Dear Commons Community,

In a survey of 772 New York City residents, the latest Marist Poll gives the NYC public schools a mixed rating.  Nearly four in ten residents — 38% — think the schools in their community are either excellent or good. This includes 8% who believe they are excellent and 30% who say they are good. 34% perceive them to be fair while one in five — 20% — rate them poorly. Eight percent are unsure.

The schools fair better among parents with children in the city’s public schools. 53% of public school parents give the schools either excellent or good marks. 35% rate them as fair while 12% believe they are performing poorly.  However, there is a racial divide. 45% of white residents rate the schools highly. 36% of Latino residents and 25% of African American residents agree.

Respondents approval rating of the job Chancellor Cathy Black was doing was 17% down from a 21% approval rating in early February.

Lastly, teachers and the UFT get fairly good grades from the respondents –65% — say that today’s public school teachers receive less respect than when they were in school;   and 55% — say that, when thinking about the public school system in New York City, the teachers union does more good than harm.

Tony

Dear Commons Community,

Joe Nocera, a new columnist for the NY Times, in “Who Can Blame G.E.?” provides a rationale for why G.E. is able to avoid paying any taxes.  (I mentioned the initial story in an earlier posting.)  Nocera lays part of the blame on the tax code that allows loop holes and part of the blame on the US Congress that enacts the code and is influenced by highly organized and well-financed corporate lobbyists.  I will go a step further, G.E. is a prime example of corporate greed at its worst.  As someone who loves New York, I will also remind everyone  that G.E. was one of the worst polluters of the Hudson River for decades.

Tony