Mulgrew's mouthpiece is silent on Twitter. Mulgrew is silent. De Blasio blabbers away with stupidity. People will get sick. Some will die. Paraphrasing my favorite De Blasio comment: "We're not going to shut down, we're just going to get a shitload of vaccines in people." Jeez.

There is a surge going on right now with COVID and this Omicron variant. De Blasio has less than two weeks left and doesn't care anymore and has his sights on a some warped quixotic fixation on Albany. Mulgrew, I'm confused. Isn't he supposed to be there for the rank and file? According to him, we are doing "God's work." Would not God be upset with Mike if teachers doing His (God, not Mulgrew. Though I am sure Mulgrew conflates this) work start getting infected and dying off? 

 I saw this on FOX5 news about and hour ago. Does this mean anything to Mulgrew? 

 

But right now, as of today,  Mulgrew has abdicated any leadership in this almost two year old crisis and has literally buried his head in the sand.

Maybe Mulgrew has forgotten about the scores of deaths of UFT members in the last two years due to COVID?

Maybe Mulgrew has forgotten about the mental and physical health crisis that is affecting the rank and file as well as the communities?

Maybe Mulgrew has forgotten that many UFT members live with a non UFT member that have weak immune systems?

Maybe Mulgrew has forgotten that many students are not getting vaccines. 

Maybe Mulgrew has forgotten that the schools are overcrowded, not properly ventilated, zero mitigation happening, zero hand sanitizer and masks, nothing, bupkus?

Maybe Mulgrew has forgotten that everyone is unique and that each person's body reacts differently to infection?

Maybe Mulgrew does not realize that one death, one hospitalization, is one too many and not in any way acceptable? 

Maybe Mulgrew has doesn't realize that while those who are vaccinated and/or have a booster if they get infected the repercussions will be much less. Thatthe infected are still carriers and can infect others.

Maybe Mulgrew doesn't realize that while reports show that Omicron is less virulent that shit happens? 

Does Mulgrew realize that there are teachers afraid to show for school tomorrow? 

Does Mulgrew care?

Where is Mulgrew? 

The answers: Not a bit and elsewhere.

Having said that, it is time to segue into what the UFT would be like in the hands of of a responsive caucus.  Click on link and find out how United for Change would respond to a crisis. Adults back in the room and control hopefully come July 1.

Camille Eterno has been nominated to run for UFT president. I have the utmost of respect for Camille. She will be there for the members.

The Crack Team has studied the MORE contract demands that will be presented to the UFT in the coming months (At press time we are awaiting word whether or the presentation will be private or a public one with marching bands, parades, releasing of the doves and an other ritualistic overtones).

This is what MORE wants the rank and file to get behind eventually, akin to God handing down 15 10 Commandments to Moses at Mt Sinai.

Read it, think it over. You, the Rank and File are blessed.

Mulgrew once he reads this will probably be crapping himself.

Everything is over. Done. Kaput. Finis.

The lawsuits are done. We settled both suits (I believe last time I discussed this, one suit had been settled). A tremendous weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I can't say enough about my wife who unconditionally stood by my side through all this craziness the last, almost, 5 years and showed me such strength when I was at my lowest. She turned out, as I would tell her, to be my Yoko Ono.

Enough also can't be said for my brilliant lawyer Bryan Glass as well as his partner Jordan Harlow. Both Bryan and Jordan are beyond honorable men and lawyers and both complement each other in very unique ways. If you are in trouble with the DOE and need a lawyer you can not go wrong at all with either. Just don't bring up the Red Sox with Jordan. He for some reason thinks they are going to win the World Series this year.

Anyway, it is time for me to move on. 

I'm thinking this today for some things I have read about this week.

One, is the articles in the Post earlier this week (I refuse to even link to them) about the Renewal Schools. Someone, I shan't say who, tried to rope me into commenting for the articles. I didn't want to. That chapter in my life is over. It is time to move on. I don't need the attention. I don't need to be the center of the teacher universe.

Another article is from one minor NYC newspaper about a teacher suing the DOE.

I wish this teacher the best. But sometimes, and I learned this, there is a time to say enough is enough. As a lawyer who is a close personal friend of mine once shared with me, "Our system is not about justice, it is about how money I can get for you." And, "You never know what a jury will do."

There are two kinds of justice. First is Revenge, and if this is your aim, your soul and katra will wither and die. Then, there is True Justice, in which a wrong is righted, but it must be for the correct reasons.

Let God or whatever deity or spiritual power you believe in, take care of the "Revenge" (I don't even like using that word).

I didn't want my lawsuit to consume me nor define me. Yes, there were times that I wanted blood (figuratively). There were also times through this lawsuit,  that I got very down, that I said "FUCK IT!", and just wanted to quit.

But I could let it define me, or give up. There are much more important things in my life. One, is my peace of mind, my mental state. The others are right here in my house. My wife and my son.

My marriage was at times strained due to the lawsuit. But my wife was very involved in my case. Coming to court. Reassuring me. Strengthening my resolve.

My son needed me too. In fact, I needed him more. He will be 16 this June and entering college in two years. I can't, could not, and would not, neglect my role as his father for this lawsuit. He needs a father full time. If anything good came out of this I believe he has a better understanding of how to stand up for himself, and for those who need help the most.

I see how some have become so consumed with their own lawsuits. One person I know, and I won't share his name, has continuously taken bad advice from the wrong person (time
after time) and has practically lost his mind wallowing and chasing every windmill both real and imagined.

Nor do I have any inclination that my lawsuit was going to deliver teachers to the promised land of freedom. I'm not that full of myself. I am happy with who I am.

Not every teacher can fight back like I, or others have. That is something that some just can't wrap their brains around. All I can do, and I have reached out and been reached out to, is give any teacher in distress what their options are, everything and anything they can do, and let them make the choice that is best for them. And at that point, support them unconditionally, in anyway that is required.

And another thing I have realized. For all the crap I have been through, there have been teachers that are much worse off than I can even fathom. I know I might have my moments, but there but for the grace of God go I. How can I truly grow and move on as a person and a teacher if I think I had it bad ,when so many of my brethren are hurting and in deep, deep pain?

I am not giving up the struggle for our schools, our communities, and our educators. But the wise thing  to know is when to use the chisel instead of a hammer and to remember the difference.

Some news came into the SBSB newsroom that is so disturbing it made several members of The
Crack Team physically sick and they spent most of the day in the SBSB vomitorium.

We here at SBSB believe that any UFT member should reach out and do all they can to help other UFT members. But when a UFT member decides to play God, or some other deity, we shall take umbrage.

After the blog post of July 9, 2015, entitled, "Why I Can't Support UFT Solidarity" many emails came in to the SBSB newsroom in shock about one passage regarding the leader;

Good evening Principal Hernandez,

     I was reading the below article and couldn't help but wonder who the teacher you had concerns about was. Chancellor Fariña recommended you "observe them many, more times a day."

    I'm curious in not only their identity, but if they are probationary/non tenured or veteran? Even more important to me is what support have they been given in the last year, two years, three years etc.

     I will be making a Freedom of Information Law request today to obtain documentation on the support this teacher was given. Please expect communication from the Records Office soon.  I don't agree with the chancellor's "counseling" methods and intend to follow up on the number of observations this teacher has from now until the end of school in June.

 The emails all expressed indignation and outrage and many wondered how a boss (Yes, lower case b) could have been so irresponsible and think of only himself. Trust us, the above is nothing compared to what The Crack Team came across. Francesco Portelos Francesco Portelos Francesco Portelos

As we know under the new contract ATR's who fail to show for 2 interviews are will be treated as if they voluntarily resigned their employment. Francesco Portelos Francesco Portelos Francesco

The Crack Team, through several well placed and above reproach sources, has found out of one ATR who missed both interviews and was deemed having resigned. Francesco Portelos Francesco Portelos

That is sad. From what The Crack Team has found out since is that there was a legitimate mix up and miscommunication on the part of the ATR and the UFT was in the process of negotiating with the DOE to come to a favorable conclusion. The fact that the DOE was amenable to this says a lot about not only the UFT finally reaching out for a member, but for the DOE to compromise and show a human face. Things were going to be worked out and the ATR would have been back on payroll.

That is until there was unsolicited interference on behalf of the ATR. Francesco Portelos Francesco Portelos 

According to sources, someone playing God, decided to stick his nose in this issue and contacted the DOE. This "deity" tried to intimidate the DOE on behalf of this ATR, even though this ATR was never asked for the assistance of a "deity" nor did this ATR even know who the "deity" is.

This act by the "deity" so turned off, and this is according to several sources, the DOE, that the DOE (From what has been ascertained) decided to take away the offer made to the ATR and leave the ATR without a job. The "deity" was left with a job and with it's hands clean so to speak.

One must ask one this. Is this the kind of "deity" we need? What would a real Boss (Yes, upper case B) do, such as Bruce Springsteen or George Steinbrenner? How could someone purport to be such a leader and/or boss (Yes, lower case b) and do such a damaging act? Francesco Portelos

Surely, one should ask themselves who was this "deity"putting first? The "deity's"ego or the needs of the ATR. One should think about this question and refer to the two previous blog posts to help them come a rational conclusion.

And this "deity" needs to look in the mirror and think real hard about why the perception that is out there is there. And perhaps, just perhaps, think what would God do and what the "deity" must do now.