Comments on: Despite a rally and walkout, UWS parent council votes to rezone

By: Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:11:20 +0000

Yep – I’m really smart. That’s what going to five colleges does for you.

I’m so smart, that I figure that even though this approach didn’t work for me in the election with that nice little ole man, it almost did. So I figure we could try that approach again. So, yeah, keep calling them racists, and don’t take any interviews with Katie, ya hear!

By: Palin 2012

Palin 2012 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:05:14 +0000

Wow, Sarah, when did you get so smart?

By: Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:02:30 +0000

NO! Facts don’t matter!

* It doesn’t matter that the principal of the CS wrote an inflammatory letter to the DOE when the proposal first came out – accusing rich white folks (‘The Man?’) of wanting to kick the CS folks out, when most of the community didn’t even know the CS existed;

* It doesn’t matter that the CS is majority white, just like PS 199;

* It doesn’t matter that Cynthia, a close personal friend of mine, is richer than anyone else over at little ole PS 199;

* It doesn’t matter that the entire CS school will move as a unit into a new building and that no student’s education will be affected;

* It doesn’t matter that kids zoned for an A grade school will be forced to go to a C grade school;

* It doesn’t matter that there are no art classrooms, or libraries, or any space for anything for PS 199 kids;

* It doesn’t matter that there is absolutely *no* interaction between CS and PS 199 kids;

* It doesn’t matter that the temporary needs of under 200 students (and their parents) affects tens (hundreds?) of thousands of people who actually live in the zone;

None of this matters, ya hear? They are racists, pure and simple. Focus on that gang, don’t let reason prevail!

And vote for me in 2012!

By: Response to 55westend

Response to 55westend — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:52:42 +0000

To 55westend: I think it’s sad that you’re labeling all PS 199 families as racist based on an anonymous “thugs” comment posted on Urbanbaby.com months ago. How do we even know the person who said it was really a 199 parent and not — gasp — a Center School parent anonymously stirring up trouble? If you want an honest debate, stick with statements made publicly and with attribution.

By: Response to 55westend

Response to 55westend — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:49:42 +0000

Do you really think it’s possible for kids to grow up in NYC not to have a concept of diversity just because their elementary school has fewer minorities than 191? We live in the Trump Bldg, and I could tell you that *EVERY* family we know there is mixed — racial, cultural, religious, etc. I guess that’s not diverse enough?

By: ben franklin

ben franklin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:13:12 +0000

PS 199 66% WHITE 8% BLACK 14% HISPANIC 12% ASIAN

By: to55westend

to55westend — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:09:48 +0000

Sorry, I think you’ve got it all wrong. First of all, thug is not a racist term. Sure, it’s not a nice term, but it isn’t racist. Second, I have been at 199 for many, many years, and I have never heard a parent talk sbout the Center School children as thugs. In fact, the two schools have nothing top do with eachother and spend no time together. So, diversity among one school adds nothing to the other. I think you heard this from Urban Baby, which would be a sad source of “newsworthy” information. Third, there are only about 7 spots for incoming K parents at 191. So bottom line, you have no idea what you are talking about. Oh, and I am a 199 parent, who is “liberal” and voted for Obama and I value diversity. Don’t you dare call me a racist!

By: 55westend

55westend — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:29:45 +0000

Cynthia Nixon is right – - this is overt racisim. Some PS199 parents (‘liberal” white Obama supporters all of them) have referred to Center School students as thugs, and they are apopletic at the prospect of sending their kids to PS 191, which is 90% black. PS 191 is only 9 blocks south, and uses the same curriculum as PS 199. Moving Center School creates an elementary school that is 100% white. This is a fine example of liberal hypocrisy – - preaching diversity but not for MY white kids! Disgusting.

By: To add to D's comments

To add to D's comments — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:57:35 +0000

I was at the meeting and D is 100% on the mark. I would like to add that Gary Golstein mentioned that he was very disturbed by the allegations that were being made against the 199 community. He knows the school. He knows the community. And he mentioned that the issue was about space. He is in complete support of moving the Center School. Please get your reporting more accurate. Did Cynthia Nixon invite you to the rally too?

By: D

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 05:06:24 +0000

you BUTCHERED Gary Goldstein’s words. Shame on the author! Goldstein, who worked at PS199 for 35 years, who was Vice Principal and then Principal, who built the school, who was there when the center School came in. He said that moving the Center School is like a transplant – taking a whole organization and moving it. While if Center School doesn’t move, the result for the community, for PS199 will be like an amputation of a limb. And therefore, after carefully listening to everybody involved, Gary Goldstein strongly supports the relocation of the Center School.

By: Janie Campbell

Janie Campbell — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:33:07 +0000

I agree the schools should be diverse. If it is left the way it is, it is only teaching a younger generation that it is okay to build specialized groups which some may call elitism. This in the long run causes discrimination.

By: 55westend

55westend — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:26:20 +0000

The curriculum at 191 is identical to that of 199, except that it, unlike 199, has a G&T program, which one could argue makes it academically superior to 199. PS 191 is only 9 blocks south of 199. Neighborhood parents can walk hand in hand to 191 just as well as they can to 199. The reason all of these supposedly “liberal” white upper west siders are in an uproar is that they don’t want their children to go to school with black kids. PS 199 will be essentially an all-white school next year. The kids there will have no concept of diversity, and as a result will have a tough time once they get to public middle school in this multicultural city. It is racism, pure and simple. If only the Center School parents would take this to court and we have a judge courageous enought to order the desegragation of District 3′s schools, we would have justice. Half of the white kids from 199 should be bussed, or walked, to 191, and half of the black kids at 191 should be bussed or walked to 199. That is diversity – - that is justice!

By: PS199 Parent

PS199 Parent — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:14:11 +0000

What kind of ridiculous unbalanced reporting is this? Ms. Cramer, are you even interested in the position of some 2000 concerned parents and residents who struggled to buy or rent apartments in PS 199′s zone, only to find out their children might not be able to go to the local public school? Why is this article about “diversity” when everyone in this community (other than sour grapes Center School parents) realize that diversity is wholly irrelevant and is merely a diversionary tactic to prevent an otherwise entirely logical and appropriate decision to make room in the neighborhood elementary school for neighborhood elementary school kids. Ms. Cramer, have you seen these Center School parents? Did you go to the so called “rally”? It was a bunch of rich white people and one celebrity ranting about diversity to try to block a move that would allow 5 year olds to go to school in their neighborhood. How’s that for an attention grabbing headline? Maybe next time, huh?

By: Uncle Matt

Uncle Matt — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:02:21 +0000

Sadly, blogging and balanced journalism seem to be mutually exclusive here.

By: what kind of article is this?

what kind of article is this? — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:41:42 +0000

Are you interviewing people other than Cynthia Nixon and Center School folk? Where are their voices. Are you a reporter or are you doing a story for Cynthia’s publicist? This is some of the poorest reporting I have seen in a long time. Please give relevant background, like, when Center Scool was placed in 199′s building, the building was underutilized. And alos please note that it isn’t about walking down the street to go to your neighborhood school. If you do some actual research, you’ll find that between 191 and 199, even if we tried to send overfolw there, there are only about 7 extra k spots and we need to find space for about 100 new children. Get it together please and learn to write a more well rounded article, unless you, too, are applying to Center School next year.

By: William Fogel

William Fogel — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:25:03 +0000

I am outraged about this one-sided reporting. Regardless of where I stand on the issue, your viewers should have the option of being presented with all of the (correct) facts, so that they may be able to decide themselves. The real issue has to do with neighborhood young children (k-5) able to walk hand-in-hand with their parents to their local school. The issue has nothing to do with diversity, and the elite of the Center School are only using this divisive and unsubstantiated issue to divert the attention away from the true facts and solution. The truth is that due to overcrowding, moving the Center School is the best solution for the vast majority because it allows all of our children to have an acceptable education.

By: Uncle Matt

Uncle Matt — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:57:46 +0000

More on “diversity, huh”. You guys should read the Center School’s PTA letters in chronological order. This issue never once came up until they realized they had to move and they had no legitimate argument as to why they should stay in PS199.

As well, some Center School speakers in their public commentary at the CEC meeting said that diversity was at the core of the Center School mission. Fact: diversity is not mentioned once in their mission statement nor is it alluded to.

Here is the Center School mission statement from their portal on the nyc schools website:

“Learning is likely to be more effective if it grows out of what interests the learner.” This sign hangs in a prominent position in a jumbled office that bustles with activity and serves as the heart of the school. All indicators point to the main philosophy of the school — that we want all students to feel that they are in control of their education. The Center School starts with the needs of children and is constantly focused on the means to meet these needs. We provide a rich academic life with good literature to read, opportunity to think and express your thoughts, and a myriad of ways to express yourself through art, drama, and writing. Recognizing the special needs of the adolescent and their struggle with puberty and emotions, the staff tries to help them develop a sense of their own value system.

Enough of this red herring nonsense. And please stop starfucking Cynthia Nixon.

By: concerned parent

concerned parent — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:53:43 +0000

Please present both sides of the issue when you write an article. Next year, ps 199 will have room for 2 kindergartens. They anticipate needing 7 rooms for new kindergarteners. So, it’s not just about music and art, it’s about having classrooms for children. Furthermore, this issue isn’t about race. You might want to include that Cynthia Nixon tried to get her child into 199 and was rejected. It was diverse enough for her then. Get your facts please and then report.

By: More information

More information — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:19:53 +0000

I’m happy to see that a video of 60 or so protesters receives a prominent spot on your site. Perhaps a passing mention of the two thousand or so signatures generated by people living in the zone supporting the CEC resolution might be appropriate?

Perhaps a posting of the divisive flyers handed out by CS supporters could also make it to your site?

Perhaps posting a video of the vitrolic and personalized speeches made by CS parents against other community parents within the CEC meeting — by a guest star of your video who doesn’t happen to be a national celebrity — would also be valid?

Just sayin’.

If you’re trying to report on an issue, then report on it. Don’t just try to flame controversy for the sake of increased viewership of your site.