Opposition to Black Persists

By Richard Nieva

Sentiment opposing Cathleen Black, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s choice for the new public schools chancellor, continues to be strong in Brooklyn, and opponents have said the fight is more than symbolic—some officials are taking legal action against the appointment.

Brooklyn voices were well represented at a rally last Thursday evening to protest the choice, as politicians, teachers, parents and clergy from the borough and the rest of the city gathered on the steps of the Tweed Courthouse, behind City Hall, at 52 Chambers St. They protested not only the choice of Black as chancellor, but the process by which she was appointed.

“We’re not exploring a lawsuit, we’re preparing to file the papers,” said attorney Roger Wareham to a group of about 100 people. He is with the New York City Freedom Party—the Councilman Charles Barron-driven political party—along with attorney Ramon Jimenez.

Participants in the rally—all wearing red to show solidarity—brandished red shakers and funk music played as the speakers came to the dais. Rodney Deas—also known as Radio Rahim—of the Coalition for Public Education, served as the event’s hypeman. He led the crowd in chants like “Cathie Black must go back” and “Teaching is a profession, not a hobby,” through a fittingly red and white bullhorn.

The groups protesting contend there were possible illegal maneuvers involved in Mayor Bloomberg’s appointment of Black, who had never worked in education. Last Monday, New York City Education Commission David Steiner granted Black a waiver that allows her to serve as chancellor, despite her lack of professional experience in education.

Steiner waived requirements outlined in Article 52 of the New York State Education Law, which also lists the chancellor’s powers and duties. He then agreed to step in as her right-hand man as chief academic officer, in hopes of quelling criticism that she lacks the educational credentials for the job.

“We could not expect that a person who is driving a car could say to the police officer, ‘Oh, one of my passengers has a license to drive, so it’s okay,’” said Inez Barron, assemblywoman for the 40^th district, which serves East New York, Brownsville and Canarsie.

Black, who officially takes the post on Jan. 3, has a background in media management as the former chairperson of Hearst Magazines. She was the first woman to have the top job at Hearst, and will also be the city’s first woman public schools chancellor, leading the largest school system in the country.

In addition to the Freedom Party, groups involved in the protest included the aptly named Deny Waiver Coalition—comprised of public school parents, educators, and community leaders in the city—and the Coalition for Public Education.

Deny Waiver Coalition member Julie Cavanagh, a Red Hook special education teacher, said there was another way to move Black out of the position.

“One of the things we’ve called for is that Cathie Black do the right thing,” said Cavanagh. “She should gracefully bow out and say ‘no thank you.’”

Black succeeds former chancellor Joel Klein, who also required a waiver to take the position and held the position since 2002.

Chris Owens, Democratic State Committee member for the 52^nd assembly district which includes downtown Brooklyn, said there were a number of other qualified people for the job, including Barbara Byrd Bennett—a New York educator who now works with Detroit schools—or Beverly Hall—another NYC educator working in Atlanta.

At one point, Charles Barron’s mic feed went out, and he continued his speech via bullhorn. At about 5 p.m., a group of about fifteen teenage students joined the protest and climbed to the top of the steps, triggering applause from the crowd.

More rallies are planned for next week with each borough having its own designated day to come out to the Tweed building steps. Brooklyn’s day is tomorrow.

Jamillah Sulahuddim, an East New York P.S. 202 teacher with second and fifth grade sons in the public school system, summed up the complaints: “She may be an excellent manager, but she’s not an educator,” she said.