican Candidates elected.
An all new and updated for 2012 - 65 page Hardcover Reference Book will be presented to each attendee. Subjects covered in the Handbook include:
- GOP History & why we are Republicans
- Positive Energy: It's contagious!
- How to grow a Republican Committee
- Why we need Republican Town/Ward/City Committees
- How to organize, electing your officers, OCPF filings
- Checking Accounts, ByLaws, Membership List
- Membership Recruitment & Membership Drives
- Calendar, Events, Meeting Locations, Agenda and Speakers
- Technology - A world of free tools !
- Candidate Debates, Community Involvement, Voter Registrations
- Fundraising, Donations, Dues
- Finding and supporting Rebublican Candidates to run !
- How to organize your committee (Mandatory by MA State Law this April)
and lots more !
The newly added dates include:
Sunday, February 5, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location: State Senator Ross - Office - 93 Commonwealth Ave, North Attleboro, MA
Sunday, April 22, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location: Labonte's Auto School - 130 Cedar Street, Milford, MA
Sunday, April 26, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location: State Senator Ross Office - 93 Commonwealth Ave, North Attleboro, MA
Saturday, May 19, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location North of Boston Area - Venue to be announced
Anyone considering running for office, and declared candidates and their teams should be planning to attend a Boot Camp ! After noting which boot camp you and your team wish to attend contact the MassGOP at BootCamps@massgop.com.
The program is being offered by the leadership of the Attleboro Republican City Committee, which has a long history of local Republican success. Elected Republicans representing Attleboro include two State Representatives and a State Senator, the Mayor, the leadership and majority of the members of the City Council including the President, and the leadership of the School Committee.
The Massachusetts Republican Party partnering up again with Howard Bibeault and Susan Blais of the Attleboro Committee is inviting the leaders of the local Town and Ward and City Committees to attend a full day of free training classes. In one day participants can learn how to GROW their Committees with new members and new ideas on how to get Republican Candidates elected.
An all new and updated for 2012 - 65 page Hardcover Reference Book will be presented to each attendee. Subjects covered in the Handbook include:
- GOP History & why we are Republicans
- Positive Energy: It's contagious!
- How to grow a Republican Committee
- Why we need Republican Town/Ward/City Committees
- How to organize, electing your officers, OCPF filings
- Checking Accounts, ByLaws, Membership List
- Membership Recruitment & Membership Drives
- Calendar, Events, Meeting Locations, Agenda and Speakers
- Technology - A world of free tools !
- Candidate Debates, Community Involvement, Voter Registrations
- Fundraising, Donations, Dues
- Finding and supporting Rebublican Candidates to run !
- How to organize your committee (Mandatory by MA State Law this April)
and lots more !
The newly added dates include:
Sunday, February 5, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location: State Senator Ross - Office - 93 Commonwealth Ave, North Attleboro, MA
Sunday, April 22, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location: Labonte's Auto School - 130 Cedar Street, Milford, MA
Sunday, April 26, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location: State Senator Ross Office - 93 Commonwealth Ave, North Attleboro, MA
Saturday, May 19, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location North of Boston Area - Venue to be announced
Anyone considering running for office, and declared candidates and their teams should be planning to attend a Boot Camp ! After noting which boot camp you and your team wish to attend contact the MassGOP at BootCamps@massgop.com.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Time to fix Public Housing
By Raymond Mariano
The current public housing system is a well-intentioned failure. This system, originally intended to provide temporary transitional support to struggling families, has become the housing of choice for multiple generations of the same family. Such a system promotes reliance on public assistance and creates intergenerational poverty.
With each subsequent generation, the lack of motivation to leave public housing becomes more ingrained. Today, children living in public housing are more likely to become adult residents and raise their own children in public housing than in generations past.
Additionally, the intergenerational reliance on public housing clogs the system with the same families. The result is that thousands of families are forced to remain on an endless waiting list.
The current system is based on the mistaken notion that residents of public housing can't do anything to help themselves and that they are destined to fail. We reject that notion. Rather than believing in our residents and helping them get on their feet, our existing system provides a strong disincentive to work and to accurately report income.
The time has come for a bold new approach. One approach aims to break the permanent cycle of poverty and public housing reliance, as well as transform lives by changing the concept behind providing this public benefit.
With close to 80 percent of Worcester's public housing residents unemployed, we propose a requirement for able-bodied residents under the age of fifty to go to work or attend school full time in order to continue to receive housing benefits.
In order to ensure that residents are provided the necessary tools and resources to meet the school/work requirements, all residents will participate in intensive case-management services, and will be provided with access to resources that will help improve the educational, occupational, financial and health needs of each member of the household.
As an incentive to go to work, all residents will participate in an escrow program to allow them to maintain their rents at a pre-employment level. The increased portion of their rent, that would normally result from their increased income, will be put in escrow to allow the resident a greater chance of self-sufficiency when they leave public housing after a few years.
Too many children living in public housing fail and drop out of school. Poor attendance and dismal graduation rates have become the norm. As a part of this new approach, children will be required to attend school on a regular basis and not exceed the guidelines for absences set by the local school district for their family to continue to receive housing benefits.
Although most public and leased housing residents have the desire and motivation to improve their lives, many lack the skills and knowledge to actually do so. Life 101 is a program specifically designed to provide residents with basic but significant life skills, including training related to healthy relationships, parenting, financial literacy, housekeeping, being a good neighbor and conflict resolution.
In general, public housing children lack resources, family support and a positive father/male role model. Lack of education contributes to a lack of sustained employment among our residents.
Ultimately, our goal is to help make residents self-sufficient and motivate them to move out of public or leased housing and take their place in the larger community. We believe that housing authorities should do more than change the windows and doors every few years. In fact, if we are willing to believe in our residents and provide them with the support they need, we believe that we have the opportunity to change lives.
Raymond V. Mariano is executive director of the Worcester Housing Authority.
The current public housing system is a well-intentioned failure. This system, originally intended to provide temporary transitional support to struggling families, has become the housing of choice for multiple generations of the same family. Such a system promotes reliance on public assistance and creates intergenerational poverty.
With each subsequent generation, the lack of motivation to leave public housing becomes more ingrained. Today, children living in public housing are more likely to become adult residents and raise their own children in public housing than in generations past.
Additionally, the intergenerational reliance on public housing clogs the system with the same families. The result is that thousands of families are forced to remain on an endless waiting list.
The current system is based on the mistaken notion that residents of public housing can't do anything to help themselves and that they are destined to fail. We reject that notion. Rather than believing in our residents and helping them get on their feet, our existing system provides a strong disincentive to work and to accurately report income.
The time has come for a bold new approach. One approach aims to break the permanent cycle of poverty and public housing reliance, as well as transform lives by changing the concept behind providing this public benefit.
With close to 80 percent of Worcester's public housing residents unemployed, we propose a requirement for able-bodied residents under the age of fifty to go to work or attend school full time in order to continue to receive housing benefits.
In order to ensure that residents are provided the necessary tools and resources to meet the school/work requirements, all residents will participate in intensive case-management services, and will be provided with access to resources that will help improve the educational, occupational, financial and health needs of each member of the household.
As an incentive to go to work, all residents will participate in an escrow program to allow them to maintain their rents at a pre-employment level. The increased portion of their rent, that would normally result from their increased income, will be put in escrow to allow the resident a greater chance of self-sufficiency when they leave public housing after a few years.
Too many children living in public housing fail and drop out of school. Poor attendance and dismal graduation rates have become the norm. As a part of this new approach, children will be required to attend school on a regular basis and not exceed the guidelines for absences set by the local school district for their family to continue to receive housing benefits.
Although most public and leased housing residents have the desire and motivation to improve their lives, many lack the skills and knowledge to actually do so. Life 101 is a program specifically designed to provide residents with basic but significant life skills, including training related to healthy relationships, parenting, financial literacy, housekeeping, being a good neighbor and conflict resolution.
In general, public housing children lack resources, family support and a positive father/male role model. Lack of education contributes to a lack of sustained employment among our residents.
Ultimately, our goal is to help make residents self-sufficient and motivate them to move out of public or leased housing and take their place in the larger community. We believe that housing authorities should do more than change the windows and doors every few years. In fact, if we are willing to believe in our residents and provide them with the support they need, we believe that we have the opportunity to change lives.
Raymond V. Mariano is executive director of the Worcester Housing Authority.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Congressmen Told Not to Say "Merry Christmas"
Rules gag free speech between voters and elected officials.
According to a December 12th memo by the House Franking Commission, congressman in the House of Representatives are not allowed to wish voters a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year" in mail or e-mail.
Congressman use their franking privileges (using taxpayer dollars to pay for postage) to send mail or e-mail to voters throughout the year. However, the Franking Commission, the six-member bipartisan group officially known as the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, told legislators that "Merry Christmas" is strictly prohibited.
In addition, the memo also noted that congressman can't use their official social media pages to wish constituents "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year." It cited the Rules of Practice which also states congressmen cannot use "colors that give the impression of a holiday greeting."
A Franking Commission spokesman confirmed to The Washington Examiner that members of Congress indeed cannot wish constituents "Merry Christmas" in any official mailing. "Currently, incidental use of the phrase Happy Holidays is permissible but Merry Christmas is not," said Sally Wood. Curiously, these rules do not currenty apply to Senators.
Medford City Committee Chair and State Committeeman Bernie Green urges all of our readers to call or e-mail Congressman Ed Markey and Speaker John Boehner, urging them to reverse the franking rules to allow Christmas and other holiday greetings in mailings to voters.
According to a December 12th memo by the House Franking Commission, congressman in the House of Representatives are not allowed to wish voters a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year" in mail or e-mail.
Congressman use their franking privileges (using taxpayer dollars to pay for postage) to send mail or e-mail to voters throughout the year. However, the Franking Commission, the six-member bipartisan group officially known as the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, told legislators that "Merry Christmas" is strictly prohibited.
In addition, the memo also noted that congressman can't use their official social media pages to wish constituents "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year." It cited the Rules of Practice which also states congressmen cannot use "colors that give the impression of a holiday greeting."
A Franking Commission spokesman confirmed to The Washington Examiner that members of Congress indeed cannot wish constituents "Merry Christmas" in any official mailing. "Currently, incidental use of the phrase Happy Holidays is permissible but Merry Christmas is not," said Sally Wood. Curiously, these rules do not currenty apply to Senators.
Medford City Committee Chair and State Committeeman Bernie Green urges all of our readers to call or e-mail Congressman Ed Markey and Speaker John Boehner, urging them to reverse the franking rules to allow Christmas and other holiday greetings in mailings to voters.
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