ctrp313 The Era of Charter Schools

Charter schools in NYC are getting alot of attention over the past few years for the quality of education they are providing and the methods they use to do so. But what do we know about charter schools and how they function?

My guest today is Catherine Barufaldi of the Explore Charter School in Brooklyn, NY. For just over 2 years now she has worked at a successful charter school and has a lot to say about what sets her school apart from traditional public school.  In this program she talks about her experience while also explaining what exactly is a charter school and what do they mean for the future of education in the US.

Threatening NYC Water

Some of you may recall a great guest I had on the podcast last year, Al Appleton, the man who saved the NYC water system.

I thought of Al today as I read about how NY state has loosened restrictions on drilling for gas in the NYC watershed are. Using a method called horizontal drilling under the Catskill Mountains, there are proposals to drill for gas. This despite the risk that drilling would bring of spilling toxic chemicals into New York City’s drinking supply. Interfering with the water system could also force the need for building a water treatment plant which would cost an astronomical amount. This despite the fact that over a decade ago, concerned citizens and watershed experts like Al Appleton eliminated the need for building such plants byContinue reading “Threatening NYC Water”

Calculating Sept. 11th

As much as I hate what a giant clich? this date has become, there are still a few memories and pieces of culture I don’t mind revisiting.? Moreover I hope this day would be a reminder to put things in perspective, in my case to never forget how dangerous jingoism and blind patriotism have been for this planet since 9/11 and long-long before it.

If I could recommend 1 piece of audio that I replayed today, I recommend Radio Open Source’s episode on calculating the value of a human life. It features a very unique interview that I always remember, with the person put in charge of calculating the financial compensation for the families of those who died on this day in the World Trade Center towers. Go listen.

Boroughing

“Why don’t you write about your personal life”, Ms Thingk asked, “you know people love hearing about that stuff.” We sat there, two of the few people at a very cozy Williamsburg bar enjoying happy hour last night.

Amazing to consider how we know our friends and where we meet up in this era where distance no longer means very much. In her case, we met back in 2004/2005, in Amsterdam where she was studying at the U of Amsterdam where by that point, I was working. After that she moved to DC to work with a very important organization, and for the past 2 years… she’s become a Brooklynite. Even the people standing outside the corner shop seem to know her by name “Hey Ms Thingk!” they waved. Im sure they too would be sad to hear that she has indeed quit blogging.

Yesterday was in fact, full of highlights, including dinner with some very famoose Livejournalists and former PAris residents. But before any of that, it was my day to speak in front of my good friend, Prof. Brian Dunphy’s class at Brooklyn College, not to mention to spend a day walking in his shoes… which was fun.

I spoke about the history of personal publishing, not so much who did what, but what things have unfolded as they have. The conditions and ingredients that made it possible; because of course.. the fact that so many people consult blogs, podcasts, and vlogs in such mass numbers is not just a fluke miracle… it is because several key developments led us here. And those developments may not always be obvious to everyone.. so hopefully the class found it useful to hear me yap yap yap.

It has been a long time since I spoke before a lecture hall of New Yorkers… not sure if I ever have. And I tell you it matters because you can never assume you know what a new yorker knows.. they are keen observers, they are diverse, they are experienced beyond their years, and just when you think you’ve got something to show them.. they’ve probably got alot to show you. At the end of the presentation lots of students came to hand stuff to Brian and talk about class things. Just when I thought no one would dare come say hi.. several nice students turned to me and quietly thanked me and wished me best of luck. One girl specifically said perhaps the most simple and inspiring thing you can say to me “Keep doing what you’re doing.”

Thanks so much Brooklyn College, it was an honor to be a guest in your classroom.

Wheeler Ave

I think it was February 2001. It must have been, because that’s the anniversary month for one of the most terrible shootings of my lifetime to take place in New York City.

As an aspiring and naïve freelance journalist, in between waitering gigs, I decided the anniversary of such a terrible event warranted my presence and some first-hand revisiting. I had never really been to the Bronx, not that I could remember anyway, and I was eager to see the spot, observe the people, smell the air, learn what I could learn; about what had changed since Amadou Diallo was shot 41 one times by police officers.

Somebody rode part of the way with me, but eventually I was on my own and further up the subway line than ever before. I got out and followed my little hand scribbled map that would guide me to the street, to his home. I pictured people standing around. Maybe praying. Maybe a bunch of flowers or statues of saints or something. I wondered if the street would be closed off, maybe because of some big rememberence vigil. I honestly didn’t even know if I had the right day, my only thought was to see what I could see, and share it with those that had chosen to forget the sadness and the pain.

Of course, as usual in life, nothing was as I’d imagined. Nothing exciting happened. No exciting feeling came over me. The air on Wheeler Ave didn’t feel any more or less desperate than the rest of the Bronx. No candle light vigil. No police blockade. Nuthin! A second thought, there may have been some dried out flowers and almost extinguished candles, but nothing that stands out in my memory.

I walked around the block a few times and grew increasingly tired. Heading back to the subway, I glanced one more time towards the house, and pictured that young man standing there. Those final moments. The shots.

I never wrote a single word about it. I think I told a few people the story, but being so uneventful, even the story faded from my story telling.

Why mention it? Obviously with the shooting of Sean Bell, 50 times- who doesn’t think back to it? And the fact that even back in 2001, there wasn’t so much remembering, not that I saw.. maybe that says something. Not much seemed to have changed on Wheeler Ave back then, just like nothing seems to have changed when a young man, the night before his wedding, gets 50 shots fired at him by law enforcement professionals.

How High’s The Water

As I got on the international train from Brussels to Amsterdam, I knew it would be packed and bursting at the seams with people returning home from their weekend in Belgium. And this day was no different, with people huddling in the space between train cars, struggling to find a spot just to stand and read their magazines in peace.

I’m an international train veteran, so I used my secret methods for getting myself a seat. And as luck would have it, the person sitting next to me was a gentleman heading to the Hague on business. Not just any business… urban planning to deal with rising water levels! Who did he work for, as I surely asked, the government of London!

Amazingly before I knew any of this, we started chatting casually in between his soduku and my final chapters of 4th of July, Asbury Park. He was asking about the train, and what time it actually arrives in the Hague. It eventually evolved in how the city is layed out, and more generally, the ol’ “how the dutch have built the country in unorthodox ways.” We spoke of the taking land from the sea and building below sea level. And it was right around there where he smiled and said “Enjoy while you can, because things will certainly change.” And right there we got into the rising sea levels and the struggle to keep water out; he then explaining what he was doing for the city government of London.

Among the interesting things he pointed out to me, were the cases of London as well as New York City, both of whom are in need of plans to deal with sea levels that are definitely rising. Apparently his work was to address the problem for his city’s context. And I wondered aloud about what New York City could possibly do to protect against water rising up and swallowing its streets.

He wasn’t big in offering me solutions. It was, as he said, the purpose of his meetings in places like the Hague. I asked if he would be heading to New Orleans, he said he very much wanted to:

“That’s really what the future is about… mass movement of people, away from situations where they must leave in order to survive. Cities must all get into planning for it… how and where to move mass amounts of their populations.”

Eventually we got to the Hague and he wished me goodluck with my journalism endeavors.

When I got home I went right to my boat and started taking the water out of it.