he said she said

Bloomberg Calls Attacks on Cathie Black ‘Embarrassing for America’

Last week, City Schools Chancellor Cathie Black was verbally lambasted by angry parents at a hearing on the proposed closure of twelve Brooklyn schools. (People shouted, “Cathie Black is wack.”) Black shot back by saying, “I cannot speak if you are shouting.” Now Bloomberg is defending the woman he appointed. “This is embarrassing for New York City, New York state, for America,” he said, of parents’ behavior toward Black last week. “This is not democracy — letting people yell and scream. That’s not freedom of expression. That’s just trying to take away somebody else’s rights.” But this is a democracy, so now Bloomberg’s coming under attack. Teachers Union President Mike Mulgrew called Bloomberg’s comments “the height of hypocrisy.” Mulgrew explained: “It’s apparent the mayor shares his definition of democracy with Hosni Mubarak.” [NYP]

Bloomberg Calls Attacks on Cathie Black ‘Embarrassing for America’