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Anonymous wrote:If you don’t like the podcast, feel free to host your own. I’ve found them to be a good, easy way to hear about various candidates for local office. I don’t see any other groups or parties providing that type of opportunity for civic engagement and dissemination of public information. Not sure why you are so hateful towards them. They do this in their spare time and have a little fun with it. The candidates always seem very engaged too!

Also, who in your mind would have been a better alternative candidates for this recent school board position? I appreciate that two people took the time to put their names in and were willing to campaign for local office with very little lead time.

This is always such a silly argument - if you don't like the mayor, feel free to run for mayor. If you don't like the President, feel free to run for President.

No dissent or criticism is ever allowed in Alexandria, is it?

This is why logic should be taught in all schools.

Encouraging participation in the democratic process is silly? I don’t understand complaining, but not seeking some alternative solution. I’m all for dissent, however, the solution for bad governance is to roll up our sleeves!

Nice straw man. But it's also amusing you think 1) a little local podcast is part of the "democratic process" 2) that there even is a "democratic process" in Alexandria.

Again, what are you proposing as a solution? I have yet to see an actual suggestion.

That's because there are no solutions for ACPS. This is exactly what the voters want. I spent years thinking if one there was one person on the board who was good on education for just a little bit of the time there could be incremental improvement.

Nolan? Awful. Cindy Anderson? Hated parents and pretended she didn't know about housing on school grounds. Margaret Lorber was barely coherent most of the time and also hated parents. Ramee Gentry? Ha! Said that some parents' views were more important than others. Campbell? Believed the well paid consultants and would tell anyone who would listen that there wouldn't be any increases in the number of school children.

And they all hired, kept, and handsomely rewarded that disaster Hutchings.

Alderton was Chair and she never sent her kids to ACPS. And was barely criticized for it. Reif has some bizarre conspiracy theories that she pedals to donors.

Elnoubi talked a good game but he just wanted to run for city council. Baird is a Hutchings fangirl who flails about. Booz has a massive conflict of interest and never did anything the last time on the SB. She spent at least the last year trying to change the SB elections. And failed spectacularly. Changing the SB elections was her (and Baird's) priority. Not education. Green pretends that she hasn't been on the school board for years when she calls the curriculum racist. And is now running for city council.

And they all hired the current superintendent who has no experience and was handpicked by Hutchings. All of them follow orders from a bloated central office.

At this point, why does Alexandria even have a school board? Really? So maybe that's my solution - dissolve the school board.

Senior staff at central office don't send their kids to ACPS - they've gone private. Follow their examples and go private too.

The reality is that this failing school system is what the voters want. You're wasting your time (just like I did for years). This is what Alexandria wants. And why?

Because this absolute disaster benefits UMC kids who get to claim that they go to an urban school on college applications but who are in fact segregated from the kids who are trapped in this system. It's absolutely systemically racist and classist and Alexandrians love it. So just exploit the system, quietly get your kids tutors, join PTAC, and scream at people who criticize ACPS. Or go private.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t like the podcast, feel free to host your own. I’ve found them to be a good, easy way to hear about various candidates for local office. I don’t see any other groups or parties providing that type of opportunity for civic engagement and dissemination of public information. Not sure why you are so hateful towards them. They do this in their spare time and have a little fun with it. The candidates always seem very engaged too!

Also, who in your mind would have been a better alternative candidates for this recent school board position? I appreciate that two people took the time to put their names in and were willing to campaign for local office with very little lead time.

This is always such a silly argument - if you don't like the mayor, feel free to run for mayor. If you don't like the President, feel free to run for President.

No dissent or criticism is ever allowed in Alexandria, is it?

This is why logic should be taught in all schools.

Encouraging participation in the democratic process is silly? I don’t understand complaining, but not seeking some alternative solution. I’m all for dissent, however, the solution for bad governance is to roll up our sleeves!

Nice straw man. But it's also amusing you think 1) a little local podcast is part of the "democratic process" 2) that there even is a "democratic process" in Alexandria.

Again, what are you proposing as a solution? I have yet to see an actual suggestion.

Anonymous wrote:Only 5% of District A voters voted. That is really disgusting in a city that prides itself on civic engagement. I didn't vote for Tim Beaty. I voted for Gina Baum. But I would not say anything bad about Beaty. He is a nice man with good values. I am a lifelong Dem and I don't like how the ADC was so involved particularly the SB chair campaigning for Mr. Beaty and endorsing him. It's like a HS popularity contest. Who is more ADC? Both candidates are long time ADC volunteers but only Baum is a parent. Let's hope Mr. Beaty works to get the teachers' steps restored and living wages for bus drivers and cafeteria workers!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t like the podcast, feel free to host your own. I’ve found them to be a good, easy way to hear about various candidates for local office. I don’t see any other groups or parties providing that type of opportunity for civic engagement and dissemination of public information. Not sure why you are so hateful towards them. They do this in their spare time and have a little fun with it. The candidates always seem very engaged too!

Also, who in your mind would have been a better alternative candidates for this recent school board position? I appreciate that two people took the time to put their names in and were willing to campaign for local office with very little lead time.

This is always such a silly argument - if you don't like the mayor, feel free to run for mayor. If you don't like the President, feel free to run for President.

No dissent or criticism is ever allowed in Alexandria, is it?

This is why logic should be taught in all schools.

Encouraging participation in the democratic process is silly? I don’t understand complaining, but not seeking some alternative solution. I’m all for dissent, however, the solution for bad governance is to roll up our sleeves!

Nice straw man. But it's also amusing you think 1) a little local podcast is part of the "democratic process" 2) that there even is a "democratic process" in Alexandria.

Anonymous wrote:Anyways, Tim won. Awesome.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t like the podcast, feel free to host your own. I’ve found them to be a good, easy way to hear about various candidates for local office. I don’t see any other groups or parties providing that type of opportunity for civic engagement and dissemination of public information. Not sure why you are so hateful towards them. They do this in their spare time and have a little fun with it. The candidates always seem very engaged too!

Also, who in your mind would have been a better alternative candidates for this recent school board position? I appreciate that two people took the time to put their names in and were willing to campaign for local office with very little lead time.

This is always such a silly argument - if you don't like the mayor, feel free to run for mayor. If you don't like the President, feel free to run for President.

No dissent or criticism is ever allowed in Alexandria, is it?

This is why logic should be taught in all schools.

Encouraging participation in the democratic process is silly? I don’t understand complaining, but not seeking some alternative solution. I’m all for dissent, however, the solution for bad governance is to roll up our sleeves!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t like the podcast, feel free to host your own. I’ve found them to be a good, easy way to hear about various candidates for local office. I don’t see any other groups or parties providing that type of opportunity for civic engagement and dissemination of public information. Not sure why you are so hateful towards them. They do this in their spare time and have a little fun with it. The candidates always seem very engaged too!

Also, who in your mind would have been a better alternative candidates for this recent school board position? I appreciate that two people took the time to put their names in and were willing to campaign for local office with very little lead time.

This is always such a silly argument - if you don't like the mayor, feel free to run for mayor. If you don't like the President, feel free to run for President.

No dissent or criticism is ever allowed in Alexandria, is it?

This is why logic should be taught in all schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t like the podcast, feel free to host your own. I’ve found them to be a good, easy way to hear about various candidates for local office. I don’t see any other groups or parties providing that type of opportunity for civic engagement and dissemination of public information. Not sure why you are so hateful towards them. They do this in their spare time and have a little fun with it. The candidates always seem very engaged too!

Also, who in your mind would have been a better alternative candidates for this recent school board position? I appreciate that two people took the time to put their names in and were willing to campaign for local office with very little lead time.

Because they all laughed when their guest Tammy Ignacio mocked hispanic voters. That's why.

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t like the podcast, feel free to host your own. I’ve found them to be a good, easy way to hear about various candidates for local office. I don’t see any other groups or parties providing that type of opportunity for civic engagement and dissemination of public information. Not sure why you are so hateful towards them. They do this in their spare time and have a little fun with it. The candidates always seem very engaged too!

Also, who in your mind would have been a better alternative candidates for this recent school board position? I appreciate that two people took the time to put their names in and were willing to campaign for local office with very little lead time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Tim Beaty won (as expected).

And Beaty admitted why it was “expected” - https://www.alxnow.com/2024/01/09/just-in-retired-teamsters-deputy-director-wins-alexandria-school-board-special-election/

He acknowledged currying favor with the establishment to get endorsements and Alexandria voters again do not vote for change to the school board and the central office will again face no pressure to try to meaningfully ACPS - a failing school system.

I got my child out and I am not going back but I hate that my taxes go to fund this mess and many families lack the resources to get out.

That's called running for office.

How is that any different from what the other candidate did? She had some HUGE establishment people on her endorsement list. Nate Macek is the guy who has been working for years to abolish SFZ with the Mayor. Chapman?

This is supposed to be a non partisan election. Beaty announced and gathered signatures at the Alexandria Democratic Committee meeting. As an outsider, it sure looks like Beaty worked to get the power players in the ADC on his side to put him in position to be elected in a low turnout election.

My comment isn’t really about Beaty personally - he can run however he wants. My frustration is that the insiders who endorsed him (especially Greene and Rief who announced their endorsement almost immediately after the slate was set) without even considering the alternative candidate who was willing to speak truthfully about ACPS (even if you want to characterize her as a establishment candidate as well)

You must have been outraged during the last school board election (and the one before that and the one before that). Yes, school board is supposed to be non partisan. Didn't stop all of them from campaigning at Dem events and cozying up to McAuliffe (you know - the guy who said parents shouldn't have a say in their kids education).

What about the dem wine mom podcast that the ADC fronts? The one where the Dem wine moms get together and pat the guests on that back for drinking, being democrats and in Tammy Ignacio's case make fun of Hispanic people? The one where both Baum and Beaty were guests?

Yes - my view was the same in prior elections. My view is that ACPS has been horrible for years and never meaningfully changes.

On the podcast, yes Ignacio should be blasted for her comments. I don’t blame candidates for appearing on it because there were/are so few settings to get your position/views out to the public.

So SOMETIMES its aok for the candidates to be partisan. Just not when you don't like it or your person doesn't win. Got it.

Why is appearing on a podcast (even if hosted by democrats) partisan?

If there was a podcast in Alexandria with republican leaning hosts on which the candidates could have appeared, I would have been fine with that too.

It's not "hosted" by Democrats. It's organized by the party. That's what makes it partisian. And they don't allow candidates who are suspected of being Republicans come one. So yeah the Dem wine mom podcast is partisan.

The podcast is hosted by the “Democratic Social Club” - I don’t think that is Alexandria’s official arm of the Democratic Party. But, you may be correct they would not host a school board candidate they suspect is a Republican. So, maybe you are correct that school board candidates should have avoided that forum.

In the end, I still think there were meaningful differences between these two candidates (because the losing candidate focused her campaign on open discussion of ACPS’s issues) and very early a lot of the establishment rallied behind Beaty and against the candidate who wanted to discuss ACPS issues openly (even though Baum did get endorsements as well ).

And, the result was that the candidate who will surely promote the status quo won again.

I AM correct that they won't. There is no MAY about it. They talk about it on the podcast and in their promotion of it. It IS partisan. And Gina LOVED her appearance on this partisan, establishment, and lame podcast. So stop clutching your pearls about how Beaty was partisan.

Gina is the status quo. There isn't an ounce of difference between her and Beaty.

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t like the podcast, feel free to host your own. I’ve found them to be a good, easy way to hear about various candidates for local office. I don’t see any other groups or parties providing that type of opportunity for civic engagement and dissemination of public information. Not sure why you are so hateful towards them. They do this in their spare time and have a little fun with it. The candidates always seem very engaged too!

Also, who in your mind would have been a better alternative candidates for this recent school board position? I appreciate that two people took the time to put their names in and were willing to campaign for local office with very little lead time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tim Beaty won (as expected).

And Beaty admitted why it was “expected” - https://www.alxnow.com/2024/01/09/just-in-retired-teamsters-deputy-director-wins-alexandria-school-board-special-election/

He acknowledged currying favor with the establishment to get endorsements and Alexandria voters again do not vote for change to the school board and the central office will again face no pressure to try to meaningfully ACPS - a failing school system.

I got my child out and I am not going back but I hate that my taxes go to fund this mess and many families lack the resources to get out.

That's called running for office.

How is that any different from what the other candidate did? She had some HUGE establishment people on her endorsement list. Nate Macek is the guy who has been working for years to abolish SFZ with the Mayor. Chapman?

This is supposed to be a non partisan election. Beaty announced and gathered signatures at the Alexandria Democratic Committee meeting. As an outsider, it sure looks like Beaty worked to get the power players in the ADC on his side to put him in position to be elected in a low turnout election.

My comment isn’t really about Beaty personally - he can run however he wants. My frustration is that the insiders who endorsed him (especially Greene and Rief who announced their endorsement almost immediately after the slate was set) without even considering the alternative candidate who was willing to speak truthfully about ACPS (even if you want to characterize her as a establishment candidate as well)

You must have been outraged during the last school board election (and the one before that and the one before that). Yes, school board is supposed to be non partisan. Didn't stop all of them from campaigning at Dem events and cozying up to McAuliffe (you know - the guy who said parents shouldn't have a say in their kids education).

What about the dem wine mom podcast that the ADC fronts? The one where the Dem wine moms get together and pat the guests on that back for drinking, being democrats and in Tammy Ignacio's case make fun of Hispanic people? The one where both Baum and Beaty were guests?

Yes - my view was the same in prior elections. My view is that ACPS has been horrible for years and never meaningfully changes.

On the podcast, yes Ignacio should be blasted for her comments. I don’t blame candidates for appearing on it because there were/are so few settings to get your position/views out to the public.

So SOMETIMES its aok for the candidates to be partisan. Just not when you don't like it or your person doesn't win. Got it.

Why is appearing on a podcast (even if hosted by democrats) partisan?

If there was a podcast in Alexandria with republican leaning hosts on which the candidates could have appeared, I would have been fine with that too.

It's not "hosted" by Democrats. It's organized by the party. That's what makes it partisian. And they don't allow candidates who are suspected of being Republicans come one. So yeah the Dem wine mom podcast is partisan.

The podcast is hosted by the “Democratic Social Club” - I don’t think that is Alexandria’s official arm of the Democratic Party. But, you may be correct they would not host a school board candidate they suspect is a Republican. So, maybe you are correct that school board candidates should have avoided that forum.

In the end, I still think there were meaningful differences between these two candidates (because the losing candidate focused her campaign on open discussion of ACPS’s issues) and very early a lot of the establishment rallied behind Beaty and against the candidate who wanted to discuss ACPS issues openly (even though Baum did get endorsements as well ).

And, the result was that the candidate who will surely promote the status quo won again.