Friday, I attend the Queens Borough President's Annual State of the Borough ("SOTB") speech. The last several years I've attended the SOTB with my daughter Marisa who works at the American Jewish Committee. This year I met in the parking lot the venue, Queens Theatre in the Park, shares with the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. She …
I concluded last week's commentary noting a need for $4,000 to activate a matching donation to support the special People4Peace research project. As I write this only $50 needs to come in to make the match happen. Friday's blogger worked very hard to induce support; I view last week's efforts commendable and thank the generosity of the donors to N …
Something unexpected intruded on “my” Friday. I expected to focus on getting the last few items submitted to access a federal grant toward the new building renovation project for SNAP senior center, monitoring that day’s hearing on what I call the congestion pricing tax, visiting TD Bank to deposit donations to Northeast Queens Jewish Community Cou …
For several months, I’ve been meeting via Zoom with like-minded folks who oppose the imposition of a toll-tax (aka congestion pricing) to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street. Late last year, as other concerned folks and groups joined our weekly Zooms, those gathered decided to hire a lawyer and explore bringing a lawsuit. The group chose a name an …
First off, thank you to Friday's blogger for his commentary on today's blogger. A few weeks back during a periodic Zoom of the Queens Civic Engagement Committee held by the office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, the topic was expansion of voting. I had shared in the chat a 2016 commentary I wrote about how low turnout in the electio …
No secret how proud Shelly and I are proud of our children (and our daughter in law too). When we gathered last night for dinner I toasted Jonathan and Marisa for their recent achievement. This weekend I tweeted (see pic upper right)-- twice, last night and Friday -- about proud parent moments: Jonathan -- published again -- this time in Studi …
Friday became a rather special day. It started with the Daily News publishing an op-ed penned by our daughter, Marisa, on its website and then we receive word our daughter-in-law, Carrie, passed her dissertation defense that morning, thus earning her PhD in Psychology at my alma mater Hofstra University. Marisa’s commentary, Don’t just condemn …
It was a special night. I think my tweet captured the sentiment. We gathered at Citi Field last night. It involved more than a game. Shelly posted on Facebook some nice pics of the pre-game ceremony. The outcome on the field remained secondary (thought there certainly are those happy or not at that) to the commemoration. Bottom line, …
Approaching Election Day, I look forward to simply advocating Americans take their right to vote seriously; that they exercise on or before Election Day. 365 days ago I blogged that Voting Matters. Matters even more this year. Interestingly the ballots Shelly and I cast may matter more on three City Charter referenda than on candidates (I fully ex …
Just over was three years ago, Gotham lost one of its good guys – Jack Friedman who had passed away earlier today just days short of his 56th birthday. Fittingly because Jack enjoyed live music – we attended several shows together, I drafted a post to Fredslist and the Gotham website wall about his passing and the funeral and Shiva arrangements …
Traffic recorded a song, Sometimes I Feel So Uninspired, that applies to so much when one looks around these days for leadership in the usual places. Yet the courageous response of young people after the tragic and violent shooting murders in Parkland provides Inspiration to this correspondent. A bit more than a year ago, I shared the playlist …
Language matters. Words matter. It frames how we view things, events, people, ideas and more. We see pundits, politicians, PR pros, advertisers, marketers and other all use it. It makes great sense to use words to point out hypocrisy and inconsistency where we find it; I enjoy ther use -- frequently I hope. I prefer using it in a positive m …
Four blogs ago I focused on those who by action(s) or inaction(s) enable creeps to perpetrate terrible harm or worse on others. Friday I received an email disturbing in content: it defended Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. I replied, “So are you saying that notwithstanding Moore’s conduct he merits election to any public office? "A creep is …
Tuesday, I expect to devote much of my day inducing others directly or indirectly to exercise their right to vote. Advising a candidate who all expects to win overwhelmingly you might not think that -- as we used direct mail, community newspaper ads, robo calls and canvas teams to encourage eligible folks to exercise this right I view as somethi …
I face an interesting dilemma involving a City Council candidate I advise. We want to include material advocating his position on a very important ballot issue – Proposition No. 1 (“Prop 1”) – voters get to weigh in on this November 8 when voters will also find him on the general election ballot. Four years ago, voters chose him with 96.8% the ge …
I blog about what muses me.
