He's still a loathsome bully and hypocrite. He has gutted NJ education and government. His agenda is vile.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/18/968055/-Cerfs-Up:-How-Privatization-Will-Wipe-Out-Public-Education-in-New-Jersey"When someone says 'it's not about money', it's about money." - H.L. Mencken
Earlier, as the overt push for privatizing New Jersey's public schools was just getting started, I wanted to bring attention to some of the strange theories and characters who were spearheading the effort. I was under the impression that they were promoting a justifiably unpopular vision based on pure conviction and that when confronted by the force of democracy would be defeated. The privatizers claimed it was about the kids and their way was superior to the tried and true system that works in the wealthier parts of the state. I thought this was a genuine contest of ideas.
I was fundamentally wrong. This is not about ideas, this is about money.
That truth was made clear when Christopher Cerf was named acting Education Commissioner. Cerf is, without a doubt, a businessman posing as a public servant. Jack Grubman, a former securities analyst for Salomon Smith Barney commenting on corruption on Wall Street said that “what used to be a conflict of interest has now become a synergy.” In that case, Cerf brings a lot of "synergies" to the position of State Education Commissioner.
Before moving on to Cerf it seems appropriate to explore the interests of the man who appointed him. That man is our duly elected Governor, Christopher "The Bat" Christie.
Christie also has an extensive history with the business of privatizing public education. Despite a recent statement at the American Enterprise Institute where Christie said "I never had a job in Trenton before I became Governor"; he did. Christie was a registered lobbyist in Trenton from 1999-2001. Far from a "Trenton Outsider" Christie was in high demand, he had all the right connections. He was hired by the Securities Industry Association to prevent stocks and bonds from being included in the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, mid-Atlantic Power Supply Association for Enron style energy deregulation and even a little mom and pop outfit known as Edison Schools Inc. for privatizing public schools; That's right folks; Christie was Edison's lobbyist in Trenton.
So you could even say Christie not only definitely "had a job in Trenton before he was Governor"; he had the same job he thinks he has now; privatizing public education to profit his friends.
After Christie, along with a company named Wireless Generation (remember that name), sabotaged New Jersey out of $400 million in order to stick it to the NJEA he needed a fall guy and chose former Education Commissioner Brett Schundler. So now the state was not only out $400 million in desperately needed education funds it was also out an Education Commissioner. What to do? Christie decided to look for talent from his old employer/current campaign donor Edison Schools Inc. and he found a willing former President and Chief Operating Officer of Edison Schools; Christie's old boss Christopher Cerf.
Yes - Christie used to work for Cerf. In 2001 while Christie was Edison’s registered lobbyist, Cerf was Edison’s President and COO.
Oh what tangled webs we weave when we wish to deceive (on a Race to the Top Application). But let's get back to Cerf.
MORE AT LINK.
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