BY FRANK VERNUCCIO
Published reports indicated
that there is renewed expert belief
that COVID-19 originated
in a Chinese government-run
laboratory.
Whether intentional or accidentally,
the pandemic was
unleashed to the world through
Beijing’s actions. It has been
previously discussed why there
has been so few expressions
of anger in the American media
about that nation’s worldchanging
action or negligence.
Some answers are becoming
more clear.
A study by the Heritage
Foundation states that “The
idea that some American and
European news outlets are giving
more credibility to the Chinese
party line on the coronavirus
than they do to their own
governments is nothing less
than bizarre. Yet, here we are.
Even in this time of national
crisis, sheer hatred for the U.S.
president causes many in the
mainstream media to interpret
his every action and statement
as unacceptable. On top of that,
Beijing for years has been constructing
the grid for information
warfare against the United
States, which it now is deploying
full force. This combination
has produced a shameful capitulation
by the media establishment
to China’s communist authoritarian
regime. “
An extraordinary analysis
published by the Gatestone Institute
reveals that China Daily,
which essentially serves as a
mouthpiece for Beijing, paid $19
million to U.S. media companies,
including $12 million to
major newspapers such as the
Washington Post, the New York
Times, the Los Angeles Times,
the Chicago Tribune, Boston
Globe, Seattle Times, Houston
Chronicle and Foreign Policy.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, M 44 ARCH 12-18, 2021 BTR
The information came
from a required disclosure
made to the U.S. Justice Department.
Aside from newspapers, a
report by International Policy
Digest notes that fi nancial ties
exit between a number of news
outlets and China.
Their extraordinary report
outlines those ties.
“NBC News, CNBC, and
MSNBC are owned by Comcast
which also owns Universal Pictures
which is a minority partner
to fi ve Chinese state-owned
companies in the Universal Beijing
Resort. … In 2016, Universal
and China’s Perfect World
Pictures announced a $500 million
co-fi nancing deal of a slate
of fi lms. ABC News is owned
by The Walt Disney Company
which also owns Walt Disney
Studios and participates in the
Shanghai Disney Resort, where
it is a 43% partner to three Chinese
companies controlled by
the government of the city of
Shanghai….CBS News is owned
by ViacomCBS which also owns
Paramount Pictures and ViacomCBS
Networks International,
the latter of which produces
MTV and Nickelodeon
for the Chinese market. CNN is
owned by AT&T’s WarnerMedia
… WarnerMedia is also a
49% participant in Flagship Entertainment,
a fi lm production
company located in Hong Kong;
the other major participant is
venture capital fi rm China Media
Capital.”
The Japan Times explains
that Beijing clearly is following
a policy of suppressing any criticism
of its actions and policies.
The CCP Chinese Communist
Party under Xi believes that its
dictates about truth and facts
are enough. It has a global propaganda
machine that can deliver
its message on its terms.
That new confi dence is evident
in the speed and readiness that
Chinese offi cials go on the offensive
against any criticism.
Indeed, it considers any criticism
ideological in nature and
intolerable. As Foreign Ministry
spokesman Geng Shuang
said, “The United States cannot
proceed from ideological prejudice,
use its own standards and
likes and dislikes to judge the
media of other countries, let
alone suppress the Chinese media
unreasonably.”
The Federalist notes that
“Despite the Chinese Communist
Party’s record of oppression,
corporate media outlets
are parroting the authoritarian
government’s propaganda, even
in the midst of an outbreak the
CCP worsened through a coverup.
Many of those media outlets
have fi nancial ties to Chinese
companies with intense oversight
from the CCP.”
The Trump Administration
has vehemently opposed Beijing’s
growing infl uence. Chinese
news organizations such
as the China Global Television
Network, China Radio International,
China Daily, Hai Tian
Development USA and Xinhua
now must register under
the Foreign Agents Registration
Act.
CIVIC CENTER
Community Action
Civic Association
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
At the recent 45th Precinct
Community Council
meetingCaptainIsaac Soberal
addressedrecent criminal activitieswithin
the Spencer Estate
footprint.
February 17Th: During
afternoon hours multiple
people posing as “Water Company”
employees used deceptive,
not forceful, methods
to gain consensual entry and
burglarize an area home.
Undisclosed items were stolen;
gratefully no one was
hurt. According to NYPD,
this burglary is the handiwork
of a roving “Gypsy Family”.
This deceptive group has
allegedly committed similar
crimes throughout the tristate
region. Thus far, no arrests
have been made. It is
imperative to remember all
Utility, and Service providers
schedule appointments. The
need for essential unauthorized
cold calling is a rarity.
February 20th:On this
Saturday night a group of
males entered our neighborhood
Pizzeria, threatened
the owner and an employee
with the use of dangerous
force and robbed this Mom
and Pop establishment. In
addition to property damages
an unverifi ed amount
of cash was stolen. This was
a well-synchronized event.
With doors well guarded and
getaway vehicle ready, in less
than two minutes the suspects
grabbed and smashed
the cash register, collected
cash and exited the store. This
experienced crew is linked to
recent robberies throughout
the Bronx including two in
nearby City Island. The diligent
work of NYPD led to the
arrest of a seventeen-yearold
male. Due to age related
legalities the suspects name
and case disposition remains
confi dential. NYPD revealed
the young suspect is known
to law-enforcement with a record
that includes 60 felonies
among 81 arrests. The suspect’s
continual addition to
alengthy criminal recordat
such a tender age bewildered
many participants. This situation
placed focus on 2020NY
State Bail reforms and NYPD
budget cuts. However, recidivist
criminal behaviors were
problematic prior to these
controversialchanges.
Flashback to 2018:
In excess of two hundred
people fi lled the Einstein Hospital
campus gallery for an
October 18th Public Safety
Meeting. This event was to
help resolve Quality of Life issues
for disgruntled residents
in the 45th and 49th precinct
footprints.
The esteemed panel- Assembly
Member -Nathalia
Fernandez, Bronx District
Attorney -Darcel Clarke, Supreme
Court Judge Bronx
County- Robert E. Torres,
45th Precinct Commanding
Offi cer- Captain Carlos
Ghonz, and 49th Precinct
Commanding Offi cer- Deputy
Inspector Thomas Alps
listened to observations,
complaintsand fi elded a myriad
of questions from Bronx
business owners, Civic leaders
and area residents.Statements
and and questions from
gallery members pointed
to the negative impact2015-
2016decriminalization,by the
Melissa Mark-Vivierito led
City Council, hadon quality
of life in Bronx communities.
An overwhelming number
of attendees maintainedthis
measure and successive policies
hindered law-enforcement,
increased recidivist
criminal behaviors and accelerated
neighborhood degradations.
NYPD responses
strongly suggestedchanges to
legislation and policyaltered
the actions of law enforcement.
Deputy Inspector Alps
description of the Jamie Martinez
case displayed the need
for law enforcement to implement
complex strategies to
resolve previously simple issues.
Martinez had been
arrested and released over
sixty times. Bronx District
Attorney Clarke exhibited
a strong desire to prosecute
everycase. However, the D.A.
adeptly explained that high
caseloads taxedthe system,
which in turn resulted in
many plea deals and a turnstile
effect on the criminal
justice system. Judge Torres
blamed an undermanned judiciary
for case overloads
and plea-bargains that foster
a bevy of lenient outcomes.
Judge Torres believes political
pressures from organized
citizen groups could produce
benefi cial community
change. Assemblywoman Fernandez
agreed legislative and
policy changes are required
to improve community quality
of life.Fernandez assured
those in attendance that possible
legislative reforms to
enhance quality of life in the
Bronx would be appropriately
addressed.
The explanations and defenses
from this well-intentioned
panel did not satisfy
the solution-seeking congregation.
Blankets of frustration
replaced any hopes for
resolution. Although cued by
numerous gallery commentaries,
the panel’s reluctance
to point fi ngers directly at
City Hall and Albany are indictments
of those powerful
political machines that have
unwittingly placed stress and
strain upon honorable law
abiding citizens.
2021 Perspective: Crime,
for statistical purposes, is
defi ned by the “Big Seven” –
Murder, Rape, Robbery, Felony
Assault, Burglary, Grand
Larceny and Grand Larceny
Auto. Numerous Quality of
Life issues, which are prime
community complaints, are
categorized as nuisance behaviors
and continue to meander
through the maze and
haze of the 311 systems. The
responsibility of law enforcement
and judiciary within
a community is clear: they
must abide by the rules
crafted by our legislative leadership.
Like fi shermen with a
sub-standard catch, legislators
have mandated our law
enforcement and judiciary to
quickly release most of the arrested
back into society. The
words of the immortal Maya
Angelou “If we don’t plant the
right seeds we will reap the
wrong things…common sense
tells you to be kind.” Franklin
D Roosevelt stated, “It is
common to take a method
and try it. If it fails admit it
frankly and try another.”Is
anyone listening?
Our community has traditionally
exhibited a “We are
Family attitude” Now, is the
time to let it shine through
the fog of uncertainty. Communicate;
make that phone
call, text message, or e-mail.
Please check on family,
friends, and neighbors especially
the elderly and vulnerable.
Any area homeowner or
renter interested in membership
to the inclusive Spencer
Estate Civic Association in
box George Havranek on Facebook
or send-email to spencerestatecivic@
gmail.com
Remember: “Inclusion brings
solutions.” Community=
Common-Unity.
CIVIC CENTER
Spencer Estate Civic
Association
link
link
/gmail.com