Mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson, left, speaks about fellow candidate Paul Vallas's education policy history during a candidates forum at Kenwood Academy Saturday.
“Don’t tell me that you’re concerned about the community,” Vallas said, his voice ringing. “The devastation that has been brought on the school district the last 10 years in large part because of the leadership of the Chicago Teachers Union that has been destructive, and there’s been generations of damage.”
In a separate exchange spurred by a question about prioritizing city contracts for minority-owned businesses, Johnson launched a blistering attack on Vallas’ record leading school districts across four cities and cast doubt on the sincerity of Vallas’ pledge to create an office dedicated to Black people.
Vallas then emphasized his argument that many young people who have been killed were “not enrolled in school,” pausing between each word for effect. “Are we talking about rank-and-file or FOP?” Vallas began. “I think rhetoric, just the rhetoric coming out that has been communicated by the FOP. I think there’s obviously a lot of opposition for certain enhanced accountability provisions, which need to be implemented.”
New Orleans is also the murder capital of the world.
What Paul Valles did for New Orleans 100% charter. The community hates it. 73% of our children are reading on grade level.
Brandon Johnson is not electable. Anyone with a 300 credit score shows complete incompetence. What a complete joke of a candidate.
Vallas all the way