By Eric W. Schoen
I never knew there were so many people knowledgeable about the regulatory process of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). I heard from so many people, both friends and folks on the street that they would not get the Covid vaccine until it received full FDA approval.
Glad that I have such knowledgeable friends. Glad that there are so many people knowledgeable about the FDA and CDC regulatory practices. Come on let’s face it. Just like me you hadn’t a clue as to what full approval of a vaccine by the FDA entailed. But you do know that hospitals are again filling up with people who are coming down with the coronavirus. Most of these people were not vaccinated.
Yes, some people who were vaccinated are coming down with the coronavirus. But they are not getting as sick as those who were vaccinated. So bottom line, the Pfizer vaccine has received full regulatory approval from the FDA. So I expect all of you who were not vaccinated to roll up your sleeves and get the shot this week. No more excuses. By being unvaccinated not only are you endangering yourself and your loved ones and those around you but you are putting me and my family in danger. We’ve been vaccinated. That’s unacceptable.
Now that the FDA has fully approved Pfizer if you are not vaccinated please wear a N95 or K95 mask or one of those goofy looking plastic shields to protect yourself and protect me. Or frankly, stay home. The time for games is over. The deceased Kennedy brothers are rolling over in their graves when Robert Kennedy, Jr. comes out and makes silly comments as to how you should not get vaccinated. But enough about vaccines.
So friends, we have a new Governor, Kathy Hochul. Her last name rhymes with chuckle. Just think about those soft chewy candies that come in several flavors. My favorites are the black, licorice ones and the green ones. We wish her well.
We have a new Sheriff in Albany. I think she’s going to be a kinder, gentler Sheriff, firm but kind, someone who cares about the citizens of our great state. She has a lot of house cleaning to do. And those that were part of the ‘Cuomo’ gang, folks that caused thousands of nursing home deaths, folks that arranged for the Governor’s friends and family to get Covid tested while you and I stood out in the rain begging, folks that chauffeured members of the Governor’s family around to private events on state time, folks that were involved and/or were aware of Cuomo’s misbehavior. I could go on and on. She’s got a lot of house cleaning to do.
But of course Andrew left us with a bang. And a Big Bang that was. He offended every police officer and law enforcement official in New York State by granted clemency to five men, including the commutation of the sentence of David Gilbert, a former member of the radical Weather Underground who, in 1981, took part in the robbery of a Brink’s armored truck in Rockland County. Police lives were tragically lost in that mess. I remember it as if it was yesterday.
Why Andrew alienated so many people on his way out we will never know. Apparently some lawyer in state government is related to Gilbert and lobbied for his commutation. Yep, the old friends and family deal. But unlike the pardons we have seen from former President Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, this grant of clemency has upset a lot of people around the country.
Last week I heard that former Secretary of State, former Senator Hillary Clinton was considering a run for Governor to replace Cuomo. I, no pun intended chuckled when I heard Hillary’s name. She and her husband will go around the world and make much more money than she will make as Governor giving speeches to groups rich enough to pay them.
Then to my surprise I opened the pages of this great newspaper last week and read that some unknown, former State Assemblyman (he resigned his seat in 1988 because he couldn’t get the leadership post in Albany he wanted) who now considers himself a ‘political consultant’ opined that Yonkers Mayor Michael Spano was considering a run for Governor. Again, no pun intended I ‘chuckled.’
New York Governors for the most part come from New City. They are usually lawyers or accountants or are members of some profession requiring a degree and licensure. They didn’t just insult the person who everyone knew would take over for Cuomo after his misdeeds. They have broad name recognition statewide and a portfolio to present. Most importantly, they didn’t lie to the members of their community and the press swearing that they did not believe in extending term limits for the office they held one week and changing their mind the next all for political expediency.
Then I thought about that little known State Assemblyman and Senator from Peekskill, former Peekskill Mayor, former candidate for President George Pataki and I thought you know what? Anything is possible. Pataki you may remember beat Andrew’s father and became New York State Governor for three terms. Pataki was not well known but people were suffering from Mario Cuomo ‘fatigue.’ We wish Mike Spano well if he decides to run for Governor.
Last Governor from Yonkers? Malcolm Wilson, of blessed memory. Andrew’s father spearheaded a campaign to rename the Tappan Zee bridge to honor Malcolm Wilson. When Andrew built a new bridge to carry traffic, in the middle of the night the Malcom Wilson Bridge became the Governor Mario Cuomo Bridge. Unethical. Against Andrew’s fathers wishes.
Last Lieutenant Governor from Yonkers was Alfred Del Bello. Del Bello supported former Mayor Ed Koch in a primary against Andrew’s father. Mario Cuomo won. Al DelBello won. Mario and Andrew gave DelBello no responsibilities. DelBello, who went on the make a lot of money after he left office representing developers before his untimely death quit the Lieutenant Governor position saying he had nothing to do.
So who knows what will happen. But me thinks there are a lot of Democrats with Statewide recognition who could easily beat Spano who is well known in Yonkers. But Yonkers, now the third largest city in New York State has changed a lot since Michael’s beloved father Leonard was elected to the Westchester County Board of Supervisors, the predecessor to the County Legislature. The people who know the Spano name have moved and sadly many have gone to to their reward. Time will tell.
I was down in Asbury Park over the weekend. Forgot how much I miss Walmart. I had to find a corded telephone for a family friend and lo and behold, Walmart had 2 pieces in stock. I bought them both. This is the kind of thing only Walmart Shoppers will be searching for.
I went to Walmart on Saturday morning. Most of the shelves were half empty. A Saturday, the busiest day for shopping and the shelves of Walmart are empty. What’s going on? One worker blamed it on shipping delays caused by Covid. Another blamed it on ships being unable to get through the canal several months ago. Walmart has some savvy employees. I am tired like you for everything from the closure of a bathroom to empty store shelves being blamed on Covid. The lack of workers to work in stores like Walmart, restaurants and Supermarkets. Where did the shortage come from? I can’t believe the extended unemployment benefits are preventing people from working. Something is going on in this world and no one seems to know what it is.
So I am in Walmart. My sister had asked me to pick up a bottle of old fashioned liquid Wite Out, the liquid you use to cover mistakes. I went to pay the 99 cents for the Wite Out. It came up ‘restricted item.’ I thought because the price was good they were restricting quantities.
No, it’s a restricted item because kids are buying the product to sniff it and get high. What’s going on in this world. What’s next? Enjoy the waning days of summer!
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 Thursday’s from 10-11 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.
