BY FRANK VERNUCCIO
The avoidance of western
moral standards has led to peculiar
ethical choices.
Much of this is seen
through the prism of progressive
politics and “woke” concepts
that have, as its guiding
principle, a rejection of values
seen as emblematic of modern
American society.
There is increasing pressure
to teach the youngest
students issues of gender and
sex practices. However, many
of the same educational bureaucrats
who advocate this
shrink in horror at even innocuous
discussions of the
most basic concepts of religion
or morality. Teachers
who mention fellatio face far
less scrutiny than those who
dare say “Merry Christmas”
or “Happy Channukah.”
The concept of not tilting towards
one religious creed over
the other has been replaced by
a strenuous avoidance of all
western faith practices.
There is a level of hypocrisy
that is almost overwhelming.
Entire branches of the U.S.
federal government will vigorously
assault anyone who
engages in land development
actions that may endanger an
obscure animal species. However,
the emplacement of wind
turbines (a practice favored
by the Woke) which result in
the deaths of up to a half-million
birds each year, including
those on endangered lists, is
encouraged.
The Washington bureaucracy
will take little notice of
the “harvesting” of the results
of the over one million abortions
performed each year
in America. Abortion has always
been a contentious issue,
and reasonable people of
conscience may honestly differ
on the morality of engaging
in the practice during the
fi rst trimester. However, the
increased acceptance of the
killing of fetuses that have
become viable, indeed, even
those about to be born, is little
less than the legalization of
infanticide. Progressives express
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, A 40 PR. 30-MAY 6, 2021 BTR
no remorse at the practice
and many actually encourage
it.
Abortion is frequently
tied in with discussions of
women’s rights. Historically
speaking, women have long
suffered from unequal treatment,
a trend that was initially
addressed in the nation
by the ratifi cation of the
19th Amendment in 1920. But
many of the organizations
that purport to further the fulfi
llment of equal treatment in
the western world turn a blind
eye towards the treatment of
females in non-western cultures.
There is little mention
of the chattelization of women
in the Islamic world by them.
They are tied up in knots because
to do so may be seen as
imposing “western” values on
other cultures.
Major American corporations,
particularly professional
sports organizations,
have engaged in “virtue signaling,”
in which they openly
endorse causes that allegedly
respond to unjust practices,
real or imagined.
Those same businesses,
however, have no problem in
eagerly pursuing business
with China, a government
that operates concentration
camps, oppresses its own citizenry,
attacks religion, and
threatens the world with warfare.
Germany scrupulously
rejects its terrible history of
antisemitism, but nevertheless
has extensive trade relations
with Iran, a nation ruled
by a regime that vocally promises
to exterminate the Jewish
nation.
The recent decision by
MLB to remove its All-Star
Game from a minority-majority
city to a far more Caucasian
venue, based on a highly
politicized and intentional
misinterpretation of a new
state law, highlights the growing
rejection of actual morality
in favor of virtue signaling.
Indeed, the jurisdiction
the game is being moved to
has similar laws to that which
has been abandoned.
The very concept of western
morality, based on Judeo-
Christian ethics is shunned,
despite the extraordinary advances
it has brought about in
human dignity and freedom.
There are far too many who
erroneously equate support
for traditional values with the
forced imposition of them on
the unwilling.
The very western concept
of the wonderful and supreme
value of each human
soul is not part of the progressive
mantra, which far prefers
the collectivist view that we
are all just cogs in a wheel in
which ethics are situational
based on the needs of a larger
society.
Editor’s note: The views expressed
in letters are that only
of the author.
CIVIC CENTER
Community Action
Civic Association
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
Law enforcement is essential
to the fabric of community
safety and security. The
responsibility of law enforcement
within a community
is clear: they must abide by
the rules crafted by legislative
leadership. The call for
modifi cations to law enforcement
practices and responsibilities
resonates throughout
our city. From a community
standpoint, it is plausible to
suggest examinations of trial
based changes to our Neighborhood
Community Offi cer
programs are warranted. A
logical hypothesis: Around
the clock community policing
via the NYPD’s N.C.O.
Program would increase
community police presence,
be catalytic in rebuilding law
enforcement – community relationships
while lessening
the number of nuisance issues
and criminal behaviors.
“More Cops, Less Crime”,
a February 2018 study by
Princeton University supported
by the United States
Department of Justice and
National Organization of
Black Law Enforcement concluded
increased police presence,
not more aggressive
policing brings widespread
community benefi ts. The
study revealed increased police
presence in one area is
likely to reduce crime in surrounding
areas. Researcher
Steven Mello stated, “The
results highlight that fi nancial
support from local, state
and federal governments for
crime prevention may offer
large returns, especially
during bad macroeconomic
times.” Local level funding
for robust modifi cations to
N.C.O. programs can revitalize
NYPD- community
relationships, lower crime
and curtail irksome quality
of life issues. Proper investment
in law enforcement can
help communities thrive.
Trial initiations of round
the clock N.C.O. Policing
Programs should enter the
political conversation. Reference:
Mello, Steven, More
COPS, Less Crime (February
13, 2018). Available at
SSRN: https://ssrn.com/
abstract=2812701 or http://
dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2812
701
NYC ELECTION 2021
Rank Choice Voting makes a
wholesale 2021 NYC appearance
in primary elections
for Mayor, Public Advocate,
NYC Comptroller, Borough
President and City Council.
Rank Choice Vote process as
explained in “Harvard Law
Today”- In races where there
are more than two candidates
Ranked Choice Voting
permits voters to rank their
preferences (5 candidate
limit in NYC) in order- one,
two, three etc.… If no candidate
exceeds 50% of fi rst
place votes, the lowest candidate
is dropped from the race
and the SECOND choices of
that candidate’s voters are
tabulated and distributed to
higher ranked candidates.
This process continues until
one candidate passes the 50%
threshold and is declared
the winner. The NYC Board
of Elections must continue
voter educations to ensure
registered voters understand
the ballot format and Rank
Choice Vote process. Voter
confusion must not play a
role in NYC
Election 2021. Importantly,
the traditional, single
choice, winner takes all process
remains in place for the
November general elections.
The voluntary Campaign
Finance Program increased
the matching rate for contributions
received by candidates
from individual
New York City residents.
The recently established
8-1 rate promotes competition
in NYC’s rugged political
landscape. Every candidate
seeking offi ce must
comply with the strict guidelines,
regulations, and limitations
set by the Campaign
Finance Act and overseen
by the Campaign Finance
Board. A probe through the
130 pages NYC Campaign Finance
Handbook 2021 indicates
those in quest of NYC
political offi ce, their staff,
notably campaign treasurers,
must meticulously perform
numerous duties. It is
an understatement to suggest
privately and publicly
funded political campaigns
face daunting challenges in
their pursuits of triumph.
The Campaign Finance
Act ensures public debate.
The lack of public debate
in the 1993 mayoral race
prompted enactment of “The
Debate Program” requiring
publicly funded, leading candidates
for city offi ce to engage
in pre-election debate.
NYC election cycle 2021
will showcase Rank Choice
Voting, crowded candidate
fi elds and must include spirited
debates. The taxpayer
funded 8-1 matching contribution
program creates a
commitment for public debate
to be an integral part of
NYC’s campaign process. Debates
are longtime staples of
the political landscape; this
candidate obligation is a voter’s
right.
Sanitation Regulations:
Property owners are responsible
to clean sidewalks
adjoining their property and
18 inches beyond the curb
into the street. Cleanliness
can be contagious, when
cleaning go beyond property
lines and mandated demarcation
points.
In Spencer Estate, bulk
items are collected on
Wednesday; recycling day is
Saturday. Household trash is
collected on both days. All
trash and recyclables should
be securely bundled / packaged
and placed curbside after
4pm the day before scheduled
pickup. The collection
programs for Electronic
waste and yard-compost materials
remain suspended.
Compost-yard materials
should be discarded with
household trash. Beginning
August 2021 all New Yorkers
interested in compost collection
must opt in to the service
by calling 311 or fi lling out a
simple on line form available
at the NYC 311 website.
Demand will dictate where
weekly compost collections
occur in October 2021.
“If we want to keep and
reap the blessings of our
fi ne quality of life we must
endure the fatigue of supporting
it” Our community
has traditionally exhibited
a "We are Family” attitude.
Now is the time to
let it shine. 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 inbox
George
Havranek on Facebook or
send-email to spencerestatecivic@
gmail.com
Community=Common-
Unity and Inclusion brings
Solutions.
CIVIC CENTER
Spencer Estate Civic
Assocoation
link
/ssrn.2812
/ssrn.2812
link
/
/
/ssrn.2812
/gmail.com
