1.  Lest All Of Us Lose Our Liberty

Watching what has become standard and acceptable security safeguards in America today, you gotta believe that the radical Islamists are winning.  This is not the American Way of Life.  We need to start reversing the intrusions.  Paraphrasing Patrick Henry, “As for me, Let Me Lose My Life, Lest All of Us Lose Our Liberty.

2.  Charter Schools That Work

A shout out to Eva Moscowitz, who left the City Council to focus like a laser on education, setting up the Success Academy charter schools, which glowed again in their exemplary scores on recent Common Core tests.  It’s more than that, though, which I saw when I visited, the young students  are excited about learning, and about preparing themselves as contributing members of our American society.

3.  And Public Schools That Do Not Work

Let’s tell the truth, now.  The Common Core tests were a reality check for all New Yorkers, as the results were disappointingly low, notwithstanding that it has been explained that the tests were too rigid among other things. Instead of excuses, there needs to be a wholesale retooling of our public schools’ educational process.  The young people are not being prepared for success in life.

4.  Tax Breaks for the Rich, and Influential

It is bad enough that we read of rich real estate developers getting significant tax breaks, supposedly as incentives for building certain sites, but it is beyond the line when you see a company like Extell in its new West Side development comply with low-income requirements through a design concept that essentially segregates its poor from its rich through separate entrances, floors, and other facilities.

5.  Consequences for Those Who Do Wrong

It is not just about those running for office who have failed their public trust, it is also about other people who parade around under the cloak of do-good, and yet promote such things as destructive rap music for profit, and in a latest episode, promote a despicable You Tube video depicting a sex-tape with Harriet Tubman and her slave master.  Let’s hold them all accountable, for they impact our societal mores.

6.  A New Star on America’s Horizon:  Cory Booker

Cory Booker won the recent Democratic Primary, and in a few short weeks, will be New Jersey’s next United States Senator.  Newark became an urban center under his watch as Mayor, and I told him last week that I expect to see him giving the 2016 Democratic Convention’s keynote speech. A person who works with everyone, sound policy positions, charismatic, bright, what a future!  www.corybooker.com