BY FRANK VERNUCCIO
America’s leftists, casting
caution to the wind, have essentially
displayed their preference
for large personal staffs and programs
for illegals aliens, over
vital needs. The great progressive
ruled jurisdictions, such as
California and New York City, are
threatening to reduce essential
services and basic government
functions such as police, fi re, and
education while continuing to
fund, and even expand, programs
for illegals.
In California, Governor
Newsom has said that fi refi ghters
and police will be the fi rst to
be cut “by cities and counties” if
Washington doesn’t provide fi -
nancial aid to his state, which has
prioritized profl igate funding for
illegal aliens. He also threatened
to close a veterans home in Barstow.
Financial belt-tightening
against police, fi re and veterans
budgets doesn’t apply to Newsom’s
programs for illegals. He seeks to
provide $125 million in “COVID
relief funds,” which Washington
deems illegals ineligible for.
Newsom has also been generous
towards his own payroll The
L.A. Times reports that his new
state budget requests 41 additional
staffers.
On the other side of the continent,
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio,
known for his 1980’s activism,
cheering on the Soviet Union as
it put combat equipment in Latin
America, is taking a similar path.
He, too, has threatened to lay off
cops, fi remen, and even teachers,
all while enhancing help for illegal
BRONX TIMES R 38 EPORTER, JUNE 19-25, 2020 BTR
aliens. He has proposed providing
300,000 illegal aliens with
free health care. Like Newsom,
he has increased his personal
staff. While seeking support from
Washington, he has virtually ignored
inquiries into missing city
funds, totaling at least $850 million,
entrusted to a city program
run by his wife.
De Blasio follows the leftist
playbook of favoring illegals over
the citizenry. His administration
has also established fi nes for
agencies that even use the term,
“illegal alien.”
Progressive jurisdictions are
seeking to allow illegals to vote in
local elections, a bid to enhance
the election chance of leftist candidates.
There are legitimate
fears that in numerous locations,
illegals have, unlawfully, already
registered to vote and have actually
done so. Moves in NY and
California to provide driver’s’ licenses
to illegals was a major step
in that direction.
There is a specifi c reason that
politicians such as de Blasio and
Newsom favor helping illegals
and even granting them the vote.
New arrivals to the U.S. generally
vote for more leftist politicians,
who support broad public assistance
programs over essentials
such as police, fi re, and national
defense.
The Federation for American
Immigration Reform provides
this estimate of costs: “At the federal,
state, and local levels, taxpayers
shell out approximately $134.9
billion to cover the costs incurred
by the presence of more than 12.5
million illegal aliens, and about
4.2 million citizen children of illegal
aliens. That amounts to a tax
burden of approximately $8,075
per illegal alien family member
and a total of $115,894,597,664. The
total cost of illegal immigration
to U.S. taxpayers is both staggering
and crippling. In 2013, FAIR
estimated the total cost to be approximately
$113 billion.”
The Progressive pro-illegal
position has worked to the detriment
of working Americans. In
a report to Congress by the Civil
Rights Commission, it was noted
that “illegal workers are estimated
to account for as much as
one-third of total immigrants
in the United States, and that illegal
immigration has tended
to increase the supply of lowskilled,
low-wage labor available.
The Commission found also that
about six in 10 adult black males
have a high school diploma or
less, and are disproportionately
employed in the low-skilled labor
market in likely competition with
immigrants.”
With 2020’s early voting already
in full swing, the executive
board of the Chippewa
Democratic Club completed its
endorsements of Democratic
Party candidates for the June 23
primary election.
Candidates for Congressional
District 14 and New York State
Senatorial District 34 were interviewed
over the past two weeks.
Complying with COVID-19
social distancing requirements,
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio
Cortez and her challenger
Michelle Caruso-Cabrera vied
for the club’s endorsement via
Zoom.
After a spirited discussion
about the race, the board voted
to endorse newcomer Caruso-Cabrera
in a narrow 6 to 4 vote. The
district is partially in the Bronx
and includes the neighborhoods
of Parkchester, Throggs Neck,
Country Club, Pelham Bay, Morris
Park, Allerton and City Island.
The district also includes a
large portion of Queens.
The SD 34 race pits incumbent
Alessandra Biaggi against
challenger James Gisondi to represent
the Senate seat that covers
Throggs Neck, Pelham Bay,
Country Club, Morris Park, City
Island, Soundview, Hunts Point,
Woodlawn and Riverdale as well
as lower Westchester. The Chippewa
board, after hosting additional
Zoom sessions, chose not
to render an endorsement to either
individual.
The Chippewa also endorsed
the following club candidates:
Michael R. Benedetto for NYS
Assembly; Thomas Messina,
State Committee; Anna Rogers,
State Committee; John Collazzi,
Male District Leader and Marjorie
Velazquez, Female District
Leader.
Early voting is ongoing at
St. Frances de Chantal through
Sunday, June 21. The usual voting
sites will be open on Election
Day Tuesday, June 23 from 6 a.m.
to 9 p.m. Those individuals voting
by absentee ballots, please remember
the ballot must be postmarked
no later than June 22.
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
Councilman Mark Gjonaj
hosted an informative NYC Parks
Department tele-conference.
Bronx parks Commissioner Iris-
Rodriguez Rosa and Pelham Bay
Park administrator Marianne
Andresen took the hot seats.
These two dedicated community
stalwarts gave informative presentations
and in a Q and A format
and properly addressed numerous
community concerns.
MEETING HIGHLIGHTS:
Orchard Beach parking was
a primary issue. Full parking
fees despite a swimming ban at
the “Bronx Riviera” is irksome
to area residents. The Orchard
Beach parking lot is a concession
agreement that is part of a public
private partnership. The concessioner,
through paving and
maintenances, has invested approximately
$3.5 million in this
venture. Temporary subsidy allocation
by the city could offset
losses and incentivize lower parking
fees. However, lack of funds in
the city coiffeurs and the hope of
resumption to normal beach activity
solidify this situation. Simply,
for now, to play you have to
pay.
A decrease to seasonal maintenance
crews and parks enforcement
personnel in conjunction
with robust attendance in NYC
parks, including Pelham Bay
Park, has placed a strain on the
Parks Department. This agency
is now required to do more with
fewer resources. Delays in grass
cutting, community greenway upkeep,
among other areas are anticipated
and should be met with
reasonable patience.
The continued closures of
neighborhood playgrounds are
expected to continue for the foreseeable
future. No defi nitive date
for reassessment is currently
scheduled.
There are concerns surrounding
previously funded capital
projects. The shifting dynamic
and increasing budget defi cit
creates auras of uncertainty.
Seemingly rubber stamped
items are all subject to erasure.
CIVIC CENTER
COMACTA
CIVIC CENTER
Chippewa Democratic
Club
CIVIC CENTER
Spencer Estate Civic
Association
BY MARY JANE MUSANO
On June 23, we will hold
a virtual meeting at 7:00pm
using “Zoom” video service.
You may join our meeting on
your home computer, laptop,
tablet or a video-equipped
cell phone. You can also dial
in and listen in to the broadcast
on your home telephone.
To sign on with your computer
or other device use the
following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/
j/87828161342?pwd=WVF2M
XhhbUFiMFlCWU84dmEzR
3I1QT09
Click on this link or copy
it to your browser. You will
be connected to the meeting.
Follow the instructions on
Zoom.
If you are using your telephone
call in to 1 646-558-
8656 and enter the following
meeting ID & password when
prompted.
The meeting ID is 878 2816
1342
The password is WLCA
You may try the link or the
phone number ahead of time
so you will be prepared for
the live meeting, then on the
night of the meeting we suggest
that you enter the meeting
3 to 5 minutes before the
meeting starts .
Many groups are using
video services for meetings
so we are trying this because
we can not meet in person yet.
We are sure conditions will
get back to normal soon, but
for now this is the safest way
to hold a group meeting.
Our guest speaker will be
John Cummings, a Republican
who is running against
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. As
most of you will agree, Ms. Ocasio
Cortez has been absent
from our community. There
has never been a more important
time to affect change for
our community. Please make
it your business to know all of
the facts regarding all of the
candidates. Get as involved as
your time allows in the campaign
of your candidate of
choice. Most importantly, you
absolutely must vote! If you
need a ride to your polling
place, please let us know.
June 23 is not only the date
of our meeting but it is Democratic
Primary Day. If you are
a Democrat, you need to vote
on this day. Please make your
voice heard! If you have questions,
please call me at 718-
792-6385.
Lastly, when all of this is
over, our association plans
to have a celebration. Until
that time, I ask that we pray
for peace and health for every
resident of our wonderful
community. Together we
can!
CIVIC CENTER
Waterbury LaSalle
Community
Association