A lesson from (no longer) CCA prisons in Florida
by David Safier Private prisons are all the rage here, as they are in Florida. Florida Gov. Rick Scott recently approved privatizing 30 South Florida prisons. Here are two tales about CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) prisons in Florida, neither of them good. First, from Bay County: After 23 years, Corrections Corporation of America in … Read more
Texas district schools “mimic” charters . . . by spending more money
by David Safier Some of Houston's district schools are looking to emulate effective strategies of charters, which include longer school days, a longer school calendar and tutors to help struggling students. Nine Houston elementary schools adopted the "reforms." The pricetag? $19 million for the year. See, you have to pay teachers more if you want … Read more
Rothschild answers Star on education issue
by David Safier The Star took both mayoral candidates to task in a Sunday editorial, saying they don't understand the nature of the job they're applying for. The editorial went after Jonathan Rothschild for daring to say he wanted to be involved in the educational climate in Tucson. As for Rothschild's education agenda, city government … Read more
Federal Court finds the Arizona legislature and Gov. Brewer illegally raided transportation funds
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Press release from the Democratic House Caucus: Court finds GOP stole transportation funds, hands victory to Arizonans STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Republican lawmakers and Gov. Jan Brewer illegally raided Arizona’s public transit funds in an attempt to fill a budget gap, the U.S. District Court in Arizona ruled on Friday. The court … Read more
The Phisher King, Tyler Vogt, still spamming Tucson
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: I have previously told you about The Phisher King, Tyler Vogt, Tea-Publican troll candidate for the Tucson City Council, who misused and abused a public records request to obtain e-mail addresses for a commercial purpose, i.e., to solicit you for campaign contributions. I received another one of Vogt's unsolicited campaign e-mails today containing … Read more
Tucson City Manager Mike Letcher resigns
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Rob O'Dell and the editors of the Arizona Daily Star finally got what they wanted. Tucson City Manager Mike Letcher submitted his resignation letter today, effective August 31, 2012. Resignation letter (.pdf). One year to the day after this editorial opinion in the Arizona Daily Star. Parkwise misdeeds merit strong, swift action. … Read more
‘Survivor – GOP Presidential Primary’ debate returns this Wednesday
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The new reality TV series "Survivor – GOP Presidential Primary" returns for a new episode on Wednesday, this time hosted by NBC News-MSNBC and right-leaning Politico, which had to cancel a debate earlier this year due to a lack of candidates. Now there are so many candidates that NBC/Politico are not allowing everyone … Read more
