Cardinal Spellman’s
John F. Ward Scholarship
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, F BTR EB. 26-MAR. 4, 2021 43
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
The winter onslaught of
snow events presented a huge
challenge for our Department
of Sanitation. In adverse environmental
and fi scal conditions
New York’s Strongest
arose to the occasion. Their
stellar performances balancing
snow removal and trash
collections tasks in our footprint
proved they are an
agency that can walk and chew
gum. However, we now look toward
another agency for help
with “Trash Removal” in our
footprint. During the period,
February 17th-20thunsuspecting
area residents learned the
difference between burglary
and robbery. In the daylight
hours, Wednesday February
17th, multiple people posing as
“Water Company” employees
used deceptive, not forceful,
methods to gain consent to enter
and burglarize an area
home. Undisclosed items were
stolen; gratefully no one was
hurt. Saturday night, February
20th, a group of males entered
our neighborhood Pizza
Parlor,threatened the owner
and an employee with the
use of dangerous force and
robbed this small Mom and
Pop establishment. Damage
to property and an unverifi ed
amount of cash were stolen.
Unfortunately, this owner and
establishment are acquainted
with foul play. In April 2020,
mere days prior to the heinous
April 15th Bayview Avenue
“Baseball Bat” murder,
this owner was viciously assaulted
at closing time. New
York’s Finest, we have called
out New York’s Strongest and
they have admirably faced
tough times and responded
in kind. Now, we look to you,
the NYPD, New York’s Finest,
to “Protect and Serve”, and
rid another type of “Trash”
from our community. This
type of type of trash cannot be
place securely at curbside for
eventual pickup. This type of
trash, if left unattended will
tarnish our communities and
edge them closer and closer to
tipping points. Our fates rest
in your hands.
“TIPPING
POINTS”Whether by design
or happenstance the cumulative
effects of actions and inactions
provoke change. Ineffective
change is often triggered
by our inability to recognize
a threshold; the critical point
that challenges acceptance
and tolerance. Inabilities to
properly identify, address, and
foresee issues disrupt societal
equilibrium. This disruption
promotes imbalances, which
leads to “Tipping Points” that
affect our communities.
The upticks in nuisance,
and criminal behaviors
throughout our communities
are related to action, inaction,
and lack of foresight. The Broken
Windows theory and invocations
of subsequent policies
lends example. “Broken Windows”
is based on hypothesis
suggesting unaddressed visible
signs of crime, maladaptive
behaviors, and civil-social
disorder foster neighborhood
decline. Decades ago, theoretical
analysis of rampant
crime brought laser like focus
to Broken Windows theory. It
is plausible that perceived immediacy
to suppress rampant
fl oods of criminal activities
warranted vigorous methods.
Perhaps, the controversial
Stop and Frisk approach
to address widespread, ungovernable
crime was needed
for limited periods. However,
failure to limit and modify
this aggressive police policy
at an appropriate time led to
intensifi cations of untenable
aggressive and unsustainable
law enforcement methods.
The lack of foresight to invoke
modifi cation eventually led
to a state of intolerance and a
“Tipping Point.”
Newton’s third law of motion:
“ For every action in
nature there is an equal and
opposite reaction.” Law enforcement
policies and criminal
legislations have resulted
in continual volleys of action
and reaction. There is distinct
linkage between high crime
rates of the past, the formation
of Broken Windows theory,
Stop and Frisk policing,
lower crime rates, social injustice,
2015 criminal justice
reforms, recent bail / discovery
reforms, 2020 police policy
reform and recent spikes in
nuisance issues and crime.
Legislators must institute
commonsense middle ground
reforms that promote better
quality of life and environments
of fairness and faith in
our criminal justice system.
Our legislators are responsible
for the undue stress and
strain that is a consequence of
neighborhood degradations.
Their emotion-laden dubious
decisions have made our
communities playgrounds for
disrespectful law-breakers.
A Tipping Point that changes
these playgrounds into amusement
parks for respectable
law-abiding citizens is imminent.
To paraphrase modern
day ethicist, the late Dr.
Rushworth Kidder: In decision
making the long-term always
includes the short-term;
however, the short-term does
not account for the long-term.
When given a choice community
takes precedence over
the individual. Effective policy
is fair, balanced and sustainable.
If not, prepare for
“Tipping Points” and sequential
actions synonymous with
Newton’s third law.
Community Footnote: Utilities
and service providing
agencies including Con Edison,
Verizon, Cable Vision,
Smart meter installations,
Gas Inspections, Water Meter
Inspections, Heating Oil companies
etc… do not cold-call,
they schedule their appointments.
Be aware and exercise
all caution before answering
the door. Please report all
atypical behaviors.
Solidarity and community
unifi cation is disadvantageous
to the multi-party political
machine. “If we want
to keep and reap the blessings
of our fi ne quality of life
we must undergo 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 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
Cardinal Spellman High School
announces the recipients of the John
F. Ward ’66 Vietnam Veteran Patriot
Award for 2021. The $5,000 annual
scholarship, based on an essay competition,
DUTY: God, Honor and Country,
has been awarded to seniors Evan
Ke and Zoe Chambers-Daniel. The
scholarship has been made possible
from a generous donor in memory of
his friend, P.F.C. John F. Ward. After
graduating from Cardinal Spellman
in 1966, John Francis Ward attended
basic training at Fort Jackson,
South Carolina and was designated ‘11
Bravo 40’ light weapons infantry. He
then completed Advanced Individual
Training in infantry tactics and advanced
weaponry, and arrived in Vietnam
in early July 1969. P.F.C. Ward
was killed during nighttime combat
operations in Vietnam on October 6th
of that same year, 25 days before his
21st birthday.
Evan Ke graduated from St. Mary’s
School on Carpenter Ave. He has received
honors each year at Spellman
and is taking three Advanced Placement
courses as a senior. Evan plays
on the Lacrosse team, runs Track and
Cross Country, and is a member of the
Academic Challenge Team, Robotics
Club, Legion of Mary, Gaming and
Anime Club and a STAR. After graduation,
he plans on studying computer
engineering, possibly at Stony Brook
University.
Zoe Chambers-Daniel graduated
from Holy Rosary School in the Bronx.
She has received the Diamond S
Award for attaining 1st honors all four
years, is currently a member of the National
Honor Society, and is taking Advanced
Placement English Literature
and Composition. Zoe is also a STAR, a
member of the Legion of Mary and the
Book Club, in addition to being youth
choir leader at church. She plans on
studying psychology in college, hoping
to attend either Columbia or NYU.
Even Ke
Photo courtesy of Cardinal Spellman High School
Zoe Chambers-Daniel
Photo courtesy of Cardinal Spellman High School
link
link
/gmail.com