Carl J. Petersen: Watch Nick Melvoin Give Away Public Facilities to the Charter Industry

"Carl J.Petersen describes the machinations of Nick Melvoin, a school board member who was put into office by the money of the charter school lobby.

As blogger Michael Kohlhaas has demonstrated by publishing leaked emails between Melvoin and leaders of the California Charter School Association, Melvoin is looking out for the interests of his sponsors."

As posted on August 26, 2019

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Carl J. Petersen: Public School Allies Retake Control of the Los Angeles School Board

"Carl J. Petersen, parent advocate and blogger in Los Angeles, writes here about the long, hard struggle to wrest control of the Los Angeles Unified School District school board from the hands of the billionaires.

Eli Broad, Michael Bloomberg, Reed Hastings, and other billionaires have funded the campaigns of charter advocates. The billionaires spent many millions to gain control, only to see one member of their slim majority—Ref Rodriguez— indicted for campaign finance violations. Even after his indictment, however, he refused to step down for nearly a year until after the board had chosen businessman Austin Beutner as superintendent.

But everything changed after the election of Jackie Goldberg, who won Rodriguez’s seat.

Read this great story."

As posted on July 8, 2019.

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Greens in Office

At least 116 Greens currently hold elected office

Name Office Location Term Ends
Elected Carl Petersen Neighborhood Council Los Angeles, CA 05/2021

See the complete list on the GPUS ELECTIONS DATABASE.

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Los Angeles: Will LAUSD Close Down Failing Charter Schools?

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Los Angeles: Austin Beutner and Cronyism

"Carl J. Petersen, a watchdog in Los Angeles, has untangled a web of cronyism surrounding Superintendent Austin Beutner."

Read the full article on Diane Ravitch's blog.

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The strange case of Sebastian Ridley-Thomas.

"And investigative ed blogger Carl Petersen connects more of the curious dots between Beutner, Sebastian and the bad seed lobbyist’s political potentate dad, L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas."

Read the full article on Capital & Main.

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All You Want to Know About Looming Los Angeles Teachers Strike

Some were left stunned that the school board voted to allow volunteers into the classroom without full background checks. The board initially said no to the idea, but changed its position Tuesday ahead.

"I would've thought the district would have learned its lessons from Miramonte and the millions of dollars you paid out in claims," Carl Petersen, who has two special-needs daughters within the LAUSD, said, referring to a LAUSD elementary school teacher convicted of sexually abusing students. "This is one of the reasons we have financial problems."

Read the Full Article HERE

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Parents Call Potential LAUSD Strike Plan 'Phenomenally Irresponsible'

Carl Petersen who has two special-needs daughters within the LAUSD, addressed the board over the issue.

"I would've thought the district would have learned its lessons from Miramonte and the millions of dollars you paid out in claims," he said, referring to a former LAUSD elementary school teacher convicted of sexually abusing students. "This is one of the reasons we have financial problems."

"They look for short-term results. And right now the only thing they have on their minds is how to staff those schools and keep them open."

He calls the board's decision a disaster waiting to happen.

"Unfortunately some kid is going to pay the price," Petersen said.

Read the Full Article HERE

Watch the video HERE

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LAUSD Board Eases Volunteer Restrictions In Event Of Strike

“The school district has failed. They have a specific obligation to the children, and they failed it,” parent Carl Petersen told CBS2. “They’ve had, what is it, two years now, in contract negotiations, and they don’t want to settle.”

Read the Full Article HERE

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The Resistance Northridge-Indivisible Endorses Tony Thurmond for State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Tony Thurmond has spent his entire career fighting for children and is the only candidate with experience in public education, including service as a school board member. Public education is under constant attack from Betsy DeVos and others who seek to divert education funding to private entities. I have personally endorsed Thurmond because he is the fighter our children need to ensure that public education survives,” stated Carl PetersenEducation Lead for The Resistance Northridge Indivisible.

Read the entire press release here.

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