Jersey Jazzman, our reliable New Jersey blogger, has the story about the decision by Camden’s school board to turn down four charters that the Christie administration and the local Camden Democratic boss badly wanted.
The charter lobby may have overplayed its hand. Looks like popular pushback. Looks like local board doesn’t want to hand over the keys to charter operators. Showdown ahead.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
One can only hope that the tide is beginning to turn.
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Kudos to the board for having the courage to stand up to the charters.
But I doubt this is over yet. The key quote: “We’re going to have to talk to the state and school board officials.”
We’ll see what happens when the empire strikes back.
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“Many a truth is told in jest.”
Thanks for the truth and the laugh.
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I smell a rat, in more ways than one.
George Norcross’ senator brother, a democrat and union leader, has been in cahoots with Christie from the beginning of his administration supporting bills that weaken the local teachers associations’ bargaining rights. One such bill mandated employee contributions to health care benefits regardless of disparities between local contracts.
I wonder why Donald Norcross, the union leader, has decided to support legislation that hacks away at bargaining rights? Could it be that Christie has “something” on George? Isn’t it also interesting how George is the chairman of an employee benefits brokerage firm? Doesn’t it appear that Donald Norcross is operating under a conflict-of-interest supporting legislation that mandates employee benefits contributions if his brother works in the industry? Hmm…and here I thought Christie was against corruption.
From Wikipedia (not the best source, but an interesting tidbit can be found there).
“George Norcross III
A former Rutgers University student and son of a union organizer, Norcross was previously the chairman of the Camden County Democratic Party. His brother Donald Norcross is the current chairman and a state senator representing the 5th Legislative District. Norcross has never been elected to a public office, but in June 2007 he was named the second most influential political personality in the state of New Jersey.[2] He is part of a group seeking to purchase newspapers in Philadelphia.[3]
He was investigated and recorded discussing his influence with then New Jersey governor James E. McGreevey and then United States Senator Jon S. Corzine. Chris Christie, as a U.S. prosecutor, accused attorneys of mishandling the investigation.[4][5]
[edit]Businesses and board memberships
Norcross serves as Chairman of Conner Strong Companies, Inc. (formerly Commerce Insurance Services). The company ranks among the largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms in the country, with offices located in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Norcross has been the head of Conner Strong and its predecessor companies since 1979. The current company was formed after Commerce Bancorp was acquired by Toronto-Dominion Bank. As part of the 2007 acquisition, TD Bank agreed to sell Commerce’s insurance division back to Norcross.[6]
Norcross is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Cooper Health System and Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey and has served as a Trustee since 1990. He formerly served on the Board of Directors of Commerce Bancorp.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Norcross_III
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