WASHINGTON — A top ally of Donald Trump in New York was rebuffed in a bid to require the Buffalo public schools to put up photos of the president-elect and take down pictures of Barack Obama.
Carl Paladino, who is a member of the Buffalo Board of Education, made the surprise request at a board meeting Wednesday, saying he represents concerns of the “patriotism committee” — which is not a real school board committee, according to the Buffalo News.
The co-chair of Trump’s New York campaign said he’s seen pictures of Obama on the walls in schools and he wants Trump to be the presidential face on school property next year.
Paladino is a lightning rod in the heavily Democratic city with an overwhelmingly minority school population.
Board members said it’s up to principals to run their schools — including their artwork and posters.
“I think this is problematic,” board member Theresa Harris-Tigg said. “Now we are going to mandate, and force something, when it has been their prerogative.”
“Why do we care?” Paladino responded. “Why do we care what their prerogative is?”
Though his request was rejected, the board reached a compromise. Instead of a picture of Trump, the school district will display posters of all the former and current US presidents.