A nurse in the south Bronx holding a sign saying “Our Heroes Wear Scrubs.” Gothan Health in Morrisania
partnered with Councilwoman Vanessa L. Gibson to show appreciation to health care workers on May 13,
2020. Photo by Jewel Webber
BY FRANK VERNUCCIO
A recent Rasmussen survey
found that “most Democrats
now think their party
is likely to hold an open convention
in which the delegates
choose a candidate rather than
rely on the primary results.
The latest Rasmussen Reports
national telephone and online
survey fi nds that 55% of likely
Democratic voters see an open
convention as likely.
Interestingly, separate
surveying fi nds that Democrats
are evenly divided
when asked whether Biden or
New York Governor Andrew
Cuomo would make a better
challenger against President
Trump in November. Cuomo
is not a candidate for the nomination
but has earned positive
reviews for his response to the
coronavirus while questions
have arisen about Biden’s
mental health.
There is little doubt that
Biden is a fundamentally
fl awed candidate, based on
his questionable treatment of
females, history of family corruption,
diminished ability to
engage in conversation and
speeches, and his dramatic
misreading of the COVID
crisis. Remember, he called
President Trump’s travel ban
on China racist and xenophobic.
Former President Barack
Obama’s obvious reluctance to
endorse his former vice president
until he remain the sole
candidate speaks volumes.
The former Vice President’s
involvement in the unmasking
of General Flynn
may prove to be a fatal landmine
for his candidacy.
Biden’s Democratic primary
opponents never captured
broad public support.
The most signifi cant challenge
came from socialist Bernie
Sanders, who has since
given his endorsement.
Should the former VP
falter, Cuomo is the most
likely replacement. His skillful
speeches and commanding
screen presence have
greatly enhanced his position
throughout the nation. But
a closer look, which would
surely occur in a presidential
campaign, could reveal potentially
fatal fl aws. Indeed,
Cuomo’s record is wide open
to criticism.
A Federalist article found
that “while New York Gov.
Andrew Cuomo blames the
president and the federal government
BRONX TIMES R 26 EPORTER, MAY 22-28, 2020 BTR
for the lack of beds
and ventilators in his state,
the power to determine the
number of these critical medical
supplies in New York hospitals
falls squarely upon the
shoulders of the governor.”
On March 1, ABC News
noted, Cuomo claimed that
general risk in the state “remains
low.”
The New York Governor
has a spotty record on corruption.
In response to extensive
calls to address state government
corruption, Cuomo established
the Moreland Commission.
But it proved to be
little more than window dressing.
He directed the commission
away from investigations
that were politically embarrassing.
His actions prompted
federal prosecutors to investigate,
and although they said
the evidence was “insuffi -
cient” to fi le charges, it is evident
that the governor sidelined
his own commission to
protect himself.
The New Yorker emphasized
that “he shut down the
investigation even though the
Legislature failed to make
signifi cant political reforms.
Bharara and the other prosecutors
obtained the commission’s
fi les only because Bharara
publicly expressed his
outrage at Cuomo’s action.
Cuomo’s explanation ignored
BY AL D’ANGELO
The latest fi asco to hit our
community is the Safe Streets
Program. Without the knowledge
of our police, fi re departments
or neighborhood
leaders, Rhinelander Avenue
became a “safe street.”
Complaints were immediately
voiced to the community
board, the Morris Park Community
Association and the
Morris Park BID. Members
of the association along with
Councilman Gjonaj polled the
residence and found an overwhelming
opposition — 186 to
17.
A perfect example of the
“now generation,” one proponent
for the street closing
said it was convenient for him
to play with his child outside.
The fact that Loreta Park is
three short blocks away and
Pelham Parkway’s walking
path and play area is three
blocks in the other direction
didn’t seem to matter.
The fact that this puts a
burden on our senior citizens
meant nothing. The fact that
is was an inconvenience to the
other members of the community
meant nothing. Typical
of the “what’s in it for me” attitude
and the hell with everyone
else.
Our fi ght should not be
with the street closing but
with the process. It is the fundamentals
of our democracy
that is being challenged each
time government goes against
the will of the people. We are
so concerned about people’s
rights that we release healthy
prisoners, (over 100 of which
are back in jail) for fear they
may contract COVID-19, then
we force nursing homes to
take in COVID-19 patients
which puts our most vulnerable
loved ones in harm’s way.
Thanks Mr. Governor.
You begged and received federal
help. Why didn’t you put
those infected people in the
Javits Center, which the government
built at your request,
and could house 2000 individuals.
We also had a hospital
ship which could have housed
COVID-19 patients, but your
March 25th executive order
forced nursing homes to take
in infected individuals resulting
in thousands of deaths.
The media has given you a
pass but those who have lost
loved ones will not. NY State
was over $6 billion in debt before
this epidemic and you expect
the federal government to
bail out your fi scal irresponsibility.
The police were given orders
to ticket or arrest people
who weren’t wearing masks, it
wasn’t their decision, they’re
paid to enforce the laws no
matter how unrealistic they
may be. When confrontations
occurred, the order was rescinded
and police were accused
of overreacting.
We live in a democracy and
that allows people to do stupid.
If a person chooses not to wear
a mask, they have a right to do
so unless they are endangering
or infringing on the rights
of others.
The Morris Park Association
would like to thank Senator
Gustavo Rivera, Assemblywoman
Natalia Fernandez
and Councilman Mark Gjonaj
for supplying the association
with masks and hand sanitizers.
Stay safe.
CIVIC CENTER
Morris Park
Community
Association
the symbolism: How could
there ever be a legitimate reason,
in a state long beset with
corruption in its Legislature,
for the governor to short-circuit
his own marquee attempt
to clean it up?”
Cuomo was also criticizing
for “reinterpreting” regulations
allowing him to take
campaign donations from his
own appointees, allowing him
to rake in hundreds of thousands
of dollars from them.
Perhaps Cuomo’s most signifi
cant weakness is his lack
of tolerance for those with differing
views. Both the GOP
and the Democrats will need
to attract voters beyond their
solid supporters to win.
The Washington Times reported
that the Governor
warned those that disagree
with his positions on gun
control and abortion have
“no place” in his state. But
it’s not just those on the right
who have been disaffected by
Cuomo.
The Atlantic notes that
Cuomo has a history of antagonistic
relations with progressives.
That will not play well
in gathering the solid support
he will clearly need from the
Democrat left, a group already
disaffected by the Party leadership’s
treatment of Sanders
in 2016 and 2020.
The New York Governor’s
signifi cant error in placing
COVID patients in nursing
homes resulting in a devastat-
SALUTING HEALTH CARE WORKERS
CIVIC CENTER
Community Action
Civic Association