Somehow I don't think winning back the Dad Vail Regatta is going to redeem Mayor Nutter from his appalling lack of leadership here in the case of the racially-motivated violence against Asian-American students at South Philadelphia High School. He's managed to get every aspect of this thing 180-degrees bass-ackwards wrong -- unbelievable.
A real leader would have gone to community very early in the crisis, stood up in unflinching terms for the victims of racial violence, and at least expressed his exasperation -- if not his disgust and condemnation -- over the school officials who allowed the situation to deteriorate this far.
Did I miss an announcement that today was Opposite Day, because somehow instead we got this, days after news of the attacks first broke:
Mayor Nutter today praised the Philadelphia School District and schools Chief Arlene Ackerman for their handling of racial violence at South Philadelphia High School.
"Superintendent Ackerman and the School Reform Commission and the entire school district I think took these matters very seriously, and quite honestly, jumped on them in the most immediate fashion," Nutter said at a news conference today.
As the article notes lower down:
Eight days passed before Ackerman went to South Philadelphia High to talk to students and staff. The superintendent has also taken heat for her refusal to meet with students boycotting the district.
The students want to meet away from the school, with parents, community organizers and translators present. Ackerman has objected to the activists and meeting location.
Nor did Nutter address one of the most disturbing questions raised here -- the question of how a woman with such dubious credentials was picked to run one of Philadelphia's already most troubled high schools. In a story first reported last week in the Daily News (UPDATE: I've since learned that the excellent Notebook Web site had it before anyone else -- kudos) and expanded upon today in the Inquirer, LaGreta Brown was hired here even though her tenure in Atlantic City set off more red flags than a Madrid bullfighting festival -- and yet the mayor of Philadelphia doesn't seem particular bothered by that, nor do any other public officials. for that matter. Meanwhile, Mayor Nutter is so eager for this crisis to go away that he's making apparently exaggerated claims about the boycott by Asian students ending, when at least some if not most of the students have not returned. (UPDATE: OK, now the boycott apparently really is over.)
Superintendent Ackerman -- who ousted the last principal at South Philadelphia High in June, showing it can be done -- needs to admit that a huge mistake was made here and now oust the new one, even as Ackerman has now raised serious questions about her ability to do her own job. As for Mayor Nutter, he can't be fired until 2011, but one or two more out-of-touch news conferences like this one and you have to think that's a very real possibility.
By the way, more shoes are about to drop in South Philadelphia...starting tomorrow.
UPDATE: This is the shoe:
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S assignment of district police Sgt. Robert "Sarge" Samuels, who had been lauded as a part of a solution to racially tinged violence at South Philadelphia High, has provoked accusations that he has used heavy-handed tactics against students - an approach that community activists say is the last thing the troubled school needs.
District officials said that Samuels, 45, a martial-arts enthusiast who speaks Mandarin and Cantonese dialects of Chinese, had been handpicked by Superintendent Arlene Ackerman because his presence would help Asian immigrant students who speak little English.
But his detractors say that he's a bully with a short fuse and a penchant for violence. Yesterday, Samuels allegedly handcuffed a student for mouthing off.
Meanwhile, the Daily News had a great editorial on Nutter and the schools situation today.
Shocking- Philly Democrats/ Liberals failing children again. I mean seriously- Philadelphia is a joke because of the democratic machine that has run the city for decades.....yet......98% of blacks will vote for democrats.....— Manny Trillo
Philly needs an organizational overhaul. Eliminate Council, and declare a ten year autocratic theocracy to be led by John Chaney. He'll have everyone up at 5 am, cleaning up the city.— Mr. Smith- Thank you Will for summing the whole situation up perfectly! I am appalled by response or lack thereof from the Superintendent and Mayor.— West UC
Comment removed.- Both our "Chief" and our mayor are useless, at best. And thanks, Manny, for fanning the flames of racism. Comments like yours will help I'm sure - because, you know, Republicans really, really, care deeply about "the blacks." If only "the blacks" were as smart as you, they'd be able to see what's in their own best interests, and vote Republican.— Talking point sleuth
- TPS: the progressive voice whose life only has meaning when ruling his kingdom on partisan hack Will Bunch's comments section. Coming next week, TPS unglues his lips from Will and Barack's derrieres and discovers the outside world. Stay tuned!— Jack Klompus
Boo. There's a lesson here, kids: adults suck.— conceptual_bro- How to achieve Republican logic in two steps: (1) Criticize someone for posting comments on a blog by posting comments on a blog. (2) Fantasize about male body parts, and then post said fantasies on a blog.— Talking point sleuth
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Get em Talking Point sleuth. Manny Trillo's comments are racist and irrational.— birds
- If it was violence towards black or hispanic students, it would have been resolved within a day, and everyone who let it go on would be out of a job.— LAEagle
When you don't like the reality, look how quick you are to scream "racism". Nutter and Street before him have let this city slide, and our schools aren't even close to what constitutes a meaningful education. Savages are free to terrorize the schools and the streets. The administration, school and city, are listless political hacks looking for a photo opp and a cushy retirement package. What this city needs are lions with courage that will throw out the dead wood, put fear into the animals that have made our schools unsafe, and make a Phila. education something of merit. And the Asian community is one of the cities greatest hopes. A community that works and has a dynamic ethos. Too many in this city are part of the culture of dependency that only knows how to TAKE...and in their parasitic fashion, will kill this city if left on their own accord with shufflebutt politicians and useless school administrators leading the way for Phila. to become the next Detroit.— Yermak29- of course it was days after...its not like it was black kids getting turned away at a white pool or anything— dakind
- The question has to be asked. Can African Americans lead? When Brady keeps stepping in to help, he makes it seem as though black people need leadership. First Septa, and now Dad Vail. Hey Nutter, are you listening. He wants your job. He is exhausted going back and forth to D.C.— FJG JR
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
E-mail Will by clicking here.
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