O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek Americans A WEEKLY GREEK AMERICAN PUBLICATION c v www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 12, ISSUE 587 January 10, 2009 $1.25 GREECE: 1.75 EURO Art Agnos’ Harry Markopolos: The Legacy not Unheeded Prophet and Forgotten in His Report to the SEC San Fran By Evan C. Lambrou now, but for the longest time, he Special to The National Herald was the unheeded prophet, the whistle blower who was repeatedly Ex-Mayor on “Milk,” NEW YORK – Congress wants Har- ignored. ry Markopolos to testify about the Mr. Markopolos waged a re- Proposition 8 and latest investment scandal involving markable battle to uncover fraud at disgraced financier Bernard L. Mr. Madoff’s operation, sounding Being Shot in the Chest Madoff, who allegedly operated a the alarm back in 1999 and contin- hedge fund which cost investors uing with his warnings all through By Mark Frangos both here and abroad billions in this decade. Special to The National Herald what many observers are now call- Mr. Markopolos reached his ing a giant Ponzi Scheme. conclusions with the help of mathe- NEW YORK – In the new movie Congress is now looking into maticians like Dan di Bartolomeo, “Milk,” a biography of San Francis- how Mr. Madoff evaded federal whose analysis of Mr. Madoff’s co politician and gay activist Har- regulators who were tipped off for methods helped keep Mr. Markopo- vey Milk, Art Agnos (played by more than a decade, and held its los’ suspicions burning. American artist Jeff Koons) taught first public hearing on the Madoff “People should have seen the the title character (played by likely scandal this past Monday, January writing on the wall,” Mr. di Bar- Oscar nominee Sean Penn) a valu- 5, the same day Mr. Madoff was in a tolomeo told the Associated Press. able lesson. Even though they were New York courtroom answering But the government never act- political opponents in 1976 and prosecutors who alleged he violat- ed; Mr. Madoff continued his ways; running for the same seat in the ed his bail by mailing a million dol- and people lost billions. California State Assembly, Agnos’ lars in jewelry and assets to rela- Based on information from a va- critique of Milk's campaign speech- tives. riety of old and new media sources, es as “a downer” was a turning Mr. Markopolos (many people here is a brief rundown of Mr. point for his career. are inclined to think his last name is Markopolos: He is originally from “You talk about how you're Markopoulos, but it isn’t) was Erie, Pennsylvania; he received his gonna throw the bums out, but scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill bachelor’s degree from Loyola Col- how are you gonna fix things—oth- AP PHOTO/THANASSIS STAVRAKIS that day, too, but he told Congress lege in Maryland, and his master’s er than beat me? You shouldn't Greek Government Resuffling he was too physically worn down to in finance from Boston College; he leave your audience on a down,” testify Monday, citing a sinus infec- worked at Rampart Investment Agnos told Milk. Members of the new Cabinet of the Greek government, reach out to touch a bible as they are sworn in by tion. Management from 1991 through Despite losing to Agnos, Milk re- Archbishop Ieronymos, left, at the Presidential Palace in Athens on Thursday, January 8, 2009. The Congress readily agreed to 2004; and also worked as an inde- sponded by changing to a message Cabinet was sworn in, observed by President Karolos Papoulias, background right, and Prime Minister reschedule a meeting with Mr. pendent financial fraud investiga- of hope, leading him to become the Costas Karamanlis, background left. Karamanlis reshuffled his government following extensive riots last Markopoulos for an in-depth inter- tor. He is also a chartered financial first openly gay man elected to pub- month, retaining the interior minister, who had been criticized for the government's handling of the riots, view on the record later this month. lic office in San Francisco before he but dismissing the finance minister. (See related story on page 9). Mr. Markopolos is in demand Continued on page 4 was assassinated in 1978. Teaching Harvey Milk was one of Art Agnos’ many accomplish- ments during his time in California politics. He served in the State Leg- islature for 12 years before being Gunmen Shoot Police Officer in Athens elected Mayor of San Francisco in 1987. By Evan C. Lambrou Hundreds of police officers from a 9mm weapon and automat- Agnos was born in 1938 in Special to The National Herald gathered outside the hospital in ic rifles were fired at three riot po- Springfield, Massachusetts to im- Greece this past Tuesday, January licemen standing guard outside the migrant parents. NEW YORK – Greece’s worst civil 6, where the wounded policeman Culture Ministry. They also said the “Both my mother and father unrest in more than 30 years took was being treated after the shoot- victim spotted the gunmen, and were both and raised in Greece in yet another dangerous turn earlier ing attack, staging a silent vigil to managed to warn his colleagues small towns outside Pyrgos,” he this week after two gunmen carry- support their injured comrade. shortly before he was hit by two said. “My father came here when ing automatic weapons and linked The wounded officer, whom bullets – one in the chest, the other he was 15 to work building rail- to a far-left militant group shot a Hellenic authorities identified as in the leg. roads in the Midwest. After a few young riot police officer in central 21-year-old Diamandis Mantzou- The two men sprayed the police years he developed a business with Athens. nis, was listed in critical but stable unit with gunfire, according to Hel- his brothers running restaurants. The gunmen attacked a riot po- condition at press time. lenic police, who have frequently Then he returned to Greece and lice unit guarding the Greek Cul- Mr. Mantzounis was part of a come under attack from protesters married my mother.” ture Ministry early this past Mon- unit guarding the culture ministry throwing gasoline bombs and Agnos and his two younger sis- day morning, January 5, just one when the pre-dawn attack took Molotov cocktails during almost ters were raised in a very Greek day before the national celebration place on Monday. He was taken to three weeks of riots triggered by home. He attended St. George of Epiphany, seriously wounding the hospital and underwent the December 6 death of 16-year- AP PHOTO Greek Orthodox Church in Spring- the officer in an escalation of vio- surgery for two gunshot wounds, old Alexander Grigoropoulos in the Greek police and forensic experts investigate the scene of a gunfire field where he attended Greek lence after the fatal police shooting one to the thigh and one near the volatile Exarchia district, while and a hand grenade attack that severely injured a riot police officer in school and was an alter boy. of a teenager last month sparked shoulder. central Athens, Monday, January 5, 2009. In the background, bullet “I didn’t speak Greek until I was Greece’s worst riots in decades. Police said more than 30 shots Continued on page 9 holes can be seen in the wall of the National Archaeological Museum. five and went to public school,” he said. “When I went to kindergarten I was rejected because I couldn’t speak English. My father had to come to school with my birth cer- tificate to prove I was an American Social Networking Increasingly Popular in Greece John citizen. When they asked him why I couldn’t speak English, my father By Eleni Kostopoulos year. Is this surge in virtual corre- 2004 and 2008, concluding that institutional organization of con- Catsimatidis: spoke these immortal words, ‘I Special to The National Herald spondence merely a convenient, Greek internet users spend an aver- temporary Greek society,” he con- spent the first five years teaching beneficial means of communication age of three to four hours a week cluded from his research. “Greek It is becoming increasingly more or does it pose a serious threat to on Facebook updating their pro- young people due to their introver- Going From Continued on page 5 common to interact with our loved fundamental human interaction? files, posting photographs or en- sion, inordinately exaggerate the ones and acquaintances via the “I personally believe that online gaging in one of the many applica- objective difficulties and risks all Web and this nation-wide phenom- communication between Greeks tions offered. Facebook chat room, youth face, especially when they Supermarkets enon is rapidly spreading overseas. and Greek Americans can become said Papanis, is the most popular of are about to start their integration According to Inside Facebook, a site an effective way for preserving our applications, utilized by 45.5 per- process in the labor market. Within that tracks the social networking national identity, especially when cent of Greek users. the framework of the social capital to Oil A Greek service’s platform for marketers other ethnic groups are very active Papanis said that this growing of young people’s family and life and developers, Greece ranks 25th in defending their national rights involvement of Greek youth in vir- world, the young tend to undertake By Brian Baskin Rogue of the among the world’s most active through the Internet,” said Efstra- tual communities is attributed to a important initiatives mainly in the Wall Street Journal Facebook users. An October 2008 tios Papanis, Assistant Professor of lack of true social capital. “Young field of their education aiming at tally noted that 663,920 people the Sociology Department at the people in Greece develop their so- securing a good job which might NEW YORK – A Manhattan super- American West used the social networking service, University of the Aegean in Lesvos, cialization process in the frame- confer a high social status and cul- market magnate has brought oil marking a 260 percent increase for Greece. Papanis conducted a study work of the nuclear family which it marketer SemGroup LP back from the subscription rate in the last involving Greek youth between may be the result of the insufficient Continued on page 3 the brink of liquidation, but a suc- By Steve Frangos cessful turnaround will depend on Special to The National Herald more than a ready supply of cash. John Catsimatidis, owner of the PART THREE New York City grocery store chain After all that I have written Gristedes, earlier this month took about Peter Attias, one of the most Teen Grabs control of SemGroup, aiming to successful Greek immigrant confi- pull it out of bankruptcy. Oil-mar- dence men of the American West, Cross During keting companies profit on the many will say this man’s life was transportation of oil and refined simply an aberration. Why look at products, charging set fees whether rogues? Clearly the vast majority of Epiphany oil's at $50 or $150 a barrel. Greek sojourners who arrived in Mr. Catsimatidis was born in North America between 1870 and Greece, went to high school in 1924 were law abiding individuals By Sherri Ackerman Brooklyn and is considering a run who only wanted to find an honest Tampa Tribune for mayor of New York. He has job. It is Dr. Attias’ nearly two years spent little time in oil centers such in and around Salt Lake City that TARPON SPRINGS - The Epiphany as Houston and Tulsa, Okla., home demands our attention. For it is be- cross and its year of blessings went to SemGroup's headquarters. tween 1904 and 1905 that Peter At- to a 17-year-old athlete already New York supermarket star John tias challenged Leonidas Skliris as blessed with exceptional talent. Catsimatidis believes he can break chief labor leader for the Greeks in He's also the fifth in his family to into the mainstream oil world with the American West. snatch the cross from Spring Bay- his purchase of SemGroup. He will Leonidas G. Skliris was a Salt ou. face a tall order in trying to turn- Lake City-based labor agent who “It's not luck,” said Pantelis “Pe- around the oil-marketing company, became known as "the Czar of the te” J. Kontodiakos, a senior at which was at the brink of liquida- Greeks." Skliris, a native of Sparta, Countryside High School. “I'm tion. arrived in Salt Lake City in 1897, blessed. I have a great family.” "I was quite surprised for him to and set up his labor agency head- Kontodiakos was ranked the na- do this," said Malcolm Turner, a re- quarters at 507 West 200 South, tion's No. 1 high school punter by fining consultant in Dallas who has near the railroad yards in the heart College Football Hall of Fame advised Catsimatidis on past deals. punter Ray Guy, said his dad, John, "John himself is a groceryman." Continued on page 6 and he was named to USA Today's The ease with which Mr. Catsi- All-America team. matidis believes he can break into As well-wishers chanted “Pete! the mainstream oil world speaks to To subscribe call: 718.784.5255 Pete!” while slapping his soggy T- the twin hits the industry has taken e-mail: shirt and kissing his cheeks and the from a 73% plunge in oil prices to [email protected] cross he held, the teen grinned. about $40 a barrel and the credit “It feels great,” he said. “I'm very crunch this year. With reduced cash happy.” flow and tight credit, all but the John Kontodiakos who, like his biggest energy companies are fo- AP PHOTO son, has the unusual distinction of cused on treading water. Many of Pantelis Kontodiakos, 17, of Tarpon Springs comes up with the cross amidst 62 divers during the 103rd an- nual Epiphany celebration in Tarpon Springs, Fla. on Tuesday, January 6, 2009. Continued on page 7 Continued on page 2 2 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 10, 2009 Doctors Stuck Niarchos Foundation awards grant to GOINGS ON... ■ JANUARY 16 - 19 dox Christian churches in the at Egypt-Gaza MONTREAL, Que. – Del Sol and Greater Chicago area cordially in- St. Sophia Hellenic School in Utah Portokalada.com cordially invite vite the community to a prayer ser- the community to “Living It Up,” an vice marking National Sanctity of Border amazing 21 & over event for MLK Life Day at the St. George Antiochi- weekend from January 16-19, an Orthodox Church (1220 S. 60th RAFAH, Egypt (AP)- Greek anes- 2009. “We are flying in DJs from NY Court) in Cicero, Illinois on Sunday, thesiologist Dimitrios Mognie and and Chicago with special guest DJ January 25 at 6:00 PM. Believing another doctor arrived at this bor- John Grammatis!” Save some of that all human life is sacred, the der crossing loaded with medical your energy for daylight hours, be- worship service will emphasize for- supplies to help Gazans wounded in cause skiing, snowboarding and giveness and the tragedy of 50 mil- the Israeli offensive. Instead, they tubing will all be available at the lion abortions since the Roe v. Wade have waited at the border for days. heavenly resort of Mt. Tremblant. If decision in 1974. The Service will On Tuesday, a representative you just want to chill during the be sponsored by the Orthodox from a Norwegian medical aid or- day, Montreal is the place to be. Christian Clergy Association of ganization was allowed to enter the Montreal offers some of the most Greater Chicago, on behalf of the 80 Gaza Strip from Rafah. But most beautiful scenic views and architec- Orthodox Christian churches in the doctors have been denied entry by ture, amazing cafes and restau- Greater Chicago area. The homilist Egyptian authorities and spend rants, casinos, and don't forget will be Rev. Fr. Nicholas Jonas, pas- their days drinking tea and coffee shopping and the spa. So are you tor of the Ss. Constantine and Helen at a small, dusty cafe near the ready for 4 Days and 3 Nights of Liv- Greek Orthodox Church in Palos crossing's metal gates. ing It Up? The “Living It Up” pack- Hills. The service will begin at 6 "This is a shame," said Mognie, age includes: 3 nights accommoda- p.m. and will be followed by a brief who used his vacation to travel tions in Deluxe or Concierge level presentation on the sanctity of life from Greece to try to help in Gaza. rooms, open bar welcome party Fri- given by Ms. Nikolia Rallis. Ms. Ral- He thought entering through day night at exclusive downtown lis is a senior at Northwestern Uni- Egypt, which has a narrow border nightclub, exclusive VIP parties Sat- versity and has been active in the with the Hamas-ruled strip, was his urday & Sunday nights, free VIP ad- Pro-Life movement for many years. best bet. mission to over 7 nightclubs, com- Her campus involvement in the pro- "That in 2009 they have people plimentary shuttles to parties each life movement has included volun- in need of help from a doctor and night, complimentary shuttles to teering at a crisis pregnancy center, we can go to help and they won't let the beautiful “Mt. Tremblant” on bringing speakers to her college us. This is crazy," said Mognie, who From Left, Back Row: Pete Giamalakis, Vice President; Nick Varanakis, Kerri Nakamura, Elaina Simos, Saturday and Sunday, complimen- campus and she is also the co- has worked in conflict zones from Trustees; Dr. Susan Brady, Director; Vickie Folias, Secretary; Fr. Michael Kouremetis, Dean and Mary tary Shuttle to Tubing & Snowmo- founder of Orthodox Christian Iraq to Somalia. Agrapides, Treasurer. Front Row : Greg Adondakis, Trustee; Roula Siklas, Program Director for Niarchos biling, let’s make a deal Casino Youth for Life. All are invited to at- Gaza's few hospitals have been Foundation; Andrea Giamalakis, Development Coordinator; Marina Gianoulis, Trustee; Evangelia Kout- package wit $20pp Casino Chips, tend and parking is free. For more swamped by more than 2,400 sou, Consul of Education, San Francisco Consulate; Andrea Kussack, Program Director for Niarchos Foun- complimentary double music CD, information, contact St. George An- wounded in Israel's 11-day cam- dation and Elaine M. Bapis, President. breakfast & hors devours daily with tiochian Orthodox Church (708) paign to stop Hamas militants from concierge rooms. Package Price: 656-2927. launching rockets into Israel. Al- Quad Price $300 per person, Triple most 600 Palestinians have been The Stavros Niarchos Founda- Price $325 per person, Double Price ■ FEBRUARY 7 killed. Nearly half of the dead are tion has awarded a three year grant $375 per person. Conveniently lo- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Wash- civilians, according to U.N. and to Saint Sophia Hellenic Orthodox cated in the heart of downtown ington National Opera Women’s Palestinian officials. School. Andrea M. Giamalakis, De- Montreal, this hotel boasts a spa- Committee and His Excellency The Mognie and his colleague, both velopment Coordinator for the cious, elegant lobby, large well-ap- Ambassador of Greece cordially in- from the Greek organization Doc- school wrote the grant that benefit- pointed guestrooms with private vite the community to “The Mid- tors for Peace, were the last in their ted the Greek Language, the Schol- balconies and a variety of full ser- winter Gala,” at the Andrew W. Mel- group of six Greek doctors to re- arship/Financial Aid and Physical vice amenities. The hotel is the ideal lon Auditorium on Saturday, Febru- main at the Rafah border after ar- Education Programs. location for pleasure and only steps ary 7, 2009 at 6:30 PM. Rebecca riving last Friday with medical sup- Members of the Niarchos Foun- to Montreal's finest shopping, Miller and Sally Cox are the Gala plies. The others returned home af- dation visited with students and fac- restaurants, nightclubs and attrac- Co-Chairs. A not to be missed black- ter being continually rebuffed by ulty members on November 13, tions. You can book a Deluxe of tie gala – join us for dinner and the Egyptian border guards. 2008. Program Directors Argyro Concierge Room. With 94 runs ser- dancing as we celebrate Thessaloni- Israel and Egypt first closed (Roula) Siklas and Andrea Kussack viced by 13 state-of-the-art lifts, the ki through the ages! For individual their borders with Gaza after participated in the school’s morning mountain dominates a stunningly tickets, please call The Midwinter Hamas took control of the area in music class, visited the individual beautiful countryside. Those who Gala Office at 202-295-2437 or e- June 2007. The Egyptian closure classrooms and observed the Greek live for the great outdoors and love mail [email protected]. For cor- has been seen by some as abetting Language classes. Also visiting the to breathe clean air have the perfect porate sponsorships, please call Israel's siege of the crowded strip, school was special guest Evangelia playground. A paradise where ski 202-295-2431 or e-mail home to 1.4 million people. Koutsou, Education Consul from the and snowboard enthusiasts are [email protected]. Since Israel's offensive, Egypt San Francisco Consulate. The Stu- From Left: Roula Siklas, Program Director, Niarchos Foundation; An- both spoiled silly: ramps, rails and has taken in a trickle of wounded dent Parent Associate hosted a lun- drea Giamalakis, Development Coordinator and Grant Writer and Ma- jumps as well as an Olympic caliber ■ FEBRUARY 10 Palestinians through the crossing at cheon for the special visitors. rina Gianoulis, Trustee. pipe. Taste the freedom, dare the NEW YORK – The Hellenic Cham- Rafah. The Egyptian government, Nick & Elaine Bapis hosted an mountain, live Tremblant to the ber of Commerce and Norwegian- the main mediator between Israel evening reception for the visitors Mrs. Vickie Folias and Miss Margo elementary school with six grades fullest! For more information, go to American Chamber of Commerce and Hamas, has said it would only along with the Board of Trustees Sotiriou, who were also present. and 114 students, the school re- www.montrealx.com. cordially invite the community to open Rafah if moderate Palestinian and special guests. Mrs. Elaine Saint Sophia was established in mains the only one of its kind in the their Joint Shipping Conference, forces of President Mahmoud Ab- Bapis is one of the three original 1996 with a preschool and kinder- state of Utah and the Mountain ■ JANUARY 17 “How Will Shipping Survive the bas are in charge of the crossing. founders of the school along with garten. Now fully accredited as an West States. CHICAGO – The Hellenic Museum Perfect Storm?” at The New York and Cultural Center cordially in- Helmsley Hotel (212 East 42nd vites the community to a lecture en- Street) on Sunday, February 10, titled “Orthodoxy and Hellenism in 2009 at 8:15 AM. Members: $625 America” given by Paul G. Manolis, (additional from same firm: $575); author of the monumental History Non-Members: $695. Full program John Catsimatidis: Going From Supermarkets to Oil of the Greek Church of America in and speakers to be announced. Reg- Acts and Documents. This three vol- istration/coffee begins at 8:15 AM, Continued from page 1 ume work, with a fourth to come, Conclusion/Networking Reception documents the history of the Greek begin at 5:00 PM. the banks and hedge funds lured in Archdiocese of America. The work by the oil boom beat a hasty retreat has already received much critical ■ APRIL 2-6 when credit valves were shut start- acclaim as the authoritative voice ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The Hellenic ing in September. on the subject of the history of the News of America and the 18th Her- Those who sold their shares in Greek American Church. The lec- mes Expo International cordially in- SemGroup for the promise of a ture will take place January 17, vite the community to The 18th stake in a revived company include 2009 at the museum at 3:00 pm and Hermes Expo from April 2-6, 2009. founder and former Chief Execu- admission is $ 10.00 for non-mem- Starting from New York and going tive Tom Kivisto, named "Tulsan of bers and $ 8 for members. Manolis to Philadelphia, The Expo will take the Year" by a local magazine in received his undergraduate degree place on the weekend of April 4-5, 2007. from the University of California 2009 with a 120 Booth Exhibits at While SemGroup over eight (Berkeley) and graduate degree the Tropicana on the Atlantic City years grew from an oil startup to from Harvard University. He was Boardwalk, New Jersey. April 2, one of the largest private compa- appointed Junior Fellow at the 2009 - A Greek Food and Wine Tast- nies in the U.S., it collapsed in a Dumbarton Oaks Institute of Byzan- ing Mixer, Reception Press Confer- matter of weeks. The company filed tine Studies during his graduate ence and B2B meetings based on for bankruptcy in July after incur- studies. Manolis was first elected to profiles at the Queens Art Museum ring a $2.4 billion loss on bad bets the Archdiocesan Council in 1965. in cooperation with the Queens on the price of oil. As a committee chairman he creat- Chamber of Commerce. April 3, SemGroup was both victim and ed the Orthodox Observer newspa- 2009 - At the Governors Mansion perpetrator of oil's meteoric rise per and raised a Patriarch Mixer, Drexel University Seminar and fall. The wrong-way futures Athenagoras statue at Hellenic Col- on Tourism and New Technology. bets were large enough to have lege/Holy Cross School of Theolo- Reception and B2B meetings based played a role in pushing oil prices gy. He is a representative to the Na- on profiles. April 4 - 5, 2009 - The to peak above $147 a barrel during tional Council of Churches of Amer- Tropicana Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ intraday trading on July 14, then to ica and a founder of the Patriarch Exhibition Conference - A major fall 15% the following week as the Athenagoras Orthodox Institute at happening for Greek Americans, company rapidly exited its posi- the Graduate Theological Union Americans interested in Greece and tions, market participants said at and UC-Berkeley. Manolis also South Eastern Europe and other the time. The bankruptcy court has serves as Adjunct Professor at the Ethnic Markets. Symposium hired a former head of the Federal ABOVE: John Catsimatidis points GTU and has served as Director and Brunch on Saturday 10AM-1 PM, Bureau of Investigation to look into to the many photos and awards President of the Institute for many Grand opening at 1 PM, 120 Booths those trades. that adorn the walls in his office years. In recognition of his service meetings B2B, Dinner Awards En- Several federal agencies have al- in New York City. BELOW: John to the church, Manolis was named a tertainment and a Sunday Brunch so examined Mr. Kivisto's trading Catsimatidis with New York “Great Archon of the Ecumenical Networking. April 6,2009 - A Grand practices, according to court docu- Senator Chuck Schumer and Patriarchate” by Patriarch Reception Mixer at the Honorable ments. President-Elect Barack Obama. Athenagoras. He was also awarded Aris Melissaratos Estate, Baltimore, Accusations that any trading the Gold Cross of Mount Athos by MD. For more information, please was done improperly are "irrespon- out of bankruptcy in 1986. In addi- the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a visit [email protected]. sible" and “incorrect,” said John tion to United Refining and Grist- Knight Commander of the Patriar- Tucker, one of Mr. Kivisto's attor- edes, Mr. Catsimatidis owns real es- chate of Jerusalem, and the Medal ■ NOTE TO OUR READERS neys. tate and a jet-leasing business. of St. Paul from the Greek Archdio- This calendar of events section is a CLEANING UP Forbes magazine estimated his net cese of America. For more informa- complimentary service to the Greek But it's a convoluted corporate worth at $2.1 billion in mid-Sep- tion contact the museum at 312- American community. All parishes, structure that's also keeping the tember, days before equities mar- 655-1234. organizations and institutions are company from getting back on its kets tanked. encouraged to e-mail their informa- feet. Some of SemGroup's best as- "Don't forget, we have a very ■ JANUARY 25 tion 3-4 weeks ahead of time, and sets -- including tanks in Cushing, good reputation in the market- CICERO, Ill. – The Orthodox Christ- no later than Monday of the week Okla., the key oil hub -- were place," Mr. Catsimatidis said. "And ian Clergy Association of Greater before the event, to english.edition placed in a publicly traded sub- it has nothing to do with a name. Chicago, on behalf of the 80 Ortho- @thenationalherald.com. sidiary, and the ties between the It's who's the head of it." two entities were severed shortly To convince creditors to sign on, before SemGroup sought bankrupt- he comes armed with $450 million LP focused on trading, while the looking for joint cooperation in or- cy protection. in cash raised in the public offering public spinoff, SemGroup Energy der to make sure everything runs Those problems can be worked of United Refining Energy Corp., a Partners LP, operated pipelines and properly." QUESTION OF THE WEEK out once the company is out of financial vehicle unrelated to the storage terminals, though nearly all The two hedge funds declined to bankruptcy court and operating refinery. He says that money could the oil and products that it handled comment. freely, said Mr. Catsimatidis in an be used to turn SemGroup around, belonged to SemGroup LP. With SemGroup's value and Vote on our website! interview at his cluttered office and will ask shareholders to unlock Shortly before filing for bank- both energy and credit markets above a car dealership in Hell's the funds once a reorganization ruptcy, SemGroup LP lost control of near their nadir, a wide variety of You have the chance to express your opinion on our website on an Kitchen, a Manhattan neighbor- plan takes form. SemGroup Energy Partners to two strategies could yield strong profits important question in the news. The results will be published in our hood removed from the city's finan- This war chest has allowed him hedge funds. Both parts of the orig- when the economy begins to re- printed edition next week along with the question for that week. cial district. to cut through the financing diffi- inal SemGroup began to wither bound, said Andrew Oram, an ana- The question this week is: Is Israel justified in its attack on Hamas? He said he plans on providing culties that have bedeviled other when the link was severed. For ei- lyst with credit-ratings firm ❏ Yes details of his reorganization plan in potential buyers, said Hugh Ray, a ther company to survive, they have Moody's Investors Service, who has ❏ No January. After that, it will be up to Houston attorney representing oil to join forces again, through a new covered both United Refining and ❏ Maybe the court whether SemGroup producers owed money by Sem- long-term contract or a merger, an- SemGroup. emerges from bankruptcy or is sold Group. alysts and industry watchers say. "If something came along, and The results for last week’s question: Is Barack Obama the correct off in parts. "He's weighed in and said 'I'm Mr. Catsimatidis declined to you knew it was a price you were choice as The National Herald's Man of the Year? While Mr. Catsimatidis, 60 years here, I've got my money, and let's comment on the prospect. never going to see again in your 33% voted "Yes" old, is better known for his gro- play,'" said Mr. Ray, who also repre- EXPENDING ENERGY lifetime, you might buy it without 57% voted "No" ceries, he is no stranger to the oil sented some United Refining Co. "We've had certain discussions knowing exactly how you would 10% voted "I don't know" sector. He acquired United Refining creditors. with them," he said, referring to operate it to get value out of it," Mr. Co., a small Pennsylvania refiner, After the 2007 split, SemGroup SemGroup Energy Partners. "We're Oram said. Please vote at: www.thenationalherald.com THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 10, 2009 COMMUNITY 3 Ecumenical Patriarchate Faces Financial Difficulties, Payroll Payment Delayed

By Theodore Kalmoukos standing. He also directed the staff Ecumenical Patriarchate finds itself Special to The National Herald at the Patriarchate to try to be as in such a difficult financial situa- economical as possible in day-to- tion. The National Herald is in a po- BOSTON – The Ecumenical Patriar- day operations. The Patriarch did sition to know that in 2001 the Pa- chate of Constantinople faces a se- not say when they will be getting triarchate had experienced the rious financial problem to the point their salaries. same problem. that it was unable to meet its pay- There are two basic reasons for The Patriarchate’s ecclesiastical roll obligations for the months of the Patriarchate’s financial prob- Eparchies throughout the world November and December. The hier- lems: firstly, the general economic contribute minimally, simply be- archs, the clergy and also the lay situation of our times and secondly, cause they do not have the financial personnel who depend entirely on the delay of the monetary alloca- resources. Most of the Metropolises their monthly paycheck to make a tion by the State of Greece which is in Europe, South and Central living have not been paid. given for the operation of the First America, and Asia are not in a posi- On New Years Eve, Ecumenical Throne of the Orthodox Church. tion to financially contribute to the Patriarch Bartholomew himself Actually, the allocation is short of Ecumenical Patriarchate. Those spoke to the hierarchs and all the the compensation of the property Metropolises also face financial personnel about the difficult period which was sold decades ago by the problems and the majority of them that the Patriarchate is going Patriarchate to the State of Greece. receive financial assistance from through and asked for their under- It is not the first time that The the Ministry of External Affairs of Greece and the Missions Depart- ment of the Church of Greece. A few months ago a request was made to the State of Greece that the Metropolitans in Europe get their salaries from Greece, while hundreds of priests from the Church of Greece have been sent on loan to serve parishes in Europe, South America and Asia whose salaries are paid by the Greek Gov- ernment. Only the Archdioceses of America and Australia and partly the Metropolis of Canada are in fi- nancial positions to contribute to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America had been giving only $500,000 annually to the Patriar- chate for the last 25 years and only two years ago an increase was made. Specifically, in the year 2007 the Archdiocese gave $900,000 and in 2008 the amount of $850,000. According to the ap- proved budget of the Archdiocese, the allocation to the Ecumenical Patriarchate will be $850, 000 for Ecumenical Patriarch Batholomew has postponed some payroll oblig- 2009 and one million dollars for ations as the Patriarchate is hit by the global economic crisis. the year 2010. Social Networking on Rise with Greek Youth

Continued from page 1 Greek Americans are genuinely in- to wait 24 hours before accepting terested in the issue, and they or removing someone from your tural capital. On the contrary, out- joined our group to voice their list of friends for your safety. side the boundaries of the Greek opinion, talk about it, and find out “I’m very cautious about the family, young people demonstrate more about what's going on. Face- kind of information I post on my an alienation from community and book pushes information to its page,” said Diamantis. “I use it only public institutions.” users, so it's a good medium for get- to talk to people I already know- New statistics show about ting the word out. When somebody I’m not on there to meet new 600,000 Greeks of the 102 million joins our group, the news feed lets friends.” total active users around the world their friends know about it, and In a survey conducted by Papa- who have created a page on Face- they're immediately exposed to nis and the University of the book, are not threatened by any what we think (by virtue of the Aegean, students posted fake pro- dangers posed by using the site or group name).” files on Facebook and were ap- in posting personal information on Other groups comprised of proached by a total of 825 people, the site. A survey by Search Engine Greeks and Greek Americans pro- 200 of whom agreed to be inter- Marketing found that Greek users mote Greek-Turkish relations, viewed. Papanis’ report states: “The of Facebook represent 17 percent of Greek Orthodoxy, conversation majority said they do not believe all Greek Internet users. about current events, networking the time they spend online affects “Political activity is also high in for business-owners and free adver- their work or entails any dangers online communities,” said Papanis. tising for events here and abroad. and have not made personal con- “The majority of demonstrations in Facebook also allows people to post tact with anyone they have met on- Greek cities because of the murder personal information like employ- line. However, 90 percent of gay of the 15 years old Alexandros by ment, interests and photographs to Greek Facebook members admitted the police, were reinforced by Face- which others have controlled ac- they use the site to meet people. book groups. Many Greek politi- cess. The site also offers various ap- About 55 percent of Facebook's cians advertise themselves by cre- plications, such as one launched by Greek ‘friends’ are women, 49 per- ating chat rooms.” Greek American blog cent are single, 47 percent are stu- Facebook user George Kassanis DailyFrappe.com called “Meet me dents and 27 percent are in full- agrees that Facebook offers an ef- in Greece!" which allows users to time employment. Nearly three- fective approach to raising aware- let friends know about their trips to quarters have a tertiary degree and ness about political issues and Greece and keep track of who's go- nearly half live in Athens or Thessa- sparking debate among users. ing, when they're going and where lonica. According to the survey, Kassanis serves as administrator they're going. Facebook can also be 35.8 percent of the site's users in of “Macedonia is Greek,” a Face- utilized as a way of finding long- Greece are aged 18 to 24.” book group described as “a forum lost friends or family members and Papanis’ report also indicated: for discourse on the north province to meet people with similar inter- “However, the research has re- of Greece and the ancient Greek ests and professions. vealed a significant correlation be- kingdom of Alexander the Great,” George Diamantis, who moved tween long term use of internet and which has drawn in more than from New York City to Athens depression, especially in the age 16,400 members and has sparked about 10 years ago, said he’s uti- group of 11 to18. Users who spend heated debate. lized the site to find friends and more than five hours per day online “The group started as a reaction classmates from his childhood. exhibit inappropriate social skills, to various propaganda claims made “I can’t believe how many peo- find reality situations boring or by the FYROM diaspora, and it was ple I’ve found on here that I never risky, show deprivation signs when the first Macedonia group on Face- would have thought I’d see again,” away from their computer and pre- book,” said Kassanis. “We actually he said. “I don’t think it’s the same fer inventing virtual personas, invited the first few hundred mem- thing as interacting in person, but which they cannot use in real life. bers ‘manually,’ by inviting the it’s a good way to stay connected if In the final analysis you can always members of other Greek groups. you really have no other options. I delete an online bond, but in reality The group got bigger as people think it keeps the door of communi- emotional involvement in real life heard and read about what the oth- cation open between Greeks and presupposes commitment.” er side was saying, and it was grow- Greek Americans and it’s also a Experts suggest that the exces- ing by hundreds of members a day good way to find out about things sive use of social networking has during the United Nation talks and going on in different parts of the negative effects on society and may right around the time of the veto. world with out any media bias.” lead to Internet addiction, physical What we wanted was to provide a Despite the accessibility that inactivity and potential dangerous forum for discussion, and a source Facebook and other social network- situations. Still, countless network- of unbiased, referenced informa- ing sites offer, Facebook cautions ing sites like Facebook and MySpace tion on the issue.” against making friends with people are continuing to thrive while other He added, “I think that many one doesn’t know and it is a norm dating web sites are emerging for Greeks worldwide. Eligiblegreeks.com, a growing site launched in 2002 that hosts photo galleries, events such as Greek speed dating, an advice column and a Greek chat room. Other booming socializing sites serve Greeks global- ly, like WorldWideGreeks.com which boasts 2,000 members. Although the long-term effects of social networking cannot be foreseen, online communication remains strong between Greeks and Greek Americans. Facebook re- search in particular conducted by Papanis indicates 31 percent of Greek male users said they use the site for friendship, 13.9 percent in order to find a love partner, 4.1 per- cent in order to find a sexual part- ner and 50 percent because it pro- motes communication. Forty per- cent of Greek female users said they use the site for friendship, 9.1 percent in order to find a love part- ner, 3.6 percent in order to find a TNH/COSTAS BEJ sexual partner and 47.3 percent be- Christmas Celebrations at St. Markella cause it promotes communication. Furthermore, about 17 percent of St. Markella's Church in Astoria, an old-calendarist community of the each sex said they exclusively seek Genuine Orthodox Church, held their Christmas celebrations on Tues- online relationships as opposed to day, January 6, 2009. Metropolitan Paul presided. real social relations. 4 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 10, 2009 Harry Markopolos Waged Epic Battle to Expose Madoff Fraud

Continued from page 1 ited operating histories or are eco- firm could not possibly have aver- gan in the 1970’s. nomically distressed. Investment in aged such high average annual re- The billions of dollars in assets analyst and a certified fraud exam- legitimate OTC companies often turns with so few losses over such reportedly held by Mr. Madoff's as- iner. lead to complete loss of the invest- an extended period of time because set-management unit appeared to Basically, he has been a hired ment, so investors should avoid the it is mathematically impossible: match those which various invest- gun for financial investors and OTC market unless they can afford “I have presented 174 months of ment firms said they had placed hedge funds. He looks at what their a complete loss of their investment. Fairfield Sentry’s return numbers with MIS, regulatory officials said, competitors are doing, and on Plus, Mr. Madoff should have dating back to December 1990. On- suggesting that there weren’t prob- some occasions, he has done inves- been using larger brokerage houses ly 7 months, or 4% of the months, lems. tigative work on his own behalf, re- to handle the type of trading and saw negative returns. Classify this SEC investigators discovered in porting fraudulent investment amounts involved, Mr. Markopolos as definitely too good to be true. No 2006 that Mr. Madoff had misled groups to the Securities & Ex- wrote: major league baseball hitter bats the agency about how he managed change Commission or the Internal “One hedge fund FOF has told .960; no NFL team has ever gone customer money, according to doc- Revenue Service. me that BM uses only OTC options, 96 wins with only 4 losses over a uments, yet the SEC still somehow A financial expert, he first alert- and trades exclusively thru UBS or 100-game span; and you can bet missed an opportunity to uncover ed SEC officials nearly ten years Merrill Lynch… if BM was really everything you own that no money the alleged Ponzi Scheme. In its re- ago about what he viewed to be Mr. buying OTC index put options, then manager is up 96% of the months sulting investigation, the SEC Madoff’s scam. He sent a 19-page there is no way his average annual either. It is inconceivable that BM’s searched for evidence of front-run- report to the SEC a little over three returns could be positive… OTC largest monthly loss could only be - ning, but found no indications that years ago (“The World’s Largest options are more expensive to 0.55%, and that his longest losing any front-running taking place. Hedge Fund is a Fraud,” submitted trade than listed options… Trading streaks could consist of just 1 And even up until very recently, on November 7, 2005), concluding in the size of $20-50 billion per slightly down month every couple Mr. Markopolos’ findings were cast that Madoff Securities is the month would be impossible, and of years… Mathematically, this into doubt, at least to some extent. world’s largest Ponzi Scheme, a the bid-ask spreads would be so type of split-strike conversion In a major story published by fraudulent investment operation wide as to preclude earning any should never be able to beat U.S. the Wall Street Journal this past De- which pays returns to investors profit whatsoever… Extensive and Treasury Bills, much less provide cember 18 (reprinted in The Na- from money paid by subsequent in- voluminous paperwork would be 12% average annual returns to in- tional Herald’s December 27, 2008 vestors, rather than from profit – required to keep track of and clear vestors net of fees (pg. 14).” edition), WSJ writers Gregory named after Charles Ponzi, who be- each OTC trade. Plus, why aren’t Mr. Markopolos has now risen to Zuckerman and Kara Scannell dis- came notorious for using the tech- Goldman-Sachs and CitiGroup in- prominence as the early whistle- cussed Mr. Madoff’s alleged nique after emigrating from Italy to shenanigans and regulatory inade- the United States in 1903. quacies, and shed light on Mr. Using mathematical models, Mr. Markopolos’ longstanding efforts Markopoulos outlined 29 “red to expose Mr. Madoff’s practices. flags” in his report, a virtual blue- But they also wrote, “Mr. print of how to investigate Mr. Markopolos’ allegations against Mr. Madoff, calling his profits “too Madoff were far from bulletproof. good to be true.” Mr. Markopolos provided no defini- AP/KATHY WILLENS In that report, Mr. Markopoulos tive evidence of a crime. His reports Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff leaves U.S. District Court after a said he knew his research could ru- were laden with frothy opinions. In hearing in New York this past Monday, January 5. Prosecutors said in people’s careers, and asked that his lists of ‘red flags,’ he occasional- Madoff violated bail conditions, and should be jailed without bail. the SEC be discreet about circulat- ly got things wrong.” ing the report and his name. He al- In the WSJ story, Mr. Markopo- had been following the tale of dis- “Chris Hagerty, director of ad- so wrote that he feared for his and los indicated that he felt very dis- graced financier Bernard Madoff’s vancement at Cathedral Prep, said his family’s personal safety (he is couraged about SEC’s lack of ac- alleged $50 billion scheme to de- he saw Markopolos in 2004, at the the father of three children under 5 tion: “At a certain point, I was just fraud investors. As he started to 30th reunion of Markopolos’ grad- years of age): the boy who cried wolf. I felt pretty read a story highlighting the latest uating class. He remembers him as “As a result of this case, several low. I kept firing bigger and bigger development, his eyes lit on two a confident man with a keen under- careers on Wall Street and in Eu- bullets, but I couldn’t stop him.” words in the first paragraph: Harry standing of financial markets. ‘Har- rope will be ruined… Due to the INNER FORTITUDE Markopolos. ‘How many Harry ry’s a good guy, one of those guys sensitive nature of the case I detail Mr. Markopolos saw a scam in Markopoloses can there be in the while in high school you always below, its dissemination within the Mr. Madoff’s activities, but others world, I thought,’ Blakeslee said. knew was going to do something SEC must be limited to those with a did not – or refused to, and chose to “As he read on, he realized that like this some day,’ said Hagerty, need to know… I am worried about look the other way. But the Greek the Harry Markopolos he was read- who graduated a year behind the personal safety of myself and American’s inner fortitude provid- ing about, the one now being cred- Markopolos.” my family (pg. 1).” ed him with the fuel he needed to ited with exposing what could be Mr. Markopolos graduated from He opened his report by noting keep his fire burning. the largest Ponzi Scheme to ever hit high school in Erie in 1974, then that he is one of the “few people in People who know or worked from Loyola College in 1981, which the world” with the necessary back- with Mr. Markopolos say it wasn’t his mother said he paid for on his ground to analyze Mr. Madoff’s op- prescience which helped him fore- “Every single one of the own. After a time in the Army and erations, and alleged that Mr. Mad- see the collapse of Mr. Madoff’s al- senior managers told in the financial services field, he off is “a fraud” who engaged in leged fraud. Diligence and a strong earned a graduate management de- front-running, an illegal practice moral sense drove his remarkable, me Bernie Madoff was gree from Boston College in 1997. whereby money managers place or- almost quixotic, nine-year quest to a fraud... he is running Mr. Markopolos – who had ders for favored clients ahead of alert regulators. the world’s largest trained in unconventional warfare, others in order to get a better price: “He followed through on every- including intelligence gathering, as “I used the Mosaic Theory to as- thing he ever did. He never let up. Ponzi Scheme.” a reservist in the Army – told the semble my set of observations. My Some kids just let it go if it’s too Wall Street Journal he came to observations were collected first- hard, but he wouldn’t do that,” his Wall Street, was the same Harry “consider Madoff a domestic ene- hand by listening to fund-of-fund mother Georgia told the Associated Markopolos he once knew as a my.” (FOF) investors talk about their in- Press. schoolmate at Cathedral Preparato- By 1999, he was working for vestments in a hedge fund run by “He feels very sorry for the peo- ry School. Rampart Investment Management, Madoff Investment Securities. I ple that got taken. It wouldn’t have “Blakeslee, who graduated a and was charged with doing com- have also spoken to heads of vari- happened if they would have lis- year behind Markopolos, wasn’t petitive research on Madoff Invest- ous Wall Street equity derivative tened to him long ago,” she added. surprised. He remembers Markopo- ment Securities, which was using a trading desks, and every single one His mother said her son was oc- los as a scholarly and focused, yet similar investment strategy as RIM, of the senior managers told me that AP/JASON DeCROW casionally mischievous as a child, down-to-earth student. ‘It just but far outperforming it. Part of Mr. Bernie Madoff was a fraud. Of Bernard Madoff returns to his Manhattan apartment this past Decem- but unfailingly honest. She recalled amazes me how the whole thing Markopolos’ research included a course, no one wants to take undue ber 17 after making a court appearance in New York. Madoff’s firm al- an incident where he pelted his ele- happened; that someone could get visit to Mr. di Bartolomeo, whom career risk by sticking their head up legedly squandered billions in a giant Ponzi Scheme. mentary school with eggs in the away with this in this day and age,’ he knew from his professional cir- and saying the emperor isn’t wear- middle of winter, but no one saw Blakeslee said… ‘It’s a testament to cle. ing any clothes, but… Very few volved in handling BM’s order blower of Mr. Madoff’s alleged se- him. Time passed with no confes- Harry’s analytical skills. He knew “I think he was curious about people in the world have the math- flow? Both Goldman and CitiGroup curities fraud, tipping off the SEC sion from anyone, until young Har- what he was looking for, and what how his competitor was doing so ematical background needed to are a lot larger in the OTC deriva- repeatedly, both verbally and in ry stepped forward; admitted he he was looking at,’ Blakeslee said. much better than they were,” Mr. di manage these types of products, tives markets than UBS or Merrill writing, since 1999, when he ar- did it; and cleaned the school wall ‘Everybody else was blind to it…’ Bartolomeo told AP. and I am one of them. I have out- Lynch (pg. 7)… A managing direc- gued that it was not legally possible himself. “Former classmate Russell Researching Mr. Madoff’s num- lined a detailed set of Red Flags tor at Goldman-Sachs prime bro- for Mr. Madoff to deliver the re- Mr. Markopolos eventually be- Warner remembers Markopolos as bers, using data the firm distrib- that make me very suspicious that kerage operation told me that his turns he claimed to deliver. came an adept hunter and fisher- a ‘very intelligent and a very deter- uted to prospective investors, Mr. Bernie Madoff’s returns aren’t real, firm doubts Bernie Madoff is legiti- But where Mr. Markopolos saw man as he grew up, like many kids mined guy.’ He was a straight ar- di Bartolomeo concluded within and if they are real, they would al- mate, so they don’t deal with him red flags, professional regulators in rural areas, but he also showed row, not the type of guy that hours that it was impossible for Mr. most certainly have to be generated (pg. 11).” apparently saw no problem. an early aptitude at academics, as prompts him to remember anec- Madoff to achieve the returns he re- by front-running customer order Yet another reason which made MIS was examined at least eight well as a willingness to question dotes years later, Warner said. ported while using the strategy he flow from the broker-dealer arm of Mr. Markopolos suspicious was the times in 16 years by the SEC and authority. “Warner and Markopolos grew said he used. Madoff Investment Securities, LLC fact that MIS very seldom reported other regulators, who often came “He used to challenge the teach- up in the same Glenwood Hills “As the market goes up and (pg. 1).” losses, while larger investment armed with suspicions. ers,” his mother said with a laugh. neighborhood, and the two fami- down, this strategy should have There were two possible scenar- firms reported losses much more SEC officials followed up on re- “He’d tell them he had the right an- lies are still friendly, Warner said. done a little better or a little worse, ios which involved fraud by Madoff often, and also because Mr. Madoff ports which described Mr. Madoff’s swers, but they had the wrong ‘I’m not surprised that Harry would just like everybody else,” Mr. di Securities, Mr. Markopolos wrote, did not consent to independent au- business practices as “highly un- questions.” be doing the right thing, and trying Bartolomeo said. “Instead, it ap- one of which he described as “high- dits. usual.” The Financial Industry Reg- In a story published by the Erie to make sure that other people are peared to be indifferent as to ly likely,” citing the fact that MIS “Yes, BM has access to his cus- ulatory Authority, the industry-run Times-News this past December 20, doing the right thing,’ said Warner, whether the market went up or would not disclose all its assets and tomer’s order flow, but he is only watchdog for brokerage firms, re- Erica Erwin spoke to some now managing partner at MacDon- down. They made money all the MIS’s reported average rate of re- one broker out of many, so it’s im- ported in 2007 that parts of Mr. Markopolos family friends: ald Illig Jones & Britton LLP. time.” turn as reasons to be suspicious: possible for him to know the mar- Madoff’s firm appeared to have no “John Blakeslee logged onto his “The Markopolos family is Now the world knows Mr. Mad- “The (Madoff) family runs what ket’s direction to such a degree as customers. Mr. Madoff was inter- Internet home page Friday morn- bright, hardworking and has a ‘get- off did not make the money all the is effectively the world’s largest to only post monthly losses once viewed at least twice by the SEC. ing (December 19) and settled in to to-the-core-of-a-problem kind of time, and Mr. Markopolos, whose hedge fund with estimated assets every couple of years. All of Wall But regulators never came close to read the news headlines of the day. approach,’ Warner said. ‘Certainly, warnings were heard too late, has under management of at least $20 Street’s big wire houses experience uncovering the alleged scam which Blakeslee, one of the owners of the (Markopolos) showed that here,’ become a symbol of the SEC’s billion to perhaps $50 billion. But trading losses on a more regular some investigators now believe be- Arthur F. Schultz furniture store, he said. botched oversight. no one knows exactly how much frequency (pg. 8)… Madoff does money BM is managing. That we not allow outside performance au- have what is effectively the world’s dits. One London-based hedge largest hedge fund operating un- fund, representing Arab money, derground is, plainly put, shocking asked to send a team of Big 4 ac- (pg. 2)… These 12-month returns countants to conduct a perfor- Camarinos Wins ABA Regional Negotiation Championship from 1990 to May 2005 ranged mance audit during their planned from a low of 6.23% to a high of due diligence. They were told, ‘No, NEW YORK – Michael Camarinos, Manekin will now compete against 19.98%, with an average 12-month only Madoff’s brother in-law, who a current Fordham Law School J.D. other regional champions at the return during that period of 12%. owns his own accounting firm, is Candidate, is the new American ABA National Negotiation Compe- Add in the 4% in average annual allowed to audit performance for Bar Association Regional Negotia- tition, which will be held in Boston, management and participation reasons of secrecy in order to keep tion Champion. Along with his Massachusetts, during the ABA’s fees, and BM would have to be de- Madoff’s proprietary trading strate- teammate, Jordan Manekin of Midyear Meeting in February 2009. livering average annual returns of gy secret so nobody can copy it (pg. Maryland, Michael competed in the Camarinos, a former high school 16% in order for investors to re- 10).” ABA Regional Negotiation Compe- debate champion and dean’s list ceive 12%. No broker-dealer that The seemingly clandestine fami- tition with law students from twen- graduate of Fordham College, is I’ve ever heard of finances its oper- ly-run operation was further cause ty-five teams representing twelve looking forward to representing ations at that high of an implied for alarm, Mr. Markopolos wrote, law schools throughout New York, Fordham Law on a national level. “I borrowing rate (pg. 4)… that Mad- noting that the Madoff family was, New Jersey and Connecticut. am humbled by the success that off’s returns are so high, yet he buys to some extent, immune to thor- After placing first overall on day Jordan and I have received on the expensive put options, is just an- ough investigations by important one of the competition in what will regional level and honored to not other reason to believe he is run- institutions within the financial in- be remembered as one of the most only represent Fordham Law in the ning the world’s largest Ponzi dustry: dominating performances in Ford- national competition but also my Scheme (pg. 11).” “Only Madoff family members ham Law’s history, Camarinos and Greek-American roots,” said Ca- Mr. Madoff’s extensive use of are privy to the investment strate- Manekin finished the day just one marinos. Over-the-Counter trading was a big gy. Name one other prominent mul- point off a perfect score and re- Fordham Law’s Alternative Dis- reason to suspect his trading prac- ti-billion dollar hedge fund that ceived consistent and high praise pute Resolution Program combines tices were fraudulent, Mr. doesn’t have outside, non-family from several accomplished judges. an integrated agenda of teaching, Markopolos wrote. professionals involved in the in- The team continued their excellent scholarship, and practice in conflict OTC trading involves trading fi- vestment process (pg. 12)… The run in the championship round and resolution within the national and nancial instruments like stocks, Madoff family has held important once again claimed first place in international communities. The bonds, commodities or derivatives leadership positions with the addition to the title of ABA Region- Dispute Resolution program directly between two parties, as op- NASD, NASDAQ, SIA, DTC and oth- al Negotiation Champions. ranked 10th in the nation by the posed to exchange trading, which er prominent industry bodies; The Fordham Law School com- 2009 U.S. News & World Report. In occurs via facilities constructed for therefore, these organizations munity is proud of the big win. addition to the classroom and clini- the express purpose of trading would not be inclined to doubt or “Congratulations to Michael and cal experience, the law school’s stu- (e.g., stock exchanges). investigate Madoff Investment Se- Jordan for this wonderful victory,” dent-run Dispute Resolution Soci- The OTC market presents in- curities, LLC (pg. 12).” said William Treanor, Dean of Ford- ety competes in ABA-sponsored in- vestment opportunities for in- In his ten-point conclusion (pgs. ham Law School. “And kudos to the terschool competitions as well as formed investors, but also carries a 14-16), Mr. Markopolos argued Dispute Resolution Society for the international mediation and arbi- high degree of risk. Many OTC is- that, after carefully assessing 14 extraordinary record of success it is Michael Camarinos, left, the new American Bar Association Regional tration competitions. suers are small companies with lim- and half years of data, Mr. Madoff’s achieving.” Camarinos and Negotiation Champion, with Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas. THE NATIONAL HERALD, JANUARY 10, 2009 COMMUNITY 5 A Life in Politics: Art Agnos’ Legacy Continues to Shape San Francisco

Continued from page 1 when it got dark early and the pow- fundraisers in Astoria, Chicago, St. er was out,” he said. “I called in the Louis, Washington, Phoenix, Los him the language that I know best, national guard to make sure every- Angeles and San Diego. I was run- now I’ll send him to you to teach thing was calm and in control. The ning for mayor of San Francisco, him the language you know best.’” only place we had light was from but even though I couldn’t do any- He earned a Bachelor of Arts de- the huge fires throughout the city.” thing for them, people like John gree from Bates College and Mas- Agnos was never afraid to make Catsimatidis in New York and Andy ter’s degree in geriatric social work a tough decision, even if it wasn’t Athens in Chicago held fundraisers from Florida State University. He popular politically. Agnos was a for me. They were just proud hav- also served in the U.S. army for two proponent of tearing down the Em- ing a Greek in high public office years. He moved to San Francisco barcadero Freeway which was con- even though it wasn’t in their city in 1966. sidered an eyesore that ran through and I couldn’t do anything for them He moved to San Francisco be- the city. from thousands of miles away. cause he “wanted to start off on his “It was very controversial be- They were just proud to have a own and also didn’t like the weath- cause it was a very useful highway Greek in high public office. It was er (in the east). After graduate in and out of the city, but it was a the classic Greek example of ‘filoti- school, I took a Greyhound Bus and scar along the side of the city along mo.’” came to San Francisco in 1966.” the waterfront,” he said. “Major He was also somewhat of a His first job was working in the constituencies of mine, especially tourist attraction himself. projects as a human rights advocate many ethnic groups, didn’t like the “As a Greek American mayor, we for poor and elderly people. It led idea. The Chinese may have been would have buses of Greek tourists to his next career in politics. the most important of the groups come to the mayor’s office - of “I met a lot of politicians there and this highway had two exits into course without an appointment – and one politician in particular, my Chinatown and many people in and want to see the Greek mayor,” mentor Leo McCarthy, who asked that community felt that it was im- he said. “I would make sure to let me to come work for him,” Agnos portant for their community. When them come in and say a few words said. “He admired my expertise in I decided to tear it down for the to them in Greek, tell them to enjoy the problems of poverty and the el- good of the city, many of them vot- the city and come by if they need derly, so I became his chief of staff.” ed against me in the next election. I anything.” But his political career and his lost by less than 2% and many ex- He also enjoys visiting Greece. life, were almost completely de- perts think that was the key factor.” “I have been there many times,” railed when he was shot twice in A plaza has now been built in Agnos said. “For me it is a spiritual the chest during a dangerous peri- front of the waterfront and is one of homeland. I went there as a young od in San Francisco known as the the most popular attractions in San man out of college. I went there as Zebra Murders. The Zebra Murders Francisco. Mayor of San Francisco when we were a number of connected mur- Does Agnos feel vindicated created a sister city relationship ders committed by a sect of Black Art Agnos, third from left, with President George H. W. Bush, and Congresswoman (and now Speaker of about his decision? with Thessalonica, which is a city Muslims operating out of Mosque the House) Nancy Pelosi, assessing some of the damage from the earthquake in October 1989. “Absolutely,” he said. “I still most similar to San Francisco as a 26 located in San Francisco, Cali- have people come up to me on a port city. I always start off by going fornia from 1973 until 1974, and he said. “When we were running movement,” he said. “Harvey was a was never a ‘gay disease,’” he said regular basis saying, ‘I was wrong to the ‘horio (village)’ of my par- which left at least 16 people dead. against each other he was learning. very dynamic leader who grew into “It is a human disease as we can see and you were right’ and ‘Thank ents.” “I was working as McCarthy’s You see in the movie me teaching the role of being an important by the spread in places like Africa God you did it.’ The city is more He has considered running for chief of staff and I was asked to go him a little bit about how to im- leader not only locally here in San and other parts of the world where beautiful in those places now office again, saying “When you’re a to a meeting one evening on De- prove his message to people. It was Francisco, but throughout the they are way behind us in educat- where thousands of people go politician, you’re always ready to cember 13, 1973,” Agnos remem- after our debate at the University of country as a strong, outspoken ing people to take care of them- everyday.” run again,” but despite rumors that bered. “The meeting was about California. He was sort of the con- champion of his community and selves and getting the appropriate helping some low income commu- servative Republican type who civil rights for gays and lesbians.” medicine for those that are infect- nities open a health clinic to solve would suggest that we need to get Koons portrayal as Agnos has ed.” their children. I went to the meet- rid of social workers like me and been praised, though those who As for gay issues, Agnos doesn’t ing, which was in what you would run government like a business. It know the former mayor had other mince words when talking about call ‘our Harlem,’ a mostly African- was a very negative message. I told ideas of who should have played Proposition 8, which was a 2008 American community. It was a suc- him that you have to give people a him. California ballot proposition that cessful meeting and I was popular message of hope, not negativism. “Everybody who does not knows changed the state Constitution to with that community because I had He quickly understood that and it me likes the way he plays me be- restrict the definition of marriage worked with them for many years. changed his whole approach to cause he helps Harvey,” Agnos said. to a union between a man and a As I was walking to my car, a black campaigning. He became what he “It was a positive portrayal. People woman. man walked up to me and shot me is now famous for, his message of who know me do not like the way “I think Proposition 8 was a ter- point blank twice in the chest.” ‘You’ve got to give them hope.’” he plays me because he’s not Greek. rible event in our history that will The shooter was part of a radical Harvey Milk was assassinated by My kids think it should have been be remembered the way other neg- sect of Black Muslims called the Dan White, who assassinated him John Stamos, who I looked like ative civil rights matters will be re- Death Angels who required their more when I was 35. Jeff Koons membered in our history,” he said. members to kill a white person in looks more like an American yan- “I believe that gay people should order to be initiated. kee and I look more Greek. My fam- have the right to express their love “I was victim number six,” Ag- ily says I look more ethnic like Sta- for one another and the permanen- nos said. “There were five people mos or Andy Garcia.” cy of their love through the act of killed two months before me. There JIM JONES love. Marriage is not a religious were another 16 killed in the next Jim Jones was the was the event, it is a civil event that is cele- eight months. This was a reign of founder of the Peoples Temple, brated by some religions, but many terror in San Francisco that oc- which is best known for the No- people get married in civil events at curred for over a year before they vember 18, 1978 death of over 900 city hall. I have done many mar- captured this radical sect and put Temple members in Jonestown, riages in my career for many people them on trial. That was the first ex- Guyana along with the deaths of that did not want a religious cere- ample of urban terrorism in the his- nine other people at a nearby mony. I think it should be extended tory of the United States by this airstrip, including Congressman to any two human beings that want type of group.” Leo Ryan. During the 1970s, his to express their love to one another. Agnos testified at the trial, but church played an important role in I believe within 20 years it will be wasn’t sure which member of the San Francisco. as commonplace as all other forms group shot him, but he the group “I, like all the politicians of San of marriage are today.” was eventually stopped. Agnos Francisco, were very impressed MAYOR wanted an answer to just one thing. with the work of his church be- In 1987, Agnos moved on to the “I was more curious as to why he cause he helped clothe and feed the next stage of his political career, be- was so full of hatred,” he said. “I poor which is a primary thing the coming the mayor of San Francisco. never got a good answer. In fact, church does,” Agnos said. “His “I had served in the legislature several years later their defense at- church had a reputation of doing for 12 years and had developed a torney who later became a judge all the things a church is supposed record which focused on human and my friend, told me that I was to do, so I supported the church. I rights, healthcare, housing and ed- very popular with his clients. When never met Jim Jones personally be- ucation,” he said. “Many people in they realized I was a human rights cause he had left for Guyana. I was San Francisco wanted me to bring worker who fought for the im- horrified by the ultimate ending of that same philosophy of govern- provement of life for poor people in his life and all of the people whose ment to the city as mayor. I was general, and African-Americans in lives he took. I knew Leo Ryan from urged to run and decided I could particular, they felt very bad about my time from the legislature. I’m contribute more as mayor than I San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos in 1989. what happened to me that night. I friends with Jackie Speier who is a could as one of 80 people in the leg- never got a good answer and Art Agnos congresswoman and was his chief- islature.” Did he ever consider not making he would run for mayor again in frankly just went on with my life.” of-staff. She is still marked by that Agnos came from behind to de- the decision for political reasons? 2007, Agnos didn’t throw his hat in Agnos was in and out of the hos- and San Francisco Mayor George whole memory.” feat heavy favorite, Supervisor “When I was sworn into office, I the race. pital for the better part of a year re- Moscone after he wasn’t given his AIDS LEGISLATION AND GAY John Molinari. borrowed the ancient Athenian “I had some other interests I covering from his wounds, which job back as supervisor by Moscone RIGHTS “I was the first mayor who was oath of office that ‘I promise upon wanted to pursue and it didn’t fit,” were very serious. days after resigning. Agnos remem- As a politician from San Francis- not born and raised in San Francis- my honor to lead my city better Currently, Agnos keeps himself “Fortunately I am healthy today bers that he played a small role in co, AIDS legislation and gay rights co,” he said. “It was a shock to the than I found it,’” Agnos said. busy teaching and lecturing. and have no long-term after effects what happened. are two important issues. establishment of the city for some- “That’s what I said during my “One of things I have done is I that I know of,” he said. “There are “George Moscone had asked me As a state assemblyman, Agnos one like myself to win.” swearing in.” travel to other parts of the world to no permanent scars in our family.” who should take Dan White’s posi- was the author of major legislation During his term as mayor, Agnos GREEK AMERICAN COMMUNITY lecture about American democracy The shooting changed Agnos’ tion after he resigned,” he said. confronting AIDS. In 1987, he had to show great leadership dur- The Greek American community at the request of the State Depart- path in life, leading him to his polit- “Harvey wanted the mayor to select arranged for a Joint Legislative Ses- ing the 1989 Loma Prieta Earth- played a big role during Agnos’ ment and non-profit groups,” he ical career. a more progressive and pro-gay sion on the AIDS Epidemic, featur- quake. time as mayor. said. “I’ve been to parts of Africa, “My goal at the time was to get candidate to replace White who ing Surgeon General C. Everett “I was with my wife Sherry and “The Greek American communi- Korea, Russia, Central America and my Ph.D. in social work and be- was more conservative and anti- Koop and National Academy of Sci- children, Christopher and Steven, ty of San Francisco is very success- even Turkey to lecture on different come a college professor,” he said. gay. Moscone didn’t know anyone ence leader David Baltimore. It was in a car just arriving at Candlestick ful and professional community issue like disaster preparedness.” “Because of the shooting, I never so he called me as one of his allies the first such session in the nation. Park before Game 3 of the World with people who are very loyal to Asked hypothetically if he went back to write my dissertation, and asked me for ideas. I made a “In 1980, the AIDS epidemic Series between the San Francisco each other,” he said. “Without the w