New UFT Ad Criticizes Bloomberg, Who In Turn Criticizes Ad
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The United Federation of Teachers has released a TV ad blasting New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for taking a "his way or the highway'' approach to education.
The UFT ad released Friday accuses Bloomberg of "going after teachers'' instead of supporting them.
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"The mayor's educational legacy is unfortunately one of missed opportunities," UFT President Michael Mulgrew said in a statement. "If he wants his legacy to be anything but a decade of disaster, he will put politics aside and come to an agreement on an evaluation system that helps students and teachers succeed."
Bloomberg in turn accused the union of walking away from negotiations over a new teacher evaluation system.
He responded in his radio show on WOR. He said calling people "bad things'' in ads makes it unlikely that the parties will reach an agreement.
"If you want a contract, that's not exactly the kind of body language you'd think would get you one," Bloomberg said. "'We want a contract' and then you go out and do everything to not get a contract."
The city and the union have been unable to agree on a new system for evaluating teachers. The city risks losing $250 million in state aid if there is no deal by Jan. 17.
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