Bloomberg's Claims--Fact or Fiction?

I've been watching Bloomberg's ads on TV recently and decided to look at his claims about Bill Thompson. I looked at a New York Times article, Experts say Mayor Bloomberg's city schools ads slamming Bill Thompson features some fuzzy facts for some information.


Claim #1) Bloomberg says Thompson failed as leader of the Board of Education.
FACT OR FICTION?
This claim is false, Thompson did not lead the Board of Education. He was one of seven voters. He had no full control.

Quoted from the NYT article:
"Mayoral control of the schools did not become law until 2002, when Albany passed it during Bloomberg's first term, making comparison tricky."


Claim #2) Bloomberg says Thompson's leadership led to failing schools and lower test scores.
FACT OR FICTION?
This is not true either.
According to the NYT article and the Department of Education, reading scores went up for fourth graders by 11% in 2 years when Thompson was a member of the Board of Education. For eighth-graders, scores went down by 2%. Math scores went up by 2% for fourth-graders and stayed the same for eighth graders. Graduation rates also increased. Summer school was also put into effect. However, dropout rates did slowly climb.


Claim #3) Bloomberg says Thompson wasted billions while he was "in control" of the Board of Education.
FACT OR FICTION?
This is false.
"During the late 1990s, some experts say, it was the three or four members who often aligned with Giuliani who wielded more power than the president. The mayor, not the board, controlled the school system's purse strings.

The schools operating budget has jumped to $18.4 billion this year from $7.9 billion in 1996. It was $8.9 billion in fiscal year 1998."

I also checked out You're a Disgrace, Mayor Bloomberg! for the scoop on some Bloomberg habberdashery. Looks like a lot of people don't like him. I definitely suggest checking out the site.

In other news, the 2 train has been worse than usual lately. Yesterday the 2 train paused for 20 minutes and then stopped running between Chambers Street and Nevins Street. Of course, I have to work at Fulton Street, so instead of riding back up to 42nd Street and taking the S/N to the 5, I decided to wait. For a half-hour. Then I realized they forgot to advertise the A train that was 1 block away.

WHAT THE HECK, MTA?

So after 50 minutes I had to walk over a block and take the A train (or else I'd have to walk for 20 minutes with a heavy laptop, no no no). The MTA owes me $9 for the hour of work I missed. If I didn't have an unlimited MetroCard I'd be even angrier.

Whatever... (-_-)*
Later guys. Remember to check your facts before you vote!

♥ Chotpy