NYCivic

Crooked MTA Contractors Plead Guilty;
Perverse Teacher Cleared for Classes;
Misbehaving Students Avoid Penalties

By Henry J. Stern
September 23, 2004

Two from the Q

In yesterday's Quotidian, which goes to about 700 of you who have asked for it, I cited two articles which I thought covered important subjects and were well written. John P. Avlon's column in the Sun was highly critical of bilingual education; and Al Baker's news story in the Times was an up-to-date report on Albany gridlock.

The 9600 of you who are non-Q can link to those items today three lines north. If you would like to be on the Q-list, which supplements our regular reports with current references, just reply to this e-mail and, on the subject line, write Q, Quotidian, or your favorite word containing the letter q.

The Empire Strikes Back

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, widely criticized for the dysfunction of the State Legislature, has his say on the op-ed page of today's News. Under the headline, "Silver to Gov: Do your job, we'll do ours", the speaker blames the governor for inattention to state affairs and disregard for the needs of the people of the City of New York.

Doug Blonsky to Lead Conservancy,
Serve as Central Park Administrator.

Today's Sun was the first paper to cover the election of Douglas Blonsky as president of the Central Park Conservancy, founded by Betsy Barlow Rogers in 1980 during the Koch administration. He succeeds Dr. Regina Peruggi, who was appointed president of Kingsborough Community College. A story by A.L. Gordon, p2, gives the biography of the career park employee and an overview of the conservancy.

As the person who, as Parks Commissioner, forcefully proposed his appointment as Central Park administrator in 1998, I feel particular pride in his promotion.. With his selection, the positions of Conservancy president and Park administrator have been reunited after six years. Doug, whose park name is Brigadier, will provide strong leadership for the world's best known park.

More Sleaze at the MTA - But Who Was Minding the Store?

Start with Laura Italiano's lead in today's Post: "A family of crooked millionaire Brooklyn plumbers — notorious for their alleged mob ties and gaudy Jersey mansion — pleaded guilty yesterday to running a racket that bilked the MTA out of $2 million in overcharges and labor fraud." The article appeared on p5, and was illustrated with photos of the family and their truly palatial home.

Newsday: Karen Freifeld, pA15, "Guilty pleas in MTA scam"

Sun: Samuel Maull (AP), p4, "Family Admits Guilt in Scheme to Steal Millions from MTA: Bribed Transit Officials." A straightforward acount of the scheme and its unraveling.

News: Barbara Ross, p10, "N.J. clan admits railroading MTA." Her lead: "The family that bribed together pleaded guilty together yesterday."

This major story somehow did not appear at all in today's Times. Their website did carry two AP pieces (one an article, the other a "Metro Briefing") on the event.

District Attorney Morgenthau deserves credit for making the case and securing the guilty pleas. Three MTA officials were previously convicted of various offenses related to the bribery, and are awaiting sentencing. A potential plea deal for them is discussed in the last paragraph of the Sun-AP article.

What Does it Take to Get a Teacher Fired?

"PERVERT CAN TEACH AGAIN" is the Post headline, and that sums up David Andreatta's story on p4. His report of an arbitrator's ruling indicates the grievous problems the school system has in dealing with serious teacher misconduct. The 'teacher,' Cary Hershkowitz, 52, had been suspended with pay for five years.

You have to read the Post story to get the details of his misconduct, and to learn about the unbelievable system under which he was sent back to the classroom rather than a prison cell, where other inmates could have protected themselves from his sexual desires. The arbitrator, Robert Simmelkjaer, first threw the case out entirely because there was no evidence the teacher was offered a union rep, although securing one is the responsibility of the teacher and the union. When that decision was thrown out by the State Supreme Court, the case was returned to the same arbitrator, who administered the wrist slap of a year's suspension without pay (during which time he can work elsewhere and possibly earn more).

Chancellor Joel Klein said yesterday that, despite the ruling, Mr. Hershkowitz will not return to the classroom under any circumstances. From the Post story: "Hershkowitz could not be reached at his Rockland County home. His mother, who answered the phone, declined to comment." I feel sorry for her, but I feel greater sorrow for the schoolgirl he tormented and her family.

Students Also Misbehave, and Usually Get Away With It

Don't think NYCivic confines its observations to New York City newspapers. Common Good is a valuable citizens' group led by Philip Howard. It is dedicated to fighting America's lawsuit culture. Their online newsletter links to an article by Ruth Wooden in the Christian Science Monitor. Ms. Wooden is president of Public Agenda.

She discusses problems teachers meet in the classroom in dealing with aggressive and abusive students, who are protected by state and local laws, school district regulations and the threat of litigation against school boards. The difficulties of disciplining a student for any offense are comparable to the ordeal involved in disciplining a teacher, which we described in the previous item.