Thanksgiving 2020

Finding thankfulness when our world has been turned upside down by a global pandemic.

“Don’t think I need to say this

’Cause you know what’s in my head

“F — -ed up” is an understatement

Can’t wait for this year to end”

- Mike Shinoda

If everything had gone as planned this year, my wife and I would be making our final preparations for a trip that was going to knock a couple of items off of my bucket list. Last year we had purchased tickets to see the band Nightwish in London on December 18. Not only would this have allowed me to see my favorite new band put on their full arena show, but it also gave me an excuse to make my first trip outside of North America. …

#AnotherDayAnotherCharterScandal

Citizens of the World Charter Schools collect fraudulent signatures as part of the process to take space away from public school students.

“Receiving these forms simply helps my school maintain their facilities for the coming year. It’s a fun game schools get to play each year.”

- Jirusha Lopez, CWC Principal

Under the current interpretation of PROP-39, charter schools are allowed to demand space from public schools to implement their programs. The amount of space that these publicly-funded private schools receive is based on what is supposed to be a good faith estimate of the number of students the charter school anticipates enrolling in its program. …

A NATION IN CRISIS

Sealed in a Petri dish in the sky, it becomes apparent that we do not have the will to come together and fight a common enemy.

“I’m particularly worried about air travel.”

- Dr. David Rubin

The first reports of the new mysterious illness in China were treated a lot like how Floridians react when a new tropical depression forms in the Atlantic. There were some who saw the news and immediately started bracing themselves for a coming storm, but most of us saw the danger too far away to be considered impending. We paid little notice and we certainly did not make any preparations.

As the sea started to stir and storm clouds moved closer to the horizon, most of us still did not move into a state of heightened alert. After all, most hurricanes change course before hitting us directly. The first cases of COVID-19 had already landed on American soil but we went on with our lives as normal. Right before the California primary in March, my family attended a Bernie Sanders rally with thousands of other people at the Los Angeles Convention Center. We doused our daughters’ hands in sanitizer at frequent intervals but had no second thoughts about being in such a large crowd. Days later I stood in line for hours to vote with no social distancing being practiced and face masks not yet part of the vernacular. …

A COUNTRY IN CRISIS

Instead of pushing for a plan to address the concerns expressed by students, LAUSD police prove their point by engaging in demagoguery.

“Of course the real mastermind behind the abolish the police agenda is none other than organizer Eric Mann, the director of the Labor Community Strategy Center, self-proclaimed Communist and mentor to Patrisse Khan-Cullors, one of the three founders of the Black Lives Matter organization.”

- Gilbert Gamez, President of the LASPOA

Gilbert Gamez straddles two worlds.

As the leader of a union, Gamez is a direct beneficiary of sacrifices made by those who fought for social justice. Labor activists of the past endured opposition that was often violent as they fought for the right to organize. Many paid with their lives. …

#AnotherDayAnotherCharterScandal

When will the LAUSD finally take action on a safety-related Notice of Violation that has been outstanding for almost four years?

“Have all of those been rectified, have they been cured, have they been fixed so that they meet our standards?”

- LAUSD Board Member Jackie Goldberg

Fresh off securing eight million dollars in funds meant to protect jobs, Granada Hills Charter School is now seeking $1.1 million from the federal government to construct nine new shade structures on their Zelzah campus. Since this facility is owned by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Granada and the district must amend the Sole Occupant Agreement (SOA) for this campus in order for the school to start construction. …

Moving Forward

The Democrats have won the popular vote in seven of the last eight elections. Why should it be up to the left to compromise?

“I just think it’s an embarrassment, quite frankly”

- President-Elect Biden on Trump’s refusal to admit defeat

Joe Biden won the popular vote with a margin of over five million votes. With this victory, the Democrats have earned more votes in seven of the past eight presidential elections. The Shrub’s reelection in 2004 was the lone exception.

With a winning percentage of 87.5%, it is clear that the Democrat’s ideals are preferred by a majority of the electorate. Yet, the government under Trump moved to the far-right and now borders on authoritarianism. The 45th president ruled without accepting input from the Democratic majority in the House. When the legislative branch would not give in to his demands Trump flagrantly broke the law by illegally diverting “$2.5 billion from military construction projects to build sections of the U.S. border wall with Mexico” and extending unemployment benefits without authorization. …

2020 LAUSD ELECTIONS

The electorate rejects a negative campaign funded by millions of dollars of charter school money and re-elects LAUSD Board Member Scott Schmerelson.

“Sometimes the negative publicity benefits the other side, but it didn’t work this time”

- Scott Schmerelson

Almost a week after the election, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) candidate, Marilyn Koziatek, has conceded that “the results of this election mean that I did not win”. Despite spending $6,443,125.44 (or $58.16 per vote), the charter school industry was unable to secure this District 3 board seat. Presumably, Koziatek will continue working on the Granada Hills Charter High School leadership team.

Supporters of the incumbent, Scott Schmerelson, spent $10.24 for each of the 128,700 votes that the board member received. The total of $1,317,849.72 …

Parents Demand

Instead of adding green space or Wellness Centers, the LAUSD bureaucracy proposes building housing on three campuses.

“For over two decades, the South East Los Angeles community has been promised that more green space will be added to South Gate Middle School. It is a promise that has gone unfulfilled for far too long.”

- Padres Unidos

The teaching profession has suffered years of public attacks by the Education “Reform” movement, dissuading young people from entering the field. This has resulted in critical teacher shortages in many areas of the country, especially in the field of special education. In cities like Los Angeles with a high cost of living, the shortages are even worse.

To help solve the problem, Los Angeles schools have joined other school districts to build their own housing. These units are rented to teachers and other staff members below their actual market value. …