Carl J. Petersen
Bio
Carl Petersen is a former Green Party candidate for the LAUSD School Board and a longtime advocate for public education and special needs families. Now based in Washington State, he writes about politics, culture, and their intersections.
Stories (326)
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Rock Outgrew Gene Simmons
“And they claim that it's music." — Sampled in Public Enemy’s “Contract on the World Love Jam” Gene Simmons cannot seem to hold his tongue. Just weeks after being named a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, an award he did not deserve, the bassist from KISS made headlines again, showing how rock stars sometimes age into caricatures. Ironically, the aging rock legend was complaining about rap artists being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
By Carl J. Petersenabout 9 hours ago in Beat
What Raquel Zamora Says She’ll Bring to LAUSD Board District 2
“LAUSD has some of the strongest special education services in the nation." — Raquel Zamora In the 2022 election, Dr. Rocío Rivas won the race to fill the Board District 2 seat that was held by Monica García, who was forced from office due to term limits. In her first attempt at re‑election, Rivas will face Raquel Zamora. With only two candidates on the ballot, the June 2, 2026, primary will be a winner‑take‑all contest.
By Carl J. Petersen7 days ago in Education
Creating Gray: The Newspeak Era
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." — The Ten Commandments This is the fourth entry in the Gray trilogy. In this installment, I examine how lies and distractions blur the lines between black and white. Few recent moments illustrate this better than the government’s response to the killing of Alex Pretti.
By Carl J. Petersenabout a month ago in The Swamp
LAUSD Candidate Joseph Quintana: Answers in Full
“I want to ensure that voices from every part of our community are heard and respected." — Joseph Quintana In the recently concluded filing period for the LAUSD School Board primary in June, Joseph Quintana was one of the entrants whose candidacy had not been previously announced. Quintana, who describes himself as “a Native American community advocate, nonprofit leader, and education and workforce development collaborator,” is running in Board District 2 against incumbent Rocío Rivas and Raquel Zamora.
By Carl J. Petersenabout a month ago in Education
