By Eric W. Schoen
Seems like every week right before I am ready to file my column a big story break. This week, there has been a serious leak from the United States Supreme Court of a ‘draft’ opinion from earlier this year on a case before the court regarding Roe V. Wade.
Now I am not going to, no pun intended wade into the abortion issue. Most people in this country have their minds made up. Nothing I could say will change your opinion. But there is a serious problem when draft opinions are released from the Court. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said the leak will be investigated. It should be. This is a first. Leaks from the highest court in the land are unacceptable.
No matter what your position is on the issue, it is a reminder of how important it is to vote. And make sure you are aware of where those you support stand on the issues most important to you. Are you registered to vote? Have you moved and need to register at a new address? Did you get a card from the Board of Elections confirming your registration? Will anyone in your family turn 18 prior to Election Day?Have you applied for an Absentee Ballot if you can’t make it to your local polling location?
New York State has made it easy to do all these things with a computer and without leaving your house. There is no reason why if you are eligible, you are not registered to vote. But remember. Registering is just the first step. Whether you go in person, go for early voting available at sites throughout Westchester or vote by absentee ballot, this is your way to influence not only what is going on in your hometown but what is happening throughout our country.
Now be prepared this year. The redistricting process that takes place every 10 years after the Census was challenged in the court. This might mean that you may have to cast ballots in June, August and finally in November. June and November were already on the Elections calendar. The overturning of the redistricting for Congressional and State Senate seats has put the August date on the ‘tentative’ calendar. And there are probably going to be attempts to overturn the State Assembly lines before this process is concluded.
August. A time when the last thing people are thinking about is elections. A ‘special master’ has been appointed to come up with lines for the Congressional and Senate seats that in the current plan have been ruled to favor Democrats. His report is due later this month. Craziness! But stay tuned. The situation changes every day.
Let me repeat myself. The way you can influence the system is to vote for candidates who share your views. It is your responsibility to press candidates for public office for their opinions on issues important to you and follow them to be sure they keep their promises. So many people in the world don’t have the right to vote. You do. Do it!
On to the many other issues before us. So nice to have the Flip Circus at Cross County Shopping Center for two weeks. Large crowds show that people still like a circus, even without live animals. I hope this becomes an annual tradition. It gave many Jewish families something to do with the kids between the first two and last two days of Passover. These are days families are always looking for something fun to do with the children. Flip Circus gave families an option now that Ringling Brothers Circus is no more.
Did you hear the one about the New York City Councilman who wants to pass a law that there be one public restroom in every zip code in the city? Yes friends, I said one public bathroom in every zip code. Go anywhere in the world and you will have public restrooms. You might have to pay a small fee or tip the person in charge of the upkeep of the restroom. ‘Ya’ gotta go ya’ gotta go.’
In New York City and most of Westchester if you need a restroom you have to go to Starbucks, CVS, Panera, McDonald’s or one of the few places where you can ‘sneak’ in. Why not have one of those self-cleaning restrooms that were the talk of the town several years ago where you pay 25 or 50 cents to use a properly sanitized restroom? Getty Square in Yonkers, Mamaroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains are two places that come to mind with large numbers of people passing through in need of a restroom. One public restroom per zip code. I think we need a few more than that!
Speaking of restrooms, New York State Health officials are again encouraging people in our area to mask up when indoors. Lot of people wearing masks at Panera at Cross County Tuesday morning. Covid and its variants are still here. Whether it be the Vice President of the United States or people I know, folks are coming down with the virus in numbers concerning State health officials. And who knows with all the self-testing kits out there the actual number of people affected.
Bottom line. Follow all the protocols you did in the past. There is nothing forcing you to wear a mask, but by this time you know your particular health situation and have discussed Covid and mask wearing with your doctors. Get the booster shots suggested. And please, when you use the bathroom scrub your hands with soap and water and rinse for 20 seconds singing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice. I notice so many people don’t do this basic procedure we were taught when we were 2 years old!
When I was younger, and I saw someone stealing something out of a store I might have said something to them or tried to stop them. Nowadays, it’s not so easy because you don’t know if the person has a gun or other instrument that could be used against you.
I was standing at the self-checkout at CVS on Bronx River Road at Fleetwood Plaza and a young man ran out of the store with hair products. He yelled to store personnel, ‘Don’t touch me.’ CVS staff apparently are told not to do anything. This has got to stop. Otherwise, high prices will go higher. What’s going on in this world?
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. I salute the many teachers out there including English teacher Bill DeBartolo who gave me the skills to write these columns and encouraged students not to use contractions when writing. I think of him every time I write a column and am tempted use a contraction. This is Nurses Appreciation Week. We have to thank the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners out there who work to keep us healthy during difficult times.
Tuesday was World Press Freedom Day, an occasion to denounce attacks against the media and to demand better. Readers attack me from time to time. I always remind them that this paper accepts Letters to the Editor where they can make their concerns known not only to me but to all readers.
Finally, our prayers have been answered. Yonkers Detective Cop Brian Menton has been released from the hospital. We wish him a speedy recovery at home and a retirement filled with nothing but good things!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there. My mom is gone 29 years, and never a day goes by when I don’t think of how she would want me to handle a situation. And of course, to keep on writing!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen on the Westchester Rising Radio Show alternating Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, WVOX.com click listen or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge.
