GREETINGS
Okay,
I’m guilty. My Blogs are few and far between, but I do have an excuse. Between
the media and social networks clogging air-space, the sub-liminal battle to
have a life of my own is increasingly difficult. I know I’m not alone in this
battle. Some may consider this very same Blog an example of social media
intrusion. My defense: sparse
presentations.
The topic, This Time, is befitting the holiday season. Recently, I revisited
one of my root sources of adolescence and young adulthood – Harlem USA. For
those of you who beat me to it, you’ll understand my surprise. The new 125th
Street, which is really an avenue but no one ever called it that, is testament
to gentrification and resulting businesses it attracts. The streets I once
walked bear little resemblance to what I remember, as well as the faces
encountered during my visit. The heart of Harlem has become a veritable United
Nations that is composed of tourists and, to my great surprise, white folk who
have taken residency. My destination served as perfect example.
The
Red Rooster restaurant is an icon of Harlem http://redroosterharlem.com. The location I
remember from my younger days has changed, but the radiance of staff and
patrons remains the same. First, I recommend reservations, particularly during
the holiday season. Even with pre-planning, be prepared to spend time at the
bar where my wife and I were treated to courtesy appetizers. The menu is not
over-bearing, but carefully crafted by an executive chef to excel on the
palette. Choice of appetizers serves to alert diners what’s in store. Take your
choice: Fried Chicken & Waffle,
Oysters Rockefeller, Sweet Potato Soup, Smoke Trout, The Goat, and Caribbean
Bacon. My birthday guest, Brandy, chose the Market Green Salad, which she felt
compelled to share, while I negotiated the Crab Cocktail (and also shared).
Entrees followed suit with unique
character. My wife, the mermaid, could not resist the Fish & Grits (red grouper,
crayfish grits, chorizo aioli, black kale @ $30). I, on the other hand, went
for Helga’s Meatballs ($23), a not so simple mixture of lingouberries, braised
green cabbage and mashed potatoes. Bottom line: Doggie Bags were not an issue,
sorry Aries (my dog). A popular favorite with veteran customers was the Red
Line Burger ($19), pimento cheese, bacon, melted onions, parmesan fries on a
pretzel bun. As implied at the beginning, nothing at The Red Rooster is ordinary, including the live music that began at
7 pm during our visit. You’ll find Red
Rooster at 310 Lennox Ave, NYC (between 125th & 126th).
Phone: 212-792-9001.
Now for the That. Will the real Steve Bellone please stand up? The County
Executive of Suffolk came into office on a platform of more efficient
government, and somewhere in the rhetoric, a more transparent one. After two
years on the job, the jury is still out. Despite the usual Republican critics,
many of Bellone’s Democratic colleagues have taken issue with some of his
practices. As stated in Newsday, Steve’s
(excuse the familiarity) disregard for procedure has followed him from his
hometown of Babylon to the county level. Obviously, Steve is a gambler. He
managed to get out of town (Babylon) before a negative audit report surfaced
indicating budgets were not structurally sound due to overestimated revenues.
Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) were ignored, in addition to
questionable inter-fund transfers. A career politician may consider this
business as usual, and wish to be in a position to do the same. After all, the
town audit found no malfeasance or criminal conduct. Makes one wonder – why
bother?
Suffolk County Executive Bellone may
have won the roll of the dice for the moment. His Ends Justifies the Means approach to government has been a friend
indeed. Decisions made in his home district may have proved beneficial to
taxpayers, i.e. a series of 17 transfers from the residential garbage district
fund to the town’s general fund to purchase property for the town’s Wyandanch
Rising revitalization project equaling $28 million. The process required
approval by town board resolution, repayment by the end of the fiscal year with
interest. Those conditions were not met at the time, but were subsequently met
according to town officials. The domino
effect to taxpayers reflected a savings exceeding $3 million. Fans of Jackie Gleason may recall – A mere bag of shells!
Perhaps, County Executive Steve
Bellone needs to be reminded of the double standard. Note, the jury is still out. Appointments made during his administration
are under continuous scrutiny. The
county executive doesn’t disguise the value of patronage. On this, he may be
more transparent than elected colleagues of the same level. Caution looms: Are the appointments commiserate with
qualifications? Case in point: Newly elected Suffolk County Legislator, Monica
Martinez. Monica was not appointed but
elected. This demonstrates a new avenue
of patronage. Her road to success was endorsed and significantly financed by
“behind the scene” supporters against seasoned incumbent, Rick Montano, a
Democrat and critic of several Bellone practices.
From the beginning of her campaign,
Monica Martinez stated her intention to flaunt a newly enacted county law
prohibiting “double dipping” by public employees in the event of election to
public office. Accordingly, she declared her plan to keep her position as
assistant principal in the Brentwood School District at $117,000 per year in
addition to $98,260 per year as legislator. By all rules of logic, that
admission should have ended Monica’s political future. Not so fast.
Through support from the county
executive’s office and influential family business connections, Monica wins
election, but must now face a tough decision before being sworn in January. The
law remains on the books, clearly stated with cloudy exemptions. Teachers in
public schools or colleges are exempt, but not administrators. Ms. Martinez is
an administrator. Case closed, almost. County Executive Steve Bellone further adds
his support to the newly elected legislator by his attempt to amend the law
regarding exemptions. Before you become completely nauseated by this sequence, help is on the way.
Within hours of this post, the
county Board of Ethics has responded to the petition of Monica Martinez. The
original law is upheld and Ms. Martinez is forbidden from maintaining both
positions at the expense of students and parents within the district of
Brentwood and the taxpayers of Suffolk County. She immediately applies for a
leave of absence from her assistant principal position. Simultaneously,
Executive Bellone recants on his amendment plans. This predictable decision
should send a message to the county executive: Time has come to seek advice
beyond the club house. Happy Holidays!
