Central Texas Fat Cats
What to know: Superintendent salaries are sky-high. For instance, in the Central Texas area, the Lake Travis ISD superintendent took home “$468,716” this year, excluding benefits.
The TPPF take: Every dollar spent on supersized salaries is a dollar that doesn’t make it to the classroom.
“Classrooms are starved for resources. Teachers are living paycheck-to-paycheck. Families are struggling to pay their taxes. And yet, an elite few in public education are getting rich at taxpayer expense,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “It’s time to get control of supersized salaries at the local level.”
For more on superintendents’ salaries, click here.
Oakland
What to know: The city of Oakland has fined a couple nearly $1 million for cutting down dead and dying trees on their own property.
The TPPF take: The couple are now being represented by TPPF attorneys.
“This is the type of arbitrary overreach that gives local government a bad name,” says TPPF’s Chance Weldon. “Folks have a right to do basic property maintenance on their own land without risking penalties that will ruin their lives.”
For more on Oakland, click here.
Socialism
What to know: Socialists have scored a number of electoral victories lately, including in the New York City mayor’s race.
The TPPF take: Socialism is becoming a real political force.
“Because we are blessed to live ‘deep in the heart,’ it is easy to dismiss New York’s socialist sweep as something that could never happen here,” says TPPF’s Sherry Sylvester. “Unless you live in San Antonio, like I do, where three DSA members have been elected and currently serve on City Council. So far, they have proposed a Trans History Week and a program called LOVIN to ensure that men who say they are women are not restricted from public women’s restrooms.”
For more on socialism, click here.