By Eric Wolf Schoen
We woke up on Tuesday morning knowing two things. It was midterm Election Day in our country, and that we would learn what the POWERBALL winning numbers were. Election Day it was, but where were the winning Powerball numbers for a jackpot that that as far as we knew hit $1.9 billion dollars sold?
A security glitch was what we were told was the reason for no Powerball winning number announcement the night before. Security glitch? We have been playing the lottery for many years and never heard of security glitches before. What could it mean? Was one of the states involved in a nefarious act? Was the system overwhelmed as there has not been a winner in many months? Was some shenanigans going on here?
We have spent the last 6,8 months hearing from the candidates for Governor about the problems in our state. Not a peep from Governor Hochul nor her opponent, Lee Zeldin questioning the lack of results. I would say more people were interested in the Powerball results than the issues the candidates were raising as we waited, not patiently to hear about our fortune.
Yes, we eagerly waited to hear that someone in Westchester, in my case particularly Yonkers had won the almost 2 billion dollar Powerball lottery. Could it be me? Could it be my neighbor. Could it be my sister or another relative or friend? We waited with baited breath, at least to hear that one of our electeds who called for investigating the color of their opponents shoe polish would get to the bottom of this scandal.
So many lottery games had gone off without a hitch. What could be going on here. Granted the lottery Prize was among the biggest with probably the largest number of people playing. It had been a while since I saw lines of people at the lottery counter snatching up their tickets for $2 each to get their dream winnings.
It took over 9 hours to get the Security glitch fixed. At 9:38 a.m. the results came out and since we didn’t know when the security glitch would be fixed there was no time when we knew the drawing would be on television. Why we couldn’t see the drawing until after it occurred I don’t know.
If I was an elected official I would be calling for an investigation of what is going on here. Then Various Tweets with different dollar amounts for the winning lottery came out. Again, someone is playing games with us.
There should be many investigations as to what occurred here. And no matter how small or large the glitch someone should be called on the carpet.
We didn’t always believe the lottery money went to education but we always believed in the integrity of the system. Do we need to worry now? I hope you won but if you didn’t I hope it’s me.
Remember, the big games go off as follows: Powerball Monday, Wednesday andSaturday. Mega Millions Tuesday and Friday, New York Lotto Wednesday and Saturday and Cash for life Daily. For $14 a week you can have the chance to become a millionaire everyday of the week.
As we go to press, it was announced that there is 1 winning ticket for Powerball. In California. Better luck next time.
Presidential Visit
No matter what your political party, no matter who you support, a visit by the President of the United States to your city is a big deal no matter who that person may be. It should be respected by the citizenry just like any visit by a world leader .
We welcomed President Biden to Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers on Sunday. A special occasion. Note I said Yonkers. Sarah Lawrence has a Bronxville P.O. Box but it is physically in Yonkers. The Journal News and the New York Post referred to the school as being in Yonkers, but leave it to the good old New York Times to say the school is in ‘WESTCHESTER County, N.Y..’ Shameful for a newspaper that has written many stories about the college being in Yonkers. But it’s classic New York Times trying to forget the real city the school is in and referring to it by county. Basically screwing Yonkers.
Sarah Lawrence gets all the tax breaks because it is in Yonkers and gets funding from the Yonkers Industrial Development agency for such things as the beautiful aquatics center and other projects.
They wouldn’t refer to a Presidential visit to Scarsdale as in WESTCHESTER County, New York. So why refer to a visit by the Commander in Chief as WESTCHESTER County versus Yonkers. I’m proud to live in Yonkers and proud Sarah Lawrence, one of the most respected colleges in the country graces our city.
Briefs: Good to see Amazon going into the old Whitestone Multiplex. The building is an eyesore and has sat empty too long!
Holiday movies are starting earlier and earlier on television just as we finish Halloween. Is that a sign the stuff they show on television just isn’t up to snuff with the grand ole holiday fair.
Marathon Sunday is always a day when I remember so many things. In 1978 dad died. 2 days later I voted for the first time. My sister started her long 27 year career teaching and directing religious school at Temple Emanu-El in Yonkers. One of the last bazaars we had at the Temple was 1978. Fond memories. All on Marathon Sunday.
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.
