NYC Radio: WQHT Host Gets Pushback Over 'Trash' Comments

Ebro Darden

Teachers are not happy with the host of a popular morning radio show after he slammed the Jersey City school district and its educators last week, calling the city's school system "trash," reports The Jersey Journal.

During WQHT Hot 97's "Ebro in the Morning" show on Friday, host Ebrohim "Ebro" Darden was critical of the teachers after they walked off the job Friday morning to strike for a new contract with lower health costs.

Darden, a Jersey City resident for 15 years, received voicemails and angry social media posts about his comments, prompting a discussion yesterday morning about the strike -- which ended Sunday night -- and the city's school district.

"Jersey City public schools is trash ... and I was pissed that they was on strike," he said during Monday's show when talking about the backlash. "Are we striking and our schools is trash?"

Darden, whose argument didn't get much support from co-hosts Peter Rosenberg and Laura Stylez, said the schools underperform and blamed teachers, district officials, and even Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop.

"Jersey City teachers went on strike, they deserve a contract, they deserve better health benefits they say. I don't disagree," Darden said. "I don't know all your health benefits but look, anyway to make it better I'm for it but dammit, the school system in Jersey City is not good. It's trash, basura. So that makes everyone involved trash, and those of us that live in Jersey City, same, it's a reflection of all of us."

A Jersey City teacher named Silvia called and told Darden he was doing everyone a "disservice" by only pointing to the ratings of the 29,000-student district as an overall reflection of how teachers do their jobs.

Jersey City Board Education President Sudhan Thomas said in a statement that he "was deeply disappointed" by Darden's comments.

He said while there areas the district can make improvements, it does not mean schools and teachers are trash.