Tuesday, November 23, 2010

NY Times: Steiner Didn't Vet Members Of Waiver Panel

Surprise, surprise!

As new revelations surfaced about extensive ties between Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and members of the panel evaluating his choice for school’s chancellor, state officials acknowledged on Monday that they did not screen the panel members for conflicts of interest or connections to the Bloomberg administration before appointing them.

...

Asked whether the state education commissioner, David M. Steiner, had screened the panelists for conflicts, his spokesman, Tom Dunn, indicated that no formal review was conducted.

“He asked each member if they felt they could be independent and offer critical confidential advice as to Ms. Black’s qualifications,” Mr. Dunn said.

Wow - that sounds like a rigorous screening process.

STEINER: Excuse me, you folks who used to work for Michael Bloomberg, who may work for Michael Bloomberg in the future, or who receive money from Michael Bloomberg's charities, do you think you can independently rubber stamp Mayor Bloomberg's choice for chancellor?

CHORUS: Yes, David, We do.

(Checks are handed out to panel members.)

STEINER: See you on Tuesday at our undisclosed location. Make sure you bring your rubber stamps.

The meeting will be held today. The panel may announce its recommendations today as well.

So if you hear a big stamping noise right about 3:30 PM over the city somewhere, you know the panel has just finished rubber stamping Bloomberg's Black for chancellor.

2 comments:

  1. I can't believe what is happening. Lamestream media laying into Bloomy's cronies, especially in ED dept? Is it a smoke screen for something more sinister like bringing in the Broomstick Rhee?

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  2. I don't think so. If they do pull Black back, I think Bloomberg will choose somebody from the DOE. The policies will still be a nightmare, however.

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