Kamala's Captains, Fmr Asst to Pres, NYSUT; Fmr Director, AFT; NYSUT member; Retired Educator & RVCTA Union President; Long Islander! Opinions are my own.

Joined January 2009
Wishing fellow educators a wonderful World Teachers Day! Thankful for your dedicated efforts on behalf of our students, families and communities! #IAmAFT #PublicSchoolProud @AFTunion
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Viri Pettersen retweeted
Our retirement security is under national attack. As a union, we must stand together to protect Social Security, prevent cuts to Medicaid and stop the privatization of Medicare! Join fellow retired and in-service UFT members on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 4:30 p.m. for an informative webinar to learn how we can fight these threats to our hard-earned retirement benefits. Register now for the Protect Our Future campaign kickoff: web.cvent.com/event/65f457da…
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Viri Pettersen retweeted
I never once remember a protest against Joe Biden like this. This is Boston. No Kings Protest. Oh that’s right Joe Biden didn’t think he was a king. He just wanted to make America better for everyone.
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The excitement for @CaitforNewYork keeps growing. Today labor was out in full force rallying and knocking doors. We are going to flip the seat in November. #vote #NoKingsDay #bluewave
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Today, Grover's job is to celebrate! We hope you have a super birthday. #HappyBirthdayGrover 💙🎉
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here's Bruce Blakeman tonight claiming "I never said that I would cut Medicaid in half" -- immediately followed by a clip of him saying on Fox Business in June that "we make sure we cut Medicaid in half"
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Viri Pettersen retweeted
Today, the UFT honors Italian Heritage Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day. We’re proud to celebrate the many contributions of Italian Americans and Indigenous communities! Schools are closed today, Monday, Oct. 12.
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Public dollars should be for public schools, period! The Trump administration's private school voucher program will redirect billions of our tax dollars from schools that serve the vast majority of our children. Now that the proposed regulations for the federal voucher program, the so-called "Federal Scholarship Tax Credit," are public, we need your voice. Add your name to our coalition's petition to oppose this voucher program, which would drain funding from our public schools: publicschoolsuniteus.org/our… Urge Gov. Hochul to say "no" and keep New York out of this costly voucher scheme! Stand with our public schools! #NoFederalVouchers #OptOutNow #NoVouchersInNY #HochulSayNO
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Viri Pettersen retweeted
I'm suing the Trump administration after they illegally canceled grants meant for states to improve their unemployment benefits systems. When someone loses a job, they should be able to get the benefits they need to pay rent, buy groceries, and cover other basic needs.
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Viri Pettersen retweeted
As of today, one man, billionaire Trump ally David Ellison, controls: CBS CNN HBO Discovery Channel BET Fandango MTV Nickelodeon Paramount+ PlutoTV Showtime TBS The CW TNT Warner Bros. & more Call it what it is: oligarchy.
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Viri Pettersen retweeted
Wishing a very happy 100th birthday to the iconic Opal Lee! Our nation owes you a deep debt of gratitude for your lifelong leadership lifting up Black communities and preserving our history, including the fight to make Juneteenth a national holiday. It was such a privilege to get to celebrate with you today. ❤️
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Viri Pettersen retweeted
Hochul's officially IN on the federal education tax credit that the teachers union opposes.
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Viri Pettersen retweeted
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has officially opted into a Republican-backed federal tax credit scholarship program, despite backlash from New York’s powerful teachers unions and top lawmakers. subscriber.politicopro.com/a…
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Viri Pettersen retweeted
Today, Gov. Hochul announced that New York State will opt into the Trump administration's voucher program. Giving up local control of public education to the federal government through this scheme is a failure of leadership. Gov. Hochul will bear the responsibility, but our students, educators, and families will bear the price. The UFT is disappointed in this decision and we will continue to stand with parents, educators and public school supporters to do what we can to roll back this policy and protect our classrooms. Full statement: uft.org/news/press-releases/…
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Viri Pettersen retweeted
Be someone's sunshine on a rainy day. ❤️☔️
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In this election, we have got to do two things. First, we must end Republican control of Congress and finally hold Trump accountable. Second, we must elect progressives who have the guts to take on the oligarchs and build a government that works for all.
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Viri Pettersen retweeted
Holy shit Biden tears into Trump and he sounds great: “The reflecting pool reflects something even worse than the narcissism and incompetence at the core of this administration. It’s the corruption. The corruption. The brazen, blatant corruption. Corruption on a scale never seen before in American history in any administration. Trump has made billions of dollars since returning to the White House. Simply stunning to me. He has no shame. Frankly, it’s embarrassing for the country. Trump couldn’t care less. Making money off the presidency is one of the reasons he wants to be president.” #PaytoPlayPresident
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Calling all NYC artists — painters, filmmakers, poets, musicians and more! Did you know our city provides grants to support your work every year? And this year, for the first time in nearly two decades, we're DOUBLING the amount — from $5,000 to up to $10,000 per artist! Deadlines are approaching fast so don't wait. Go to nyc.gov/artistgrants to apply today!
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Viri Pettersen retweeted
NYSUT President @MelindaJPerson has released a statement regarding the temporary and proposed regulations for Trump’s private school voucher scheme. To view it in full, please visit: nysut.org/news/2026/october/…
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More desperation- Lawler would sell his soul if it guaranteed him a win in November. He’s a prime example of why people hate politicians.
How many more lives have to be lost before Cait Conley and Kathy Hochul get the message. Conley supported Hochul’s sanctuary state law, making New York a sanctuary state and tying the hands of law enforcement. We can’t let the violent criminals win, even if Cait Conley and Kathy Hochul are protecting them.
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Turns out the threat to women's safety isn't from trans athletes, it's from sick, privileged white men in ivy league colleges like Cornell who rape women and don't get arrested. These rapists are all protected by the Epstein class.
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