PRESORTED STANDARD PERMIT #3036 WHITE PLAINS NY

Vol. VI I No. II Thursday, January 10, 2013 $1.00 Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly

JOHN F. McMULLEN Time to Interface Page 4

SHERIF AWAD Jehane Noujaim - Yonkers The Documentarian Page 6 Spin City v Facts GLENN SLABY Newtown, Mental Illness and the Stigma Page 8

BOB WEIR Another Form of Domestic Abuse Page 9

HEZI ARIS Mangone’s Inferno Page 10

DAVID BROG Failure of the American Jewish Left By BARRY McGOEY, Page 23 Page 11 JOHN SIMON From Stage to Screen Les Misérables CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM Page 16 Restoring Path of True Democracy NANCY KING Ken Jenkins By Eric Schneiderman, Page 18 Makes It Official Page19 Page 26 The WesTchesTer Guardian ThursdaY, FeBruarY 23, 2012

CLASSIFIED ADS LEGAL NOTICES Office Space Available- FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK Prime Location, Yorktown Heights COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER 1,000 Sq. Ft.: $1800. Contact Wilca: 914.632.1230 In the Matter of ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE SUMMONS AND INQUEST NOTICE Prime Retail - Westchester County Chelsea Thomas (d.o.b. 7/14/94), Best Location in Yorktown Heights A Child Under 21 Years of Age Dkt Nos. NN-10514/15/16-10/12C 1100 Sq. Ft. Store $3100; 1266 Sq. Ft. store $2800Page and26 450 Sq. Ft. The WesTchesTer Guardian ThursdaY, FeBruarY 23, 2012 Store $1200. Adjudicated to be Neglected by NN-2695/96-10/12B Suitable for any type of business. Contact Wilca: 914.632.1230 FU No.: 22303 Tiffany Ray and Kenneth Thomas, Respondents. X HELP WANTED NOTICE: PLACEMENT OF YOUR CHILD IN FOSTER CARE MAY RESULT IN YOUR LOSS OF YOUR A non profit Performing Arts Center is seeking two job positions- 1) Direc- RIGHTS TO YOUR CHILD. IF YOUR CHILD STACLASSIFIEDYS IN FOSTER CARE FOR 15 OF THE MOSTADS RECENT LEGAL NOTICES tor of Development- FT-must have a background in development or expe- 22 MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED BYOffice LAW TO FILESpace A PETITION Available- TO TERMINATE FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK rience fundraising, knowledge of what development entails and experi- YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND COMMITMENT PrimeOF GUARDIANSHIP Location, Yorktown AND CUSTODY Heights OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER ence working with sponsors/donors; 2) Operations Manager- must have a CHILD FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION,1,000 AND Sq.MAY Ft.: FILE $1800. BEFORE Contact THE END Wilca OF THE: 914.632.1230 15-MONTH In the Matter of ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE good knowledge of computers/software/ticketing systems, duties include PERIOD. SUMMONS AND INQUEST NOTICE overseeing all box office, concessions, movie staffing, day of show lobby UPON GOOD CAUSE, THE COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETH- staffing such as Merchandise seller, bar sales. Must be familiar with POS Prime Retail - Westchester County Chelsea Thomas (d.o.b. 7/14/94), ER THE NON-RESPONSENT PARENT(s) SHOULDBest BE LocationCONSIDERED in Yorktown AS A RESPONDENT; Heights IF system and willing to organize concessions. Full time plus hours. Call (203) THE COURT DETERMINES THE CHILD SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM HIS/HER HOME, THE A Child Under 21 Years of Age Dkt Nos. NN-10514/15/16-10/12C 438-5795 and ask for Julie or Allison COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION1100 Sq. TOFt. DETERMINEStore $3100; WHETHER 1266 Sq. THE Ft. storeNON-RESPONDENT $2800 and 450 Sq. Ft. THE WESTcHESTER GUARDiAn THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012 Store $1200. Page 3 Adjudicated to be Neglected by NN-2695/96-10/12B PARENT(s) SHOULD BE SUITABLE CUSTODIANS FOR THE CHILD; IF THE CHILD IS PLACED AND FU No.: 22303 Page 2 THE WTHEEST cWESTCHESTERHESTER GUARD iGUARDIANAn THURSDAY,THURSDAY,REMAINSTHURSDAY, INFEBRUARY FOSTER JANUARY MARCH CARE 23, FOR 10, 2012 FIFTEENSuitable 201329, 2012 OF for THE any MOST type RECENT of business. TWENTY-TWO Contact MONTHS, Wilca: 914.632.1230 THE Page 3 AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED TO FILE A PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS OF Tiffany Ray and Kenneth Thomas, THE PARENT(s) AND COMMITMENT OF GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILD FOR THE Respondents. X RADIO PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, EVEN IF THE PARENT(s) HELPWERE NOT NAMED WANTED AS RESPONDENTS IN NOTICE: PLACEMENT OF YOUR CHILD IN FOSTER CARE MAY RESULT IN YOUR LOSS OF YOUR Of Significance A non profit Performing Arts Center is seeking two job positions- 1) Direc- RADIORADIO OfTHE Significance CHILD NEGLECT OR ABUSE PROCEEDING. RIGHTS TO YOUR CHILD. IF YOUR CHILD STAYS IN FOSTER CARE FOR 15 OF THE MOST RECENT Of Significance tor of Development- FT-must have a background in development or expe- 22 MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FILE A PETITION TO TERMINATE A NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT HASrience THE fundraising,RIGHT TO REQUEST knowledge TEMPORARY of what ORdevelopment PERMANENT entails CUS- and experi- Community Section ...... 4 TODY OF THE CHILD AND TO SEEK ENFORCEMENT OF VISITATION RIGHTS WITH THE CHILD. YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND COMMITMENT OF GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE Community Section ...... 4 ence working with sponsors/donors; 2) Operations Manager- must have a CHILD FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, AND MAY FILE BEFORE THE END OF THE 15-MONTH CommunityBusiness ...... Section ...... 4 WestchesterWestchesterBYCommunity ORDER OnOn OF THEthethe SectionFAMILY Level COURTLevel...... good OF knowledge THE STATEwithwith ofOF computers/software/ticketing NEW NarogNarog YORK and systems, Aris duties3 include PERIOD. Business ...... 4 overseeing all box office, concessions, movie staffing, day of show lobby BCalendarusiness ...... 4 TO CalendarTHE ABOVE-NAMED...... RESPONDENT(S) WHO RESIDE(S) OR IS FOUND AT [specify 3 UPON GOOD CAUSE, THE COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETH- WestchesterWestchester On the Level isOn usually theheard from Level Mondaystaffing such towith Friday, as Merchandise from Narog 10 seller,a.m. tobar 12 sales. Must be familiar with POS Calendar ...... 4 address(es)]:Celebrations ...... 3 ER THE NON-RESPONSENT PARENT(s) SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A RESPONDENT; IF CalendarCharity ...... 45 system and willing to organize concessions. Full time plus hours. Call (203) Creative Disruption ...... 5 Noon on the Internet: Lasthttp://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel known addresses: TIFFANY RAY: 24 Garfield Street, #3, Yonkers, NY 10701. THE COURT DETERMINES THE CHILD SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM HIS/HER HOME, THE CharityContest ...... 56 andBecause Arisof the importance Creativeof a Federal Disruption court case438-5795...... purporting and ask corruption for Julie or Allisonand bribery 4 COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE NON-RESPONDENT CulturalContest ...... Perspective ...... 76 and Aris Last Culturalknown addresses: Perspectives KENNETH...... THOMAS: 24 Garfield Street, #3, Yonkers, NY 10701 6 PARENT(s) SHOULD BE SUITABLE CUSTODIANS FOR THE CHILD; IF THE CHILD IS PLACED AND Creative Disruption ...... 6 Westchesterallegations, programming On the Level with is heard be suspended from Monday for the to days Friday, of March from 2610 toa.m. 29, to 2012. 12 Noon Yon- EnergyCreative Issues Disruption ...... 68 An OrderEconomic to Show CauseDevvelopment under Article 10...... of the Family Court Act having been filed with this Court 7 REMAINS IN FOSTER CARE FOR FIFTEEN OF THE MOST RECENT TWENTY-TWO MONTHS, THE Education ...... 7 Westchesteronkers the Philharmonic Internet: On thehttp://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel Orchestra Levelseeking is heardConductor to modify from the James Monday placement Sadewhite tofor Friday,the above-named is our from scheduled 10 child. a.m. guest to 12 Friday, Noon. Join AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED TO FILE A PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS OF EducationIn Memoriam ...... 107 March 30. Energy Issues...... 8 THE PARENT(s) AND COMMITMENT OF GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILD FOR THE Fashion ...... 8 onthe theconversation Internet: byhttp://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel calling toll-freeYOU to ARE 1-877-674-2436. HEREBY SUMMONED Please to appear stay beforeon topic. this Court. Joinat Yonkers Family Court Medicine ...... 10 It is however anticipatedHealth that the...... jury will conclude its deliberation on either Mon- 8 PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, EVEN IF THE PARENT(s) WERE NOT NAMED AS RESPONDENTS IN FashionFitness...... 89 the conversation by callinglocated toll-free at 53 So. to Broadway, 1-877-674-2436. Yonkers, New Please York, on stay the 28thon topic.day of March, 2012 at 2;15 pm in the THE CHILD NEGLECT OR ABUSE PROCEEDING. Najah’sFitness...... Corner ...... 119 Richardday or Tuesday, Narog andMarch Hezi 26afternoon ArisHistoryor 27. areof Shouldsaid ...... your day co-hosts.thatto answer be the theIn case,petitionthe weekwe and will tobeginning showresume cause our February why regular said child 20th should and not ending be 9 on Health ...... 10 RichardFebruaryprogramming Narog 24th, schedule weand have Hezi andadjudicatedan Aris excitingannounce are to entouragebeyour thata neglected co-hosts. fact ofon child guests. the In andYonkers the why week you Tribune should beginning notwebsite. be dealt February with in accordance 20th and with ending the on A NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT CUS- HealthMovieHistory Review...... 1012 provisionsIn Memoriam of Article 10 of...... the Family Court Act. 10 TODY OF THE CHILD AND TO SEEK ENFORCEMENT OF VISITATION RIGHTS WITH THE CHILD. FebruaryEveryRichard Monday Narog24th, we andis havespecial. Hezi an Aris Onexciting areMonday, co-hosts entourage February of the of guests.show. 20th, Krystal Wade, a celebrated participant in http:// HistoryMusic ...... 1012 InternationalPLEASE TAKE...... FURTHER NOTICE, that you have the right to be represented by a law- 11 Ed Koch Movie Review ...... 12 Every Monday is special. On Monday, February 20th, Krystal Wade, a celebrated participant in http:// BY ORDER OF THE FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK EdCommunity Koch Movie ...... Review ...... 1213 www.TheWritersCollection.comyer, andLabor if the Relations Courtis our finds guest...... you areKrystal unable Wadeto pay for is aa lawyer, mother you ofhave three the right who to workshave a lawyer fifty 14miles Spoof ...... 13 www.TheWritersCollection.comfrom home and writes inassigned her “spare by the istime.” Court. our guest.“Wilde’s Krystal Fire,” Wade her debut is a novelmother has of been three accepted who works for publication fifty miles TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT(S) WHO RESIDE(S) OR IS FOUND AT [specify Writers Collection...... 14 address(es)]: SpoofSports ...... Scene ...... 13 from home and writes in herMovie “spare Review time.” “Wilde’s...... Fire,” her debut novel has been accepted for publication14 Books ...... 16 and should be available in 2012. NotPLEASE far behindTAKE FURTHER is her NOTICE,second that novel, if you “Wilde’s fail to appear Army.” at the How time anddoes place she do it? SportsNajah’s Scene Corner ...... 13 andTune should in and be find available out. innoted 2012.Music above, Not...... the farCourt behind will hear is and her determine second the novel, petition “Wilde’s as provided Army.” by law. How does she do15 it? Last known addresses: TIFFANY RAY: 24 Garfield Street, #3, Yonkers, NY 10701 PeopleNajah’sWriters ...... Corner Collection ...... 141813 Tune in and find out. Dated:Sports January...... 30, 2012 BY ORDER OF THE COURT 15 Last known addresses: KENNETH THOMAS: 24 Garfield Street, #3, Yonkers, NY 10701 Co-hosts Richard Narog and Hezi2 column Aris will relish the dissectionCLERK1 columnOF THE of COURT all things politics on Tuesday, February EyeWriters On TheatreCollection ...... 1418 Eye on Theatre...... 16 An Order to Show Cause under Article 10 of the Family Court Act having been filed with this Court Books ...... 16 Co-hosts21st. Yonkers Richard City Narog Council and President Hezi Aris Chuck will relish Lesnick the dissection will share of hisall thingsperspective politics from on Tuesday, the august February inner Leaving on a Jet Plane ...... 19 seeking to modify the placement for the above-named child. BooksTransportation ...... 1617 21st.sanctumYonkers of the City City Council CouncilTransportation President Chambers Chuck on...... Wednesday, Lesnick will February share 22nd.his perspective Stephen Cerrato,from the Esq., august will innershare15 Government Section ...... 20 Get YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear before this Court at Yonkers Family Court GovernmentTransportation Section ...... 17 sanctumhis political of theinsight City on Council Thursday,Government Chambers February Section on 23rd. Wednesday,...... Friday, FebruaryFebruary 24th 22nd.has Stephenyet to be Cerrato,filled. It Esq.,may willbe a sharepropi18 - Campaign Trail ...... 20 Get Noticed Noticed located at 53 So. Broadway, Yonkers, New York, on the 28th day of March, 2012 at 2;15 pm in the AdvertisingGovernmentAlbany Correspondent Section Sales ...... 17 histious political day to insightsum up on what Thursday, transpiredCampaign February throughout Finance 23rd. Reform Friday,the week. February...... A sort 24th of BlogTalkhas yet to beRadio filled. version It may of Thatbe a propi18 Was- afternoon of said day to answer the petition and to show cause why said child should not be AlbanyEconomicMayor Marvin’sCorrespondent Development Column ...... 172018 tiousThe dayWeek to sumThat up Was what (TWTWTW). transpiredMedia...... throughout the week. A sort of BlogTalk Radio version of That18 Was adjudicated to be a neglected child and why you should not be dealt with in accordance with the Education ...... 21 The Week That Was (TWTWTW). 914-562-0834 provisions of Article 10 of the Family Court Act. NancyMayorGovernment Marvin’s King: ...... Column 914-831-1300 ...... 1819 For those who cannot joinPolictics us live, Section consider...... listening to the show by way of an MP3 download, or19 on The Hezitorial ...... 21 PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that you have the right to be represented by a law- OpEdGovernment Section ...... 1923 Fordemand. those Within who cannot 15 minutes joinCampaign us of live,a show’s consider Trail ending,...... listening you can to find [email protected] showthe segment by way in of our an archiveMP3 download,that you mayor19 linkon yer, and if the Court finds you are unable to pay for a lawyer, you have the right to have a lawyer Legal ...... 23 assigned by the Court. OpEdEd Koch Section Commentary ...... 2323 demand.to using theWithin hyperlink 15 minutes providedOpEd of aSectionin show’s the opening...... ending, paragraph. you can find Legal the Notices, segment in our archive that you may21 link GlennPeople ...... Weissman: 347-353-6128 24 to using the hyperlink Legalprovided Notices, in the Advertise opening Today paragraph.Advertise Today EdLetters Koch to Commentary the Editor ...... 2324 The entire archive is availableEd andKoch maintained Commentary for your...... perusal. The easiest way to find a particular interview21 PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that if you fail to appear at the time and place Strategy ...... 24 noted above, the Court will hear and determine the petition as provided by law. LettersWeir Only to the Human Editor ...... 2425 Theis to searchentire archiveGoogle, is oravailable anyLetter other and searchtomaintained the engine,Editor for...... for your the perusal. subject matterThe easiest or the way name to findof the a particularinterviewee. interview22 For OpEdHeziWeir Section Only Aris: Human ...... 914-562-0834 ...... 25 is to search Google, or anyHelp other Wanted search...... engine, for the subject matter or the name of the interviewee.21 For Dated: January 30, 2012 BY ORDER OF THE COURT Legal Notices ...... 26 example, search Google, Yahoo, AOL SearchBefore forspeaking Westchester to the police...On the callLevel, Blog Talk Radio, or use the 2 column CLERK1 columnOF THE COURT Legal Notices ...... 2627 example,hyperlink search above. Google, LegalYahoo, Ads AOL...... Search for Westchester(914) On the Level, 562-0834Blog Talk Radio, or use21 the hyperlink above. George Weinbaum Get Mission Statement ATTORNEY AT LAW Get Noticed Noticed Mission StatementFREE CONSULTATION: The Westchester Guardian is a weeklyCriminal, newspaper Medicaid, Medicaredevoted to the unbiased reporting of events 914-562-0834 Theand developments Westchester thatGuardian are newsworthy is a weeklyFraud, andnewspaper White-Collar significant devotedCrime to &readers to the livingunbiased in, and/orreporting employed of events in, Professional Dominican and developments that are newsworthyHealth and Care significant Prosecutions. to readers living in,T. 914.948.0044 and/or employed in, [email protected] Westchester’sHairstylists Most & Nail Influential Technicians Weekly Westchester County. The Guardian will strive to report fairly, and objectively,F. 914.686.4873 reliable informa- Westchester’sWestchester’sHair Cuts MostMost • Styling • Wash InfluentialInfluential & Set • Perming WeeklyWeekly Westchester County. tionThe without Guardian favor will or strive compromise. to report Ourfairly, first and dutyobjectively, will be toreliable the PEOPLE’S informa- Legal Notices, Pedicure • Acrylic Nails • Fill Ins • Silk Wraps • Nail Art Designs tion without favor or compromise. Our first duty will be to the PEOPLE’S Advertise Today Highights • Coloring • Extensions • Manicure • Eyebrow Waxing RIGHT TO KNOW,175 MAIN by S T.,the S UITEexposure 711-7 of • Wtruth,HITE PwithoutLAINS, NY fear 10601 or hesitation, Legal Notices, Advertise Today Guardian News Corp. RIGHTno matter TO where KNOW, the pursuit by the mayexposure lead, inof thetruth, finest without tradition fear orof FREEDOMhesitation, Yudi’s Salon 610 Main St, New Rochelle,Guardian NY 10801 News 914.633.7600 Corp. no matter where the pursuit may lead, in the finest tradition of FREEDOM P.O. Box 88 OF THE PRESS. P.O. Box 8 OF THE PRESS. Before speaking to the police... call NewNew Rochelle,Rochelle, New York 1080110801 The Guardian will cover news and events relevant to residents and New Rochelle, New York 10801 businessesThe Guardian all over will Westchestercover news andCounty. events As relevant a weekly, to residents rather than and George Weinbaum Sam Zherka , Publisher & President businesses all over Westchester County. As a weekly, rather than SamSam ZherkaZherka, , Publisher & PresidentPresident focusing on the immediacy of delivery more associated with daily ATTORNEY AT LAW journals,focusing we on will the insteadimmediacy seek ofto deliveryprovide themore broader, associated more with compre daily- [email protected] FREE CONSULTATION: [email protected] journals,hensive, we chronological will instead step-by-step seek to provide accounting the broader, of events, more enlightened compre- Hezi Aris, Editor-in-Chief & Vice President hensive,with analysis, chronological where appropriate. step-by-step accounting of events, enlightened Criminal, Medicaid, Medicare Hezi Aris, Editor-in-ChiefEditor-in-Chief & ViceVice PresidentPresident with analysis, where appropriate. Fraud, White-Collar Crime & Professional Dominican Health Care Prosecutions. T. 914.948.0044 [email protected] HairstylistsFrom &amongst Nail Technicians journalism’s classic key-words: who, what, when, [email protected] From amongst journalism’s classic key-words: who, what, when, F. 914.686.4873 Hair Cutswhere, • Styling why, • Wash and & Set •how, Perming the why and how will drive our pursuit. We Advertising: (914) 562-0834 Pedicure • Acrylic Nails • Fillwhere, Ins • Silk why, Wraps •and Nail Art how, Designs the why and how will drive our pursuit. We NewsAdvertising: and Photos: (914) (914) 562-0834 562-0834 Highights • Coloring • Extensionswill use • Manicure our •more Eyebrow abundant Waxing time, and our resources, to get past the 175 MAIN ST., SUITE 711-7 • WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601 News and Photos: (914) 562-0834 initialwill use ‘spin’ our andmore ‘damage abundant control’ time, oftenand our characteristic resources, to ofget immediate past the NewsOffice: and Photos: (914)-576-1481 (914) 562-0834 Yudi’s Salon 610 Main St, New Rochelle,initial NY ‘spin’10801 914.633.7600and ‘damage control’ often characteristic of immediate Fax: (914) 633-0806 news releases, to reach the very heart of the matter: the truth. We will Fax: (914) 633-0806633-0806 newstake our releases, readers to toreach a point the ofvery understanding heart of the matter:and insight the truth.which We cannot will Published online every Monday takebe obtained our readers elsewhere. to a point of understanding and insight which cannot Published online every MondayMonday be obtained elsewhere. Print edition distributed Tuesday,Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday To succeed, we must recognize from the outset that bigger is not neces- Print edition distributed Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday sarilyTo succeed, better. weAnd, must furthermore, recognize from we will the acknowledge outset that bigger that we is not cannot neces be- sarily better. And, furthermore, we will acknowledge that we cannot be Graphic Design: Watterson Studios, Inc. all things to all readers. We must carefully balance the presentation of Graphic Design: Watterson Studios, Inc. relevant,all things hard-hitting, to all readers. Westchester We must carefullynews and balance commentary, the presentation with features of relevant, hard-hitting, Westchester news and commentary, with features www.wattersonstudios.comwattersonstudios.com and columns useful in daily living and employment in, and around, the www.wattersonstudios.com and columns useful in daily living and employment in, and around, the county. We must stay trim and flexible if we are to succeed. county. We must stay trim and flexible if we are to succeed. westchesterguardian.comwestchesterguardian.com THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013 Page 3

CommunityCALENDAR Section copy call 914-682-1574. Award privately funded by the Harri- News and Notes from Northern Westchester If you have children you know son Apar Field of Dreams Foundation. how tricky it can be to figure out what The American Red Cross has a By MARK JEFFERS portunity to learn about bird behavior, the Golden Apple Chorus is inviting is going on in your young person’s new campaign this January, “Give A feeding habits, and using bird feeders to fun, talented women to open rehears- life. The Rippowam Cisqua School’s Pint, Get A Pound,” all presenting do- I broke out my darling st attract birds to your yard. als Saturdays in January and February. Foundations of Education Series offers nors through January 31 will receive wife’s special Christmas The March of Dimes of New York Golden Apple Chorus is a women’s informative discussions insights and a voucher for a free pound of Dunkin’ present to me…a new th celebrates its 75 anniversary with “Re- barbershop chorus, a chapter of Sweet strategies for raising kids. Dr. Michael Donuts coffee; call 800-733-2767 for snow shovel, and did ception: Fashion, Art and Empower- Adelines International. If you are look- Thompson, best selling author and re- details. some nice lifting around ment,” at the Ritz Carlton in White ing for an opportunity to experience the nowned psychologist specializing in White Plains Hospital has named the house, my back is all ready sore, so th Plains on January 10 . joy of singing -- to harmonize popular children and families, returns on Friday, Susan Fox of Larchmont as its new sore, I am writing this week from the Three cheers to Blind Brook High songs from the “20’s” to the “2000’s,” January 11th at 10:00 a.m. speaking President, good luck and best wishes couch, I have dozed off twice, but fi- School graduate Bryan Silverman, his to make new friends and to perform about “Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Susan. nally finished this week’s aching edition brother Jordan and their company Star for the fun of it -- they have the per- Friendship Development, Popularity Here’s to all the January birthdays, of “News and Notes.” Toilet Paper for being named “Entre- fect place for you. Rehearsals are every and Social Cruelty in Childhood.” The please remember don’t short change the Are you tired of looking at your preneur” magazine’s College Entre- Tuesday night, 7pm, at the Hawthorne lecture which is free and open to the first month of the year births by saving family across the breakfast table…if preneur of 2012 for their concept of Reformed Church Hall, for more in- public will take place in the Sky Room a Christmas present to give to them lat- so then have Breakfast with the Birds. printing ads on toilet paper…I guess formation, call Carol at 914-739-5782, at the Rippowam Cisqua School in er as a birthday gift, they need new gifts The folks at the Westmoreland Sanc- you could say they wiped out the com- or Roe at 914-592-4691. Mount Kisco, call 914-244-1292 for just like those born in July. By the way tuary invite you to join them on Satur- petition! Speaking of singing, catch Gram- details. as you may have guessed my daughter day morning at 10:00 AM on January th Here’s an exhibit for everyone, Amanda and I celebrate this month… th Purchase College placed 80 in my Award winning country singer/ 12 to enjoy some breakfast with our Kiplinger’s “Personal Finance’s Annual songwriter Shelby Lynne at the Eme- “All Creatures Great and Small” art by see you next week. feathered friends. You will be inside the Joy Tobin at the BeanRunner Café in 100 Best Values in Public Colleges.” lin Theatre in Mamaroneck on January th Mark Jeffers resides in Bedford Hills, museum enjoying morning refresh- th Do you sing in the shower or alone 11 . Peekskill through January 20 . ments while watching the birds enjoy New York, with his wife Sarah, and three in your car…I do and continue to be St. Francis AME Zion Church in Congratulations to the Yorktown breakfast at the feeding station behind daughters, Kate, Amanda, and Claire. told I cannot carry a note in a basket, Mount Kisco has released a new cook- Girl Scouts as they have been the the museum. This is also a great op- but if you love to sing and are female, book “Bless ThisT able,” to purchase a first recipients of the Randy Zapakin CELEBRATIONS The 325th Anniversary of New Rochelle Brought Many Proud Moments By PEGGY GODFREY The City of New Rochelle takes great pride in its history. On December 31, 2012, the eve of the City’s 325th Anniversary, a Kickoff and Flag Raising was held at City Hall. Refer- ring to the French Huguenots who left their homeland 325 years ago in search of religious tolerance, Hon. Marianne Sussman, Chair of the ceremony said, they found it when they purchased land “for New Rochelle.” Over the centuries, people of different cultures and beliefs that in diversity we have the resources have continued to help the city prosper to build community. This was followed and grow. by a musical rendition, “This Land is An invocation by Father Robert Green,” by the Songcatchers under the Gahler of Trinity-St. Paul Church direction of Sister Beth Dowd. emphasized how the city paused to Addressing the crowd, New Ro- SOUTH STREET SEAPORT celebrate another quarter of a century chelle Mayor Noam Bramson ex- EXHIBITION CENTRE of history recalling the Huguenot pio- pressed great pride as he reflected upon neers that left everything, crossing an the “rich history” of New Rochelle. He ocean to come here. He concluded Continued on page 4 RADIO Westchester On the Level with Narog and Aris Westchester On the Level is heard from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon on the Internet: http://www. BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterontheLevel. Join the conversation by calling 1-347-205-9201.

WestchesterGuardian-5.5x4.875.indd 1 10/25/12 12:18 PM Page 4 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013

CELEBRATIONS

The 325th Anniversary of New Rochelle Brought Many Proud Moments reflected the city’s “diversity and talent”. Councilman Jared Rice was gratified Continued from page 3 have given years of dedicated service. The finale of this program was the for the hard work that had been put felt no matter where people came from, The Boy Scouts ofT roop 325 and performance of the specially written into the event. “I am very proud of this they became part of New Rochelle the Girl Scouts of Troop 2981 partici- music by Robert Puleo to the poem, city. I was raised in its past, present and and valued the community. A tribute pated in raising the flag of the United “Queen City of the Sound” by James future. I look forward to festivities and by Chuck Strome, New Rochelle City States and the banner of the City of J. Montague. Sister Beth accompanied activities which will commemorate this Manager Manager, acknowledged the New Rochelle in the front of City Hall. this musical rendition, which included wonderful community.” loyalty of the people who lived in the Standing at attention were the New audience participation. The familiar Future events, including the Fatt city, and the dedication of the police, Rochelle Police Department Honor words, “No stern and rock bound coasts Calfe Ceremony on June 9, to com- firemen, and DPW crews who serve. Guard and the New Rochelle Fire De- is here, ...Amid the placid, green clad memorate the annual purchase pay- ment for the City of New Rochelle, Strome believes there is a lot to be partment Color Guard. Enhancing the hills of lovely New Rochelle...”, rang the ceremony was Susan Conte, OSU, can be found on www.newrochelleny. thankful for in the city including the events was Alexandra Anaya singing out loud and clear”. who said she was “proud of the city” and com/325. many committees whose members the Star Spangled Banner. Among the people who attended the freedom in its history. The program St. Mary’s Church Provides Joy at Katonah Christmas Dinner

By RICH MONETTI posal and put it to good use around the arts and crafts table. “I asked if I On Christmas Day, could help the little kids because I’m St. Mary’s Church in really nice,” said the young guest who Katonah hosted its th is an elementary student at School 22 20 annual dinner for in Yonkers. underprivileged fami- lies and individuals from throughout Westchester. With over 300 attending, the premise derives from the idea that no one should be alone or go hungry on the holiest of days. Despite that, Dolly Pereira, who found herself in a Valhalla shelter af- ter a difficult year, was initially a little sad and nervous about being invited. Mr. and Mrs. Claus were the featured “I’ve been crying since I got here,” said Over 300 volunteers are required to put on the annual Christmas Dinner. hosts of the Christmas Dinner. Pereira, “but they are tears of joy… at claimed to be Maritza Budiuck of Bed- was easy, too. Looking out over the af- the guests,” said co-coordinator Ben this point”. Harvey. Overcome by the realization that ford Hills. fair, it took just one word to capture its Dressed up and looking svelte in essence. “Togetherness,” she declared. That’s quite a lot considering the people could care so much, the far months of preparation that the lead- reaching effect goes beyond just the her red suit, she still professed a deep af- Behind the scenes volunteer Har- finity for the kindness of her husband’s old Rose of White Plains proudly took ership endures to make the dinner a knowledge that next year will be better. reality every year. But it really hits him “If there are people out there like this,” year-round efforts, while giving Santa a his place among the refuse and recy- definite pass on his paunch. “I love him cling bins. “It’s a dirty job but someone’s 6-year old Ashley Castillo from when guests occasionally pull him aside she said, “the sky is the limit.” Ossining with a new friend. to offer thanks. “Those sincere expres- Co-coordinator Licia Sandberg of just the way he is,” said Budiuck. got to do it,” he joked, while clearly ac- I inquired if there was any chance sions of gratitude get us through the Katonah gave perspective to the man- But the beautiful procession of cepting that the pretty faces were need- she was hoping to get noticed by Santa whole year,” says Harvey. power involved in actually pulling off Elves and Angels meant not everybody ed out front to encourage everyone’s so a kitchen set and nice dresses for Guest Brian Sten of New Rochelle the day’s lofty intentions. “We’ve had had to be so discerning. Nonetheless, appetite and overall spirit uplift. summer would end up in her stocking? provided as good an inspiration as any an army of volunteers working since Tiffany Eletto of Scarsdale exhibited No problem, felt Volunteer Betha- rd “Yeah,” she said without hesitation; but to kick start next year’s dinner drive. “It December 23 ,” Sandberg advised. a beauty on the inside that coincided ny Sax of Katonah, it’s inherent to the why shouldn’t she be recognized for be- just feels like Christmas,” he concluded. Of course, some were obligated to with the joy. “This is so much fun be- holiday. “On Christmas, all you really ing good. Photos by and courtesy of the or- be on hand for family considerations cause kids keep hugging me,” said need is an open heart and a smile,” she It turns out adults emanate from a ganizers of the 2012 Christmas Dinner. and did require a little nudge to get Eletto. said. similar premise. “I feel a little selfishly in the spirit. “I’m trying to be good Seeing past the angelic outfit and Eight-year-old Amerie Stokes of Rich Monetti has been a freelance writer that I may get more out of this than for once,” said Mrs. Clause, who also appearance of her sister Tory Elleto Yonkers had plenty of that at her dis- since 2003 and lives in Westchester. CREATIVE DISRUPTION Nooks, Kindles), or smart phones will It is not necessary to use MS- office with a Wireless Router. This will Time to Interface all interface for the important func- Office to utilize these file formats – allow you to easily add tablets or other tions (e-Mail, Web, Facebook, Word there are other programs that read and computers in the future; it is, of course, By JOHN F. McMULLEN possibly use them in conjunction with Processing, Spreadsheet, and Presenta- write compatible files and the most a necessity if you have more than one their other desktops and older laptops. tion Graphics). The file formats used in well known of these, “OpenOffice” device. Additionally, if you have got- As the holiday season It can be a daunting task but not really the components of “Microsoft Office” (www.openoffice.org), “Zoho Docs” ten a laptop or desktop to replace an winds down, the public difficult if one takes the time to under- (“Word”, “Excel”, and “PowerPoint”) (https://www.zoho.com/docs/), and existing computer (and that computer looks at the new tablets, stand some points: have become the standards for the in- the components of “Google Drive” is slow or full rather than broken) and smartphones, and lap- They all, whether Computers terfacing. Microsoft Office is available (drive.google.com/) are free. you have room to keep it set up, do so. tops that Santa brought (Windows and or Mac desktop or for both Windows and the Macintosh No matter if you only have one ma- It will both provide backup and, once and tries to figure out how they can laptops), Tablets (iPads, Androids, and the files are compatible. chine, you should set up your home or Continued on page 5 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013 Page 5

CREATIVE DISRUPTION

exception of the iPad which does not and released an online word processing technology/google-apps-moving- and contains a 1.7 GHz processor, 2 Time to Interface support USB), e-mail (as attachments), capability in March 2006, naming it onto-microsofts-business-turf.html), GB Ram, 16 GB hard drive and two Continued from page 4 or the Cloud. The Cloud is simply the “Google Docs.” The original product has, in the last year, become successful USB ports). It received a 4.1 out of 5 substitution of remote storage “some- was a rather rudimentary word proces- in attracting large enterprises (from the customer rating at Amazon, based on purged of viruses and extraneous files where” on the Internet for local stor- sor which would read, write, and edit start, it had been successful in attracting 456 reviews – a high satisfaction rating. and “defragged,” serve as a usable “other age on a computer’s hard disk (copies Microsoft Word files. The firm added tech start-ups and small businesses), as The advent of the Chromebook computer.” of the files should still be kept on the a spreadsheet in October of the same it added the US Department of Inte- raises the question for some, “Which Files may be interchanged between hard disk or on a USB drive for backup year and a presentation graphics capa- rior, with 90,000 users, and Hoffmann- should I buy – a Chromebook or a computers and tablets via USB, e-mail – but care must be taken to never copy bility in September 2007 and contin- La Roche, with over 80,000 users, to its Tablet?” The answer, of course, is “Ei- (as attachments) or through “Cloud” old versions over newer versions). The ued to enhance all components until stable of clients. ther, Both, or Neither.” It all depends on functions such as “DropBox”, “Sky- “somewhere” referred to is really a file they became fully robust products. In In addition to its Google Drive de- what you wish to do. The tablets, par- Drive,” “Google Drive,” and “iCloud” server maintained somewhere on the April 2012, Google expanded the pow- velopment, Google introduced its own ticularly the iPad with its jillion Apps, (More on the Cloud below). Internet by a service. The user does er of Google Docs by incorporating it web browser, “Chrome,” in 2008 and provide the user with an incredible The Apple programs for the iPad not really know “where” the server is into “Google Drive,” a system under then used it as the basis for a Linux- range of things to do from e-mail & and iPhone (“Pages,” “Numbers,” and located; it is only known by a name – which files held on Google Docs and based operating system, “Chrome OS,” browsing (which you can certainly do “Keynote”) that support MS-Office “DropBox,” “iCloud,” “AmazonCloud- computers and /or tablets with Google which it released in 2009. Chrome on the Chromebook) to book reading, formats and functions (“Word,” “Ex- Drive”, “SkyDrive” (from Microsoft), Drive software installed would be au- OS is an operating system designed news gathering, game playing, GPS cel,” and “PowerPoint”) will e-mail files “Google Drive,” etc. The advantage tomatically synchronized as they were to work on very lightweight laptops functions, picture taking – a list that ex- in the MS-Office format. to using these systems is not only that updated anyplace. This facility is not called “Chromebooks,” which will pands every day. I find the iPad and the “Quickoffice” for the Kindle Fire they may save needed space on a hard only important for individuals using function totally as Cloud-based sys- Kindle wonderful (I don’t use the Nook and other Android machines will do drive but, more importantly, the files are multi-devices but also for businesses as tems. The first of these computers, the primarily because I had a Kindle first) the same automatic translation of files accessible from anyplace where there is multi-users can share documents and Samsung Chromebook, was released – and, if you want to have computing from and to MS-Office formats (most Internet access. The user may access work on them simultaneously. in June 2012 and connects directly power in your pocket, you can’t beat the of this column is written on my Kindle them either through an App on her/his Since Google’s introduction of to the Cloud for e-mail (“Gmail”), new mini-tablets. Fire HD (with keyboard) at my local device (ex. iPad or Kindle) or through Google Docs in 2006, it has pitched it as video (“YouTube”), web browsing, the The virtual keypads on the tablets Barnes and Noble -- final editing will a web page. This ability, coupled with the future of collaboration as well as re- Google Drive functions mentioned are fine for e-mail, note taking, and be done in MS-Word on a Macintosh the common MS-Office file formats, mote storage. It charges businesses fifty above, and Google Apps (ex. “Google web-browsing but, if the desire is to and it will be e-mailed to my editor provides the user with file compatibility dollars ($50.00) per user for this service Maps,” “Google Earth,” etc.). The Wi- do heavy word processing such as I do who will either process it on a PC or both across platforms and across loca- and, according to a recent New York Fi version of the device was selling when I write my columns at bookstores Mac.). tions. Times article, “Google Apps Chal- prior to the holidays on Amazon and and other locations, a keyboard is a real As mentioned above, files may be Google was one of the earliest pro- lenging Microsoft in Business” (http:// at BestBuy for $249 (the computer necessity (I have keyboards on both my moved from “platform” (PC, Mac, Tab- ponents of the Cloud when it acquired www.nytimes.com/2012/12/26/ has an 11.6 inch screen, weighs 2.4 lbs. Continued on page 6 let) to platform via USB drive (with the

WhitePlainsUrgentCare.com

Quality, Affordable Urgent Care THE ONLY HOSPITAL IN THE TRI-STATE AREA* TO Board Certified Doctor OFFER ADVANCED ORTHO ROBOTIC SURGERY C GET BACK ON YOUR FEET IN DAYS!

+ Open 7 Days a Week M

+ No Appointment Necessary Y

+ Short Waiting Time CM + Most Insurance Plans Accepted MY + Discount for Self -Pay Patients CY + Convenient White Plains Location Eric Spencer, MD | Charles Edelson, MD | David Lent, MD CMY “I back on my feet, K pain-free within two days.” Mike Peterson | MAKOplasty patient drove 150 miles for treatment Results may vary

Must present WG Coupon. Cannot Must present WG Coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offer. be combined with any other offer. Exp. Jan. 31st, 2013 Exp. Jan. 31st, 2013 WITH PAIN-FREE ROBOTIC KNEE TECHNOLOGY 914.964.4DOC | RiversideHealth.org ______914.448.1000 • 10 Chester Avenue, White Plains, NY 967 North Broadway | Yonkers | NY | 10701 *Except for a few locations not convenient to Southern Westchester Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9AM-7PM • Sat & Sun 9AM-3PM © 2013 St. John’s Riverside Hospital | All Rights Reserved. QUALITY, AFFORDABLE URGENT CARE BOARD CERTIFIED DOCTORS 914.448.1000 Page 6 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013

CREATIVE DISRUPTION

you – and the price is certainly right. If What Apps will I use on my tablet stantly accelerating technology on the technical writing, a novel, “The Inwood Time to Interface you need both of the above, it’s time to that are compatible with my computer? world around us. These changes nor- Book” and “New & Collected Poems by Continued from page 5 open the checkbook. What Cloud service will I use? mally happen under our personal radar johnmac the bard” are available on Ama- Whatever platforms you use, it What will I do for back-up? until we find that the world as we knew zon. He is a professor at Purchase College iPad and my Kindle Fire HD). If your should be clear that they all can work The overriding advice that I can it is no more. and has previously taught at Monroe Col- sole or, at least, primary use is to be the together seamlessly with the proper give is “Don’t be afraid to experiment! John F. McMullen has been involved in lege, Marist College, and the New School classic business functions – word pro- planning – but it requires proper plan- You can get it to work.” technology for over 40 years and has writ- for Social Research. cessing, spreadsheet, and presentation ning. Some of the questions to be asked Creative Disruption is a continu- ten about it for major publications. He may Comments, experiences and questions can graphics, then the Chromebook is for are: ing series examining the impact of con- be found on Facebook and his current non- be directed to [email protected]. CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES own dot com company. So in their Jehane Noujaim—The Documentarian late twenties, they both went to create GovWorks.com, an online revenue By SHERIF AWAD collection interface for municipal gov- ernments. Startup.com was exception- Documentary film- ally screened in the Cairo International maker Jehane Noujaim Film Festival, whose main focus is long has made a name for narrative films. It opened in May 2011 herself in the last decade in the U.S. and was distributed by Arti- through a handful of san Entertainment right after it picked powerful social and political documen- up The Blair Witch Project. It was a good taries with varied subjects and locations. opportunity for Noujaim to work with For their high quality and noted nov- two legendary documentary filmmak- elty, her two debuts, Startup.com (2001) ers such as D.A. Pennebake and Chris and Control Room (2004) were picked Hegedus who share directorial credit up for distribution by two landmark in- with her. Coincidentally, the September dependent American studios. In 2007, 11 attacks took place during the same she directed a documentary about shay- week in which Startup.com was opening Hassan Ibrahim. feencom (We Can See You), an Egyp- in the UK, remembersed Jehane, who lations strategy through this project to tian movement monitoring all kinds of Jehane Noujaim. immediately wanted to return to The improve its image without affecting corruption in governmental and non- its foreign policies, which is nonsense!” the city of Port Said, who is himself filmmaking, after taking a film course. Middle East in order to understand the governmental Egyptian institutions. In says Jehane with a smile. “After filming of Syrian- Lebanese decent, and an In her college years, Noujaim realized reactions of 9/11 attacks in her home- 2008, Noujaim was awarded the TED for four months, I made the mistake American mother who spent most of her first photographic thesis about the land. That’s why she accepted an offer Prize, which gave her an opportunity of delivering the footage to Promo7 her life in Egypt and the Arab world. Egyptian zabaleen (garbage collecting from Promo7, an Egyptian advertising to join a project called Pangeaday aim- people who went on to show it to the The family moved to Kuwait for some men) at their working area, the Mo- agency that was hired by the US gov- ing to change the world through film State Department that hired them. Of time; returning to Egypt when Jehane qattam Mountain in the suburbs of ernment to realize a project aiming to by asking people from throughout the course the Americans freaked out and was seven. “It was 1981, the year when Cairo. While in Egypt, Noujaim briefly improve the image of the US in Egypt world to submit films that were eventu- Promo7 never give me back the mate- Sadat was assassinated and Mubarak worked as an editor in the English and The Middle East after those at- ally to be edited into a 4-hour program rial”, she remembers. It was one of the came to power”, she recalled while tak- tacks. “I thought it was an interesting watched at the same time in 1,800 lo- reasons why Jehane went on to make ing a break from editing her new docu- opportunity to visit colleges and talk cations in 100 countries. In late 2012, her follow-up documentary, Control mentary, The Square, that will have its to focus groups across Egypt while Noujaim was active in the Arab world Room (2004), which was shot inside al- world premiere in the Sundance Film making this survey about the reason with two new documentaries. The first Jazeera studios in Doha, Qatar, during Festival this month. why rising generations like or dislike is Rafea: Solar Mama that got support the American invasion of Iraq. Noujaim’s first artistic interest was the double standards inherent in U.S. from TheT ribeca Film festival only to “I was curious about al-Jazeera in photography. Photography became Middle Eastern political policies. “The premiere in TheT oronto Film Festival. because it was the station everybody an expressive tool by which to connect U.S. was trying to develop a public re- The second is The Square, an introspec- across Egypt was super excited about. with both her American and Egyp- tive into the hard realities in the after- Even people from poor neighbor- tian roots. After attending Harvard math of the Egyptian revolution. hoods were buying satellite dishes to in her study and pursuit of medicine, Jehane Noujaim was born in the Unit- be able to watch it. At that time, al- she completely changed direction to ed States to an Egyptian father from Jazeera was nicknamed in the U.S. as the mouthpiece of Osama bin Laden, Samir Khader. while also being hated by most of the Arab countries”, explains Jehane. monthly magazine Egypt Today. She “However, I thought there should be remembers that the first article she something right happening inside this wrote was about three young Egyp- station that was angering all those gov- tians who were studying to become ernments, which was the reason I flew tour guides. to Qatar during the early U.S. warn- In 2001, Noujaim made her di- ing of an imminent attack on Iraq in rectorial debut with the documentary 2003. Because he was in contact with Startup.com in which she compared al-Jazeera when sending students to vicissitudes of business and friendship intern at the television studio, Abdallah among two real friends, Kaleil Isaza Schleifer, the prominent Middle East Tuzman and Tom Herman, who both expert and professor of TV journalism had a dream since they were fifteen, Khalid Abdalla (R) in The Square. that is, to get rich by developing their Startup.com Continued on page 7 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013 Page 7

CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES

is just ten minutes away from where I elections. We extensively interviewed Jehane Noujaim—The Documentarian grew up”, she says. “It starts in the first fantastic characters that worked in the Continued from page 6 reporters. So Egyptians were curious days of the revolution, then goes on to campaigns of candidates Amr Moussa, about whis whereabouts after the war. recount what has happened since, un- Ahmed Shafik, and the current Presi- at the American University in Cairo, He, in fact, landed a job with al-Jazeera, til today, through different characters, dent Mursi. Interestingly enough, the helped Noujaim to get inside the com- hosting Fault Lines, Jazeera English’s from different political sides, includ- Islamic Brotherhood were compar- mand center of al-Jazeera. “Arriving flagship program about the Americas”, ing actor and liberal activist Khalid ing their 85-years struggle of rising to in al-Jazeera studios, I started to meet revealed Jehane who has different feel- Abdalla, Islamic Brotherhood’s Magdi power to the African-American Civil everybody including two interesting ing about Jazeera now. Ashoor, filmmaker and actress Aida al- Rights Movement headed by Martin people working there: Samir Khader, “Because Qatar started to have Kashef, and an Egyptian military man. Luther King!”. a Jordanian, who was working as pro- bigger roles outside of its borders and The events of The Square are perceived gram editor of al-Jazeera, and Hassan Born in Cairo, Egypt, Sherif Awad is a across The Middle East, it now makes a through their eyes and from their dif- Ibrahim, a Sudanese, who later moved film / video critic and curator. He is the difference who is controlling al-Jazeera fering perspectives. It is not a docu- to al-Jazeera International, the sister Lt. Josh Rushing. film editor of Egypt Today Magazine and what al-Jazeera is saying now. I was mentary taking a side against Mubarak English Channel”, says Jehane. with her four daughters in one of Jor- (www.EgyptToday.com), and the artis- very disappointed while watching the or SCAF or The Brotherhood, but it is The reception ofControl Room was dan’s poorest desert villages on the Iraqi tic director for both the Alexandria Film al-Jazeera coverage of current events in an observation about the fight against mixed among the venues where it was border. Rafea was given a chance to Festival, in Egypt, and the Arab Rotter- Egypt during the past few months or power. We have a scene that takes place released. “Generally, viewers and people travel to India to attend the Barefoot dam Festival, in The Netherlands. He also so… The questions asked by its anchors next to the al-Etihadia Palace during are always interested in the other side. College, where illiterate grandmothers contributes to Variety, in the United States, are quite misleading and shameless. It the protests that followed President When Control Room was released in from around the world are trained over and is the film critic of Variety Arabia was obvious that Qatar has an interest Mursi’s constitutional declaration. It the U.S. through Magnolia Pictures, 6 months to become solar engineers. (http://varietyarabia.com/), in the United in what is happening in Egypt and this shows a pro-Brotherhood young man American viewers were happy to see After that al-Midan (The Square), that Arab Emirates (UAE), the Al-Masry affects how the news is reported, which who is about to fight against his friends Hassan and Samir because, before will premiere at The Sundance Film Al-Youm Website (http://www.almasry- is very problematic”, she advised. of January 25 in the square. He is the alyoum.com/en/node/198132) and The that, they had the stereotypical thought Festival, January 17-27, 2013, in Park victim of the Brotherhood’s propagan- that Osama bin Laden was walking New Projects City, Utah. Westchester Guardian (www.Westchester- da that defines everyone of the “oppo- Guardian.com). through al-Jazeera’s hallways”, laughed In 2012, Jehane Noujaim tracked “The Square is the hardest and sition” as a bataltagy (bully). The young Jehane. “Hassan was an eye-opener for down the title character of Rafea: Solar most personal project I have under- man is shocked when he sees American viewers because they were Mama, a Bedouin woman who lives taken. It is about Tahrir Square which the images of friends he used astonished by his understanding the to know being tortured at the U.S. better than the average American doors of the al-Etihadia Pal- understands the Arab world. In Egypt, ace doors. This shock happens Control Room was like a déjà-vu be- because, whether in Egypt or cause it was highly depressive for some the States, some people are ex- Egyptian viewers to relive what hap- posed to their own news; their pened in the Iraqi Invasion. Although own Facebook and Twitter nobody liked to see someone in a U.S. feeds which blind them from military uniform, some Egyptians seeing the big picture”, says rooted for a third character in Control Jehane. Room, which was Lt. Josh Rushing be- So what’s next for Jehane cause, throughout the events, he went after The Square at Sundance? through obvious changes from being “Maybe a feature film”, she pro-U.S. to expressing his empathy says. “I might also work on for the people he met from the region footage we shot during the and after interacting with al-Jazeera latest Egyptian presidential Rafea Solar Mama. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Fidelco Last Standing in SFC Economic Development Project Partnership in Yonkers

By HEZI ARIS that came to be known as Struever Fi- before the New York State Assembly, delinquent $157,000 note to the Sul- delco Cappelli, LLC, which consisted specifically extolling the moribund livan County Industrial Development The twinkle in former New Members Only • Must Present Ad • See Retro Fitness For Details of Cappelli Enterprises of Valhalla, $1.5 billion SFC project as a success Agency, ended the former agreement Yonkers Mayors’ John GYM HOURS NY, Fidelco Realty Group of Mill- story that underscores the need for Cappelli Enterprises held on the Spencer and Phil Ami- Mon. - Fri. 4AM-MN • Sat. & Sun: 6AM-8PM burn, NJ, and Struever Bros. Eccles Brownfield subsidies, the Cappelli 1,600 acres in the Town of Thompson cone’ eyes was the vision & Rose of Baltimore, MD. The troika interests were sold to Fidelco. Coinci- in the Catskills of New York. Over 13,00 Sq. Ft. of Fitness they collectively and respectively pro- Tons of Cardio With 17” LCD Screens slowly shriveled from three into one. dence, or simply timing? Cappelli’s intent was to create a moted and concocted from its very One-on-One Personal Training • Large Free Weight Area Struever Bros. Eccles & Rose was first Yonkers Tribune has learned that 250-room hotel that would have res- inception as the Master Development Enjoy Your Favorite Movies in Our Huge Retro Theater to depart the scene. Last week, Cap- Fidelco is expected to present their urrected the Concord Hotel, a racino, Totally Awesome Retro Blends* Plan that would resurrect a city with pelli Enterprises sold their interest plan for initiating the waterfront de- consisting of a 2,150 video lottery ter- Smoothie Bar • Childcare Available promise, purpose and fiscal viability. in the project to the last of the three velopment during the first quarter of minal and a 200-acres harness racing So Much Entertainment You’ll Never Have To Wait Again! Instead, the mirage extolled as the vi- Full Access To Over 90 retro Fitness Locations! partners standing, that is, Fidelco Re- 2013. track leased by Monticello Casino & sion for Yonkers’ future has eluded the Great Fitness Classes Including: alty Group. Meanwhile, Yonkers Tribune Raceway’s owner Empire Resorts, a City of Yonkers as Yonkersites have Zumba® , Kickboxing, Spinning® and More! While former Yonkers City has learned that Cappelli Enterprise’s $150 million indoor water park, a re- been deluded by Mssrs. Spencer and Council President Chuck Lesnick gamble on the Concord Hotel de- design a golf course, and an additional 914.235.3300 Amicone’s very ineptitude. The inepti- presented his rationale for the need velopment in the Catskills has been 400-room hotel. RetroFitness.net tude was revealed by their “choosing” for Brownfields clean-up subsidies lost to rival developer Entertainment A call to Cappelli Enterprises (NEXT TO CITIBANK) their “friends” for the Yonkers water- to energize the development in Yon- Properties Trust (EPT) of Kansas went unanswered. 236 NORTH AVE., NEW ROCHELLE front economic development project kers and other New York State cities City who, upon paying a seemingly Page 8 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013

ENERGY ISSUES

treated raw sewage, and possibly frack old oil and gas drill holes, have no Frack Wastewater a Threat to Northeast wastewater, to gush into waterways. container at the bottom to trap waste. Another disposal approach is for An investigative report by ProPublica By ERICA GIES 5 million gallons of water per “frack” to piped into local rivers; or treated onsite gas companies to treat wastewater on- found that thousands of them are leak- crack apart underground bedrock and and reused in fracking. site and reuse the water in future fracks. ing, bringing chemicals and waste to Pennsylvania rivers that release natural gas. Into that water they At first blush, treating frack wa- However, this can be energy intensive the surface or into shallow aquifers. supply drinking water mix chemicals – biocides to kill bacteria, ter at municipal treatment plants may and costly. Gas companies also some- Costs to clean water tainted by continued to show high scale inhibitors to keep pipes clear, and seem like a good solution. However, times sell the byproduct – a super salty fracking – whether injected under- levels of the salt bromide lubricants to ensure smooth machinery these plants were designed to treat sew- waste called brine that contains heavy ground, treated and dumped or reused earlier this year, a telltale operation. They also add proppants – age, not the radioactive compounds in metals and other pollutants – to state – are currently being externalized by sign that they were still receiving inad- tiny particles of sand, quartz or ceram- frack water, which can pass straight transportation departments like those oil and gas companies, with cities and equately treated wastewater from natu- ics to hold underground fractures open, through into local waters. in Pennsylvania and West Virginia to states, and ultimately us – the taxpayers ral gas hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, allowing gas to flow up to the surface. Another problem: when the salt melt highway snow in winter and sup- – picking up the tab. Toothless federal operations. The levels surprised officials, The problem is that some of these in frack water is combined with the press dust in summer. This use conveys and state laws and industry exemptions who thought they’d solved the pollu- contaminated fluids flow back to the chlorine used at some water treat- salts and chemicals to waterways, and to environmental laws, have so far failed tion problem by requesting that drilling surface too, along with added contami- ment plants, it forms chemicals called should be discontinued. to address the problem. companies stop using municipal treat- nants picked up deep underground, trihalomethanes that increase the risk Unfortunately, pumping the waste People tout natural gas as a cheap ment plants for disposal. such as naturally occurring salts and of bladder and other cancers with into injection wells deep underground fuel, but that is faulty logic that fails Since then, bromide levels have radioactive elements. long-term exposure. Not only that, may not be the answer either. More to add in water cleanup costs. When decreased, but industry sources say the Companies dispose of this frack the chemicals in frack water can kill than 150,000 active injection wells un- proper accounting is done, we may practice of treatment plant disposal in wastewater differently depending on the beneficial bacteria used in sewage derlying 32 states now absorb 2 billion discover that natural gas is simply not Northeastern states continues. region, though each method is prob- treatment plants, making the treatment gallons of waste fluid daily, a process cost-effective – or environmentally While activists and scientific stud- lematic. In most of the country, injec- process less effective. that the EPA supports for the disposal friendly – and that it is time for the U.S. ies have focused heavily on potential tion wells are used to pump waste deep Worse still, many Northeast mu- of polluted water from the oil and gas, to pursue other energy options. groundwater contamination caused by underground. In the Northeast, waste- nicipal sewage systems also process chemical, agricultural, and pharmaceu- fracked wells, the disposal of fracking Freelance reporter Erica Gies has been water is disposed of in three ways: It is storm water. So every time there is a tical industries as a strategy to protect wastewater may be a greater pollution published by The New York Times, Forbes. trucked to Ohio and dumped down hard rain, large volumes of runoff force soils and surface water from contami- threat. com, The International Herald Tribune, injection wells; processed at municipal the shutdown of sewage treatment nation. Gas companies use an average of Wired News, Grist, and E/The Environ- sewage treatment facilities and then plants, allowing high volumes of un- But these injection wells, mostly mental Magazine. HEALTH addiction disorders. (The total U.S. report. population is over 300 million) Now more than ever society must Newtown, Mental Illness and the Stigma • Suicide is the eleventh leading come forward and reach out to us. We By GLENN SLABY the Newtown tragedy more of us, the trum. Even individuals with similar di- cause of death in the U.S. (See my want, we need to be welcomed into the inflicted and even their families may agnosis will differ greatly in symptoms, article, June 9, 2011) fold of our culture, but we need your I have a mental illness. • harbor ever greater reluctance coming in treatment, in reflection, in resilience. Suicide is the third leading cause of help to live better lives. To admit to Today, I can admit this, forward. The stigma has grown formi- We do not want to be labeled. We want death for people between ages 10 mental illness means to be labeled for come forward, because dably stronger. to be assisted. We want to be cured, but t0 24. a lifetime as being abnormal, dysfunc- I have a job, because I • How can we, especially our youth, we need your help. We would like to Mayor depression disorder affects tional even feared without concern and have family support and admit to these illnesses and be labeled, be seen as individuals with mental ill- 6.7% of American adults. reflection of the individual’s condition, I have some degree of self-confidence • categorized for the rest of their lives? ness not as mentally ill individuals, for Twenty-four percent of state their abilities and capabilities and this and a small degree of financial security. Imagine the peer pressure, the ridicule, we have hope and potential just like prisoners and 21% of local jail must change! I have some very good friendships. I re- the teasing our school children will face others who suffer from biological and prisoners have a recent history of a We want to work. We want to ceive quality professional therapy. I have every day if they are “exposed” as having chemical diseases related to the human mental health disorder. contribute, to belong, to give. We do some Faith. I am very fortunate and • mental illness. (This lack of compassion condition. Our illness does not truly The percent of youth in the not enjoy being unconstructive mem- lucky and I try not to give a damn about is a sad reflection of our culture.) They define us. juvenile justice systems with at least bers of our various communities. We what others (most, but not all) may and their families may face the battle The National Association on one mental health disorder is 70%. do not enjoy being alone, doing noth- think. For now these fantastic supports • alone and suffer alone. They will face Mental Illness (NAMI) has the fol- Half of all lifetime cases of mental ing. Being involved is so important enable me, but I do not know what the torturous pain in the secret of their lowing sobering statistics: illness begin by age 14; 75% begin for self-identity, self-worth and self- tomorrow may bring and that scares dwellings. They may seek ways to ease • Twenty-five percent of adults by age 24. respect. From society we need not only the hell out of me. Most who suffer do • the pain through self-medicating (alco- experience a mental health disorder Racial and ethnic minorities are the material, but also the psychological not have any of these supports. After hol and drugs) and isolation. And the in a given year. less likely to receive proper access and spiritual encouragement. Have illness is not the fault of their making. It • One in seventeen adults lives with for mental health care and if faith in us and our faith in ourselves accessible will receive poorer care. will grow; our Faith can overcome fate. is no one’s fault and what family is really mental illness. • prepared to face such challenges? • Anxiety disorders affect 18.7% of Male veterans are twice likely to We all must slowly reclaim the self, the Every infliction on the brain differs American adults and frequently die by suicide as compared to their soul and see the goodness inside the greatly along the mental illness spec- co-occur with depression and American peers as per a July 2007 inflicted, not the cultural bias that has claimed the stigma for far too many Before speaking to the police... call years. That is what our various Faiths tell us. George Weinbaum Glenn Slaby is married and has one son. ATTORNEY AT LAW A former accountant with an MBA, he FREE CONSULTATION: suffers from mental illness. He writes Criminal, Medicaid, Medicare Fraud, White-Collar Crime & part-time and works at the New Rochelle Health Care Prosecutions. T. 914.948.0044 Public Library and at St. Vincent’s Hos- F. 914.686.4873 pital in Harrison, New York, where he 175 MAIN ST., SUITE 711-7 • WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601 receives therapy. THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013 Page 9

WEIR ONLY HUMAN

to remember that the abuser is not out unscathed is just enabling him to find of control. Like a typical sociopath, he another victim. Although Cynthia is Another Form of Domestic Abuse can quickly change his behavior to suit a fictitious character, she represents By BOB WEIR mail that appeared to be demand letters more about a man she’d lived with the circumstances. His charm and per- women who have been through an and account closings. She wasn’t sure for a decade? Roger had been secretly suasiveness are the weapons he uses to ordeal that shattered their innocence Cynthia Jones had because he told her not to open any- spending everything they owned on disarm his victims and paralyze them and crushed their sense of self-worth. been noticing that her thing related to their finances. When habits that ranged from drugs to pros- in his pernicious web. Like all con men, The good news is that Cynthia can husband Roger was she questioned him about the official- titution to pornography. Furthermore, the financial abuser never expects to start a new life, with lessons learned spending an increasing looking notices, he became hostile and their credit cards were maxed out and get caught. It’s part of the self-centered and enough experience to keep her amount of time apart accused her of not having enough con- the interest payments alone were stag- universe he has created that makes him from being a victim again. She has from her. He was coming home late fidence in him. gering. Cynthia had always considered feel invulnerable to outside interference. concluded that, although trust is an es- from work and seemed to have lost Cynthia never felt threatened by herself to be a strong woman, but she What happened to Cynthia is not sential part of love, it should never lead interest in her job or any of the social her husband in a physical way; he al- made the mistake of letting her guard unique; it happens more often than to total blindness. Her life will improve activities they used to engage in togeth- ways appeared calm and in control. In down with the wrong person. you may realize. If it’s not happening in manifold ways, but Roger will always er. After 10 years of marriage she had fact, control was his raison d’être. He As a result, she became a victim to you, it may be happening to your be looking over his shoulder as the seen gradual changes in his personality controlled the purse strings and refused of her own unwavering faith in a loved next-door neighbor, a friend, or an ac- specter of bad karma gains on him. that made her feel increasingly more quaintance. But, you may never know to share financial information with his one. Because he seemed trustworthy, Bob Weir is a veteran of 20 years with the insecure. During the first few years he about it because she’s too embarrassed wife, while expecting her to account for she couldn’t bring herself to doubt him. New York Police Dept. (NYPD), ten of appeared to be the perfect partner for to tell you. That’s another weapon used every dollar she spent and everything Con men always give the impression which were performed in plainclothes un- her. He was charming, fun to be with by the financial abuser; he knows that she spent it on. Ultimately, Cynthia that they can be trusted. Their demean- dercover assignments. Bob began a writ- and liked by all who met him. In addi- his victims are ashamed to let people lost faith in him and began investigat- or is part of a clever pattern of behavior ing career about 12 years ago and had his tion, Roger had always been ambitious know how weak or stupid they appear ing where the money was going. What to convince their victims to suspend first book published in 1999. Bob went on about helping her earn additional in- to have been. Sadly, they are confusing she discovered shocked her to the disbelief. Yet, there’s a dark malevolence to write and publish a total of seven nov- come in their entrepreneurial pursuits. trust with stupidity. They should keep core of her being. Not only was all the behind the mask that seeks complete els, “Murder in Black and White,” “City In fact, he had convinced her to allow in mind that they are the good guys in money gone, but the bills were so large control of those foolish enough to to Die For,” “Powers that Be,” “Ruthie’s him complete control over their bank- these sordid scenarios. Moreover, they that they were on the verge of personal comply with even the most unreason- Kids,” “Deadly to Love,” “Short Stories of ing records, checking accounts, credit should avail themselves of every legal bankruptcy. The more she looked into able demands. Financial abuse is de- Life and Death,” and “Out of Sight.” He cards and bill payments, assuring her option to assure that the abusers pay his profligate ways, the more astonished signed to isolate a woman into a state also became a syndicated columnist under that he was an excellent financial plan- severely for their contemptible acts. Al- she became. How could she not know of complete dependence. It’s important the title “Weir Only Human.” ner. Sometime later, she began receiving lowing him to ride off into the sunset CHRONICLES OF CROTON’S BOHEMIA

Lillian Nordica, 1: Unlucky in Love Renovated Apartments For Rent By ROBERT SCOTT Atlantic against American op- era singers, she adopted the stage As streets go in name of Giglia Nordica. Her first that part of Croton performance was in Italy as Don- still called Harmon na Elvira in Mozart’s opera Don by some, Nordica Giovanni in 1879. The next year Drive is unremark- she took St. Petersburg by storm able. and was invited back for another Another quiet bucolic byway, season. By 1882, she was in Paris, ending in a dead end--as many do this time to study Marguerite in this former real estate develop- in Faust and Ophelia in Hamlet ment. with their respective composers, The name Nordica Drive is Charles Gounod and Ambroise all that now recalls the area’s asso- Thomas. ciation with the first and perhaps greatest American diva of the op- A Fool for Love eratic stage. As lucky as Lillian Nordica Academy, she studied voice at the was in her operatic career and The Making of a Prima New England Conservatory of choice of roles, she was unlucky Beautiful, Newly Renovated Spacious Donna Music in Boston and began sing- in her choice of husbands. The 1 Bedroom Apartments: $1350/Month ing professionally in churches and The Lillian Nordica story is a first was Frederick Allen Gower, concerts. 2 Bedroom Apartments $1600/Month study in fortitude. It begins with her second cousin. Formerly a re- Chaperoned by her mother, Brand New Kitchens, Living Rooms & Bathrooms. her mother, Amanda Norton. porter on a Providence newspaper, Lillian joined Patrick Gilmore’s “Give me a spoon,” she said, “and he had been the business manager Granite Counter Tops / New Cabinets, Stoves & Refrigerators. American Band, performing bal- I won’t hesitate to dig a tunnel for Alexander Graham Bell. He lads and arias on long whistle-stop Credit Check Required: $25 Non-refundable fee through a mountain.” She im- was now the millionaire owner of tours of this popular and impres- Available Immediately • No Programs Accepted parted this determination to her several European telephone com- sively uniformed organization. She daughters. panies. They were married in Paris Call Management Office for more information: reached London with the band in Born Lillian Norton in 1857 early in 1883. 1878, and later left for Paris and 914.632.1230 in Farmington, a town in western She soon discovered that she Milan for crash courses in opera. Maine that prided itself as a center had made a horrible mistake. Her of learning with its Farmington Because of the prejudice of 80 West Grand Street, Fleetwood audiences on both sides of the Continued on page 10 Page 10 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013

CHRONICLES OF CROTON’S BOHEMIA

died in London in 1891. The house still planned. Here famous actors would Lillian Nordica, 1: Unlucky in Love stands on Field Terrace in Irvington. perform Shakespeare during the sum- Continued from page 9 Despite her bitter first marital In June of 1907, before embarking mer months. Popular prices would for France on the French Line steam- prevail for Saturday performances. husband was a bully and abuser who experience, in 1891 she again fell for a scoundrel. This time it was a hand- ship Savoie, Lillian revealed a plan she Oratorios and symphonies would fill insisted that she abandon her singing had dreamed about for many years: She the air with music on Sundays. career. To reinforce his demand, Gower some young Hungarian drawing-room tenor named Zoltan Döme. Love may would build an opera house and create The management was to consist burned her music and her gowns. “I an American Bayreuth at her estate in of a board of directors exclusively of paid for them,” he insisted. After two be blind, as Shakespeare said, but in Lillian’s case, it was also deaf. Döme’s Clifford B. Harmon’s new community women, with men constituting an “ad- years of sheer marital hell, Lillian had up the Hudson. visory board.” She hoped the members enough. She filed for divorce in 1885. singing voice was mediocre, but to an infatuated Lillian it sounded divine. “Call my object philanthropic or of New York’s society would subscribe In the meantime, Frederick Gow- what you may,” she told a reporter, “but to the 25 “diamond horseshoe” boxes. er had become interested in balloon Because their careers kept them apart, their long-distance romance continued the idea of founding here in my own Laid out in the shape of a large ascensions. After a successful balloon country an American Bayreuth has oval, the buildings would consist of a flight from England to France, he dis- for five years, until their marriage in 1896. been my life’s ambition. All the years Festival House auditorium with two appeared over the English Channel on stamped out the flames without miss- I have been singing I have dreamed of wings on either side. One would house the return leg. The balloon was found; Dome turned out to be a hopeless gigolo and inveterate womanizer. She ing or misplacing a single note. When such an institution. Now I am finan- a cafe and the other a club for the so- the basket and the balloonist were not. the curtain came down, the audience cially able to start this great project.” cialites on whom she counted for sup- Ropes attaching the basket to the bal- resignedly filed for divorce again after seven years. erupted in tumultuous applause, quite The “estate” she purchased in port. loon had been cut. No matter, Lillian Yankee Courage as much for her heroism as for her sing- Harmon was huge, a large tract in “The theater may not be self-sup- Nordica was now officially Gower’s ing. Later, she noticed that her laced the newly platted development that porting during the first year, but that widow. Peculiarly, there was no estate; Nothing demonstrates Lillian white boots had been scorched brown dwarfed all other lots. On early maps, will not make the slightest difference. his millions had mysteriously melted Nordica’s character and presence of by the flames. the name Nordica Drive was applied to In years to come it will be, for the men away. mind better than an incident during a Lillian Nordica gave her first pro- what is now Old Post Road South and interested in the project with me will A Return to Opera performance at the Met. The opera was fessional performance in 1879 and the Cleveland Drive. The area opposite the endow it, aside from the financial aid I Lillian resumed her career with an Götterdämmerung, always a risky affair last operatic performance of her career Croton Free Library is still sometimes will give it.” American tour. In 1887, she was feted because of the flaming torches carried in 1913--a span of 34 years in which called Nordica Hill. Her house is on She told interviewers, “Men are by London. She decided to break with by the choristers. While she was sing- she mastered 42 different roles. She Alexander Lane, a narrow dead-end well taken care of in America. They the operatic tradition that called for ing Brünnhilde’s Immolation, a torch made millions and reigned as a queen street. have colleges without number, and the opera stars to wear the latest Paris cre- began to leak alcohol that fell in a blaz- at a time when grand opera was truly Her vision was for an Institution man who desires to perfect himself in ations. For her appearance as Violetta ing puddle on the stage. An audible grand, traveling to engagements in her of Music with dormitory quarters for any branch of human endeavor can in Verdi’s La Traviata, she dressed in gasp escaped the audience. own private railroad car named “Isolde.” students that would cover four acres; easily find tuition. But such institutions the costume of the period of the story. The conductor, Alfred Hers, was An American Bayreuth she owned a huge tract of 21 acres. The for women are scarce in this country, engrossed in the score and took no Festival House would be a replica of and it is my purpose to furnish to the In 1894, she studied Wagnerian Her association with Westchester roles in German, appearing as Elsa notice. Lillian, facing the funeral pyre, the 1,900-seat Richard Wagner Fest- struggling girls a place where, if they sensed something was wrong. She County began when she rented a four- spielhaus in Bayreuth in Bavaria. She have musical ability, they will have a in the first Bayreuth presentation of acre villa in Ardsley-on-Hudson, built Lohengrin. The following year she ap- looked around. The male singers on- explained that her chief reason for go- chance to develop it.” stage were immobilized and doing for Mary Grace, his eldest daughter, by ing to Europe was to consult architects peared at the Metropolitan as Isolde in The Lillian Nordica story concludes next nothing about the fire. Cyrus W. Field, of transatlantic cable in Munich and to obtain plans of the a memorable performance that set new week. Robert Scott is a semi-retired book Still singing, the indomitable fame. Lillian called it “Villa Amanda” Festspielhaus. vocal standards for Wagnerian inter- in memory of her mother and constant publisher and local historian. He lives in pretation. Lillian gathered up her robes with An open-air theater was also one hand, marched up to the fire and companion, Amanda Norton, who had Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. IN MEMORIAM Mangone’s Inferno Consumes Former Partner’s Son by Suicide By HEZI ARIS cast by Servino, Santangelo & Ran- fair was the catalyst that drove him to dazzo reached far and wide through- tell the Office of the U.S. Attorney of The ruthless and de- out Westchester County and the the “dirty” and unbecoming conduct praved world of An- Boroughs of The Bronx and Queens. of Westchester politics and the court- thony Mangone, a key The firm was considered family to ac- house. and central figure in cused mafia associates it represented. Once Servino departed the firm the government’s al- Anthony Mangone had admitted his for a position with the Westchester leged Yonkers bribery and corruption involvement in vote-rigging schemes, County District Attorney’s Office, An- charges is analogous to Dante’s jour- facilitating bribes in a land swap deal, thony Mangone became a partner in ney to Hell as depicted in the “Inferno”. and his alleged irregular conduct as a the firm thereafter known as Santang- Yonkers Tribune has learned that Man- lobbyist representing Election Sys- ello, Randazzo & Mangone. gone’s world has consumed by suicide tems and Software of Omaha, Ne- The firm would soon earn sweet- the son of Mangone’s one-time law braska. heart legal contracts with several mu- partner Michael Santangelo. Man- Mr. Michael Santangelo made While Mr Mangone stands ac- nicipalities in Putnam County. It was gone’s “inferno” is no “Divine Comedy”, headlines when his wife, Lisa San- cused of bribing a former Yonkers City those deals and allegations of others instead, it has snuffed out a troubled tangelo, was caught cheating with Al Councilwoman, he was permitted time by Anthony Mangone that would lead innocent child, the progeny of a one- Pirro, then the husband of Westches- to “chill” in Florida before returning to to Senator Vincent Leibell eventually time partner in the now-defunct Ser- ter County District Attorney Jeanine Manone’s younger brother, Michael J. New York City to face federal charges pleading guilty to corruption charges. vino, Santangelo & Randazzo law firm Pirro. Mr. Michael Santangelo was so Mangone met his demise in an auto against him. In the meanwhile Mr From the witness stand of the in which Anthony Mangone was to enraged by his wife’s conduct, especially accident in Florida. Mangone’s former partner, Mr Santan- Hon. Colleen McMahon’s courtroom, become the partner to Michael San- after its being made public, it has been The frighteningly dark shadows gelo’s 16-year-old son has taken his life tangelo. Lest some forget, Anthony conjectured that his rage over the af- by his own hand. Continued on page 11 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013 Page 11

IN MEMORIAM

Mangone’s Inferno Consumes Former Partner’s Son by Suicide his rage and instability in temperament. of trust that is equaled by his gall to go The Sixth Circle (Heresy) when he unpunished and unscathed as his ca- Continued from page 10 to the law firm through a dummy cor- life. tells all who would listen that which is lamitous ways cause destruction in his poration. This allegation has yet to be The Second Circle (Lust) defines true or not. wake. Mr. Mangone testified Santangello, determined in a court of law. his desires. The Seventh Circle (Violence) Perhaps only now can it be said Randazzo & Mangone were pressured The “Inferno” [Italian for “Hell”] The Third Circle (Gluttony) serves such as would cause an innocent that Anthony Mangone will have to employ Senator Thomas Libous’ defines Anthony Mangone’s life his ravenous appetite for no good. 16-year-old boy to commit suicide. crossed The River Styx without a coin son Matthew Libous at a yearly salary around the nine concentric circles that The Fourth Circle (Greed) finds The Eighth Circle (Fraud) such as in his mouth to pay the enormous toll of $150,000 plus benefits. The cost was comprise Hell. him engaged in games of chance and is to be proven his alleged role in the he has exacted by his perfidy. too high for the firm Mangone said, The First Circle (Limbo) finds gambling. electronic ballot machines. No amount of lentil soup will help alleging Sen. Libous advised him he Mangone uncertain of his direction in The Fifth Circle (Anger) defines The Ninth Circle (Treachery) de- now. would pay the costs to employ his son fines his deliberate breach and violation INTERNATIONAL A July 2006 NBC/Wall Street Jour- Republicans—and only 42 percent of nal poll found that 81 percent of Repub- Democrats— had a favorable opinion The Failure of the American Jewish Left licans and only 43 percent of Democrats of Israel.[8] By DAVID BROG The bipartisan nature of this support was with Israel. Out in the grassroots, only sympathized more with Israel than the As Gallup summed up the situ- clearly displayed in May 2011 when Is- a minority of Democrats continue to Arab nations.[5] ation in 2011, “Over the past decade, Middle East Quarterly raeli prime minister Binyamin Netanya- do so. A February 2010 Gallup poll found Republicans have consistently shown Winter 2013 hu addressed a joint session of Congress Over the years, a series of polls has that 85 percent of Republicans and only greater support than Democrats for Is- In early September and received repeated standing ovations asked variations of the following ques- 48 percent of Democrats sympathized rael; however, the partisan gap has wid- 2012, many in the from both sides of the aisle. Outspoken tion: “With whom do you sympathize more with the Israelis than the Palestin- ened.”[9] pro-Israel camp were defenders of Israel on Capitol Hill still more, the Israelis or the Palestinians?” ians.[6] For decades, historian Daniel disturbed by a series of events at the come from both parties. Pro-Israel reso- The results increasingly indicate a broad An October 2011 Quinnipiac poll Pipes has been carefully monitoring Democratic National Convention in lutions continue to pass by overwhelm- partisan divide with only a minority of found that 69 percent of Republicans these trends on the basis of ideology— Charlotte. First, the committee drafting ing bipartisan majorities. Democrats siding with Israel. For ex- and only 36 percent of Democrats sym- conservatives vs. liberals—rather than the party platform eliminated traditional Yet the signs of a shift are evident. ample: pathized more with the Israelis than the party. In 1984, he concluded that there language recognizing Jerusalem as Is- And they are too clear—and too alarm- A March 2006 Gallup poll found Palestinians.[7] was no ideological divide, stressing that rael’s capital. Next, the party elders chose ing—to ignore. While Congress is still that 72 percent of Republicans and only Other measures of support dem- “conservatism does not predispose an to restore the language and called for a overwhelmingly pro-Israel, the list of 47 percent of Democrats sympathized onstrate an even greater disparity. A American to favor one side, nor does pro forma voice vote from the delegates those who dissent from this consensus is more with the Israelis than the Palestin- March 2010 Zogby International poll, liberalism.”[10] Writing almost twenty for example, found that 92 percent of in support of this amendment. Instead, growing. And these dissenters are over- ians.[4] Continued on page 12 what looked and sounded like an angry whelmingly Democrats. To cite just a majority of the delegates voted against few recent examples: recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. In November 2009, the House of WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY FOR HUMANISTIC JUDAISM This hostility should not have come Representatives passed U.S. House res. INVITES YOU TO CELEBRATE as a surprise. For many years, the liberal 867 criticizing the U.N.’s Goldstone re- base of the Democratic Party has been port, which accused Israel of war crimes TU B’SHVAT: JEWISH EARTH DAY steadily turning against the Jewish state. in Gaza (and which was later criticized So much so that for the first time since by Goldstone himself ). The resolution 1948, one of America’s two major par- passed the House by a vote of 344 to ties has begun to abandon its commit- 36, with 52 abstentions. Of the 36 who ment to Israel. This trend has less to do voted against the resolution, 33 were with the behavior of President Obama Democrats. Of the 52 who abstained, 43 or other national party leaders than with were Democrats.[1] the far more troubling phenomenon of On January 26, 2010, 54 congress- changing opinions at the grassroots. The men sent a letter to President Obama Jerusalem flap at the Democratic con- urging him to pressure Israel to lift its vention was not a warning sign. It was blockade of Gaza. All were Democrats. the final bell. [2] A U.N. investigation has since con- The Democratic Decline cluded that the blockade is legal under Freeze the frame right now, and international law. you could still imagine that all is well. In March 2010, the administration True, President Obama seems to iden- was outraged when Israel advanced an Saturday, January 19, 2pm tify with Israel less passionately than the East Jerusalem building project dur- Community Unitarian Church, 468 Rosedale Ave, WP Republican who preceded him, George ing a visit by Vice President Biden. In W. Bush. But then again, Republican response, 333 members of the House Cost $10 pp non members signed the Hoyer-Cantor letter to George H.W. Bush also seemed to lack • Light Vegetarian Refreshments • A Humanist Kiddush the warmth toward Israel of his Repub- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reaf- lican predecessor, Ronald Reagan. And firming the U.S.-Israel alliance. Only 7 • A Nature Themed Service by • Shared Readings Republicans declined to sign this letter. even if one believes that Obama has Rabbi Tamburello • Music erred in ways that have endangered Is- But a full 91 Democrats—more than rael, this alone is not evidence of a more one third of the entire Democratic cau- RSVP before 1/17—Rhoda Kleiman 212-724-7840 permanent grassroots shift. cus—refused to sign.[3] When one moves from the White Even more troubling than this shift Make checks payable to WCHJ House down the street to Congress, the in Washington is the shift at the grass- send to I. Kleiman, 165 West End Ave, Apt.12D, New York 10023 support for Israel only grows stronger. roots. On Capitol Hill, at least, most Democratic congressmen still stand Page 12 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013

INTERNATIONAL

repeated trial and error—that Palestin- have two choices. We either sit down bate dominated by the black-and-white The Failure of the American Jewish Left ian leaders are not currently interested and negotiate this deal now, or we fail. If assertions that Israel alone is to blame. Continued from page 11 But the real problem is not with in peace? Beinart presumes that Jewish we fail, there will be a war. And after that Given this painful reality, one be- current party leaders or the current students are simply not interested in war we will bury our dead and return to comes quite interested to see what Bein- years later in 2003, Pipes recalled his Congress. The problem is with the rising such details. the very same table to discuss the very art and Ben Ami might have to say on earlier observation and wrote, “Today all generation of liberal leaders—the people Another prominent exponent of same deal.”[17] the topic. These are bright men. So upon that has changed. The Middle East has who will fill these roles in the coming this view is Jeremy Ben Ami, the presi- Barak was right. There is a gen- what insights do they base their convic- replaced the Soviet Union as the touch- decades. And the self-appointed leaders dent of J Street. In his 2011 book, A New eral consensus on where most of the tion that the Palestinians are now ready stone of politics and ideology. With in- of this new generation have been quick Voice for Israel, Ben Ami makes clear that borders of a two-state solution should to accept the deal they have repeatedly creasing clarity, conservatives stand on to condemn Dershowitz and AIPAC as he is likewise prepared to bow down be- be drawn. And when Arafat rejected rejected? one side of its issues and liberals on the part of the pro-Israel establishment they fore the altar of student sensibilities. He Barak’s proposal of these borders at the Anyone looking for such insights other.”[11] seek to replace. states, “The problem is that the policies Camp David summit in July 2000, and from these sources will be disappointed. As the Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg The Kids Are Not All Right of the State of Israel and the behavior of his even more generous offer atT aba in Beinart blames Israel’s ongoing presence observed in April 2011, “Particularly parts of the Jewish community in Israel 2001, there was another war—the so- in the West Bank—and a host of other among liberals, Israel’s reputation is The problem is best exemplified by are simply tremendously disturbing to called second intifada. And after the war sins—on a flawed Zionism that is so waning dramatically.”[12] the two most high-profile spokesmen large numbers of students and even to was over, each side buried its dead and blinded by past Jewish traumas that it is The Flight of the Left for the disaffected Jewish Left, Peter their professors. A response grounded in returned to the same table to discuss the incapable of moral behavior today. But, Beinart and Jeremy Ben Ami. Both The response of most pro-Israel lib- denial that there is anything wrong with same deal. in his article, he never mentions Arafat’s men have received enormous attention erals to the erosion of support for Israel the ongoing occupation of the West Barak was only wrong about one rejection of Barak’s offer, the Aqsainti - within the American Jewish commu- among the Democratic base has been Bank simply deepens the anger rather thing. He overestimated Arafat’s desire fada that followed it, or Abbas’s rejection nity. Both men care deeply about Israel. to surrender. With limited exceptions, than alleviating it.”[16] and ability to end the conflict. Arafat of Olmert’s offer. And both have led the retreat from real- there has been no effort to make the But what if Israel has tried repeat- was not moved by Barak’s powerful Even worse, Beinart slips the ity that has enabled the collapse of left- case for Israel on the merits. As the Jew- edly to end this “occupation?” What if logic. Instead, he was motivated by an bounds of intellectual honesty to por- wing support for Israel. ish state stands accused of the worst of Israeli troops left almost all Arab popu- alternative logic that reminded him that tray Netanyahu as an opponent of a In the summer of 2010, The New crimes, many have waved the white flag lation centers in the West Bank only to if he agreed to this deal he would have to two-state solution. In his article, Beinart York Review of Books published an ar- at best and joined in the attacks at worst. be forced back in to stop a new wave of end the conflict with Israel and give up quotes from Netanyahu’s 1993 book, A ticle by Peter Beinart entitled “The Pro-Israel liberals are not cowards. suicide bombers? the Palestinian “right of return.” And the Place among the Nations,[20] in which Failure of the American Jewish Es- On the contrary, many are failing to The elevation of emotion in politi- Palestinian leader who made these con- the future leader expressed his opposi- tablishment.”[13] The article stirred a defend Israel because they believe that it cal discourse is the abandonment of rea- cessions would likely not live very long. tion to a Palestinian state.[21] But Bein- whirlwind of debate that turned Beinart is guilty as charged. Like Israel’s critics, son. And it also sells America’s students Barak made a mistake about his art completely ignores Netanyahu’s 2009 into a mini-celebrity in Jewish circles— they blame it for the failure to achieve short. One should not be surprised that partner for peace. But to his credit, he Bar Ilan University speech, in which he he is now invited to address the very peace through a two-state solution. Like so many students blame Israel for the learned from this mistake, recognized called for the creation of a Palestinian Jewish establishment he disdains. He Israel’s detractors, they see it as a flawed lack of peace in the Middle East. Few the reality, and changed his policy ac- state,[22] and his frequent reiteration of has since released a book—The Crisis of democracy on the verge of apartheid. people are telling them otherwise. Col- cordingly. And most Israelis learned this position since then. Zionism—expanding upon the article’s They are unashamed to state that they— lege campuses are increasingly hostile along with him. After 2000, even the The fact is that a significant trans- themes. Jewish liberals living in America—will places where myths about Israel are Israeli Left—a robust band of progres- formation has taken place in the Israeli The article in particular focuses save Israel by dispensing tough love to spread by both faculty and students. sives—largely recognized that a two- body politic. The two-state solution that on Jewish youth. Beinart suggests that Israeli Jews who have lost their way. But America’s students have a lot to learn, state solution would have to await a real had once been the policy preference of the rising generation of Jews is increas- their tenuous grasp of Middle Eastern and most are actually quite hungry to partner. the far Left became the policy of the ingly apathetic towards Israel. He then reality makes a mockery of their mes- do so. The Arab-Israeli conflict is far Those who hoped that Arafat’s suc- center Left and has now even been em- concludes—with sparse supporting evi- sianism. A prerequisite to saving Israel is more complex than either Israel’s lead- cessor—Mahmoud Abbas—was such braced by the center Right. But Beinart dence—that since most Jewish young- that one knows at least as much as most ing detractors or critics like Beinart and a partner have since been disappointed. prefers to quote opinions from almost sters are liberal, this alienation must be Israelis. Ben Ami care to concede. There is his- In 2008, Israeli prime minister Ehud twenty years ago in his effort to portray the result of Israel’s abandonment of To the extent that pro-Israel liber- tory—much of it very recent—that casts Olmert offered Abbas an even better Israel as the problem. liberal ideals. als have identified villains outside of serious doubt on their one-sided claims. deal than Barak had offered Arafat at Ben Ami does no better. Earlier this Beinart has done a great service by Israel, they are the pro-Israel conserva- Reality Check Taba.[18] Abbas’s response was to turn year, he issued his manifesto entitled A sounding an alarm about the declining tives here in the United States. Liberals the offer down. He made no counter of- New Voice for Israel.[23] Yet the reader passion of young Jews.[14] But while Intellectually speaking, Beinart have sought to scapegoat those who fer. And he has since abandoned nego- will search the 240 pages of this volume Beinart’s descriptions may be valuable, and Ben Ami are frozen in 1999. They have worked to ensure that America’s tiations altogether and instead asked the in vain to find anything that is new. Ben his prescriptions are disastrous. When express perfectly the views that most conservatives stand with Israel. Rather United Nations to recognize unilater- Ami’s core thesis is one that has already confronted with these negative attitudes American Jews and most Israelis held at than emulate these efforts, they prefer to ally a Palestinian state in the West Bank been voiced by Israeli prime ministers toward Israel, Beinart does not seek to the close of the twentieth century. Jews blame conservatives for their own fail- and Gaza.[19] Such recognition would and embraced by a majority of the Israel correct them; he fetishizes them. Beinart not only supported a two-state solution ures. Instead of doing the hard work of give Abbas all of the benefits he seeks public: Israel should accept a two-state hangs the feelings of Jewish students as in the abstract but believed that the time ensuring that the progressive movement without requiring him to make those solution with the Palestinians to avoid his moral north star. was right to aggressively pursue it. Sim- remains solidly within the pro-Israel dangerous concessions regarding ending presumed disasters of demography and Speaking of these alienated Jewish ply give the Palestinians a state of their camp, they prefer to expel conservatives the conflict and relinquishing the right democracy. There is nothing new at all youth, Beinart writes, “The only kind own in the West Bank and Gaza, it was from that camp. of return. about stressing the desirability of this of Zionism they found attractive was a argued, and there will be peace in the There are certainly exceptions to These events changed the views of solution in theory. Zionism that recognized Palestinians as Middle East. this sorry state of affairs. Harvard Law most Israelis and American Jews. While What is new is that unlike most deserving dignity and capable of peace, The consensus of that hour was best professor Alan Dershowitz is a proud many of Israel’s supporters might con- Israelis, Ben Ami ignores Israel’s expe- and they were quite willing to condemn expressed by the man who embodied it: progressive who does not shrink from tinue to believe in a two-state solution in rience with the two-state solution over an Israeli government that did not share Israel’s prime minister, Ehud Barak. In a defending Israel. The American Israel the abstract, they cannot blame Israel for the course of the past two decades. He those beliefs.”[15] 1999 meeting with Barak, then-senator Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) the failure to achieve it on the ground. blithely dismisses Arafat’s rejection of Note the divorce from reality ex- Arlen Specter (Rep.-Pa.) asked him remains staunchly bi-partisan and effec- While they might not like the presence Barak’s far reaching offer at theT aba plicit in these words. Jewish youth pur- why he was pursuing a two-state solu- tively makes the case for Israel to both of Israeli troops near Arab population summit by claiming that the “clock sim- portedly want a Zionism that recognizes tion so aggressively when there were so sides of the aisle. Liberal members of centers, they remember what happened ply ran out on the Clinton effort before Palestinians as “capable of peace.” But many causes for concern with his Pal- Congress such as Harry Reid, Robert the last time they were withdrawn in the negotiators could push the deal to what if the facts of the conflict cast estinian partner, Yasser Arafat. Barak Menendez, Shelly Berkley, and Elliott the name of peace. And they realize that the finish line.”[24] Sprinting from the doubt on this capability? What if Israelis replied, “We all know what the ultimate Engel remain among Israel’s most out- they have a duty to inject this historical false to the ridiculous, he adds: “Let’s have come to the conclusion—through two-state solution will look like. So we spoken defenders on Capitol Hill. reality and polemical nuance into a de- Continued on page 13 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013 Page 13

INTERNATIONAL

This “pragmatic” wing of the Re- ment for his anti-Semitism. When Jesse renounce the responsibilities of power The Failure of the American Jewish Left publican Party produced President Helms emerged as a last stalwart of old- for the sake of preserving the purity of Continued from page 12 of “peace in our time.” Eisenhower, and later President George school Republican opposition to Israel our soul.”[30] H. W. Bush, Secretary of State James in the 1980s, pro-Israel conservatives Former vice president Henry Wal- David Brog, the executive director of remember that Arafat himself has been Baker, national security advisor Brent brought him to Israel and challenged his lace emerged as the leader of this fantasy Christians United for Israel, is the author dead since 2004. To the extent that fail- Scowcroft, and Pat Buchanan. With the assumptions. He returned as one of Is- ure was related to his personal failings movement. He persisted in the view that of In Defense of Faith: The Judeo-Christian if U.S. officials only understood the So- exception of Buchanan, these men were rael’s greatest friends in the U.S. Senate. or flaws as a leader, it’s time to move not inimical to Israel. But they lacked an Today, the few remaining conser- Idea and the Struggle for Humanity (En- on.”[25] viets and addressed their legitimate con- counter, 2010). cerns, they could maintain the World ideological commitment to the Jewish vative opponents of Israel reside in the Ben Ami does not mention Arafat’s state. And when decisions come down libertarian wing of the party and look [1] Library of Congress, “Bill Summary & War II alliance and avoid conflict. As Status, 111th Congress (2009-2010) H. res. flat rejection of Barak’s offer. Nor does to dollars and numbers instead of ideals, to Ron Paul and Rand Paul for leader- the record of Soviet abuses and atrocities 867, “All Information,” Nov. 3, 2009. he mention Arafat’s bloody counterof- Israel has rarely fared well. ship. Thus pro-Israel conservatives are fer: competing with Hamas to see who mounted, Wallace’s search for excuses [2] New Jersey Jewish News (Whippany), Feb. and scapegoats grew more desperate. Facing this establishment discom- taking on these two opponents. Chris- 3, 2010. could blow up more Israelis. Nor does fort with Israel, pro-Israel conservatives tians United for Israel has generated he mention Olmert’s more recent and Wallace went so far as to challenge [3] Jeff Jacoby, “Support for Israel Runs on Truman for the presidency in 1948 blamed neither Israel nor Israel’s liberal tens of thousands of emails to each of Party Lines,” The Boston Globe, Apr. 11, 2010. more generous offer to Abbas and its supporters. Instead, they began the hard them stressing that the conservative base summary rejection. When dreams con- as a third-party candidate. He kicked [4] FrontPage Magazine, Jan. 20, 2009. off his campaign by warning thatT ru- work of making the case for Israel on wants them to stand with Israel. Citing [5] Ibid. front reality, it seems, reality must bend. the merits. To security hawks, pro-Israel his “misguided and extreme views,”[29] Henry Wallace Lives man’s “reactionary war policy” would [6] “Americans Maintain Broad Support for make “inevitable the day when Ameri- conservatives stressed that the Jewish the Republican Jewish Coalition refused Israel,” Gallup, Inc., Feb. 28, 2011. This is hardly the first time that can soldiers will be lying in their Arctic state was a Cold War ally. To fiscal con- to invite Ron Paul to a presidential can- [7] “National [U.S.] Poll,” Quinnipiac Uni- some in the American Left have been suits in the Russian snow.”[27] Asked servatives, they demonstrated the true didate forum featuring all of the other versity, Oct. 6, 2011. slow to recognize troubling realities about the 1948 coup in which Soviet- bargain that is U.S. aid to Israel. And major contenders. [8] Forbes.com, June 2, 2010. from abroad. Luckily, a prior generation backed communists seized control of to social conservatives, they highlighted Go and Do Likewise [9] “Americans Maintain Broad Support for of liberals rose to the challenge far more the Czechoslovakian government, Wal- that supporting Israel was a religious and Israel must never become a partisan Israel,” Gallup, Inc. effectively and responsibly than the cur- lace blamed the Truman doctrine and moral imperative. issue like abortion or the Department of [10] Daniel Pipes, “Breaking All the Rules: rent one. U.S. foreign policy. The current generation of pro- Education. The Jewish state’s supporters The Middle East in U.S. Policy,” International After World War II, many on The same scenario is playing out Israel conservatives has continued this must do everything in their power to Security, Fall 1984. the American Left felt a deep kinship again. Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas, work. Most are well aware of Israel’s avoid a situation where the U.S.-Israel [11] Daniel Pipes, “Who Supports Israel, with the Soviet Union. The Soviets had and the Palestinian Authority have not shortcomings. But they are not so myo- relationship is alternatively strong when Conservatives or Liberals?” The New York Post, been a U.S. ally in the war against Nazi lived up to the hopes and dreams of Is- pic that Israel’s faults blind them to the one party is in power, then abandoned Sept. 3, 2003. Germany. They had suffered enormous rael’s supporters. Thus most have aban- overwhelming justice of its struggle for when the other party rises. In such a [12] Jeffrey Goldberg, “Friends Forever?” For- eign Policy, Apr. 25, 2011. losses and were thus entitled to obsess doned these dreams and begun to face survival. Nor do these conservatives pre- world, Israel’s enemies will simply build [13] June 10, 2010. over their security. And the Soviets were the grim prospect of a longer struggle for sume to be saviors of Israel’s soul. They their bombs, stockpile their missiles, and [14] For a dissenting view, see Shmuel Ros- ostensibly dedicated to the same general Israel’s survival. But there are many who instead focus on the job they are best await the inevitable swing of the U.S po- principles as our progressives: helping refuse to let this reality percolate into suited to perform—ensuring that the ner and Inbal Hakman, “The Challenge of litical pendulum. Peoplehood: Strengthening the Attachment the working class and creating a more their politics. conservative base knows the truth about At this dangerous juncture, pro- equitable society. Yet in the months In 2006, an up-and-coming liberal Israel. of Young American Jews to Israel in the Time Israel liberals have an opportunity and of the Distancing Discourse,” The Jewish and years following the war, evidence intellectual framed this tendency to flee In the process, pro-Israel conser- a responsibility. Of everyone in the pro- People Policy Institute, Jerusalem, 2012. began to mount that the Soviet com- from reality as follows: “From Henry vatives have welcomed key friends and Israel camp, it is Israel’s liberal support- munists were fundamentally different core constituencies into the pro-Israel [15] Peter Beinart, “The Failure of the Amer- Wallace in the late 1940s to Michael ers who are best positioned to fight this ican Jewish Establishment,” The New York from American liberals. At home, the Moore after September 11th, some lib- coalition. When Christian conservatives battle. They are the ones who can most Soviets were totalitarian. Soviet premier began to emerge as a powerful pro-Israel Review of Books, June 10, 2010. erals have preferred inaction to the tragic effectively defend Israel by invoking pro- [16] Jeremy Ben-Ami, A New Voice for Israel: Joseph Stalin was interning and murder- reality that America must shed its moral voice in the 1980s, many liberals sought gressive principles to their progressive to bar them from the pro-Israel camp Fighting for the Survival of the Jewish Nation ing his people by the millions. Abroad, innocence to act meaningfully in the colleagues. But they are largely shrinking (New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2011), p. the Soviets were imperialistic. They were world.”[28] by spreading myths about their motives. from the fight and are offering up the Instead, conservatives made the effort 123. subverting democracy in their sphere This intellectual was none other weakest of excuses for their failure. In [17] The author participated in this meeting of influence while simultaneously seek- than Peter Beinart. Wisdom often to know them and, in the process, came the process, they are doing severe, possi- to understand them, their theology, and as part of Arlen Specter’s staff. ing to expand that sphere by exporting comes more easily in hindsight. bly irreparable, damage to the U.S.-Israel [18] Ha’aretz (Tel Aviv), Feb. 14, 2010. ideology. Today, men like Pastor John revolution. The Conservative Triumph relationship. [19] The Washington Post, Sept. 16, 2011. What was a reasonable position Hagee and Gary Bauer, and groups The fact that the Democratic Party This failure is tragic. Now is not [20] Binyamin Netanyahu, A Place among the toward the Soviets during the war and like Christians United for Israel, play a the time to abandon the battle of ideas. Nations: Israel and the World (New York: Ban- in its immediate aftermath became in- is the one distancing itself from Israel is prominent role in the pro-Israel coali- still surprising to those who remember a Nor is this the time to seek to purge tam Books, 1993). creasingly untenable with the passage of tion. from the pro-Israel camp those with [21] Beinart, “The Failure of the American time. In March 1946, the U.K.’s Win- different era. There was a time when the Over the summer of 2011, the same Democratic Party was solidly pro-Israel. different views on other, unrelated is- Jewish Establishment.” ston Churchill presciently alerted the tactics of vilification were brought to bear sues. America’s pro-Israel activists must [22] Ha’aretz, June 14, 2009. West to the Soviet threat in his famous Indeed, the party’s base—young activ- against a new entrant into the pro-Israel ists, academics, and unionists—were instead redouble their efforts to expand [23] New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011. Iron Curtain speech. A year later, Presi- camp: media giant Glenn Beck. On the the pro-Israel coalition and ensure that [24] Ben Ami, A New Voice for Israel, p. 200. dent Harry Truman changed U.S. policy among Israel’s most passionate support- flimsiest of evidence, Beck was accused ers in America. all major streams of American political [25] Ibid. to contain this threat when he promul- of being an anti-Semite. Pro-Israel con- [26] Harry S. Truman, address before a joint The Republicans, on the other thought have a home there. gated the Truman doctrine.[26] servatives made the effort to know Beck session of Congress, Mar. 12, 1947. hand, were cold toward the Jewish state. If Israel ultimately becomes a par- Yet a core of the Democratic base and to experience firsthand his deep love [27] Henry Wallace, “I Shall Run in 1948,” In Israel’s early years, the party still had tisan election issue, it will not be Israel’s found this mounting evidence too trou- for Israel and the Jewish people. He has Mutual Broadcasting System (Chicago), a strong isolationist wing. The party was fault. And it will not be the fault of Is- bling to internalize. They continued to now taken his rightful place within the rael’s conservative friends in America. It Dec. 29, 1947. ignore the facts and blame Soviet aggres- populated by business Republicans who pro-Israel camp. [28] Peter Beinart, The Good Fight (New seemed willing to sell Israel for access will be the result of a Left that has fo- sion on insufficient U.S. will for peace. Pro-Israel conservatives have not cused on the wrong fight in the wrong York: Harper Collins, 2006), p. xi. Blaming Washington would mean that to Arab oil. And predominant in the only welcomed friends but have taken [29] Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Dec. 1, 2011. party were the Cold War pragmatists context at the wrong time. This failure the West did not face a long twilight on opponents within their own house. will be the result of an American Jew- [30] Rienhold Niebuhr, The Irony of Ameri- struggle with a determined ideological who appeared ready to sacrifice Israel for A non-Jew, William F. Buckley, led the can History (Chicago: University of Chicago strategic gains in the far more populous ish liberalism which, to quote liberal foe. Blaming the United States—like successful effort to excommunicate Pat theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, “would Press, 1952), p. 5. blaming Israel—held out the possibility Muslim world. Buchanan from the conservative move- Page 14 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013

LABOR RELATIONS

which was agreed upon, that is zero Yonkers Federation of Teachers Ratify 3-Year Contract this first year, 1.5 percent increase the second and third years, the prospect of By HEZI ARIS ter the New Year hiatus. Raspy voices adding an additional 16 teacher sup- could not hide the effort undertaken port specialist staff in February, and a Fiscal constraints, po- to reach the ratification agreed upon further 8 more in July. litical pressure, a new by the respective leadership and the The Annual Professional Perfor- evaluation procedure rank and file. The approval margin for mance Review (APPR) which was were all kept at bay as the 3-year contract coalesced on paper part of the ratified agreement affords the Yonkers Federa- on Wednesday, underwent the process New York State no obstacles to deliver tion of Teachers (YFT) President Pat of being prepared for disbursement over $10 million in state funding to the Puleo and Yonkers Board of Education among the union membership this YBoE through the City of Yonkers and (YBoE) Public School Superintendent Friday ( January 4, 2013) morning, also allows for an additional $7 million Bernard Pierorazio hammered out and garnered a 5 – 1 approval majority. in grant money for which they may ap- an agreement before, during, and af- The ratification process approved that ply unencumbered. MOVIE REVIEW Ed Koch Movie Reviews By Edward I. Koch

“Les Miserables” (+) PBS Channel 13. at its reach: Since the English-language show ‘Britain’s Got Talent.’” This film, based on the novel by The story is well known. In her version was first performed in London Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Victor Hugo, is great but not glorious. New York Times review of the movie, in 1985, it has been translated into 21 Bonham Carter play the innkeepers The five principals are Hugh Jack- Manohla Dargis provides interesting languages, performed in 43 countries, with whom Cosette is living. I preferred man ( Jean Valjean), Russell Crowe statistics regarding “Les Miserables.” won almost 100 awards (Tony, Gram- the fat swine who played the outra- ( Javert), Anne Hathaway (Fantine), She wrote: my) and been seen by more than 60 geous grifters so much better on stage. Amanda Seyfried (Cosette), and Ed- “Written by Alain Boublil and the million people. In 1996 Hong Kong While this two-and-one-half- die Redmayne (Marius). They all give composer Claude-Michel Schonberg mourners sang ‘Do You Hear the Peo- hour film is not as good as the stage more than adequate performances, but (with English-language lyrics by Her- ple Sing’ to memorialize Tiananmen performance, it is still very good. Since their voices are not the soaring operatic bert Kretzmer), the musical ‘Les Mis- Square. In 2009 the awkward duck- I was unable to get tickets to see it on style provided by the cast in the several erables’ is of course one really big show, ing Susan Boyle became a swan and a weekend, I had to play hooky from stage musicals performed on Broadway, perhaps the biggest and certainly one of a world brand with her rendition of ‘I work and see it on a weekday at 4:30 one of which has aired many times on the longest-running. Its Web site hints Dreamed a Dream’ on the television p.m.

“Zero Dark Thirty” (+) the position that torture is not used by related to the courier delivering mes- should only be used when large num- The film is a fictionalized account the United States when interrogating sages to bin Laden, who was living in a bers of American lives are on the line or of the capture of Osama bin Laden. It prisoners in the war against Islamic house in Pakistan situated next to Paki- when searching for a weapon of mass took eight or more years of tracking terror. Both administrations, I believe, stan’s West Point. Most people have no destruction. The film takes no position him down to finish the job on Presi- exclude water boarding as an act of doubt that the Pakistani army or special but clearly shows torture being applied. dent Obama’s watch. torture. forces were protecting him. The ac- I was unfamiliar with most of the The movie makes it clear that tor- I recall the Bush administration tual capture of bin Laden by the Navy cast members with the exception of ture was used to secure information publicly stating that an important se- SEAL team, shown on news reports, James Gandolfini who portrays the needed to find him. The administra- cret was pried from a prisoner by the was brilliantly done. CIA director and Jessica Chastain, tions of both Presidents George W. use of water boarding which lead to My own position on torture, in- (currently appearing on Broadway in Bush and Barack Obama have taken the killing of bin Laden. That secret cluding water boarding, is that torture “The Heiress”) who plays the role of Maya, a CIA officer. ADVERTISEMENT The last half-hour of the movie in- volving the actual attack on bin Laden’s mini fortress is the most exciting part of the film. He was, of course, killed My name is Diana N. O’Neill, and I’m a Holistic Health Practitioner. I‘ve earned my · Chakra Therapy on the premises. Hooray for the Navy degrees from the American Institute of Holistic Theology, and I am board-certified by · Counseling the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. I adhere to the highest standards of · Exploring the course of illness by ministering to body, mind and spirit SEAL team. researchHolistic and professionalism, and dedicate myself to the physical, mentalHealth and spiri- · Energy Healing: Reikki-TherapeuticServices Touch-Laying on of hands, tual well-being of my clients. · Hypnotism Visit the Mayor at the Movies to learn I will help you uncover your inner healing power, by counseling you to discover the · Guided Meditation effect of your illness. You’ll be guided through the phases of acknowledgement · Power of Prayer/Mind Power more: http://www.mayorkoch.com/. and naming, claiming (excepting), and letting go. I will journey with you during · Spiritual and Psychic Healing 914.630.1928 The Honorable Edward Irving Koch challenging times, such as grieving a loved one, recovering from a negative · Spiritual Development relationship, as well as experiences that seem initially strange and unknow- Please contact me at my office at: By appointment only served as a member of Congress from able. You’ll also learn how to employ meditation to achieve greater clarity Holistic Health Services Free consultation will be and purpose. Diana N. O’Neill, Holistic Health Practitioner given on first visit New York State from 1969 through 1600 Harrison Avenue, Suite 307A th My years of study have enabled me to expertly direct you through these drug- Mamaroneck, New York 10543 1977, and New York City as its 105 less alternatives to healing: Mayor from 1978 to 1989. ADVERTISEMENT THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013 Page 15

MUSIC

THE SOUNDS Grateful Dead “Dick’s Picks 28” OFBLUE Real Gone Music www.RealGoneMusic.com 4 CD box By Bob Putignano “2 Hot February ’73 shows from Lincoln, NE & Salt Lake City” Rating: 8

As many of these Dick’s Picks series obviously in a very good mood as they On Down the Line.” I wasn’t impressed go out of print at www.Dead.net with instrumentally toy around with “Beer by “They Love Each Other,” “Mexi- limited availability, it sure is sweet to Barrel Polka” for a minute or so and tear cali Blues,” and thought “Sugaree” was have the folks at Real Gone Music into “Big Railroad Blues.” As first sets pretty lame. But (a somewhat rare live) reissuing these gems. Dick’s Picks 28 went with the Dead, I found it unusual “Box of Rain” with Lesh on vocals is a consists of two complete shows from that they did a seventeen plus minute treat. Moving along; Marty Robbins February of 1978, the band at this time version of “Playing In the Band,” that “El Paso” shows signs that the band is consisted of founding members I thought might end the set, not! And starting to coagulate, though they fol- Jerry Garcia guitar, Phil Lesh bass, gave us three more: “They Love Each low with a meandering “He’s Gone” Bob Weir guitar, Bill Kreutzmann Other,” a rollicking “Big River,” and that’s awoken from its slumber with a drums, and later added the husband finally concluded the set with “Tennes- pretty strong Garcia solo that ends the and wife team of Donna and Keith see Jed.” Set two rolls with a very strong song. “China Cat Sunflower” brilliantly Godchaux on vocals and piano. In- “Greatest Story Ever Told” a song segues (with a very strong instrumental terestingly Pigpen is listed on band that I’d always thought would remain interlude) into the traditional “I Know the credits as “in spirit” but he passed in their repertoire, but didn’t. Next up You Rider,” where Garcia is echoing less than two weeks after (3/8/73) was is a wild twenty-five minute “Dark his early late sixties guitar haunts, that I these two shows were performed. All Star” that finally morphs into a nearly thought would have ended the set, but in all there’s a lot of music here on twenty minute rendition of “Eyes of close on another high-note with John- four CD’s. the World.” I found that having “Mis- ny Cash’ “Big River.” Set two, opens The first two discs are taken sissippi Half Step” to be an odd choice, with a pretty lame (I really never liked) from the Pershing Municipal Audito- but all is forgiven as they wrap the night “Row Jimmy,” than bash into a kicking rium in Lincoln NE, recording date is up with around fifteen minutes of pure minute “Truckin’” with a surprise Lesh 2/26/73. Right from the start it’s appar- rock and roll with: “Not Fade Away,” bass solo that perfectly sets up a fifteen ent that this is going to be a fine show “Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad,” minute (and pretty weird) “The Other first solo breathtaking, then they take sunshine daydreams from Weir, Don- as the Dead rip into Chuck Berry’s back to “Not Fade Away.” I’m sure the One,” and an equally out-there “Eyes the song down to a whisper where you na, and Jerry. It ain’t time to head home “Promised Land” where it is great to audience was pleased. I also thought of the World” a song the Dead just can’t hear a pin drop, and take it out one just yet as “We Bid You Goodnight” hear Jerry singing “Los Angeles give this was a well rounded performance. recorded that gave me the impression more time. Again I thought “Morning (performed a cappella, no instruments me Norfolk, VA” with fiery fervor. Oth- Two nights later the Dead were at that they were test driving for future Dew” might close the night, but they needed) that sends the folks home with er highlights of the first set also include the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, UT. second-set excursions. The seventeen ripped into a powerhouse “Sugar Mag- miles of smiles on their faces. the bluesy traditional “Don’t Ease Me The band opens with a tender and minutes of“Eyes of the World” even- nolia” that finds Weir really egging Jerry Bob Putignano www.SoundsofBlue. In, and an early version of “Loose Lucy” mildly funky “Cold Rain and Snow.” tually becomes the (always dramatic) on during the instrumental segment com that’s also very blues based. The band is Followed by an okay cover of “Beat It “Morning Dew” that finds Garcia’s that concludes with multiple yelps of SPORTSSCENE

man as he has received a swimming 49, Will Quaranta scored 13 points to school fencing results, Rye Country Doria, Shelby Johnson, Ashley John- Sports Scene scholarship to SUNY Binghamton lead the Foxes. Day boys foil team beat Brunswick 6 to stone, Alexandra Puglisi, Brittany next year. Diving into the pool…John Jay/ 3, Riley Kaminer and Eric Duarte each Serrao, Bryanna Shinall-Koczynski, By MARK JEFFERS Three cheers or should I say three Brewster/ boys swim team defeated scored two wins for RCD. Brette Theriault and Natalie Wabshi- whistles for Harrison resident Emilie Lakeland / Panas / Putnam Valley by On the ice, John Jay skated past nak were all named National Fastpitch Welcome to the Buse as she has received the Jose Vargas the final score of 90 to 78. Fox Lane Yorktown by the final score of 7 to 5 at Coaches Association All-America first 2013 edition of Award as the 2012 Eastern New York improved to 3-0 with a 92-88 victory the Brewster Ice Arena; Shawn Smith Scholar Athletes. “Sports Scene,” where soccer referee of the year. over Mount Pleasant at the Pace Uni- had the hat trick for the Indians. New Congratulations once again to we take a look at the Turning to some high school ac- versity Pool in Pleasantville. Rochelle defeated Eastchester/Tucka- Syracuse University basketball coach great sports action tion on the hoops court, let’s start with Here’s a look at some bowling re- hoe/Bronxville 5-2 at the Ice Hutch in Jim Boeheim as he moved ahead of here in Westchester County… the girls… Ossining defeated Irvington sults, the Panas girls rolled past North Mount Vernon; Brett Barry had two Bobby Knight into second place in Di- Congratulations to Linda Toscano 90 to 84 in the finals of the Slam Dunk Salem 7-0, the girls’ team nailed a 929 goals for the winners. vision I men’s coaches all-time victories for being named the first female Har- Tournament at the Westchester Coun- pin fall count in the opening game to Here’s a look at some area college as he won his 903rd game as SU de- ness Racing Trainer of the Year, her ty Center. Ossining’s star guard Saniya improve their record to 47-2, while the action, in hoops, Concordia hit a last feated Rutgers 78-53. stable won a career high $6.71 million Chong fired in a record 51 points, had Yonkers boys defeated Edgemont by second 3-pointer by Norman Pope to The NHL is still on strike, so why dollars in purses last year, Linda trains seven assists and grabbed six rebounds the final tally of 7-0. nip Pace by the final score of 70 to 69. not stop by the Brewster Ice Arena and some winners at Yonkers Raceway and to lead the way. Kennedy beat White Vaulting over to some gymnastics Iona’s women’s basketball team see some real skating from some very we have seen some good horses there, Plains 48-26; Kiera Hennessy scored action, Somers slipped past Mahopac beat up Colgate 73 to 47, Aleesha Pow- talented Westchester teams…see you of course we never placed the right bet 18 points for the Gaels. 159.45 to 157.5. Carmel beat Scarsdale ell scored 17 points for the winners. next time. on them... In boys’ action, Stepinac beat New 146.35 to 130.05. Purchase College’s tri-captain Jess Mark Jeffers resides in Bedford Hills, There will be aY outh Indoor Soc- Rochelle in the Slam Dunk Champi- In Squash action, the Rye girls’ Lindsay was named Skyline Confer- New York, with his wife Sarah, and three cer League at Yonkers PAL through onship game by the final score of 60 to squad defeated Holy Child 5-2. ence women’s basketball player of the th daughters, Kate, Amanda, and Claire. February 16 , call Ed Aponte at 914- 50, senior Josh James scored 12 points, Over on the mats, Sleepy Hollow week and Purchase’s Francesca Litz 363-4904 for details. had seven assists, four steals and five pinned Yonkers 40 to 39. Edgemont was named the conference’s women Good luck to Pleasantville High rebounds and was named tournament defeated Hastings 43 to 30. swimmer of the week, way to go girls… School senior swimmer Ruan Zorg- MVP. Fox Lane just got past Rye 51 to Engarde…how about some high Mercy softball players Jessica Page 16 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013

EYE ON THEATRE

in “My Fair Lady.” There, with novel—far too many pages for me. From Stage to Screen dramatic appropriateness for As Valjean dies, he or his soul, Professor Higgins, such num- walks to Paradise, blissfully escorted by By JOHN SIMON ater’s three or, if you prefer, four bers are intended for that kind Fantine and Eponine. On the musical walls is the world, and rightly of delivery. Crowe, however, is stage, where an encore appearance by New shows eschew inhabited more or less simul- presumed to be singing, but is a star, at the very least in a curtain call, the period between taneously by all the dramatis hardly so—to say nothing of is de rigueur, this is inevitably the case. Christmas and New personae. not even being suitable for the However fantasticated it may seem in Year, and so the In the movie, you get the role. “Les Miz.” Aside from the pleasure show reviewable for a feeling that the entire French Javert is a fanatic, and fa- of reseeing the Misses Hathaway and drama critic becomes police force is embodied by Ja- natics, at least on stage and Barks (an unfortunate name for a sing- the movie version of a highly successful vert, ubiquitous like the fable’s screen, are lean, and not just er), it feels good to watch Valjean finally piece of theater—you guessed it—“Les turtle for the fox. The compres- for the sake of rhyme. They do get his just reward, even if preposterous Miserables.” sion of space and time in the not have that well-fed-verging- for us nonbelievers. For me, this raises the question of theater feels more appropriate. on-beefy look of Crowe. It may In an otherwise more or less real- movie versions of stage musicals. Oscar But that is only the beginning. be otherwise in life, but in art istic film, though, it seems, from a criti- notwithstanding, for example, I found Although this has be- they should have something cal standpoint, absurd. But then, how the filmed “Chicago” a disaster. Musi- come, lamentably, pretty much vulpine or aquiline about them, many moviegoers view a film from a cals written expressly for the screen, e.g., true even on Broadway, the something of the hot pursuit critical standpoint? So, dear noncritical “Singin’ in the Rain,” fare better. But ba- movies require stars, the only with the nose, and more than moviegoers—and even some others— sically, what’s good about stage musicals thing that sells those fantasti- the nose, to the grindstone, go and enjoy “Les Miz” for more than is a problem for the screen, typified, in cally expensive undertakings. which causes emaciation. And, the mise-en-scène. my view, by “Les Miserables.” Why? But how many movie stars can while I am on animal tropes, John Simon has written for over 50 years Perhaps the most patent reason is also sing and, preferably, dance, let’s include a feline tread. Bon that film is essentially a realistic medi- on theatre, film, literature, music and fine considering that many do not vivants, or even gladiators, like arts for the Hudson Review, New Leader, um, whereas theater, even at its most re- even act? There was a time Crowe they are not. Terrence alistic, is not. It is largely a spatial matter. New Criterion, National Review, New when becoming any kind of Mann, who created the role on York Magazine, Opera News, Weekly You must know that the musical actor predicated training from Broadway, was in this respect affectionately nicknamed “Les Miz” is Standard, Broadway.com and Bloom- early on in song and dance, as thaway, still eminently qualify. But not perfect. berg News. Mr. Simon holds a PhD from primarily about the hounding of the mandatory as in speaking and walking. There are things right about the fundamentally decent Jean Valjean by all. To be sure, any voice can be elec- Harvard University in Comparative Of how many stars today is that still tronically enhanced, but volume alone movie, besides Jackman and Hathaway, Literature and has taught at MIT, Har- the law, in the person of the merci- true? Much as one may dislike her, Ma- for example the locations and cinema- less Inspector Javert. Now, as in Victor does not make the singer. Of no one vard University, Bard College and Mary- donna, as my German colleague Frank is this more manifest than of Russell tography. But there are others that don’t mount Manhattan College. Hugo’s novel on which it is based, the Noack reminds me, is one of those few work for me. I personally cannot abide characters move around, mildly put, Crowe, the film’s hapless (not only vo- who still fill the bill. cally) Javert. Amanda Sayfried, with face of a cutesy To learn more, visit the JohnSimon-Un- quite a bit. On stage, that Javert shows Now, Tom Hooper, the director of dishpan, who ruins Cosette for me. censored.com up or is already there wherever Valjean Crowe croaks in a way that is not the “Miz” movie, wanted stars. Hugh Sprechstimme (song more spoken than But there is also that ending that is, I goes to start a new life is no problem. Jackman, the Valjean, and Anne Ha- suppose Hugo’s doing. I never read the Somehow, the space among the the- sung), as, for instance, by Rex Harrison SHIFTING GEARS Cruising in a Luxury Liner: The Lexus GS By Roger Witherspoon Peel me a grape, crush me some ice Skin me a peach, save the fuzz for my pillow Talk to me nice, talk to me nice You’ve got to wine me, and dine me Don’t try to fool me, bejewel me. “Well,” I whispered back, so as not from the bass could be felt through the Either amuse me, or lose me to break the mood. “It’s an 845-watt thick leather padding in the Lexus’ arm I’m getting hungry, sound system, and there are 17 speak- rests. She was so engrossed in the pri- Peel me a grape. cally at the back seat through eyes that Show me you love me. Kid glove me ers and a sound leveler to balance the vate concert that she didn’t notice the were at half mast as she nodded to the Best way to cheer me. Cashmere me music coming to each seat.” speedometer had crept to 110 – an oc- The highway was empty, the road beat of the music. She had heard Diana I’m getting hungry. “Aaaah,” she sighed. “That explains cupational hazard when driving a mu- was hard and dry, and the New Eng- Krall croon “Peel Me a Grape” before. Peeeeel me. it. We don’t have 17 speakers in our sically enhanced living room. Instead of land sun was setting in a warm, orange But not like this. “I don’t understand,” said Marilyn whole house.” admonishing me to slow down or com- cloudscape that seemed out of season Pop me a cork, French me a fry in a voice barely above a whisper, as if At that point, ( http://www.you- menting on the absence of wind noise on a cold winter night. Crack me a nut bring a bowl full of bon- trying not to interrupt a performance. tube.com/watch?v=bfJ_c2tyfQ0 ) inside the sedan, she closed her eyes, My wife leaned forward in the pas- bons “It sounds like we’re in a live cabaret, the pianist and bassist took off in a tight, sighed and said “play it again.” senger seat, her head cocked at an angle, Chill me some wine. Keep standing by and she’s in the back seat. How is that syncopated dance of their own – each And the voice-activated audio sys- listening intently. She glanced periodi- Just entertain me. Champagne me possible?” note, crisp, clear, soft, and the vibrations Continued on page 17 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013 Page 17

SHIFTING GEARS

So far, Lexus’ designers seem to the car and are part of the reason the aluminum trim and, at night, set off by through strange cities since you do not be doing something right. According interior is a silent theater. soft traceries of light. While the exte- have to drop the on-screen map in order The Lexus GS to surveys of owner satisfaction con- Under that sloping hood is a 3.5-li- rior design is aggressive, the interior is to adjust the music or temperature. And, Continued from page 16 ducted by J.D. Powers and Associates, ter V-6 engine capable of cranking out all soft surfaces and rounded edges. The for old eyes, it’s extremely easy to see. tem did just that. Lexus is the highest ranking, high end 306 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of armrests, for example, curve outward There is a backup camera, but the nameplate in 2012, followed by Jaguar, torque. That places the Lexus about in and resemble padded leather shelves placement is a bit awkward. The camera Send out for scotch, boil me a crab Porsche, Cadillac and Honda, in that the middle of t the V-6 power plants rather than the standard door append- is near the dual exhaust, and the view is Cut me a rose make my tea with the pet- order. That’s a tough crowd to lead, and of the BMW 535i, Mercedes E350, age. This is an all-weather car, and the cloudy at night when the exhaust fumes als aside from the price, they have nothing Cadillac CTS, and Audi A6, which put seats in the front and rear can be heated are more pronounced. During the day, Just hang around, pick up the tab and in common. out between 300 and 310 horsepower. if it’s cold or the passenger is just sore however, the view is crystal clear. Never out think me. Just mink me, The look of the GS starts with its And with a top speed of 142 miles per and seeks a soothing, hot compress. In The GS also comes with a number Polar bear rug me. Don’t bug me hour, the Lexus is likely to run with, the summer, the ventilated leather front of safety features. The Lexus’ heads-up New Thunderbird me. You heard me rather than ahead of its competitors. seats can also be air cooled. A push of display, an amenity normally found in I’m getting hungry. On the road the Lexus, with all a button also heats the steering wheel. GM’s Cadillac and Corvette, provides Peel me a grape. wheel drive, yields nothing to its com- The front seats and the wide sunroof a hologram that appears on the hood Slooooowly petitors in terms of performance. It has are all power adjustable. in front of the driver, displaying the One doesn’t buy a car for the ame- a six-speed automatic transmission The rear seats have enough legroom speedometer and changes in music or nities. which shifts without any noticeable for a pair of women basketball players temperature. There is a dynamic cruise But if you are going to shell out or audible lag. And for an extra boost and enough headroom to accommodate control, which adjusts to the speed of more than $60,000 for a sedan, you in passing, particularly uphill, there is a any variety of hair styles. There is a push- the car in front of the Lexus. In ad- have a right to expect a lot more than split, black, angular grill featuring sharp sport manual mode and paddle shifts button sunscreen for the rear windshield, dition, there is an infrared camera basic, comfortable transportation. The edges pointing towards the center and on the steering column providing the and manually operated screens for each focused on the driver’s eyes. If the dis- Lexus GS-350 is a sport sedan aimed flaring widely towards the bottom. It’s type of instant response one finds in a of the rear windows. There are also sepa- tance between the Lexus and another squarely at the upscale, market regularly an image vaguely reminiscent of an- quality sports car. rate climate controls for the occupants in car is closing too fast, and the driver is patrolled by the BMW 535i, Mercedes cient Samurai headgear, which flares Where Lexus hopes to make the back seat. not looking forward, the car sounds an E-350, Cadillac CTS, and Audi A6. It’s towards the neck and shoulders. From its mark is inside, where the people The centerpiece of the rolling alert. If the driver does not respond the a tough crowd with cars justly known that aggressive face follows a sleek, are. And they gave more than a little dashboard is a 12.3-inch color screen, Lexus will automatically begin braking, for performance and very high levels of flowing silhouette, with soft lines along thought to that experience, punctuated which is split into a seven-inch naviga- tightening seat belts, and readying air comfort. In this case, the high quality the sides resembling the tracery of wa- by a real, analog clock in the center of tion screen and a five-inch section for bags 1.2 seconds before the actual colli- sound system is just one of many items ter droplets across a fast-moving plane. the dash. the active systems in the car, such as sion to lessen its impact. Lexus hopes will let the GS stand out The lines aren’t all for subliminal design The décor is leather and dark, the climate and audio. It’s a thoughtful Lexus’ redesign of the GS sedan in a demanding marketplace. – they serve to channel the airflow past polished wood, accented by brushed adaptation which is appreciated on trips Continued on page 18

Commercial • Industrial & Residential Services

Roll-Off Containers 1-30 Yards Home Clean-up Containers

Turn-key Demolition Services

DEC Licensed Transfer Station

DEP Licensed Rail Serve Transfer & Recycling Services

Licensed Demolition Contractor

Locally Owned & Operated Radio Dispatched

Fully Insured - Free Estimates THE ROMA BUILDING On Site Document Destruction 2022 Saw Mill River Rd., Yorktown Heights, NY Same Day Roll Off Service If You Call By Noon Office & Store Space for Rent Prime Yorktown Location www.citycarting.net Office Space 965 sq ft.: Rent $ 1650/mo. City Carting of Westchester • Somers Sanitation Store Karl Ehmers: 1100 sq ft- $3100/mo. B & S Carting • AAA Paper Recycling • Bria Carting • CRP Sanitation Store in back: 1300 sq ft. $2650/mo. 914.632.1230 800.872.7405 • 8 VIADUCT RD., STAMFORD, CT • 203.324.4090 Page 18 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013

SHIFTING GEARS

--Roger Witherspoon writes Shifting Top Speed 142 MPH brakes; stability and traction control; b- Premium Surround Sound, Bluetooth; Gears at www.RogerWitherspoon. xenon headlights with automatic level- iPod, MP3, and USB ports; CD player; The Lexus GS com 3.5-Liter, DOHC, direct injec- tion, V-6 aluminum engine producing ing; fog lamps; heads-up display; blind voice activated navigation system with Continued from page 17 2013 Lexus GS 350 306 horsepower and 274 pound-feet spot monitor; lane departure monitor; 12.3-inch split color screen; backup 18-inch alloy wheels; driver and front camera; heated front and rear seats; was necessary if it is to keep up with an MSRP: $63,232 of torque; all-wheel drive; 6- speed automatic transmission; electronic passenger knee bags; dual front airbags; leather and wood, heated, tilt and tele- innovative, high performing pack. The EPA Mileage: 19 MPG City side impact and curtain airbags. scoping steering wheel with fingertip GS has a lot going for it. To what ex- 26 MPG Highway manual mode with paddle shifters; in- Interior / Comfort: audio, Bluetooth and cruise controls; tent it can outmuscle the competition Performance / Safety: dependent double wishbone front sus- pension; independent multi-link rear AM/FM/XM satellite radio; powered sunroof. remains to be seen. 0 – 60 MPH 5.8 Seconds suspension; 4-wheel, ventilated disc 17-speaker, 835-watt, Mark Levinson

GCAMPAIGNOVER FINANCE REFORMNMENTSection York City. outcome of a race. But since Citizens nancing for elections. Current Supreme Restoring Path of True Democracy In the long run, reformers need to United, “social welfare” groups, incorporat- Court precedents make it impossible overturn Citizens United. An increasing ed as 501(c)(4)s nonprofits, have increas- to put a ceiling on campaign spending By Eric Schneiderman acclimated to the system of legalized brib- number of lawyers and public officials ingly been used to run campaign ads. This by special interests, but we can raise the ery that is corroding America’s democratic Last November, Ameri- across the country believe it will soon be has blown a gaping hole in our disclosure floor with public financing, as New York process. cans got a glimpse of vulnerable to a challenge. Its unsupported laws. 501(c)(4)s are barred by law from City has, giving candidates who aren’t This year’s elections changed that. what can happen to our assertion that independent expenditures having campaign activity as their primary controlled by big donors a fair chance to The Supreme Court’s decisions in Citi- representative democracy “do not give rise to corruption or appear- purpose. Nevertheless, they have funded compete. zens United v. Federal Election Commis- when wealth determines ance of corruption” defies common sense hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Opponents argue that taxpayer fi- sion and American Tradition Partnership v. our degree of participation in the electoral and our actual experience in the 2012 TV ads in the past two election cycles, and nancing of elections is too expensive. I Bullock, and the orgy of election spending process. As we enter the new year, the vast election. A few more elections, and the unlike political action committees, they would argue that the cost pales in com- they have unleashed, have provoked un- majority of us would now agree that un- flaws in this absurd argument should be are not required to disclose their donors. parison to the price tag for corruption. Po- precedented public revulsion. Advocates limited spending by wealthy individuals clear to all. My office is taking immediate ac- litical campaigns cost money. If candidates in every cause who have seen sensible and corporations is bad for the American In a July Gallup Poll, Americans tion to shed light on these “dark money” are going to be indebted to someone for legislation derailed by backroom influence electoral process and that unlimited secret ranked reducing the corruption of gov- groups in New York state, and protect funding their campaign, better it should peddling can’t afford to let this moment spending is even worse. ernment as the second-highest prior- donors to nonprofits. We have issued be to the public as a whole than some nar- pass without galvanizing a new move- Unfortunately, the 2012 election was ity for the next president — right behind regulations that will require such sham row special interest. ment to clean up our electoral system. just the beginning. In a decision last sum- job creation. Fully 87 percent said it is nonprofits to disclose the percentage of The mutually reinforcing nature of Fortunately, there seems to be stra- mer — American Tradition Partnership extremely important or very important. their expenditures that go to federal, state economic injustice and political inequality tegic activity in three distinct areas that v. Bullock — the Supreme Court struck Clearly, those Americans are concerned and local electioneering, including issue in our campaign financing system poses a could provide the framework for such a down a ban on independent expenditures about corruption and the appearance of ads. Groups that spend at least $10,000 clear and present danger to the American movement. First, we need to develop a in state and local elections, so now races corruption in our electoral system. With a annually to influence state and local elec- project of self-government. More eyes are long-term strategy to overturn Citizens for judge, sheriff and district attorney are smart, focused litigation strategy, Citizens tions in New York will be required to now opened to this danger than ever . United. Second, we must demand total the targets for massive independent ex- United will go the way of Plessy v. Ferguson. file itemized schedules of expenses and Let’s seize this moment to limit the influ- transparency and make it easy for all to penditures, despite the obvious risk of cor- Second, we need transparency be- contributions. Those disclosures will be ence of money in politics and get America know where campaign cash comes from ruption that this entails. cause it allows people to know who is released to the public, protecting prospec- back on the path of genuine democracy. and where it goes. And third, we need Money in politics has rarely incited trying to gain undue influence. Voters are tive donors from misleading solicitations, to mitigate the effects of Citizens United Eric Schneiderman is attorney general of the the level of voter indignation necessary to not stupid. They can consider the source if and informing voters about the funding of with public campaign financing systems, State of New York. win reforms, as many voters have become they know that a negative ad is financed campaign ads. such as our successful program in New by someone with a vested interest in the Finally, we must expand public fi- MEDIA Senator Ball, Putnam County Clerk Tell The Journal News to “Take A Hike” CARMEL, NY – On January 3, 2013, in Putnam County and other counties victims. Senator Greg Ball (Patterson – R, C, I) statewide. “I’m proud to stand with Putnam joined Putnam County Clerk, Dennis Senator Ball, in the Assembly County and proud that Putnam won’t Sant and other officials at the Putnam multi-sponsored Assembly bill 820, be releasing its pistol permit records. County Court House to announce that legislation which would prohibit the We will work as a team to leverage every Putnam County will not be releasing public disclosure of information in an protection for our shared constituencies. the records of Putnam Pistol Permits application for a pistol license with The asinine editors at The Journal News to The Journal News. exceptions for prosecutors and police have gone out of their way to place a The Journal News Newspaper, a conducting an active investigation. virtual scarlet letter on law abiding fire- Gannett Company, recently posted Senator Ball will be introducing similar arm owners throughout the region and a map on their website that unethi- legislation, immediately. The bill would I thank God that Putnam County has cally reveals homeowners with pistol protect lawful gun owners from being a clerk with the guts to stand up and permits in Westchester and Rockland targeted by thieves for firearm burglar- draw the line here in Putnam County. Counties. The Journal News is now at- ies and eliminate a database criminals (L-R): Putnam County Clerk Dennis Sand, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen This is clearly a violation of privacy, and tempting to obtain and publish records could use to extort their identity-theft Odell, NYS Senator Greg Ball, and NYS Assemblyman Dr. Steve Katz. Continued on page 19 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013 Page 19

MEDIA

Senator Ball, Putnam County Clerk Tell The Journal News to “Take A Hike” quest by The Journal News was reckless members who may be working under- as it puts every Putnam family at risk: cover.” Continued from page 18 time for Putnam to draw a line in the virtually be sitting on the front porch people with legally registered guns as Putnam County District Attorney needs to be corrected immediately. The sand and say, enough is enough.” of a house reading the license plate of a well as those who have chosen not to Adam Levy said innocent people may same elitist eggheads who use their Sant, who has served in the Coun- car parked in the driveway. This county have a weapon in their house.” find they are targets of a criminal ele- editorial page to coddle terrorists and ty Clerk’s Office since 1978, refused to clerk refuses to put law abiding citizens Putnam County Sheriff Donald ment. criminals are now treating law-abiding comply with the newspaper’s FOIL in harm’s way.” B. Smith said while he is a strong be- “Just because the information may citizens like level three sexual preda- request seeking the same information Putnam County Executive Mary- liever in open government he believes be public does not necessarily mean it tors. Every person with commonsense on Putnam gun permit holders. Sant Ellen Odell said she is as adamant in this type of information should only be is prudent to allow that information to should be offended,” said Senator Greg cited the safety of Putnam’s citizens as her support for Sant as she is that the releases for legal court proceedings. get into the hands of certain individu- Ball. “Publishing this information on a his reason for not complying. issue at hand, the release of pistol per- “I strongly believe that making als, those of a criminal element who website provides criminals with a map “Our world today is far different mit holders’ names and addresses, has these names and addresses public in- would use that information to fur- of where they can steal firearms from than it was only a few years ago. Com- nothing to do with gun control or the formation to potential perpetrators of ther victimize people here in Putnam lawful owners for later use in the com- puters, social media, Google maps – recent shooting tragedy in Newtown, crime is bad public policy that puts law County,” said Levy. “The paper should mission of crimes. We have victims of much of our lives can easily be exposed CT. abiding citizens in potential danger,” be very concerned about who is review- domestic violence, retired cops with and made available whether we want “We simply cannot stand by and said Smith. “I am deeply troubled by ing this information and how they are families and good decent, law abiding it to be or not,” said Sant. “Today you allow this to happen,” Odell said. “Safe- the fact that releasing this information going to use it to potentially commit people, all being publicly exposed by can take what The Journal News put guarding our citizens is of the utmost will provide the names and addresses of further crimes.” the idiotic Journal News editors, and its into print, go on Google Earth and importance right now. The FOIL re- members of law enforcement including SOURCE: Press Release

PCAMPAIGNOL TRAILITICSSection In his speech, Jenkins chided the all contribution equation. with Conservative Chair Hugh Fox, Jr. Ken Jenkins Makes It Official administration calling the spending It remains to be seen whether there safely ensconced on the 9th floor with cuts reckless and irresponsible and ac- will be a three way Democratic primary the Astorino administration; Colucci By NANCY KING istration, proclaimed to his supporters, cused the Astorino administration of for the office of County Executive here will face an uphill battle. “The sky is not falling. There is no need caring more about being politically in Westchester County. Former Chair This election cycle will also see all Democratic County to allow our roads and bridges to dete- popular than about the well being of Bill Ryan is running on the platform 17 legislative seats up for grabs as well. Board Chair Ken Jen- riorate; to reduce funding for parks and the residents of Westchester County. of experience and Mayor Bramson is With Ryan and Jenkins both running kins officially entered recreation and to stop caring for the Jenkins passionately told the crowd running on his record of accomplish- for CE, county Democrats will have the race for County Ex- poor and disabled”. Under the Astorino “Your property taxes have continued to ments in the City of New Rochelle. to seek candidates to replace them. ecutive last week. Sur- administration, county residents have rise; your fees for county services have Noticeably absent from this week’s an- County Democrats are also seeking to rounded by supporters which included seen cuts to parks, community health gone up, while your quality of life has nouncement was Westchester County replace legislators Virginia Perez and a healthy assortment of politicians from care and county infrastructure”. Claim- gone down”. Jenkins promised to re- Democratic Chair Reginald Lafayette. Mike Kaplowitz who broke rank from Yonkers, (to send a very clear message ing that these cuts have been necessary store the county’s reputation for being It will be he and his county committees the Democrats and voted with the to Rob Astorino that he won’t be carry- to close a nearly $100 million budget a national model of where to live and who will ultimately decide which can- Republicans on the amended FY2013 ing Yonkers this time around), Jenkins gap and to maintain a flat tax levy, the do business. He promised to work with didate has the best chance at unseating budget. Whether it is Ken Jenkins, now joins former Westchester County current administration has heavily cut the county’s unions in an effort to settle Rob Astorino. Kurt Colucci, a Con- Noam Bransom or Bill Ryan, this will Legislative Chair Bill Ryan and New services and funding to those individu- a contract that will include progressive servative from New Rochelle and a be one of the more interesting election Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson in the als who in a regressive economy need it health care contributions by all county former Astorino supporter is also plan- cycles here in Westchester. race to replace incumbent Republican the most. Astorino had originally cam- workers. The Astorino administration ning a run and hopes to primary him County Executive Rob Astorino. Jen- Nancy King is a freelance investigative paigned that he would cut taxes while has long claimed that the budget- for the Conservative line. Last elec- kins, who has always had a contentious reporter; a resident of White Plains, New protecting services to those needing ary cuts have been necessary because tion cycle, the Conservatives endorsed relationship with the Astorino admin- York. them the most. county workers refuse the one size fits Democratic Andy Spano however, POLITICS

Laura Ingraham, Neal Boortz, Michael advancement into the middle class, this point crystal clear! Could anyone Savage, Bill O’Reilly, Mark Levin, and and a world where people can work to- now doubt that the Tea Party mentality New Year and a New Age the list goes on and on. The 2010 na- gether, seeking peace and a decent life. has until now had amazing influence By BOB K. BOGEN active citizenry support he will again tional elections seemed to be the high These same sicknesses destroyed the over the Republican Party, [witness the be forced into more compromises. And water mark of their so-called Conser- League of Nations in the decade after pathetic string of candidates considered New Year resolutions all this can only be achieved against all vative or Libertarian influence. the First World War and that probably for the Republican Party presidential start at the top, with the irrational and destructive forces that But at last Americans have seemed destroyed the possibility of avoiding nomination], and the die-hard believer President Obama set- have often won until now, and threaten to caught onto their engaging insan- World War II. Republican vice presidential candidate ting out to resolve ef- to continue. ity. The 2012 national elections seem It seems clear to many that the Paul Ryan, or the seriously vigorous fective action on a handful of major Particularly in the last several finally to have exposed their inability real energy behind such movements Republican Majority Leader in the programs including jobs, guns, further years we have seen the growth of the to arithmetically count or relate to the is, simply, money, with the illusion that House of Representatives, Eric Cantor, tax reform, energy and the environ- self-styled Tea Party and their tea bag real world. It is as if they are the pathetic following that sweet siren song will lead led to the grotesque Republican de- ment, immigration, and education. We symbolism. They have swallowed the “no-nothings” of the Roaring Twenties, to personal wealth. Reference to various bacle of the so-called “Fiscal Cliff ” they each have our own personal resolutions; ignorant and destructive swill of such and perhaps earlier such generational religious beliefs is sometimes involved invented out of whole-cloth? Even the it is devoutly wished that among them notorious Talk Show fast talkers as plagues, have been reborn to destroy or used, but the big energy is surely new golden boy leader of the Demo- is our citizen responsibility to actively Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Jon society, the environment, education of money. The recent enormous battle over cratic Senate Campaign Committee, support the president and his efforts to Arthur, Glenn Beck, Michael Medved, children, women as humans, worker’s tax rates for the ‘most wealthy’ makes Michael Bennet, has turned out to side achieve such national needs. Without Page 20 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013

POLITICS with the Republican “true believers” in their doubling of the debt by their hero, was rejected one-hundred years ago Cliff. And here we expected this to be to expect this may be the point when the Fiscal Cliff vote. Ronald Reagan and his vice president, when a graduated income tax was ad- the End Days of the current so-called we can build on the great movements I wince when even progressive and continued by George Bush largely opted. People who are creative, sporting Republican Party. Even after the Re- started in the 1960s, accelerated by commentators call such folks the so- due to his obscene budget busting wars leadership abilities and organizational publican collapse in their Fiscal Cliff social media, and at least some of the called ‘Hard Right’ or ‘Extreme Right’ in Iraq and Afghanistan. Democrats skill sets, should become comfortable conciliation, the New York Stock Mar- planet can move into a New Year of a when they are more accurately termed have shown that they could not only and prosperous. But in times of war or ket’s Dow Jones Index extraordinary New Age. ‘soft headed wrong’ or simply, ’Ex- balance the budget but also even gener- economic decline, as after 2008 when jump of 300 points on January 2 may Bob K. Bogen produced an annual Citi- tremely Wrong.’ ate surpluses to reduce the debt during most who work are suffering, the most be an evidence of significant economic zens’ Federal Budget Workbook some years Again, as after the defeats of the the prosperous Clinton administration. wealthy should not claim multi-million growth in this new time. ago, served as comprehensive long-range 2008 election, there is some talk of It is also irritating to hear even nice bonuses, multi-million golden para- Recent events may possibly mark facilities planning director for the New re-branding the so-called Republican people mouthing the nonsense about a chutes when they change jobs, or even the final end of the 2,000-year Old Age York Metropolitan Regional Planning Party, after all it is not the sort of Re- ‘need’ to have a smaller government. It multi-million salaries and other major and the beginning of the long awaited Commission; as planning director for the publican Party that Abraham Lincoln is true that Lincoln is reasonably quot- assets. When times are bad or hard, I New Paradigm, or New Age. Clearly New England Regional Commission; as a built. As suggested in this column some ed to call for government to do only remember those who are most ‘com- the Sixties drama did not quite make it. major United Nations official in Pakistan; time ago, the Fiscal Cliff fiasco surely what people cannot do for themselves. fortable’ even accept a salary of One The money establishment slanders cast Board Chairman of the Communications now confirms an accurate party name But we are fortunate to live in a large Dollar. Democracy cannot long survive over the sixties age of ‘Sex, Drugs, Rock Coordinating Committee for the United reflecting the party central working and complex society that requires ser- the extreme concentration of wealth we and Roll’ was actually balanced by the Nations; and Principal Representative of platform is very simply the ‘More Bil- vices far more complicated; that means have built. great historic movements for ecology, Architects/ Designers/ Planners for Social lions for Billionaires Party.’ a large government for a large nation. As we learned late on New Years women, exercise, organic food, various Responsibility to the United Nations. Their mumbling about jobs is only Those who favor a small government day most of the lemmings of the Re- new-age music, and the beginning of authentic when it means jobs at their should get their stuff on their back and publican Party in Congress squinted electronic social media. Comments by named readers can be di- low-wage and zero-benefits Chinese go to a small country, perhaps Somalia. their jaundiced eyes enough to turn Despite the blather about the rected to his office: plants. And all the bull puckey about Part of the “class war” waged, away from their Senate true-believers 12,000-years end of the Mayan stone [email protected] national budget deficits is also hard and largely won, by the party of the as well as the Majority Leader in the calendar and all the other old tellers-of- to take. Republicans invented the na- ‘wealthy’ still comes out as whining for House, Eric Cantor, and refused like doom including Nostradamus, more tional debt in modern decades with a ‘Flat Tax. That’s rich. Actually that good lemmings to jump off their Fiscal acceptable philosophers may be right

OOP-EDP EDSection mals, a first-degree misdemeanor, after he allegedly was found in a compromis- A Politically Incorrect Guide to ‘Sexual Orientation’ ing position in August with a female By MATT BARBER Mr. Francis baring all to your baby progressive unless they’re progress- adding another “B” to the mix. miniature donkey named Doodle.” girl, then you’re the problem. You’re a ing toward progress, this nonsensical The late “gay” activist icon Frank First of all, I was offended by the It’s a mixed up muddled “transphobe” (“homophobia’s” evil twin alphabet soup of sexual deviancy has Kameny – a pervert before his time – article’s insensitive use of the term up shook up world … ~ sister, er, brother … whatever). Deck ballooned to a marvelous “LGBTQQ- endorsed the practice of bestiality a few “miniature donkey.” I believe, if I’m not The Kinks this sicko for terrifying your first-grader IAAP.” years ago. He called sex with animals mistaken, the preferred nomenclature is Through the secular- and you’re off to jail while “Colleen” is No kidding. “harmless,” saying that “as long as the “little horse.” ”progressive” looking- off to the “Human Rights Campaign” The latest word salad in the coun- animal doesn’t mind – and the animal Still, I was especially struck – glass, the term “sexual orientation” has, for a commendation as the latest victim ter-”heterosexist” war against “hetero- rarely does – I don’t mind, and I don’t though not surprised – by the legal ar- in a few short years, evolved to accom- of an “anti-LGBT hate crime.” normativity” (yes, they consider these see why anyone else should.” guments Romero’s lawyers ponied up. modate an ever-expanding fruit basket Rosa Parks in drag, I guess. real things) is “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, So we’ve further lowered the bar They claimed “that the statute infringes of carnal appetites. But to make sure they didn’t miss Transgender, Questioning, Queer, In- from “consenting adults” to “consent- upon Romero’s due process rights and First it was “LGB” – liberal short- anyone, pooh-bahs over at Child Cor- tersex, Asexual, Allies, and Pansexual.” ing adults and hoofed mammals.” How violates the equal protection clause of hand for “lesbian, gay and bisexual.” ruption Central added a “Q” to the In Canada, they’ve added “2S” does that work? Bestiality is OK, but the 14th Amendment in the U.S. Con- Then they added a “T” for “transgen- “sexual orientation” mix. In case some which means: “Two-spirit. The vision- “neigh” means “neigh”? stitution.” der.” That’s cross-dressing.Y ou know, fifth-grader in Ms. Adamsapple’s aries and healers of aboriginal (sic) In today’s frenzied struggle for un- “By making sexual conduct with fellas like 45-year-old Clay Francis health class gets the urge to “taste the communities, the gay and lesbian sha- fettered sexual license cleverly couched an animal a crime, the statute demeans (aka, “Colleen”). rainbow” (and I don’t mean Skittles), mans.” as “civil rights,” we shouldn’t be sur- individuals like Defendant (Romero) Mr. Francis enjoys macramé, long the catch-all term “questioning” was Well, duh. prised, then, that oppressed peoples by making his private sexual conduct a walks on the beach, wearing lady’s tacked on. I just can’t believe these closed- representing all form of “sexual orien- crime,” they wrote. knickers and showering fully nude with Gotta meet those recruiting quo- minded bigots left out members of tation” are lining up for their slice of Right. The statute demeans 6-year-old girls. tas. the mistreated “BDSM” commu- “equality” pie. Romero. Because it’s illegal to “discriminate According to the “gay” activ- nity (Bondage, Discipline, Sadism and Yes, even, um, animal lovers. Ac- “The personal morals of the ma- based on the basis of gender identity,” ist group GLSEN, sexuality is “fluid” Masochism). That’s OK, I guess. Being cording to a recent report by Florida’s jority, whether based on religion or tra- and since it’s the only “tolerant” thing and “may change over time.” Unless, mistreated is their whole shtick, right? Gainesville Sun, for instance, “Lawyers ditions, cannot be used as a reason to to do, this brave bellwether of the per- of course, you’re already “gay,” and then Or maybe they’re covered under “P” for representing a Marion County man deprive a person of their personal liber- secuted LGBT victim-class has se- change is impossible, fixed and im- “pansexual.” That means, more or less, accused of sexual activity with a minia- ties,” the attorneys wrote. cured the “civil right” for him and other mutable. Like that hotel in California, that if the mood strikes, you’ll take a roll ture donkey have filed a motion asking This line of argument is directly men to fully expose themselves to your “You can check out any time you like, in the hay with anyone or anything in a judge to declare the Florida statute from the homosexual activist playbook daughter in the locker room at Olym- but you can never leave.” any way imaginable (or unimaginable). banning sexual activities with animals – the rationale adopted by the majority pia, Washington’s Evergreen State Col- Nobody said it’s supposed to make Speaking of rolls in the hay, don’t unconstitutional.” in the landmark Lawrence v. Texas case. lege. sense. put away your alphabet soup decoder “Carlos R. Romero, 32 … is ac- In Lawrence, the U.S. Supreme Court But slow down, Dad. According Still, because “progressives” aren’t ring just yet. It looks like we’ll soon be cused of sexual activities involving ani- manufactured, for the first time in his- to the law, if you have a problem with Continued on page 21 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013 Page 21

OP-ED

A Politically Incorrect Guide to ‘Sexual Orientation’ he wrote. “Every single one of these ter of course, that all morality is relative, Matt Barber (@jmattbarber on Twitter) laws is called into question by today’s all bets are off. Once we determine, as is an attorney concentrating in constitu- Continued from page 20 exactly what’s happened in the decade decision.” a matter of law, that people are entitled tional law. He serves as Vice President of tory, a constitutional “right” for men to since: “State laws against bigamy, same- Predictably, polygamists and in- to special privilege because they subjec- Liberty Counsel Action . (This informa- sodomize each other. sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, cestuous siblings are now clamoring tively define their identity based upon tion is provided for identification purposes So why not Doodle? masturbation, adultery, fornication, for so-called “marriage equality” based deviant sexual proclivities and behav- only.) In his characteristically brilliant bestiality and obscenity are likewise on Lawrence. At this rate, there’s little iors, moral, legal and cultural anarchy dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia forecast sustainable only in light of Bowers’ vali- doubt they’ll get it. are inevitable. dation of laws based on moral choices,” Once our culture decides, as a mat- The brave new world is upon us.

There is a more cost-effective so- with this model in New York. State Needs to Boost its Anemic Workforce lution: community colleges provide a Hudson Valley Community Col- better training environment and more lege’s TEC-SMART facility is a joint By ED COX sion if New York is to remain economi- chasing away some of our most pro- meaningful career counseling thanks to initiative between the college and the cally competitive. ductive citizens who are eager to invest, their relationships with local industries New York State Energy Research and Gov. Andrew Cuomo New York is consistently ranked as build and leave an economic legacy. A that can communicate their specific Development Authority. will deliver his third the least economically free state, a by- phased reduction of the tax rate on cap- needs for new workers. The facility provides training State of the State ad- product of our worst-in-the-nation tax ital gains will let entrepreneurs know New York’s job training funds classrooms in semiconductor manu- dress next week, and regime, and Cuomo has acknowledged that New York is once again open for should go directly to community col- facturing technology, as well as labs and New Yorkers need to that New York “has no future as the tax business. leges for the purpose of consolidating classrooms for training in renewable hear that our state is still losing jobs and capital of the nation.” While tax reform will entice busi- and streamlining our ability to train energy technologies such as solar, wind people, fast. Tax reform must begin with nesses back to New York, an overhaul new workers. and geothermal power. New York is the only state that saw changing the way we treat capital gains. of New York’s workforce development This model has worked for other The program graduates workers a significant increase in unemployment Most states, as well as the federal gov- scheme will close the skills gap be- states. North Dakota’s TrainND pro- with skill sets tailor-made for jobs in over the last year. Our current rate of ernment, tax capital gains at a low rate tween the number of emerging jobs gram works with the private sector to local industry. 8.3 percent is well above the national to incentivize investment. with high-skill requirements and the fund community colleges for the pur- We can build on this success. If rate of 7.7 percent. Not New York. We are one of a mi- comparably small number of workers pose of providing worker training to Cuomo champions workforce develop- Our anemic population growth of nority of states that treat capital gains as with those skills. meet employer-defined needs. ment along with tax reform this year, he only 2.1 percent last decade, compared ordinary income. Money earned on in- New York’s workforce develop- Williston State College has used can transform New York’s jobs training with the national average of 9.7 percent, vestments is subject to a punishing tax ment program, thus far untouched by the program to grow the number of programs from a costly drag on our fi- cost us two congressional seats. regime intended for high incomes, one Cuomo, is a jumbled mess: 28 different workers it trains from 3,000 to over nances to an investment that paves the Our state’s counterproductive tax that eliminates deductions and applies funding schemes are accountable to 10,000 annually. Graduates of the pro- way for the economic growth we need code and ineffectual workforce devel- the highest rate to the entire income, 11 different agencies and plagued by a gram have a 98 percent job placement to regain our competitive edge. opment scheme are to blame. Both not just marginal income. pervasive lack of coordination and col- rate. must be addressed this legislative ses- Ed Cox is chairman of the New York Re- The world’s financial capital is laboration. We’re already having some success publican State Committee. ED KOCH COMMENTARY

The leader of Hamas, Khaled Me- shal, has called for the total destruction Tom Friedman: Confused and Clearly Hostile to Israel of Israel. The Hamas government is By ED KOCH the Treasury who believes in cutting said, ‘The Jewish lobby intimidates a stone struck my head and not my eyes. responsible for hurling 8,000 rockets expenses in the budget with no increase lot of people up here,’ but ‘I’m a United Otherwise, I might have been blinded. into Israel since 2005. Human Rights In his December 26 in taxes for the wealthy, noting that as States senator. I’m not an Israeli sena- Chuck Hagel is not an evil man. Watch, normally critical of Israel, this New York Times edito- President he makes the policy and can tor.’” For the record, more Christians He simply does not support the posi- week accused Hamas of war crimes rial, Tom Friedman overrule his appointees; choose a Sec- support Israel in the U.S. than do Jews, tion that Israel is our ally, and I believe against Israel, because their rockets wrote in support of for- retary of the Interior who has the same who are a much smaller part of the U.S. he would prefer closer relationships deliberately targeted Israeli civilians. mer U.S. Senator Chuck philosophy of many Alaskans which population. with the Muslim states in the region Does it make any sense for Friedman Hagel and the possibility that he will be is to open every square inch of Alaska In addition, in government, you by reducing the relationship between to suggest that Hagel’s attitude of seek- chosen by President Barack Obama as for oil production. After all, as Fried- generally rely on the people you select the U.S. and Israel, which is what the ing to engage Hamas “to see if it can Secretary of Defense. He stated: “So, man says, the President makes the final for high office to let them run their Muslim, and certainly the Islamist, be moved from its extremism” might yes, Hagel is out of the mainstream. decision. In the Defense Department, departments. You don’t micromanage states desire. That is his right, but that be effective? There were people in the That is exactly why his voice would be put someone in charge who disagrees them, and no top-notch appointee philosophy should deny him the posi- 1930s who suggested the same about valuable right now. Obama will still with the current stated policy of the would allow micromanagement by the tion of Secretary of Defense. Nor in Hitler and the Nazis. Hamas is now make all the final calls, but let him do so President and the Congress toward Is- President. my opinion does he believe that the Is- even stronger than before because its after having heard all the alternatives.” rael. We’ve heard the President say, “I’ve People give Tom Friedman lots of lamist Arab countries are hostile to the big brother and ally the Muslim Broth- By “mainstream,” Friedman apparently got Israel’s back.” Hagel couldn’t care space and respect when he writes on U.S. and Western civilization. means overwhelmingly supportive of Continued on page 22 less; he’d rather talk to Hamas. Ha- Israel, undoubtedly assuming that as a Israel. Hagel’s position is, as Friedman gel’s point of view, according to Aaron Jew, he must be a supporter of Israel. I states, “out of the mainstream” with re- CLASSIFIED ADS Miller in his 2008 book, “TheM uch do not believe that assumption to be Office Space Available- Prime Retail - Westchester County spect to Israel. Too Promised Land,” is clearly hostile correct, because I recall his Times col- Prime Location, Yorktown Heights Best Location in Yorktown Heights Imagine what would happen to Israel. Miller wrote: “The American umn of April 3 in which he urged the 1,000 Sq. Ft.: $1800. Contact Wilca: 1100 Sq. Ft. Store $3100; 1266 Sq. Ft. across our government if President Israel Public Affairs Committee comes Palestinians to engage in another inti- 914.632.1230 store $2800 and 450 Sq. Ft. Store $1200. Obama put that course of action into knocking with a pro-Israel letter, Hagel fada using rocks to attack Israeli Jews. effect. continued, and ‘then you’ll get eighty or When I was in Israel in 1991, I was LEGAL ADS Friedman is in effect saying to ninety senators on it. I don’t think I’ve struck on the head during the then in- Michael Hill Media LLC arts filed 7/20/2012. Off. Loc.: Westchester Cnty. SSNY designated President Obama that he should ever signed one of the letters’ - because, tifada and needed nine stitches to close agency LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o The LLC, 160 choose, as an example, a Secretary of Underhill Ave. #2, West Harrison, NY 10604. Purpose: All legal activities. he added, they were ‘stupid.” Hagel also the wound. I was lucky that the jagged Page 22 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013

ED KOCH COMMENTARY

Tom Friedman: Confused and Clearly Hostile to Israel who, if confirmed, will be cheered by is what would happen if Bibi tried to don’t believe even if he did apologize the enemies of the U.S. and Israel in the speak at, let’s say, the University of Wis- that the apology means anything and, Continued from page 21 I also view Tom Friedman’s sup- Muslim world. consin. My guess is that many students in most cases, such apologies are simply erhood governs Egypt and Egyptian portive attitude to the so-called Arab In his December 13 column, Tom would boycott him and many Jewish an effort to end the discussion. Spring -- which has produced Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, one of the Friedman made one of his worst state- students would stay away, not because The Honorable Edward Irving Koch Brotherhood’s leaders, has made clear governments toppling authoritarian ments, showing his strong bias against they are hostile, but because they are Arab governments that were at least served as a member of Congress from New his support of Hamas. Israel: “I sure hope that Israel’s prime confused.” York State from 1969 through 1977, and When will we learn that Islamist friendly to the U.S. -- as dangerously minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, under- Friedman has not apologized for th wrong. Hitler came to power in Ger- New York City as its 105 Mayor from governments mean what they say when stands that the standing ovation he got these outrageous remarks, stating only 1978 to 1989. they threaten Israel with extermination many legally as have many of these in Congress this year was not for his that he regretted the words and should and condemn the U.S., Europe and Isra- Islamist governments. That doesn’t politics. That ovation was bought and have chosen other terms. I suggest that el and their Western culture and values? make them our friends nor should the paid for by the Israel lobby. The real test it is Tom Friedman who is confused. I President select a Secretary of Defense LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Comprehensive Annual Financial Re- greatest amount of outstanding bond $500,000 to Kawasaki to retain $375 received a $10 million tax credit. Three port for the period ending March 31. debt are the Housing Finance Agency, jobs; $5.4 million to Fleet Mill Street years ago, Governor Andrew Cuomo Its summary breaks down the debt the MTA, the Dormitory Authority, for real estate development;and $2.9 stated he would cut agencies and au- into three categories: State supported the Urban Development Corporation million to L & M Development – all thorities by 20 percent but it was also @ $52.8 billion; GAAP accounting (UDC), also known as the Empire companies resident in Yonkers or who the same year he bailed out the MTA method debt @ $58.1 billion; and State State Development Corporation conduct business with Yonkers. to the tune of $3.2 billion. Funded debt @ $63.3 billion, which is (ESDC), and the Environmental Fa- The Dormitory Authority gave All bond debt should require voter described as the “most comprehensive”. cilities Corporation. $2.9 million to Sound Shore Medical approval. Bond Debt Should Require The total debt, principal plus in- According to NYS Assemblyman Center of New Rochelle for operat- Charles Roda Voter Approval terest is: State Supported @ $77.4 bil- Gary Pretlow’s newsletter, the 2012 ing support. While Pepsico was firing Mount Vernon, NY lion; GAAP @ $84 billion; and State budget included $795 million for the 145 workers in Westchester, the UDC New York State Comptroller Thomas Funded @ $95.8 nillion. UDC. This corporation gave $300,000 gave the company $3.3 million for 186 P. DiNapoli recently released the The public authorities with the to POP Displays to retain 615 jobs; jobs in Batavia, New York. Pepsico also OP-ED of his extreme Tea Party followers. As aisle. That’s where Kaplowitz and Perez promise.” Let’s keep an eye out to see in the past, he proposed radical cuts in stepped in. Whether by reason of their if they receive appointments from the Compromise; Really? childcare, health care, senior programs naiveté, or because of promises for fu- Astorino administration, or if, coinci- By MARC S. OXMAN front of the County Office Building, and other essential services. The As- ture considerations, they abandoned dentally, the Republicans choose not however, let’s take a moment to consid- torino strategy was to, then, negotiate their party and abandoned the prin- to run anyone against them in the up- Having voted for the er what’s really going on here. Are they concessions from the Board of Legisla- ciples for which their party stands. By coming Legislative election. Let’s see if 2013 Astorino budget, truly the bipartisan voices of reason that tors. His “compromise” would leave the voting for a Tea Party budget, Kaplow- they are true believers of the Tea Party Democratic Legisla- they profess, or, instead, have they sold needy in not quite the deep hole that he itz and Perez are singularly respon- manifesto, or whether they are simply tors Michael Kaplowitz out the people of Westchester? originally proposed… but deep enough sible for the elimination of jobs, cuts in motivated by self-interest. and Virginia Perez are, County Executive Rob Asto- to satisfy his conservative base. funding to not-for-profit agencies, and Marc S. Oxman is the former executive no doubt, taking great delight in their rino sent down an astonishingly callous Since the Democrats hold a 10 slashing of vital services. director of the Westchester County Demo- assumed roles as Great Compromis- budget for 2013, which only makes -7 majority on the Board, Astorino Time will tell why Kaplowitz cratic Party. ers. Before we erect statues for them in sense if viewed from the perspective needed help from the other side of the and Perez voted for this bogus “com-

ment, medication, and the ability to sense to staff the fire department as if dedicated people. We could not Protecting Yonkers Taxpayer communicate with doctors at the they go on calls that they do not. ask for finer people to help us in an emergency room. The Firefighters Union disagrees, emergency. However, these days we By MIKE SPANO pened: the fire department never re- Yet the City will pay an esti- and today they obtained a court or- must also consider the cost. Our fire sponded to all medical calls. In fact, mated $7 million this year in fire der to temporarily stop the City from department is among the highest It’s time for some it currently only responds to 46% of department overtime, and we will carrying out its sensible plan. This paid in the nation, yet works among straight talk about them. A third of all firefighters have have more firefighters on some shifts is not the court putting its stamp of the lowest number of hours. They the City’s attempts to let their EMT certifications lapse, than we believe is required to protect approval on the YFD as the City’s have among the best vacation, health, work with the Fire- though they still collect the extra pay. public safety. We will assign extra first responder, rather it is simply an unlimited sick leave for non-work fighter’s Union to con- Even if the fire department were to firefighters as if they respond first on acknowledgement of the complex related illness or injury, and many trol costs, especially since the Union respond to all medical calls, they do most medical calls, when in fact they contractual language that created the other benefits. While we might want falsely claims public safety is at risk. not have ambulances, cannot provide don’t. You may be surprised that on YFD’s first responder status a decade to continue to provide these generous We would never risk public safe- advanced life support, and cannot ad- some shifts there are more firefighters ago. The good news, however, is that policies, we simply cannot. ty, and we aren’t. minister the medications that are part on duty than there are police. the Court has ordered the matter be Indeed, if the Firefighters Union Years ago the City designated of modern emergency care. The City wants to change its settled by an arbitrator. We will now gets its way, the City may one day the fire department as first respond- Those modern life-saving ser- protocols to reflect reality as well as have the opportunity to present our have to lay off firefighters in order to ers for medical emergencies. It agreed vices are provided by the City’s am- improvements in emergency medi- argument before an impartial third afford the cost of those who remain. to pay each firefighter extra money to bulance service, which responds to cine. We believe it doesn’t make sense party who is an expert in labor dis- Now that would be a public safety is- be trained as an emergency medical 100% of medical calls, has a para- to designate the fire department as putes, and make the case that it does sue. technician, and it put more firefight- medic available at all times, and first responders for medical calls not make sense to pay firefighters for ers on each shift. Mike Spano is the mayor of the City of carries the latest in life-saving equip- when they really go to less than a half duties they do not perform. Yonkers. But here’s what really hap- of them. We believe it doesn’t make Our firefighters are brave and THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013 Page 23

OP-ED

instated several months later, but only after science in general. Yonkers: Spin City v Facts Local 628 filed Improper Employer Prac- The Yonkers Firefighters and Local tice charges with the New York State Pub- 628 have neither stonewalled nor other- By BARRY McGOEY sick leave. The FACT is that day-to-day lic Employees Relations Board (PERB) wise engaged in stalling tactics. In FACT, non line-of-duty illnesses and injuries are and the union representing the Fire Offi- Local 628 and the City were originally It may be too late to at multi-year low levels. Unfortunately, cers went to Court and sued Mike Spano scheduled for arbitration over the subject submit another poten- some Yonkers Firefighters are stricken over the reduction in the number of Bat- of the first Temporary Restraining Order tial logo for the City of with serious ailments and injuries such as talion Chiefs. The City and the Officers’ (“TRO”) (reducing manning levels per Yonkers’ recent “YoLoGo cancer, brain injuries, heart problems, back union settled the lawsuit with Mike Spano tour) on October 4, 2012. Just a couple of Contest”, but given the problems, and other types of debilitating agreeing to immediately reinstate the sec- days before this scheduled arbitration, the twisted, misrepresented, and duplicitous injuries and diseases. As a result, a few ond Battalion Chief. Mike Spano has yet City (not Local 628) requested that the statements spewing forth from City Hall dozen Firefighters utilize the bulk of the to reinstate the “Safety Division” and Local matter be adjourned. Local 628 consented these past few months, a good choice force. The City has failed to hire addition- total Firefighter sick leave. The balance 628 has recently declared to PERB that to the City’s request and joined the City would be “Spin City.” Taking a page from al Firefighters needed to fill these vacant of the Firefighters do occasionally get sick we are at “impasse” with negotiations with in requesting that the arbitrator postpone the king makers in Albany, Yonkers City positions, but instead has decided to fill or injured and utilize sick leave accord- the City over the Safety Division. PERB the arbitration. But it was the City, NOT Hall has engaged the services of profes- these vacant positions with Firefighters on ingly, but there is no systemic abuse of sick recently appointed a mediator to attempt Local 628, who wanted to adjourn the sional Spin Doctors to craft lies and bend overtime. As a result, the overtime budget leave in the Yonkers Fire Department. If to resolve the impasse, but the City’s attor- arbitration. Local 628 was ready, willing the truth. This is a propaganda technique has ballooned and now the City wants to there was evidence of any sick leave abuse, ney appeared alone at the first meeting and and able to proceed on October 4, 2012 that may work well in Albany, but it won’t blame the self-created overtime spending then why have there been no disciplin- was unprepared to resolve the issue and in and had numerous witnesses ready to work here in Yonkers where the people on the Yonkers Firefighters and Local 628. ary actions taken against even one single fact totally misrepresented the underlying testify on our behalf on that day and to are smart enough to figure out the truth In FACT, the City had almost $2.5 Yonkers Firefighter over the past year? facts to the mediator. The mediator had have the arbitrator render a decision. Lo- themselves. million remaining from a SAFER Grant The answer is that sick leave is not being no choice but to reschedule the mediation cal 628 has not and will not stonewall or In light of some of the lies and spin from the federal government which was abused and the City is using understaffing session and instructed the City’s attorney otherwise cause any delay in bringing this that City Hall and its Spin Doctors have to provide funding for as many as 21 and alleged sick leave abuse as an excuse that on the next date he is to bring people dispute to resolution. In fact, in all of Local put before the citizens of Yonkers, below Firefighters through February, 2013. This for not properly staffing and funding the with him who have knowledge of the is- 628’s court papers and legal arguments we is an alternative, but time honored and money was available to the City since Fire Department. sues and who have authority to speak on have requested expedited arbitration and respected public relations technique – the February 2011, but since March of 2012 Yonkers Firefighters never did, and behalf of the City. If the matter is not proceedings. truth. the City has not utilized this money to never were intended to, respond to EV- resolved through the mediation process, Yonkers Firefighters and Local 628 Yonkers Firefighters are NOT the hire desperately needed Firefighters. As a ERY single call for emergency medical Local 628 has every intention to request have NOT been unwilling to sit down highest paid Firefighters in the United result, the City is currently “in default” of assistance. The FACT is that there have Interest Arbitration over the dispute be- with the City and attempt to negotiate States. In fact, several Fire Departments the terms of the SAFER Grant and has been protocols in place since the inception fore an Independent Arbitrator who will in good faith to resolve our differences. right here in Westchester County pay jeopardized the remaining $2.5 million of of the First Responder Program that dic- be empowered to issue a final and binding In FACT, Local 628 has met with Mike their Firefighters more in salary than the the grant, and could possibly be required to tate the types of emergency medical calls decision on the abolishment of the “Safety Spano, personally, on several occasions Yonkers Fire Department. Yonkers Fire- repay over $2 million that was already pro- that Yonkers Firefighters are designated to Division.” and has met with members of Mike fighters have a current hiring rate of ap- vided to the City prior to Mike Spano tak- respond to. These calls are limited to actual Mike Spano’s plan to eliminate the Spano’s administration on even more oc- proximately $71,000 and reach top salary ing office. All of this, in an attempt to gain life threatening emergencies such as heart Fire Department’s First Responder Pro- casions, all in a good faith effort to work of just over $78,000 after three years. We leverage with Local 628 in contract nego- attacks, strokes, choking, allergic reactions, gram will similarly endanger the safety of out a successor agreement to our current are not ashamed of that salary, especially tiations and to make the Fire Department diabetic emergencies, child births, etc. the public and the Firefighters. The First contract which expired on June 30, 2009. given the dangerous profession we work look too expensive to continue providing No additional Firefighters were hired Responder Program has saved countless In FACT, Local 628 presented the City in and in light of the fact that we live and the life saving services it has provided for or added to shifts as a result of the Yonkers lives during its over 20-year existence, with several proposals which would have work in one of the most expensive Coun- many, many years. Firefighters taking on the responsibilities both civilians and Firefighters. Any plan saved the City millions of dollars in the ties in America. There are many Fire The City did not “win a victory” in and duties of the First Responder Program to eliminate and/or reduce the First Re- future and which would have lessened the Departments in the region that pay their Court on January 2, 2013, or on any of in 1993. The FACT is that there were AT sponder Program will result in a significant costs of the very modest salary increases we firefighters significantly more than the their previous Court appearances regard- LEAST 54 Firefighters working per tour reduction in public safety and Firefighter were also seeking for the past 4 years and City of Yonkers, even New York City. ing the pending legal proceeding initi- for over 50 years before that time. What safety. In 2012 alone, Yonkers Firefighters for the next 3 years. Unfortunately, to date, Yonkers Firefighters do NOT work ated by Local 628. In FACT, the City the First Responder Program did ensure delivered 84 shocks using an Automated the City has failed to come to the nego- less hours per week than any other union (or should I say Mike Spano) suffered a was that there would not be less than 54 External Defibrillator. This is in addition tiating table with reasonable proposals of worker in the United States. In FACT, resounding and humiliating defeat (again) Firefighters working on any given tour as to the numerous times they performed their own. The City believes that if they Yonkers Firefighters work a 37.5 hour in Court. The Spin Machine may make long as the First Responder Program was CPR, and treated serious condition rang- can’t force Local 628 to enter into another work week, more hours per week than any every attempt at claiming victory in Court, in place. This “minimum staffing” level ing from strokes to mothers in labor. contract to their liking that they will just other unionized employees in the City of but the truth is that NYS Supreme Court was later increased to 57 Firefighters with The unspoken goal of Mike Spano violate the current contract. Hence the Yonkers. Justice Sam Walker was the 8th Judge the restoration of the Rescue Company in in eliminating the First Responder Pro- reason for all of the contract grievances, Yonkers Firefighters do NOT have who has sided with Local 628 and ruled the year 2000. gram is to reduce the number of Firefight- court orders, and arbitration hearings. the most expensive contract in the United against Mike Spano. Yonkers Firefighters are NOT en- ers per shift and therefore to close two of There are not enough pages in this States. In FACT, the Yonkers Firefighter’s Mike Spano’s actions have already titled to get paid a medical stipend if their the City’s 18 Fire Companies. Indeed, if newspaper to counter every lie that has contract is comparable to the contracts risked public safety and if allowed to medical certifications have lapsed or ex- Local 628 had not secured a Temporary been told about the Yonkers Firefighters of many other Fire Departments in the implement his current plan, Mike Spano’s pired. The FACT is that a Firefighter is Restraining Order against Mike Spano and Local 628 over the past 12 months. I region and is significantly less generous policies will further endanger public safety only entitled to be paid a medical stipend back in the summer, Mike Spano had al- hope this has cleared up some of the mis- than Firefighters contracts in other areas and the safety of the Yonkers Firefighters. if he or she has a valid certification on file ready designated Tower Ladder 71 (New conceptions and lies that have been fed to of the country. While many Firefighters The FACT is that Mike Spano first en- with the Fire Commissioner. School Street) and Engine Company 312 the public. Local 628 will continue to cor- throughout the region and the country dangered both pubic safety and Firefighter Yonkers Firefighters are NOT to (Fortfield Avenue) to be closed. The clos- rect the record as needed and we will do so do not contribute to the cost of medical safety over six months ago when he re- blame for the projected $7 million to be ing of these two essential Fire Companies at www.yonkersfirefacts.com. All of the insurance coverage, for almost 2 decades duced the number of Battalion Chiefs in spent on overtime in the Yonkers Fire would be disastrous and would significant- FACTS stated within are verifiable and the Yonkers Firefighters have been con- the City from two to one and eliminated Department this fiscal year. The FACT ly endanger the lives of the public as well as can be backed up with proof. Ask Mike tributing as much as 50 % of the cost of the “Safety Division.” Both of these posi- is that the Fire Department currently has the Firefighters, and even more so because Spano if he can say the same about his so- their health insurance coverage. EVERY tions are critical to the safety of the public almost 45 vacant and unfilled Firefighter the decision of which two companies to called “facts.” Yonkers Firefighters pays at least 10% of and the Firefighters. In fact, many similar- positions due to retirements in the past be closed was based solely on political cal- Barry McGoey is president of Yonkers Fire the cost of a family plan or 20% of the cost ly sized cities actually have more personnel two years. These vacancies amount to ap- culations and was not decided by anyone Local 628. of an individual plan. performing these functions. proximately 12 % of the entire Firefighting with any experience in, or knowledge of, Yonkers Firefighters do NOT abuse The second Battalion Chief was re- the City’s fire load and occupancies, or fire Page 24 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013

WWW.WESTCHESTERGUARDIAN.COM