Tax dollars at work
Marvin Scott knows a good story when he sees one — but don’t tell that to New York Assemblyman John Ravitz.
Scott, Ch.11’s senior correspondent, reported last Thursday on the latest New York schools scandal, in which teachers were accused of helping students on tests by coaching them in advance.
It’s the same type of story Scott broke back in 1974 — when his reports were instrumental in 1976 legislation signed into law by then-Gov. Hugh Carey making it a misdemeanor for teachers to help students in advance on exams, etc.
“It was a big scandal at the time,” says Scott. “It led to the re-testing of 100,000 kids and legislative hearings.”
So imagine Scott’s surprise when he received a press release from Ravitz’s office, hyping a Friday-morning press conference to announce “the introduction of legislation that would make it a crime for teachers or principals to aid or encourage students to cheat on standardized exams . . .”
“I told [Ravitz’s office] about the law [passed in ’76] but they went ahead with their news conference anyway,” Scott says. “They were totally oblivious.”
Strike at Ch.9?
Ch.9 could be dealing with a writers’ strike.
The Writers Guild of America, East, has authorized its members — newsroom staff and writers — to authorize a strike, calling Ch.9’s latest contract proposal “embarrassing and unacceptable.”
Ch.9 workers authorized a strike beginning 12:01 a.m. tomorrow if they don’t have an acceptable proposal.
She’s toe-in’ the line
Molly Pesce may have a leg up at MetroChannels — but it’s her feet for which certain people are clamoring.
Insiders say the statuesque Pesce, who co-hosts “New York Now” with Ray Ellin, has been receiving a plethora of e-mails imploring her to remove her shoes and bare her tootsies for the camera.
Kia’s well-versed
Get ready for the first-ever TV/Internet episode — written completely in verse.
Showtime’s online “WhirlGirl” series will air its Christmas episode “Ho ho ho Die!,” in iambic pentameter beginning Friday. The episode was written by Betsy Hooper and stars, of course, “WhirlGirl” superhero Kia Cross.