Month: June 2025

SAY IT AIN’T ZO

For those of you who may not have comprehended the reference of the title of this blog, it refers to the Black Sox Scandal of 1919. That year eight Chicago White Sox players were accused of “throwing” the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. It was arguably the worst black mark against baseball ever, and the eight players were banned from the sport for life. This was inconceivable. The fans were shocked. Their faith in the sport was damaged severely. The continued viability of the sport as “America’s Pastime” was in danger. Supposedly, one distraught young boy confronted “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, one of the accused, and said, “Say it ain’t so, Joe. Say it ain’t so!”

And so, we come to the June 24 Dem primary for mayor in which Zohran Mamdani scored an upset victory over Andrew Cuomo and others to snare the nomination of the Dem Party. To be sure, Cuomo was a flawed candidate with a lot of “baggage.” Nevertheless, this was hard to believe since there are 1.3 million Jews living in NYC, the most of any city outside of Israel. Surely, thought the prognosticators, Zo, an avowed antisemite, would not get their support. Wrong!

In the wake of the primary various local politicians are scrambling to “stop Zo” by mounting independent challenges. However, I believe that is a long shot. I am not cognizant of any third-party candidate ever winning an election. Given the heavily Dem composition of the electorate in NYC it is very likely that his nomination will be tantamount to winning the election.

Make no mistake about it. Zo is not just a socialist. He is a COMMUNIST as well as an ANTISEMITE. Some of the policies he has been espousing sound like they were written by Karl Marx. He will probably try to moderate some of his prior statements and views in order to win the election, but don’t be fooled.

Mamdani, 33, was born in Kampala, Uganda but moved to New York City with his family when he was seven. He is currently the three-term representative for Assembly District # 36 of the New York State Assembly, which is located in Queens. He is the first South Asian man and Ugandan to serve in the Assembly and the third Muslim to do so. Prior to that he worked as a foreclosure-prevention housing counselor and in the film industry as a rap music producer and writer, not your classic background to qualify one to run a large and complex city like NY.

Some of his policies include the following:

  1. In his view the entire police force is racist. He has said he wants to emasculate the department by freezing the level of membership and/or reducing its funding. Now, he is trying to moderate some elements of this radical policy, but the police are not buying it. According to multiple media reports if he were to win police officers will see the handwriting on the wall and leave in droves. He wants to create a Department of Community Safety whose members would presumably assume some or most of policemen’s duties. Many 911 calls would be handled by “violence interrupters” and “mental health teams.” No one knows what that means, but it sounds inane. These people are supposed to confront violent criminals?! Good luck with that. Needless to say, the city will be even less safe than it is presently.
  2. He advocates free bus service, but he doesn’t articulate where the money will come from to pay for it.
  3. He wants to freeze rents on some one million privately-owned apartments, and tax homes owned by white people at higher rates than those owned by non-whites. This in a city with sky-high housing costs.
  4. Besides “immediately” freezing rent for rent-stabilized tenants, Mamdani’s platform also outlines a plan for constructing some 200,000 new “affordable, union-built, rent-stabilized” units over ten years and fast-tracking approval for “affordable” developments.
  5. Among Mamdani’s plans to “resist” Trump are strengthening sanctuary city protections by ending cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and barring them from city facilities, increasing legal support for migrants, preventing personal data from being given to ICE, protecting abortion rights and increasing the budgets of the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and the NYC Commission on Human Rights.
  6. Running on a platform of pushing back against the proverbial “big guys,” Mamdani has proposed an extensive series of soak-the-rich policies. He maintains that they are “not driven by race” despite his assertion to significantly raise property taxes on “richer and whiter neighborhoods.”
  7. He asserted that billionaires “shouldn’t exist.” “I don’t think that we should have billionaires, frankly.” Note that NYC has more billionaires (123) than any other city in the world.
  8. He advocates levying a 2% tax on residents earning above $1 million annually and raising the corporate tax rate to 11.5%. I can see the stampede to other states now.
  9. He advocates a Green Schools for a Healthier New York City initiative that will seek to renovate some 500 public schools with renewable energy infrastructure and HVAC upgrades, make asphalt schoolyards into green spaces and build hubs in 50 schools for community emergency situations.
  10. Another cost of living strain on New York families, beyond rent, is the price of essentials, like groceries. Mamdani has said he plans to address the cost of food by creating city-owned grocery stores that will pay no rent or property taxes, buy and sell at wholesale prices from centralized warehouses and partner with local vendors to keep prices down. (Pure Soviet doctrine.)
  11. Mamdani claims he will offer free childcare for every New Yorker aged six weeks to five years. He will also seek to implement the distribution of baby baskets to parents of newborns, which would include items like diapers, baby wipes, nursing pads, post-partum pads, swaddles, books and local resource guides.
  12. Mamdani will aim to raise NYC’s minimum wage to $30 by 2030 and regulate delivery apps like DoorDash, GrubHub and Uber Eats by strengthening licensure requirements.
  13. He has declined to support the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state, refused to denounce the term “global intifada” and supports an organized effort to put economic pressure on Israel through boycotts and other tactics.
  14. Apparently, his extensive antisemitic, anti-Israel beliefs are no longer as toxic as they once were. He received support from many Democratic voters, including Jews, who have grown dismayed by Israel’s conduct in the war and are deeply critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. That is especially true among younger, more progressive voters, many of whom have rejected the once-broadly accepted notion that anti-Israel sentiment is inherently antisemitic. Also, support for Israel has declined since the advent of the current war. According to a March poll by the Pew Research Center a slight majority of Americans now express a “somewhat” or “very” unfavorable opinion of Israel, compared with 42% in 2022. Overall, Democrats’ views are particularly negative, with nearly 70% holding an unfavorable opinion versus less than 40% of Republicans.

The allure of all this largesse is seductive. Who doesn’t like free stuff? But it is totally unrealistic and irresponsible. Be warned that all this free stuff is not really “free.” It has to be paid for by someone, somehow in some way. Zo doesn’t specify where the money will come from to pay for all of it. Hint: he plans to get it from the “rich,” i.e. people like you and me, but that won’t be nearly enough particularly with a shrinking tax base. According to the NY Post NYS is already the “number one exporter of residents to other states,” even ahead of CA, which has a much higher population. Surely, Zo’s agenda will bankrupt NYC and maybe NYS (joining CA).

I don’t understand the motivation of Jews who support Zo. In my view, they may be well educated, but nevertheless, they are ignorant. They demonstrate a deep lack of knowledge of Jewish history and the current conflict in the ME. Put simply, Zo and others who share his antisemitic bias are very dangerous for Jews’ welfare. The argument that American Jews don’t have to worry, that they have always been safe is deeply flawed. I would remind readers that Jews were living in Germany for some 500 years before the rise of the Nazis. They were an integral part of the German culture. They, too, were safe, until they were not.

Droves of politicians are scurrying to distance themselves from Zo, including Dems who are afraid he will hurt their re-election chances. For example, NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand denounced him. President Trump labeled him a “pure communist” and vowed that if he were to become mayor federal funding could be at risk. Of course, (Up)Chuck Schumer’s reaction was typically benign. He did not condemn Zo’s antisemitic policies. He merely said he “looked forward to meeting [with] him to discuss his ideas.” Way to stick up for your brethren, Chuck.

CONCLUSION

In my opinion, NYC has always been the shining light of the US if not the entire world. It has been a symbol of all that is great about America. It has always been a vibrant, exciting city and a leader economically, politically and culturally. Unfortunately, in recent years under the leadership of a succession of various ultra-liberal politicians it has begun a slow deterioration into the abyss. Zo’s election as mayor would accelerate this slide, perhaps, irrevocably. In plain English it would be the death knell for the city as we have known it. In the computer and internet age it is no longer necessary to be physically located in NYC. The exodus of the middle class and businesses would accelerate. There is a plethora of other locations with lower taxes, lower crime and lower cost of living.

In short, Zo is a threat to the American way of life as we have known it and MUST NOT BECOME MAYOR.

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SUMMER SOLSTICE

What is the summer solstice?  What does it mean?  When does it occur?  Good questions.  Read on for the answers.

As many of you know, the ss is the date with the longest period of daylight, and when the sun’s shadow is its shortest. Furthermore, in most of the US it is the date on which the sun appears to be at its highest point in the sky. In extreme northern locales the sun will be “out” the entire day.  In the NY area, where I live, we typically get about 15 hours of daylight.

The word “solstice” is derived from the Latin sol, meaning “sun” and sistere, meaning “to stand still.” As the seasons progress from winter to summer in the northern hemisphere, the sun appears to move north in the sky. On the date of the ss it has progressed as far north as it will get, and it momentarily “stands still” before it appears to begin to slide southward toward the point of its winter solstice.

Depending on the particular year, in the northern hemisphere the summer solstice can occur anytime between June 20 and June 22.  The 2025 summer solstice arrived at 10:42 EDT yesterday, June 20. At that time the sun was directly over the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north latitude).

In most cultures and countries, the summer and winter solstices are intertwined with the seasons.  For example, in the US and many other countries the ss marks the commencement of summer.  (I find it somewhat incongruous that the days grow shorter during the summer and longer during the winter.) On the other hand, in extreme northern and southern locations the solstices mark the midpoint of summer or winter.

For many ancient cultures the ss was a festive time. Most of them were sun worshippers anyway, and the longest day of the year was a reason to celebrate the renewal of life. The recurrent themes, in various forms, were life, light, femininity, marriage and fertility. (Perhaps, this concept was the derivation of the custom of holding weddings in June.)

For example:

1. The pagan holiday, Litha, which is a celebration of light and life, was celebrated on that date.
2. According to English Heritage, a charity that acts as caretaker for over 400 historic buildings, monuments, and sites, the ancient culture that constructed Stonehenge in about 2,500 BC intended it to be a crude calendar used to mark the summer and winter solstices and the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. The stones do seem to have been placed to align with the sunrise on the dates of those events.
3. The ancient Chinese marked the date with celebrations of the femininity, the “Yin” forces, and the Earth, itself. This served as a counterpoint to the winter solstice, which was a celebration of the heavens, masculinity, and the “Yang” forces.
4. Typically, Native Americans held festivals featuring body paint and ritualistic dances.
5. In ancient Gaul (modern-day France) the celebration was called the Feast of Epona after a mare goddess that protected horses and personified fertility.
6. Slavic and Germanic cultures celebrated with huge bonfires.

In modern times the ss is a time to celebrate the arrival of summer.  In many extreme northern areas, such as northern Sweden, Finland and Norway, where the people may not see the sun at all for certain parts of the year, people spend the entire day outside to “reconnect with nature.” Many of them decorate their homes, light bonfires, and dance around Maypoles.

CONCLUSION

I have always enjoyed a warm summer day as much as the next guy.  But, truthfully, to me the day of the ss is just another day. Rest assured, I will NOT be lighting any bonfires or dancing around any maypoles. (Wouldn’t that be a scary image.) Depending on the weather I play golf, play outside with the kids (or grandkids), go to a pool, or, if it’s inclement, just stay inside.  Yesterday was brutally hot in the NY area so I spent most of the day lounging at the pool followed by a spirited game of water volleyball with friends.

Whatever you did I hope you enjoyed the day.

One final thought on the date, it has always seemed contradictory to me that the beginning of summer also marked the time when the days started to get shorter, and I view shorter days as a harbinger of winter.

One final thought on the date, it has always seemed contradictory to me that the beginning of summer also marked the time when the days started to get shorter, and I view shorter days as a harbinger of winter.

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IRAN’S COMEUPPANCE

The following is a compendium of various news reports regarding the Israel-Iran War, which, as most of us know is currently raging in the Middle East, supplemented by my own opinion sprinkled in where noted.

In my view, almost anyone who was paying attention to world events knew it was only a matter of time. It was obvious that Iran, despite its continuous denials, was developing nuclear weapons and the capacity to deliver them. Also, everyone knew that it would not hesitate to use them once it was able to do so. Iran has been very blunt with respect to its goal to destroy Israel and then wreak havoc on other countries it perceived to be enemies, including the US.

I maintain it was equally obvious that Israel would never allow Iran to possess such weaponry. Jews have already suffered through one Holocaust; they do not need another.

Israel has been at war since its founding as a nation. It knows this war is literally a fight to the death. If the US leadership were to continue in its appeasement policy, it was prepared to act alone. Once Donald Trump became president and the US expressed unwavering and unconditional support of Israel’s “no nuclear weapon for Iran” policy the die was cast. I’m surprised it waited so long to “drop the hammer,” but I suppose Trump and Netanyahu wanted to give peace a chance.

As I have written many times Trump is not wishy-washy like Joe Biden and other former US presidents. He says what he means and means what he says. He gave Iran 60 days to agree to a deal, and on the 61st day he gave Israel the go-ahead. In turn, Israel has unleashed holy hell on Iran. In just a few days Israel has destroyed much of Iran’s nuclear capacity, killed much of its leadership and nuclear scientists, virtually destroyed its air force, and has the country at its mercy.

As I said, Trump has repeatedly said he wants peace, but he is prepared for war. The US already had substantial assets in the ME region, and recently, as a show of force, it tasked another aircraft carrier group to the area due to what the US military termed “an emergent operational requirement.” As the expression goes, “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”

Messrs. Trump and Netanyahu have been working closely together to thwart Iran. In a sense they have been providing a blueprint of how to deal with a genocidal terrorist autocratic regime. Now, it appears that there is a real chance to transform the geopolitics of the ME. In due course, perhaps other Arab nations will join the “Abraham Accords” that Trump has been advocating. You may have noticed the deafening silence from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the other ME nations. They didn’t want Iran to have nuclear capacity either. No one does. No one trusts them not to use it.

Predictably, the biggest opposition has been coming from within the US from the TDS-afflicted far-left wing of the Dem Party and their allies in the media. For example, Hakeem Jeffries wants it both ways. While acknowledging that “Iran should never be allowed to become nuclear capable” he has backtracked by advocating for a “reduction in hostilities.” Doofus Tim Walz is bemoaning the fact that the US, by its unwavering support of Israel, has ceased to be a “neutral arbitrator.” Not to be outdone, Ilhan Omar has chimed in with what the NY Post termed her usual “antisemitic dog whistles.” As expected, the country’s leading Jewish politician, (Up)Chuck Schumer, has failed to express support for Israel. One of the few voices of reason among Dem leaders has been PA Senator John Fetterman who told the Jewish Insider he was “shocked by his ‘party pals’ ‘ views.” I say, he shouldn’t have been.

Iran is the very definition of a rogue nation with an unhinged leadership. It is an integral part of a rogue’s gallery of nations that includes Russia, China and North Korea. It has been the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism. Through its proxies, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, the Hootie’s and other terrorist organizations it has fomented mayhem and death throughout the ME, Europe and the US. It has attempted to assassinate President Trump at least twice, and it is reputed to have several terrorist cells active in the US. In my view, it deserves what it gets.

CONCLUSION

Clearly, Iran’s leadership, through arrogance or blind hatred, miscalculated the situation. They were used to dealing with appeasers like former presidents Biden and Obama whom they were able to “string along” with deceit and deception and who offered only tepid support for Israel. They didn’t realize that Trump is totally different from them. Their insane hatred of Israel blinded their reason, and now they will pay for it.

Now, Israel is in total control of the situation. If it chooses it could assassinate the Ayatollah, and destroy Iran’s oil fields, which would render the country leaderless and bankrupt. Trump has urged some restraint “for now.” Perhaps, he is patiently waiting for the Iranian people to rise up and displace the country’s current leadership, which is reputed to be widely unpopular. The Ayatollah could always follow in the footsteps of Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad who fled to Russia. However, Trump’s patience won’t last forever. The situation has been evolving rapidly. Stay tuned.

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FATHER’S DAY

Today, June 15, the third Sunday of June, many of us will celebrate Father’s Day.  FD is commonly viewed as an opportunity to gather with family for barbecues, picnics, sporting activities (e.g. baseball, golf or fishing), eat at a favorite restaurant, or attend a Broadway show.  Generally, it is a fun day with family and friends.

The idea of an annual day to recognize fathers was first proposed by Sonora Dodd a resident of Spokane, WA, in 1909.  She wanted to honor her own father who had raised her and five siblings as a single parent.   In her opinion, mothers had their “day,” so why shouldn’t fathers.  At first, she approached her pastor about organizing a special service on her father’s birthday, June 5, but for some reason, perhaps, time constraints, the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June.  The initial celebration was held in 1910.

For many years the idea of a “day” for fathers did not catch on with the general public.  The major reason was the fear that it would become overly commercialized like Mother’s Day, Christmas and various other holidays.  In addition, the media was not behind the concept.  Rather than support the idea, they attacked it with sarcastic and cynical articles and cartoons. 

FD did, however, have its supporters.  Congress debated a bill as early as 1913, but it did not pass.  Presidents such as Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge spoke out in favor of it.  Margaret Chase Smith, a longtime influential Senator from Maine, criticized the inequity of Congress’ ignoring fathers while honoring mothers.  Finally, in 1966 LBJ issued a Presidential proclamation designating the third Sunday in June as FD.  It became a permanent holiday in 1972.

FD is celebrated differently in other countries around the world, for example:

United Kingdom – It is also celebrated on the third Sunday of June.  It is recognized as a day to honor not only fathers, but also other father figures, such as grandfathers and fathers-in-law.  As in the US, typically, people pay a visit and give cards and gifts.  Other activities might include male-only outings [golf, football (soccer), or cricket] or trips.  One significant difference is that the day is not considered to be a holiday, just a normal Sunday.

Canada – Very similar to the UK.  Popular activities would include going to the park, the zoo or eating out in a restaurant.

Russia – The holiday, celebrated on February 23, is called Defender of the Fatherland Day.  All men are honored, not just fathers.  It began as a military celebration and is still marked by military parades.

Mexico – Celebrated on the third Sunday of June.  It is marked with parties and gifts for dads and a 21- kilometer Father’s Day race.

Brazil – It is celebrated on August 2 in honor of St. Joachim, patron saint of fathers and grandfathers.

CONCLUSION

Sports fans, which, let’s face it, include most dads, will have a variety of choices.  In addition to the regular choices of the US Open and MLB baseball many dads (and granddads) attend their kids’ (and grandkids’) sporting events.  Some years the NBA Finals are also on tv.  My family will be enjoying all of the above.

FD is one of the few days of the year when the wife will not complain when you watch “too much” sports.  Dads, it is your day. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy it.

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