Although the Trib’s editors changed the title I suggested which is the same as the title of this post they published my defense of Mike in today’s paper.
Money quote:
“There is only one problem with the red plan that the top dogs have conceded. It will, according to a map sent by the district to the Minnesota Department of Education, split Duluth along 14th Ave. East into rich/poor, high minority/low minority halves. There is a great irony in this and Jaros knows it well. His law originally allowed some building without referenda for, among other reasons, to encourage integration. It’s ironic because the red plan kills our integration program and segregates Duluth. It completely violates the spirit of Jaros’ law. Over time the red plan will impoverish Jaros’ western district as its prosperous residents flee to eastern Duluth. Shiny new schools will not stem this exodus.”
