"There is no such thing as reality. There is only perception." - said by so many


Since all this Corona Virus hazerai has gone down since March I have noticed that the UFT has been (at the very least) in a more proactive manner, as well as being a bit more forceful.

Speaking for myself I hope the town halls are permanent and once we are off restriction will becomes more of a traveling town hall with smaller audiences but more frequently across the boroughs, or once a month in each borough. But there is still work to do.

It was pleasing to read about Mulgrew in the Post last month ripping the bloated bureaucracy at Tweed as has been reported on these pages.

It was also not unpleasant to read how and hear from Mulgrew how pissed he was about spring break being cancelled.

And though the UFT was fashionably late to the party, it was at the forefront of the pressure on the DOE to close the school buildings and pivot to remote learning even though some fruity little caucus thinks they were the influencers.

Right now, I am giving the benefit of the doubt that the UFT will continue being proactive. We have been down this road before. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame of me. Once bitten, twice, shy. The devil is in the details. You catch my drift, no?

Maybe, just maybe, Mike Mulgrew is having a Pat Lynch moment(s), but without being the asshole that Pat Lynch is.

There is still more the UFT can do. Not only grab the DOE by the proverbial testes but give a good tight squeeze whilst twisting.

How about this? Leak the names of all CSA and non-UFT useless wastes of space in Tweed with their salaries and perks. That's a good start.

And go after the lawyers. How many lawyers are there working for the DOE are there to make teachers jobs and lives miserable? I think Solidarity came up with 300. Say these 300 lawyers average a salary of $85k. Getting rid of them all can save $25.5 million.

What's sad is this going after the lawyer thing could've and should've been done years ago when teachers were being sent to the Rubber Rooms for carrying a Coca-Cola.

Mike Mulgrew said at either a town hall or a DA recently (I conflate the two sometimes) that we won the teacher war. Well, to the victors go the spoils and the writing of history. Let's do it.

PBA President Pat Lynch and SBA Ed Mullins are dicks, but both are dicks that support their members.

Doesn't matter if it is yet again another NYPD cop or sergeant that indiscriminately kills a person of color. Pat and Ed are always there.

Doesn't matter if an NYPD cop or sergeant commits heinous acts whilst off duty forgetting that as an NYPD police officer you are sworn to uphold the law 24/7. Pat and Ed are there.

Doesn't matter if an NYPD cop or sergeant lives in NYCHA housing whilst a member of the service and having the taxpayers support their living expenses. Both Pat and Ed will be there.

An NYPD cop or sergeant want nice cushy easy house gig. Both Pat and Ed will be supportive.

If a NYPD cop or sergeant makes vile anti-Semitic comments? Both Pat and Ed will be supportive

We had a mayor (Bloomberg) and chancellor (Klein and Walcott) that shat upon the teachers and the UFT blaming us for the ills of the New York City. But never NYPD.

But in those rare instances that Bloomberg spoke out against the NYPD Lynch and Mullins were never silent.

But whilst teachers and the UFT is shat upon now to a lesser extent, where is Mike Mulgrew and the megaphone that he is supposed to have?

Teachers fined $5k because of a 3020-a show trial? Mike is silent.

Principals abusing teachers? Mike is silent.

Principals abusing and ignoring a legally bound contract? Mike is silent.

Teachers needing emotional support? Mike is nowhere to be found.

Now I am not saying that Pat Lynch nor Ed Mullins support most of the behavior I cited, but at the very least. The very least. They are supportive and vocal in support of their members.

It's  time Mike looks to Pat Lynch and Ed Mullins how on to support members.

As much I as I think that Pat Lynch, President of the NYPD's Police Benevolent Association, can be a dickhead at times there is something consistent about him. There perception, if not the reality, that he is in every cops corner is always there.

A cop is falsely accused of something? There is Lynch in front of cameras and microphones backing the cop quite vociferously.

Higher ups aren't following the contract? Again, Lynch is there.

Putting his money where one's mouth is? Talking the talk and walking the walk? There, as always, is Lynch's loud mouth.

Now let's compare to the UFT.

ATR being intimidated by students? Nary a word from Uncle Mike Mulgrew.

Teacher losing his job--due to some unwritten mystery regulation-- for playing 20 minutes of Fortnite? Crickets from 52 Broadway.

A teacher brought up on 3020-a charges for taking students to lunch? Probably the most frivolous charges I have seen since this, what do we see? Averting eyes.

Abusive principals? Corrupt principals? The phalanx of lawyers ensconced at 100 Gold St? Silence and more silence.

Yeah, I see a bit of a change emanating from 52 Broadway. Yes, there are new "safeguards" in the new contract. But the paper it is written on is cheap. The follow through, or should I say the consistent follow through, is priceless.

Why do teachers have to go through their careers wondering if Uncle Mike loves them? Just let us know you love us. Let us know you care. Let us know you have our backs. Give us some sugar.

Think of it this way. If Mulgrew gives is what we need think of all the money the welfare fund can save on doling out less and less psycho-pharmaceuticals to members.