Carl J. Petersen
Bio
Carl Petersen is a former Green Party candidate for the LAUSD School Board and a longtime advocate for public education and special needs families. Now based in Washington State, he writes about politics, culture, and their intersections.
Stories (328)
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LAUSD BD5 School Board Endorsement: Karla Griego
“At every stage in my career, I have worked to create spaces for community input.” – Karla Griego’s website Nestled in southeast Los Angeles, LAUSD’s BD5 has seen a lot of turmoil within the last decade. First, the Charter School Industry spent millions on a campaign that falsely accused the incumbent, public school champion Bennett Kayser, of trying “to stop Latino Children From Attending Schools in White Neighborhoods” and mocked his diagnosis of Parkinson's. The tactics were successful and Kayser was replaced by charter school operator Ref Rodriguez. However, after pleading guilty to felony charges, Rodriguez was forced from office, leaving BD5 unrepresented until the voters chose Jackie Goldberg to replace him in a Special Election. Then the Board District was radically reshaped in a redistricting process tainted by corruption.
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in Education
Hate And Violence On The Ballot
“LGBTQ parents, children, and community members are not safe if any of these candidates, who are aligned with groups that have brought violence to our communities and created a moral panic over LGBTQ existence, attain political power.” – Daisy Gardner and Angela Givant
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in Pride
LAUSD Candidate Forum: The Budget
“Internal controls within the district's financial department are essential to prevent future misuse. This includes establishing clear budget guidelines for one-time funding sources, strengthening accounting procedures for accurate tracking, and implementing regular reviews and audits with transparent reporting mechanisms.” – LAUSD BD3 Candidate Andreas Farmakalidis
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in Education
Does SEIU 99 Think That Voters Are Stupid?
“OUR STUDENTS DESERVE A LEADER ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, NOT A SELF-SERVING POLITICIAN.” – SEIU 99 Mailing Last March, I called out the LAUSD Board for not doing enough to reign in Superintendent Carvalho, leading to a three-day strike led by SEIU-99. I warned the pro-public education majority that they had been elected with a mandate for substantial and immediate change and that the failed contract talks with the union representing some of the District’s lowest-paid workers betrayed that trust.
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in The Swamp
LAUSD Candidate Karla Griego on Student Safety
“The best ways to keep schools safe is by giving them social-emotional support, staffing, enrichment and programs like safe passages. [Students] need to feel that everyone at school is there to help them and is a resource they can lean on” – BD5 candidate Karla Griego
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in Education
Will School Board Protect Public School Students?
“In allocating space to a charter school, pursuant to applicable law, the District must consider the impacts on other public school students, both those attending District schools and those attending other charter schools requesting space.” – Proposed Proposition 39 Charter Schools Co-Location Policy
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in The Swamp
LAUSD Candidate Janie Dam on The Budget
“To prevent misappropriation of funds, a competent and independent public advisory council should be established to watch the cash flow and red flag potentially inappropriate fiscal behaviors whether inadvertent or intentional.” – LAUSD BD3 Candidate Janie Dam
By Carl J. Petersen2 years ago in Education
