The Company You Keep

Buffalo Public School teachers should pay close attention to the candidates in the 2017 Mayoral race in the city of Buffalo. Incumbent Byron Brown has basically kept himself removed from the schools. He maintains a tepid relationship with local developer Carl Paladino. Professional and courteous, yet not too close.

The same cannot be said for potential challenger Mark Schroeder. Here is a news release from Paladino's "Get Out the Vote" Rally on April 29th, four days before Paladino narrowly defeated 18 year old Austin Harrig in last Spring's School Board election...

PLEASE JOIN THE PALADINO CAMPAIGN AT THE GET OUT THE VOTE RALLY ON FRIDAY APRIL 29 FROM 5:00-8:00PM AT THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS IN SOUTH BUFFALO.

This is a complimentary admission rally courtesy of Carl Paladino.

The Paladino campaign will welcome special guests Board Member At-Large Patti Pierce and City of Buffalo Comptroller Mark J.F. Schroeder.

https://www.evensi.com/get-out-the-vote-rally-knights-of-columbus-3875/176116972


To be fair to Schroeder, this was before Paladino's controversial submission to Artvoice magazine. However, at the time Schroeder was well aware of Carl's contentious relationship with Buffalo teachers and their union.

Teachers: Mark Schroeder will tell you how much respect he has for you and your profession. However, actions speak much louder than words. You are well aware of Carl's attitude towards Buffalo teachers and the teacher's union specifically. Mark Schroeder was Paladino's Honorary Chairman for the aforementioned event, and the two spoke of each other during the event at length in glowing terms. I know this because by the time they finished singing each other's praises, the free food; (AKA the reason I attended), had begun to get cold.

Schroeder's support for Paladino should be viewed as a slap in the face to all Buffalo teachers. In some people's naive eyes, it is the teachers who are the problem. There are many ignorant people who consider the Buffalo teachers as "2nd stringers" to their suburban counterparts. They don't understand the reason charter schools are successful is because they handpick their students and systematically toss out the ones who perform poorly on state exams. They have no idea what the teachers in the city have to deal with everyday in the classroom. I've worked as a sub in both the Buffalo Public Schools and charter schools.

 I can tell you the charter school teachers are treated horribly by their administration. They have no rights, get paid less, and are ruled by intimidation. And most of the people making the classroom decisions in those schools, have never spent a day in the classroom. They are business people who hide in offices all day and take two hour lunches while their teachers do more with less.

There's an old saying: "You judge someone by the company they keep." And I believe Schroeder (and the same can be said for Assemblyman Mickey Kearns) have chosen Paladino and his wallet over the rights of hard working teachers. But with that support comes the anti-union politics that it encompasses. Vote for whomever you want in 2017. I do not work for Brown in any capacity and am actively seeking a 3rd candidate willing to represent the working poor in this city. However, I believe it is important for you to know which candidates are looking out for the best interests of Buffalo Public School teachers, and which ones are not. Politicians supporting Paladino today could be reaching into your pensions tomorrow.