Red Queen in LA: Who Attended LAUSD Circus?

October 31, 2013 //

This blogger writes about the well-orchestrated circus at the crucial LAUSD board meeting. This carrying daisies–a symbol of allegiance to the leader–were well represented and gained preference to speak. Who was missing? Teachers and administrators: they were at work. Parents: who cares what they think?

Categories Los Angeles

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Karen Wolfe says:

October 31, 2013 at 2:45 pm

The funny thing is that they weren’t daisies at all! They picked the wrong flowers! These were actually marguerites. Perhaps Freudian, since they have the same name as the conscious of the LA school board, Marguerite LaMotte, who insisted on lettering the only teacher speak.

Reply
- redqueeninla says:
  
  October 31, 2013 at 2:52 pm
  
  LOL for sure!!!! And I assumed all that confusion was regarding the allusion. No wonder! Thanks for clarifying… [Many people pronounce “Deasy” to rhyme with ‘queasy’ and not ‘daisy’, thus missing the allusion].
  
  Reply
  - redqueeninla says:
    
    October 31, 2013 at 2:57 pm
    
    BTW, thanks for being one of the “committed activists” present. Your whole family deserves kudos for sparing you in order to stand ground for the rest of us. Thanks.
- Karen Wolfe says:
  
  October 31, 2013 at 2:58 pm
  
  conscience of the LA school board, Marguerite LaMotte, who insisted on letting the only teacher speak.
  
  Yes, genuine folks were purposely excluded. But most disturbing to me is that legitimate stakeholder leaders who have genuine constituencies did nothing to get their people to the meeting. They rolled over and let United Way (ka-ching, ka-ching) take over for the day. The fact that our friends in UTLA did NOTHING to counter these theatrics is a travesty. The fact that the board members for whom we exhausted ourselves campaigning in an effort to ensure OUR representation, did nothing to galvanize their supporters is disheartening.
  
  This was never about whether Deasy would resign or not. It was about the corporate privatizers stealing days and days of media coverage to advance their message that the board and the union are useless. WHERE do we go from here?
  
  Reply
Rene Diedrich says:

October 31, 2013 at 2:47 pm

Parents work too. I care what they think. I am not only a teacher, I am a parent too. Even if your kids are not attending LAUSD schools, be aware that this will still effect your family, your community and the nation.

Reply
- Duane Swacker says:
  
  October 31, 2013 at 7:25 pm
  
  “. . . this will still effect your family, your community and the nation.”
  
  Quite correct Rene. I try to convince people here in the Show Me state and my co-workers that fact and the vast majority are of the mindset that “this to shall pass”.
  
  So sad, so Sad!
  
  Reply
  - Rene Diedrich says:
    
    October 31, 2013 at 11:47 pm
    
    Keep fighting. Mr. Twain would want you to.
Educator says:

October 31, 2013 at 2:50 pm

This comment was left earlier:

“The financial problems caused by this iPad fraud will be blamed on teacher pensions. This is happening in state after state and city after city. Scapegoating active and retired teachers as they are slowly bled of their deferred compensation (pensions) has become the lie-of-the-month. Corporate tax incentives, refunds, and other give-aways are never mentioned, so this massive waste of money will not be mentioned in connection with financial problems approved by corrupt politicians and their minions.

We know that there are attempts to change the laws for public pensions already being proposed. This is should stand as a warning to all public employees, not just teachers.

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redqueeninla says:

October 31, 2013 at 2:51 pm

LOL for sure!!!! And I assumed all that confusion was regarding the allusion. No wonder! Thanks for clarifying… [Many people pronounce “Deasy” to rhyme with ‘queasy’ and not ‘daisy’, thus missing the allusion].

Reply
Geronimo says:

October 31, 2013 at 3:56 pm

“When the ax came into the forest, the trees said the handle is one of us.”

That is the old African saying Alice Walker chooses has the epigraph for her brilliant book POSSESSING THE SECRET OF JOY about how it feels to be betrayed by one of your own.

Sorry Steve Zimmer. Sorry Monica Ratliff.

I can imagine you both probably have that decent, liberal impulse to examine “both sides” of an issue and come together to create a harmonious world where the Truth will reveal itself and we will act accordingly in the best interests of all.

President Obama shares that same impulse. Don’t know whether it was getting kicked in the ass a half dozen times by the GOP Congress that caused the latest change of course, but finally, this time, when the Tea Party shut down the government, he held his ground. He didn’t give in. I only wish he acted this way sooner and on many other issues that have compromised his presidency.

Progressive history will view Obama lesser because of what he let slip by because of his failure to act when he could have. We all suffer because of the wasted years that he compromised his integrity only to have it rewarded by even greater mean-spirited legislation by those whom he thought he was negotiating honestly with.

You both surrendered to the very people we hoped you would stand up to. For all of us. For teachers. For instruction. For academic freedom. For hope that there could be true intelligence and honor in the leadership we would all gladly AND COOPERATIVELY work with if only were respected and valued. And most importantly, for all LAUASD students who want something better than what you have now sentenced them.

The public will never know what happened in that School Board closed-door session and what kind of frank words were exchanged, but we are aware of the intense off-the-playing-field hardball tactics that were employed by Arne Duncan, former LA Mayor Villaraigosa and who knows who else they brought in from their deep, moneyed-interest, cloaked bull pen.

My guess is that there were secret deals and hushed quid pro quos but all of that, admittedly, is just mere speculation; yet the one thing we know for sure is that John Deasy is with us until 2016.

When people voted for you, they were voting for massive change. Now we all know that in politics, if you care enough about your side, you’re bound to have your heart broken by it. People are endlessly naïve about politics and sometimes expect miracles from mortal people in often-times very complex situations. That sort of political disappointment is not only our virginity lost to a world colder and more callous than we ever imagined, it is heart-breaking if you actually believed change was going to happen.

The case of John Deasy, however, is not nearly as complicated as Middle East peace or whether we can get a single-payer health care system.

He CLEARLY represents a pedagogy of education that is antithetical to the values I want my kids to embrace. I’m not talking only of my students, but my own children as well. I would NEVER put my kid in a Dr. Deasy-style classroom.

No matter how many daisies or marguerites or whatever floral bouquet you wanna decorate it with, what happened on Tuesday to all our classrooms smells like stinkin’ money. Petals made of dollar bills. And yes, Big Money won out today as it is want to do.

The irony of course is that Big Money was supposed to have lost with your respective elections. How we danced and celebrated back then beating back those billionaires who (ha!ha!)thought they could “buy” the school board with your opposition.

You were a victory for “the people!”

Again, politics is a cruel and unforgiving mistress and its a lesson we all need to remember about placing too much hope in mere mortals.

And boy, did you two prove yourselves mere mortal.

But we didn’t think it would be this quickly.

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- Duane Swacker says:
  
  October 31, 2013 at 7:27 pm
  
  Bien dicho, Geronimo, bien dicho.
  
  Reply
- taxpaying truth teller says:
  
  October 31, 2013 at 7:55 pm
  
  One good thing has come out of all of this. These board members will never be elected again. They had better kiss Eli Broad’s behind because their political careers will be over come the next election cycle. I guess it’s true what people are saying about Ratliff. She couldn’t cut it as an attorney, THAT’s why she became a teacher.
  
  Reply
  - Susan says:
    
    October 31, 2013 at 8:06 pm
    
    Does anybody know how each member voted? I don’t think the board has released that information.
  - Rene Diedrich says:
    
    October 31, 2013 at 11:52 pm
    
    How do you know? I have textual evidence that suggests she was the reason zdeasy flipped ourpt. Most pro deasy editoriaks singled heer out for ridicule. A few days ago you were sure Zimmer and Vlad would take Deasy out. The both came out in public as pro deasy. The only person who disses Ratliff as a lawyer is George and his understanding of the law is dubious. You are a smart person, but you have a bad habit of associating in a narrow framework and being unkind .
  - Rene Diedrich says:
    
    October 31, 2013 at 11:57 pm
    
    PS i am marrying a lawyer,and I help him in his offices. He we t to Berkley and works very hard because he charges less when people are broke and desperate. But he still does not work as hard as Ibdid when I taight for lausd. Most teachers are diligent and intelligent beyond your perceptions. If you wish to keep parroting the ranting of a mad man, I insist you volunteer in Watts. Soend a week in coass before you make such negative remarks. By the way what do you do for a living?
  - LAUSDmom says:
    
    November 2, 2013 at 1:26 am
    
    Hey – truth teller – I can’t tell if you support or hate teachers. “She couldn’t cut it as an attorney, THAT’s why she became a teacher”… Really? Could it be that Monica Ratliff found that being in the classroom was far more inspiring that being in a courtroom?
    
    My goodness, the vitriol expressed in these comments is far more heartbreaking than anything that happened this week.
redqueeninla says:

October 31, 2013 at 4:59 pm

Please see some further comments, in particular some corroborating ones by Ellen Lubic from the floor of the board room, here: http://redqueeninla.k12newsnetwork.com/2013/10/31/shock-and-awe/#comments.

Geronimo, your words are still and deep; they give me goosebumps.

Can you articulate that which you insinuate? Did these corporatizers say “We will give LAUSD x billion dollars if you keep Dr Deasy employed”? In what way was money involved? I actually can’t quite see how this all plays out, from my shallow world of naively working for children, my children, any children. I know my world is very naive and I would appreciate these things spelled out plainly if possible. Thanks.

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bootsonground says:

October 31, 2013 at 7:06 pm

Does anyone have insight as to the thinking behind this vote? Do we have contacts with inside knowledge re: Steve and Monica who may be able to illuminate us? I am stunned and frankly heartbroken. Every day that these Deasy people run the show, we are forced to sell another little piece of our souls.

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Rachel says:

October 31, 2013 at 7:16 pm

Wow, tell us how you REALLY feel!

RedQueeninL.A. :

“It was an awesome spectacle this Tuesday at Beaudry. In concert with the superintendent’s job evaluation and on cue for maximal impact and disruption, a parade of circus performers enacted astroturf’ed performance art for the full spectrum of media, replete with daisies for Deasy. Cute…

“Tuesday’s debacle was directed from stem to stern by off-stage handlers and PR professionals. While meanwhile the rest of us stayed home, unrepresented and unheard regarding the malfeasance of this superintendent’s reign…

“The only adults able to be present for this charade are those whose job is quite literally to attend that venue. This would include the media, who would be well advised to investigate what proportion of circus participants were remunerated for their time and attendance expenses (transportation, parking, etc).

“A transcript…

A Message to the Los Angeles United School District Board

” … is available of just such strategizing from the CLASS end of the partisan spectrum. But with the exception of a few retired educators and ultra-dedicated activists, the rest of Los Angeles simply could not appear for this Halloween-season masquerade. We have responsibilities that preclude such extravaganza and what results is a wholly unrepresentative charade of partisan bullying.

“It is a testament to the power of money and the organization it can buy when excluded from that madding crowd is 99% of the population of immediate, direct stakeholders in the future of LAUSD. It leaves those of us with actual skin in this game – teachers, parents, students, administrators – enervated and alienated; ignored and disrespected: shut out. At least as bad is that this show of force subjects our elected officials to undue, unfair and disproportionate pressure from highly specialized special-interest groups. Excluded, utterly, from the entirety of Tuesday’s shenanigans, was an authentic voice of LAUSD stakeholders.

“Beware the Big Lie.”

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- Rachel says:
  
  October 31, 2013 at 7:20 pm
  
  Oh, and here’s the post that
  includes the transcript that
  you referenced… this is
  messed up!
  –
  
  Karen,
  
  It’s Julie. I was just forwarded
  an email with an account of a
  conference call coordinating the
  various astroturf groups
  who will be protesting against
  us tomorrow.
  
  Yep, that’s right. Some mole
  within their ranks leaked this
  to me.
  
  Did you ever want to eavesdrop
  on a planning session of a
  bunch of ed reform astroturf
  groups as they are trying to
  create a demonstration that
  has the appearance of an
  actual community grass
  roots protest— when it’s
  actually a manufactured
  farce concocted by well-paid
  corporate shills?
  
  Now’s your chance!
  
  Enjoy:
  
  (Folks, this is real.
  Gabe, Ryan, and the rest
  pull out all the stops to
  earn their respective
  $200,000-plus salaries)
  
  ———–
  
  “Date: Mon, Oct 28, 2013 at 12:10 PM
  Subject: Re: conference call
  
  “GABE (Rose, from Parent Rev.):
  “#4 wear your organization’s
  T-shirt to show broad support.
  
  “We will be sending an email with
  talking points. Any other questions?
  
  “Commenters are looking for talking
  points and one page info sheet
  to send to supporters.’
  
  “RYAN (Smith, from United Way, Julie)”
  ‘Create as many signs as possible.
  Utilize chants.’
  
  “GABE (Rose, from Parent Rev.):
  ” ‘Are we trying to pack the
  boardroom?
  
  “RYAN: ‘Yes, I’ll talk to you offline
  about that. Regarding media
  outreach, we will utilize
  our guy here: Charles/Mary Lou
  (Endowment),
  
  ” ‘Can I connect you to Jason
  Mandel?’
  
  GABE: “Sandy will email Ryan a
  tag line. Let’s see… we’ll call it…
  ” ‘Communities for John Deasy’
  
  “… or …
  
  ” ‘Communities for Educational
  Justice’! ”
  
  RYAN: “Good, but let’s not make
  this ad hominem against certain
  Board Members or UTLA union
  leaders. Also, we are not trying
  to change John Deasy’s mind.”
  
  GABE: “Right. This is much
  broader than Deasy.
  Although we are very
  supportive of his courage, this is
  really about telling the board that
  the community… we want our
  initiatives to continue and we
  want to hold them responsible for
  making sure they stay the course.
  We’ve been working on this for
  decades. We’ve seen
  superintendents come and go.
  The progress over the last 4-5
  years needs to continue.”
  
  END OF CALL
  ———————————-
  
  Then there’s a summary of
  another conference call:
  ————————————
  
  “BETH (???): “Can anyone on
  the call confirm that Deasy
  contacted anyone in educ.
  reform community that he
  spoke to board members
  about resigning?”
  
  RYAN: “Hey. Let’s not go down
  that road. A lot of it’s conjecture
  rather than truly substantiated.
  I’m hoping we can talk a little
  more off line.
  
  ELLEN ( Pais President &
  CEO – Los Angeles Education
  Partnership): “People in
  Sacramento are talking about
  this, wondering, ‘What-the-heck
  is going on?”
  
  LINDA (???): “Has any email went
  out? We want to send to our staff
  and parents.
  
  RYAN: “We will send it out after
  this call finishes.”
  
  RENE (Rodman, from Parent
  Partnership): “Is everyone aware
  that there is a petition up to support
  the superintendent? Let’s not
  duplicate efforts.
  
  RYAN: “I’ll send out both and
  people should sign both. We can’t
  get enough signatures.”
  
  “We have a total 150-160 who will
  show up for tomorrow. This is a
  testament to the work that’s
  happening. If you are willing to
  speak, email Elmer.”
  
  erolean@unitedway.org:
  
  “Yolie Flores and Caprice Young
  will join the rally to speak in support
  of the issues and the leadership
  of the district. We also want
  parents, teachers and if possible
  students although they should be
  in school.”
  ——————————————
  
  The students “should be in school?”
  Really, now… ya think?
  
  There’s more:
  
  —————————————–
  
  “There is a theory that it was
  possibly leaked as a way to push
  out the superintendent, but that’s
  not confirmed. There is a school
  board meeting tomorrow. Been
  turned mostly into a closed session.
  
  “At 12:30, two items, and then
  immediately afterwards, they’ll
  go into closed session. This will
  be a shorter meeting. Changes
  our plans regarding press
  conference and rally. CLASS
  believes that students and
  communities are most in need of
  support. We have been supportive
  of many of Deasy’s initiatives.
  
  “This is beign made about John, but
  
  —Support of Prop 30,
  
  —protecting teachers from budget
  based layoffs for first time in ,
  
  —saving 200 counselors jobs,
  
  —his support of 193K students
  breakfast in classroom,
  
  —efforts against policies that push
  students out, end of defiance.
  
  “A lot of policies that put students first.
  Important for progress of lauds.
  We will rally around continuation
  of these policies no matter what,
  and Deasy.
  
  “CLASS hosting press conference
  and rally about these issues which
  have been supported by Deasy.
  
  “10:30am Rally arrivals,
  
  “start at 11am.
  
  “Press conference immediately after.
  
  “Thought about one after board
  meeting too, so students and
  teachers will be in the shot.
  
  “Many of the organizations have
  asked to speak and participate.
  
  “We need to tell school board
  members that we support Deasy
  and visionary leadership. We are
  asking each of you organizations
  to tap your constituencies to make
  phone calls and emails to board
  members. Important that all board
  members are communicated to, but
  most important Vladovic and two
  considered swing votes—Monica
  Ratliff and Steve Zimmer.
  
  “We support these policies and
  visionary leadership.
  ————————————————
  
  Karen, here’s a list of everyone
  included at the end of this email.
  
  It’s sort of
  
  “THE L.E.A.: THE LEAGUE OF
  EXTRAORDINARY ASTROTURF” :
  ——————————————————-
  
  “Ryan Smith – United Way Greater Los Angeles
  
  “CLASS –
  
  “California Endowment
  
  “Educators for Excellence
  
  “Community coalition
  
  “Inner city struggle
  
  “Parent revolution
  
  “Alliance for a better community
  
  “campaign for college opportunity
  
  “advancement project
  
  “children now
  
  “communities in schools
  
  “students first
  
  “laup
  
  “students matter
  
  “teach plus
  
  “good will of southern California
  
  “seiu local 99
  
  “Green Dot
  
  “LA music center
  
  “Sing together
  
  “New Teacher Center
  
  “Herb Alpert Foundation
  
  “Families in Schools
  
  “Mind Research Institute
  
  “Partnership for LA Schools
  
  “ACLU of Southern Calif
  
  “Kids LA
  
  “Ed Voice
  
  “LA Gay & Lesbian Center
  
  “Arts
  
  “Teach for America
  
  “Educare Foundation
  
  “CCSA
  
  “Education Pioneers
  
  “LA Voice
  
  “Parent Partnership
  
  “Educate Our State
  
  “LA Urban League
  
  “Pique
  
  “RFK Center
  
  “UCLA Center for Ed
  
  “LA Small School Center
  
  “YPI
  
  “Lacer After School Program
  
  “Asian Americans for Education Justice
  CFY
  
  “Goal: update you on info we know re:
  John Deasy incident. Much more
  than you probably already know.
  
  “School board meeting tomorrow.
  
  “Impending rally and press conference.”
  ——————————————–
  
  Karen, that’s quite a formidable
  assembly of astroturfers.
  
  I mean, really. With “The Mind
  Research Institute” on their side,
  they’re going to be hard to beat.
  
  Also, what-the-hell is “The Herb
  Alpert Foundation” doing here
  on this list?
  
  Does this mean that
  “The Tijuana Brass” reunite
  tomorrow so they can
  serenade the astroturfers’
  “Save Deasy” rally with
  “A TASTE OF HONEY”?
  
  That alone should bring ‘em
  all down to Beaudry!
  
  See you at the rally.
  Ta for now,
  
  Julie
  
  Reply
Ellen T Klock says:

October 31, 2013 at 10:07 pm

When the past superintendent was hired by the Buffalo Public Schools he refused to speak to teachers – they were beneath his notice. Of course, he was hired to break the union. He’s gone, our union president still remains. Yet the damage will take a long time to repair. The teachers knew from day one that he was bad news, but it took years to convince the board to get rid of him. They too extended his contract numerous times until they finally bought him out.

I hope Los Angeles has a better outcome, but prepare yourselves for the worst.

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Kim Kaufman says:

November 1, 2013 at 12:12 am

@ Geronimo re “President Obama shares that same impulse. Don’t know whether it was getting kicked in the ass a half dozen times by the GOP Congress that caused the latest change of course, but finally, this time, when the Tea Party shut down the government, he held his ground. He didn’t give in. I only wish he acted this way sooner and on many other issues that have compromised his presidency.”

Obama, once again, got exactly what he wanted. We’re now heading into “budget talks” with cutting Social Security benefits and cutting Medicare on the table – this is what he’s wanted since before he got elected. Obama likes the Republicans – he kicks progressives in the teeth and doesn’t have to twist arms of the corporate Dems to get them to vote Republican. Why do you think we’re losing? The 1% have gained something like 90% of all gains in his term. The 99% have gotten bupkas. Arne Duncan is not an accident, nor is Penny Pritzker. He’s on board to privatize everything and hand it over to his 1% golfing buddies. He’s working on his legacy as a smug rich guy like Bill Clinton.

From a radio interview I heard with Zimmer, it sounds like the board told Deasy to knock off blaming teachers for everything. I think that hurts their delicate sensibilities, what with them being former teachers and all. Listen here: http://www.kcrw.com/news/programs/ww/ww131030lausd_extends_superi

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Mike says:

November 2, 2013 at 5:40 pm

I wish we could find out how each board member voted on that terrible vote to keep Deasy until 2016. Is that forever kept a secret, since it was in closed session? In a democracy, one needs to know how one’s elected representatives voted, to know whether to support them any more.

I think it is pretty clear that the following four board members supported it, and that makes a majority–Garcia, Galatzan, Vladovic and Zimmer.

I would very much like to find out the stance of Kayser, LaMotte, and Ratliff on that vote. We teachers had a major role in electing them, and should find out how they stood on such a crucial issue.

Steve Zimmer is a major disappointment. There is no question that he supported this outrageous decision. He made a public statement (to the LA Times) on Monday, that the majority of board members, including himself, wanted Deasy to stay. (Note though, he didn’t say all board members. It is possible that K, L, and R all opposed it, and it would have passed by the majority of V, Z, and the two Ms. Gs. So I really wish we could find out about K, L, and R.

Zimmer was elected and re-elected only due to major support and work by teachers. His support of Deasy, a superintendent who the vast majority of teachers have expressed disapproval of, is a slap in the face to the teachers who elected him.

I don’t think because we work to elect a board member, that that means they have to do everything just the way we want it. Despite some media coverage about union control of the school board, our working to elect a candidate doesn’t mean we control his or her every vote. However, on such a crucial issue as that, a superintendent who has wreaked havoc on the district, one who has been so negative for the students in the district, who those actually involved in educating the children, the teachers, have overwhelmingly expressed unhappiness with, for Zimmer to totally ignore the opinions of teachers in order to try to get himself liked by the deformers, is really a slap in the face to those who elected him, LAUSD teachers.

Furthermore, I understand that Zimmer introduced Diane R at her Occidental College presentation. (I think he wants to be liked by all.) And Diane campaigned a lot for his re-electon as well. Yet he totally ignored her plea about Deasy.,

Can board members be recalled? Should we have a “Recall Steve Zimmer” movement? (We should only do that if we have a good candidate ready to run to replace him, or we could end up with someone worse.)

In any case, teachers need to make very clear to Steve Zimmer that we are very unhappy with his stance on Deasy, and likely will never support him again. I think he may think he has us in his pocket, for if he runs against a deform-backed candidate like Kate Anderson, what choice do we have. Thinking he has us in his pocket, just like a politician, he tries to get the deformers to kike him as well.

In any case, when he runs for re-election, we should try to find a good candidate to run against him, and then support that other candidate. How long are board terms though? If four years from now, that is too long a time period from now. Recall sounds better, if possible.

Any other ideas for sending a strong message of dissatisfaction and withdrawal of support for Zimmer? An online petition signed by teachers district-wide?

Of course we could not have expected anything of Vladovic, who had been elected by the deformers., However, recently he had tended to be more critical of Deasy, and that is why the teacher-supported board members supported Dr. V for school board president. Who knows what made him suddenly a big Deasy fan? One knows about the old revelations about his behavior which very interestingly were suddenly revealed after he became board prez, with Galatzan asking that he be dumped as prez..What if, for example, still worse allegations were found, but not yet revealed? Dr. V threatened with public disclosure of those worse allegations, if he did not publicly express his allegiance to Deasy? This is pure speculation, but one wonders?

Please share any ideas for expressing disapproval of Zimmer.

Also, if anyone reading has any inside info on how that board meeting went, please share it.

RECALL STEVE ZINMER!

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