Black is Black, I Want My Baby Back

Mike Bloomberg's disastrous choice for school chancellor has been shown the door-by the man who just a few short month ago had called her the "best" person for the job. The WSJ has the story: "New York schools Chancellor Cathleen Black, a former magazine executive appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to lead the nation's largest school system, stepped down Thursday after just three months on the job. At a City Hall press conference, Mr. Bloomberg said he met with Ms. Black Thursday morning and "we have mutually agreed that it is in the city's best interest if she steps down as chancellor." Her brief tenure was marked by a series of gaffes, departures of high-level deputies and a low public-approval rating."

What exited along with the late chancellor was the last vestige of any possible belief in the mayor's competency. His judgment is now fully compromised, and he needs to be challenged forcefully on all that he decides to do going forward from today.

As for Willets Point it would be an unmitigated disaster for the city. What Cathie Black has been for the city's one million children, Willets Point would be for the city's tax payers. The entire venture needs to be set aside and re-reviewed under the current economic circumstances-and probably by the next mayor. The time for simply taking the mayor's word, is a boat that has long ago left port.