Massachusetts Jobs with Justice

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Puerto Rico's Wall Street Vultures and the Secret Money Behind Question 2

Centerbridge Partners is a vulture fund that’s heavily invested Puerto Rico’s debt. Last summer, Centerbridge commissioned a report to push Puerto Rico to close more schools, lay off more teachers and make deeper cuts in basic support so they could make huge  profits. Some 200 schools have been closed, and millions cut from education. John Lewisohn - a New York hedge fund manager and senior managaing direct of Centerbridge - is part of a small group of hedge fund billionaires that make huge profits off the Island’s misery. What’s more, he sits on the board of Families For Excellent Schools (FES). FES, a New York advocacy group, has funneled almost $5.75 million of untraceable money to Great Schools Massachusetts this year to push Question 2 to expand charter schools. That unregulated expansion would mean millions of dollars in cuts from Massachusetts schools, which would lead to cuts in programs, teachers and school closures.

For more information on Families for Excellent Schools, check out this report by Massachusetts Jobs with Justice.