Gotta love Laurence Tribe

Tribe, perhaps the leading scholar of constitutional law, has decided not to write the second volume of the current edition of his landmark constitutional law treatise (which I read in law school and still have on my shelf). He states: No treatise, in my sense of that term, can be true to this moment in our constitutional history -- to its conflicts, innovations and complexities. Constitutional law is so in flux, he feels that: At such potential turning points, and until more is known about the antithesis and about the dynamics of the battle ahead, attempting to proclaim a new synthesis would bespeak utter hubris were it not so manifestly quixotic. In reply, trusty getto states, Were I to spend the next 90 years trying to come up with that sentence, or one similarly obtuse, I am certain I could not. At any rate, Yale Law Professor, Jack Balkin is of the opinion, "When Larry Tribe says that a paradigm shift may be on the way, it is worth sitting up and taking notice." It is sooooo nice of this distinguished group of legal scholars to join the rest of us in reality (aka George Bush's ownership society). You can read the letter here. You can read the article about the letter on law.com here.

BOE closes George, Ardis & Fletcher

After many sleeples nights for me, the BOE unanimously adopted the sup'ts recommendations to close George, Ardis and Fletcher. The teachers and children will move to other elementaries, and New Directions will be relocated to the high school. Read about it here.

Ypsi in the Onion

Yep, we made this week's edition of the Onion.

From Comedian/Traitor Bill Maher

Got the whole GOP after him now. Look here on the Huffington Post for his reply to Congressman Bachus, whoever that is.

Bad News for Ypsilanti

The A2 News reports that it does not look good for the Ypsi Visteon plant: Fate of Ypsilanti plant uncertain [Local UAW President] Morey said that most of the work done by his factory would be transferred to the Ypsilanti Township plant on Rawsonville Road - along with most of the workers. While he would like to stay in Ypsilanti, Morey said going to Rawsonville is the next best thing. "Most all of my workers are going to have a job somewhere in the Ford system," Morey said, though he expressed concern about the impact of the move on the city of Ypsilanti. The deal calls for the factory, which provides a significant portion of the city's tax revenues, to be sold. However, Morey acknowledged that there will not be a lot left to sell once the bulk of production is transferred to Rawsonville. This will be disastrous for both the School District and the City of Ypsilanti, which rely on the property taxes of commercial properties such as Visteon's.

Stem cell hypocrisy

Check out this May 21, 2005 post called Stem Sell at Hullaballoo. Frighteningly articulate and apropos. Keep the youngins away, the photos are graphic. Though I can't be called a huge fan of destroying embryos for research, I do feel that intellectual honesty and consistency trumps political expediency. Can't have it both ways.

Unfounded complaint letter in A2 News

Apparently, the complaints concerning what our new sup't is getting paid are growing. Too bad nobody who's complaining lifted a finger to get any facts in support of their positions. The new sup'ts contract will actually cost the distrcit LESS than the prior sup'ts contract. Of course, anyone who cared enough to get the facts beforehand would have known this. Following is the latest A2 News letter to the editor: Hiring interim leader for schools was a mistake James Hawkins and board president Andy Fanta did the unconscionable, contracting Hawkins as interim superintendent of Ypsilanti Public Schools. Fanta "neglected" an immediate search when most candidates are available by giving Hawkins a " sweetheart contract" - employment up to a year - deliberately adding delay and exorbitant cost. Why him? And why for so long? It's not Diane Kerr's board any longer, it's Fanta's - with no eyes, ears, mouth, or spine of its own. According to The News, Ypsilanti has a $5.5 million deficit. After paying David Zuhlke $280,000 to leave, please say it's a misprint that we are paying Hawkins $680 a day for up to a year. If the board doesn't institute a real search for a real superintendent by June 1, I will personally institute a recall. JoAnne Bissone, Ypsilanti Would someone please tell Ms. Bissone that the quicker we get a new sup't, the quicker we will pay more than we are paying for our current interim? I tried, but she is not listed in the phone book.

A Buffy Convention?

According to the Jackson Patriot (via a heads up from ypsidixit): 'Buffy' convention If you're a big fan of "Buffy" or "Angel," you might be interested in laying out some big bucks for the first Motor City Buffy fan convention June 2-5 in Ypsilanti. Among those expected to attend the conference at Ypsilanti's Marriott Eagle Crest Resort are Anthony Stewart Head, Andy Hallett, Adam Busch, Tom Lenk, Danny Strong, Kali Rocha and Michelle Kelly. The event begins with a concert by actor James Marsters, who played Spike, on June 2; tickets are $25. Common Rotation will perform June 3; tickets are $15. A weekend pass will cost $130-$225, depending on how many events and how much access you want. Some events aren't included in that pass, such as the concerts as well as a June 3 cocktail party with actors from the two TV series and a June 4 dinner with actors, either of which will cost another $80. The passes include a question-and-answer session with some of the actors and access to a room where fans can buy merchandise. Apparently the organizers, Bill and Robbie Adams of Crystal Ball Entertainment in Livonia, do have a sense of humor. "Our goal is to provide fans with access to their favorite Buffy/Angel stars without overcharging them," said Robbie Adams in a press release. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.MotorCityBuffy.com or call (248) 568-0834.

Being ridiculed on TV wasn't as bad as I expected

I watched Channel 7's "Investigative Report" on the Ypsi School District. Basically, if you believe what you see on TV, I am one of a bunch of irresponsible squanderers of the public's hard-earned tax money, just for letting the sup't walk. I see it a bit differently than studly Steve Wilson, Investigative Reporter, and if I had to do it all over again, I would do exactly the same thing. You can read all about it on Eric's blog at http://www-personal.umich.edu/~touch/ Wilson apparently went to Eric's blog and was unhappy with my post. The exchange follows: trusty getto said... As one of the five who voted in favor of the buyout package, I have no regrets. This type of coverage is one of the unforeseen consequences of taking the position I took. I feel it's important to take both the bad with the good. Though I wish the reporting was more comprehensive, more fact based and less lazy, I favor accountability and take full responsibility for voting in favor of the non-disclosure clause. I also intend to abide by it. 11:10 AM Anonymous said... Oh yes. "Trusty Getto" favors full acountability and responsibility and pledges to keep the secrets from those who actually pay the freight... Oh, puh-leeeze...this is why this public official discloses who he/she is, instead of hiding behind "trusty getto," right? It's awfully hard to trust anybody who votes in favor of secrets, claims accountability, then hides their own identity, even on an Internet blog started by one who no doubt helped put him in office. I think the public deserves better...but I'm sure they will decide. Steve Wilson WXYZ TV 1:23 PM trusty getto said... Whoa, boy. I didn't hide my identity. It's obvious. Think homonym. It'll come to you. As for accountability, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Any time a board of seven individuals votes, even if it's unanimous, that vote represents seven different and often divergent opinions. It serves no purpose to revisit divisive issues and publicly debate them on the front page and on the TV unless the decision is to be revisited. This one's not. Encouraging public officials to speak about why they did this or why they did that does not foster truth. It fosters "cover." Though I do my best to convey the truth when I speak, I am not naive enough to think everyone miraculously believes everything I say. I favor judging on the basis of actions, not words. People who don't know me can never truly know why I took a particular position, but they can certainly know how I voted and judge me on that basis. The decision in this case was the correct one, in my view, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. What Mr. Wilson left out of his report and his post is that his assistant called me, and we spoke on the phone. At no time did she ask me a single direct question concerning why I voted the way I did. At no time did she ask me what the rationale was behind the non-disclosure provision in the agreement. I think it is ironic that Mr. Wilson self-righteously invokes trust in the face of an overtly misleading interview style. Why not just ask the question? Trying to conceal something, Mr. Wilson? I do agree with Mr. Wilson that the public will decide. I'm entirely comfortable with that. 4:46 PM

Hey, someone's trying to recall me!

Elina Jarrell, a parent of children in the district, tried to start the recall process with the Washtenaw County Clerk's office. Trouble was, since she is not a registered voter, she does not qualify to begin a recall. Here's what her petition said: Did the taxpayer [sic] and parents of the Ypsilanti School's [sic] know that some of the School Board members have made decisions that have increased the district's deficit, and may contribute to teachers, administrators, and other staff being laid off? These same members voted to get rid of Dr. Zuhlke by buying out his contract at $258,000. The same board members voted to give teachers, administrators, and support staff raises. How can the same board members recommend the purchase of over $1,000,000 in furniture when they have recommending [sic] the layoff of over eleven administrators. [sic] How can we keep supporting these members when they keep making the wrong decisions for our district. [sic] It is time that we the taxpayers and parent [sic] hold them accountable for our children [sic] future. If we do not act now, we will not have a School District for our CHILDREN. [In handwriting: Person to be recalled Cameron Getto.] Sincerely, Concerned Parents of the Ypsilanti Public Schools and Community Members Three other petitions were filed including ones against Trustees Fanta, Reiber and Brumfield, all with the same language (and same grammatical, punctuation, and capitalization errors). I replied with a letter [a bit too long-winded]. Suffice it to say I'm not impressed by this anemic, inaccurate, and misleading attempt at a personal attack. We've got important challenges ahead. A recall is little more an illegitimate attempt to shift the debate toward personalities and away from issues.