44 The Courier SuN • OCTOBER 8, 2015 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com 30 times • OCTOBER 8, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.timesnewsweekly.com victoria’s secrets VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS vschneps@gmail.com Enough deadly attacks – we must act New friends and relationships First Lady Chirlane McCray has made mental health her priority Dynamic for all the news 24 hours, 7 days a week DENTAL go WORK to www.timesnewsweekly.com 175-15 Jamaica avenue, Jamaica 718-297-4100 • 718-297-4106 tweet me @vschneps Free Whitening included Some excluSionS Apply the inViSiBle WAy to StrAighten teeth third generation dentist $1500 off Lumineers $500 off Invisalign Rarely do I write about national issues, but my heart broke for all the families whose loved ones were slaughtered in the senseless killings in Oregon last week. Why? And, why must the president make it a political issue? Because it is! I am a proud American and I find it remarkable that one lobbying group can block a very common-sense approach to gun control. Everyone in our country must register their cars and take a driving test. Whatever state you live in, there is a similar requirement. We must even have our eyes checked on a regular basis. Cars, as we know, can be deadly. So can guns. Then why not simply make everyone buying a gun register it, get a license to operate it and take a “test?” For guns, a psychological test could be created that must be taken to renew a gun permit. It seems so sensible and easy to administer. Why is this so hard to achieve? We live in what I thought was a civilized world with rules to help us coexist. It’s not complicated. It’s just sensible. Another issue must also be addressed – helping the mentally ill. For my adult life, because of the needs of my daughter Lara, I have been involved with people with disabilities. Sadly, it was not until a federal class action lawsuit, which we won, that the state was forced to fund programs for them. The funding for day programs and group homes came out of that court order. Today, people who were called mentally retarded have protection and programming but the mentally ill are still being shortchanged. How many killings will it take to see the desperate needs of these disturbed people? Chirlane McCray, Mayor de Blasio’s wife, has shown an interest in helping them. But where are the funds? Must there be a class action lawsuit to force the hand of government? I don’t know why it hasn’t been filed yet. The harm that comes from unserved mentally ill people is on our streets with the massive number of homeless people, and filling our jails. Ironically, when institutions like Willowbrook State School closed, no one could leave without a home and a program plan. When institutions like Pilgrim State, for the mentally ill, closed, no similar plan was ever put in place. I lost a cousin to suicide and if there had been appropriate funding for mental health services, his depression could have been treated appropriately. How many of you have had similar experiences? We are all paying a deadly price. Who will act? Call your legislators; the issue is too critical to ignore. Funding for the mentally ill and licensing gun owners must happen. Your one voice can make a difference! It has been a powerful journey to add to our event division networking opportunities for businesses on Staten Island. Over the last year and a half, we have created top women in business on Staten Island and kings of staten island. At each of our events, we always raise money for a local charity. The raffles offering Delta airlines tickets have helped us give $11,000 to kids against Cancer; emma’s Place, staten island’s grief and loss center for children and families; the seton foundation; and the eden ii programs for children with autism. It’s our privilege to help bring businesspeople together and benefit local causes. Our next event is Oct. 29 back in Brooklyn: the kings of kings County. I’m delighted my friend Patricia DiMango, star of the Cbs show “Hot bench,” will receive top woman of the Year kudos as our Kings are recognized. Her TV show was created by my dearest Brooklyn friend Judge Judy. If you haven’t seen it at 9 a.m. weekdays, make sure to watch. Money raised at our event for local charity Emma’s Place
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