Robin Paul Kelleher

Zohran Mamdani plans to phase out Gifted and Talented program in NYC elementary schools trib.al/yOv3dOo

May 9, 2025 NYC Council Member Tiffany Caban 30-83 31st Street Astoria, NY 11102 Sent by email to: District22@council.nyc.gov RE: CEASE AND DESIST — False and Defamatory Statements Regarding PLACE NYC Dear Council Member Caban, We write as co-presidents of PLACE NYC, a volunteer organization of public school parents advocating for rigorous, high-quality education for all New York City children. It has come to our attention that you have made and disseminated false, misleading, and defamatory statements regarding our organization in your official capacity as an elected City Council Member. Specifically, you have publicly asserted - through a video from your official Council TikTok account - that PLACE NYC is affiliated with Moms for Liberty, and that PLACE NYC and all of its members endorse book banning and hold anti-trans views. These statements are categorically false, have no factual basis, and constitute a reckless and defamatory misrepresentation of PLACE NYC’s mission, values, and membership. PLACE NYC is not affiliated with Moms for Liberty and has never endorsed book banning or anti-trans positions. To falsely equate our entire organization - and its members who are currently running for Community Education Council seats - with such affiliations and ideologies is both defamatory and harmful. Using one’s official title and resources to disseminate defamatory misinformation about a private organization - particularly in the context of an election - violates NYC Charter § 2604(b)(2) which prohibits the use of one’s office for political or personal purposes. These public misstatements have caused reputational harm, increased hostility among parents, and interfered with a lawful and democratic process. Furthermore, your use of official government channels to promote false and misleading content raises serious ethical concerns and may constitute a misuse of your public office. Accordingly, we demand that you immediately: 1.Cease and desist from making or publishing any further false or misleading statements about PLACE NYC; 2.Publicly retract your prior statements that falsely link PLACE NYC to Moms for Liberty or any other group with whom we are not affiliated; and 3.Clarify publicly that PLACE NYC does not endorse book banning or anti-trans positions and has never done so. If you fail to comply with this demand within seven (7) days of receipt of this letter, we will explore all appropriate legal remedies, including but not limited to pursuing claims for defamation and abuse of authority under New York law. We remain committed to civil discourse and transparent advocacy. However, we will not allow misrepresentation and defamation to silence our voices or undermine our mission. We strongly urge you to correct the record immediately. Sincerely, Yiatin Chu and Lisa Marks On behalf of PLACE NYC Cc: Speaker Adrienne Adams SpeakerAdams@council.nyc.gov Councilmember Sandra Ung, Chair of the Committee on Standards and Ethics district20@council.nyc.gov @CabanD22 @NYCSpeakerAdams @CMSandraUng

Once labeled 'racist,' standardized tests are coming back. A new study finds they predict ‘college success - without bias.’ thecollegefix.com/new-research-b…

Knock me over with a feather. @MarkLevineNYC has actually admitted that "we have probably pulled back too far on accelerated learning" on the @LittleAfricaUS @OneCityRisingNY @Asianwave_org Comptroller's candidate forum. Where was this guy 3 years ago?? More of this, please.

So watched the @CECDistrict2 meeting last night. Some observations: Sonal Patel asking why everyone is obsessed with screens and sorting is interesting. Both her kids went to a highly competitive gifted & talented program that used tests for entrance. Her older daughter goes to an expensive private school that uses grades, a difficult test and interviews for admissions. There are many local public schools that don't sort or screen. Of course, some of them have 20% graduation rates. I guess to her, they're for the little people. Good choice in your appointees @MarkLevineNYC. Gavin Healy complained that the CEC doesn't get a chance to talk about special education and IEPs. According to the CECD2 website, he is the chair of the committee that relates to this and there hasn't been a meeting in over a year. Maud Maron once said we aren't talking about academics and guess what? She had a committee meeting to discuss math instruction. Why is Gavin ignoring the constituency he should be representing? It seems that Gavin feels he was elected to be the gadfly who complains but does absolutely nothing. Love how once again, @MarkLevineNYC appointee Sara Schacter-Erenburg shows her distain for fellow Jewish people. A councilmember expresses concern about antisemitism in the curriculum and expresses that several Jewish parents approached him about it, and her answer is she is Jewish and she decided it's fine so it should be the end of the story. But then again, @MarkLevineNYC, your appointee did describe last year that NYCPS, a group of Jewish educators and parents who call out antisemitic teachers as "racist" and called the Canary Mission "secretive". OMG the chat. The amount of bullying. One guy named Rob was tormented by people for just saying that all of the animus in these meetings wasn't helping anyone. He was calm and rational, but they weren't having it. He dared disagree with them, and that's cause for bullying. It's a shame that @JumaaneWilliams CCSE representative Tamuira Reid was one of the people doing the bullying. I'm not sure if this is how Jumanne wants his people to treat parents, though I have seen meetings where his staffmember Lupe Hernandez is even worse. The misinformation in the chat was also beyond normal. For example, a woman named Jill complained that the CEC2 people aren't allowing the student representatives to vote. Maybe you should educate yourself - voting is determined by STATE LAW. Maybe Jill doesn't care about the law and just wanted to complain. It is true that CEC2 voted down a resolution urging the state legislature to change the law - but that's been tried several times over the years and never worked. The CECs were created for PARENT involvement. Diluting that in favor of students appointed by the DOE (the superintendent) goes against that. And one of the students even said yesterday she didn't go to a DOE school. A guy by the name of Gary Shevell also joined in the on-line bullying. Shevell was the Assistant Principal at PS 116, but is not listed there anymore. @KellyMcGuire @NYCSchools is he still teaching or his he out of the system? Because he was beyond inappropriate and hopefully no parent would have to deal with him. It seems he was at PS 116 for the years there was a massive decline in enrollment and demand for the school. Must have been a real gem. It seemed that when two councilmembers had to go (and we have no idea why; I'm don't know why people assumed they left capriciously) they were demanding that the President, Craig CALL THEM UP AND ORDER THEM TO COME BACK. Yeah, because that works. Don't say things that you know aren't going to happen. Then, the crowd turned their ire towards the President, Craig and the Vice President, Len, because of other members' attendance records. I've watched enough of these meetings to know that Craig and Len are there most of the time. I think Craig even said he never missed a meeting. The crowd again screamed that they wanted Len and Craig to discuss their positions on a resolution, which by the way, the meeting technically could have been over. Both were willing to do so, but the crowd wouldn't let Craig speak. So Craig didn't (there was little point), and the crowd went after him. So they wanted him to speak, but wouldn't let him speak, then got angry when he didn't speak. The dancing has got to stop. It's childish. And it sounded like people were blowing bubbles? Was that really happening? This is an education meeting. I have some sympathy for the activists; I'm sure their lives have not been easy. But that's no excuse for hijacking these meetings for their own benefits. The council spent almost no time (and I think this is every meeting) speaking on actual education topics. I know many parents who have just given up and refuse to come, and aren't even feeling safe in the Zoom due to the chat. So for many of us, the sympathy is going away... quickly. @MarkLevineNYC @DOEChancellor @NYCMayor @DanWeisbergNYC you really need to step in. The CEC is powerless to stop this. Having a few school safety officers means there won't be violence but not disruption. And this seems like it will never end. The head of Transformative Schools (the main activist group) even said... they have lots of work THEY want to do. And it's clear that some of the activists are enjoying their five minutes of fame.

NYC has over 700 high schools/programs one can apply to, but activists have targeted the 8 Specialized High Schools because it uses a test known as SHSAT for admissions. What makes them special? Out of just 3 schools, 16 graduates are Nobel Prize winners. h/t @BenMorden

I co-authored this op-ed with #LisaMarks @placenyc_org to highlight the importance of passing the contract for the #SHSAT. Let’s get it done. @NYCMayor @NYCSchools nypost.com/2024/12/04/opi…

Cry harder @bradlander You and the far left are losing ground in NYC and will continue to do so until you focus on merit and academics. This is what parents want and that is why they voted for me on @CECDistrict2 #CryHarder

I've got serious concerns about how last year's Community Education Council elections were handled. Before this spring's election, @NYCSchools should develop clear criteria on what is a political endorsement, strengthen the complaint-handling process, and boost parent voter participation.

NYC education advocates blast DOE for having ‘no plan’ for smaller class sizes amny.com/news/nyc-educa…