wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

The debate over the role of charter schools in education reform isn’t just academic. New York’s decision to allow more charter schools played a critical role in the state winning its $700 million federal Race to the Top award. Now, charters have become a political issue in a Harlem State Senate campaign.

State Senator Bill Perkins has a mailer seeking input about the rat problem in upper Manhattan. He also uses it to tout his “fight to eradicate rodents from our community.”

My favorite line:

“As a result of that struggle, City government hired a nationally renowned rodentologist…”

I’m also waiting to see how colleague Kate Hinds responds to question 4 of the rat survey on the back of the mailer:

How would you describe the rat problem:

-mild

-severe

-state of emergency

-there is no rat problem