Bloomberg Comes to D.C. To Discuss Ground Zero Mosque And, Oh Yeah, Endorse Fenty
The New-York-City-Mayor-Michael-Bloomberg-explains-why-he-supports-a-new-mosque-near-Ground-Zero roadshow came to town today. And, oh yeah, Bloomberg also endorsed D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty.
LL got to Carmine's, the New York-style Italian restaurant that just opened in Chinatown, well in advance of the 12:45 p.m. news conference to find the place packed with national media.
What? Do Fox News, CNN and NPR really care that much about two big city mayors saying nice things about each other?
As it turned out, they most certainly do not. Much of the news conference focused on Cordoba House and Bloomberg's love of the Bill of Rights. Apparently, the same thing happened in Philly earlier this morning, when Bloomberg stopped there to stump for U.S. Senate hopeful Joe Sestak.
But after the urgent-to-D.C.-voters matter of whether a Muslim community center—that's already been approved by the relevant zoning authorities—should be built in New York was disposed of, Bloomberg had plenty of nice things to say about Fenty. And Fenty had plenty of nice things to say about Bloomberg. (They promised they'd write to each other at least once a week and wouldn't take off their friendship bracelets, even if their moms tell them to.)
Bloomberg said he's proud of the work is young political acolyte has done, and told D.C. it would be crazy to change a horse midstream:
"He really does need another four years to build on his progress to keep Washington, D.C., in the right direction. Actually, I think we should phrase that the other way: Washington, D.C., needs Adrian Fenty for four more years. They shouldn't run the risk of stopping all the progress that's been made."
Fenty said Bloomberg and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley represent "the standard of a well-run, highly responsive, efficient manager running a city government like a private sector business, focused on results, focused on getting things done.” Fenty, you'll remember, constructed a bullpen-like office in the Wilson Building modeled on Bloomberg's office. And it was Bloomberg's own schools boss, Joel Klein, who recommended Fenty hire DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee. Fenty also teamed up with Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to try to sue to keep guns out of their cities.
There is, of course, one hitch with Bloomberg's endorsement: he's not a registered Democrat, and he doesn't live in D.C., so he can't actually vote here. Asked why those people who can should care what Bloomberg thinks, Fenty had a ready reply. "What his endorsement says to the residents of D.C. is that people who know about running a city... that they believe that the work of my administration, the people who work for me, that we've been able to tackle the tough issues," Fenty said.
Photos by LL's iPhone
3:59 pm
New Report “Yes We Can” Shows America’s Public Schools Fail Over Half the Nation’s Black Male Students
By The Admin on August 16, 2010
“Yes We Can: The 2010 Schott 50 State Report on Black Males in Public Education” reveals that the overall 2007/8 graduation rate for Black males in the U.S. was only 47 percent. The report shows that out of 50 states, half have graduation rates for Black male students below the national average. New York ’s graduation rate of only 25 percent for Black male students is the lowest of any state. New York City, the district with the nation’s highest enrollment of Black students and many accolades for reform, only graduates 28 percent of its Black male students on time. These statistics—and the other alarming data in the report— point to a national education and economic crisis (see graphical map at end of release).
The fourth biennial report released by the Schott Foundation for Public Education provides state-by state data that illustrate which U.S. school districts and states are failing to provide the resources Black male students, and all students, need for the opportunity to learn. Without targeted investments to provide the core, research-proven resources to help Black male students succeed in public education, the report concludes, they are being set up to fail.
The report highlights the success of New Jersey ’s Abbott plan, which demonstrates that when equitable resources are available to all students, systemic change at the state level can yield significant results. New Jersey is now the only state with a significant Black population with a greater than 65 percent high school graduation rate for Black male students.
“Taken together, the numbers in the Schott Foundation for Public Education’s report form a nightmarish picture?one that is all the more frightening for being both true and long-standing,” said Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, who provided the foreword in the report. “These boys are failing, but I believe that it is the responsibility of the adults around them to turn these trajectories around. All of us must ensure that we level the playing field for the hundreds of thousands of children who are at risk of continuing the cycle of generational poverty. The key to success is EDUCATION.”
“Currently, the rate at which Black males are being pushed out of school and into the pipeline to prison far exceeds the rate at which they are graduating and reaching high levels of academic achievement,” said Dr. John H. Jackson, President and CEO of the Schott Foundation for Public Education. “It is not enough to focus on saving the few. We must focus on systemic change to provide all our children the opportunity to learn.”
Highlights of the report’s findings include:
The five worst performing districts with large Black male student enrollment are New York City , N.Y. (28%); Philadelphia , Pa. (28%); Broward County , Fla. (39%); Chicago , Ill. (44%) and Nashville , Tenn. (47%).
The states with Black male student enrollment exceeding 100,000 that have the highest graduation rates for Black male students are New Jersey (69%), Maryland (55%), California (54%) and Pennsylvania (53%).
Some states with small populations, such as Maine , North Dakota , New Hampshire and Vermont have graduation rates for Black males higher than the national average for White males.
The districts with Black male student enrollment exceeding 10,000 that have highest graduation rates for Black male students are Newark , N.J. (76%); Fort Bend , Texas (68%); Baltimore County , Md. (67%) and Montgomery County , Md. (65%).
The districts with the lowest graduation rates for Black male students are Pinellas County , Fla. (21%); Palm Beach County , Fla. (22%); Duval County , Fla. (23%); Charleston County , S.C. (24%) and Buffalo , N.Y. (25%).
Dade County , Fla. ; Cleveland , Ohio and Detroit , Mich. also have notably low graduation rates for Black male students—each at 27 percent.
The report outlines solutions—listing the “Conditions for Success” that are critical for providing a fair and substantive opportunity to learn and the “Conditions for Failure.” “Yes We Can” calls on the federal government and states to ensure that all students have a right to an opportunity to learn, not as a matter of competition or location, but as a civil and human right.
This report is being released in a context of significant critiques of the failed policies that led to this national crisis.
“By providing the public with this data, we can all hold policymakers and school districts accountable for facilitating changes to increase high school graduation rates of Black male students and educational opportunity for all students,” said Jackson .
For the full report, “Yes We Can: The 2010 Schott 50 State Report on Black Males in Public Education,” including national summary and detailed state data, go to http://www.blackboysreport.org.
4:34 pm
“What his endorsement says to the residents of D.C. is that people who know about running a city… that they believe that the work of my administration, the people who work for me, that we’ve been able to tackle the tough issues,” Fenty said.
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WHAT???? I would kick my teenagers behind if they had to express themselves publicly and this is what they came up with. They would be reading the dictionary for the rest of the evening...
What it REALLY says to DC residents is simply this:
That a Republican Mayor, of a city four hours away, knows that Fenty has copied some of his style, and agrees with what he has heard.
Given that Bloomburg pays for his own travel, even when representing his City, pays for his own police whenever they travel, and is a finacial wizard, what I would REALLY be interested in hearing are his thoughts on how Fenty has handled his travel (Dubai trip/Dem Convention trip) and how he has passed out Millions of dollars to Ron Moten and feels that he doesnt need them to give out MORE money. Then he could tell us what he thinks about the contracts to Sinclair/Omar/Lomax and their qualifications to win those contracts.
Since we are supposed to be impressed with what Bloomberg thinks, why didn't you all ask him about the issues the citizens of DC have with Fenty. Maybe he could have explained Fentys actions in a way that would change our minds about him. Other than that, he really didn't help Fenty at all.
4:37 pm
should read...
how he has passed out Millions of dollars to Ron Moten with no invoices and feels that he doesnt need them to give out MORE money.
4:42 pm
Highest percentage of black males to graduate represents the Newark, New Jersey...which is being lead by the former Superintendent of DCPS, Dr. Janey. Does one say out loud...that his return will promote such a tremendous leap in the graduation rate for black males, that the lone white child is put on the back-burner. Will those nay-sayers say...that Janey is only reaping the benefits of his predecessor and since DC is not a state, moreso since OSSE and DCPS are feuding conglomerates that are data will never reflect favorably.
Though Lacaraine...I do see where you are going. What is Arne Duncan's reaction to such glaring statistic. Merely, because he was quoted in a black magazine...stating that african-american students do extremely well when taught by african-american teachers.
Any backers or investors for Teach for America (Black Edition)...sarcasm.
5:22 pm
As far as I am concerned Bloomberg works well for NY, but Fenty in DC not so much.
9:26 pm
DC taxpayers don't need Mayor Bloomberg's involvement!! Go back to NY and keep an eye on juvenile and adult crime while Vincent Schiraldi makes a spectacle out of rehabiliation!
8:01 am
Am I the only one who thinks Bloomberg has a financial stake in Carmine's?
10:42 am
@ lacairaine- THESE FOLKS (RHEE/FENTY)TOUTING MINIMAL INCREASES IN TEST SCORES LIKE A BADGE HONOR OR SOMETHING TO BEAT THEIR CHEST ABOUT. TEACHING TO A TEST IS PURE BULLSHIT!! ANY POSITIVE RESULTS THAT COME OF IT IS FOOLS GOLD. TESTS AND/OR QUIZZES SHOULD BE USED AS A BAROMETER OF WHAT CHILDREN LEARNED IT SHOULDNT BE USED AS AN EVERYDAY THORN IN THE SIDE OF TEACHERS.
I WANT TO SEE GRAD RATES STABILIZE AND RISE ALONE WITH THE DROP OUT RATE. I WANT TO SEE CHILDREN OF ALL COLORS WANTING AND WILLING TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE IT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. HAVING GOOD TEACHERS WILLING TO TEACH CHILDREN ON TEACHING TERMS PROVIDE THAT. NOT SOME STAT DRIVEN BOONDOGGLE (DCPS).
THE MAIN REASON I WAS DISTRAUGHT ABOUT ARTICLE IS THAT THOSE YOUNG MEN WHO DONT GRADUATE OR MAKE EDUCATION A PART OF THEIR LIVES WILL ONLY PROMOTE AND PROPIGATE THE JAIL INDUSTRY WHICH IS A RISING INDUSTRY HERE IN AMERICA. BY REMOVING THESE FOLK OUT OF MAINSTREAM SOCIETY WILL REMOVE THEM VOTER ROLLS, WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY START A DECENT LIFE, ETC. ETC.
FENTY/RHEE AND THE REST OF THE GREEN TEAM BROOD DOESNT AND NEVER WILL UNDERSTAND. THE CONSTANT POLITICS OF PLAYING THE EDUCATION SYSTEM TO THE MIDDLE IS A TRAVESTY!
WE HAVE SOMEONE LEADING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE SOMEONE NAME DROPPED. THAT IN ITSELF IS ENOUGH TO GET THESE FOLKS OUTTA HERE.
MAYOR BLOOMBURG FROM NYC??? WHAT!
12:45 pm
noodlez's posts hurt my eyeballs.
1:25 pm
Throw the bumbs out! Maybe Adrian can get a job with Mayor Bloomburg.
11:42 pm
This is the first time I have ever seen DC have two mayors. Both of them are full of crap! Go back to NY, take Fenty and Rhee with you.
11:14 am
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/clifford_janey_is_ousted_as_ne.html
Janey got fired from NPS fopr trying to mess them up as badly as he did DCPS.