WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Hundreds of Haitian migrants are being rounded up and deported from the US. The large-scale expulsion involves several daily flights and a show of force at the border, while Haiti faces economic and political crises.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

"We need to re-establish a functional relationship between the two powers,” he said, calling that “essential to address the problems of vaccination, the problems of climate change and many other global challenges that cannot be solved without constructive relations within the international community and mainly among the superpowers.” -- AP

@RichLowry

BREAKING: An enormous gathering of journalists in Washington, DC today was orderly and peaceful, and a few Justice for J6  protestors showed up.

 Aaron Schneider

As a result, the US continues its embargo, causes unnecessary suffering to the Cuban people, fails to produce change, and turns the US (not Cuba) into an international pariah in conflict with its own allies. -- Aljazeera 

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti

Rich countries worry about booster shots. They should be worried about Africa. -- New York Times

WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Employees at a Pacific Northwest burger chain triggered a new policy after employees wore buttons that read “Abolish ICE” and “No one is illegal” with their uniforms.

Marisa Novara, of the nonprofit Metropolitan Planning Council

“If mayoral candidates actually used the s-word, and acknowledged that segregation is rooted in racism, and acknowledged government’s culpability as a vehicle for and perpetuator of racism, then we might have a very different mayoral race. We might have candidates willing to embrace solutions that go beyond programs to actual structural change.” -- New York Times

Natalie Y. Moore, author of "The South Side"

[Harold Washington's] elections marked the last time an interracial coalition was forged to change who runs this city. I don’t want to dwell in nostalgia, but I do think that could happen again. -- New York Times

Northwestern Prof. Kari Lydersen

“In Chicago, from almost Day One, [Rahm Emanuel] was seen as Mayor 1%. He took on the unions right away. He came in and made clear he was planning to run the city as a business. He didn’t have time for regular people... Even now, people outside Chicago don’t get the extent to which he’s been Mayor 1%. -- Sun-Times

David Sirota

Emanuel’s administration also reportedly oversaw a police dark site where suspects were allegedly imprisoned without charge – and the Democratic mayor’s appointees infamously blocked the release of a videotape of Chicago police gunning down an unarmed African American teenager. -- Guardian

Former IL Gov. George Ryan

 “Hell, I’m 84 years old,” he chirped. “I’m just really looking forward to rekindling memories and  dreams we had back in 1999 for my first trip to Cuba in hopes of getting the embargo lifted." -- Sneed

 David Madland, Senior Fellow at Center of American Progress

“Unions boost wealth for all workers, and the wealth jump is the biggest for communities of color. It’s not just unions helping one group, it’s helping all groups and providing the most help for the people who need it the most.” -- Bloomberg

No more blockades

Havana yesterday

A step backwards...Shame on POTUS for not sending an official delegation to Fidel's funeral. Even though he has taken important steps forward in normalizing relations between our two countries, and ending the failed blockade, this snub will be taken as another insult to the Cuban people and the people of Latin America and the Caribbean for whom Fidel is a symbol of independence and anti-colonialism.

It shows that Obama is still too worried about what the Trumpy Republicans think about him to do the right thing. It's that fear, which helped paralyze his administration up until this, his last year in office, that will forever remain as part of his legacy.

It will now be left to the Republicans to move past Trump's alt-right rhetoric and finish the job of normalization (and take credit for it). If they fail and cave into Trump's campaign promises to roll back Cuba policy to the Cold War era, this country -- and not Cuba -- will be the losers. Chinese and European competitors will more than fill the void.

Remember, it was IL Republican Gov. George Ryan who lead our state's delegation to Cuba in 1999. The trip made the Republican Ryan the first sitting U.S. governor to travel to Cuba since the revolution 40 years earlier.

Ryan initially described the five-day trip as a way to foster a trade relationship someday between Cuba and Illinois, but the Bush regime frowned on that. It later was billed as a “humanitarian mission” to help Cubans and Illinoisans build bridges with one another. This was no "concession to communism" as the untra-right claimed. The delegation of about 50 included lawmakers, educators and officials from Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc., Decatur-based Archer Daniels Midland and other businesses.

Ryan's trip cleared the way for my own officially sanctioned trip months later, accompanied by 30 American educators. We brought with us a trunk load of school supplies, visited schools and met with teachers and ed policy leaders across the island. We discovered that despite the U.S. embargo that meant children often coming without notebooks, pencils or erasers, Cuban schools had produced the highest literacy rate in the Caribbean. Having free, universal health care and college tuition helped.

I'm hoping the events of the past week will lead to many more such educator and people-to-people exchanges. The people of both countries have nothing to gain from Trump's anti-Cuba bluster.

Another blockade. No, this time not in Cuba... N.D. Gov. Dalrymple, taking a page from the Cuban blockade, attempted to block food and supplies from entering the Oceti Sakowin camp yesterday. His strategy, to starve or freeze the 6,000 water protectors into submission. Under national and international pressure, he was forced to pull back the physical blockade but is now threatening fines for those carrying badly-needed supplies to the camp.

If anyone is planning on driving up to Standing Rock from the Chicago area, I have two cartons of thermal blankets that need to be delivered. Please contact me before you go.

A SmallTalk Salute goes out to the 2,000 veterans on their way to Standing Rock to serve as human shields for the water protectors. NYT reports:

The veterans’ plan coincides with an announcement on Tuesday by law enforcement officials that they may begin imposing fines to block supplies from entering the main protest camp after a mandatory evacuation order from the governor. Officials had warned earlier of a physical blockade, but the governor’s office later backed away from that, Reuters said. 

WEEKEND QUOTABLES '¿Que bolá Cuba?

Pres. Barack Obama

U.S. policy toward Cuba hasn’t worked “since I was born,” Obama said in an interview with CNN en Espanol last week. Giving Cubans more access to commerce and the Internet may bring about bigger changes than the embargo ever could, Obama said. In relation to the rest of Latin America, he said, it means removing “this one lingering irritant or perception that somehow the United States was trying to big-foot smaller countries in the region.” -- Bloomberg

CTU Pres. Karen Lewis on planned April 1 walkout

"I've had some people say this harms the kids, so my question back to them is: 'What do you want to do? Tell me what it is that you want to do.' You have to ask people questions if they have reservations," Lewis said Friday. -- Tribune

William Lee on black exodus

But few discuss the toll that black flight is having on Chicago, long a beacon for progress and employment for African-Americans stretching back to the days of slaughterhouses, steel mills and Pullman porters. -- Tribune

Donald Trump's dreaming of a white riot

“I don’t want to see riots. I don’t want to see problems. But, you know, you have — you have millions of people who we’re talking about,,,. -- Huffington

Rich Miller

 Almost $4.2 million was raised for or spent on Dunkin's campaign, almost all of it by Rauner's allies. That works out to about $1.4 million for every precinct Dunkin won. -- Capitol Fax

¿Que bolá Cuba? Just touched down here, looking forward to meeting and hearing directly from the Cuban people.

— President Obama (@POTUS) March 20, 2016

Rauner tells POLITICO: 'I wasn't in Cuba. I was in, um...Europe.'

“You’d be amazed at what we ate. I’m not going to tell you that.” -- Gov. Rauner

Natasha Korecki is one of my favorite reporters on the Chicago scene. I peruse her Illinois Playbook in POLITICO most mornings over breakfast. You should too.

It looks like she perused mine on Saturday when I raised the possibility that Gov. Rauner's secret vacation had taken him to Cuba to hang out with his pal, Rahm Emanuel.

Got that last piece from reliable sources who say they spotted the gov in Havana. Are reporters even curious? I mean, Rahm/Rauner wining and dining together in Cuba while the city sizzles and the state floods (literally).

To her credit, she took my charge seriously and undaunted by Rahm's previous hissy-fit over her colleague Mike Allen's broaching of the Cuba topic, Korecki put it right to the gov. Here's what she came away with.

 To the conspiracy theorists who believed Emanuel and Gov. Bruce Rauner were secretly puffing cigars and toasting Mojitos in Cuba on a joint, clandestine vacation -- not true. They were drinking Cuba Libres? No, no, no. While the two have been known to enjoy a pricey bottle of wine and fish together in their free time, the governor was in fact in Europe with his family on vacation over winter break. He paid for the trip himself and flew commercially, the governor’s office told POLITICO. 

Conspiracy theorist? Moi? Maybe so. There's definitely more than enough conspiring going on between Rahm and Rauner to theorize about. But all I did was raise the possibility after friends in Havana reported the Rauner spotting. Were they wrong? I'm dubious.

Knowing Korecki, I'm almost certain she won't be totally satisfied with Rauner's response. I mean, "Uh, no, no, no. I wasn't in Cuba. I was in...Europe. Yeah Europe. That's the ticket. Paid for it myself..."

Europe? Nobody says they're vacationing "in Europe". Where in Europe? Rome? Romania? Donetsk?

Clout Street digs deeper.

The wealthy former private equity specialist said he spent part of his two-week holiday break riding a camel in the Sahara desert.

Last I heard, the Sahara was still in Africa and the Middle East -- not Europe.

Vacationing in Europe or riding camels in the Sahara, while holding the IL school budget hostage and while a big chunk of the state was under water? Really? And if really in "Europe" or Africa and not in Cuba, why all the secrecy? Is this a national security matter?  Inquiring minds want to know. There may even be a conspiracy afoot.

Rauner tells Clout St., he wanted to keep the destinations quiet for security reasons, saying he was traveling with his children, including two who live in Africa and a “Spanish-speaking country.”

What?

In addition to the camel ride, Rauner said he slept in tents and met with local ambassadors and counsel generals who offered chaperons when needed. Rauner said he did not travel with taxpayer-funded security.

So many questions here.

Anyway, thanks for raising it, Natasha. Glad you're paying attention.

Were Rahm & Rauner drinking Cuba Libres together in Havana?

Cuba libre

Send lawyers, guns and money. The shit has hit the fan. -- Warren Zevon

Happy New Year to all.

And a special New Year's welcome back from Cuba goes out to both Mayor Emanuel and GOV. RAUNER. Got that last piece from reliable sources who say they spotted the gov in Havana. Are reporters even curious? I mean, Rahm/Rauner wining and dining together in Cuba while the city sizzles and the state floods (literally).

At our family New Year's get together, we all wrote down our predictions for 2016 and put them in a box. No, not about weight loss. That's so 2015. Yes, it's all about politics. Mostly easy stuff like Hillary's winning in November. Against who? Rubio? I hear she's already shopping for new drapes for the White House.

The prediction box

I think I'm the only one predicting and early Rahm Emanuel exit. I just think that the persistence of the #RahmResign protests combined with federal investigations and e-mail leaks about his role in the cop-shooting cover-up, plus the deepening financial crisis and impending property tax revolt, all add up to an unmanageable city. He's got corporate and DNC undies in a twist.

I know that the cops want him gone. The sooner the better.

At least this cop does. Check out this video clip:

VIDEO: Chicago Police Officer states #RahmEmmanuel was involved in the cover-up of #LaquanMcDonald . pic.twitter.com/RHFgjQEXkf

— Yesenia Betty Boop (@YesiOnAir) December 1, 2015

How about by Spring? I could be wrong. Lots of progressives I know hope that Rahm hangs (no pun intended) in there. A certain CTU leader told me that there's nobody they'd rather have on the other side of the contract negotiating table right now than Rahm Emanuel. That can't make Rahm's pal Rauner happy.

The latest coffin nail is driven by the FOIA release of emails proving that Rahm's so-called "Independent" Police Review Authority (IPRA) is a fraud. No surprise there. Turns out that IPRA did nothing without getting City Hall's okay in advance.

As I've been saying for the last month, we need to create a community-based commission to counter City Hall's lack of transparency and the cover-ups around the police killings. Does anyone still have faith or confidence in Rahm's latest hand-picked Task Force?

BROKE ON PURPOSE...Crain's reports that Rahm is already spending big city bucks, lawyering up in the face of Loretta-Lynch's federal investigation of the CPD. He hired two of the nation's power-house law firms--Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr and Taft Stettinius & Hollister. Wilmer Hale is also representing the city of Baltimore in the wake of the Freddie Gray killing.

This, after Rahm played contrite to the media and claimed that he welcomed the investigation and will "pledge the City's complete cooperation."

Makes you wonder. Why spend $1,200/hr of taxpayer money on stick-pin lawyers when Lynch is supposed to be the people's lawyer? Hasn't she already promised not to look anywhere higher than the police department?

Cut the crap, Mr. Mayor. Nobody's buying it.

Sorry kids. We lost your tests.

I'm in D.C. this week, planning the next Educator's Trip to Cuba in February. If you are interested in coming, let me know soon.

Here's the latest on ed stuff here in the seat (no pun intended) of power.
More testing madness... This time, in post-Rhee D.C. it's not about a cheating scandal.

It's about: ACT: Hey kids, we lost your tests (Capital Gazette)

WaPo reports:

On a mid-September Saturday morning, 296 students converged on Southern High School in Anne Arundel County for a grueling ritual that college-bound teenagers nationwide know all too well: The ACT college admission test. These students probably assumed the tough part was over when the proctor called time and collected their answer sheets.

But 88 of those answer sheets got lost in the mail after they were sent for scoring, leaving 88 Maryland students without anything to show for hours of toil and parents fuming about whether the foul-up will cause their children to miss deadlines for college or scholarship applications.

In Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, as well as many states in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, the SAT college admission test remains more widely used. But the ACT in recent years has gained market share in the Washington region and elsewhere. Its usage has grown significantly in Maryland and Virginia.

But #LostInMail should become ACT's new tag line.

About 1.92 million students in the class of 2015 took the ACT, the most widely used admission test in the country. About 1.7 million took the SAT, including some from overseas.

WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Newly elected 29th Ward Ald. Chris Taliaferro

Chris Taliaferro, newly elected 29th Ward alderman 

"The thing about the progressive caucus, to me, is they have always seemed to be looking out for the people in their neighborhoods and voting that way." -- Chicago Tribune

Clinton Adviser Paul Begala

 “I don’t think people should say a right-wing Democrat won". -- Politico

Maureen Dowd 

 As the old maxim goes, if you can fake humility, you’ve got it made. But seeing Rahm and Hillary do it in the same season might be too much to take. -- Grandmama Mia

Singer-songwriter Jill Sobule to Rand Paul

When you say you want to "take our country back", what the f*%k do you mean? -- Huffington

Pres. Obama on Cuba

 “The United States will not be imprisoned by the past, We’re looking to the future.” -- PBS 

A very strong Duncan critic runs down my interview w/ @arneduncan http://t.co/VujK99D3Gk
— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) April 12, 2015

Chuy says, 'Enough charter mania'!

Today at the City Club, in response to a question from the UNO charter hustlers, Chuy Garcia called for a "pause" in charter expansion. NBC reporter Mary Ann Ahern Tweets:

Chuy Garcia: "there's been a charter mania in Chicago for sometime" #Mayor15 pic.twitter.com/wRALzcCDbI
— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) January 20, 2015

Chuy also says he's willing to use TIF money if necessary, pending the court's decision, and "scour the earth" for new revenue to help solve the pension crisis. Finally, a politician who sees the pension problem as a revenue issue rather than a how-to-rob-the-elderly issue.

Nobody came.

WHAT IF NOBODY CAME?... Rahm promised a big showing of community groups at today's major policy address on Public Safety. Uh oh. Less than 20 people showed up. I guess people are fed up with his bragging about crime numbers that nobody in the neighborhoods believe. Plus no Q & A allowed. Can't blame him. Once voters start asking hard questions...

CUBA... IL Sen. Dick Durbin is back from Cuba. Says the trip was "very productive."

"Re-establishing travel and trade relations will mean real benefits for people in Illinois and across the country, from farmers to small businesses to working families. But this policy change is about more than just travel and trade — it's about opening Cuba to new ideas, new values, and improved human rights that our 50-year-old policy of exclusion could not achieve."

He's right of course. But I hope that works both ways -- opening to new ideas, values and improved human rights, that is. After all, Michigan has a higher incarceration rate than Cuba. More educator exchanges, like the one I organized back in 2000 would benefit schools in both countries. Diane Ravitch went in 2013 and had this to say:

The old world is passing, dissolving, and a new world is beginning, shoots of grass breaking through the concrete. The embargo seems as antique as the now ancient slogans.The sooner the embargo is lifted, the sooner there will be normal relations between our countries.

TESTING MADNESS ... The AFT together with the liberal group Center for American Progress, are calling on Congress to end the use of annual tests for high-stakes consequences. And so am I.

The difference being, the teacher unions and some liberal groups, for reasons most educators can't fathom, still support Arne Duncan's call for even more standardized testing, beginning even earlier. To argue that you just want the mandated testing without the high-stakes consequences or arguing for Common Core without Pearson testing profiteers, is to deny reality. That's not leadership.