Cont’d NYPD 10 - 13 CLUB of Charlotte, NC Inc. 5922 - 5 Weddington Rd Suite 11, Wesley Chapel, NC 28104 A CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL NYCPD 10 - 13 ORG. INC. http://www.nationalnycpd1013.org/home.html AN ORGANIZATION OF RETIRED NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICERS AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS Club Officers Volume 12 Issue 9 September 2020 PRESIDENT HARVEY KATOWITZ PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 704 - 849 - 9234 hkatowitz@charlotte10 - 13.com Hi All, VICE PRESIDENT Bernard Roe FOP Lodge 9 has opened their building for in - person membership meetings. Tables and chairs have been spread 704 - 241 - 8002 out to maintain COVID 19 social distancing. The Lodge can safely accommodate approx. 60 people [email protected] 9/11 is right around the corner and unfortunately due to the high number of members, (90 - 110) who attend our me- RECORDING SECRETARY SCOTT HICKEY morial service meeting the club board felt that it was prudent that we do not have an in - person meeting. To try and 704 - 256 - 3142 make things as normal as possible we will hold our memorial service meeting virtually, using Zoom, and we will fol- [email protected] low the same format that we have previously used for the memorial service with the exception of not reading the TREASURER names of the 300+ law enforcement officers who have died of 911 related illnesses. CHRIS RUSSO 347 - 886 - 2449 To honor and recognize these officers and to make sure they are never forgotten, their names will be included in the [email protected] memorial program that will be emailed to everyone prior to the meeting. SGT. at ARMS HANK DOBSON For those members who have not heard club member Frank DeMasi’s somber and heart - wrenching testimony of 914 - 261 - 4312 [email protected] being trapped under an ESU truck after the second WTC tower collapsed, you will not want to miss the meeting. During the memorial service he will repeat this account which he first shared with us during our 10th anniversary TRUSTEES BOB FEE memorial service that we held opposite CMPD headquarters. 704 - 220 - 8400 [email protected] A couple of weeks ago I received an email from a club member who was concerned about the future solvency of social security. Below is a synopsis of the email. BRENDA JORDAN 516 - 852 - 3885 [email protected] Good morning Harvey, I hope all is well and you are staying safe. I woke up to hearing if Trump is re - elected he plans to eliminate payroll tax which means social security will be in jeopardy. KEVIN GRIBBON 803 - 493 - 3024 [email protected] So my question is who does this club plan to endorse? Ian McGrouther I know this club endorsed Trump in 2016, but I receive social security and can't afford to loose it. 516 - 314 - 5326 [email protected] This is my response to the member: “Since the inception of our club, we have never endorsed anyone. BEN PEPTIONE 704 - 674 - 7000 I have been the chairperson of the FOP Lodge 9 political endorsement committee for the past 8 years. The commit- [email protected] tee only interviews local candidates who are running for election in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. CHAPLAIN S DONALD SANCHEZ We then make a recommendation to the FOP membership, who then votes on who to endorse. 7 04 - 654 - 2694 [email protected] I have always provided our club members with the names of the candidates that FOP Lodge 9 has endorsed, but DEACON RICH MCcARRON again, that is only local candidates running in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. 732 - 406 - 2917 [email protected] With this in mind, I again chaired the FOP Lodge 9 political endorsement committee for the upcoming 2020 elec- tions. HISTORIAN JIM ROCHFORD Continued on next page………. 516 - 819 - 1607 [email protected] Our Next Membership Meeting (Virtual) is EDITOR Friday Septemebr 11 at 7:00 PM Harvey Katowitz http://www.charlotte10 - 13.com/ PRESIDENTS MESSAGE Charlotte Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9 recently conducted interviews with candidates running for North Caro lin a Senate, House of Representatives, and Judicial positions. Charlotte Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9 Political Endorsement Committee distributed questionnaires to thirty - six can- didates in eighteen races. These questionnaires contained several questions pertaining to law enforcement and public safety. The committee reviewed the responses, discussed and made recommendations to the membership on who to endorse. During the September 1st membership meeting, the following candidates were endorsed by Charlotte Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9 in their respective races. We would like to thank those candidates that participated in our endorsement process, especially those who took time to personal ly address the membership. N.C. House of Representatives District 88: Mary Belk N.C. House of Representatives District 98: John Bradford N.C. House of Representatives District 103: William Brawley N.C. House of Representatives District 104: Donald Pomeroy N.C. House of Representatives District 107: Richard Rivette N.C. Superior Court Judge District 26A - Seat 01: Casey Viser Early Voting: Mecklenburg County will have 33 early polling locations (See below) - Early voting dates are Oct 15 - 31. Ardrey Kell High School Hickory Grove area, to be determined Olympic High School Bank of America Stadium Hornet's Nest Park Providence High School Beatties Ford Library Hough High School Renaissance West STEAM Academy Bette Rae Thomas Rec Center Independence High School Scaleybark area, to be determined Bojangles Coliseum Mallard Creek High School South Mecklenburg High School Butler High School Matthews area, to be determined SouthPark area, to be determined Cornelius Town Hall Mountain Island Lake Library Southwest Middle School East Mecklenburg High School Myers Park High School Spectrum Center Former Fox & Hound, Ballantyne Area North County Library UNCC Belk Gymnasium Former Rite Aid, Carmel area North Mecklenburg High School West Boulevard Library Garinger High School Old Pier One, University area West Charlotte High School With all of the strife and riots occurring around America it is important that we all do our part to heal our great country. Be low is some sound advice that was posted on - line by club member Dennis Cirillo. A few suggestions to my friends for the betterment of EVERYONE: If you encounter the police ALWAYS comply. We have courts to adjudicate differences and interpret laws. If you feel you must express your first amendment rights, do so peacefully and comply with laws. Your ability to protest does not allow you to violate my rights by getting in my face, blocking traffic, or breaking any other laws (rioting, etc.) WAIT for investigations to conclude. DO NOT assume anything and allow that assumption to cloud your judgement or emotions! Choose your heroes, or those you believe fit into that category wisely. Allow others to express what they are feeling freely. I have the same rights you do. Do NOT attempt to cancel the past (both good and bad.) If you do so, we will never learn from our mistakes and will likely repeat them. Do not assume that those that may not be the same as you, cannot empathize with you - or hate you. Do not put others down for their political beliefs. We live in a democratic society and are free to vote for those that we believe will lead our country in the right direction. If your political party doesn’t win, support those that are in power fo r the betterment of our country! Follow the golden rule by treating others as you would like to be treated. Continued next page…………………….. 2 PRESIDENTS MESSAGE After initially being postponed due to concerns about counter protests and then again, because of the Republican National Convention we finally have a date for the rally. The rally will take pace on Saturday September 12, 10 am at Chestnut Square Park, 320 Chestnut Parkway, Indian Trail. Please make an effort to join us at the rally. During our September 11 membership meeting we will be taking nominations for Ben Pepitone & Brenda Jordan's trustee positions that expire on 12/31/20. Ben has been on the board since the inception of our club in March 2007 and Brenda has been on the board since January 2009. Both indicated that they will not be running again. If you are interested in joining the board, and will not be participating in this months membership meeting, please notify a boa rd member. Elections will take place during our October 13 membership meeting. In last month’s newsletter I discussed the $1.22 per person pension deduction for retirees and their family members who have Aet na Medicare Advantage. I spoke to Aetna Medicare Account Director Sabrina Deguzman Simmons about the deduction and she told me that Aetna is working with NYC to neutralize the rate increase so that there will be no pension deductions. She said that it will probably not occur until some time in September. Please watch this motivational video prepared by Army Veteran Travis Mills: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW0xLl4m -- M I t is extremely inspirational & funny too...................... If the daily confirmed COVID cases continue to drop in Mecklenburg County we expect to have an in - person membership meeting for our October 13 membership meeting. We will keep our fingers crossed. I have previously reported good news about the Hawthorne Lane detour coming to an end. Unfortunately that will not come to f rui- tion until the end of the year. The Hawthorne Bridge is now open for pedestrian traffic and the Hawthorne Lane and Sunnyside Ave intersection will reopen on September 4. But, Hawthorne Lane between Sunnyside Ave and Bay Street will not reopen until Janu ary 1, 2021.