My UFT Election Picks

I split the balot every year. I used to just check one caucus but then I got to know people and I am kind of old school like that.I pick the people I know.  NONE of my picks are from ARISE. As a group, they were dumb and they should have run with ABC.  

For President – it’s Amy Arundell.

She has organized most of what you and I do today with the UFT anyway She has built, she has led, she has delivered. And she will be a much better leader..

Secretary – LeRoy Barr.

Much has been said about Paul Eagan. That didn’t affect my opinion at all and it shouldn't affect yours. There were Unity people who thought that maybe publicly discrediting him (for something he said to a girlfriend 8 years ago) was a smart idea. The horrible attack may have cost Unity the whole election. Those folks who thought of the idea are the one who need to go. I know and have benefited from LeRoy. The guy always makes time for me no matter how odd the request and he always honors tha request. And that man rebuilt this whole union after Bloomberg. I don’t know Eagan. So for me, it’s LeRoy.

Assistant Secretary – Arthur Goldstein.

He is the most famous teacher in New York City and has advocated for better policies for the better part of 20 years. Mike Still (the current) is a wonderful person. Great unionist. I’ve taught down the hall from him and would endorse him under any other circumstance. To be clear, we lose nothing if Mike is Assistant Secretary.

But that little slate may well win. And if they win, I’d rather have the Dark Knight—that is, Arthur Goldstein and his blog- kicking them in their ass making them do better. I’m voting for Batman this year. You should be too.

VP Academic High Schools – Janella Hinds.

I hear the most amazing things about Steve Swieciki from the ABC slate and I have heard them from many corners including those who know him from the classroom. I think he’d be great. In fact, he looks from a distance like a superstar. The thing is Janella. No I mean that. Janella. VP Hinds' leadership has been ground up from the start. That's the only way forward.  Just as one exemple, she took an idea—about closing Regents grading sites—and ran with it. She actually got them closed.

I saw her speak at the Executive Board and heard her sway the whole Delegate Assembly just to make it happen. It's Janella and her team. I am sure Steve would do great things just like that. But Janella already has. She gets the vote.

Executive Board – Michael Schirtzer.

He is a longtime member of that body who knows it well—and he’s very popular. My nickname for him is Mr. UFT (because every fourth or fifth word out of that guy's mouth is "UFT"). He loves the union and it loves him back. 

Executive Board – Mindy Rosier.

Mindy has been around for over a decade. She started with MORE and walked away, eventually finding her way to Unity—where they’ve taken her in. They are a mess. She is a gem. She’s done phenomenal work over the last decade. She should continue to do that work. It’s Mindy.

Middle School VP – Rich Mantell.

I have never met the man. I have met his opponent. 

And the rest. of the pics for this year

Treasurer – Katie Anskat.

Assistant Treasurer – Selma Currie. 

VP of High Schools Racquel Blair-Mcpherson 

VP Elementary Schools – Leah Lin.

VP of CTE High Schools – Jessica Kim.

VP Special Education – Chad Hamilton.

All other positions are getting a check next to "ABC". 

Final thought: 

It will take me a while to vote by person. But unionism wasn't built by a bunch of mamby pamby professionals who vote by checking one box before they pour their next glass of Chardonnay. It was built by real people performing real human to human acts of support because they had all decided to fight for one reason or another. This was true back when groups from the rednecks made sure they were seen by management. It was true when the (now dead) ARU went on strike at Pullman and it was true when their (now deader) leader, Euegene Debbs. said 'screw it' and ran for president. It was also true for groups like the Teachers' Guild and the High School Teachers Association. Andso it must be true today. The only thing that adanves the city teacher is more of them involved in unionism. 

The point is that there are real people behind those names on the ballot. Many of them have dedicated their professional life to the cause. Many others are about to and may not even realize it. So here's my challenge to you. Take a moment. Send a pic of the balot up to the  ChatGPT app on your phone and ask it to tell you a little about each candidate. It may tell you a thing or two about every candidate it can find and show it to you in a little chart. Read through it. Vote for the people who seem the best. Then pour whatever fancy wine you want.

just my two cents.