The biggest obstacle to political, social, and educational reform in New York State is Senator John Flanagan from Suffolk County on Long Island. Flanagan succeeded Dean Skelos as Republican majority leader of the State Senate after Skelos was convicted on various counts. Flanagan is a major supporter of corporate reform, especially charter schools and vouchers. He is no friend of public education.
This fall he faces a challenge from a highly qualified Democrat in his district: Peter Magistrale. Peter is working closely with parent leaders on Long Island who understand the problems and needs of the public schools. He will fight for us and with us.
Please reach out and help him! His election would not only change the leadership of the State Senate, but return control to the Democratic party. Governor Cuomo has already said that he will do nothing to help Democratic candidates for the State Senate. The governor prefers to work with the Republicans. The Senate is currently divided with 32 Democrats and 31 Republicans, but five renegade Democrats caucus with the Republicans to exercise greater leverage for themselves and their districts.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Reblogged this on Matthews' Blog.
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Actually, to get the endorsement of the Working Families Party, Cuomo did state he would work towards a Democrat controlled Senate. The problem is he lied through his teeth and did nothing to help to help the Democrats.
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Strange, a Democratic governor who was compelled to support Democratic senate candidates then refused to do so
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dianeravitch
What is so Strange about that . What is strange about a Democratic President’s 6 or 7 major policy initiatives being on the Republican wish list. What is so strange about Omnibus budget bill being passed by the Senate in 2014 with provisions that gutted the protection of multi employer defined benefit pension plans, among other things . Similar to the Commodities Futures Modernization act of the 2000 lame duck . Or the TPP that will be pushed by a Democratic President in the lame duck.
Those 5 or 6 NYS Democrats are any different, than the 26 who passed the fast track bill. Hint if they needed 29, it would be there . It is a dog and pony show.
It is only strange if you are under the delusion that the Democrats are still the party of Roosevelt and Johnson. Sooner or later it will Result in Truman’s dictum ,”Given the choice between a Republican and someone who acts like a Republican, people will vote for the real Republican all the time” This time around ,when it does head for the hills .
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Dr. Ravitch,
Please be advised that Sen. Flangan’s district is in Suffolk County, not Nassau County.
It includes the areas of Centereach, Commack, Coram, Deer Park, Dix Hills, East Northport, East Setauket, Farmingville, Fort Salonga, Greenlawn, Hauppauge, Huntington, Huntington Station, Kings Park, Lake Grove, Lake Ronkonkoma, Medford, Melville, Nesconset, Northport, Port Jefferson Station, Port Jefferson, Ronkonkoma, South Setauket, Selden, Setauket, Smithtown, St. James and Stony Brook.
I am a retired educator of 37 years in the Hempstead Public Schools and on the executive board of the Hempstead Educators Retiree Association. I live in East Northport so Sen. Flanagan is MY state senator. I have picketed his office protesting his pro ‘reform’ efforts and will continue to do everything in my power to see that he is not reelected.
Thank you for providing the link to Peter Magistrale’s campaign website on which I just volunteered to help get him elected.
I admire you greatly, read ‘Reign of Error’, heard you speak last year at CW Post at an opt-out event and am an avid reader of your blog.
Thank you for all you do to halt the bogus educational ‘reform’ movement.
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Arthur,
Thanks for the correction. Funny that Flanagan lives in the heart of opt-out country and opposes the parents in his district.
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