Posted on September 8, 2014 by thepjsta

Cuomo/Hochul/de Blasio/Mulgrew Snub Teachout at Yesterday’s Labor Day Parade

At yesterday’s Labor Day parade in New York City, Zephyr Teachout approached Andrew Cuomo. The same Andrew Cuomo who has refused to debate her, while outrageously claiming that debates do a disservice to democracy. Not only did Cuomo not debate her yesterday, but he didn’t shake her hand either. As a matter of fact he refused to even acknowledge her presence.

According to the Daily News Cuomo’s running mate, Kathy Hochul, also refused to acknowledge Teachout who even went as far as tapping Hochul on the shoulder.

Via The Daily News…

Teachout said “hi” to Cuomo, the governor ignored her like she was the invisible woman and repeatedly asked, “Where’s Mayor Bill de Blasio?” Hizzoner waded through the crowd and gave Cuomo a kiss on the cheek.

Teachout also tapped Cuomo’s running mate, former Congresswoman Kathy Hochul, on her shoulder. Hochul was also frosty. She never turned around to face Teachout, giving her a steady view of her back.

“I just wanted to say hello as a courtesy,” Teachout said after Cuomo’s snub. “We’ve been running against each other, and it seems pretty clear by now he’s not going to debate.”

Cuomo has refused to debate the Fordham law professor.

“Someone get her out of here!” someone screamed.

…

“I know she was the parade, but I didn’t get a chance to talk to her,” he (Cuomo) said.

Ah yes, Cuomo didn’t get a chance to talk to her. He makes it seem as though he frantically searched for her yet their paths never crossed. Meanwhile she stood two feet away saying “hi” to him.

Andrew Cuomo is the worst kind of politician. He is corrupt and has consistently put the needs of his Wall Street cronies ahead of the people of New York. The video below of the encounter with Teachout showed that he is not just a bad politician, but he is a classless coward as well. The same can be said for Kathy Hochul and Bill de Blasio.

The video is nauseating, compounded only by the appearance of the UFT President (and member of the NYSUT Board of Directors) Michael Mulgrew joining the Cuomo crew for the parade (see the :26 second mark of the video… the guy in the blue UFT hat is Mulgrew).

More on how you can help Teachout in the final days of her campaign before Tuesday’s primary in a little bit.

Labor Day Parade 9-6-14 ZT from John Kenny on Vimeo.

Tomorrow We Rally to End Cuomo’s Reign of Terror

The man who once dubbed himself “the lobbyist for students,” before taking a wrecking ball to New York State’s public education system, now claims that he is refusing to debate his opponent in the Democratic primary, Zephyr Teachout, because he thinks that debates do a disservice to democracy.

Via the New York Times…

“I’ve been in many debates that I think were a disservice to democracy,” he added. “So anyone who says debates are always a service to democracy hasn’t watched all the debates that I’ve been in.”

Huh?

So Cuomo thinks mayoral control of schools, which take school control away from local communities and give it to the mayors of those cities, is just swell. He supports the reform agenda pushed by John King and Merryl Tisch and loathed by virtually every parent and educator in the state. Yet debating an opponent is where Cuomo draws the line on things that do a disservice to democracy?

Regardless of what he is saying, Cuomo is scared. He can feel the surging momentum of Teachout and knows that giving her a platform to make him defend his abysmal record, which has benefitted only big banks and billionaires, could put him in really dangerous territory when it comes to the primary next week.

With Cuomo running scared it makes me harken back to what our friend Reality-Based Educator wrote about him last year, when Cuomo wasn’t in hiding but was instead attacking public schools…

If Governor Cuomo thinks it is time some schools be given the “death penalty” for struggles that are often beyond their means to fix, then it is time for teachers of all political ideologies to get together and help pull the plug on the 2014 Cuomo re-election plan and the Cuomo 2016 presidential plan.

Andrew Cuomo is a thug and a bully and a crook, that we’ve known for a while.

Now, after the “death penalty for schools” statement, he is also a war criminal against public schools.

It is time to put an end to his Reign of Terror.

We finally have a chance to pull the plug on Cuomo. As early as the Democratic primary next Tuesday. Join us tomorrow in Hauppauge as we rally in support of Zephyr Teachout. As we rally in support of public schools. As we rally to end Andrew Cuomo’s Reign of Terror.

Please Donate for Morgan Leary

At our conference day yesterday we heard the heartbreaking story of Morgan Leary, the daughter of PJSTA Rep Council member Emily Leary.

Via the GoFundMe page for Morgan…

Morgan Leary, 6 was suddenly and unexpectedly diagnosed with a brain tumor on August 16, 2014. She has undergone several surgeries to remove as much of the tumor as possible and to control her brain pressure. The tumor itself is aggressive and Morgan will likely require chemotherapy and radiation to combat the rest of the tumor.

Morgan is an amazingly sweet, kind and gentle little girl, as is her twin sister, Emma. It’s no wonder these two little girls are so amazing with parents like Emily and Brian.

Morgan’s parents, are such genuine, kind, caring and selfless people. They are devastated by Morgan’s diagnosis, but are focused on getting Morgan better and taking care of Emma. Anything we can all do to support and help them financially at this horrific time will be something less for them to think about. It will enable them to keep their strength and minds focused where they need to be – on both of their beautiful little girls. Please donate and help the Leary family fight this fight!

Please visit the GoFundMe page set up for Morgan and give what you can.

1 Comment

Posted on September 3, 2014 by thepjsta

Video: Zephyr Teachout Talks Public Ed at PJSTA Conference Day

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Posted on September 3, 2014 by thepjsta

Phone Bank Info & Pictures from Today’s PJSTA Conference Day

Phone Bank from home!

The Teachout-Wu Campaign Team would like everyone to go sign up on the Amicus site and make 20 calls (at least). It is very easy – you can “phone-bank” from the privacy of your own home and computer.