In times of trouble, one discovers who their real friends are. Here's an imaginary story:
Let's say you are a person of substantial means (call yourself "Frank").
Let's say your deep-pocketed support enables ambitious persons (the "Founders") to create a Dual Language Charter School in a city the size of Hoboken.
Let's say you ("Frank") are extremely generous in every way *wink*-- so much so, that if the "Founders" are aware of your alleged rumored political activities (such as mail-in ballot harvesting) they turn a blind eye.
Let's say the "Founders" love you so much, they invite your close childhood pal (call him "Anthony") to serve with you on their Dual Language Charter Board. Note: "Anthony" is a Public School District-bashing political operative "professor" who cloaks his cruel agenda in pretentious, meaningless academic clap-trap and blogs obsessively against the district teachers and students. "Anthony's" years of cruel attacks on public school children seem to please the "Founders" as they retain the political operative on their board in spite of his relentless, obsessive bashing on his "Education Blog."
Let's say the "Founders" embrace a Hoboken District School Board members (call him the "Mole") whose election you ("Frank") support. In fact, another Board member (call her"Susan") serves as the "Mole's" Treasurer on his 2017 political campaign; note, "the Mole" was elected 3 years earlier with an astounding 466 mail-in ballots.
Let's say the "Founders" are thrilled to tap the bennies you've provided them over the years, but as soon as you get a surprise federal indictment for alleged activities that occurred while you served on their Dual Language Charter Board... BOOM! UNDER THE BUS you go! And take "Anthony" and "Susan" with you!
And that is my imaginary story.
See what I mean about knowing who your true friends are in times of trouble? Mother Mary may come to you to Let It Be, but your fake friends will throw you right under that 126 bus to Times Square.
Well, the bus is a metaphor for "term limits." Yes, HoLa found a way to scrub their board clean of a person under federal indictment: enforcing Term Limits! Ha Ha! That is pretty darned clever, I admit. No sense in standing by the person who made your charter school vision a reality once his ass hits the federal frying pan.
HoLa's existing term limits were enforced on November 20, 2018 at HoLa Dual Language Charter's Board Meeting.
What stood out to me upon review of the 11/20 meeting minutes: HoLa Board Chair Barbara Martinez' acknowledgement that HoLa permitted Board Trustees Frank Raia, Anthony Petrosino, Susan Costimiris and Jennifer Austin to breach HoLa's by-laws by renewing their board appointments for a fourth consecutive term. So...
Why all of a sudden is the board choosing to enforce term limits in the middle of a 4th term which they knowingly permitted? Well, that is all up to speculation, isn't it. GA hears that Anthony Petrosino implored the Board to change HoLa's bylaws to allow that 4th consecutive term.
Apparently, the professor hasn't figured out why he was discarded like an old newspaper. Perhaps when he does, he'll create an HoLa-bashing Education blog?
Anyway, buh-bye, "Curious Gal."
HoLa BOARD MINUTES
NOVEMBER 20, 2018 (PAGES 1, 2)
GA Note: In my opinion, since HoLa knowingly decided to break their own By-Laws by permitting four Board members a 4th consecutive term, and since all Defendants are INNOCENT until proven guilty under the LAW, there was no reason for HoLa to act now, other than perceived self-preservation. Whatever happened to due process? To jettison Frank Raia prior to judgment in a court of law, says a lot about the character and integrity of the people running HoLa's board. "nuff said.
Pupie got pumped and dumped.
ReplyDeleteThis action is how we know things are changing. A little thing like an indictment would never raise an eyebrow in the past, and most wore it like a badge of honor.
ReplyDeleteHoLa never had any credibility, apart from the entitled families that use it. They lost even more credibility by having Frank and Anthony on their board. This private school with public money needs to have its charter revoked and return the Boys and Girls Club back to its original use.
Petro is the original butt-hurt-for-life. He doesn't need to be rewarded with a board seat as an inducement to continue bashing the district. That "service" will continue.
ReplyDeleteBut he and Raia needed each other. Raia wanted control and was prepared to pay for it; Petro's job was to gussy it up to sound like "concern for the children." He still gets to do that.
But pieces like the one about Biancamano's incredibly vbm-tainted win (which left off all reference to the vbms) will be a thing of the past. Which means that for all intents and purposes, Petro is at last a thing of the past. Ain't it a shame.
Spoke to public schools education activist Liz Mulholland-- she brought up a great point: Barbara Martinez sappears to have served continuously on the HoLa Board for the same time frame as Frank Raia and Petrosino so.... why didnt Martinez enforce term limits on herself? Don't those same bylaws apply to her board service, too? Now, Martinez is the spokesperson for a charter conglomerate, Uncommon Schools, and serves on the NJ Charter Schools Association Board. IF Martinez has violated HoLa bylaws on term limits, then it appears she has exempted herself from enforcement-- why? I am putting this out because someone out there may be able to explain.
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ReplyDeleteNo, I did not hear that rumor, Lifer. Does not sound plausible. Check your sources.
DeleteDisagree, GA - I think it's very plausible and there are some legs to this rumor. She's a terrible person and has paid him to carry her water in the past obviously, so she's just moved on tot his now I guess.
DeleteI'll investigate and report back. Again, this is just what I've heard around town so maybe it isn't true, but I've heard Roman Brice was spotted going in and out of the Tea Building where Tiffanie lives.....
So one councilperson is rumored to be active on an internet hookup site and another is allegedly shtupping a blogger for favorable coverage and a place to amplify her opinions, if I understand correctly? All legal behavior, but not how you get and stay elected.
DeleteCan't wait for their opponents to exploit these peccadilloes.
Lifer, I enjoy your political observations immensely, but don't really don't wanna discuss people's sex lives online. Trust me, I have heard plenty over the years, including a recent rumor which I personally debunked simply because it's been circulating on all sides of Hoboken's political spectrum, and could damage someone economically, if true. So in that case, yeah I looked into it. Went straight to one of the parties and ASKED. The rumor proved to be false, thank G-d! After that, when I was told the rumor I was able to say, "It is not true." In any case, I would not have published it! Not my bag.
DeleteAnon @ 10:38AM-- there have to be safe places for people in public life. Unless it affects legislation (like that Bible-thumping, foot-tapping Senator Larry Craig who legislated against LGBT rights then got busted for seducing a male, undercover cop in an airport men's room!) people's LEGAL sexual behavior is their business. Unless it affects public policy. You know, 'things' circulated during the election which may or may not have impacted voters, but that is the lowest of roads and I took a pass.
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