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Sorry, the LBPost gets a big red "F" on this one! This is not reporting the news; it is a case of repeating a source of the news and a blatant example of biased propaganda. Running the verbatim full text of the Chamber’s statement without any attempt to balance the story with input from Mr. Ellis or allow him to counter with his perspective is disingenuous to say the least.
It's so amazing that Gordon, with a straight face, can volunteer his time as an "auctioneer" at the annual fundraising dinner for Miller Childrens Hospitals Childrens Cancer Center while his union for businesses fights "green" Port legislation that could conceivably lessen the amount of Long Beach schoolchildren dying from cancer each year, whose cancer is possibly due to Port pollution. All the while boasting about helping Long Beach schoolchildren by removing one of five Schoolboard members. I'll see him at the dinner this June, and hope I don't throw up my expensive meal while this scab jumps around the room.
I now find out what businesses belong to his union so I can make sure to never patronize them, if at all any way possible.
Obviously Ellis is a disgrace (just like Randy Gordon), but I doubt that the LBUSD or the Press-Telegram investigated other Board members (except maybe Barton) like they have Ellis.
By the way, does anyone know if it's true that the LBUSD provides funding to the Press-Telegram for Kevin Butler's LBUSD public relations announcements?
What this is about is not letting the teacher's union control the school board. We don't want to end up like LAUSD. We are fortunate to have a school district that for the most part is run well. If anything we need to move further away from the teacher union influence. Things like pay for performance, vouchers, and other "choice" based initiatives would be helpful for our kids but they can never happen if the union is controlling things.
I certainly disagree with your opinion that vouchers and teacher pay based on test results are helpful for our kids. Not being disrespectful, but did you learn about those items in the Press-Telegram also?
He then sided up with Chamber interests again this year to crush the Teamster-led effort to organize port truck drivers.
Ellis can still be removed but someone else inside TALB will need to dish some dirt on the process under which he came in; now with McVarish gone there is a chance.
According to the seminal report, "We Media: How Audiences are Shaping the Future of News and Information" citizen journalism, also known as public or participatory journalism, is the act of citizens "playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information." Authors of the report, Shayne Bowman and Chris Willis, continue: "The intent of this participation is to provide independent, reliable, accurate, wide-ranging and relevant information that a democracy requires." Citizen journalism should not be confused with civic journalism, which is practiced by professional journalists. Citizen journalism is a specific form of citizen media as well as user-generated content.
In a 2003 Online Journalism Review article, J. D. Lasica classifies media for citizen journalism into the following types:
1.) Audience participation (such as user comments attached to news stories, personal blogs, photos or video footage captured from personal mobile cameras, or local news written by residents of a community). 2.) Independent news and information Websites. 3.) Full-fledged participatory news sites. 4.) Collaborative and contributory media sites. 5.) Other kinds of "thin media." (mailing lists, email newsletters). 6.) Personal broadcasting sites.
Freelance journalist Mark Glasser who frequently writes on new media issues offers the following:
"The idea behind citizen journalism is that people without
professional journalism training can use the tools of modern technology and the global distribution of the Internet to create, augment or fact-check media on their own or in collaboration with others. For example, you might write about a city council meeting on your blog or in an online forum. Or you could fact-check a newspaper article from the mainstream media and point out factual errors or bias on your blog. Or you might snap a digital photo of a newsworthy event happening in your town and post it online. Or you might videotape a similar event and post it on a site such as "Youtube."
saying it was to avoid litigation, which was a joke as the trucking special interests sued anyways. Fortunately, the Port of Los Angeles Commissioners are much more savvy, and understand that without structured trucking companies who will be able to reinvest in equipment down the road, and maintain the current equipment, pollution controls and the plan itself wil not be effective or sustainable. Not to mention the security and safety aspects of having someone whose background and experience etc has been verified legitimately. Poor Long Beach, always a Mayberry RFD with Floyd, Goober, Arnold et al next door to the big city.
I do understand that the Teamsters were pushing for this, but they can't organize an independant "owner operator" as it's illegal. And even if they are employees someday, it is far from certain that they will unionize. Aside from such few unionized trucking companies anymore or even successful organizing drives, these guys cultural differences and beliefs make it a slim chance that they'll unionize. It's really just a BS line from the Chamber of Commerce or some other such group, that the employee only requirement in the LA plan is just a front for Teamster representation.
Fred Fred Fred, I am not antibusiness, just anti-asshole. I am your average Joe Citizen, my economic impact is minor. I do know that my church, favorite restaurants and some other establishments I patronize do not belong to Randy "hypocrite" Gordons union. I did learn my bank and favorite coffee house pay dues to him, so I will take my business elsewhere-after I tell them why. Interesting how businesses have reacted to this when in the past I have withdrawn patronage with an explanation. And there are more than enough businesses that do not drink Gordons kool-aid. I am so glad he revitalized the Chamber, and I hope you and the rest of his members are proud of the Chamber anti-pollution legislation positions. Is that what you call "ensuring a healthy business environment"? And also "actively supporting the city"?
Pay close attention to Gordon, and you'll find he speaks out of both sides of his mouth. If I paid dues to belong to his union I'd be considering withdrawing very seriously.
I think the world of Teachers, and obviously so do the majority of voters, as proved when arnold tried to demonize them. Additionally, another good example was a few years ago when the superintendant and the Schoolboard incumbents stupidly took some consultant's advice and sent certain letters out, at the taxpayers expense, bashing the Teacher supported Schoolboard candidates. Talk about receiving free campaign mailers! We know the results.
I do agree with you that the parents are most responsible for poor student performance. The schools spend more on the poor performers, it seems like, at the expense of the performers.
Regardless, I'm glad we agree that the real source of our educational problems is bad parents. Parents who value education have children who value education.
You were in Mexico too long to understand this in a big picture sense. The Chamber has always been a loser until 2007, with many losses, and most always thought that a Chamber endorsment was the kiss of death. They were contunally defeated until the unions had other things to do than support the policies monetarily. This "win" was a lucky draw for the chamber, as all Chamber insiders were girding for a loss with labor peace agreement and the wal-mart deal. Just ask anybody on the inside of the Chamber how confident they were before Schipske pulled her vote.
As for Ellis, this is not a loss for Gordon. They have lost before, but they pound it into the ground until they can't go anymore, then they spin it into a win. No, this was a calculated win for them. The only reason why the Chamber came out on top in the School Board elections is because MIchael Ellis is on the Board.
WIthout Michael Ellis, TALB is stronger. On the board, TALB is weak and split. The Chamber needs Michael Ellis.
I like you Dave, but trust someone who has been around, this was a calculated decision. The day before the election, the Chamber was still ready to pump money intogetting signatures. They need, and want Ellis on the board.
I know Teachers who I would bet are amazing with their classroom kids, who have devoted years to teaching, who support TALB to this day. They tell me they would have had the 1% non-retroactive raise had it not been for TALB, when they received the 4% retroactive raise. I feel our Teachers are way underpaid, and it infuriated me that the LBUSD wanted to shortchange them the last time around. Additionally, the proposal for an "Inspector General" in the LBUSD made a lot of sense. Too bad the powers that be aren't interested in someone looking over their shoulder. See what Laura Doud is accomplishing in the city?
Don't believe that informed people won't think less of gordon and his union after their sorry bail-out.