MICK: “I see a schoolhouse, the Mayor wants it painted Black
No money anymore, he wants them to turn Black
I see the girl walk by dressed in her high class clothes
I have to turn my head until her darkness goes
I see some limousines and they're all painted Black
No flowers and no love, she’s never coming back
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a dead body, it don't happen ev'ryday
No more will her green eyeshades go turn a deeper hue
who could not forsee this thing happening to you?
If I look hard enough into the setting sun
I’ll have a belly laugh before the morning’s done
I look inside the girl and see her heart is Black
I see my City Hall and it’s been painted Black
Maybe now he’ll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing up when your whole world is Black”
A little over two months ago the figurative storm our City was already undergoing ran into a literal one and I wrote:
“To paraphrase Churchill, we have reached here, if not the beginning of the end, then at least the end of the beginning.”
Although Cathie Black is really more of a symptom than a disease, she was G-d’s gift to those of us who plow the fallow field of political humor, and has been a fertile source of material for ye the many (or not so many) months since her name first intruded upon the City’s consciousness.
It’s been a great 15 minutes (and not much more), and I will miss her filling my columns with her Little Drops of Joy.
Sadly though, I’ve never managed to give her a piece all her own.
And I so clearly owe her.
So in Cathie’s honor, I thought I would present a Gatemouth Remembrance.
This morning I began compiling all my Gateway Comments about Black and made an interesting discovery.
About the middle of February, Cathie Black was disappeared. The Daily News' Black Chronology reflects no noteworthy Black activity between February 1st and April 4th, while NBC New York’s charts no action between February 18th and April 4.
By the beginning on March, one saw Black’s face only on milk cartons.
The first time since her disappearance I felt motivated to even consider mentioning her name was this week, when she was caught polling at 17%.
It was such a pathetic measure of abject failure that I could not find a joke to top it, and filed it away for part of a potential longer piece, which, as it turns out, I never got to write, since the Black numbers, and the barely betters ones for the Mayor, were clearly the last straw.
By the time I got near the end of putting together this column, I realized that just compiling the Black items was not enough, so I added both items reflecting the third term malaise she exemplified and the educational policy debate which continued in her absence as she went AWOL (I’ve also added some items from The News and NBC to provide context).
I think, taken together, they paint a picture reflecting some higher truths.
Hope you enjoy.
(From the Daily News Chronology)- Schools Chancellor Joel Klein abruptly steps down, and city officials announce magazine exec Cathie Black as his surprisingly replacement. Since she lacks the proper education background, she'll require a waiver from the state Education Department.
The Gateway (Rhee-Considering Bloomie Edition)
If Bloomie had picked Michelle Rhee, that would have been an act of guts, vision and audacity; this is merely an act of "arrogance," a trait he usually attributes to his betters. Hearst Official to Replace Klein at Helm of N.Y. Schools www.nytimes.com
A license to shill. The Challenge for NYC's Next Schools Chancellor – WNYC www.wnyc.org
My comments on Ms. Black seem to have struck a nerve (item #11)–I didn't even email the piece out to my press list. End Game www.nydailynews.com
The Gateway (Paint It Black Edition)
The fact that the unions don't seem to like Black may actually be a point in her favor, but I defy you to find another one. No patience for Cathie Black: Bloomberg's choice to lead the schools should have been up to speed www.nydailynews.com
Fidler: "Who is going to explain to her what goes on in a public school room between 9-3…She didn't go herself. She didn't send her kids. Her only experience is with charter schools and that is minimal. The arrogance of the appointment is unbelievable…I served on the board of a Catholic high school for two years. That doesn't qualify me to be the Pope."
No, I don't write his material, but sometimes I am tempted to steal it.
Council Members To Introduce Resolution To Deny Cathie Black Waiver | The New York Observer www.observer.com
Dog licks man story: Markowitz sells out to Bloomberg again. And Now For Something Completely Different: A Letter In Support Of Cathie Black (Updated) www.nydailynews.com
Well, at least we won't need to worry she'll be overly worried about politics. Cathie Black Knows About Schools: She Votes In Them (Sometimes) www.nydailynews.com
The Gateway (Is it Because She's Black Edition)
Today's non-news news: people who know nothing about education support Black for Chancellor. Document Drop: UFT Resolution On Cathie Black; Business Leaders In Support www.nydailynews.com
Well, at least she wouldn't need a waiver for THAT job. Forever Bloomberg: The Mayor Is on the Hunt for a Successor. Could Cathie Black Be It? | The New Yor www.observer.com
Dinkins supports Black.
Dinkins?!?
Bet some tennis-related charity is getting a big donation. (Although, to be fair, he might just think it's a moral imperative to defend a mayor's right to appoint incompetents). Ex-Mayors Back Black | The New York Observer www.observer.com
Halloran switches sides; maybe he found out Black was her name and not her color. Good thing for her that her name wasn't Yellow. Halloran Begs Off Black Resolution | The New York Observer www.observer.com
The Gateway (Black Comedy Edition)
Dominick Carter shills for Bloomie (then denies it in the comments thread), saying:
"Bloomberg has the right to appoint Cathleen Black Schools Chancellor. We may not like it, but the appointment of Cathleen P. Black to become Schools Chancellor boils down to an example of how mayoral control works."
But, the fact that the mayor is acting within the scope of his powers does not mean he should therefore be immune from criticism. Dominick and the Mayor seem to believe that the fact he has acted within the scope of his power means the debate should end right then and there.
It doesn't.
First of all, an avalanche of public criticism has often led pols who've acted within the scope of their powers to back down.
Secondly, to the NYC press, a ring and run appointment like Black's is like putting a juicy stake in front of starving pitbull. It was an invite to slow death by a series of newsprint inspired cuts. She has become the new Ground Zero Mosque of NYC politics.
By trying to foreclose a public vetting, Bloomie invited a worse one.
Third, but not finally, because there's so much more that could be said, is the matter of the scope of those powers. Waivers are not automatic. In the past, a far more qualified candidate (Bobby Wagner) found the waiver process an insurmountable one. Without the public and press onslaught he faced, this would not have been so. One could then have argued that the Board of Ed, acting within the scope of its powers, had approved Wagner, and that should have ended discussion (and lord knows Ed Koch's shills in the press made the virtually identical argument to the one Dominick made), but it didn't work out that way.
I would still bet on Black ending up with the job, but I'd not bet the mortgage money. Bloomberg has the right to appoint Cathleen Black Schools Chancellor | Room Eight www.r8ny.com
Yes, preventing a return to the "dark ages" before our schools had the "accountability" of Mayoral Control requires that their be no public hearing. The Sunlight of Transparency given to us by Mayoral Control must be allowed to prevail.
‘Back To The Dark Ages’ www.capitaltonight.com
This just in; Black supported by another really rich person who knows nothing about education. Bloomberg gets endorsements from Oprah, other heavyweights to bolster case for Cathie Black www.nydailynews.com
Hard to blame Malcolm; he might need a character witness some day Black Gets Malcolm Smith’s Support www.capitaltonight.com
He may hate Bloomberg, but in the end he‘s still Carl Kruger Bloomberg Critic Backs Black www.capitaltonight.com
BLACKLASH!!! [The Gateway (Commissioner of Weights and Measures Edition)]
Administration caught off-guard by Blacklash
Administration caught off-guard by Black appointment. With Surrogates Unprepared, Effort To Sell Cathie Black Has Its Stumbles www.cityhallnews.com
In 2003, the State Education Commissioner rejected a waiver for a candidate for Yonkers School Superintendent, whose educational and governmental administrative credential dwarfed Cathie Blacks the way Arnold Schwarznegger dwarfs Danny DeVito, saying:
"There is no evidence…of any in-depth knowledge or understanding of… the educational challenges facing…students…the law does not permit me to simply dispense with the preparation and experiential requirements outlined in the Commissioner's regulations…"taken as a whole [the candidate's] education, training, background and experience are not substantially equivalent to the certification requirements set forth in law…[He] has no direct experience supervising teachers, assessing teacher quality or supporting teachers…Nor does he have a strong background in teaching strategies. His qualifications do not reflect a deep understanding of curriculum, instruction and assessment, or how children learn….[he] does not have direct experience with a school budget…there is no evidence he has ever managed a budget as large…Given the defined responsibilities of the position and the serious challenges facing the…school system,…I find [his] inexperience with curriculum, instruction and assessment to be problematic." Cathie Black Waiting for Approval From an Office That Has Said 'No' Before blogs.villagevoice.com
In reference to the Black appointment, I am reminded of the perhaps apocryphal story about the Press conference announcing Mayor Hague's new Commissioner of Weights and Measures. An unfriendly reporter asks him how many ounces are in a pound, and Hague responds "Give him a break boys, it's his first day on the job"
The Gateway (Gatemouth Keeps on Blacklisting Edition)
Cathie Black, fiscally responsible? You must be snorting Coca Cola. Cathie Black, as executive pay czar at Coca-Cola, approved hefty perks, compensation for execs www.nydailynews.com
Eric Adams wants to be on the panel evaluating Black's waiver. I think he's just gunning to be invited to the after-party at Bloomie's apartment (which is even posher than that of Carl Andrews). I hear the shrimp are the size of a baby's fist. Legislator Says Panel Member Should Be Removed cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com
The secret of Bloomberg's success is the same as Arnold Rothstein's– he only participates when he's fixed the results in advance. Education Panelist Did Not Disclose Possible Conflicts cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com
The Mayor's shills have watching Charlie Rangel and taking notes. Cathie Black's worst sin is being chosen by high-handed Mayor Bloomberg www.nydailynews.com
The Sponsors of the Young Men’s Islamic Association proposed for the Holy Mother Coat Factory are seeking a 9/11 Recovery Grant.
My first thought is that an old friend has reappeared on the scene to rescue me from one more column leading with a bunch of sarcastic comments about Cathie Black…
The little woman stands by her man. Quinn OK with mayor's unconventional choice of media exec for schools chancellor – NYPOST.com www.nypost.com
Wow!
Not like Bloomie to be losing a fixed fight.David Steiner Considering Denying a Waiver to Cathleen Black www.nytimes.com (From Daily News Chronology) – An advisory board created by State Education Commissioner David Steiner gave a thumb's down to Black, unless a chief academic officer is appointed.
Most Are Celebrating Thanksgiving, But for Bloomie It's Already Black Friday (The Gateway)
Even Gasbags are Stealing My Stuff Department:
Gatemouth (11/10/08): If Bloomie had picked Michelle Rhee, that would have been an act of guts, vision and audacity; this is merely an act of "arrogance," a trait he usually attributes to his betters.
Goodwin (11/24/08): Memo to Mayor Bloomberg: Check the mirror. Your comment after a round of golf that President Obama is "the most arrogant man" you ever met is boomeranging. Many New Yorkers are saying the same thing about you because of your recent behavior. Picking Cathie Black to run the schools was sure to raise eyebrows, but your claim to have conducted a "public search" is provably false. The unforced error undercut Black and contributed to the advisory panel's recommendation that she not get the job. On Thanksgiving, we should celebrate being American – NYPOST.com www.nypost.com
If you wanna read Erik Engquist’s options for Cathie Black, you're gonna hafta pay for it.
The Mayor can afford it, but I betcha he hasn't read it either.
Nonetheless, there are those who say he’s already paying thru the nose. https://home.crainsnewyork.com/clickshare/authenticateUserSubscription.do?CSProduct=newyorkbusiness& home.crainsnewyork.com
Steiner grants Black the necessary waiver. "I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get going," she says.
City Hall News on Yassky: "Running the TLC was more of a surprise, though his appointment was certainly less controversial than Cathie Black's, it followed a similar line: Yassky's experience with taxis was limited to taking them and taking the lead on the green taxi legislation while in the Council."
This is highly unfair, and the sentence proves it. Yassky has both been a consumer of the system he now runs and has actually sought to improve it. This is decidedly different from Black on both counts. With more than just an annoying in-ride commercial, David Yassky tries to remake himself and the TLC www.cityhallnews.com
The Gateway (Re-evaluating Barry, Bloomie & Hank Edition)
What makes the “Black Plague” such an awful moment for the Bloomberg administration is how badly the Mayor blew it among New Yorkers like myself who are inclined to take his side in his war with the educational unions over issues like tenure.
What Bloomie didn’t get is that Upper Middle Class professionals with advanced degrees deeply resent the appointment of someone who didn’t earn her credentials precisely because they themselves worked so hard to earn their own.
The latest supporters of the type of educational reform embrace by Bloomie to diss him on the matter of Black is The New Republic, Unfortunately, unless you subscribe you only get a piece of their assessment of Bloomie , but believe me, it's worth it;
Behold:
"The education reform movement has taken some heavy blows recently. Washington, D.C. lost its excellent schools chancellor, Michelle Rhee, the reform movement’s poster child….
…The most recent blow, however, was different: It was self…-inflicted, avoidable, and embarrassing. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a reform advocate, an announced in early November that he was appointing publishing executive Cathleen Black to head the city’s schools. The media and education establishment were shocked: Bloomberg hadn’t announced he was looking for a new schools chief—and, worse, Black had virtually no prior experience in education… around the time of her appointment, city officials had to spend several hours briefing Black on education issues…"
and not in the link:
"Finding a schools chief shouldn't mean making a choice between educational experience…and leadership experience…The person selected to lead the nation's largest school system should have both….
…Many observers have… decried the mayor's decision as smacking of elitism. Actually…Black's appointment smacks eerily of …the anti-elitism championed by Sarah Palin…the belief that intellectual and even policy knowledge matters little in government…It is anti-elitist in the worst way: It is contemptuous of knowledge.” Michael Bloomberg, Cathleen Black, And Real Education Reform | The New Republic www.tnr.com