BY FRANK VERNUCCIO
Democrats, and their media
and Hollywood allies,
have generally responded
harshly to Republican Presidential
candidates. One example,
“Bush Derangement
Syndrome,” became well
known during the fi rst decade
of the 21st Century. However,
the reaction to the election
of Donald Trump was
in a league of its own, with
statements, violence, false
impeachment charges and
other actions that reached
a level of hysteria not previously
seen in a presidential
election since Abraham Lincoln
ran for the White House
to the dismay of Democrats in
the 1800’s.
To some extent, the level of
hatred was surprising. Yes,
Trump was a Republican, but
he certainly was not seen as
a hyper-partisan Republican
nor, at least initially, a doctrinaire
conservative. He did
not appeal to what has frequently
been portrayed as a
stereotypical GOP supporter.
Indeed, many within his own
BY TNBID
2020 has (finally!) passed.
For almost all Americans,
and especially small business
and property owners, it was a
difficult period of loss, as well
as a real struggle to survive
financially. The ravages of
COVID, and the challenge of
complying with ever-changing
government regulations
made it a year that presented
massive hurdles for local
shops, property owners, and
residents.
2020 was also the first
year in which the Throggs
Neck Business Improvement
District (TNBID) was operational,
covering East Tremont
Avenue from Bruckner to
Miles. While most civilian
city agencies limited their
activities and had their employees
work remotely, the
TNBID personnel reported
to work, and moved to both
shore up the community and
plan for future improvements
to the area. Staff went door to
door distributing over 16,000
masks and numerous thermometers.
Staff personally
completed surveys, and spent
party bitterly disdained him.
He did, however, take several
positions that cut to the
heart of business as usual in
Washington. He attacked the
entrenched bureaucracy. He
vigorously sought to clamp
down on illegal immigration,
which Democrats see as a
source of future, and perhaps
current, support.
And, perhaps above all
else, he staunchly opposed
China. Recent revelations
concerning the impact of Chinese
infl uence, particularly
on Joe Biden and the California
Democrat Party, require
a deeper examination
on how this affected Democratic
and media reaction to
the 45th President.
A key California industry,
and one that is also highly infl
uential in that state’s politics,
is, of course, the movie
business. Hollywood moguls,
never known for their moral
standards, pander to the China’s
rulers for two main reasons.
First, they do not wish
to offend a big-bucks investor
in their industry. Chinese
time talking to local businesses.
Very substantive improvements
have been made to our
neighborhood. TNBID hired
a private security firm to
supplement the efforts of the
45 Precinct. We also retained
a private sanitation corporation
to add to the efforts of
the NYC Department of Sanitation
and make our community
cleaner than ever.
While these private organizations,
paid for by the TNBID,
are important, ensuring that
city agencies do all that they
should for our community remains
essential. To that end,
the TNBID monitors the activities
of city agencies to
make sure that the best service
is provided.
Some years-old unattained
goals that pre-existed the TNBID
were finally achieved
thanks to our efforts. After
years of unsuccessful attempts
by various local organizations
and officials, the
TNBID managed in its very
first year of operations, to
get an evergreen tree planted
at Derosa O’Boyle Triangle,
near the Public Library.
With the assistance of Rubin
Farrah of Councilmember
Gjonaj’s office and the enthusiastic
help of the Parks Department’s
Nave Strauss, an
Oriental Spruce was planted
on, fittingly enough, Christmas
Eve. The tree is dedicated
companies have invested $4.5
billion in Hollywood assets.
Second, the lure of selling
tickets to China’s billion-plus
citizens inhibits them from
producing fi lms, or taking
positions, that offend Beijing.
to First Responders and
Essential Workers. There will
be a dedication ceremony on
January 16 at 12 noon, all are
invited. (Please wear a mask,
and maintain social distancing.)
Beautifying the neighborhood
is high on the TNBID
agenda. A survey was completed
of all the tree pits in
the TNBID area, and a firm
was hired to provide plantings
and mulch, and new city
trees were provided by the
Parks Department at the TNBID’s
urging as well.
Beyond helping businesses
and the community in
general, the TNBID aided a
local group, the Family Worship
Center, in raising funds
and some members of our
staff and our Board of Directors
were on hand to distribute
holiday meals to over 600
people.
There is no avoiding dealing
with COVID, so the TNBID
has sponsored periodic
testing, bringing a NY Labs
COVID testing truck facility
to community on Saturday
mornings.
In trying to improve conditions,
communication is key.
The TNBID has established a
website (throggsneckbid.com)
a Facebook page (Throggs
Neck Business Improvement
District) and an Instagram account
(Throggsneckbid) More
than just a discussion about
activities, these outlets have
been used to convey vital information
about relevant city
and state regulations.
As the new year starts, the
TNBID’s plans for the future
move forward. We are working
on plans to dramatically
improve lighting in the area.
This is a key need for our
community.
East Tremont Avenue
is the essence of American
small business. Familyowned
shops providing personal
service is its hallmark.
The TNBID is doing all it can
to make the neighborhood a
great place to live, work and
shop.
BY TONY SALIMBENE
Is 2020 gone yet? Good!
Wanted to wish you all the
best for the new year ahead of
us. What’s ahead? Peace…na,
end of poverty…nope, end of
the virus…YES!
Both 253 and County
have been remote meeting as
best as possible, I’ve been a
bit lax but I assure you I miss
you all very much. We can’t
be stopped, The American Legion
WILL continue. Our 253
elves and elvettes did their
best to spread some cheer this
season. Thanks!
Sad to hear of the cancelling
of the “Mini”-Mid-Winter
Conference idea at Albany,
wise decision I guess.
If anyone knows of a
member in need of assistance
please contact your team
members or a post offi cer,
electronics is the best way.
I know Ed always reads his
emails.
Until next time: Make
wise, educated decisions in
this time of mass media info
overload. Always try to help
vets and their family members
in need. Stay safe, Stay
strong. God Bless America.
BRONX TIMES R 28 EPORTER, JAN. 8-14, 2021 BTR
Clearly, President Trump’s
strengthening of the American
backbone against China’s
unfair trade practices,
intellectual property theft,
and military threats did not
sit well with Beijing, and that
nation’s rulers used their leverage
on Hollywood to gain
an ally in the fi ght against
him.
A similar analysis could
be made about another of California’s
key industries, social
media. Like Hollywood,
it has a heavy presence in the
state, and they too look to the
vast population and fi nancial
opportunities of China with
hungry eyes. Similar to Hollywood,
they have been vociferous
and diligent in their opposition
to the Trump White
House.
The barons of both the
movie and social media industries
used their public access
and fi nancial leverage to create
a false sense of crisis, censor
opposing viewpoints, and
support politicians who vociferously
attacked President
Trump.
How successful was this exercise
of media and entertainment
domination? Consider
this: No event has caused more
civilian deaths and economic
disaster in America than
COVID-!9. it is manifestly
evident that China, whether
through malevolence, incompetence
or both, is singularly
responsible for this. Despite
that, there has been extraordinarily
little expression of
anger against that nation seen
in internet, TV, or print news
and entertainment venues.
Remarkably, the social media,
entertainment and news
industries have managed to
defl ect what should have righteous
fury over the virus into
infi ghting within the nation.
Similarly, exposures of
links, through negligence or
greed, between elected offi -
cials and Chinese agents has
produced little in the way of
mass expressions of outrage.
Instead, praise was heaped
upon California politicians,
including Rep. Eric Salwell,
who it was recently discovered
to have had a relationship
with a Chinese agent,
and spent the past four years
seeking to impeach Trump on
fabricated charges. That effort
was led by Speaker Nancy
Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff,
both products of the California
Democrat Party.
The New York Times noted
last January, “As the Senate
trial of Mr. Trump barrels
ahead in Washington, California
is playing an outsized
role. It has lawmakers who
have been leading the investigation
of Mr. Trump for
months.”
CIVIC CENTER
COMACTA
CIVIC CENTER
TNBID
CIVIC CENTER
KORONY
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