Carl J. Petersen
Bio
Carl Petersen is a former Green Party candidate for the LAUSD School Board and a longtime advocate for public education and special needs families. Now based in Washington State, he writes about politics, culture, and their intersections.
Stories (321)
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A Shutdown of Compassion: The Latest Assault on Obamacare
“This is a big fucking deal.” - Vice President Joe Biden on the passage of Obamacare The record-breaking shutdown of the federal government was not the first time that vital services have been paused as our elected representatives argued over the future of Obamacare. In September 2013, three and a half years after the groundbreaking law was passed with a party-line vote, Republicans held the government hostage for 16 days in an attempt to delay the implementation of the law, which was designed to give more people access to healthcare. This was despite Republicans having successfully added 188 amendments to the proposal as it progressed through Congress.
By Carl J. Petersen3 months ago in The Swamp
Am I A Patriot?
“There's a famine of compassion” – Midnight Oil When we moved into our new house, the small piece of hardware mounted next to the garage door caught my eye. It was similar to the one on my childhood porch, where our family hung the flag on holidays. That changed when Iranian militants took Americans hostage in 1979. Some families tied yellow ribbons around trees; our family flew the flag to show solidarity with those in harm’s way.
By Carl J. Petersen4 months ago in The Swamp
Another LAUSD Incumbent Gets An Opponent
As one of the government bodies that is closest to the people, local School Boards are often thought of as the most accessible for aspiring politicians. Get a few hundred dollars in donations so you can print up some yard signs, and you can see your name on the ballot. Network with enough parents and teachers, and you might even win.
By Carl J. Petersen5 months ago in The Swamp
Carvalho’s Quiet Renewal: LAUSD Extends Superintendent’s Contract Without Public Input
“We must hold the Superintendent accountable” – Karla Griego A Closed-Door Renewal Like all public agencies in California, the LAUSD School Board is bound by the Brown Act, which requires transparency and open meetings. While the law allows certain closed-door deliberations, it does not require them. It also mandates that agendas be published in advance, informing the public about upcoming meetings and their topics.
By Carl J. Petersen5 months ago in The Swamp
Three LAUSD Incumbents Running For Re-election
“Even though school board members are the nation’s largest group of elected officials,1 their role in shaping education remains opaque for many parents, educators, and voters.” – 5 Reasons To Pay Attention to Local School Board Elections
By Carl J. Petersen5 months ago in The Swamp
Red States In Glass Houses
“Don't throw stones at your neighbors if your own windows are glass.” – Benjamin Franklin Working as a swing shift Supervisor, my team often becomes the fall guys for problems we did not create. It is easier for others to point fingers than to look inward. I reminded my crew that before we criticize, we must first ask: “Is our own house in order?”
By Carl J. Petersen6 months ago in The Swamp
From Woodstock to Vancouver: A Family Story in Nine Inch Nails
“Take the skin and peel it back. Now doesn't that make you feel better?” – Trent Reznor, “March of the Pigs” My father was a reluctant participant in our trip to Woodstock ’94. His contemporaries may have been practicing peace and love at Max Yasgur's farm in 1969, but he was musically stuck in an earlier era. The more modern acts at the Woodstock sequel were even more foreign to him. Still, he made the most of it, even claiming a patch of land for three generations of Petersens—including my daughter, just shy of two years old.
By Carl J. Petersen6 months ago in Beat
