This too is Yonkers–By Eric Schoen
The New York City Police Department said police are looking into at least nine incidents of possible hate-based attacks against Jewish people since Dec. 13. City leaders have condemned the attacks as the Jewish community celebrated the holiday of Chanukah.
Jewish groups reacted with horror to news Saturday night of a violent stabbing attack that left five injured, two critically, at a Hanukkah celebration at the home of a rabbi in Monsey. Officials at the Jewish human rights NGO the Simon Wiesenthal Center urged President Donald Trump to “instruct the FBI to create a special task force in the wake of unending attacks against Jews and their religious institutions.”
Every political leader from mayors to governors and senators line up at the podium to condemn these outrageous attacks. They are lens lice, people overeager to get into a news photograph or one who seeks undue prominence before a television camera
Task forces, meetings across religious and racial groups, bring in the National Guard, increased police presence at religious services… the problem is we have tried these all these methods before. Many cost great amounts of money and they are simply not working. We have got to try something new, immediately. It’s simply too late!
Yes, we need more mental health counselors and doctors out there to deal with those who have mental health issues. If someone is a danger to the community and themselves, they have no business being outside of the confines or a hospital or treatment facility.
On New Year’s Day, New York sent thousands of those incarcerated out to the streets rolling back cash bail significantly. Starting Jan. 1, those charged with most misdemeanors and class E felonies will no longer face having to put up cash or bond to be released from jail while awaiting trial. This major reform will supposedly ensure the state isn’t effectively criminalizing poverty by keeping individuals in jail only because they can’t afford to get out.
District attorneys and other law-enforcement officials across New York State have raised concern, noting some of the misdemeanors and felonies no longer eligible for cash bail include charges of theft, assault or aggravated harassment. According to a USA Today Network New York survey of the state’s counties, “The reforms will lead to the release of at least 3,800 people currently in county jails in 2020.”
Also taking effect Jan. 1 is a series of speedy trial and discovery reforms meant to ensure those accused of crimes aren’t subject to unnecessary delay. There’s nothing wrong with that. Everyone should be entitled to a prompt and speedy trial and their day in court.
But do you want 3,800 people including eight of those involved in the Chanukah incidents in New York roaming the streets or living next door to you with little or no supervision? The answer from everyone I have spoken with is a resounding ‘no!’
So what stopped the terrorist, defined as a person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims, from doing more harm in Monsey? Congregants banding together to fight the terrorist using every resource they had to stop him. Tables included.
What stopped the terrorist at the White Settlement Church in Texas from doing more harm? Two of the parishioners who are volunteers on the church security force drew their legal weapons and took out the killer immediately, saving untold number of lives.
These parishioners are part of the church security force. Their guns are licensed. They receive training required to carry the guns. They buy the guns from licensed vendors who require background checks. They periodically go for retraining to keep themselves up to date on using the guns and gun safety. The guns are properly stored.
They ain’t a bunch of hillbillies who got them their guns from unlicensed vendors and learned how to use them shooting groundhogs! You get my message.
I am the last person who wants to see more guns on the streets. And just like when a synagogue or church sets up committees, the security force is not recommended for everyone to participate in. There are plenty of other committees to join where you can show your support to the religious group you belong to.
I’m tired of all the lens lice marching to the podiums around the country for press conferences announcing nothing of substance. I’m tired of the breaking news in the middle of the few television programs I watch. I’m tired of these same events with loss of life and serious injury happening in New York, Texas, Florida, etc.
No, I’m not going Conservative on you. I simply want to stop any more domestic terrorism events from occurring.
It’s 2020 – a new decade. It’s time for some new thinking as we try to make this country greater than it already is. God Bless America. And to you and your family, a happy, healthy New Year in a world of shalom, peace!
Briefs
For more than 50 years we have been celebrating Christmas eve with the Costantini family, headed up by patriarch Chubby. Although Leanna, Chubby’s daughter, and her husband David could not join us (as David gets those knees ready for summer baseball games), the rest of the gang from Texas to Florida joined in to :make the season bright.”
Speaking of lens lice, Councilman Michael Sabatino informed us via Facebook that after he left office Tuesday at midnight, he was taking a job in the Spano administration. There’s never enough money for our schools or more firemen, policemen or DPW workers, but somehow there’s money when the Friends and Family Plan wants to put a buddy on the payroll! Remarkable!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show on Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. on WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream, or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge.
