My Support for Amy Arundell

Adam Bergstein, longtime chapter leader of Forest Hills high school, makes a plea and call to action over the reassignment of Queens borough rep, Amy Arundell

My name is Adam C Bergstein, and I am the Chapter Chair at Forest Hills high school. I feel morally and professionally compelled to share my thoughts and feelings about Amy Arundell, the now former UFT Queens borough rep. 

It is always when times are toughest that we truly see who our friends are, and who we can trust, and who respects us, as well as those who are duplicitous, bottom-feeding parasites. 

As a chapter leader, I’ve met so many UFT special reps. And although I was familiar with Amy Arundell, from numerous presentations, I did not truly get to know her until she took over the Queens borough office. Her appointment left some in Queens upset, especially because Mulgrew gave it to a quirky, alacritous, purple-haired, outlier. I was apprehensive and leery, because I tend to question the unilateral and autocratic actions of the Unity caucus. However, I put distrust aside because I had to be able to work with this person for the good of Forest Hills high school. 

Shortly after Amy came to the Queens office, Forest Hills HS found itself with a new principal. And the school environment was anything but ideal. Working hand-in-hand with Amy, we set about to facilitate the removal of my principal, and eventually the superintendent. Through that shared experience, Amy and I became good friends. However, I remember the very first meeting I had with Amy, following the staff’s vote of No Confidence for the principal. I did not tell anyone at the UFT what I was doing. Upon learning about the vote, Amy was initially annoyed, and then she saw that 90% of the staff voted in solidarity. That incident was the first of many where Amy would quasi-chastise, quasi-question me for being a bit too rash, hard-headed and aggressive. Even if Amy was frustrated with me, or my actions, she always had my back; always supported me and always defended me to her superiors. It would have been far easier to abandon me, but she is not wired that way. 

With the last name Bergstein, it would be easy for me to forsake Amy and claim she’s anti-Semitic. However, there is no way I would ever be able to look in a mirror again. Amy is opinionated and will always speak her mind, especially if she disagrees with you, but she is also fiercely loyal, witty and wickedly smart. If you can’t respect someone like that, then you might as well lock yourself in a dark closet and hide with your sad thoughts. 

Amy holds very left leaning political views. And guess what, that is her right. You don’t have to agree with her political beliefs, but she is entitled to them. I do not necessarily agree with Amy‘s political ideology on the Middle East, however, she has every right to voice an opinion that differs from what others believe. And the beautiful thing about this country is that we should all be allowed to hold different viewpoints without labeling someone a racist. We should be able to accept the fact that someone can have a different opinion about Israel, and that does not make them anti-semitic. 

What is most troubling is how Mulgrew and his sycophantic hacks are using this false narrative, of anti-semitism, to remove Amy. Those disingenuous egoists will cheat and steal to get what they want, it’s their MO. Mulgrew is once again displaying his truly pathetic style of Leadership through Lies. Maybe we need to pack Mulgrew’s craven, hypocritical ass out of 52 Broadway, instead! 

Please email Mulgrew at MMulgrew@uft.org and tell him to keep Amy as the Queens Borough rep., before another Unity puppet is appointed to fawn over Big Mike’s lies. 

In Solidarity, 

Adam

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