People will often select a home in Long Island because the school district is extraordinary. They pay more, but they feel it's worth it. Others try do the same thing in NYC, but it's more challenging.
Due to inexplicably complicated maps, one building may be zoned for one elementary school, while every other building on the block may be zoned for another. The prospect of your kid spending years in a bad school can really ruin your day (if not your life). You can console yourself, like Deputy Chancellor Alonso, by heaping all blame on teachers. Still, that only goes so far.
Fortunately, city officials say they're going to do something about this. It's not like they haven't done anything yet. For the last five years they've been studiously ignoring the situation, and doing a damn fine job of it.
That's why mayors in LA and DC want to emulate Mayor Mike. If only they can figure out how to ignore the schools and garner reputations as "reformers," their political futures will be in the bag.
With any luck, no one will ask what else is in that bag.
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