By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
At last week’s Board workshop, I was informed by several people that the Broward Superintendent, Peter Licata referred to Board Member, Torey Alston in and old expression that cuts deep to the core of any Black man. I won’t repeat it here because I have not spoken to Mr. Licata. I’m not gonna give him the benefit of the doubt because I understand that he has a history of “snapping” if you will. At some point during an exchange, Licata became upset with something Alston had said or the tone Alston used when addressing an issue. Licata got into his feelings and wanted to address Mr. Alston about it from the dais.
Board chair, Lori Alhadeff called for a recess can’t really say that she called for the recess because she noticed that Licata was becoming unhinged. Perhaps the superintendent should’ve used the recess to pull himself together instead, it was told to me that Licata approached Alston in a confrontational manner and had to be diverted by Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Howard Hepburn and Chief of Staff, Dr. Valerie Wanza and Wanza was overheard telling Licata, that Mr. Alston didn’t disrespect him. Now if you have seen Mr. Austin in action from the dais as a board member, you know that Mr. Alstonquite the gentleman and has the understanding and wherewithal of Robert’s Rules Of Order and can hold his own, when necessary, in the most respectable way.
From what was reported to me, the counseling by his Chief of Staff wasn’t enough to calm Licata down. This is where Licata’s behavior becomes a possible point of intervention and need for us to take a closer look at. I won’t repeat what was said to me because I didn’t hear it and I haven’t approach Pete Licata to ask him if he said it, so I’ll save that for another day. However, there are several sources that have said the same thing. Supposedly, Licata then approached another Board member and use that God awful term that a Black man can’t stand in reference to Mr. Alston.
Let’s get beyond that, Mr. Alston is Mr. Licata’s boss.
Before I even jump on the term used in reference to Mr. Alston, I must ask, was it used as a threat? What exactly were you going to do, Licata? When Mr. Licata was deterred from confronting Mr. Alston, he resorted to ordering another Board member around as if he was that Board member’s boss and not the other way around.
Be reminded that Alston is one of nine bosses who Licata works for. Licata, however, doesn’t seem to get that. Licata wants respect. In fact, he demands it. He doesn’t want staff speaking to Board members because they work for him and he calls the shots. Yet, he doesn’t believe he should give the same respect to his boss.
Let’s make one thing clear. Licata works at the will of the Board, not the other way around. Alston and the other eight Board Members are not Licata’s employees. He obviously didn’t get the memo.
I have heard from multiple sources that Licata can be a loose cannon. He gets angry easily and has no qualms with telling people that he is offended by their words or actions. He has one face with business and community partners as he makes public appearances to become popular with the community at large. He presents another way with his employees and the Board. I am told he rules with an iron fist and makes it known not to cross him. There are those that say most of his executive level employees have grown fearful of his wrath.
This appears to be Licata’s challenge specifically with Alston. Alston is a very intelligent and measured man. He thinks strategically and when he speaks, he has already connected the dots. When he asks a question, he seems to already know the answer. Alston listens intently and spends time formulating the right questions to get to the meat of the meal. It is difficult for some White people to stomach Black people who are smart, competent, and confident. Alston is more than smart. He is a chess player. He is a point guard who sees the entire floor. He has perfected the Magic Johnson look-away pass. He dissects and maneuvers in ways that others have never even thought of, and for a lesser smart competent and confident person, Alston is rather intimidating. Simply put, when a Black man outsmarts and outmaneuvers a White man publicly and that White man is culturally flawed, it incenses him.
News Flash.
Alston is Licata’s boss and is responsible to ask hard questions and hold his employee accountable. Licata is his employee. Accountability was Licata’s favorite word when he interviewed for the superintendency. It seems Licata expects Alston to be a good “boy” and just go along with whatever he says and not hold him accountable. When Alston held him accountable in the most sophisticated way possible, that “entitled” Licata emerges.
I believe that’s the most recent big development. We need to make sure that our superintendent is held accountable and not push back key decisions as our district is close to financial collapse. Also, he must be very transparent about his recommendation for repurposing, and or closing schools along with selling vacant land and leasing vacant land. It has been talked about how the superintendent publicly, and privately becomes irate. Is this a repeated pattern of outbursts on his board who are his bosses? First Zeman, now Alston and there are rumors of unpleasant comments he has made but we are still investigating.
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