Archive for July, 2004

First Published in The New York Sun, July 30, 2004

By Andrew Wolf

Lorraine Coyle Koppell was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Boston. The process that put her in her seat illuminates much that is wrong with the Party. 

    Not that I have anything against Ms. Koppell. She is a friend and, for her sake, I am pleased that she had what must have been a wonderful experience for such a party stalwart.  (more…)

First Published in The New York Sun, July 23, 2004

By Andrew Wolf

 For the first time in more than a quarter century, there will be deep cuts to school budgets that will reach the classroom. Dispatches from principals from every corner of Gotham’s school system, as well as from the business types who inhabit the cubicles in the six regional operating centers, confirm that virtually all schools received budget cuts that in some cases exceed 20%. 

    These are not cuts to the bureaucracy. This is what principals term “blood money,” the minimal required funding to run their schools.These cuts were first reported last week in the Staten Island Advance and Newsday.  (more…)

First Published in The New York Sun, July 9, 2004

By Andrew Wolf

  As the criticism of Mayor Bloomberg’s stewardship of the schools escalates, the public relations machine at the Tweed Courthouse is accelerating its effort to crank out evidence of an alternate reality. It is beginning to wear thin. 

    Mr.Bloomberg’s best moment since taking over the schools happened earlier this year when he acknowledged the failure of his safety and security policy and adopted a new “tough” stance.  (more…)

First Published in The New York Sun, July 2, 2004

By Andrew Wolf

Fernando Ferrer, the former Bronx borough president, recently weighed in on Mayor Bloomberg’s now-stalled $400 homeowner tax rebate. He is against the program. Not because it is a gimmick and not because it isn’t enough, or it isn’t equitable. If elected, Mr. Ferrer would like to see his government flush with taxpayer money, so he can figure out new ways to spend more. 

    Council Speaker Miller had a better idea: rolling back last year’s ill-advised property tax increase by a flat percentage. But Mr. Miller failed to successfully push his perfectly reasonable alternative.  (more…)