Fight Fascism - in Unity Caucus - As Mulgrew and Trump Exhibit Similar Behavior Patterns - YOU'RE FIRED, ARISE Coalition Focuses on Trump

ABC supporters and acquaintances purged. Unity purge continues with more firings of those who ran with ABC or were seen as being too friendly. We learned of 2 more firings over the past few days, one was a Unity Caucus member and one was one of the few people who always ran with the oppo who kept a part-time job at the UFT despite that but apparently running with ABC was too much.

Friday, Sept. 5, 2025

I'm taking the 8 AM ferry tomorrow morning into the city for the Labor Day parade. The UFT contingent takes off around 11 and I will march with them and circle back to march with the NYC Retirees at 1:30. The Retiree UFT Chapter will be focused on fighting fascism. I don't agree that should be the focus because it is so much virtue signaling. As one CL said: Trump must be trembling. 

Also marching will be a contingent of supporters of Ashley Rzonca, fired district rep from District 30 and I will march with them as I think the fight against fascism starts with Mulgrew and his Unity gang.

I see that revolt as the first potential super serious break in Unity control in its 60-year history of control. At a recent meeting where battling Trump fascism was discussed - watch the signs at the parade- I pointed out that when one political entity controls the largest union local in the nation for 60 years - and in the recent election where Unity got 54% of the vote but gets 100% of the officers, Exec Bd and AFT/NYSUT Delegates - well I call that fascism. 

On Thursday, 20 people gathered at UFT HQ to make "Fight Fascism" signs for Saturday's Labor Day march while they will march with the Unity Caucus Fascists who lead our union. These are the same people who attack Marianne Pizzitola for being an authoritarian. Speaking of which,  

I did attend the Happy 65th Birthday event at City Hall on Tuesday with Marianne's NYC Retirees to promote law 1096, opposed by our own union leaders who are more focused on saving the city money than saving our healthcare.  

Arthur Goldstein covered the event on Sep 02, 2025: At City Hall, We Stand for Medicare, Later, Unity holds a meeting praising themselves

The event supporting 1096 was very light hearted and fun. it was good to see some of my Retiree Advocates colleagues there with the RTC banner. 

Afterwards I went to lunch with an academic doing research on the UFT. I may earn a citation when the best-selling book comes out one day. And think of the movie rights. Who will play Mulgrew and Randi?

Chris Marte, whose politics probably echo Mamdani, and who has been our champion on 1096, has thrown his hat into the ring for City Council speaker and promises an independent council, which should be interesting if both he and Mamdani win. 

‘Retirees’ Champion’ Chris Marte Introduces Plan to Reform Autocratic NYC Council and Become Next Speaker

 

 

I've had some interesting conversations with some people associated with the ARISE caucus crowd, consisting of MORE, NAC and RA. 

 

I spent a great day with MORE/ARISE officer candidate Jessica Beck who led me on a bird watching expedition at Jamaica Wildlife preserve and I led her on a tour of my garden, Breezy Point, and we spent some time at Fort Tilden beach which, in the late afternoon, was empty and wonderful.  Jessica introduced me to this oyster catcher and pointed to all the flying birds with fish in their claws or mouths. It was not all about da birds. We also had some deep talks about the union, the election and general politics, not always agreeing, but always respectful. Jessica is one of the people capable of bringing people together. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some conversations with others connected to ARISE have not gone as well. There's a strong sense of self-righteousness based on their supposed willingness to take on controversial political issues - but not necessarily the Israel issue - unless it was with a front group. Some attack ABC for not taking on Trump as a way to attract Trump supporters in the election. ABC put out a survey before the election on issues of most concern and the Trump issue was nowhere to be found. My response is if you really want to fight Trump elect a more militant union leadership that will fight the Taylor Law penalties instead of hiding behind them and work with other unions to build enough power to close down the nation. Even Trump supporters, when faced with the kinds of attacks on their jobs, may see the light.

At the Labor Day parade, RTC will focus on fighting fascism. Here is a section of their leaflet:

 

Fundamentally, there is a sense they don't run to win but to make their political points. Instead of member-driven based on working with others to address the major issues of concern - like the threats to their jobs and working conditions from charter schools -- or threats to their healthcare -- they often focus on supporting other unions (not a bad thing) while ignoring political struggles closer to home -- like the rally for 1096 or the D. 30 revolt or the Mulgrew purges.

District 30 CLs Boycott UFT CL Training, Inside Un...

More Mulgrew Purges as District 30 Parents, Teache...

 

One of the most egregious purges was David Kazansky who originally was pushed out of his Teacher Retirement position but given a specially created AFT job out of 52 Broadway but was fired from that job in June and is going back to the classroom. 

Arthur Goldstein wrote in Feb 16, 2024 about the move to oust him from TRS:

Unity Punishes Competence: And promotes mediocrity, directly hurting rank and file

UFT Unity has priorities. Alas, their ostensible job, serving the members, is not among them. If it were, why would they be getting rid of David Kazansky? Kazansky is a pension trustee, and a very effective advocate. I know this firsthand, because when I’ve had questions, he’s listened, done research, and come back with accurate answers. This placed him in stark contrast with multiple UFT Unity employees who’ve stated whatever passed through their minds that moment and hoped for the best.

Kazansky has been snatched up by AFT. Evidently someone there recognizes his ability and wishes to put it to use. So our loss is their gain. Why wasn’t Kazansky put up for re-election?

That’s pretty simple, actually. There are several UFT reps from District 11 in the Bronx. There’s Kazansky, headed for AFT, Amy Arundell, now sorting paper clips over at 52, maybe, and Paul Egan, now (gasp!) actually working in a classroom as a teacher. My gosh, what a sorry fate! (Not even sent to do nothing over at HQ,)

David recently wrote about his situation on substack: 

Back To Where It All Began: 

It's time for me to get a few things off my chest about my forced departure from the UFT and reflect on my decades of proud union service.

David Kazansky

Sep 01, 2025

The President of the UFT decided that the hundreds of thousands of in-service UFT members and retirees would be better off without me around. That my contributions as a full-time union rep for nearly 2 decades – longer if you count my PM staff work – amount to nothing as long as it satisfies Michael Mulgrew’s deep and dark emotional need to hurt those who do not conform to his definition of unquestioning devotion and fealty...

Opposition to arbitrary and capricious behavior, policy, and leadership is what led me and many others to union work. I find it terribly unfortunate that you are expected to abandon those principles once you are part of the UFT corporation.

 

 I haven't written much about the healthcare changes though I did say a few words about the support given by some RTC reps on the Mulgrew appointed healthcare committee. More to come. Here is a snippet of opposition the RTC people don't seem to have while the ABC chats blew up with comments. 

The Chief Leader - City Unions Announce New Municiple Health Plan

 https://thechiefleader.com/stories/city-unions-announce-new-municipal-health-plan,55018 

Rush to judgment

Posted Wednesday, September 3, 2025 2:04 pm

To the editor:

The city has announced a new health plan for active city employees, pre-Medicare retirees and their dependents. A joint proposal from EmblemHealth and United Healthcare was selected, subject to ratification by the Municipal Labor Committee. 

The lead up included promises of transparency by MLC leaders, who don’t want to repeat missteps that doomed the original Medicare Advantage plan for retirees. (In a 2021 court decision won by the New York City Organization of Public Service Retirees, Judge Lyle Frank called the process “irrational.”)

In 2023, the MLC approved a Medicare Advantage plan for Aetna — without having read the contract. There are already red flags that indicate no lessons learned.

For one day only, the MLC will provide one representative from each union “access to the contract agreement and exhibits … at the offices of DC 37.”

Actual members will not be able to view and provide feedback to their leaders before the ratification vote, hurriedly planned for late September.

Meanwhile, the United Federation of Teachers” health committee quickly voted to send the proposal to their delegate assembly —also without having seen the actual contract.

The selection of United Healthcare was made against the backdrop of a Department of Justice investigation of their Medicare Advantage billing practices. The probe focuses on allegations that the company manipulates patient diagnoses to receive higher payments from the federal government.

Finally, as the MLC barrels towards a vote, it can’t be ignored that their secretary, Teamsters 237 President Gregory Floyd, serves on the Board of EmblemHealth. 

In a perfect world, he would either step down from the board or recuse himself from the vote.

As he is in the running to succeed Harry Nespoli as chair of the MLC, it would definitely be the right thing to do, morally and politically.

Harry Weiner

The writer is a member of the Council of Municipal Retiree Organizations.

 And some pics from the City Hall event.

Mayoral Race Heats Up: Adams Bought Off, Evil Eva Moskowitz, Fearing Mamdani, Holding Pro Charter/Cuomo Rally

Moskowitz urged families to attend an all-hands-on-deck “Rally and March for Excellence” on Sept. 18. Classroom instruction will be canceled so students, staff and families can march across the Brooklyn Bridge. Moskowitz also asked parents to “contact their elected officials five times.” The email, which described powerful “anti-charter forces,” did not mention Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani by name. But Mamdani is the only major mayoral candidate running in November who has been critical of charters. -- Elizabeth Kim 

Want to fight fascism? Organize a protest to this rally.

Bulletin: Adams says he's running - until a better offer comes along.
 

Thursday, Sept. 4 - 

Happy Back to School (I don't mean that as I was never truly happy to end my 2 months of freedom for the regimentation of school - though I was happy to see (some of) my colleagues and (most of) the children.

When I see current and former educators attack Mamdani, I imagine they have forgotten the charter wars of a decade ago when Cuomo backed Eva and forced our school system to pay the rent for charter schools and other attacks on public schools and our union which responded with a campaign against Cuomo that backed him off. 

In March 2014 I wrote: 

The Wave - The Lies Eva Moskowitz Tells: More Destructive Than Global Warming

Eva has around 50 non-union schools. You may hate Mulgrew and Unity but they are better than no union at all. Despite the DOE chaos, many charter school teachers would prefer working in union backed schools.

Then there is the breaking and shocking news that Adams can be bought. I've been telling people who claim his ego won't let him drop out that he is just waiting for billionaires to come up with enough money to buy him off. I don't think Curtis Sliwa, who I actually like personally and even to some extent politically, will kill is credibility by dropping out. 

Recent polls show Cuomo would win in a head to head with Mamdani, which I believe would happen -- some liberals in my own circle of contacts tell me they would back Cuomo -- the anti-Mamdani hysterical propaganda does penetrate. Last week I had to explain to family liberals that he is not taking over all the groceries in NYC - like in seizing the means of production - but setting up 5 groceries in food desert areas of each borough where there are no supermarkets.

As for childcare, he is offering a plan to extend the pre-k to pre-pre-k and beyond. I expect it can work fairly quickly by going for a gradual plan to include 2 year olds and using free space in public schools. Kicking charters out would help. How will he pay for it all? 2% tax on those making a million dollars a year. All those in that category, raise your hands. Seeing no one, I wonder at the hostility by those who don't make that much money over the poor plight of millionaires. 

Someone asked me about Hochul not supporting any of his proposals and I pointed out that she is running for governor against a more liberal primary opponent and she will have to show some support on the affordability question in both the primary and general against that awful Trumpie Elise Stefanik who will get enormous national support. Hochul will not win - unless Mamdani mobilizes his people for her. 

Retiree Chapter Leaders Offer Tentative Support for UFT Healthcare Changes - While Some aligned with ABC call for a Membership vote

The UFT Retired Teacher Chapter is supporting this rally organized by the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees and we hope you can make it! Spread the word. 

Tuesday September 2nd         

                                             11am at City Hall

It is  Mayor Eric Adams birthday, and guess what?  He turns 65 years old & is now eligible for Medicare!   The time is NOW!!   We have to highlight at this press conference/rally that this is the BEST way to protect our Medicare and earned and vested benefits.  He must tell the Speaker to get this bill to the floor so he can sign it.  It will be held on the STEPS OF CITY HALL. Arrive by 10:15am

Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025

I'm about to head over to the ferry to attend the rally but wanted to get this out. See Marianne Friday night video: 

Friday Night LiVE Special Update August 29th with the NEW Health plan info

I laughed out loud (with the mic off) numerous times when I attended an RTC Exec Bd zoom yesterday. Support for the rally by the RTC Exec Bd, loaded with ARISE people who despise Marianne, was a pleasant surprise. The 1096 city council law would protect retirees from evil mayors. (Mamdani won't sign on to that bill even though he indicates he would not put retirees into medicare advantage -he may not have to as Trump and fellow gangsters are going to take care of that.)

Other than support for the rally, I was not a happy camper at the general non-militant response from RTC EB and the Retiree Advocate crew that make up half the EB.  

When I saw this from Unity Caucus claiming unanimous support from the Mulgrew hand-picked healthcare committee and knowing that 4 RTC/RA officers had attended, I asked in an email if they all voted for it given the history of offering misleading and manaipulative information going back to the 2005 contract and getting the hand-picked so-called oppo people to vote for it and then using that fact to claim bi-partisan support when they mass sell it to the membership. There was no response - until yesterday's meeting when to my shock the attendees confirmed they had voted for it under the argument "We can't be opposed to them automatically. Union leaders are not the enemy." 

Holy shit. Some of these people have faced 50 years of Unity deception, manipulation and control and still don't get it. But then again, many of them have been part of New Action which made the dirty deal with Randi over 20 years ago and spent a dozen years finding excuses to stay in that coalition. I call that the New Action (or France's I surrender in WW2) mentality. Some call it a Vichy mentality.

I hung out with a prominent member of MORE last week who told me no one from MORE attended the meeting, so they are off the hook. But RA and NAC are mot. But still watch the Unity hacks praise the loyal ARISE oppo and slam the ABCs for not taking part in a farce.

The very same Unity people who told and sold us that their Medicate Adv plan was better than Medicare. Remember Mulgrew telling us this time and again - it's just a name, they are the same? At the very least, abstain while waiting for full information, a position Marianne seemed to take in her Friday video. (Of course Unity attacked her for that.)

A suggestion that we ask the lawyers Marianne uses to help us figure out what is happening was mocked. "We have UFT lawyers to do that for us. Let's write a letter to Mulgrew asking for UFT lawyers do the job." Yes, it's the "Let's Plead" strategy that's been so successful. 

Meanwhile, the ABC chats have been exploding.

District 30 CLs Boycott UFT CL Training, Inside Unity Complaints

Nothing says "We don't value you or your time" like summoning chapter leaders to an all-day, unpaid training during their vacation, where 95-99% of what's presented is the same info that's been presented for the last 5-10 years. The training could be useful for first-year chapter leaders or someone who hasn't attended in years. For everyone else, it should be a "Here's what's new" email or 15-30 minute asynchronous video presentation. -- former Unity member

I was fired too in June from being a UFT Teacher Center district coach for absolutely no reason. Directly by racist VP Mary Vaccaro As was one of my district coach colleagues. So there are probably more firings than you are aware....anon comment

 

 Thursday Aug. 28, 2025

The NYT had an article about Washington residents responding to the Trump takeover by jeering federal agents. The guy who threw that sandwich is a hero to people.

With Trump’s Takeover, Washington Finds a Mission to Resist: Known more for their museums, monuments and government buildings than their culture, Washingtonians are showing a spirit of dissent as protesters dog federal agents in their streets.

And also note the people at CDC who quit in protest of the firing. Enough is enough is a sign.

 

I bring this story up in the context of the Mulgrew firings having a similar impact on people  - instead of it's intended attempt to scare people. Certainly many full-time employees are frightened. But that won't keep them from being resentful and acting in ways that will not help the Mulgrew gang. 

Last week I wrote about the revolt in District 30 over the firing of Dist Rep Ashley Rzonca that has gotten more views than I've had in years:

• More Mulgrew Purges as District 30 Parents, Teachers, and Local Politicians Rally to Defend Fired UFT District Rep As Internal Resistance Grows 

Tuesday night I attended a NY Public Library comedy night for teachers with some D. 30 folks and heard about this boycott. (The four comedians were very funny.)

Many D30 CLs decided to take an action and not show up. We registered and cancelled and when asked why we were cancelling we wrote our thoughts.... 

Leah, who was also fired in June and has led the resistance has a video:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN2x3YtYtXu/?igsh=Y3Vrb3o2cmg5dTVv 

Think about it. If she hadn't been fired she might have not felt as free to do this level of organizing. A smart leadership would realize that. I hear that a few D. 30 CLs did show up but the vast majority did not. Imagine what the chosen replacement for Ashley Rzonca will be facing. The part-time job holders inside Unity may be feeling it just ain't worth it to work in a toxic environment. 

Don't forget that the ABC coalition included a number of Unity people who had had enough. Keep an eye on how the Mulgrew gang see keeping the 14%ers in ARISE alive as the standard opposition to counter the rise of ABC. (I will have more to say about that growing alliance - NAC/Unity alliance 2.0? Fact is the Unity defectors will head to ABC before setting foot in ARISE.)

I cam across this anonymous post (we think we have guessed the author) from inside the caucus. While some of my colleagues mock anonymity, I do not. Stay inside the tent publicly but back ABC privately. There's a home for you. I'll let that person do the speaking here to give you a sense of internal disaffection as he/she focuses on the hypocrisy of attacking DSA in January as an enemy within the UFT - and exposing the attack was more about fear of Marianne.

The Future of Unity

Even My Students Would Have Seen Through This

The Future of Unity

Aug 20, 2025

---

Before I ever worked for the UFT, I was teaching in a NYC school and I’ll tell you this much, even my students back then would have seen through what’s happening right now.

In January, Unity leadership told us that Arise was basically DSA/MORE with a new name. They handed out a flyer at the Delegate Assembly warning members about “outside agendas,” saying Arise was nothing more than DSA and MORE rebranded, and that we had to protect the union from infiltration. That was supposed to be the line, protect Unity, protect the union, don’t let outsiders run the show. Unity writes on the issue here DSA=MORE=ARISE?

Fast forward six months, and what do we see? Unity leadership looking like it is cutting deals with the very same people we told members to stay away from. This “Educators for Zohran” group is stacked with Arise folks who already lost in the UFT elections. Zohran himself hardly ever shows up. Instead, it is Jamaal Bowman hogging the spotlight, turning the whole thing into his personal comeback tour.

And right in the middle of it all? Briget Rein. Our own City Council liaison. The same Briget Rein who lobbied against the retiree bill and half ass pushed the para bill, fully knowing it never would happen. The same Briget Rein who is supposed to be safeguarding UFT’s political interests at City Hall is now shoulder to shoulder with Arise at their events. How does that square with what we told members in January?

Meanwhile, inside the union, leadership is losing its grip. Members are frustrated, angry, and demanding more. Instead of listening, leadership responded by axing a bunch of people tied to ABC, people who, like it or not, had respect in the schools. A couple are even what I would call friends. We were told this was about “unity and discipline,” but to the rank and file it looks like fear and desperation, cleaning house because Unity no longer knows how to hold the membership together.

And then there is the endorsement. In July, the DA voted to endorse Zohran Mamdani. Anyone who has ever sat in a DA run-through with Mulgrew beforehand knows he never wanted Mamdani. So what changed? Mamdani’s campaign did not even bother to put UFT on their endorsement page for almost six weeks, which tells you everything about where we really stand.

So what are we left with? A union leadership that tells us one thing in January, does another in July, and by August has Briget Rein smiling alongside Arise like nothing ever happened. It feels like some bargain was struck somewhere, and the cost was our credibility.

I have been Unity my whole career. But this does not feel like leadership anymore. It feels like scrambling, cutting deals, and abandoning our own principles. And members in schools see it, they see the contradictions the same way my NYC students would have.

If Unity keeps going down this road, it will not be Arise or ABC that brings us down. We will do it to ourselves.

 

 

More Mulgrew Purges as District 30 Parents, Teachers, and Local Politicians Rally to Defend Fired UFT District Rep As Internal Resistance Grows

Monday, August 18, 2025

You probably haven't noticed. I am not doing too much writing lately. Damn cell phone and internet distractions. I seem to do anything to avoid sitting down and writing. Is it the sitting down or the writing? I can't stand and write. Or I can't stand writing. 

My recent writer's block has delayed my commenting on the firings, a cleansing by Unity Caucus of its perceived dis-loyalists. Mulgrew and crew, when faced with waning popularity, instead of trying to fix it, resort to fear and loathing tactics to try to cow potential opposition into silence and obedience. It might work for some but over time these tactics alienate people in and outside the club. The attacks on Amy Arundell, going back years, brought enough people into ABC to make it a viable opposition. The Pissgate story (I hold the actual proof and when I next get back to writing will cover it as the hired lawyer has been asking me for it) has spread far and wide -- even a DOE guy I know with no interest in the union brought it up to me. 

As with all authoritarian entities, whether on a national or union level, loyalty becomes more obsessive as the pitchforks coming for the leadership multiply. 

A 54% "victory" is getting dangerously close. Rather than look to the reasons for losses of support, authoritarians put the blame on disloyal insiders. Oh, if only they had stuffed more mail boxes with Unity leaflets. Or browbeat people to vote Unity. People who just do their jobs without emphasizing their loyalty become suspect. The most partisan people are the least competent. And incompetents just turn more people off. In the campaign I worked with current and former Unity people who were attacked viciously by certain union officials, which just energized them for the ABC campaign.

Over the years I've joked that Putin uses Unity Caucus as a model for authoritarianism. And Trump certainly seems to be following the same path of loyalty above all over competence - taking it to an extreme. Arthur's latest goes into some detail in comparing Mulgrew/Unity to Trump: Separated at Birth: Mulgrew and Trump--the GOP and Unity .

I always include "Unity" tied to Mulgrew because I think some people make the mistake as seeing the problem mainly as Mulgrew and if there would be a different leader it would be Ok for Unity to control the UFT for over 60 years. And not just to control the UFT, but to fundamentally shut out all opposing voices. Unity with 54% of the vote controls 100% of the Exec Bd and uses its staff to pack the Delegate Assemblies and dominate the amount of time alternate voices get raised. Even at the July 9 Mamdani endorsement, the officers and Mulgrew got to dominate the time, with a few known supportive "oppo" voices included. I think only one or two people were allowed to voice disagreement. This situation has existed in my 58 years of UFT membership through 4 presidents. (Think of that for a minute).

But one area Unity has never seemed to go, at least publicly, has been public mass firings over perceived disloyalty. The recent firings of 6 and then we hear 2 or more and the demotions and warnings issued is a new wrinkle designed to inspire fear (and I bet more than a bit of loathing) inside the Unity tent. Not only won't it work, but it will inspire more internal resentment and opposition. 

In particular, the firing of popular District 30 rep Ashley Rzonca has led to a mini - and maybe a soon to be major - revolt of chapter leaders, parent groups, and even politicians. And we might see this revolt spread deeper into schools beyond the chapter leaders. 

I attended two events this summer for Ashley, a rally in July attended by over 50 supporters and one last week (Justice for Ashley) as a number of chapter leaders and supporters attended the event organized and sponsored by the Community Education Parents, which is striking to see this level of support for a union rep. I'd bet most CEC's have no contact or idea who the District Rep is. Ashley apparently threw herself into all aspects of what a district rep should be doing. 

Attendees, at a bar on restaurant row on Ditmars Blvd, were asked to write letters of support to local politicians and UFT officials. Imagine city council people calling for the reinstatement of a UFT district rep. Unheard of. 

I had some interesting conversations. 

A chapter leader leans over and whispers, "I voted for ABC." A colleague sitting at the same table later tells me if he had spoken to her before the election he wouldn't have voted for Mulgrew. 

The CL told me she did not want to influence her chapter on how to vote. Too bad. Unity people do that all the time. It was great that she voted for ABC but if she had shared the reasons with her staff, I'd bet the school would have gone ABC. Next time I bet she will be more active. And therein lies the major error Mulgrew is making in firing competent and popular staff.

There were a number of chapter leaders at this event who have the capability of bringing their schools into the battle. Now what if Mulgrew changed his mind and rehired Ashley? Would all be forgotten? I'd bet the damage to Unity, in what was a loyal Unity district, will not go away. There are over 40 elementary and middle schools in D. 30.

I do want to make it clear that these people are fired from the UFT  jobs and have the right to return to their old school and those not eligible for retirement are doing so. And guess what they will do when they return? Hide in fear of Mulgrew? Or organize - and hopefully with ABC.  

Of course the big enchilada in the original June 27th firings was Amy Arundell who ran against Mulgrew. It is not clear what Amy will do now - go back to a school or retire. Either way, she seems up for the coming battles. Would Amy be a force in the retired teacher chapter? 

 Arthur wrote about the initial firings in June:

Michael Mulgrew went on a revenge spree last week, and his Unity ducklings got in line right behind him. He fired a bunch of people who supported ABC. The most egregious of these firings, for my money, was that of Migda Rodriquez. Migda won office by a 3-1 margin, and paraprofessionals expressed overwhelming support for her. ... Unity to Paras--Go Screw Yourselves, Arthur Goldstein, Posting after the June 26 firings.

We heard of more (unnamed) firings at the UFT late last week, more examples of the panic at 52 Broadway over the rise of ABC and the fall of ARISE, the traditional and favored opposition. You'll note that there has been little or no support for the fired Unity people coming out of ARISE, some of whom attacked ABC for even aligning with ex-Unity, even claiming that ABC was on the Mulgrew payroll as a way to split the opposition. Purity over Trying to Win. 

 

My recent writers block has delayed my commenting on the firings, a cleansing by Unity Caucus of its perceived dis-loyalists. Mulgrew and crew, when faced with waning popularity, instead of trying to fix it, resort to fear and loathing tactics to try to cow potential internal opposition into silence and obedience. It might work for most in Unity but over time these tactics alienate people inside the club. The attacks on Amy, going back years, brought enough people into ABC to make it a viable opposition. Look for more to come, either openly or surrepticiously. Depends on how badly they need to hold onto their part time job.

 

Arthur commented again recently on the initial firings: 

On June 27th, King Mulgrew and company relieved five full-time employees of their duties: Amy Arundell, Ashley Rzonca, Migda Rodriguez, Hector Ruiz, and, we have learned, the 5th staffer is David Kazansky.... 

The Continuing Purge by UFT Leadership: (From the Union Matters mail bag) Arthur Goldstein: Aug 14, 2025

WTF! David Kazansky? David was pushed out of his Teacher Retirement System job after 9 years. Many of us considered him the best of the 3 TRS reps -- a good reason for Mulgrew to dump him. Too competent. Did he ask too many questions? Or question private equity? One day we have to get the real story.

 

He was replaced by someone who rose to a new level of Unity incompetence, as we witnessed at an RTC meeting where she refused to answer questions and then refused to give up the mic. David landed on his feet by being given a job with the AFT working out of the UFT offices. That was the job he was fired from. Randi Weingarten was technically his boss. The UFT paid his salary. But Randi cannot escape her complicity in the firing.

 

Caucuses Purge 

If anyone in Unity didn't notice the drop to 54% and the energized ABC campaign infused with Unity refugees, they are fooling themselves. Repression, fear-mongering and cleansing engenders resistance. As someone "cleansed" from MORE, I know all about purges. The election proved that purity-based caucuses tend to stagnate. 

 

There are many angles to this Unity purge - a few who ran with ABC and a few who ran with Unity. Arthur in his post addressed the outrageous firing of para Migda Ridriguez, who did run with ABC. Another para, Hector Diaz, Jr who ran with Unity and won an exec bd and AFT/NYSUT rep seat was also fired. Of the original 6 who were fired in June, 3 ran with ABC and 3 ran with Unity. But none of them tried to pee on Amy's photo in a urinal. 

 

The brewing revolt inside UFT District 30 in Astoria is being led by Rzonca supporters with social media influencer and D30 CL Leah Lin, who ran for elementary VP on the ABC slate. Now here is an interesting fact. Rzonca ran on the Unity slate and was elected to the UFT Exec Bd as well as an AFT/NYSUT rep. (Fired para Hector Ruiz, JR also ran on the Unity slate for ex bd and AFT/NYSUT. Kazansky also ran and won for AFT/NYSUT).

 

What is the common thread in the firings? Certainly not doing a bad job. How about some level of proximity to Amy Arundell?

 

Leah Lin, as a Unity CL in Ashley's D. 30, defected to ABC and might be one reason Rzonca was fired for failing to use the Unity Caucus whip to keep Leah in line. A district rep who would have tried to scare Leah would be the Mulgrew ideal.  Scare Leah? In the roughly 7 months I've known her, no one scares Leah.

 

So the result of the firings is that Ashley and Leah, two top-level organizers, have teamed up with other D. 30 CL and other teachers to fight back. 

 

One of the most interesting angles in this battle is the involvement of parents through the D 30 Education council. There were officers of the CEC and other parents at the event on Tuesday as they wrote letters to local officials while teachers wrote letters to union officials. 

Check out this article on the July 22 rally for Ashley.

Queens’ CEC 30 calls for dismissed union rep to be reinstated, accuses UFT of ‘political retaliation’

Community Education Council 30 (CEC 30) has called on the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) to reinstate Ashley Rzonca after the union representative for Community School District 30 was dismissed from her position earlier in the year for what the CEC describes as “political” reasons.

CEC 30, which represents dozens of schools across western Queens, has launched a petition calling for Rzonca to be reinstated, drawing more than 570 signature from local teachers and parents. The Council also staged a rally on July 22 calling on UFT to reinstate both Rzonca to her previous position. 

Note: DOZENS OF SCHOOLS.

 

The UFT has issued a call for a new district rep -- I hope Ashley applied and a smart UFT leadership would reverse itself but Smart and Mulgrew are antonyms. I pity the next District rep. 

====  

I began to write up the July 22 demo.

Impressive turnout at the July 22 demo at UFT Queens office.

They came by Ubbas, Subways, Automobiles and even AirTrain from JFK. I was very impressed by the turnout and the impending revolt inside District 30 (Astoria, Jackson Hts). I saw some Unity people there who I never would have expected to see. Many are chapter leaders.

 

I schlepped to the Queens UFT office on July 22 and wrote about going that morning: The Friday Night Unity Purge/Massacre: Rally for Leah and Ashley @Queens UFT HQ at 6PM Today.

 

I enjoy taking public transportation more than driving at this point and enjoyed the trip with the Airtrain to Jamaica where I changed to the E for a few stops. 

I gave up at that point since Arthur covered it so well.

As USA Flirts with Fascism, UFT Unity Embraces It:  In Queens, we stand up to Unity's unilateral actions. Arthur Goldstein Jul 23, 2025

 

Here are some pics:

 

 

 

 

 

A CREW FROM ABC 

 

 

Ashley Rzonca

I think this is a city councilwoman

 

These Were the Months That Were - Updates

I haven't been doing too much writing - Writers block? Maybe. Actually I have too much I want to write about and end up chasing my tail trying to decide what to write and how to organize it. But I also want to read and watch TV and do stuff. I've been busy. With the UFT stuff in a lull and gardening at a low ebb, I should be doing more blogging. The past 3 months have been loaded with stuff to write about. But I didn't and now am in the weeds. I had to review my calendar because I tend to forget what I did the day before. And I tend to lose track. Did this or that happen yesterday or 2 months ago? So I am going to record in this space what I remember over the past few months so I can check what happened. Looking at this calendar I think I need a rest.

Reminders: 

Free Tuesday, August 12: Join the fun. 

 

Tonight, tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday matinee: 

Final 4 days of Sweet Charity at RTC.  

 

Thursday, August 7, 2025  - Things I should (have) (and may) (and maybe did) write about. 

Let me go back to June so I can remind myself - 

 

May 29 through June 1 was the UFT election count - That was an experience I should have written more about. I admit I was surprised at the ABC 32 vs ARISE 14%. I thought it would have been closer. But also disappointed in finishing 22% behind Unity's 54%. I thought ABC would drag more votes out of Unity but didn't see us getting more than 36-38%. If ARISE or ABC didn't run, leaving one slate, I think Unity would still have won, but ABC would have given them a run. Now some in ARISE are admitting they never expected to win and believed ABC would do better than them. So why did they run? It's in their genes (See Sidney Sweeney) and some of them just may do it again next time.

 

Unity and ARISE seemed to align on criticism of ABC- clearly viewed as a threat. ABC has no formal structure -- but it looks like ABC will continue in some form. The ARISE coalition of 3 caucuses needs to do some deep thinking. How would be break up that 14%? MORE is the biggest in school faction - so give them 10%. NAC is still mostly retirees and also occupies RA - so the 3k votes is worth about 3% while the NAC in school output looks minimal. Give NAC 1%. I heard some inside resistance in MORE to the alliance with NAC -- a poor fit they said -- but they were more interested in RA's potential to bring retiree votes. And they didn't. So where does that put the ARISE coalition? The MORE brain trust would see some kind of alliance with ABC would be more fruitful - and in Sept. 2024 some MORES told us there were dozens who would be willing to run with ABC but internal issues forced them to look elsewhere. My guess is ABC wants no formal alliances with caucuses but would be open to any individuals. There have been some reachouts and also some informal talks between individuals I hear. My sense is that the ARISE people are in denial about ABC -- they did well because of social media, or they cheated - when the reality was ABC actually had real people in the schools who organized while ARISE relied on leafleting mail boxes. I wrote about the election:

UFT Election Results: Unity’s Grip Weakens—A Bette...

UFT Election Fallout - Retiree Advocate Loses Two ...

Election Reaction - Statement from A Better Contract

UFT Election 25 Dissection: ABC Broke New Ground, ... 

I have a lot more to say on this issue, but not now.

 

June 4-7 trip upstate to celebrate our 54th anniversary - and taking the first road trip with my new Subaru Forester hybrid. Had a great time on the road and in Skaneateles at a place that mimicked Monet's Giverny garden with it's own bridge over the water lily pond.

 

June 9 - Take down the set at Rockaway Theatre Company and start work on the set for Sweet Charity which opened July 25th. One weekend left for a great show.

 

June 11 DA - Pissgate -- the attack on Amy Arundel is still reverberating. I have the only proof - I started a blog but never got back to it. Katie did:  Misogyny at the UFT Delegate Assembly by Katie Anskat. 

June 14 -The lawyer for firm hired by UFT to investigate PissGate calls and asks me for what I know - and also for my photo -- there might be finger prints. Word is Unity is in denial and passing rumors that someone in ABC did it - I heard that premise from someone in ARISE --- like there is no one in Unity capable? I told lawyer there were only 350 people there and no more than half were men - they must do prostrate exams. I'm just glad I used paper towels to remove the photo - and here's an interesting tidbit -- the guy from MORE who found it threw it in the garbage and LeRoy Barr was texted at 5:12. I was told to go in and check and found another one at 6:06. 

 

June 17, 18 - Dentist and Urologist appointments. Not at same time, luckily. 

 

June 20 - Summer Solstice - Yoga in Times Square -- I try to do this every year. And we get a free mat.  Nothing like yoga with hundreds. I hit a pastry place after on 42nd for my favorite eclair.

June 21 - Beatles tribute band Fab Faux at the Paramount on Long Island -- loved the show but not the venue - but for sure we had a good meal at dinner. 

 

Monday July 16 - A tour of Fraunces Tavern with the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association Preservation and Design committee. I'd never been to the museum - and we followed up with lunch. An eating establishment since 1719 - Washington's fave and he used to get take out delivered by DoorDash.

 

June 26 - I celebrate the anniversary of my operation and 15 day stay at MSK. My final post before the operation: Can Unity Be Beaten in 2025 UFT Election? What was...

and the first one after on July 11, 2024: I'm Baaaack - Norm Almost breaks Medicare  

June 27 - ABC Celebrates End of School Year June 27 -  ABC meets in a restaurant/bar in Battery Park City - the last hurrah for the school year as people do their summer thing - the feeling was UP even though that is how we found out 6 people had been fired, including Amy who was at this party, as was just fired District 30 Rep Ashley Rzonka, one of the most competent DRs. I started some blogs on pissgate and the firings but they are still not complete.

July 1 - That night a party on the roof of my building. Nice to meet the neighbors -- 36 floors so nice rooftop views.   

July 2 - eye doctor at NYU/ - still 20-20 vision but first signs of Age Related Macular with signs of Drusen. 

July 5 - My fave podcaster, Mike Duncan, on Lafayette at Fraunces Tavern -- plus other historians -- all afternoon. I bought some books and Duncan signed. Getting to downtown on a Saturday has a certain vibe.

July 8 - DA to back Mamdani - I wrote 3 items based on the fact I support Mamdani but felt the rush and process would lead to so much pushback it wouldn't help and might hurt. I felt time was needed to get into the schools in September and get into the debate. Arthur comes from the same place I did and wrote: The Zohran Endorsement, and ABC - Here's what we'd do differently.

UFT DA Tidbits - Endorsing Mamdani, ABC and ARISE/...

Today's DA and Yesterday Town Hall -- Ode to Hot A...

Will UFT Endorse Mamdani after their attacks on DS...

But want to do more on how Unity and ARISE were oh so united while ABC raised objections to the process. I'm looking for an opportunity to volunteer but with the campaign directly. 

That night hung out with some of the ABC crew in a bar with lots of new faces from District 30. Did the Mulgrew purge create new activists?

July 9 - Gastro Doctor - -- getting ready for upcoming endoscopy and colonoscopy in August. 

July 10 - some ladies from the Murray Hill Preservation committee take the ferry out to visit - we do lunch at The Wharf. I like having friends in Manhattan and walking the streets run into people I know.

Nothing much happened between July 11-20 -- Oh, I finished work on some decking and power washed  the deck and my patio -- I love power washing and how dirt just disappears. My concrete porch was so dark I forget it was pink. And my wife's nagging on the wood railings looking so bad as stopped -- she will find something else.

July 22 - Great rally for fired D. 30 Rep Rzonca in front of the UFT Queens office with over 50 teachers, parents, students and friends. Super impressive turnout. Another blog I began but didn't finish.  

Arthur wrote about it. As USA Flirts with Fascism, UFT Unity Embraces It: In Queens, we stand up to Unity's unilateral actions. And had pics too.

 

 

 

 

July 23-27 - lots of prep needed for the tours I'm running on the weekend. 

July 23 - Lunch with former student at an Albanian Restaurant on E. 31 St. I subjected her to some of my upcoming MH tour. We connected back in November after 30 years - the last time I saw her she had been 12. We are friends now and it is a pleasure to know her. 

  

Evening - attended an AI workshop at the home on East 38th St that Abe Lincoln's granddaughter lived for 20 years. The 5 story house was built around 1900 and is gorgeous.  Back home early enough to work on the tour.

July 24 - Did my Gym and Swim in my building and then Went to the Met to see Sargent in Paris exhibit -- stimulated by his portrait of Gladys Russell on The Guilded Age -- where does fiction end and reality begin? No, the Met doesn't have that portrait. But has this famous one.

I learned a lot about Sargent who had American expat parents and was born and raised in Italy.

July 25 - 2 doc appointments - endocrinologist at MSK Koch (UGH) Center and delicate urological procedure. I've gotten used to young nurses doing procedures. Her fiance is starting a teaching job in NYCDOE in September. Good luck to him. 

July 26 - 27 Tours. I prepped to give my two days tours (Norm Does the JULY WALKING TOUR OF MURRAY HILL). The Murray Hill Neighborhood is running these weekend tours at the end of every month through the fall. 

People pay for these so even though I am a volunteer, I wanted to make sure they don't feel cheated. I had 9 people on Saturday when we covered the southern tier of landmarked buildings and one of the guys I know from the union came in with his wife and we went to lunch after -- and Sunday I had 4 people - it was cloudy with rain threatened but we survived. 

Back to Rockaway that afternoon. I missed my first Rockaway Theatre Company opening night on Friday the 26th of Sweet Charity.

July 28 - dinner with the RTC set construction crew.

July 31 - Cardiologist -- one body part that's working. Picked up at ferry. Lunch at The Wharf with Carol. 

Aug. 1 and 2 - Sweet Charity at RTC. Great performances including a great actress who happens to work at 52 Broadway. I will be on duty for all 4 performances on the final weekend for video. Your last chance to see it.

Aug. 3 - 3 hour cruise around Manhattan on Circle Line with the group from Shorewalkers. Took ferry in the morning and back to Rockaway at 6:30.

Aug. 5 - Back to MSK to get my port flushed. Then walked over to The Met for more art. Damn my knee started bothering me. At night went to Night Out Against Crime at Dag Hammarskjöld plaza and hung with Murray Hill group. Police served burgers and franks. Lots of politicians, showed, like this one. 

On leaving I took campaign lit for the local city council Dem candidate from a young lady and we got into an interesting chat on politics and Mamdani. She works at a local college doing political stats and is working in this campaign to get some experience - I think she will be looking for a job in politics. She's American/Japanese and grew up in Manhattan. When I told her I backed Mamdani she opened up that she is volunteering for him. When I said I was a DSA member she said she is too and opened up about her politics. We had a great conversation and then my friend who is also Japanese came by and I introduced them.  

Aug. 6 - Gym and swim in the morning, breakfast out and back to Rockaway.

Aug. 7 - hey, that's today. I finished putting this together and now need a nap.