text:
Judge Tosses Martinez Complaint In Personal Battle With Pereira
October 12, 2017 LennieGrimaldi Analysis and Comment, Education, Law Enforcement, News and Events172 Comments
When it comes to issues, Board of Education member Maria Pereira and school board candidate Jessica Martinez are pure passion. They've occasionally dueled in the comments section of OIB. It can be personal and even litigious.
Calling their differences a political dispute, Superior Court Judge Richard Arnold on Wednesday dismissed Martinez's request for a civil protective order against Pereira.
In an application, according to a story by CT Post reporter Dan Tepfer, Martinez claimed Pereira "has been threatening, harassing and a terror to the entire community. I know it's because I am an endorsed Democrat for the Board of Education and the election is November 7. She is threatened by my leadership and continues to harass when I do nothing to her."
Pereira, who said she was unaware of Martinez's application, declared "Great job judge." Several months ago Pereira filed a police complaint against Martinez after receiving what Pereira termed harassing emails.
Pereira OIB statement on Martinez:
"What this stunt proves is that Jessica Martinez is impulsive, doesn't understand the statutes that govern harassment, stalking, etc. and lacks the intelligence of a third grader. As someone who has received repeated derogatory emails from Ms. Martinez, I can assure you she cannot spell, punctuate or capitalize. Both the BPD and a BPD detective contacted Ms. Martinez to direct her to stop emailing me or face arrest, and she continues to email me. This serves to demonstrate her complete lack of self control. Ms. Martinez supports charter schools, supported the illegal state takeover of our schools, was (former school chief) Paul Vallas' number one supporter, and supported taking our right to vote for our school board away. However, she is now asking voters to cast their vote for her. Please consider all these factors before voting on Tuesday, November 7th."
Pereira and Martinez, both Democrats, are high-octane personalities. Martinez supports more choices for students such as charter schools that run independently of traditional school districts but receive public funds. Pereira rails the opposite, charging that charters suck financial oxygen from local districts. Martinez is the lead complainant in a federal lawsuit challenging state restrictions on charter schools.
Martinez is among four endorsed candidates vying for three Democratic seats on the school board. Under state-mandated, minority-party representation up to six members of a major party may fill the nine school board seats. Pereira, Dennis Bradley and Ben Walker are incumbent Dems on the school board.
Republican, Working Families Party and one petitioning candidate will vie for the other three slots.
On the ballot in November will be a two-year school board seat to fill out the four-year term of Republican Kevin McSpirit. Mayor Joe Ganim appointed John Weldon to temporarily fill that void last November until the next general election. Democrat Sybil Allen, a former City Council member, and Republican James Carbone, a former board member, will vie to fill the position.
Hernan Illingworth, a former board member, Martinez and Chaila Robinson, will appear on the Democratic line for four-year terms. Republicans will run Joe Sokolovic, Weldon and Chris Taylor. Sokolovic, Shavonne Davis and school board incumbent Howard Gardner will appear on the Working Families Party line. Sokolovic has two lines. City minister Sarah Lewis is running as a petitioning candidate.
Ben WalkerCT PostDan TepferDennis BradleyHernan IllingworthHoward GardnerJessica MartinezJoe GanimJohn WeldonKevin McSpiritMaria Pereira
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Ron Mackey says:
I'm sorry did I miss something, did Jessica Martinez do something illegal?
Bob Walsh says:
No Ron. Jessica did not do any thing illegal.
Am I missing something?
Did Maria accuse her of doing anything illegal?
Maria Pereira says:
Harassment is defined by statute. If the shoe fits…
But besides all of that, it does appear that Ms. Martinez is supportive of Charter Schools and I for one will not support a member of the BOE who takes that stance.
The Bridgeport Kid says:
This catfighting has to stop. I suggest Ms. Martinez and Ms. Pereira settle their disputes by wrestling in a mud pit.
Harvey Weintraub says:
Not sure I'd wanna see that Kid…lol
Your showing your true colors as sexist pigs. It's very Trump like.
… And you are showing your TRUE colors: shameless, arrogant, petulant, conceited. End of story.
This is addressed to Maria. "How do you solve a problem like Maria…"
Robert Teixeira says:
Elect her as a State Representative. Problem Solved. 🙂
There are too many inmates running that asylum.
Robert, I would stay on the BOE. 🙂
To the detriment of the city's school children.
Give Ms. Pereira a job at the DMV.
Andrew C Fardy says:
she tried that and got her ass kicked
Lisa Parziale says:
Kid, I know you're not referring to me.
You can always be counted in to have the best interests of the people of the city of Bridgeport as your oriority. I applaud your wirk with the Young Democrats.
You sound like a child wailing over a dropped icecream cone. Stop crying already.
There you go again.
Joseph Sokolovic says:
I ask that all board members, current and future, to please maintain decorum while conducting board business. Bridgeport is fighting for it's very survival when it comes to funding our Public Schools.
We are a city of diversity in nationality, and in opinion. We should respect each other even when debating contentious issues. We need to maintain a professional demeanor at all times and have the maturity to understand that an attack on ones position is not a personal attack.
The work we have to do is too important and much bigger than one or two individuals. Let's hope with the new incoming board that we could fight for what truly matters. I'll do my part.
PS if I come under personal attack on this blog I will not respond. Questions are welcome.
Vote Sokolovic.
http://www.sokolovic4bboe.com
Where do you stand on Charter Schools?
Bob, I usually agree with you on most things but on education the Bridgeport public school system is failing Bridgeport school children. I want whatever is the best system that will educate black children and we know that it's not the public school system. If it means magnet schools, charter schools and even public schools whatever system would do the best to educate black students then I'm for it.
You are clueless when it comes to public education, and have always been clueless on this particular topic.
Ron get off the black bullshit and lets say ALL CHILDREN
Ron,
ALL students matter. Bridgeport's public education system is a horror. Charter school are one option but do not solve the bigger problem.
Marshall Marcus says:
Interdistrict Magnet Schools ROB the home districts of needed funds to educate all students.
October 1 is census day, this is when the state funds are distributed to the schools. The Magnet schools don't facilitate transfers of students back to their home districts ion September. Oct 1 the state money arrives paying for the entire school year. October 2, transfers out are approved. The student goes back to the home school, but the funds stay in the magnet school.
Also, because of special funding from state and federal government, a prominent local interdistrict magnet high school can't return failing students to their home districts until they have failed two years in a row. Then what should be an 11th grader is sent back to the home high school requiring remedial help.
Furthermore, The hone school bears all the expenses if the magnet student wants to participate in High School Sports.
On point, Marshall.
sorry for the typos, not using my usual computer today
Bob, just know Joseph Sokolvic isn't the sharpest tack in the drawer.
We are only telling voters to vote for Howard and Shavonne and Sarah Lewis on Row D in the 138th.
Neither Martinez or Sokolvic are on the BOE,therefore his diatribe is completely pointless.
Let us pray neither ends up on the BOE.
Ms. Pereira,
Your top priority should be the education and welfare of the city's school children. Casting aspersions is not constructive. If you stop acting like a pain in the ass you will earn the respect of others.
You are the LAST person on OIB to lecture anyone on their comments or give advice on the appropriateness of their comments. YOUR THE KING OF CASTING ASPERSIONS. In addition, you often use foul language.
You are a racist, a sexist and a narcissist.
Counterpunching is very Trump-like.
Every time you post a negative comment here it can be used against you in any legal proceeding. Think about that before you file the next frivolous civil complaint.
I proudly acknowledge and standby all my posts on OIB. No attempt to run or hide here, sir.
No, you do not run and hide. You would get lost, with your head up your ass and all…
And, there he goes…
First let me state this: I do not blame parents who seek out charter schools for their kids. That being said I am anti public funding for charter schools. Each public $ going to charter schools is one dollar directed towards the few after being taken from the many. Charter schools also woefully underrepresent English Language learners Special Ed amongst other things. I believe that if every charter school student was returned to Our public schools and the funding followed them back we could afford a Para in every Kindergarten classroom, one hundred literacy and math coaches and much more enrichment for our children.
Donald Day says:
Joseph, contrary to popular beliefs the Bridgeport school system was failing long before the advent of charter schools in the Bridgeport's school system. I had four children in the Bridgeport school system from 1974 until 1993 so I kinda know that which I speak.
You say you BELIEVE that if there were not charters in the system and all that money was funneled to public schools then the children would thrive. The parents of charter schools are telling you that they raised children in Bridgeport prior to charters and their children still received a substandard education. You believe, they know.
The fact is that most charters do better academically than most public schools and most parents that had children in public schools and was presented the opportunity to move their children to charter or magnet schools would Never go back under any circumstances. Joseph, you would be hard pressed to find a public school parent that wouldn't choose charter or magnet for their children because they think, feel and believe that they are better for their children and they know that public school aren't.
Yessir Mr. Day. I appreciate your opinion and as I pointed out I do. I do not vilify any parent for doing what they think is best for their child. Now sir, you bring up Magnet Schools which are Bridgeport Public Schools in the truest sense of the word. Are you aware that our Magnet school children out perform state sponsored charter schools on a regular basis?
Charter schools are for profit whether it's on The books or is down in a backroom basis. I.E.: renting real estate from a family member, buying supplies from a business owned by an entity connected in someway to a charter school. It is in the best interest of charter operators to defund our schools and cause the failure of our students. This is the only way they increase their numbers.
Donald Day, the fact is you have lost your mind. There is no data that supports your position, therefore your "fact" doesn't exist.
Mojo says:
Pereira knows the thankless task is can be on the BOE. She & others helped in making it a personal politico battle-zone. And did very little to make long term positive changes for the city schools! Now, here comes Matinez full of ideas that will meet with resistance because she favors Charter Schools in the city aswell. Catholic Schools, public schools or Charter Schools allow for a choice for parents looking for better quality and safe education for their kids.
What ideas???
*** Ideas that every new comer that's interested in being on the city's BOE has, or hopes to make a positive difference towards better changes for the school system in Bpt. Yet for some it's just another stepping stone and notch on their job resume towards bigger & better things in their personal lives!
Right, just as I thought. You can't articulate her ideas because she doesn't have any. And, you just made up an answer that didn't support your claims.
I have no problem with choice, I have a problem with tax dollars being spent on non-public schools. If we don't like the way the public schools are run, we can vote out the BOE, Mayor, City Council…BUT we can't get rid of the owners of the Charter School who are spending public funds. No accountability.
Well off to hit some doors. I got an election to win! Anybody want to volunteer or donate? Email me at Sokolovic4bboe@att.net
Have a great night everyone.
Long term past & present reports and media stories have told the stories of the poor quality education & un-safe public schools in Bpt.
Let the state of Connecticut live up to its constitutional responsibilities and insure that the children in New Haven and Hartford and Bridgeport have an equal opportunity to learn at the same level of Greenwich and Darien and Fairfield.
Once an adequate funding formula is developed and instituted then we can talk about charter schools. But until such time there should be no money diverted from the Bridgeport Public School System.
And by the way, Magnet Schools are part of the Public Schools so there should be no distinction drawn about these.
What the sate HAS been doing a good job with is getting people fighting over what little funding there is and avoiding the basic questions of state funding.
On point, Bob.
@Bob Walsh
There actually is a distinction to be drawn about Interdistrict Magnet Schools.
They are part of the public school system, BUT…………
There is no difference in expenditure for the BPS if the child is in Harding or FW. and that child returns to Harding at 2:30 for sports with a coach and equipment paid for by the BPS.
However, if that child is from one of the other towns that feeds FW and returns to his town's High School for sports, that town pays for the coaching and equipment from its PS budget. Any state per pupil funding for education is paid to BPS to include ALL associated costs of the high school experience.
If on October 10, the child leaves FW and returns to Harding, BPS still has every cent of the state funds.
If on October 10, that child leaves FW and returns to high school in his/her home town, the funds stay in Bridgeport.
Theoretically, Bridgeport is limited to 70% of enrollment at FW, but controls 100% of state and federal funds received.
Now that BPS is billing the sending towns for tuition (and yes I know there is a court challenge) these distinctions are worth mentioning.
Disclaimer: I live in Trumbull, a sending district, but Mrs. Marcus owns property and pays taxes in Bridgeport as well so we have a vested interest in the school systems in both municipalities as they affect our property values. Our children are long past public school age
The more money given to Bpt. Public schools the more money they mis-manage on non- eccencial items & school positions not needed.
Give three examples of financial mismanagement in the last three years? This should be good.
Bridgeport public high schools have a 48% dropout rate. Most of the departing students are male and poor. Failure to address that tragic statistic counts as mismanagement.
Are there enough text books to go around? Are the text books current? Are special needs students being treated with respect? A few years ago a report was leaked out detailing some appalling abuses. Are the parents involved in their children's education? I know a few teachers working in the Bridgeport school system. They don't issue homework assignments because the students don't do homework, a clear sign that education is not encouraged at home. Are the schools offering nutritionally balanced meals? Are the schools safe? I used to live on Clinton Avenue a block from Bassick High. There were gang confrontations there every afternoon.
Granted not all of these problems are the result of ineffective administration. Many of the social ills begin at home. Children that know only poverty and despair usually have a bleak outlook because that is all they know.
The BPS does NOT have a 48% drop out rate. That is a number you made up which is not factual. The data is available on the state's website but is always two years behind.
Name three specific examples of financial mismanagement in the last three years. Getting specific answers to support assertions on OIB is like trying to get specific answers out of Trump appointees.
Please don't write ridiculous responses such as the nutritional component of meals served. That does not equate to financial mismanagement.
If the cafeterias offer unhealthy foods to students that qualifies as financial mismanagement. We're talking about the health and well being of school children.
The federal government has strict requirements which MUST be followed.
That doesn't mean anything.
So what's the answer Bobby, take all the money and put it in public schools and let ALL the children of Bridgeport receive a substandard education? If we can't help then all just let all of them fail can't be the approach when you're talking about a child's education.
Again, Bridgeport had a failing school system prior to charters, they have a failing school system after charters and until money isn't an issue then charters just might be the answer, because money is always going to be an issue when education in the cities are considered.
Clueless is more than just a movie.
Don, as you notice since this woman been on the BBOE she doesn't talk about efforts to raise the level of education, the only thing she cares about is calling people names and patting herself on her back.
Thank you for saying, Ron.
Off topic: Trump threatens to pull Fed. aid in Puerto Rico. 5- Permanently inhabited U.S Territories. P.R acquired by U.S in 1898 after Spanish/ American War. Given U.S citizenship in 1917 & P.R's have fought in every major military engagement since W.W-1 & onward!
5- U.S inhabited territories ; American Samoa , Guam , U.S. Virgin Islands , Northern Mariana Islands , Puerto Rico.
flubadub says:
Excellent book titled "The True Flag" details the internal political arguments and machinizations how we aquired those territories in late nineteenth century. A good read.
The major problem is one no one wants to talk about. The biggest problem is main streaming ALL of the kids enrolled in the school system no matter what their problems or handicaps are.
That is nice in the make believe world but here in the real world its killing our educational system. My teacher friend has about 6 kids that should be in special classes or a school for kids with problems. When these kids act up the other kids in the class suffer while this problem child is taken care of.
You cant main stream problem kids as they take up a good part of a teachers day and the other kids suffer. Wake up its not money its hard decisions that need to be made.
What is the percentage of white students in the Bridgeport public schools compare to students of color?
Charter Schools are Public Schools Held to the same Rules and Regulations
https://youtu.be/jWuED5CKtME
Ron, they are not held to the same standards. They are private schools funded with public monies. A lack of transparancy and accountability ripe for malfeasance and fraud.
On point, flubadub. It felt a little weird typing that.
The BPS is 96% minority.
Then they are not "minotities."
So Donald, you are willing to risk your child's education on a lottery of being selected or not. You are OK with one child gets in the whole family gets in. You don't have a problem with the deck being dealt from the o\bottom so that certain politically connected families getting the inside track for the slots.
As long as your child gets in, the hell with a quality education for all.
You're doing their job by dividing and conquering and the hell with anything else. So sad.
Save a couple of thousand and let 20,000 fail.
On point once again.
Bob, what can a parent do when their child is in a failing school? We can't fired anybody or shut that school down, no, the kids are stuck.
A school building is just that, a building.
The state utilizes one test per year to determine whether a school is meeting proficiency or not. That is not acceptable. Students work at their academic performance 180 days per year.
5- inhabited U.S territories ; Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Somoa, U.S Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico.
Charter $chools are absolutely not held to the same standards. They are allowed to hire 30% of their "teachers" as noncertified while traditional schools MUST hire 100% of certified teachers to teach.
There are many more examples.
*** Why be given U.S Citizenship so the territory inhabitens can fight for America, to only be treated like 2nd class citizens from a 3rd world country by the U.S government/ Trump Admin. When it's people need humanitarian aid & vital life saving measures instead of politics over budget money!
From the CT Post, legislative leaders were "going over potential school funding formulas."
Even as we speak, they are playing games with the budget.
A Superior Court Judge has already said the the school funding formula is "illogical" and yet legislative leaders continue to take money away from where it is needed most and use it as a political bargaining chip to balance the budget.
Maria welcome back. Hope you are doing well. OIB has been a lacking without you. The two afro-centrics of OIB has been trying but it's not the same without you. 🙂
Some kids from P.R are now in Bpt. Public Schools ; I feel sorry for them in terms of education.
Mojo, 45 doesn't believe that those who live in Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Somoa, U.S Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico they are American citizens. There are still federal government workers still in New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina since 2005. You will the gentrification of the U.S Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico for American investors like they did in 1898.
Mojo,
45 thought Puerto Rico was a foreign nation until he was corrected. His antipathy toward blacks and hispanics is a matter of public record.
OR closed over 100 schools due to debt before the hurricanes, and you feel sorry for their enrolling in the BPS.
That makes no sense.
This just the latest example of what is WRONG with the Bridgeport Board of Education. The lawsuits, civil complaints, restraining orders, et cetera ad nauseum, do not accomplish anything constructive. The pettiness, infighting, power struggles and other bullshit has to stop. No one on the BOE is comporting themselves with a particle of professional dignity. One would think Ms. Pereira and Ms. Martinez are campaigning for a student council presidency or the chair of the homecoming committee, running to the faculty advisor whenever either doesn't get her way. Shame on you both. Enough already.
If the public school system wasn't a massive rupture parents would not be looking to charter and nagnet schools for their children's education. Education is the ONLY priority here, not the tender egos and self importance of the individual board members. As an administrative body the BOE is completely worthless, as FUBAR as can be. Charter schools take funds from the district, as if that's the worst thing that can happen. Bridgeport's public schools are a failure. It's time for the state Dept. of Ed to take over. The BOE is collectively incapable of fulfilling its mission, which is looking after the welfare and educational needs of the city's school children.
I am not campaigning for anything because I am already elected to the school board, and I have two years left like it or not.
Effective December 2017, I will be the most tenured board member with six years.
I have never seen Day, Mackey or Kid at a BOE meeting in my almost 9 years of involvement, therefore your opinions are not rooted in personal testimony, data or facts.
Gary Tobin says:
The problem with Bridgeport Public schools and many other cities/towns
#1 Parent(s) and Parent(s) and Parent(s)
#2 School are massive daycare center were education and learning is not the priority.
So Gary, what are your solutions to your three #?
The answer to Bridgeport failing public school system to keep funding failure.
When was the last time that a failing Bridgeport public school was shut down for failure of educating their students? If a charter school had the failure rate that the Bridgeport public schools have they would have been shut down. The BBOE has been had nothing but petty bickering and arguing over nothing. Fighting and name calling has been a embarrassment, there has been nothing about education, just in fighting.
Many parents do not encourage their children to persue education, do not discipline them to study. Is that really surprising? One reason may be just good old fashioned cynicism. Mom and dad know the public school system sucks. The high schools are the most effective recruitment program the street gangs have.
The people of the city of Bridgeport contend with many many problems that successive administrations have failed to address. The lack of a decent public education system is just one. The teachers have my respect. They are handicapped by the institutionalized dysfunction of the BOE and the apathy of students and parents.
The BOE is indifferent to the needs and welfare of Bridgeport's school children. Maria Pereira likes to think of herself as the World's Greatest Advocate for Public Education. The rest of us see her for what she is, an obstructionist pain in the ass. You've shown your TRUE colors: shameless, arrogance, petulance, conceit. (Yes Maria, I use profanity. This isn't "Sesame Street.") We deserve better from our elected officials, ESPECIALLY the Board of Ed.
I AM Bridgeport's greatest public education advocate.
While you just blog and do nothing to make our community better, I volunteer countless hours on a number of fronts.
You are just jealous of my commitment, following, advocacy and effectiveness. 🙂
Knock it iff with the martyrdom, Maria. You're not Joan of Ark.
You have not attended a single BOE meeting in 9 years, yet you proclaim to know what has or has not been done.
You are simply all talk with no supporting facts or substance to substantiate your assertions.
And, how many underperforming charters have been closed by the SBOE. Absolutely none.
And they receive $11,000 per pupil while we receive about $8,500 per pupil from the state.
So what? I don't go to BBOE meetings. I already know what is accomplished at those meetings: nothing. It's common knowlege that you disagree with everyone else and promote your own agenda.
You ought to do a talk show. Contact NBC. Megyn Kelly's show is tanking, maybe they'll give you her time slot.
I'll call them tomorrow. Great idea!
Constitutional Responsibility by CT. To give the same dollar amounts for education to urban public schools as they do to some of the other city's or towns like Greenwich or Westport, etc. is just dreaming & probably would not change the out come if managed right for quite some years! You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink till it wants too, no?
Cramming a thousand students (K-8th grades) into 1 building is not good nor productive. Having middle schools for grades 6 tru 8th is better, then on to high school.
I agree with your opinion.
When you can separate the grades & ages in a school setting, staff & parents have better control. Less older peer pressure and exposure in the separate school buildings & setting. Educational competition, music & school sports builds school pride & a sense of belonging and better student and parent involvement. Kids don't have enough or none at all, activities before or after school in most Bpt. Public Schools.
Mojo, it has been three weeks since Puerto Rico was hit by Hurraine Maria and 45 has NEVER mention that Puerto Ricans are American citizens, NEVER. This shows 45 disrespect and disdain for brown people.
Did you notice that 45 said nothing when David Duke the self-appointed defender of honkiness declared "We are here to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump"? His response was "there were some very nice people" among the white nationalists, skinheads, Ku Klux Klansmen and other psychotics that gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia, to protest the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee.
Mr. Trump is completely disconnected to the day to day lives of ordinary Americans. His antipathy toward people of color is well documented. The people of Puerto Rico are suffering unimaginable horror. Their homes have been destroyed, 85% of the island is without electric power. Potable water is in short supply. Hospitals are running low on needed medicines. People are literally starving and all Donald Trump can do is toss rolls of paper towels to the crowd, as if it is a big laugh. Melania dressed as if she was going to have lunch with friends.
Tom White says:
A 'Civil Protective Order' relates to a complaint of stalking. This was an easy call for Judge Arnold.
I agree with Gary Tobin.
Let me echo his comment:
Tom White and Gary Tobin so, what are your solutions to your three issues?
It's a cultural thing. Many parents do not encourage their children to persue an education. Bridgeport public schools have been a failure for for several generations. (Joseph P. Ganim made a direct appeal to the voters living in poor neighborhoods and housing projects, the parents and grandparents of youth lost to a failed school system. There he was at Trumbull Gardens mending a fence. "Here I am to save the day!" just like Mighty Mouse. Now he's gone, tilting at windmills.)
Change the culture, change the outcome.
Mojo, you make a number of good points like "Cramming a thousand students (K-8th grades) into 1 building is not good nor productive. Having middle schools for grades 6 tru 8th is better, then on to high school." One of the worse problem with public schools system is the fact that where you live with your zip code determines children go to school.
Where a child attends school usually depends on where he or she lives.
Historically, school assignments were determined by your address: a map in the school district office defined school attendance areas, and kids went to school where the map says they go to school.
These attendance areas were created for practical reasons, students had to be within walking distance of school. The arrangement also had a financial basis: local property taxes determined school funding, so for homeowners it made sense to connect where you live and pay taxes with where your children went to school.
Today, there is rarely a significant connection between property taxes and the amount of money a school receives, but the pattern of rigid attendance areas continues to be the norm.
"Where Do You Live?:
Zip Codes and School Quality"
https://ed100.org/lessons/whereyoulive
Wow, say or feel as you may about Maria Pereira, but she provokes people to think about issues, in particular education. In my opinion, there's no right or wrong posts surrounding this "debate," everyone who contributes views are to be commended for caring enough to do so. I happen to find Maria an interesting woman with a high-passion level that some may find irritating, not me. In my long history in Bridgeport politics I learned more from those who challenged me, whether I agreed entirely with their positions or not. It takes a tough skin, an open mind, and without a doubt the inclination to sometimes make it personal. Oh well, welcome back Maria!
Frank Gyure says:
Maria…Welcome back!
Thanks Lisa, Frank and Robert. 🙂
Lisa, with Maria there is only one way, her way, there's no dialog, no discussion, there's nothing. It's her way or no way. She doesn't have the ability to form a coalition, all she does is to create enemies.
I have to agree with Ron here. With Ms. Pereira it is "my way or the highway." If someone disagrees with her she takes it personally, responding with insults and name calling. The BBOE is bogged down with frivolous litigation, obstructism, infighting, petty arguments, most of it caused by Ms. Pereira. She IS passionate, as Lisa said. But it is misguided and misdirected. Disrupting the business of the Board of Education with a myopic personal agenda is not constructive. The needs of the school children are not being met, their welfare neglected.
I'm sorry, but did you just point the finger at me for "name calling" and how I conduct myself and my enemies. That is just sooooo rich coming from you.
Once I finish a thread, I don't think about you, Mackey, Day, Fardy, Kid, etc.
You all have two things in common. They are as follows:
1) You're all insecure men who can't handle a woman who won't take your crap, is unintimidated by you, and is confident in who she is.
2) You're all ineffective politically
All of you simply post on OIB without any organized effort behind you. I, however, have hundreds of votes at my fingertips.:)
So who will the next homecoming queen be?
Maria, you are the most ineffective BOE member out of the entire nine members, plus none of the other BOE like you. You have NO accomplishments in raising the educational level of the Bridgeport school students. The other BOE members don't have any working relationship with you. You ran and supported Joe Ganim for mayor and Dennis Bradley for the BOE, Maria how is that working out for you? You did at one time have a good working relationship with Sauda Baraka but now how's that working out for you now Maria? Yes, you are the mayor of Thomas Hooker School but a number of the teachers there can't stand you but you keep patting yourself on your back and see how far that will get you.
There is no Board member more prepared for any given meeting than myself. I take great pride in being completely prepared.
I can't worry about Sauda. She is done on the SBOE and I am not. I told her I would not vote for her for president and she became upset. A president has to have a solid work ethic, and Sauda does not.
I have never been friends with BOE members. They are simply my colleagues.
If the Thomas Hooker teachers don't like me, oh well. If they don't live in Bridgeport, I just keep it moving. They just need to focus on their students and not worry about me.
I have hundreds of followers in the Thomas Hooker Precinct, like it or not. You have no followers.
I have to disagree with you. Last spring I voiced my opposition to Maria's desire to eliminate the Asst. Principal position at Madison School. I have spent about 60 days there in the past year and am familiar with the workings of the school. I laid out my observations about the physical layout of the school, the student population numbers and the high numbers of SPED classes/students in the school and the corresponding high number of PPT meetings which require an administrator to be present. If there was only a principal and an assistant it would require a teacher with a 92 license (administrator) to act as admin and a substitute to be paid for the classroom.
Maria was very open to my observations (when comparing to the few other K-6 schools).
I was happy to see that the Asst. Principal position is still in place this school year. I believe that Maria took my presentation of facts and observation of how the school is functioning into consideration when attacking overall costs of the school system.
Maria is relentless in seeking the most and best for the 21,000+ students in BPS, and that may ruffle some , but it also yileds results and focused the city's attention on the schools and their needs.
typo…not an asst…….NO asst
Marshall, what results, maybe the media is not covering those results because the only thing that I see are news stories about Maria is involved with name calling, petting in fighting with other BOE members, arguments with parents but nothing about the upgrading of students education. Marshall, let's look at the results for all of the 21,000 Bridgeport school children. Maria act is a embarrassment and terrible example to the Bridgeport school children.
Great to know. Please post three links to media stories that support your assertions from the last 18 months. Once again, this should be good.
Post all the stories about how your "brother", Dennis Bradley orchestrated a boycott along with Larcheveque, Weldon, Negron and Fonseca
That's why I have the strongest parent following of any BOE member.
Ron, if you, Day, Kid, Fardy, etc. are my "enemies", I must be doing something right. 🙂
Maria you really do look for trouble. You can use my name even though you are full of it. BTW what have you and your TC done help the neighborhood? Let me answer that NOTHING!! Its like everything. you get involved in. You holler and scream and basically do nothing. Name something you have done that makes life for the school kids better Nothing. You put up candidates for office up here that have no idea what the neighborhood needs. Why is that ? Its because you don't know what the neighborhood is about/ Go crawl back under the rock you came from
It was myself and the town committee that organized the neighborhood to SUCCESSFULLY block the building of two apartment buildings in a single family residential zone. They would have been within two blocks of your home.
We recently went door to door to discuss a cell phone tower in the Vazzy's parking lot, and we testified against it.
I have helped constituents with a variety of issues.
That is why I am so respected and loved in our precinct.
Maria,
You flatter youself. Maybe in your own mind you are "respected and loved."
When it comes to the needs and welfare of Bridgeport's school children you are a belligerent obstructionist.
One person cannot obstruct a nine member board.
You have created a few, Maria. From the Connecticut Post, September 2016:
"The long-simmering feud between school board Chairman Dennis Bradley and board member Maria Pereira turned into a war Monday.
"On the day Pereira filed a lawsuit against Mayor Joe Ganim for filling a Board of Education vacancy after the school board didn't, Bradley announced that Monday's board meeting was canceled.
Not only that, Bradley called on Pereira to resign.
"Board Vice Chairman Joe Larcheveque, as well as members Kevin McSpirit and Annette Segarra-Negron, are backing Bradley, and say they, too, refuse to convene any further regular board meetings until Pereira steps down…"
Messrs. Larcheveque and Bradley are still on the board. My guess is they and their more recent colleagues hold the same opinion today.
This story is about board members boycotting their responsibilities to 21,000 students while demanding my resignation.
The story reflects negatively on them, not me.
They behaved inappropriately not me.
I believe Larcheveque knew the boycott would hurt him if he tried to run again. We will definitely be using it against Dennis when he runs for Senator again.
Thanks kid. I still say you're one of the best posters!
Maria Pereira, as the DTC district leader in the 138th district has done nothing for her district since holding that position. Maria as one of the ten district leaders on the Bridgeport DTC has no allies with the other district leaders. The same is true about Maria as one of the nine Bridgeport Board Of Education members, she no allies on the BBOE, in fact the one BBOE member who did get along with Maria, Sauda Baraka, well Sauda has nothing to do with Maria. Maria has no ability to form a coalition with the DTC or the BBOE.
… And the band played on.
I am successful and effective and it gets under your skin. I'm glad it does. What we do know is Ron Mackey is not politically effective, nor will he ever be.
How sad…
Maria the 2 apartment buildings have been on the agenda before you came here. The reason they get beaten is they require a zoning change. Gee you didnt come to my house. Thank God
We organized the immediate neighbors, did the research, made the signs and testified against the proposal. We got the proposal for two apt. Buildings rejected.
You're right. I am one of ten district leaders and the only female and I am an elected BOE member, and you Ron Mackey, just post on JIB.
I WIN… 🙂
Maria, you win at Thomas Hooker School but you are a true loser and so is your district because as a district leader you can't get anything done like other district leaders are able to do. You can't get anyone appointed to any board and commission. You can't get anything done on the BOE because nobody likes you on BOE and none of the other nine DTC district leaders will work with you. Maria, why don't you list what you have done to improve the educational level of the Bridgeport public school? Maria, what have done as the district leader in the 138th district? There a few things that you can take credit for, first Joe Ganim and BOE member Dennis Bradley, thanks for nothing Maria. By the way, who are the members on the BOE who will work with you?
It doesn't matter, Ron. Maria Pereira is a legend in her own mind.
That is without doubt the best way to describe Maria Pereira, that she's a legend in her own mind.
What Maria disrupting a BOE meeting by blasting Public Enemy on her cellphone. The Board of Education is meeting to discuss business and Ms. Pereira disrupted the meeting because she was dismissed. Way to go, way to look after the interests if the city's school children.
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Bridgeport-BOE-chair-cancels-meetings-calls-for-9217953.php
Connecticut Post, 5/16/16:
"Parents and supporters of the charter school Achievement First Bridgeport showed up in force at a city school board meeting this week with a simple request: assign any board member as an liaison to their school but Maria Pereira….
"'I feel Ms. Pereira is a toxic individual judging from videos on YouTube, articles in the paper, posts and comments on Facebook and seeing for myself at these meetings," Melissa Baez, a mother of five, told the school board. "I know she is not a good fit for my school.
"Baez said Achievement First does not need a voice of negativity or hatred toward the growth of her school.
"Ebrima Jobe, another parent, asked if the board might consider a more open-minded appointee who will do right by their children.
LaQuita Boles, a parent leader at Achievement First, said she is enthusiastic about the city school board trying to create ties between her school and their district, but worries that Pereira's agenda would be to divide not find common ground.
'We need someone who understands all perspectives,' Boles said."
I am proud that charter $chool parents stood against me. I don't represent them or their children. I represent BPS families and students as per CT state statute.
Your beloved Sauda got the WFP to endorse Dennis behind my back. I already knew I had made a mistake and tried to warn Sauda. She wouldn't listen.
In the end he walked right over her to become president and betrayed us all.
I have hundreds of votes and am loved and respected in Thomas Hooker, and you have no votes and have no votes. That's gotta hurt.
Maria, what have done as the district leader in the 138th district? There a few things that you can take credit for, first Joe Ganim and BOE member Dennis Bradley, thanks for nothing Maria. By the way, who are the members on the BOE who will work with you? Maria, who bought Dennis Bradley to the public as a candidate for the BOE? Maria, it was you who got Dennis Bradley on the BOE and not Sauda. It was also you who was it those election pictures with Joe Ganim and Dennis Bradley smiling with them.
There are no campaign photos with me and Ganim you liar.
Maria, as you usually do, you lie, nobody said, "campaign photos."
Maria, you don't even represent BPS children, you are a real loser on the BOE because you have no accomplishments of upgrading the educational level of BPS.
This is real simple. Post any photo I took with Mayor Ganim right here. We will be waiting forever.
Just a plain old liar.
Do not underestimate the Second Amendment, Ms. Pereira.
Are you threatening me? Do I need to contact the police? I have no problem doing so.
Go ahead. I meant the First Amendment. My bad. I've been exercising it every day here. Your explanations don't hold water. Why djd you blast rap music on your iPhone during a BOE meeting? Was that on the agenda?
Ask Joseph Celli how well I exercise the First Anendment rights to free speech. He and his "art center" lost the lease on the Black Rock Bank & Trust building after I exposed him as a fraud and a con man.
I blasted music cause I wanted to exercise my First Amendment rights, too.
Who doesn't like a little Public Enemy?
They must have poor taste in music.
Next time you ought to use earphones. A BOE meeting is not the place to blast gangsta rap music.
"Gangsta rap" huh. There goes your racist tendencies.
You'll have to explain that rationalization. "Gangsta rap" is a genre. Public Enemy is considered one of the seminal contributors to the firm. (See http://www.allmusic.com for the short course.)
Gee, we all thought you knew everything. Apparently you are ignorant of trends in popular music.
Maria,you are a do NOTHING elected district leader for your district and a do NOTHING elected member of the BOE. Maria, keep up your do NOTHING work. Keep patting yourself on your back.
Well, Ron Mackey, your opinion about me and what does and does not happen inn the 138th is irrelevant. Not even retired fire fighters care about your opinion because they are some of my greatest supporters.
Your opinion does not matter in the 138th.
LIAR, Maria, why don't you share a few names, I know firefighters wouldn't care if you post there name.
Mr. Sharp, Mr. Mihalek, Mr. White, Mr. Young, etc.
No one cares about your opinion you liar.
Maria, I don't know who Mr. Sharp is but Mr. Mihalek, Mr. White and Mr. Young, nobody knows who they are. Asked them what have they ever spoke out publicly about anything at anytime?
s These guys are all retired firefighters who came on the job at the end of the 60's . Ron you may not have heard of them but they were there.
Andy, thanks, I have the highest respect for those who came before me who would put their life. When that bell rings and those lights go on it's time to put all disagreements away because somebody needs our help.
who would put their life on the line for others.
From the Connecticut Post, 5/16/16:
"'I feel Ms. Pereira is a toxic individual judging from videos on YouTube, articles in the paper, posts and comments on Facebook and seeing for myself at these meetings,' Melissa Baez, a mother of five, told the school board. 'I know she is not a good fit for my school.'
I'm guessing your fan club was not presentthat day.


text:
Q: How to call a function with different values without recreating an new arrow function on every render? It's clear and we all know that using arrow functions in the render method of a class component isn't good because it creates new functions on every render.
e.g.
render() {
    return (

 console.log('this is bad')}>I'm dangerous

    )
}

But in my case, what I what to do is have a function (foo) that receives a parameter and set the state with that parameter. And I have multiple elements, each one with a different value for calling foo.
e.g.
foo = value => this.setState({value})

render() {
    return (

 this.foo(1)}>1
 //  this is also bad

 this.foo(2)}>2
 //  this is also bad

 this.foo(3)}>3
 //  this is also bad

 this.foo(4)}>4
 //  this is also bad

 this.foo(5)}>5
 //  this is also bad

    )
}

So I need a walkaround on this, I need to call the same function only passing different arguments.
What I try to come up with is

*

*Creating a function that returns a function
foo = value => () => this.setState({value})

render() {
    return (

1

2

3

4

5

    )
}

But I think this is just as bad as the first example

*Creating on function for each value
foo1 = value => this.setState({value})
foo2 = value => this.setState({value})
foo3 = value => this.setState({value})
foo4 = value => this.setState({value})
foo5 = value => this.setState({value})

render() {
    return (

1

2

3

4

5

    )
}

This isn't bad in the case where you create a new function on every render, but this way, my component just becomes huge and very bad.
Giving this situation, How can I make this function or rendering without creating new functions on every render and don't create one function for each element value?
Just keep in mind that the real values in my case aren't numeric numbers (1234), the element of the onClick isn't a simple div element and foo doesn't only call this.setState, but do other stuff too. it's just an example.

A: The way you solve this in class-based components is to bind the function when the class itself is created.
class C {
  foo = () => {
    this.setState({...})
  }

  render() {
    return

  }
}

This will ensure that there is only one instance of that function per instance of the class. I would only recommend doing this if you have demonstrated there is a performance concern with having functions created in each render call.

A: I could add a data-attribute to the div, then use the event.target inside the onClick as  Nick Parsons said, and based on his comment I came with another solution that maybe it's better.
I could create an component that receives a value and a onClick prop and inside the component I would just call this.prop.onClick(this.props.value). this way I would pass only one function to each component.
It's like data-attribute but with different props.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Sequential Brands Gr ...
Showing 1-10 of about 26 articles.
Velocity Micro
Velocity Micro® Announces Immediate Availability of Workstations Designed for Film, Studio, Media, and VR Content Production
Richmond, VA, Sept. 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Richmond, VA — September 26, 2017 — Velocity Micro, the premier builder of award winning enthusiast desktops, laptops, high performance computing...
The Asia Contemporary Art Show
Art And Artists From Around The World Await Visitors This Fall At The 11th Edition Of The Asia Contemporary Art Show
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Meditation Master, Most Advanced Wearable Meditation Headband From AlphaSense, Launches on Indiegogo
NATICK, MA and BEIJING, CHINA--(Marketwired - Jun 21, 2016) - AlphaSense LLC, a pioneer in neurotechnology, has launched Meditation Master, the most advanced wearable meditation headset for...
Sequential Brands Group
Sequential Brands Group Announces Emeril Lagasse to Star in Amazon Original Series Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse Premiering Exclusively on Prime Video on September 2
The docuseries follows world-famous Lagasse as his award-winning friends and colleagues José Andrés, Mario Batali, Danny Bowien, Marcus Samuelsson, Aarón Sánchez and Nancy Silverton introduce him to...
Amazon Original Series Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse Premieres Exclusively on Prime Video on September 2
NorthStar Moving (R) Company
NorthStar Moving Announces Partnership with YogaWorks
LOS ANGELES, March 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NorthStar Moving ® Company, the leading eco-luxury mover in California, announced today a new partnership with YogaWorks, the industry leader in...
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC
Designing Hotels for the Luxury Traveler of the Future by The Ritz-Carlton
BEIJING, CHINA--(Marketwired - Jul 3, 2015) - Over the course of the last decade, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has opened the doors to more than 50 new, renovated or refurbished luxury...
YAS Fitness Centers
YAS Fitness Centers Targeting Athletic and Business-Minded Franchisees; A Unique and Compelling Franchise Opportunity
VENICE, Calif., Sept. 9, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - After focusing on company-owned locations and putting in the systems to support rapid unit growth, YAS founder Kimberly Fowler is offering...
Hemp, Inc.
PPJ Enterprise Triples Its Stock Price and Volume After Signing Agreement With Hemp, Inc.'s IHMMCC to Segue Into the Medical Marijuana Sector
LAS VEGAS, June 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hemp, Inc.'s (OTC:HEMP) wholly owned subsidiary, The Industrial Hemp and Medical Marijuana Consulting Company, Inc. (IHMMCC), announced today that it has...
EQS Group AG
DGAP-News: Star Wars(TM) Pinball Coming Soon for Download
Zen Studios 05.02.2013 21:00 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Use the Force to Guide the Silver Ball and Become a Jedi Master Pinball Pro LOS ANGELES,...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Review: Netflix's 'The Boys in the Band' another solid transition from stage to screen
Built on stagey performances and soap-operatic tendencies, the new film version of the off-Broadway behemoth, "The Boys in the Band" - which chronicles the livelihood of gay lives in New York during the late sixties - represents a rare breed of plays that successfully make the leap from the stage to the silver screen.
Based on the hit play by Mart Crowely (who died in March this year), this adapted version takes liberties with the material (those who know the show might notice a slightly different ending) but at its core is still about a group of gay men in New York gathering for a night of celebration during an era where Stonewall and the AIDS epidemic didn't exist. More often that not during the late sixties, especially in the bigger metropolis areas, folks seemed to "tolerate" the gay community and embraced the arts and leisure scene with a fierce tenacity before it all went to shit.
Originally turned into a film directed by William Friedkin in 1970 (he's next film would be "The Exorcist") - this updated rendition of the play is helmed by Joe Mantello and assembles the entire cast from the recent revival to tackle their roles: ranging from Jim Parsons to Zachary Quinto.
Parsons - who at age 47 clearly doesn't age - plays Michael, a closted Catholic worried about money and reputation. An old flame Donald (Matt Boomer) has swung by to help Micheal prep for an upcoming birthday party in his hip and swanky apartment. The shindig is for the uptight and persnickety businessman Harold (Quinto - hamming it up) who lives by the code fashionably late. Other guests include: Hank (Tuc Watkins) as the only straight looking guy in the room, who drinks beer and is leaving his wife and kids to be with Larry (Andrew Rannells), whose polyarmous lifestyle drives him mad. Robin de Jesus's Emory is the most flamboyant of the squad and Micheal Benjamin Washington's Bernard is seemingly along for the ride.
"The Boys in the Band" feels like a bottle rocket waiting to pop. From the first scene you can sense there's tension in the room, and then Manello throws them into conflict, shakes em' up, and lets them go. The results come close to capturing the live theatrical experience, which in the year 2020 is quite refreshing.
But things get more tense when Micheal's college, homphobic, roommate phones him out of the blue and practically invites himself over for a drink. That would be Alan (Brian Hutchinson) the only surefire hetrosexual of the bunch who's supposedly in a happy marriage with his wife. It doesn't take long for him to be repulsed by the ambiance in the room, though, there are much larger insecurities existing within his body.
Even though some of the issues and themes presented in "The Boys in the Band" can seem a bit confined to 1968, it's still impressive to see art, in any medium, where all the characters are homosexuals. And for the first hour, Manello keeps things light as each personality is introduced and some wisecracks are muttered before the main event: an emotional game where each individual must phone one person from their past and confess their love to them. The results aren't so peachy.
This is the stagiest sequence of the film and Manello blocks the scene as if it were on Broadway, allowing the camera to never become obtrusive to what the performers are cooking. Unlike the stage play, the cinematics allow the filmmakers to incorporate flashbacks to help add context and it's powerful. Each actor gets their moment with a big speech and despite it feeling a bit contrived, the patiences with which Manello unfolds the events only enhances the anger in the room.
But "The Boys in the Band" has always been about the quest for acceptance in an era of naivety and innocence. As a play junkie, there's something quite riveting about long takes in which characters speak in whole paragraphs and deliver bone chilling monologues. In some cases, the ideals of filmmaking can undermine the emotional infrastructure of a scene and since "The Boys in the Band" stays in the same setting with the same characters for almost two hours, the friction remains palabale. You'd be surprised at how much spectacle exists when people talk to each other and actually listen.
THE BOYS IN THE BAND premieres globally on Netflix Wednesday September 30th.
SXSW Snapshots: 'The Oxy Kingpins' and 'Clerk'
SXSW Snapshots: 'Witch Hunt,' 'The Feast' and 'The Last Cruise'
SXSW Snapshots: 'The Spine of Night,' 'Alien on Stage' and 'Broadcast Signal Intrusion'


The Le Mans Esport Series' Fuji round will reach its exciting conclusion on-site at the World Endurance Championship event this weekend.
Taking place on Sunday alongside the 6 Hours of Fuji WEC round, the two-hour long Esports race for 12 competitors from the Asia region will take place on the Suzuka circuit using Forza Motorsport 7.
The winner of the race will secure a spot at the LMES Super Final, which is due to take place at Le Mans next June, and will also take home a share of $10,000 worth of prize money.
The 10-strong field for the two-hour race on Sunday will be made up of seven online qualifiers who have been flown out to the Fuji circuit for this weekend as well as the three fastest competitors from an on-site qualifying event on Saturday.
JSR AziDhk from Sapporo, Japan set the fastest laptime over the two weeks of online qualifying in the Asia Pacific region with a 1m48.584s, nearly one second quicker than the second fastest time set by FRF Rossweisse.
The Fuji round races for the Europe and America regions took place online last weekend.
Jacob Bowkett finished second behind Silverstone winner Shaun Arnold to qualify from the Europe field, while THR Vanquish won the America region race.
Along with Arnold, David Hoch and Chris Farkas won Silverstone qualification races to book their places for the Super Final.


only 1 km away from the southern side of the bridge. To the north of the bridge, the A476 is only some 6 km away. The 8 km stretch containing the bridge is the only section of major road linking south, west and north Wales which is not trunked.
The Welsh Office's refusal to help the people of Pembrokeshire sharply contrasts with the Department of Transport's attitude towards Humber bridge, which currently has debts of more than £430 million. In the financial year 1992-93, the Department of Transport provided £43.5 million to the Humber Bridge Board and it has promised legislation to avoid the board having to precept local authorities to solve the problem.
It is interesting to note that, per metre of length, the Humber bridge is cheaper than Cleddau bridge. One pence of toll on Humber bridge allows one to travel 13.9 m whereas 1p of toll on Cleddau bridge allows one to travel only 10.9 m. The Government's inconsistent approach to the national importance of estuarial crossings has been highlighted in a report by the Select Committee on Transport in 1985. It said that tolls were a selective monopoly charge and the policy that the costs of estuarial crossings should be borne by the local population was applied inconsistently. It pointed out that the following bridges were estuarial crossings, but were untolled: Avonmouth bridge, Ballachulish bridge, Moray and Cromarty firth bridges, Friarton bridge in Perth, Runcorn-Widnes bridge, the Clyde tunnel and M8 Kingston bridge, the Medway crossing and Dornoch firth bridge.
It is worth noting that, in Wales, the Conwy tunnel and the M4 over the Usk at Newport are untolled. The new extension of the M4 at Briton Ferry, again over an estuary, is untolled. I understand from my hon. Friend the Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) that the new Dee crossing will not be tolled, even though its estimated cost amounts to more than £50 million.
The Select Committee on Transport report went on to say that, if the Government recognised Humber bridge's problems, they could recognise the problems of other bridges as well. It also said that assuming responsibility for debts would not mean finding cash. Debts to the Public Works Loan Board, like those owed by Dyfed county council for Cleddau bridge, and to central Government need have no effect on the public sector borrowing requirement. The report said: "The transfer of responsibility for servicing all the debt to central government would only be a transfer within the public sector".
Therefore, it would have no impact on the PSBR.
"willing to consider reasoned argument for special treatment in particular cases."
it. I have heard promises like that before and it becomes extremely hard to identify where and whether extra money has been forthcoming for particular problems.
If the Welsh Office is to provide extra money in the standard spending assessment or the revenue support grant, why does not it take over financial responsibility directly rather than use the new Pembrokeshire authority as a third party? Its approach implies that the Welsh Office accepts that there is a problem and money needs to be found, so why does not it go the whole way and take over full responsibility? If it will not provide extra money, it is meaningless to say that the burden of Cleddau bridge will be reflected in the new authority's settlement.
It is clear that the new Pembrokeshire authority, which has been welcomed by everyone in my constituency, will face a massive financial problem because of the bridge. The Minister has been warned by the treasurer of the outgoing county council of a potential catastrophe. The problem arises from an undertaking that was made, not even by the present council, but by the previous one. It was greatly worsened by circumstances that were not of that authority's own making. There has been a fatal collapse of the bridge and the problem has been exacerbated still further by the Government's failure to live up to a pledge to provide help. The problem is likely to be doubled again because of the circumstances--the need to strengthen the bridge to meet new legislative requirements, which no one could have foreseen when the bridge was first built. For all those reasons, it would be a clear abdication of responsibility for the Welsh Office to refuse to help.
This is now the second Adjournment debate on this subject. The first was raised by a Conservative Member and this one has been raised by a Labour Member. I urge the Minister to accept that Cleddau bridge can and should be treated in the same way as the Dee crossing, the Briton Ferry crossing and the Conwy tunnel. The Welsh Office should accept its responsibility.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Gwilym Jones): The hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) has raised concerns about various matters relating to Cleddau bridge and to the effect on his constituents. I noticed that he did it in a way that sought to emulate the standards of his distinguished predecessor, Mr. Nicholas Bennett. In going through so much history, I feel that I, too, am following in the footsteps of predecessors--my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Crickhowell and my right hon. Friend the Member for Conwy (Sir W. Roberts), who was Minister of State.
Before we go too much into recycling, the reaction might be, "What is new about going down this road or going across this bridge?" The bridge is owned and operated by Dyfed county council. Apart from certain reserve powers possessed by the Secretary of State of Transport with regard to the revision of tolls, the county council has sole responsibility for charging, collecting and reviewing tolls under the Dyfed Act 1987.
It was always intended that the bridge should be a self-financing project, with debt charges being recovered over a 50-year period. Those charges, together with operation and maintenance costs, are met by tolls levied on users of the bridge. That was clear to the then Pembrokeshire county council at the outset and has remained the case since.
The bridge opened to traffic in March 1975. Construction costs increased from the original estimate of £3 million to £12 million on completion. The increase was mainly due to a delay during construction following the collapse of the bridge superstructure and the need to comply subsequently with the recommendations of the Merrison committee on box-girder bridges.
The Government inspector who took the public inquiry into a tolls review in 1974, under the previous legislation contained in the Pembrokeshire County Council Act 1965, recommended that the additional costs to the county council of applying the Merrison committee's standards should be transferred from local ratepayers to the Exchequer. The inspector estimated those costs to be £7 million or more.
Dyfed county council, in an out-of-court settlement with the consulting engineers who designed the bridge, obtained compensation of £3 million. That left a sum of £4 million attributable to the Merrison requirements. The Government took the view that, because of the exceptional circumstances, it was appropriate to give assistance to the county council on a one-off basis. A £4 million interest-free loan that was repayable over 40 years was, therefore, made to the council. That represented a full response to the commitment made in 1979 by the then Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Crickhowell.
In 1979, the only way in which the Government could provide financial assistance to the county council was through an interest-free loan. Grant aid was not possible under the Pembrokeshire County Council Act 1965, under whose powers the bridge was constructed. If a grant had been paid, toll receipts could not have been used towards any construction, maintenance or improvement costs. As I understand it, Parliament's intention in 1965, under the then Labour Government, was to prevent tolls from being used to meet bridge costs that were also grant aided.
Mr. Ainger: I accept what the Minister has said about the legal impediment--I, too, referred to it in my speech--but the argument concerns whether the loan should have been for £4 million or £7 million. Inspector Rawes argued that the loan should not take into account any compensation that the county council was to receive as a result of a legal challenge against the consulting engineer. Does the Minister accept that the £4 million loan did not fully meet the recommendation made by Inspector Rawes?
that the forecast deficits on the bridge should be containable without grant assistance, subject to regular increases in tolls to cover increased costs, such as the proposed strengthening programme. In March this year, the balance on the interest- free loan stood at £2.6 million, repayable over the next 26 years. The actual total debt was £5.1 million and is steadily declining year by year. The large accumulated deficits, which are often quoted, are misleading. I know that the hon. Gentleman seeks to guard the most extreme case when he arrives at his £40 million projection and the size of future tolls. The county council is empowered to charge interest at 10 per cent. per annum on deficiencies in the revenue on the bridge, but it has chosen not to do so. It is precluded from introducing retrospective charging of such interest. In fact, the bridge generated satisfactory surplus from 1986 to 1992. The 1992-93 deficit of £257,000 was primarily due to higher than usual maintenance charges. The bridge managed to break even in 1993-94.
In response to the Select Committee's 1986 report on tolled crossings, the Government said that they were unable to accept the recommendation that they should write off or discharge the debts of tolled crossings. The Government felt there was no reason that the Exchequer should assume responsibilities for obligations freely incurred by the promoting authorities in accordance with their enabling legislation. It was felt that most crossings were either viable or could become so under prudent financial management. That does not, of course, include the exceptional case of the Humber bridge, which would represent a debt of £220 per person per year as local tax had it not been treated in a different way. The arrangement for that bridge is the legacy that we had to take on from a Labour Government, who were desperate to win a by-election.
The 1991 annual inspection of the Cleddau bridge showed that major items of work were necessary in the following 10 years. In addition, with European legislation introducing a 40 tonne weight limit for vehicles from January 1999, it will be necessary to carry out an assessment of the structure to determine its capacity to carry such loads. An initial assessment by the county council shows that the maintenance and strengthening work will cost between £5 million and £20 million.
Resources for assessing and strengthening bridges are provided via the local government revenue settlement, but strengthening work is not the only option. The costs and benefits of that work need to be assessed. It may be- -I can say no more than that--more sensible for Dyfed county council to consider whether, subject to complying with the necessary statutory requirements, weight restrictions might be applied to the bridge.
Under arrangements agreed with local authorities, transport grant can be available for major road improvements. Priority for transport grant is given to road improvements costing more than £5 million and which meet value-for-money criteria. I would not rule out the consideration of a transport grant bid to strengthen the Cleddau bridge. In the absence of an assessment showing that strengthening would be justified, it seems unlikely that such a bid would be supported within the parameters of the scheme. I will, of course, consider evidence which the authority may wish to provide.
The hon. Gentleman is right when he says that, following local government reorganisation, responsibility for the bridge will pass to the new Pembrokeshire unitary authority. He is right, too, when he says that the debt associated with the bridge will also transfer to the new authority. He ignores, however, two important points: first, the new authority will inherit the asset and receive the benefit of toll income; and, secondly, the allowance within the new authority's standard spending assessment for debt charges will reflect its total debt portfolio. The creation of the new authority represents a reversion to the original authority that introduced the legislation to build the bridge. I know that the new authority is warmly welcomed in the hon. Gentleman's constituency, as our popular reforms are usually greeted throughout Wales.
The failure of Dyfed county council to use its powers under its veto to consider and, if necessary, revise regularly the level of tolls has contributed to the bridge's present financial position. Tolls did not increase for eight years between 1985 and 1993. The hon. Gentleman has repeated the calls that have been made previously for the A477 between Pembroke Dock and Johnston on the A4076 to be made into a trunk road. The trunk road network is a national system of routes for through traffic. While, at peak times, up to 9,000 vehicles per day might use the Cleddau bridge, in the main it deals with local rather than through traffic. According to the latest statistics for 1992-93, the average is even lower than 9, 000, because a total of 2,582,108 vehicles crossed the bridge, which I equate with an average of slightly under 7,400 a day. The hon. Gentleman also referred to the third Dee crossing, which is used by 24,000 vehicles a day. The new link with the M4, Fabian way, is also a relevant consideration because it carries 30,000 vehicles a day. The bridge was provided by the local authority to meet the local need, and no evidence has been provided to suggest that it meets a broader national need. As the hon. Gentleman accepted, the area already has good access to the trunk road network at Pembroke Dock and at Johnston on the A4076. Those links provide good access to the dual carriageway at St. Clears via the A477 and A40 and thereafter to the M4. Those links are trunk roads.
The Government's commitment to improving road communications in Wales is clearly demonstrated by a high level of expenditure. Since 1979, more than £2 billion has been spent on the construction and improvement of 25 miles of the M4 and more than 160 miles of trunk road. Nine major improvement schemes providing another 30 miles of motorway and trunk road are under construction.
The rate of spend per head of population in Wales is greater than in England and Scotland. This high level of investment will continue with expenditure of about £200 million planned to be spent on trunk roads in the current financial year. Plans for 1995-96 will be announced shortly.
dualling in the north across Anglesey and, in the south, completion and further improvement of the M4 and dualling the A465.
Completion of the M4 will be realised in four days' time when the two remaining sections of the "M4 missing link" between Baglan and Lonlas are finished. We will then have a continuous motorway of some 220 miles from Pont Abraham in Dyfed right through to London. Moving eastwards along the M4, work is progressing on the Brynglas tunnels-Malpas relief road scheme and on the approach roads to the second Severn crossing. Future M4 proposals include widening the Castleton to Coryton and Magor to Newport-- Coldra--sections of the M4 and we are assessing responses in the recently completed second public consultation on the route for the proposed M4 relief motorway around Newport.
Sageston-Redberth bypass has recently been announced. Also on the A477, the improvement at Red Roses junction is being advanced and we are considering the scope for further improvements on the section between Llanddowror and Red Roses. Those improvements are designed to enable traffic to flow freely. Further improvements will be brought forward where those are justified.
I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we remain committed to supporting the economy of west Wales, particularly through the west Wales task force. I am glad that he acknowledges our action in setting up the task force and providing the sums of money required. I am certain that the hon. Gentleman welcomes the fact that unemployment has been falling in Wales, as it has been throughout the country.
I have looked at the unemployment figures for travel-to-work areas, and I note that in Haverfordwest unemployment has fallen from 11.7 per cent. in October of last year, to 9.9 per cent. in October this year. Similarly, in south Pembrokeshire, unemployment is down from 14.4 per cent. to 10.7 per cent. In Dyfed, unemployment is down from 9.5 per cent. to 8.2 per cent. That spread of figures compares appropriately with the fall in unemployment for Wales from 10 per cent. to 8.8 per cent.
Mr. Ainger: There is a peculiar reason for that fall in Pembrokeshire between October 1993 and October 1994, which was the fact that the Texaco refinery blew up in July 1994. Literally hundreds of new jobs were created in a short period to make good the refinery. Overall, we were still no better off in October 1994 than we were in October 1993. The fall in unemployment is merely because of the work carried out on the refinery.
Mr. Jones: Part of what the hon. Gentleman says must be true. I know the significance of the Texaco incident, as I visited the refinery a few days after that dreadful explosion. But what he says is not fully borne out, either by the figures which I quoted for the whole of Dyfed--which would not be affected by Texaco alone--or by the Welsh figures which I also quoted. The hon. Gentleman is seeing the fruits and the benefits of the Government's successful economic policies coming home. They are achieving a better framework which business and industry are taking advantage of in creating new jobs in Wales. The hon. Gentleman should know that Wales is leading the UK, as the UK, in turn, is leading Europe.
projects which will benefit the west Wales task force area. Nearly 800 bids were submitted under the 1995-96 round and an announcement can be expected shortly.
I cannot respond to the hon. Gentleman as he would wish. The picture which he paints of, on the one hand, responsible action by Dyfed county council and a major problem looming for the new unitary authority and, on the other, an uncaring and miserly Welsh Office does not reflect the facts. The county council is already in receipt of a £4 million interest-free loan. That was an exceptional measure and was taken in specific recognition of the unique circumstances of the bridge following its collapse during construction. The new unitary authority will inherit an asset and its standard spending assessment will take account of servicing its loan debt. I have to tell the hon. Gentleman that I am not persuaded that there is a case for further assistance.
Adjourned accordingly at five minutes past Six o'clock.


This study provides a link between accounting, managerial discretion and monetary policy. Monetary authorities encourage banking institutions to supply credit to the economy. Increased bank supply of credit is a good thing but too much of a good can be a bad thing. This paper investigates under what circumstances excessive loan supply ceases to be a good thing and how bank managers react to this. After examining 82 bank samples, I find that (i) bank underestimate the level of reserves to boost credit supply in line with expectations of monetary authorities, particularly, in Asia and UK (ii) consistent with the credit smoothing hypothesis, US and Chinese banks smooth credit supply to minimize unintended stock market signaling; (iii) managerial priority during a recession is to smooth credit over time rather than to boost credit supply; (iv) non-performing loans, bank portfolio risk and loan portfolio size are significant determinants of the level of loan loss reserves; and (v) credit risk, proxy by loan growth, do not have a significant impact on loan loss reserves but tend to have some significant effect during a recession, particularly, when change in loans is negative. The implications of these findings are two-fold: (i) bank managers use their discretion over reserves to influence bank credit supply; (ii) bank supply of credit is not solely driven by loan demand but by a combination of several factors, particularly, capital market concerns, the need to avoid scrutiny from monetary authorities, and country-specific factors.
Credit Risk, Monetary Policy, Loan Loss Reserves, Credit Smoothing, Accounting, Signaling, Bank supervision.


text:
Motherwell's magical collages by Karen Wilkin
December 2013 December 2013
Motherwell's magical collages
by Karen Wilkin
Review of "Robert Motherwell: Early Collages" at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
Robert Motherwell in his studio at 33 West 8th Street, New York, ca. 1945; © Peter A. Juley and Son Collection, Smithsonian American Art Museum
Collage was invented by Georges Braque in September 1912. During a sojourn in the Provençal town of Sorgues, with his fellow pioneer of Cubism Pablo Picasso and their female companions, Braque noticed a roll of wood-grain paper in a wallpaper shop in nearby Avignon. When Picasso left for a short trip to Paris, Braque quickly bought some of the fake wood-grain and began to incorporate it into his work before his friend, colleague, collaborator, and rival returned. Since Braque had been trained to do trompe-l'oeil finishes as a teenager when he worked for his family's...
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Spilling over at the Whitney
Pierre Bonnard at Tate Modern
Hans Hofmann in Berkeley
Tintoretto at 500
E-mail Motherwell's magical collages by Karen Wilkin


text:
HomePoliticsBrexit: Irish PM Leo Varadkar says deal 'very difficult' by deadline
Brexit: Irish PM Leo Varadkar says deal 'very difficult' by deadline
October 8, 2019 Admin Politics 0
The two leaders are due to meet again in the coming days
It will be "very difficult" for the UK and the EU to reach a Brexit agreement before the 31 October deadline, Irish leader Leo Varadkar has said.
He told Irish broadcaster RTE "big gaps" remained between the two sides.
Amid claims on Tuesday that talks were close to collapse, he also suggested the language around the discussions had turned toxic "in some quarters".
Mr Varadkar and Boris Johnson are expected to meet for further Brexit talks later this week.
The UK has said the EU needs to "move quickly" to stop it leaving without an agreement at the end of the month.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who spoke with Mr Johnson by phone for about 45 minutes on Tuesday, said he would strive until the "last moment" to reach a deal with the UK, but "not at any cost" to his country, Northern Ireland and the rest of Europe.
He also downplayed the chances of any agreement being struck before the crucial summit of EU leaders on 17 October, during which next steps for Brexit are likely to be decided.
"I think it's going to be very difficult to secure an agreement by next week, quite frankly," Mr Varadkar said.
"Essentially, what the UK has done is repudiated the deal that we negotiated in good faith with prime minister [Theresa] May's government over two years and have sort of put half of that now back on the table, and are saying that's a concession. And of course it isn't really."
Mr Varadkar added that it was his job to hold the UK to commitments it had made since the 2016 referendum to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland and uphold the Good Friday Agreement.
The Irish leader's comments came after a No 10 source claimed on Tuesday that Germany was now making it "essentially impossible" for the UK to leave the EU with a deal.
That assessment followed a "frank" phone call between Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during which they discussed Brexit proposals the UK prime minister put forward last week to the EU.
After the call, a No 10 source said Mrs Merkel had made clear a deal based on the prime minister's plans was "overwhelmingly unlikely" – though the BBC's Adam Fleming said there "scepticism" within the EU that she would have used such language.
The No 10 source also suggested Mrs Merkel told her counterpart the only way to break the deadlock was for Northern Ireland to stay in the customs union and for it to permanently accept EU single market rules on trade in goods.
This, the source said, marked a shift in Germany's approach and made a negotiated deal "essentially impossible".
PA Media
Angela Merkel and Boris Johnson spoke on the phone on Tuesday morning
In response, the EU's top official, European Council President Donald Tusk, accused Mr Johnson of engaging in a "stupid blame game".
In a tweet to the prime minister, he added: "At stake is the future of Europe and the UK, as well as the security and interests of our people.
"You don't want a deal, you don't want an extension, you don't want to revoke, quo vadis (where are you going)?"
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said that if negotiations fail, "the explanation will be found in the British camp (because) the original sin is found on the islands and not on the continent".
Speaking to the French Les Echos newspaper, he added: "A no-deal Brexit would lead to a collapse of the United Kingdom and a weakening of growth on the continent."
In his interview with RTE, Mr Varadkar was asked whether he was concerned the language around the talks was "getting toxic".
"I think it is, from some quarters, but you know I don't play dirty. You know, I don't think most EU leaders do either. We've been very straight up from when the referendum happened."
'Real catastrophe'
The prime minister also hosted European Parliament president David Sassoli in Downing Street on Tuesday, but the MEP left saying "no progress" had been made.
Mr Sassoli later told the BBC's Newsnight programme: "Angela Merkel's opinions must be taken seriously. We are all very worried because there are only a few days left.
"Because we understand that going out without an agreement leads to having a real problem, if not a real catastrophe."
Media captionConfused by Brexit jargon? Reality Check unpacks the basics
Following the meeting, Downing Street said there was "little time" left to negotiate a new legally-binding withdrawal agreement, but Mr Johnson remained committed to doing all he could.
"We need to move quickly and work together to agree a deal," a No 10 spokesman said.
"He [the prime minister] reiterated that if we did not reach an agreement then the UK will leave without a deal on 31 October."
The PM's pledge comes despite legislation passed by MPs last month, known as the Benn Act, which requires Mr Johnson to write to the EU requesting a further delay if no deal is signed off by Parliament by 19 October – unless MPs agree to a no-deal Brexit.
While negotiations are continuing in Brussels, Mr Sassoli said a deal likely to command the support of MEPs was a "long way off".
Timeline: What's happening ahead of Brexit deadline?
Tuesday 8 October – The House of Commons was prorogued – suspended – ahead of a Queen's Speech to begin a new parliamentary session.
Monday 14 October – The Commons is due to return, and the government will use the Queen's Speech to set out its legislative agenda. The speech will then be debated by MPs throughout the week.
Thursday 17 October – Crucial two-day summit of EU leaders begins in Brussels. This is the last such meeting currently scheduled before the Brexit deadline.
Saturday 19 October – Date by which the PM must ask the EU for another delay to Brexit under the Benn Act, if no Brexit deal has been approved by Parliament and they have not agreed to the UK leaving with no-deal.
Thursday 31 October – Date by which the UK is due to leave the EU, with or without a withdrawal agreement.
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