It didn’t take long for the love, or should we say lashings, to be lavished on the newly configured Board of Education. Declaring “ferocious opposition” will now commence, school board member Maria Pereira who ran with and at times campaigned with Dennis Bradley is not pleased the buff young attorney with political ambition is now chairman of the school board, asserting the board will not “move forward united.”
Pereira, who got involved in education issues in 2009 after her daughter was subjected to a chorus line of teachers, aired out her lungs the other night at the organizational meeting of the school board when Bradley won the chairmanship in surprise over senior members of the board such as Sauda Baraka and Howard Gardner. Some argue it’s nice to see a bright fresh face leading the Board of Education. Pereira contends Bradley’s rise is all about political patronage.
In a Facebook response to this article, Steve Nelson, Democratic leader of the 135th District in the North End, writes give Bradley a chance:
My position is “Give this Young Man A Chance,” Let’s put our differences aside so our students can benefit and once again our test scores can compete with surrounding Districts. Let’s turn our School system into a system that everyone will benefit from. Success should be our top priority! Lots of talent on the School Board if they can come together.
We share two videos provided by Megan DeSombre who hosts the Education Bridgeport website starting with Bradley’s acceptance speech as chair followed by Pereira’s condemnation. Read DeSombre’s take here.
Great. Watching both videos, nobody seems at all interested in Bradley’s comments, which were good at least in the words he spoke. Then Pereira shoots him down, promises nothing will be easy, and he is self-politically concerned. Which means the schools will not move forward dynamically if the board can help it. Bridgeport children deserve to be the sole focus of work done there. I think the public should attend the meetings and demand this is so. It seems between the city council and the BOE and wherever else, individuals who are not on these bodies need to form their own watchdog groups and demand accountability. So please get on that and let us know how you make out. It will be a job.
To edit the Marine Corps appeal slightly, some of us “are looking for a few good WATCHDOGS.” How are we making out? Better than before, but Bridgeport has many moving parts in which to observe, consider and report upon as to those critical governance values of OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT and HONEST governance. We are in an active recruiting mode. Wish to know more, give me a call at 203-259-9642. Let’s schedule a face-to-face and see what interests or concerns you most. A diverse and dynamic group of people can accomplish more than what one person alone can do. And there is wisdom and patience in moving towards an objective with personal humility. Interested? Time will tell.
John, I think a few qualified financial people should join forces with you and create a record of the goings-on at city hall. Perhaps a couple will read your post above and give you a call.
Poor Maria. It didn’t take long for this one to blow up. And after all the hard work she did for Joe, this is what she gets in return.
Of course she apparently didn’t learn a lesson from the last board she helped to elect.
She doesn’t leave a good impression on me, because creating roadblocks on the board will ultimately affect the children in school.
Remember Bob, this is the guy she vetted and said she picked because the others had “betrayed” her in the past. Of course to show her true dedication to the children of Bridgeport she left the BOE meeting early to go to the council meeting. And why, to show her disgust with Paoletto and Nessa for supporting McCarthy as council president. Not political at all. In the CT Post story on the council meeting they did mention her and noted she had once supported Ganim but had since soured on him. But did anyone think she was going to be any different than her last tenure on the board?
Couldn’t happen to a nicer person! What goes around comes around, Maria!
Well, I first met Dennis Bradley at a Ganim fundraiser at Omanels. I was a guest. Maria Pereira was very proud of her slate. I had also met Ben Walker, another fine candidate. Just talking to Dennis Bradley you could tell he had political aspirations. Why not? He is smart, polished, educated and eloquent. Extremely handsome and a minority. He did a fine job hosting the Asian festival this Summer by Curiale school. He is a fine representative for our city. Maria clearly has an eye for winning candidates! I think the problem here is clear, Maria feels betrayed. Apparently, Howard Gardner, a very intelligent man, was supposed to be the man! I certainly hope the BOE will work together and put the politics aside. For as astute as Maria Pereira is, she is also politically naive.
She seemed cool, calm and collected on Monday when she showed up for Ganim’s premeire performance of the common council. She again felt betrayed with the vote by Anthony Paoletto and Nessa Smith for Tom McCarthy. Personally, I am proud of Anthony Paoletto, regardless of the modus operandi behind his vote. The fact he voted against Maria shows he is ready to make serious decisions regardless of the consequences. I think Maria should give Anthony and Nessa a pass, but she is passionate and she does not like to be crossed. There is no compromise.
I wouldn’t bash Maria with negative comments. She is a passionate woman and hell hath no fury as a woman scorned. On Monday night she felt betrayed by Dennis Bradley, Anthony Paoletto, Nessa Smith and Mayor Joe Ganim. Politicians do change their positions. There is nothing wrong with political aspirations Personally, I would love Maria P to lighten up. She certainly adds flavor to local politics and I would hate to be on her bad side. Joe Ganim was warned 6 months ago! MISERY! I think Maria lives for this and she is one very smart lady. We certainly do not share the same political positions, personally I think she should stop being a kingmaker and go.for the brass ring.
Just for the record, this is my personal interpretation of events, just to be clear.
No clarification needed, Steve-O. It’s a given you think your opinion is more important than everyone’s.
I do not think anything I said needed a response from you nor did I give any indication I thought my opinion was more important than anybody else’s.
Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.
When a campaign promise is made, one should keep it. For me, the city employees being on the common council is a huge issue. Smith and Paoletto pledged to support the implementation of this ordinance.
Maria tried to control and fought with everyone during the Ganim campaign. She is impossible to work with and felt she could order the candidate around because she donated money and time. Ganim did not snub her, she snubs everyone she crosses paths with.
I received many campaign mailings from all the candidates and many candidate reps knocked on my door this past summer. I listened to Finch and Foster’s people convict Joe Ganim again and again and their message and campaign all rolled up was don’t vote for Ganim. They didn’t care about the other positions up for election.
Maria, Anthony and Nessa campaigned in person on my doorstep multiple times. I received phone calls from Nessa and Maria a few times, and personal mailings. They equally campaigned for Joe and expressed his campaign message and promises, which were consistent with Joe’s public campaign. Their message and campaign promises were consistent each and every time.
You can judge and call Maria whatever you wish but that will not change her commitment to better Bridgeport through our children, their education and their future. When words of promise are spoken and not kept, some of us just remember it for future reference and some of us, like Maria, voice their disappointment to the liar and remember it for future reference.
You can give a “pass” or “accept” a change of mind the now-elected officials have demonstrated, but for me I voted for them because of their campaign messages and promises. For me I will not give a pass or accept their change of mind and will not support their efforts in the future for re-election. I will always know their motives or actions are not what they say. Let’s keep in mind nothing has changed in the seven days since the elections that would warrant some change of mind. It’s sad I voted for Anthony and Nessa and based on their first seven days in office I’m already sorry I did. It’s my bad I didn’t do some history on Anthony’s past and his family history with Bridgeport politics and misdemeanors.
Joe’s actions and lack of actions regarding the City Council and the conflicts of interests is disappointing and that’s putting it mildly. Keep in mind Finch was in office when the city attorney made up his opinion on this matter. The City of Bridgeport’s Charter pertaining to conflicts of interest are very clear. Higher standard to prevail, that is unless we all aren’t looking for higher standards.
Anthony Paoletto has no illicit past. Don’t try to brand him for the mistakes his father made. You stated you made a mistake voting for our two alderpersons. Why is that? Is it because they did not vote the way Maria wanted them to? That’s too bad, if they did it would be a wasted vote. BTW tell me what good Maria did on her last stint on the BOE. Maria is clueless when it comes to politics.
As I said, it was a mistake because they, personally, talked to me and their actions were not the message they told. And for their votes being wasted, if they can’t stand for something, they will fall for everything.
Bullshit.
If I’m not mistaken, the original opinion was issued under Ganim.
Maria is a hypocrite. She played the same “politics” the other side played. She lost. Also, in typical style, she threatens when she doesn’t get her way. Luckily, her threats are fast becoming hot air.
Unfortunately, for the students of Bridgeport and their parents, she is willing to sacrifice a united front to get great schools for our children, to undermine those who won the political fight.
“she is willing to sacrifice a united front to get great schools for our children, to undermine those who won the political fight.” United front? United front was on the planning, the message to the voters, the campaign promises. When those messages and promises are not practiced or carried out, the “unity” is broken.
Gary–so you voted for Maria for BOE because of her campaign promise to fight for the 21k students of Bridgeport she is so passionate about, correct? But yet she left early to be a part of city council business. Meanwhile, back at the BOE meeting the issue of Harding not having enough math teachers was brought up and discussed and she was not there to discuss. If she wanted to be part of the council and influence that group, she should have run for that. She is too busy trying to play powerbroker.
PS: as quoted in OIB, I thought Steve Nelson’s quote was more than reasonable. We need to work together to get the resources from the State our children deserve!
Mr. Traber,
I am hearing from many the same politics in play here may very well look to get rid of our two State Senators.
Do you believe this would be beneficial to your stated goals of working together to get the resources from the state or would you classify that as typical Bridgeport petty politics?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Interesting, getting rid of the two senators. How about Himes? Is this to lead me to believe Mr. Traber is involved?
You are as observant as ever, Bubba!!! I respect Rob Traber and have rallied with him for causes dear to us, however, Rob, you’re a little out of your political league on this one. In this situation, the less said the better.
I have to praise Governor Malloy for once. He just passed an executive order BANNING the sale of guns to people on the no-fly list. GOOD JOB.
Guilty without due process. How does anyone support these types of actions?
Preamble to the United States Constitution
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and EMPHASES ON secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity (future generations), do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
If they are that dangerous, should they be arrested and processed through the judicial system?
Tobin, it’s too bad you don’t understand the constitution. You can also deny the homeless and the mentally ill. In one breath you are crying about people who are dangerous not being able to buy guns then you state if they are dangerous arrest them. Do you quote the constitution when it serves your purposes only?
Andrew, as a citizen of the U.S., do you have a constitutional right to bear arms?
Not if you don’t meet the qualifications. Just like freedom of speech, you can say anything except things like FIRE in a crowded area.
Andrew, if someone claims you yelled fire, you should be arrested, jailed and fined.
Andy, DITTO!!!
I agree with you 100%, Andy.
Allowing people on the no-fly list to buy guns and ammo is completely insane.
But for some reason the Republicans down DC don’t see it that way.
The Republicans who are against gun control are mostly from the south where Deliverance is their national anthem and everyone is related one way or another.
As a point of information, as of October 10, 2015 there have been 52 school shootings that killed 32 and injured 53 and not one shooter was on the No-Fly List. Not one Syrian, not one Muslim.
Your point is?
Donald, point of clarification. I think there are too many GD guns out there to begin with and support any measure to restrict ownership. I did not suggest Syrians or Muslims be treated any differently than any white Christian who just happens to be on the no-fly list.
Now Donald and Ron,
My Brothers from another mother.
Did I miss where Joey G named a new Civil Service Director or is Dunn not done?
I believe the B’port Police Union has no problem with him and therefore Joe has no problem with him.
It’s a shame but it’s business as usual in City Hall.
Bob,
The Personnel Director is appointed by the Civil Service Commission, not the Mayor.
Phil, I beg to differ, the Mayor appoints the Civil Service Director until a search is done to find a new Director. Dunn was appointed by Finch seven years ago to fill the vacant position.
Don, The first sentence of Chapter 17, Section 204(a) of the Charter provides that “(t)he civil service commission shall appoint a personnel director …”
DD, the Civil Service Commission, at the urging of Finch, terminated Personnel Director Ralph Jacobs based on dubious charges that cost taxpayers a six-figure settlement. The commission then approved Dunn as personnel director with Finch’s blessing.
Lennie, the City did a nationwide search for the Personnel Director Ralph Jacobs but after he researched the City’s system of “provisional appointments” and produced a written history to the Civil Service Commission showing how it was being abused by the fire and police dept instead of giving tests in a timely framework, well people in power didn’t want Jacobs. Every test for City jobs comes from the Personnel Director and there are laws that must be followed and Dunn doesn’t have the background to hold that position and why hasn’t the City done a national search to bring in the best person for this very important job? David Dunn must not keep or work as the Personnel Director.
Phil Smith, great point. Joe Ganim had a chance to clean that office before, it’s not the workers in that office who are the problem but who’s running the office and not updating the office and not having the experience and knowledge to run that department.
Phil, what was the name of the study that was performed on how the City is managed?
Lennie, how many open positions are currently on the Civil Service board? How many current members are currently serving even though their appointments have expired?
The fundamental truth is, as a consultant told the city more than 25 years ago, Bridgeport’s civil service system is broken and it needs to be fixed. However, no city administration has had the will or courage to take on that sacred cow.
It’s sad how often some members of the Board of Education seem to put their own political games ahead of Bridgeport’s kids.
REALLY!!!
From the CT Post
Interim Schools Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz said she was stunned. She got some of the student letters back in September too, visited the class, and was assured the matter had been resolved.
“There is a shortage of math and science teachers but I thought that my visit to the school had changed that,” Rabinowitz said. “I thought there was a math teacher assigned to each of those classes. If that hasn’t happened I am very, very angry.”
As of this week, a full four months into the school year, it had not. A teacher was hired in late October to staff five freshman algebra classes in the school’s Law Academy, but left two weeks later. The geometry classes, meanwhile, have had a series of long and short term subs as the hunt for a certified teacher reportedly continues.
Torres said his fourth period geometry class has been a wasted 50 minutes, spent on his phone or listening to music. Math books sit uncracked in a stack in the room. He said the class was essentially being graded on attendance.
Come on BOE. All of you. This is a total embarrassment. And the members of the board will sit around and fight over who is President but do not even realize this serious shortage even exists.
And obviously, they cannot count on the Super since she thought showing up at the school would take care of everything.
Get your own house in order, would ya?
Hmmm. Fifty minutes wasted on phone and what? Crack the books anyway. Give me a book and a week and I can at least get a rudimentary class going on any subject, I would expect no less from any teacher. Just teach it. And if Rabinowitz is mad, she should be paying attention to the hiring practices, and, and, and. The shame is Bridgeport education is subject to some of the political appointments and elections the council is subject to. People are elected either in popularity contests in their districts, or because the powers that be continue to be push their candidacy. Not always for the best-suited for the job. It is a reflection of the general public’s lack of knowledge of process and the people who grab onto positions like the plague. With notable exceptions. The lack of performance of Bridgeport schools should make anyone pause before appearing to be in the way of progress. Vying for power stalls the potential for children and it lasts a long time. Tired and mad.
I constantly read how low-performing schools are the fault of the students who don’t want to learn or parents who aren’t invested in their children’s education. It appears some of that may be true, but educational resources aren’t being given to the students of color in certain schools to prepare them for the 21st century.
I hear people complain about Charter Schools, but if this is the level of educational incompetence our youth have to experience, why wouldn’t any parent look for other alternative education opportunities for their children?
Now you are asking Bridgeport-educated students to compete with white youth from the suburbs for the City Police and Fire jobs when none of them have ever had to go to class without the benefit of a teacher. There is too much blame to go around at this point, but it’s easy to see it starts at the top and filters down to everyone involved, except the students who only want a quality education. Their educational lives depend on everyone involved to care as much as these youths.
Andy, you cannot lose any Constitutional Right unless you have gone through due process. This is backdoor gun control. Just because some bureaucrat puts you on a list does not negate your inalienable rights.
People mistakenly placed on the no-fly list have included everyone from the late Senator Ted Kennedy to 72 current employees of the Department of Homeland Security, to sitting US Congressmen.
The no-fly list has nothing to do with preventing terrorists from acquiring guns. Were the San Bernardino killers on the no-fly list? Or was it a massive failure of our government to keep us safe?
Be careful what freedoms you are willing to give up, you’ll never get them back.
So many freedoms have been given up already, the list would appear ridiculous. The beginnings of loss of freedom on many issues begins with registration and permit requirements. Unfortunately, the gun issue is no exception. That is not to make a statement on the gun restrictions being considered, it has many levels of debate.
Quentin. Sometimes you have to give up a few perceived rights to get a better form of security. I am sure our founding fathers did not mean for every person to have a gun including ex felons, the mentally ill and others. I am sure they would not have written a law that would have allowed assault rifles. Someone please explain to me why a civilian needs and assault rife and a 30-bullet clip. Really, are they waiting for the invasion that will never come?
Speaking of rights, why do we need to have a drivers license?
On the other hand, some scholars point to the prefatory language “a well regulated Militia” to argue the Framers intended only to restrict Congress from legislating away a state’s right to self-defense. Scholars have come to call this theory “the collective rights theory.” A collective rights theory of the Second Amendment asserts citizens do not have an individual right to possess guns and local, state, and federal legislative bodies therefore possess the authority to regulate firearms without implicating a constitutional right.
This was considered law up until 2008 when an activist Republican Supreme court changed the interpretation. So, so much for your right to bear arms.
*** So what else is new on the Bpt BOE? It’s a mess that makes people who get on with fire in their bellies end up having to take TUMS during the meetings and not returning after their time is up do to all the back-stabbing and infighting that goes on even before the actual meeting has started. The BOE is a mess, the schools are a mess and the parents are no real help, just complainers. Maybe that’s why so many kids are failing school or graduating and not able to read and write or do basic math! *** YEAH, IT’S A MESS! ***
In United States v. Cruikshank (1876), the Supreme Court of the United States ruled, “The right to bear arms is not granted by the Constitution; neither is it in any manner dependent upon that instrument for its existence” and limited the applicability of the Second Amendment to the federal government.
In United States v. Miller (1939), the Supreme Court ruled the federal government and the states could limit any weapon types not having a “reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia.”