Posted on Sat, Apr. 29, 2006
Arza is bitterThe crude and racist invective that state Rep. Ralph Arza is accused of using against Miami-Dade Public Schools chief Rudy Crew is just part of the campaign to undermine the county's public schools.
As the man who carries water here for the Bush education agenda, Arza is bitter and frustrated with defeats suffered in his hometown. Miami Edison High School remains public and open. Miami Central High and Holmes Elementary are still open and public, too. The class-size amendment remains in force thanks mostly to Miami's state senators and the growing influence of the United Teachers of Dade. Miami-Dade is the seat of growing resistance to FCAT testing, school vouchers and merit pay for teachers.
When it became clear that Crew would not embrace Arza's ''destroy what's there'' agenda, Arza signaled to his allies on the School Board and in the school administration that defiance and obstruction would drive Crew out of town. Elements of the district are in open rebellion against Crew's leadership. Clearly, the thing that has sent the ''education guru'' over the edge is that Crew is still standing and still in charge in Miami-Dade Public Schools.
PAUL A. MOORE, Miami
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/editorial/letters/14461206.htmRep. Arza is Cuban, specifically.
From the end of the original post's article:
"While I'm glad he chose to apologize to his colleagues, it does not constitute an apology to me. Whether said in public or in private, the language he used is despicable. There's no question about its insensitivity and no excuse for it. A statesman would stand up and admit he did wrong and offer a sincere apology," Crew said.
Arza said the accusations have caused him and his family great pain.
He talked to Gov. Jeb Bush about the situation. The governor told Arza that even if he did not say anything wrong, it would be OK to apologize if he felt there had been a misunderstanding.
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Arza, Arza standing with Mario Lincoln Diaz-Balart, on
the left,whose aunt Mirta was married to Fidel Castro.Unbe-freaking-lievable. This man is grotesque. He apologizes to the assembly, not to the man he insulted, then the stupid bastard claims he has been caused "great pain."
What a colossal @$$hole.