If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
There is no storm, no ļ¬re, no terrorist act, that can destroy the spirit of our city, and keep us from looking forward, envisioning a better tomorrow, and bringing it to life.
You would think that half a century would be enough time for a company that brands itself as a nutritional innovator to keep up with the science, but in its new anti-obesity commercial, "Coming Together," Coke continues avoiding the real issues of obesity.
The dispute between New York City and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 is the result of a decision by the Bloomberg administration to allow competitive bidding for school bus contracts. But lower bids would mean no job security for current school bus drivers.
Deal Or No Deal? This afternoon, United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said the union was calling it quits on negotiations with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg over teacher evaluations. Shockingly, each side blames the other. What does this mean? The city will lose oh, a couple hundred million dollars in state budget money. Bloomberg says, via Gothamschools, that it's "too soon to tell" whether the loss will necessitate teacher layoffs.
Policies that gain controversy in their engagement with obesity are helpful for making a very public (yet uncomfortably avoided) issue further visible. It's hard to talk about obesity, private or public. Policies like the soda rule can be vehicles for those discussions to take place.
A Somewhat Happy Education Headline? America's students are graduating high school at higher rates, according to a new Harvard report (via the Wall Street Journal.) In 2000, researchers found, 77.6 percent of Americans ages 20-24 had high school diplomas; 10 years later, 83.7 percent of that same group held diplomas. "The improvement was particularly sharp among blacks and Hispanics," WSJ reports. "For instance, in 2000, 61.2% of black men between 20 and 24 had finished high school; in 2010, 72.0% of black men in that age bracket had." But even so, 20 percent of American men between 20 and 24 -- and 14 percent of women -- still lack that crucial certification.
As New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's third term draws to an end this year, it is imperative that whoever succeeds him as Mayor commits to maintaining the momentum behind New York City's sustainability initiatives.
Shootings in our schools are tragic, and each of us has the urge to "do something," but I have major concerns about placing armed guards in our schools.
For those of us who have had a career as a teacher, Mayor Bloomberg's statement likening members of the United Federation of Teachers to the NRA was stingingly hurtful.
A $100,000 grant isn't a big one at the Rockefeller Foundation. But the grant maker's decision to award that much to a thinly disguised effort to give businesses more influence in the New York City's mayor's race is both inappropriate and a waste of philanthropic resources.
City Council Speaker and mayoral front-runner Christine Quinn, who appeared to favor reappointing Ray Kelly police commissioner, meets with former Police Commissioner Bratton.
What can the next mayor aim to do to continue the 'virtuous cycle' of the city, where growth can help underwrite necessary subsidies for the creative class and emerging neighborhoods? What grand ideas can we pursue?
If a broad compromise were reached, removing gun control from the political agenda for the next 20 years -- why would the NRA need LaPierre and a highly-paid lobbying staff?
Happy New Year, HuffPosters! May your 2013 be filled with love, laughter, passion and 365 full nights of sleep. Through the years, I've discovered something about New Year's resolutions: while it's not so easy to keep them, it's very easy to make them for other people. And a lot more fun, too. So here are some New Year's resolutions I'd like to hear assorted public figures make and keep: "I'll find better uses for my $150 million than trying to buy an election." ~ Sheldon Adelson. "I will stop endlessly repeating in your brain. Eventually." ~ The "shine bright like a diamond" refrain from Rihanna's "Diamonds (In the Sky)". "I will finally quit making excuses and coming up with crazy ideas, like armed guards at every school, and admit that guns really do kill people, and lots of them." ~ NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.
Gun violence is a cancer plaguing our American body politic. True meaningful action to reduce violence requires a holistic approach. Supporting the Second Amendment is not incompatible with the gun control supported by the majority of Americans.
We can learn from these two seemingly unrelated events that tragedy can strike at a moment's notice, human beings have an infinite capacity for compassion and charity in helping those who are suffering, and our elected leader have not done their jobs well.
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