Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein on Friday touted his endorsement from the New York State United Teachers union.
“I’m honored to have the endorsement of NYSUT, whose membership works hard each and every day on everything from shaping young minds in our public schools to educating adults in our colleges and universities. I’m committed to being a voice for our educators in Albany,” Klein said in a statement released this afternoon.Klein faces former city Councilman Oliver Koppell in a Democratic primary next month.
NYSUT announced its slate of endorsements in the Legislature this week, but declined to endorse in the race for governor.
“Those who earn endorsements are friends of public education and labor,” NYSUT President Karen Magee said. “Over the last two years, they earned our support by advocating effectively for our public schools, colleges and healthcare institutions; listening intently to the concerns and aspirations of our members, and voting consistently the right way.”
Let's leave aside that you can't turn your back on State Senator Klein without getting a knife in it.
Let's leave aside that he's a mob-connected politician who belongs in prison, not the state senate.
Let's leave aside that he's been a good friend to Governor Cuomo, ensuring Cuomo got his tax cuts for the 1% and other Wall Street budget priorities.
All those things are bad enough.
But this is a guy who is pro-charter school, pro-voucher, and pro-APPR, a guy who's a favorite of StudentsFirstNY and other education reform groups, a guy who was one of only two Senate Dems who voted a few years ago to end seniority protections for teachers.
If NYSUT leaders had their rank-and-file members interests at heart, they would have turned on Klein and endorsed his opponent, Oliver Koppell.
Instead they endorsed the pro-charter, pro-voucher, pro-APPR guy with the mob ties and education reform bona fides.
Your NYSUT leaders in action
Maybe some of Klein's organized crime friends made them an offer they couldn't refuse?
When I worked at Lehman and we were threatened with closure, two of my colleges (who also lived in the district) went to Klein's office and asked for his support of the school. They were told that Klein (as a former teacher) would go to bat at for our school and testify at our joint public hearing. When the time came, he stopped returning our calls, and just sent some intern to read a half-assed statement on his behalf. He is a two face, and no friend to teachers or labor.
ReplyDeleteI know you know I think all politicians are scummy, NYCDOEnuts, but Klein is one of the scummiest. How anybody could support him is beyond me, no matter your politics. The mob ties alone should disqualify him. Then there's the changing conferences thing. Finally the reliable support for ed deform. But there's our erstwhile NYSUT leadership, giving this guy the endorsement.
ReplyDeleteAre you surprised?
ReplyDeleteNope. Just like to document this stuff on the blog for future use.
ReplyDeleteSooooo... This revived NYSUT sure is swell isn't it?!
ReplyDeleteYes, a totally revived NYSUT working for the interests of the corporate reformers.
Deletehttp://b-loedscene.blogspot.com/2014/08/nysed-releases-test-scores-nysut-pees.html
ReplyDeleteUgh - I'd say unbelievable except of course it's totally believable.
DeleteHard to believe that NYSUT is endorsing him if it is true that he is pro-voucher. You cannot have it both ways. Either you support public education or pro-voucher. Doesn't the NYSUT know that?
ReplyDeleteNahh - they just make political calculations based on their own interests.
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