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oped letters & comments
Shaken by a day of horror
BY GERALDO RIVERA
Driving on Route 80 from New York
through the lovely Poconos on my way home
to Cleveland, I heard on the radio about the
outrage at the Tree of Life Synagogue. Like hurricanes
and all such unfolding disasters, mass
murders take a while until the full extent of the
trauma is realized.
Th e fi nal body count is always worse than
initially reported. In this case, it was profoundly
worse from what I was hearing
on the radio. From several dead, it
soon became clear that what happened
in the charming Squirrel
Hill section of Pittsburgh, was the
worst massacre ever of Jews in
America.
Eleven were killed, elderly worshippers
ranging in age from 54 to
97, gathered for Saturday Shabbat
services. Six more were wounded,
including four heroic Pittsburgh cops who
confronted the mass murderer as he attempted
to fl ee the scene of his carnage. Th eir speedy
response probably saved lives.
Th e alleged shooter was another of those
aggrieved losers, like the schmuck who last
week sent the poorly constructed mail bombs
to Democratic leadership and CNN.
As you know by now from news accounts,
this alleged Temple murderer is Robert Bowers,
a 46-year old Anti-Semite who armed himself
with an AR-15 and several powerful Glock
handguns before beginning his slaughter of
defenseless old timers praying in the temple
that has served Jews in this community for a
hundred years. His motive, at least as gleaned
from his perverse social media posts, was his
rage at eff orts of Jewish humanitarian groups,
principally HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid
Society to assist refugees, like the caravan currently
making its way north from Central
America through Mexico.
Somehow Bowers twisted the ancient compassion
of Jews and the current plight of Latino
refugees into a mortal threat to the white race.
Whatever his motivation or sick excuse,
Bowers’ crimes were a grim
reminder that however comfortable
Jewish life is in America, our
New World Colossus, there have
always been intolerant haters.
Spawned by jealousy, envy and
race hatred, these Neo-Nazis are
a subculture that has existed for
centuries, lurking just below the
surface, and waiting for an excuse
to savage Jewish businesses, houses
of worship and individuals because they represent
some obscure threat. Th ese days, Anti-
Semitism is out of fashion, but as this slaughter
of innocents reminds, some things never really
change they just go underground.
Until the terrible news broke of the Temple
massacre, the weekend had a pleasant buzz. I
wish it had ended with that positive affi rmation
that care, compassion and good deeds
defi ne us.
Sadly, harsh reality sometimes intrudes, as it
did when gunshots pierced the peaceful Shabbat
in the old Jewish neighborhood in Pittsburgh.
Geraldo Rivera is a Fox News contributor.
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MORE CHOICES
ON THE BALLOT
Th e “debate” between Governor
Andrew Cuomo and Marc Molinaro
on Oct. 24 consisted of corruption
accusations, and no solutions.
Cuomo bragged about “only” a 2 percent
annual tax increase and rebuked
Molinaro’s plan, citing a 58 percent
increase during his tenure in
Dutchess County.
In seven years, what has Cuomo
accomplished? Taxes are higher, yet
potholes aren’t fi xed until right before
the election and the MTA is still
broken. We spend $22k+ per student
every year, yet graduates lack
the required skills for gainful employment.
And, where was he on prison
reform, mass incarceration, and
broken families during his fi rst two
terms?
What did Republicans get from
Pataki, besides skyrocketing debt and
what Th e New York Times called the
“nation’s strictest gun controls” when
he was in offi ce? Molinaro promises
a 30 percent reduction in property
taxes over fi ve years, theoretically
funded by the tired promise of
cutting waste, fraud and abuse. I’ve
heard it before.
It’s insane to repeat the same
actions while expecting diff erent
results, yet we do it every four years.
I will vote instead for third-party candidate
Larry Sharpe. He’ll raise revenues
without taxation, by leasing
naming rights on bridges and tunnels.
He’ll give kids options for the
last two years of High School, to produce
meaningful results while saving
families money on taxes and tuition.
Most importantly, he doesn’t want to
rule from Albany.
If that doesn’t appeal to you, there
are other third-party choices. Howie
Hawkins focuses on healthcare,
homes, jobs, education for all and
clean energy. Stephanie Miner wants
improved infrastructure, better housing
solutions and to eliminate corruption
with accountability.
Whatever your economic and
social views, you don’t have to vote
for the lesser evil. John Adams said,
“Th ere is nothing which I dread so
much as a division of the republic
into two great parties ... Th is ... is to be
dreaded as the greatest political evil
under our Constitution.”
Even if the establishment wins,
votes for better choices tell the
duopoly to produce better candidates.
Remember, no one owns your
vote.
Dennis Consorte, Bayside
FLIP THE BALLOT &
VOTE NO ON ‘3’
Th e question on the ballot is to limit
terms for volunteers on community
boards to two four-year terms.
Term limits already exist for community
boards. Every two years,
every board member must re-apply
and submit a new application
for appointment to the community
board. And without exception, every
year there are openings on a board
due to attendance issues and various
other reasons people decide they do
not want to continue as a member.
And sometimes it is struggle to fi nd
people willing to serve.
Most people do not realize that to
be an eff ective member of a community
board, it takes a commitment —
of time, not only to attend monthly
meetings, but to also participate on
committees and attend public hearings.
So, when new appointments to
a board are made and they are energized,
engaged appointments, they
are treasured.
Th ankfully, we have, and have had,
members of Community Board 2
who have served years on the board
bringing great skills and knowledge
of the community, past and present
that have protected and improved the
quality of life for so many.
To think that members who give so
much time and are willing to take on
tough challenges would be removed
automatically from the board aft er
eight years is wrong.
Joseph Conley, former chairperson,
Queens Community Board 2
TRUMP SHOULDN’T GO
AFTER TRANS RIGHTS
Th e threat to undo protections for
trans, intersex and nonbinary individuals
in the U.S. is another example
of the rolling back of human rights by
the current administration.
It is particularly insidious in its
intent to deny equal access to education,
employment and healthcare.
It also will hurt organizations that
serve trans, intersex and nonbinary
communities – which are already
grappling with funding cuts and the
prospect of losing programs that
serve as vital lifelines. Th ese groups,
like all nonprofi ts serving the many
populations targeted by this administration,
will face even greater resource
pressure as they struggle to meet
increased demand for help.
Preserving the protections of trans,
intersex and nonbinary individuals
is necessary in a society founded on
the principles that all people are created
equal.
Katie Leonberger, President & CEO,
Community Resource Exchange
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