Mayor Rudy Giuliani was more direct at his daily news conference last Thursday. "I think Terri Thomson has been an extremely disruptive force for quite some time on the Board, for a lot of different reasons," he said. "If you ask my opinion, I think the Board would be really much better off if she resigned."
However, despite the Mayors appeal, there is no rule compelling Board members to comply with the requests of the Borough President who appointed them. Thomsons term does not expire until 2002, and she has no indication that she will step down.
In response to the Mayors statements, this week The Queens Courier canceled Giuliani’s column. In addition, The Courier has axed its exclusive Ask the Mayor feature, where the Mayors answered questions from Courier readers on local issues and concerns.
District 30s President Counsel, a parents group from northwest Queens, immediately began a petition urging Shulman to drop her request for Thomsons resignation.
"Terri Thomson has been wonderful for this district," said group advocate Laura Alquaisi. "She has made herself accessible to parents, and gotten people involved in the [education] process. She speaks her mind, stands on her own, and follows her conscience."
Alquaisi, whose organization is planning a public protest this week, calls Shulmans actions embarrassing. "If we expect our kids and teachers to act responsibly, then we should expect at least that much from our Borough President."
This is not the first time Thomson has defied a Giuliani edict. Last year, Thomson drew the ire of the Mayor when she cast the deciding vote in favor of Harold Levy as interim Schools Chancellor.
Carol Gresser, former Board of Education president understands the trials and tribulations of crossing the Mayor.
Several years ago, their differences in policy, and, over the choice of a new Schools Chancellor exploded in a public war of words. Shulman sided with the Mayor over Gresser, her long-time friend, refusing to reappoint her when her contract expired. The rift between Gresser and Shulman has yet to be repaired.
"The meddling of politicians must stop," said Gresser, a candidate for Queens Borough President in November. "Once again, appointed Board members should be free to vote their consciences.
They owe it to the children of New York to be more than echoes of the elected officials who appoint them. Its just plain wrong for politicians to bully and bribe what is supposed to be an independent Board to vote for the politicians choices for Chancellor and President of the Board of Education. The future of the Citys children is too important for the Board to act like potted plants."
