How do you beat the headline “Blagojevich Now Only Ex-Illinois Governor Still in Jail”? http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/31/us/illinois-ex-governor-ryan-released-from-prison.html?smid=pl-share
Monthly Archives: January 2013
Failure to Evaluate
Kids in urban public school systems fall behind in alarming numbers and are handicapped for a lifetime as a result. All involved are happy to say “the system” failed. The majority who work in “the system” (in other words, teachers) easily find fault with management and the disadvantages students suffer at home. But apparently what teachers’ unions see as the real threat to education today are meaningful measures that distinguish good teachers from bad. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/18/nyregion/new-york-city-talks-on-teacher-evaluations.html?smid=pl-share Update: State gets involved. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/31/nyregion/gov-andrew-m-cuomo-issues-ultimatum-in-teacher-evaluation-fight.html?smid=pl-share
Any Port in a Fiscal Storm
So Pittsburgh-area nonprofits will have to prove their bona fides to the tax collector and the airport will have gas rigs fracking away. Seems like the environment and charity take a backseat when bankruptcy looms. http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/allegheny-county-puts-nonprofits-on-notice-671520/
Boredom on the Beat
Cops misusing squad car computers to scope out dates or get dirt on one of their own who violated “the code”? The horror! New technology, old techniques. Law-enforcer misuse of driver database soars.
Ho Hum
Another legislator closely tied to a non-profit playing fast and loose with its government funding. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/nyregion/shirley-l-huntley-expected-to-plead-guilty-to-corruption.html?smid=pl-share Update after guilty plea to shopping spree. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/31/nyregion/shirley-l-huntley-ex-state-senator-pleads-guilty-in-fraud.html?smid=pl-share
Bell Bares All
With a distracted citizenry and an LA-fixated media, former Bell officials seemingly had carte blanche. For the new management regime in Bell, transparency is the first step to recovery. http://americancityandcounty.com/citizen-engagement/new-bell-calif-website-emphasizes-transparency
Public Service Pays in Bell
In Bell, California, top officials got paid like corporate CEOs and city Council members like members of corporate boards, except that it appears members of corporate boards worked much harder. Let’s see how the trial pans out.
Illinois Hits Bottom
With tens of billions of dollars in unfunded pension liabilities, and after years of dithering about what to do, Illinois credit rating is on the brink of a major downgrade whose net effect will be to add some $100 million to the states interest costs. Scary thing – Illinois is not alone. http://www.suntimes.com/17800327-761/illinois-bond-rating-sinks-to-worst-in-the-nation.html
Building Strong Organizations
Defining the values that energize an organization, not a bad idea. As this executive notes, when small an organization may manage this by osmosis but, as it grows, the values governing how the organization is run need to be made explicit. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/business/victoria-ransom-of-wildfire-on-instilling-a-companys-values.html?smid=pl-share
Tailhook: 20 Years and Counting
The issue of sexual harassment and indiscretion in the military has been much in the news lately. Not like this issue didn’t blow sky high two decades ago at the Tailhook Convention that was an annual magnet for Navy flyers. Auditors: Defense Department slow to develop sexual-assault policies