BRONX TIMES REPORTER,42 DECEMBER 27-JANUARY 2, 2020 BTR
Action
Association
PROCLAMATION FOR RETIRING JAFFEE
Councilman Mark Gjonaj recently presented a NYC Council Proclamation
to a long-time community activist and St. Clare Senior Center
director, the retiring Debra Ann Jaffee for her dedication to the
senior center over the years.
(Above) Councilman Gjonaj presents Jaffee (l) with a NYC Council
Proclamation. Photo courtesy of Councilman Mark Gjonaj’s offi ce
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
December 11th Meeting
The warm hearts of area
residents that fi lled the
Knights of Columbus Hall to
partake in our Christmas/
Holiday gathering offset the
dreary cold weather. We give
heartfelt thanks to Frank,
Pat, and Phil of International
Caterers for providing our
membership a memorable fi ve
star cuisine. Their signature
sausage, peppers, and potatoes
enhanced the delectable
eggplant rollatini, calamari,
and penne vodka. The cannoli
cake dessert capped off an
exquisite evening of fi ne food
with wonderful friends. The
Spencer Estate Civic Association
appreciates the continued
support of International Caterers.
Prior to the evening’s festivities
Brian Anderson, of
NYC Census 2020, Matt Cruz
district manager Bronx CB
10 and ‘Bronx Tax Man’ John
Cerini addressed our membership.
Anderson detailed the historical
signifi cance and importance
of the upcoming 2020
census. He stressed: Accurate
counting is vital for federal
and state governments alike
to target policies effectively.
However, it is also important
for political representation in
Washington and for program
funding. Based on population
estimates for 2018, New York
State is already projected to
lose one congressional district
and recent estimates
have found that New York
could lose another one. Given
that the census will serve as
the foundation for the upcoming
congressional reapportionment,
New York stands
to lose additional seats in the
House of Representatives in
the event of an undercount.
All responses to the 2020 census
are safe, secure, and fully
confi dential. We thank Brian
Anderson for the informative
presentation and encourage
full participation in the 2020
census.
The affable Matt Cruz
enthralled the crowd. His
thorough explanation of the
structure and function of community
boards and their benefi
ts to a community enlightened
all in attendance. CB 10 is
one of the largest geographic
community board districts
in the borough of the Bronx.
The board serves the communities
of Pelham Bay, City Island,
Country Club, Throggs
Neck, Co-op City, Westchester
Square and Zerega. It features
one of the most diverse housing
categories in the city. It
primarily consists of 1- to
3-family homes. However, it
is home to the largest housing
cooperative in New York State
in Co-op City and is home
to a sizable public housing
stock in that of Middletown
Plaza, Throggs Neck Houses
and Randall-Balcom Houses.
Their vast area is tethered to a
large quantity of diverse community
issues. Despite their
heavy work load CB 10 always
has time for the Spencer Estate
community. We appreciate
their hard work and dedication
to our community.
John Cerini captivated
the audience. His informative
presentation displayed
a wealth of knowledge in an
array of topics that resonated
with everyone in attendance.
In addition to being an exemplary
steward of our community,
the altruistic Cerini has
an extensive background and
stellar reputation in the fi nancial
world as a tax preparer,
real estate broker, and insurance
broker. Tax season is rapidly
approaching; John can be
reached at (718) 829-1040.
A surprise visit from valued
friend, charismatic Councilman
Mark Gjonaj thrilled
the crowd. Councilman Gjonaj
charmed the audience while
presenting messages of community
awareness and unity.
The councilman briefl y covered
programs aimed at quality
of life improvements in
our community. Councilman
Gjonaj wished all in attendance
a Merry Christmas and
reinforced his support for the
Spencer Estate community.
Next years’ schedule
and details of Membership
Drive 2020 will be announced
shortly. On behalf of President
Al Carena and the entire association
we wish everyone
a Merry Christmas, Happy
Holiday, and importantly a
Healthy and Prosperous New
Year.
For additional information
about the Spencer Estate Civic
Association send e-mail with
the header Spencer Estate to
gghh55@aol.com.
BY FRANK VERNUCCIO
The joy of Christians celebrating
Christmas is tempered
by the growing indications
that their faith is
suffering under intense persecution
throughout the globe.
There has been a 14% rise in
the number of Christians who
experience high levels of persecution
in the top 50 nations
that oppress their faith.
Open Doors USA reports
that “From Sudan to Russia,
from Nigeria to North Korea,
from Colombia to India, followers
of Christianity are targeted
for their faith. They are
attacked; they are discriminated
against at work and at
school; they risk sexual violence,
torture, arrest and
much more.”
In just the last year (according
to the World Watch
List, cited by Open Doors
USA) there have been Over
245 million Christians living
in places where they experience
high levels of persecution;
4,305 Christians killed
for their faith; 1,847 churches
and other Christian buildings
attacked; and 3,150 believers
detained without trial, arrested,
sentenced or imprisoned.
The Gatestone Institute is
deeply concerned that the media
willfully ignores this human
rights crisis. “NASA’s
satellites observed the Amazon
fi res, prompting world
leaders to pledge to protect
the rainforest. But the burning,
chopping and murder of
Christians is not tracked by
satellites and their suffering
is not seen on our televisions
and newspapers. Actually,
it seems in the West as
if the persecution of Christians
does not even exist.” It
quotes Father Benedict Kiely,
writing in Crisis Magazine,
:“The mainstream media is
remarkably silent about attacks
on Christians…more
than two hundred Christians
were killed in Nigeria. There
was hardly any mention of
the latter in the news. There
were no marches for martyred
Christians, no tolling of
church bells ordered by governments,
no ‘Je suis Charlie’
t-shirts… no public outrage at
all.”
When it comes to refugees
getting a helping hand,
Christians frequently miss
out. Strangely missing in
the debate about President
Trump’s temporary travel
restrictions, which were signifi
cantly less dramatic that
President Carter’s actions in
response to the Iranian embassy
takeover, and roughly
similar to President Obama’s
actions in 201, is the near total
exclusion of Christians
from U.S. Middle Eastern refugee
programs over the past
eight years.
The Hungarian government,
under the leadership of
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán
has focused extensively on
the plight of Christians in the
Middle East. On December 9,
The Hungary Helps Agency
and the Hungarian Kolping
Association signed a cooperation
framework agreement
to assist Christians in Syria.
Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch
of the Syrian Orthodox
Church, told Daily News
Hungary that more than 90
percent of Christian have already
left Iraq and almost 50
percent of Christians in Syria
have left the country.
Anti-Christian prejudice
is not confi ned to non-Western
nations. The Wall Street
Journal provides an example:
“In the closing days of the
Obama administration, the
federal government handed
down a regulation that effectively
barred from federal
child-welfare programs organizations
that believe marriage
is between a man and
woman. This affected many
Roman Catholic and evangelical
Protestant organizations.
This misguided policy
was rushed into effect right
before President Trump’s inauguration.
While the Obama
administration made the issue
national, it’s happening
locally too. In March 2018,
Philadelphia declared an urgent
need for hundreds of new
foster families. Then the city
government barred Catholic
Social Services from placing
children in homes because of
the Catholic Church’s teaching
about marriage. City
hall’s use of children as leverage
to force a religious institution
to change its beliefs
was appalling.”
In schools and public
squares across the United
States, an intentional misreading
of the First Amendment
is used to eliminate
school Christmas pageants,
town square trees, and other
commemorations. There is
no Constitutional prohibition
against these activities,
as long as all religions are
granted similar opportunities.
link
link
