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Courtesy of Fred Smith

Left: Wayne Barrett and the author at the release party for Barrett's 2001 book RUDY! Right, the author and Barrett at City Limits' 40th anniversary gala.

Fred Smith

New York City

Opinion: Remembering the Wayne Barrett I Knew

By Fred Smith | January 24, 2022

“Wayne was an absolutist—moral, faithful, tea totaling, tenacious—a believer in redemption, with reportorial standards beyond reproach. No short cuts, no cheap rumors—only shocking facts; never going with a piece unless certain of its accuracy; smiling rather than taking umbrage when reporters chased his work without citing him.”

Rudy in Brazil
NYC mayors

Opinion: Does a Former Aide Have Any Right to Be Surprised by Giuliani’s Descent?

By Fred Smith | January 5, 2021

‘The parallels between Trump and Giuliani’s personalities are stark, the marriage of two men impervious to self-control, shame and disgrace. No amount of revisionism, contortion or myopic soul-searching by Frydman removes the stain.’

Government
Rudy in Brazil

Meet the New Rudy, Same as the Old Rudy? 1993 Study Exposed Vulnerabilities Now on View

By Fred Smith and Jarrett Murphy | January 13, 2020

Nothing swirling around Rudolph Giuliani now is out of step with the person depicted 26 years ago in a 464-page vulnerability study he commissioned for his second run for mayor.

Jamaal Bowman
CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS

Opinion: The 2020 Election Season is Underway, and Jamaal Bowman’s Bid Deserves Attention

By Fred Smith | November 12, 2019

‘The outcome will further test how much traditional politics still holds sway.’

CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS

CityViews: Mayor Must Check His Math Before Test-Score Celebration

By Fred Smith | August 24, 2017

‘De Blasio wants to embrace Bloomberg’s bottomed-out, third-term school years as his starting point, because things could only improve after that.’

CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS

CityViews: A Testing Skeptic’s Open Letter to Parents About NYC’s Field Tests

By Fred Smith | May 27, 2016

In hundreds of schools, testing companies are trying out questions for future state exams. According to Fred Smith, this ineffective way to gauge the quality of test questions, accomplished without parent engagement, is nothing but a public subsidy to well-heeled testing companies.

CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS

CityViews: As Standardized Tests Loom, Improvements are Illusory

By Fred Smith | March 24, 2016

Hoping to head off parent opt-outs, education officials are hyping reforms like shorter tests and the removal of time limits. But those changes could create new problems without addressing the underlying flaws in the testing regime.

CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS

CityViews: NYC Students’ Field Exams Fail the Logic Test

By Fred Smith | May 26, 2015

To prepare questions for future state exams, testing companies will soon administer so-called field tests to city students. But this op-ed asks: how are these no-pressure, no-prep exams a valid proving ground for questions that will count next year?

CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS

NY State Must Clear Up Mystery of Missing Test Items

By Fred Smith | March 16, 2015

A handful of questions on last year’s state ELA test seem to have disappeared from official tallies of students’ performance. Does that mean kids were forced to wrestle with bum questions on test day?

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City Limits uses investigative journalism
through the prism of New York City
to identify urban problems,
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and equip communities to take action.

Founded in 1976 in the midst of New York’s fiscal crisis, City Limits exists to inform democracy and equip citizens to create a more just city. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by foundation support, ad sponsorship and donations from readers.

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