NOTE TO OUR READERS
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,BT APRIL 3–9, 2020 11
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
There is undeniable evidence
that mailbox tampering
is ongoing throughout our
footprint. Social distancing
protocols and other mandates
will likely increase mailbox
usage; be aware when using
any mailbox. Put it in the slot
and make sure it drops. The
USPS Community Board 10
and Councilman Gjonaj have
been alerted. The expeditious
response to this situation by
Farrah Rubin, key staff member
for Councilman Gjonaj, is
deeply appreciated.
All our elected offi cials and
stellar Community Board 10
are hard at work and prepared
to address community concerns.
Contact numbers:
Councilman Gjonaj 718-
931-1721
Senator Alessandra Biaggi
718-822-2049
Congresswoman Ocasio-
Cortez 718-662-5972
Assemblyman Mike Benedetto
718-892-2235
Community Board 718- 892-
1161
Heartfelt thanks and appreciation
to all elected offi cials,
medical personnel, food industry
workers, fi rst responders,
postal workers, sanitation
workers, truckers, community
volunteers, essential and nonessential
personnel and their
families. Their hard work and
sacrifi ces keep the heartbeats
of our nation and community
pumping. Bless you all.
Approximately one year
ago we were united battling
MTA redesigns, Cutbacks to
our NYPD, and continuums
of over development that affected
our quality of life. Now
we are confronted with a severe
problem that affects everyone
in some way, shape, or
form. Our resolve and mettle
will be tested. We must calmly
band together. Unity, calm and
respect for one another will
see our community through.
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. This virus is
indiscriminate. If possible, remain
home and always implement
cautious contact, cleanliness,
and commonsense. Any
area homeowner or renter
interested in membership to
the all-inclusive Spencer Estate
Civic Association inbox
George Havranek on Facebook
or email spencerestatecivic@
gmail.com Remember:
“Inclusion brings solutions.”
BY TONY SALIMBENE
What can I say? I understand
people are partying in
defi ance of health guidelines!
Remember, resources are
available by computer/phone,
Google, CB 10, any 311 agency,
friends networks, and beware
of fake social media news too.
But we are our own best resource.
Follow our commander’s
committees, aka “Buddy
Checks.” Just sent out Buddy
Check info from Department
of NY.
Also remember to help all
you can, but this is diffi cult
when you are told to stay indoors…
A salute to our Vietnam
Veterans on 3/29, their special
day! We WILL meet and have
a proper ceremony when this
is over.
Until Next Time: Again,
nothing to report really but
stay safe, be a good neighbor
and fl y your fl ag.
BY AL D’ANGELO
“These are the times that
try men’s soles.” I always
taught my students that every
individual is special no matter
what their situation. “God
doesn’t make junk” and their
will be a time in everyone’s
life when they will be called
on to do something heroic. We
saw it during 9/11, when fi remen
and policemen rushed
into burning buildings and
common citizens came together
to volunteer their services
whether it be by donating
blood, money or their time
to help others. It was their
time. Today, as devastating as
this virus is, it has brought out
heroic people. We thank our
doctors, nurses and hospital
staff, from housekeeping and
maintenance to the medical
technicians for putting themselves
in harms way to help.
It is their time and they are
doing something heroic. God
bless them for their effort. We
thank all the fi rst responders
for their dedication and service
to our nation. The supermarket
employees who make
sure we have food on our tables
and the truck drivers who
deliver the food; there are so
many who’s lives go unheralded.
This is their time. We
are the American Family, and
like all families, we have different
points of view, we argue
and get mad at one another,
but if anyone or anything tries
to harm a member of the family
we come together and defend
one another. I’m not a big
fan of political parties, I think
they worry more about party
than the good of the country,
but when the chips were
down, they came together and
did what they were paid to do
— serve the American people.
They still can’t help taking pot
shots at each other, but I guess
that’s the nature of the beast.
I feel sorry for our sanitation
workers, not only are they in
harms way, but because so
many people are home and
fi nding time to get rid of unwanted
items, they are overburdened.
Anyone looking to
get a little fresh air or want to
do something with the kids,
Orchard beach is a great place
this time of year; few people
and plenty of space to take a
relaxing walk or just sit and
enjoy the outdoors. We are in
a crisis and the fact that there
are 12.5 million illegal immigrants
in this country is not
helping the situation. Subtracting
the taxes paid by undocumented
persons it costs
American taxpayers $116 billion
a year, not to mention
overburdening our hospital
system at this crucial time.
BY FRANK VERNUCCIO
There have been several
harsh revelations that are related
to the COVID-19 crisis,
beginning with the reality
that China’s delay in informing
the world of the start of
the outbreak indicated that
the Beijing regime is not a
trustworthy member of the
global community.
At home in the U.S., the apparent
media confusion over
which branch of government
has fi rst-line responsibility
for dealing with the most intimate
decision-making is apparent.
It is not the federal government’s
role to decide, for
example, to close local schools
or suspend recreational activities.
That is in the portfolio of
state and local governments.
The contrast between those
local governments that have
acted responsibly and those
that have not is substantial.
According to Education
Week, As of March 12, 10,000
K-12 schools around the country
had shut down at some
point in response to the virus,
affecting at least 4.9 million
students, according to Education
Week. Ohio has closed
all K-12 schools in the state
in response to the spread of
the novel coronavirus, as has
Maryland, New Mexico, and
Washington.
Over 150 universities have
either closed or moved to exclusively
on-line learning.
But in New York City,
Mayor Bill De Blasio refused
to do the same, despite the reality
that his jurisdiction is
one of the hardest-hit in the
nation, until he was eventually
forced by public pressure
to do so. His inexcusable delay
has been a key factor why NYC
has been so hard hit.
The crisis has also highlighted
America’s dangerous
dependence on Chinese pharmaceuticals.
President Trump, even before
his inauguration, warned
about the implications of the
off-shoring of the American
pharmaceutical industry,
a reality that may be hampering
the U.S. drive to produce
test kits and, eventually,
a vaccine. A 2017 Industry
Week review reported: “President
elect Donald Trump on
January 11 attacked U.S. companies
who ship jobs offshore,
singling out the pharmaceutical
industry for high drug
prices and for manufacturing
overseas. Trump said U.S.
companies relocating production
offshore are ‘getting away
with murder…’”
Action
Association
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