Democracy In Albany - New York Politics ||

Mayor Jennings - Look Over There!

By DIA, Section News
Posted on Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 07:52:49 AM EST

Because everything is going so well with the city finances, neighborhoods, making downtown a livable walkable city, making the streets safe and positioning Albany for a sustainable future, the Mayor has decided he is going to expand his role in Albany. Perhaps he should run for school board?

Mayor Jerry Jennings this morning asked area business leaders to help him fix Albany’s ailing schools.

Speaking at a breakfast sponsored by the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jennings said he will launch an “education initiative” that aims to “create a new template for urban education.”

“I’m going to be reaching out to a lot of you,” the four-term mayor said. “I really need you to be a partner with us.”

Fixing the schools will fix many of the issues confronting the city, from crime to the outflow of the middle-class families, he said.

“Everything else will come into place,” he said. “It will solve a myriad of problems for all of us.”

Jennings, who spoke for about 20 minutes before taking audience questions, didn’t propose specific ways that business

Translation: I say the schools are the cause of all of our problems. Don't blame me if your taxes are going up and your streets aren't safe, blame the schools.

Remember the last time he reached out to the business community (aka the white suburban banker trolley club)? Remember all those recommendations? Remember recommendation 10 in the Recapitalize Albany plan?

""Recommendation 10: Establish oversight body to assure recommendations are effectively implemented."

That was a year and a half ago. Anyone heard from the Oversight Team? Any effectively implemented recommendations to report on? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

I look forward to the ReEducate Albany efforts by our Mayor. SUNY might have to give him a second lifetime achievement award.

< Honest Jerry Doesn't Believe in Ghosts | Conti's Budget Letter >

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Mayor Jennings - Look Over There! | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)

DIA (none / 0) (#1)
by alfrednewman on Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 10:32:57 AM EST

The school district is out of control. I know that police were called to Gibbons a few days ago because some kids were threatening the teachers and fighting.

After school the middle schoolers are terrorizing Lark Street businesses and high schoolers are causing problems.

Is it your opinion that the mayor simply shouldnt attempt anything?
"What? Me worry? " "whatmeworry.alfred@gmail.com"

: alfred (none / 0) (#2)
by DIA on Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 12:04:57 PM EST

How many shootings have there been in the Albany schools?
How many have there been on the streets of albany?
Which area is the mayor responsible for?

[ Parent ]

"High schoolers" (none / 0) (#3)
by Tom Paine on Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 02:08:38 PM EST

Let me see if I understand this correctly: if an Albany High student commits a crime or any antisocial act anywhere, anytime, it is the school's fault.

If employees of the city, on city time, performing their duties as trained, commit illegal acts such as giving away free illegal parking, it is OK.

Gotcha.

The last thing our schools need is Jerry jennings meddling in them even more than he does now. Hasn't he done enough damage already?

: Exactly. (none / 0) (#6)
by Dan Van Riper on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:53:50 AM EST

In recent years the Albany public schools system has fought hard to improve the quality of education. But who have they fought? Jerry Jennings. Clearly, The Mayor has a lot of spare time on his hands.
Expecting the school system to create model children without any help from the rest of society is just plain ridiculous.
If the City of Albany officials were to spend one tenth of the time, money and energy they spend on retaliation and petty personal grudges, then we could solve all of our problems almost overnight.

[ Parent ]

Keep Him Close (none / 0) (#4)
by A Muse on Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 03:43:40 PM EST

Let's face it, Mr. Jennings does not understand his inadequacies. He is a well meaning, ignorant and dangerous person with the power to inflict pain on large portions of the population. Do Albanians have a more educated work force, better jobs, improved recreation areas, increased arts presence, fair tax rate, reasonable services, an improved infrastructure, safer neighborhoods, improved education system, increased population, and a balanced budget, than when he started his new job as the administrator of Albany?

Jennings has always seemed thuggish to me but has an endearing tick of raising and lowering himself on his toes. My understanding is that Mr. Jennings was the Assistant Principal at the High School. Please advise me if I am incorrect. In his day, at many high schools, the Assistant Principal is the disciplinarian, and he seems suited for that roll. I will applaud the Albany School Board if they offer it to him.

Oh My Fair Lady are you Trading Places in a discussion of nature or nurture and who is to blame. I am not clear what "fixing the schools means", however, the nation's "No Child Left Behind" program has failed the education system, and it's protectors in Albany have also failed. The problems with the schools like the problems within Albany begin at the top and the solutions must begin at the bottom. There are serious problems within the Albany Schools and not only is new leadership needed in the Mayors Office, but with the School Board as well. Unless there is a change in the administrators of the City and School Board, the flight from Albany will continue. With appropriate changes in two to three years noticeable improvement could be seen and eight to ten years people just might just really want to live, work, and bring up their children here.

DIA (none / 0) (#5)
by alfrednewman on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 05:40:55 AM EST

The high school has security gaurds that use metal detectors on all the students who enter their building and has control over who enters their facility.

Paine: "High Schoolers" is a term that is used to describe someone in high school. It is also used by newspapers.

The school district is supposed to be in the business of teaching the children, right? Whats the problem with expecting them to do their job?

The window sticker issue is a distraction. As DIA says, this is a 'hey look over there' tactic."

"What? Me worry? " "whatmeworry.alfred@gmail.com"

Mayor Jennings - Look Over There! | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)

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