New York Post: NYC pol Stevenson used 'bribe' money on car: prosecutors

1 Comment

1. 

   Dale Benjamin Drakeford on January 3, 2014 at 2:36 pm

   Concur…But even if anyone told him would he be able to let a mouthpiece do the talking for him? These guys got egos the size of Jack’s giant’s foot and they can’t help but live their egos through their mouths. It is a curiosity at every level, but we can keep hoping for a change:
   THE CASE FOR THE BILLS AND OF CURIOUS BUMPS/THUMPS/TINGLES
   Dale Benjamin Drakeford
   9/11/13 to 12/11/13
   On Monday August 26, 2013 I reported to UFT Bronx Headquarters to make calls for Bill Thompson for mayor and Scott Stringer for comptroller of NYC. I was there with perhaps a dozen in and out colleagues, chatting, chewing and choosing to volunteer and campaign. Rarely departing from our script we made the quick case for Thompson and Stringer and enjoyed the company of like minds. The results departed from what we were reading in the papers from reporting polls, although one colleague reported what we had noticed, “Bill De Blasio is all over the place.” In my more than 200 calls where someone answered, all were either voting for Thompson and Stringer or was “undecided” with most leaning towards the elder and less animated Bill. On September 5th I did some neighborhood canvassing for my first choice and returned to UFT for several more hundred calls on September 9 and 10, 2013 when the polls had shifted some but not at all akin to the responses on my phone line.
   The polls nearing the primary had Bill Thompson in 3rd with 18% and Stringer trailing “he who shall not be named,” by 14 points. I predicted Stringer overcoming his deficit by a smidgen and Thompson jumping over his bunched up group to gain a run-off election day. The reason for that was clear in my mind. First my choices were not of questionable character, nor, as in the case of Quinn invite almost daily quirks of inquiry such as declaring she would make contraceptives available to “Fourteen year old girls without parental permission…” or in the case of Stringer’s competitor suggesting that his unethical behavior does not rise to the level of the other one in the other race (that will not be ever named again, because to do so would somehow honor them as worthy of our attention).
   Closer still to primary day and the Quinniac poll had de Blasio pulling away and Thompson in a tie with Quinn at about 20%. By the weekend before the primary Times/Sienna had de Blasio at 43% and Thompson in second with Quinn on the slow fade. This was at the time when I was doing my second call-in and this was holding up. Either responders were not being truthful about their intentions or the claim from Rev. Reuben Diaz that the polls are failing to include Asian and Hispanic voters is valid. Curious, but the former councilperson had proof to back up his claim.
   My predictions come to be realized on primary day, but the curiosity continues with the 5% that voted for the scandalous for mayor and the 36% that voted for the unscrupulous for comptroller. Who are these people and who gave birth to them?
   More curious behavior strikes the days that follow the primary as dozens of unions immediately shift support to Brooklyn based de Blasio and request that Thompson gives up so that the party against Brooklyn based Joe Lhota can be solidified. With polls suggesting that a Bloomberg endorsement for the Republican would hurt as much as help, curiously Bloomberg within days, retreats from his curious break from good politics to declare what he had always said until the curious one time bump in big brain behavior, “To not endorse anyone.”
   Bloomberg’s temporary brain bump, Stringer’s thump in general appreciation for the work of the mayor and Bill Thompson’s tingle so quickly to endorse his younger Bill, certainly raises the curiosity curtains (i.e., dementia, dollar searching, job vetting) but not on the level of national vicious circles. On the question of chemical warfare in Syria, a spokesperson for our president said, “Do we have indisputable proof? Intelligence does not work that way.” I am curious as to how intelligence work. Such unintelligent comment from one who is supposed to represent intelligence was sure to swell the ranks of “several hundred protesters” around the country on 9-8-13. One in the Wall Street group called for Obama’s impeachment for he “Has lied to us, made us trust him and is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” This happened as Charley Rose interviewed Asaid of Syria who denied any knowledge of chemical use against his people. That lie will be given more than 60 Minutes of fame and if the nation is bombed likely 60 years of international infamy. The argument that Syria is not Iraq is invalid and we tingle in fear of our president calling for war with Syria under the curious “Limited” notion of “targeting chemical plants” gathered to the thumps of non-war advocates, innocents (such as myself, ha ha) immediately. The case was also immediately made, that the voice and power of citizenship use of social media to advocate their case and build their support for a position. Obama’s war was already weak when Russia threw him and Syria a life-line with a proposal to assist in ridding their ally of chemical war materials. Syria, however, had already started moving and hiding their assets, so the proposal to collect them is as invalid as the threat to bomb them out of existence.
   The curiosities abound:
   • Primary democrat winner de Blasio has a 43 point lead on his republican rival and is on pace to get 86% of the vote according to an early Marist College poll.
   • A biased report September 17, 2013 indicates no clear evidence that Assad released chemicals on his people, but some “that the rebels did.” An equally biased report from UN workers claim evidence that Assad did release chemicals on his people. The masses should be curious about the idea that someone or anyone has something just to have and not to use.
   • US Attorney Preet Bharara deserves many a rah rah cheer for deciding that crooked officials should not be allowed to continue defrauding the public by collecting pensions. The curiosity is that no one ever thought of this as a good idea before.
   • The sequester by Republicans on October 1, 2013 succeeded in sequestering any possibility that a Republican will win anything important in this entire decade.
   • Republican Joe Lhota will get rid of Bloomberg’s wars on big sugary drinks and Democrat Bill deBlasio will continue to wage it if elected.
   • Congress “furloughed” the pay of many federal workers and even benefits to soldiers that died in the line of duty, but not their salaries. Then congress decided that certain people would get paid anyway (but that meant certain others, curiously disrespected for a second insult, will not).
   • Congress pretended to work and save the nation a day before the feared “Default,” and suddenly found a way to compromise. Miracle of miracles let us sing their praises as we wonder who the 11% are (according to polls) that think they are doing a good job.
   • On Sunday October 20, 2013 I momentarily re-thought that perhaps Eli Manning doses run on Dunkin’ Donuts given the 0-6 Giant start but re-thought again that Victor Cruz is running on JC fumes and not where he is supposed to be on the NFL field causing sacks and interceptions when the quarterback forces throws. More to the point, national politicians are forcing their ingenuous agendas and citizens are allowing it to learn that the nation can run on the fumes of hot air.
   • On Monday October 21, 2013 I returned to Bronx UFT Headquarters for calls for de Blasio because our President Mulgrew “Warns members against complacency in the upcoming mayoral election,” (p. 3 in New York Teacher, Vol LV, No. 3, October 17,2013) and “Because he was endorsed by our candidate, Bill Thompson.” With polls now showing him with a 44 point lead, not a single respondent to my 200 calls said they were not voting for him and only three said they were undecided.
   • On Tuesday October 22, 2013 de Blasio and Lhota debate for the second of three and leave nothing to be curious about. Their divide is clear and intelligent. They actually answer questions and provide appraisals, assessments and intentions for all to hear. Where they are undecided (i.e., public spaces) they honestly declare the same. Wonder of wonder candidates with platforms they are willing to share so voters recognize options and choices without smoke screens.
   • On Wednesday October 23, 2013 Democrats are calling on the Health Secretary to resign because of the online Obamacare fiasco. If this sounds similar, think back to when UFT members thought Chancellors Klein, Black and Walcott should resign given the online reporting disaster they implemented. I think it is time to acknowledge that executives (i.e., Obama, Bloomberg) might have worthy ideas, but the consultants and directors they hire are not always examples of them. More curious however, is the nerve of congressional members to call for termination of a person because of something that was started just three weeks ago while they have yet to terminate themselves for a dysfunctional congress now in its (to be conservative) fifth year of inaptitude.
   • Talking about inaptitude (after a week of tweets, twitters and in your face criticism) is JC ever going to pen that rap on Barneys (the big name store flaunting his threads while racial profiling the brothers) or is he going to copout on the competition (i.e., Macys) instead?
   • After a full week of volunteer service last week at UFT calling for de Blasio votes, I returned for another on Monday October 28th. The room was full of “District 9” employees, none of which were curious about why no one is complacent. Fresh off of his “Charter school campaign rally,” Lhota is seen as someone who would rather support kids skipping school then have rich organizations pay rent for public property they use (as per the Eva Maskowitz charter school design).
   • On Halloween Lhota declares that he is “A very different person from Bloomberg” because (like me) he thinks the tendency of Bloomberg to act as “A Chairman of the Board” and allow his “Commissioners to act like Corporate Presidents that he agrees with” was a mistake. In my estimation, the results of this management style has sometimes been scary in regard to public education, but more curiously (because of the agreement again) is Lhota’s criticism about why “The monthly meetings featuring the mayor and his commissioners” have ceased for Q&A scrutiny because that is how he most separates from Bloomberg for an open administration where “the people will be the stockholders.” In reversing and excusing the “Stop & Frisk” judge for “Being biased” the appeals group supports my contention that racial bias is not part of this policing program, but while I appreciate this correction I am truly frightened about it putting former mayor Rudolph Giuliani back in the headlines to protect it against a de Blasio counter-attack (because Giuliani, in my estimation, is bias walking unmasked).
   • On Election Day I deliver my last telephone call canvassing civic service for de Blasio at UFT (that provided a serious bump to my sensibilities when I saw that they had made up buttons with the Bloomberg likeness blemished with a “stop” universal symbol, because I cannot phantom any reason to negatively personify the billionaire at this late date). I had voted early and against all propositions and with the Working Families Party when they had may candidate. The loudest bump, thump and tinkle came with the first proposition where it appeared I was the only one against the trend to legalize corrupt thinking and values. The seven casinos slotted for New York will not deliver money to schools (no more so than Lotto and if they did, it would be tarnished funds teaching the wrong type of investment and leisure). How come people are so numb to the underside that follows gambling? Proposition 1 passed with high support.
   • On November 6th the papers report the final tally and de Blasio gets an astonishing 74% of the vote. Economic and education issues were the key reasons according to voters. Lhota gets 23% of the vote while losing every demographic except registered Republicans. With 97% of the vote accounted for the remaining 3% went to Adolfo Carrion, Jr. (Independent Party) Anthony Gronwicz (Green Party) Abiodun Samuel Laurel-Smith, George McDonald (Commonsense Party) Jack D. Hidary (Jobs and Education Party) John Catsimatidis (Liberal Party) Carl Person (Reform Party) Jimmy McMillan (Rent Too High Party) Erick Salgado (School Choice) Dan Fein (Socialist Worker Party) Randy Credico (Tax Wall Street Party). Who are these people? That 3% I mean that went bumping against all that is reasonable. What is their message to us? I tinkle all over with excitement for their special insight.
   • On the afternoon of November 22, 1963 I was in 6th Grade at PS 54 (torn down some years ago and replaced with “affordable private homes” when my teacher (whom I had mistreated earlier that month) informed the class that we would be packing up earlier and dismissed from “the indoor courtyard after a special announcement from the principal.” This had never happened before in my memory and the body language of my abused teacher and her colleagues were discomforting. My favorite administer “Mr. Goldberg” was there and it settled me a bit for even when I was in my most terror mode he had a Fair, Firm, Fun (that later became one of my professional mottos of warmed-over Transactional Analysis) disposition that built my self-esteem while curving my unbalanced personality. Come mid-November 2013 Obama’s rating with his general public is at an all time low. He only scores well in the area I am least concerned with—terrorism (indicating we haven’t learned much in 50 years–as if anyone could have stopped my eleven year old “bad seed” or Lee Harvey Oswald). Can anyone really stop a crazy from terrorizing us if they really wanted to terrorize us? The terrorist chump aside, the chump jump, or as he is better known by his buddies, Bubba the bump, because he always does more good than bad to his political goons and wannabes, gave Obama a thump when he banded with some senators to suggest people be allowed to keep their existing insurance. Obama tweeted to the pressure like a blue tweet bird turned lame duck yellow, but the insurers tweeted nay. They curiously had no hesitation in shouting down what they saw as still another layer of mess for their already sizable headache and pain in their…pocket. At the same time, curiosities of curiosities, Obama gifts us with understanding of what the JFK Freedom Medal is all about after 50 years of curiosity. It is about honoring an X-president (who set corporate America free to create mortgage and economic bubbles and imprison Afghanistan in a war that will never end) as Bubba becomes the latest recipient. The Obama administration has been the victim of more filibusters in his tenure than all presidents before combined. Yet he has managed to bring an economy to health, people to health opportunity, a slimmer military that is more effective. We wonder what his administration could have achieved with less terrorism from his American defectors and more courage from him to shake free of the chains of his own party.
   • I recall back in fall 1997 a discussion with a JP Morgan executive about integrity. When I questioned his company’s record on that he made it personal. Ten years later his company is engaged in questionable mortgage lending practices and on November 18, 2013 it is widely reported that JP Morgan settled with the government for their scandalous mortgage lending practices. The record breaking penalty on a corporation of 13.5 billion dollars should send a strong message that the Justice Department under Obama is about assessing real penalties, but the bigger question still looms large to if capital equity can ever be achieved again when a few can be penalized so much and still be super rich (as per the Dow Jones going over 1600 for the first time in history on 11-21-13). The question of integrity looms closer to home with the revamped Merrill Lynch Investing Company (now under BOA) for when checking on my investment after moving my IRA from the “Banking” side of the corporation I was told that my 30 minutes of phone conversation did not result in the 3.5% insured and guaranteed 5K minimum profit I thought. Instead it produced zero in a Money Market Account and has less money now due to fees. Stuff hit the fan!
   • Curiosities of curiosities 2 Alex Rodriguez, the power broker, is a victim of power prejudice as his accusers are excused from facing him in this nation where such a right is considered a bed-rock of democracy. Curiosities of curiosities, there is a growing chorus of sympathy for this challenged character (even by yours truly).
   • Call him “Nanny” call him “Insensitive” call him “Out of touch” but history, as written by me (and apparently 62% of his constituents based on exiting polls) will call him remarkable because he
   1) Reduced real crime and made NYC safer.
   2) Gave us bike lanes and began to address the transportation, commuter and pedestrian movements in a very crowded metropolis.
   3) Pushed legislation to increase the legal age of smokers to 21 when he had already made it harder to smoke in public places.
   4) Took on an international leadership role in promoting human health.
   5) Took on an international leadership role in promoting gun safety and monitoring gun movement (with his “Mayors Against Guns” organization).
   6) Balanced budgets in a budget challenged city and actually produced a surplus (granted part of that might be because I had to work without a raise and contract for several years, but a C in education administration is not a C in overall schooling to the worth of citizenship and participation).
   7) Improved the water treatment and filtration system for NYC (which already had the best municipal water in the world and making it more curious as to why so many New Yorkers still think water in environmentally and biologically unfriendly plastic bottles is superior).
   8) Initiated 311 Emergency Number in his first term and it has served millions in immediate need.
   9) Took sanitation seriously and we have not had a repeat of sanitation circling the city with no place to bury the stink we create (often needlessly).
   10 Has improved recycling to where more is actually recycled versus the perception of the same from the last administration.
   11) Improved tourism to NYC by 50% during the Bloomberg administration adding to the wealth and reputation of the international city where a record 53 million plus will visit in 2013.
   12) Made STEM a city focus brokering special partnerships with universities to use Ellis Island and build state-of-the-art facilities for aspiring students and researchers. 13) Established with universities “Small Business Incubators” throughout the city (including one in the Bronx) that will have local to global impact.
   13) As I terminate this writing therapeutic effort in my beloved Bronx, I cannot miss reminding all that this mayor helped broker what will become the world’s largest indoor ice-skating arena at the Bronx Armory (ending decades of a large facility in decay and dysfunction).
   Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly) will be missed. Whenever you doubt that think of my list above or this simple fact: NYC has stayed in the black for twelve years (even though the mayor claimed otherwise more than once just to keep us fiscally conservative) and unlike many cities with far less social programs, NYC never had to entertain bankruptcy (e.g., Detroit goes under with $18 billion debt but NYC thrives with a $24 billion budget for DOE alone). Accordingly, don’t be surprised if the best of this administration is incorporated into the de Blasio (because this Bill has no desire to be suckered punched into the red) structure while making the new vision of greater equity come to life. Already we have Bill Bratton scheduled to return as Police Commissioner (and he is one of a very short list that can fill the shoes of Kelly and perhaps stem the tide of paying a fraudulent bill of racial profiling due to politically correct social appeasement that may burden our city). There will be bumps, thumps, tingles and blood but I expect messy progress to happen despite ourselves.
   PS: Curiosities continue for as of December 23, 2013 the mayor-elect Bill de Blasio has continued a paid position for Eliot Spitzer’s new lady pal, but have not found a suitable one for the elder Bill Thompson that helped to keep him at the top of his game during the crowded and highly contested campaign. I had hoped the elder Bill would get his bill punched for School Chancellor (but rumor has it that is impossible because Bloomberg used up all the state waivers for non-educator disasters Klein, Black and Walcott). Curiously a former deputy chancellor aged to 71 (Carmen Farina) but not curiously a universal pre-school advocate (as are her new boss and UFT) is the leading contender. This gives me a discomforting bump (for I remain one in the minority that is convinced based on real life study that preschool benefits scholastically and socially are neutralized by the time most children enter Fourth Grade). The selection of Gladys Carrion to head up ACS perhaps pumps a little thump, but the tinkle up and down my spine comes from the selection of Bill (yes, the one that has made an art form out of lying regardless of what holy scripture is put in front of him) Clinton as the one to publically swear in the new mayor. I recognize that this will be largely symbolic on January 1 at noon (because the real swearing in will be done twelve hours earlier in a closed formal ceremony) but it begs the point as to what symbolism our new mayor is looking to project. This selection weighed against the selection of Zach Carter as Corporation Counsel (because he reportedly befriends disgraced public official John L. Sampson, but was a John Gotti, Jr. slayer and Abner Louima defender and knows that “Stop & Frisk” is not racial profiling when done right) may suggest bi-polarity for the mayor-elect, but I trust not paranoia for me as I am at a befuddled disadvantage on what to expect next: but we can ask a de Blasio agreement with Gov. Cuomo that neither of them will be involved in selecting the next Council Chair (because that would not only be unlawful but power prejudice ugly in these times of moral decay by the elected).

   Reply