EXCLUSIVE: Teachers union boss says Andrew Cuomo should visit a New York classroom rather than Cuba

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NY Daily News

BY KENNETH LOVETT

ALBANY - The head of the city teachers union is taking aim at Gov. Cuomo's upcoming trip to Cuba, saying if the governor has time to visit the tiny Caribbean country next month he should be able to visit a classroom in New York.

“It's interesting the governor can go to Cuba but he can't get to a classroom in New York State,” United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew told the Daily News. “I guess it's just too far to travel to the public school classrooms."

Mulgrew said while in Cuba Cuomo should check out a classroom there as well to contrast. He said it only makes sense for the governor to actually witness what is going on rather than "just talking to a bunch of businessmen who gave you a lot of money."

"It's not a gimmick," he said "It's something we're very serious about. Go to a classroom in a highly impoverished area of New York City. See what they're doing."

FULL story at link.

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Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/teachers-union-boss-slams-andrew-cuomo-cuba-visit-article-1.2142290

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Huzzah!

There are MANY (including Democrats other than Cuomo) taking junkets down to Cuba now that they "can". It's remarkable. And having had an extreme winter in the NE and midatlantic, the beaches must be nice. Maybe they can take time to do the same to not only area schools, but to public housing, and neighborhoods without a bank or a supermarket... And with the recent announcement of closure of "Bottom Dollar Food" stores in NY, NJ, and right here in Philly, that had supermarkets in previously under-served areas, the urgency for getting something as a replacement at those locations, is certainly there.

[hedgehog]

2. Good one!

[Lurks Often]

3. Hey, it's been a rough winter, stop giving Cuomo a hard time for going somewhere warm!

I mean it might hit 46 here in the Northeast and Havana is a sunny 72. Don't those teachers have ANY sympathy for the poor man?

[Enthusiast]

4. Third Way Andrew Cuomo is unfit to call himself a Democrat.