I came across this article, and I thought it would be important to share. Its from August 24th and it features M.A.T.Hs team own Thomas Leung and Henry Song.The reason why I think it is interesting is because it shows the M.A.T.H team at it earliest stages, before Mr. Bentancourt endorsed them and used the Harry L. Bain bussing issue to gein momentum for his M.A.T.H team (betancourt2015.wordpress/2014/09/27/betancurt-joins-with-parents-to-protest-the-school-transportation-issue-for-wny-children/) There is another person featured throughout the article, but Im not going to name them because is of no concern. But that person has some interesting insight, they say things like A lot of them (parents) actually send their children (to school) to neighboring towns ... And then a lot of them go to private schools in Hoboken, Jersey City, Englewood. Mr. Song (member of M.A.T.H), at another point of the article said “I’ve seen so many close friends leave as soon as their kids reach the age of kindergarten, they’ve moved on into Bergen County, into different school districts, they’ve been sending their children to private preschools and things of that nature ... because the education system here in West New York is average at best, they just wanted to put their children into a better system, because as it says in the article according to the parent interviewed new parents along the waterfront feel a “countdown” when their children begin approaching school age. They must weigh the available options for schooling, and many elect to move away rather than choose from what they perceive as unacceptable alternatives. I guess thats why they want their own school? Because the education system here is average at best and an unacceptable alternative? As one reads the article, one learns that once the parents of the waterfront community learned that they were trapped in this educational nightmare, they created School Movement on the Hudson, and their mission was to lobby for a school to serve the waterfront communities. Not all of West New York, just the water front communities. Why? because “I don’t want to put my 5-year-old on a bus for an hour fighting either George Washington traffic or Lincoln Tunnel traffic to go to or come home from school.” Said the parent interviewed. Because, as weve learned the schools uphill are an unacceptable alternative. Now, before I go on, I want to point out, and make it clear, that I do not believe that the views of the parent that was interviewed are the views of the M.A.T.H team. However, I do believe that it represents the views of the general public of the waterfront community. Lets say that Mr. Song and Mr. Leung along with the other members of the M.A.T.H team are running for the BoE so they can improve the education system in West New York, because as Mr. Song said it is average at best. What are they bringing to the table? So far we only know that they want a school down by the river. Anything else? “In the end of the day, this is for all these towns,” said Leung. “Because if we get a school down here, whether it be public, private, or charter, everyone down here is involved.” All these towns Mr. Leung, you do know that you are running for the BoE of only one town, right? “We approached the [West New York] municipality to try and do something,” he continued, “but mostly there’s been no response. So we decided to take matters into our own hands.” That meant doing their own research into the possibility of creating a new school on the waterfront. It seems that all the M.A.T.H team wants is to segregate West New York, how else would you explain that they are running for the BoE just to have the power and means to build their own school? I was expecting that the answer was NO, then I read that Mr. Leung in on the Board of Trustees of the Port Imperial Condo Association, so I decided to check it out, see what has they done for the West New York community. I went to their website, and click on your community and learned that I have to Sign Up, but in order to sign up you have to have a Port Imperial address (https://associationvoice/page/25641~424200/Welcome-to-Your-Community-Online) And honestly I wasnt surprised, after all, for all intense and purposes they are a gated community separated from the rest of West New York, and again, their message is lets build a school for the waterfront community. One West New York? Yeah, one over here and one over there. Yesterday, on another discussion, Dan brought an interesting point. Real state is premium value, one of the most expensive in the north east, so how are they going to get the money for the school? The articles shows us the alternatives they are working on We’re very much looking forward to meeting him (Arthur Imperatore) to discuss the possibility of having a school for his legacy.” or recognizing that real estate along the waterfront is premium property, they plan to reach out to Roseland, the primary developer in the region, for their input on a viable location, the article says. This is where it gets interesting. Roseland Properties (roselandproperty/index.html) owns a bunch of properties along the waterfront, both in WNY and Weehaken. One of those properties is Hudson Club (hudsonclubnj/edgewater-nj-condos-developer/ ... you can also go to the Roseland website roselandproperty/CORP_SITE/comm_sale_hudson.html). Whats so special about the Hudson Club? The article reveals that Mr. Song is a real estate agent at Hudson Club. On the ticket for the M.A.T.H. team, it is mentioned that Mr. Song is a real state salesman at Douglas Elliman, what it fails to mention is that Mr. Song began his real estate career as an onsite salesperson for the Hudson Club at Port Imperial ... he gained intimate knowledge of the inner workings of a community in transition. He stepped up to meet the challenge and sold out the property in 2013. (srokaworldwideteam.elliman/about/11101?with-sales=1) So, basically, if the M.A.T.H team wins and go to Roseland Properties to talk about building the school on one of their properties, as Mr. Leung said, it basically would be Mr. Song talking to his old buddies, an old client and make business as usual. It would be a win win situation for everyone. Roseland sales some property and makes money, the waterfront community gets a brand new school at no monetary cost because we the people would be paying for that bill. Meanwhile they split the money among each other. Does it still look like a group of genuinely concerned citizens working for the future of our children? I just wonder how does Mr. Bentancourt fits into all of this? I would like to see who are contributing to his campaign, maybe there we will find the answer as to why he is so supportive of a new school for the river community. Finally, what caught my eye were Mr. Songs words we see that the Board of Education in this town, it’s an absolute farce. There are some members who have done some good, but there are other members who have no business being on a Board of Education. It’s terrible. It’s cronyism at its worst. And I agree with him, I wouldnt want to see someone sitting on the board who has business ties to a potential developer if a new school for the water front community is built. Mr. Song went on, “We need members of the Board of Education that really care about the education of the children, have no political affiliations, have no aspirations to be politicians, and have no incentive in doing this other than the welfare of the children of this town. So why then, M.A.T.H Team, did you agree to run as Mr. Bentancourts Board of Education team. (betancourt2015.wordpress/2014/09/26/carlos-chucky-betancourt-officially-endorses-the-m-a-t-h-team-for-2014-wny-board-of-education-election/) Why M.A.T.H team, if in August you said, and I quote directly from you We need members of the Board of Education that really care about the education of the children, have no political affiliations are you going into November with a political affiliation. This is why I do not support the M.A.T.H Team. They want to segregate West New York, and are backed by a politician who wants to gentrify West New York. Im not against of a new wealthier demographic moving into West New York, but understand that we are a proud immigrant working class community, and you obey to our rules. You dont get to come in, and buy us out. Not while the people are standing for their rights.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 21:22:27 +0000
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