Letter to the Editor:

The Nation

June 14, 2004

Reagan and the real fall of the Soviet Union

In the wake of the public mourning of Ronald Reagan, our 40^th President of the United States, his supporters made certain claims. One of these claims was that he was responsible for the collapse of the Soviet Union. As an avid student of history and a witness to those events I must beg to disagree. The process that led to its welcomed collapse was in the works long before he was elected. In a sense it was a result of the confluence of disparate events and circumstances. In 1982 after 13 years of litigation against ATT by the Justice Department, the case was settled, and ATT agreed to give up their 22 Bell Systems and their subsequent monopoly over technology. This “breakup” began a “golden age” of communication that eventually resulted in fax machines, cable television, cell phones and the Internet. Meanwhile in Poland, after 2 months of labor turmoil at the Lenin Shipyards, Gdansk, in 1980 that had paralyzed the country, the Polish government gave into the demands of the workers. This of course was before Ronald Reagan was elected. Over the next few years, Poland, in need for “hard” foreign currency was starting to invite Polish-American retirees from the steel industry to come back and live in Poland. With their large union pensions they were able to buy “dachas”, or country houses and live like princes. This reality was not lost on Walesa, who saw his workers starving, as opposed to American steel workers who were “rich” and now “landed gentry.” Others soon became aware of this reality and eventually through the lowering of phone rates, and the development of the fax machines, etc, communication between citizens of the Eastern Bloc and the West opened up. Hungary started to liberalize in 1989 and a flow of East German citizens started to circumvent the Berlin Wall as they traveled through Hungary to West Germany. So the proverbial “flood-gate” was opened, and it could not be shut. By 1991 the old Warsaw Pact countries had removed their Communist bosses and Soviet troops finally went home. Without their client states, the Soviet system was finally exposed as the economic “basket case” it was, and they shut down the whole bankrupt operation. All in all, his real credit should be for the following; the useless and expensive 600 ship navy, the invasion of tiny Grenada, SDI, the Strategic Defense Imitative (Star Wars), Iran-Contra scandal, the death of 240+ Marines in Beirut, the stock market collapse of 1987, and the tripling of the National Debt, vetoing sanctions against South Africa, the speech at the SS cemetery in Bitburg, backing military dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, and the Philippines, arming Sadaam Hussein, voodoo economics (George Bush’s phrase), inaction against the AIDS epidemic, the nearly 200 members of his administration that faced indictment and prosecution, his appointment of Antonin Scalia to the Supreme Court, the S & L scandal that stuck the taxpayers with a bill approaching a trillion dollars, his relentless attacks on affirmative action, his deregulation of broadcasting gave rise to today’s monopolistic media industry, and a host of other wonderful accomplishments. Ronald Reagan got the last laugh in the end. He is still fooling the impotent media with his “teflon” image that was carefully crafted by his handlers, apologists and sycophants.

Richard J. Garfunkel

March 19, 2004

The New York Times:

To the Editor:

In today’s NY Times, Mr. David Brooks writes in his column “Too Quiet on the Home Front” about President’s Bush’s so-called compassionate conservative” agenda and its obvious inconsistencies. But recently, with the introduction of the use of September 11^th imagery, in President Bush’s re-election advertising campaign, a flurry of controversy has been stirred. As a consequence of that political debate, a comparison, no matter how invidious has arisen between the wartime Presidencies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and George W. Bush. Because of the national emergency and threat that World War II posed, President Roosevelt rushed to bring bi-partisanship into his administration by naming to the key posts of Secretary of War and the Navy two eminently powerful and renown Republicans, Henry L. Stimson and Frank Knox. Neither man was known to be an ally or political supporter of the President. He also filled key roles in his administration with other Republicans and business leaders. He understood the need to bring production people onto his team. FDR virtually abandoned his New Deal domestic agenda with his “Dr. Win the War” proclamation. He understood most pointedly that we could not have “guns and butter.”  FDR also put in programs to control prices, ration valuable resources and institute withholding taxes to pay for the war. The amount of taxpayers grew from 3.9 million in 1939 to 42.6 million in 1945. Even though we accumulated massive debt, and the war effort was more than 90% of our GNP, we were able to put in place a world monetary policy at the Bretton Woods Conference. That all-important meeting would shape and create the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development that helped guide the economies and the recovery of the post-War world. FDR also created the concept of the Allies as the United Nations. The coalition he authored prosecuted successfully the world’s most devastating struggle into total and unconditional victory.

George Bush, on the other hand, has sought no bi-partisan support, has fractured the unity of our western alliances, has watched our dollar crumble in value, has mismanaged our debt structure, and has undercut all of the international bodies that took decades to strengthen and nurture. Even though he has tried to link the brutal, and not lamented dictatorship of Sadaam Hussein to Al Quieda, and the war upon terrorism, there is slight evidence that they were ever connected. He has justified a war against Iraq from the earliest days of his administration, while ignoring international terrorism until the disaster of 9/11. With this policy he has alienated our traditional friends, spread thin our manpower resources to dangerous levels, and created new an unacceptable addition to our national debt. Unlike FDR, he has not tried to support the cost of this war, but has placed its burden on unborn generations. Unlike the unified domestic home front of World War II, we here have a divided nation that is being constantly assaulted by a divisive domestic agenda of tax giveaways to the super rich, erosion of personal liberties, confusion over immigration, high job loss, record trade deficits, a health care system out of the reach of multi millions, spending out of control, a “real” unemployment rate approaching 10%, and an erosion of the “establishment” clause, regarding the separation of church and state.

Richard J. Garfunkel

January 29, 2004

To the Editor:

Why the People of the United States should fire George W. Bush!

Unlike our various sports teams in New York and elsewhere, our television sit-coms and news shows and our failing CEO’s, who can be retired or dismissed by an owner, or a Board of Trustees, we cannot fire a President or any other elected officials during their term. Unless it is a case of high crimes and misdemeanors, no matter how bad a job our chief executive is doing, we are stuck with him/her until the conclusion of their term of office.

But of course, we do have the opportunity to fire that person through the electoral process. I believe that George Bush should not be judged on what he may or will do in the future. I conclude, that like any other coach, or producer or failed executive, he should be judged on what he has done in the past. It is the past that we should analyze critically and that he be held accountable for. George Bush has presided over a stock market collapse, the loss of 3 million jobs, a health care crisis, unaffordable drugs for millions of elderly citizens, an uncontrollable immigration crisis, an intelligence gathering failure, a squandered surplus, a new added budget deficit of $2.5 trillion, a struggling and expensive educational system, a college cost runaway, a corporate compensation abuse scandal, a mutual fund fee rip-off, an increase in crime nationwide, the exporting of jobs overseas, a record trade deficit, a quagmire of blood and treasury in Afghanistan and Iraq, a tax give-away to billionaires, a homeland security vulnerability, hatred around the world, a loss of stature amongst our traditional foreign allies, and a policy that is clearly anti-environment. These are not ideological or specifically social issues. They are American issues. The loss of jobs, pensions, the decline of our dollar, our continued trade vulnerability regarding China and our energy dependency are not “politics as usual” issues!

I say to conservative, liberals, and moderates, fire this failure and send him packing off to his ranch in Crawford, Texas where he can contemplate his oil and his family riches.

Richard J. Garfunkel

Ms. Cynthia Koch

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library

4079 Albany Post Road

Hyde Park, NY 12538

January 30, 2003

Dear Cynthia,

I hope this letter finds you quite well. I just wanted to say to you, that my wife Linda, my friends and I had a marvelous time. Even though I had been to Hyde Park many times over the years, including; FDR’s 100^th Birthday celebration, Eleanor Roosevelt’s 100^th Birthday and the 50^th anniversary of FDR’s death, the thrill never goes away. I was so glad that some of my friends were able to enjoy the experience of re-visiting, through the library, one of our most dramatic periods in history. Certainly for all of us alive today, whether young or old, the impact of Franklin Roosevelt’s life and contribution is immeasurable. Any casual student of history would readily know that without FDR’s contributions and leadership, our way of life would not exist.

With regards to my participation with this committee, I must say that I have enjoyed every minute of it. I look forward to contributing in any way to not only the growth and prosperity of this effort, but to the advancement and continued great work of the FDR Library. The memory and legacy of FDR, at least to me, and I know countless others, continues to be a beacon of hope and enlightenment to the world.

Meanwhile I hope that our joint work will continue and prosper, and this effort will be continued far into the future with great success.

Regards and stay well,

Richard J. Garfunkel

 2801 Watch Hill Drive

Tarrytown, NY 10591

914-524-8381, e-mail rjg@cloud9.net

ps: Please find  a copy of  the cover qnd a few pages of Fireside Chats, published by Gustav Detjen, Jr. (I thought it was run by Clyde Sarzin, my mistake!) out of Clinton, Corners, NY. Also if you want me to work on a FDR philatelic exhibition, I would love to do it!

“I put myself in the way of things happening,

and they happened.”

                      Franklin Delano Roosevelt

October 29, 2003

Dear Cynthia,

I hope that this note finds you quite well. Below is a copy of a letter that I have sent out to many of my friends regarding the Val-Kill Medal Ceremony. I thought you would like a copy. Please find an article that I pulled off the Internet mentioning a connection to FDR. One can ask Google to send e-mail attachments, during the day, about key subjects or people. Every time the subject of FDR comes up, I receive an e-mail mentioning a media release. It is a way to receive the news before it “hits the street.” I also have enclosed a button for you from the Eleanor Roosevelt event in New York. – rjg

Recently I received an invitation to go up to Hyde Park and attend the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Foundation’s Medal Award ceremony for 2003. In previous years I had ignored the invitation for one reason or another. But after Linda and I had been invited to Laura Roosevelt’s house in Greenwich, Ct., last year to see the workings of the ERVK Foundation, I decided their task and mission was quite worthy so I wanted to attend this year’s event.

It’s a pleasant hour drive up the scenic Taconic, which has been considerably brightened by the fall foliage’s multi colors. Eventually though, I must turn west towards the Hudson, so I drove onto Rte 55 that leads through the old town of Poughkeepsie, where Vassar College is located. Approaching the Mid-Hudson suspension bridge I headed north for a few miles up Rte 9 past Marist College and the Culinary Institute. I had been up here a number of times in the past year while I was working on the renewal of the FDR/ March of Dimes Birthday Ball. The ball will be postponed until next year while the FDR Library and the Henry A. Wallace Visitor’s Center are being worked on. Val-Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt’s home, is located a few miles southeast of Springwood, the big mansion and library on the Post Road.

I drove in to the property, which is located on many, many secluded acres and is managed by the National Park Service. It is celebrating its 26^th year as a National Historic site, and it is the first and only home of a First Lady that has been so honored. After parking with hundreds of other cars, on a vast grassy meadow, I wandered over to the tent where the reception was being held. Of course in the moments before the event, I worked on my post cards, and by 12 noon, the tent and 28 tables were filled, and the reception started. We were all introduced to not only the medallists but also their very capable seconds, who all made brilliant introductions. (I have included the program with this letter.) The speeches were outstanding after each introduction and acceptance, the speakers and medallists were afforded standing ovations.

I was quite impressed with Jean Kennedy Smith’s remarks about Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. Neither of them is a youngster, but they delivered their lines with aplomb, humor and charm. I especially recalled Mrs. Kennedy’s quote from her late brother the President, “Arthur was the smartest guy he ever knew!”  Professor Schlesinger, who had never met Mrs. Roosevelt while she was First Lady, recalled their work together in her years with the United Nations and cited the importance of her seminal effort creating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  

David Roosevelt, who wrote Grandmere a wonderful book on his grandmother, introduced Mike Wallace. Wallace told of his upbringing by Russian immigrants who worshipped FDR. He told us that he was really unaware of ER until he was in the US Navy during WWII and as the communications officer would read dispatches about ER’s magnificent work visiting the wounded in the Pacific Theater.

He then related a background story of his famous interview with ER and her equally famous remark about Westbrook Pegler, who had been excoriating her in his column for years. When asked what she thought of Pegler’s unrelenting attacks on her, she responded by saying that “he must be a really unhappy man!” No animosity, no rancor, no attack, but a simple characterization of a pretty vile s.o.b.!

All in all, the other two medallists were outstanding and quite well appreciated. But I focused on the personages whom I knew and subsequently I was able to speak to Mrs. Smith, Professor Schlesinger, Mike Wallace and David Roosevelt in depth. It was quite a thrill. I had them sign some cachet philatelic covers, and the professor autographed his 1945 edition of the Age of Jackson, along with his 1959 Crisis of the Old Order, part of his award winning multi biography of FDR. All in all, they were great to talk to, quite engaging, and they all asked me how I became involved with the Roosevelts. Of course I told Mrs. Smith about Linda’s heroic cousin Fred Rosen who had served in the PT Boats and was a friend and contemporary of her brother’s during the war years and my work with the Jon Breen Fund Scholarships that led to my lectures to high school students about the Roosevelts.

After the luncheon, ended I spoke to Ms. Cynthia Koch, the director of the Roosevelt Library and she introduced me to Edna Gurewitsch, whose husband David was ER’s personal physician and great friend. She has also authored a wonderful memoir about their friendship entitled Kindred Souls. Most of us walked through the small stone cottage home, and many of us stopped and watched a monitor that was playing the famous Wallace-Eleanor Roosevelt interview.

Finally on my way out to the path that led to the parking area, I met an older gentleman who was standing alone, and I said hello. He responded and we started to talk. I asked him where he was from, and what brought him to this event. He said that he was a fan of Teddy Roosevelt. We talked a bit about the old Rough Rider, and he told me that TR had hired his grandfather and then later tried to take his grandfather’s job! I asked him “What did you say your name was?” He said, “My name is Seth Taft!” I then said, “Can I assume that your grandfather was William Howard Taft?” Lo and behold he was President Taft’s grandson, and he was here with his son and son’s family and they were not only enjoying the party, but also visiting the grandson, another Seth, who is a junior at Vassar. I volunteered to take their picture, and he offered to take mine with my camera. I said that I usually didn’t feel comfortable posing with Republicans, but the son and grandson assured me that they were Democrats! Wow! But the senior Taft, who had run for mayor of Cleveland and had lost to Carl Stokes, and whose uncle was Robert A. Taft, and whose cousin was Robert Taft Jr., both GOP senators and whose nephew is the current Governor of Ohio, assured me that he is still a Republican! We all had a good laugh, they were charming people, I must say, and we exchanged cards, and I told him that I would send him a copy of this letter.

So that was the end of a very special day. I had learned a lot, met some terribly interesting and important people and accomplished what I wanted to do.

Richard J. Garfunkel

Israel and American Politics

April 19, 2004

Richard J. Garfunkel

The Israeli-Arab conflict over the post 1937 Mandate area has been an ongoing and evolving one for decades. Jewish immigration started to come into this formerly barren land at the turn of the 19th century. Jewish settlers bought land from the absentee Ottoman and Egyptian landlords. But basically much of this land was far from being inhabited. The early Jewish settlers, who were basically idealistic socialists, brought the commune to an art form with the Kibbutz. Generally speaking many Jewish Americans did not support the concept of a Jewish homeland in the mandate area, known as Palestine. Interestingly the Jewish settlers in the mandate area were the Palestinians and the rest were Arabs, or Druses, some Maronite Christians and other non-Jews. 

In the modern history of Israel, both American political parties were cautious about full-fledged support. But in October 1944 President Roosevelt called for a Jewish Homeland in the Mandate area. Generally, because Truman went against General Marshall and the State Department when he recognized Israel, the Democratic Party seemed more of a friend then the Republicans. Also because many early Jewish settlers were socialists the GOP were quite ambivalent towards Israel. Eisenhower had little contact with Jews in the Army, little contact with Jewish politicians or party people and very little contact with Jewish intellectuals. The New Deal was always seen as a magnet to Jewish lawyers, economists and social reformers. Eisenhower and Dulles felt very secure politically when they forced back the Israeli-British-French invasion force from their conquest at Suez. Eisenhower instituted an arms embargo against Israel, and the Israelis turned to pre-DeGaulle France for munitions. Eisenhower and Dulles eventually convinced other Europeans to cut off real military support for Israel. The idea of containment, through strategic alliances (CENTO in the Mideast, Nato, and Seato), was the 1950's credo. The need for Middle Eastern oil became prominent in all of the geopolitical minds. The State Department sold its soul to oil state oligarchs and dictators. The disaster in Iran was a direct result of those policies.

In America, the old liberals of the New Deal period still felt for and supported Israel, as a democratic and free state.  Conservative Americans, who were more basically Christian, still possessed the pipe dream, that they would have a better entry into the Holy Land through Arab management and rule. The old anti-Semitism that was culturally inherent in these people extended to Israel. Of course, because of Nasser's blockade of the Gulf of Aqaba, his alliance with the Syrians, his forcing out of the UN observers from the Sinai, and his mobilization, one conclusion could only be drawn. He was attempting to squeeze and threaten Israel as a prelude too eventually going to war. The Six Day War resulted from this Arab provocation. The West Bank area was annexed, along with East Jerusalem, which was traditionally the old Jewish quarter. Of course before this period of time, the so-called Arab refugees from the 1948 War were never re-settled. 

Of recent date, Israeli thinking changed since the emergence and ascendancy of Likud and the decline of the European oriented Labor Party. Israelis really never saw a genuine interest from the Arab world in seeking a real peace settlement. They had ample opportunity from 1948-67 to settle the Palestinian (West Bank Arabs) issue. But fedeyeen attacks were part and parcel of Arab foreign policy from the cease-fire in 1948 until the 1967 war. The settlements came out of a strong desire of the Israeli government to make a more defensible country.

 The pro-Israeli community, in this country, is always leery of the right and the acolytes that surround a political anomaly like Bush. They see him as a temporary aberration and not one you could really rely on. He is also perceived as a person from the “oil patch” and not to be trusted. Also most Jews have a civic and social conscience, of which most of us perceive, is lacking in George Bush II. Also, not in the least is the “Road Map” concept, which seemed by most to be thoughtless. He has been mostly disengaged from the Mideast, but as history will show, he has been distracted by everything but Iraq. Europe is a captive to many of its old ways, habits and prejudices. Europe was the birthplace of state anti-Semitism, and most Europeans do not like Jews. Most of Europe was very happy when the Nazis deported its Jews. They gained property and wealth, and have done precious little to restore any of this “Blood Booty” to its historic owners. There are now many Arabs in Europe fomenting a new round of anti-Semitism, and anti-intellectual skinheads of all varieties are easy prey to this “blood libel” propaganda. Arab countries have used their so-called free and legitimate press to promulgate these constant harangues of against Jews and Israel. Europe sees itself on one hand being held hostage to the wishes of its energy suppliers and on the other hand being captive of a willful small minority. Why should a few million European Jews and a small state of 5 million or so other Jews stand in the way of the desires of their countrymen to get all the $5 @ gallon gas they can get! Most Europeans can't understand how this “Jewish” problem reared up its head again after the efficient work of the Nazis. Also there is European sympathy for the Palestinians. Though they could care less about oppressed peoples in and out of the Arab and Muslim world, the Palestinian cause attracks attention because it involves hatred of Jews and a potential problem for their energy flow.  In other words most Europeans are willing victims of Arab hate propaganda. Amazingly very little has changed from the 1930's.

 Sharon is doing what he feels is best for the survival of Israel. Eventually the West Bank will be changed geographically, Gaza will be sealed off from Israel, and the West Bank will be an independent entity, but isolated from Israel. Let them get their jobs in Jordan. By the way 80% of Iraq may be functioning, but it is always the 20% that causes the problems.

Remarks given at the Meeting of the Greenburgh Town Board

5-12-2004

My name is Richard J. Garfunkel, a resident of Tarrytown, and a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.  Here we all are gathered again. Its is our next chapter of the bi-monthly Kabuki dance of political theater by our regular players, This Cabal of political malcontents shows its toothless grin, not unlike the a jack-o-lantern meant to scare the smallest of children. Not unlike the apocryphal “bad penny” that turns up unexpectedly, these Cabalists are back with their boorish rapidity. Of course, when this meeting was at Town Hall, their usual playground, they had their full team on the floor. It was political guerrilla theater at its best when these Apocalyptical Horsemen spewed forth their dire warnings and threats of conspiracy and malfeasance. But at the last meeting on April 28^th, at the Highview School, far away from their usual hunting ground, and in front of strangers, regular citizens not used to their antics, in a neighborhood that had legitimate concerns; the venom of their usual bite was tempered. No one really cared about their tired insipid tirades about Town Hall or the cable studio.

Town Hall is a marvelous reality, which will stand to serve as a beacon regarding and symbolizing excellent planning and forethought for into the future, when the dust of these Cabalists is long forgotten. Of course local cable access is another “smoke screen” issue for this group, and it is obviously available for their vaudeville act when they get it ready to go on the road. But, in truth, all of Greenburgh is waiting for their “See it Now” programming. Maybe the Cabal will go back in history to re-enact Henry IV or Richard the Third. The public pines with desperation to hear these closet Walter Cronkites or Ted Koppels bring exposé after exposé to the waiting public ears. Of course this cry for access to public cable is not unlike Cato, whom Plutarch often quoted as saying “Delenda est Carthago” or “Carthage Must Fall.”  Of course the real meaning of this Cabalist refrain, which like Cato, who added this mantra to the end of all of this speeches, is really politics and more politics. This tagline about cable access is their hypocritical attack on real “open” government. Their sign off always serves to remind us how deprived they really are. Of course they think by making a mockery of the public’s time and turning these important meetings into a recreation worthy of the circus maximus, they can win what was lost at the ballot box!

Of course, many of us are not entertained by these lothario wannabes. These Cabalist conspirators do not entertain us and we will not be intimidated by their distortion of the facts by their promulgation of half-truths and their feeble attempt at intimidation.

As Aristotle said in the 4^th Century BCE, “Liars when they speak the truth are not believed.”

Remarks given to the March, 2003  Town Of  Greenburgh Town Board.

My name is Richard J. Garfunkel, I live in the Glenville section of Tarrytown, and I would like to wish a good evening to the members of the Town Board and the Supervisor Mr. Paul Feiner and thank them for my opportunity to say a few words.

As a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, I was recently apprised of a very exciting concept. At the March meeting of the Board, we were introduced to a very interesting idea by the Supervisor Feiner.

In June of 2002, as a result of the disaster of 9/11 the Arts Council of Westchester commissioned the creation of individual tiles, through the efforts of 24 tile-making workshops, to be designed to honor the victims and memorialize the heroes of that tragic event. As a consequence of that effort, called the September 11^th Memorial Tile Project, over 2500 tiles were designed and created by young people from all over Westchester.

Supervisor Paul Feiner addressed the Town Parks and Recreation Advisory Board with the proposition that the Town of Greenburgh should have these tiles as the centerpiece of a memorial dedicated to the memory of that tragic day in our history. As one member of the board, that enthusiastically backed Supervisor’s effort, I salute his effort. Because of the urgency of to become the first community to create an important place to display these tiles, Supervisor came to the Board for our advice and counsel. There was overwhelming support for this effort, I must report.

Because of the need to fund this project, I would like to suggest a type of lend-lease approach. My thoughts were to use non-taxpayer funds from the Parks and Recreation Developer Escrow account to finance the display of these tiles in a Memorial Park of Honor. I would also suggest, that as a consequence of this temporary loan from the Developer Escrow account, a public subscription effort be launched to replenish the monies used from this account. Throughout our history, from the Liberty Bell, to the Statue of Liberty, to the Iwo Jima Memorial, to Old Ironsides, and to the Pearl Harbor Memorial, public subscriptions have been used to create the payments for these sacred sites. We have the money now, and the effort should be made, at this critical time to create this place of honor, and to display these tiles as quickly as it can be done.

It was suggested that these tiles should be displayed on East Hartsdale Avenue. I would like to concur with that idea and thought. This site would be therefore available for many thousands to see and appreciate.

Richard J. Garfunkel, member of the Advisory Board

2801 Watrch Hill Drive

Tarrytown, NY 10591

Glenville Park Nature Reserve

Proposed Children’s Park and Nature Reserve

A Neighborhood Perspective

Submitted by Richard J. Garfunkel

Member of the Parks and Recreation Commission

December 4, 2002

I.                    The Glenville Park Preserve: This undeveloped woods and wetlands area is a tract of land that is located off Rte. 119 or White Plains Road. In actuality it fronts onto Old White Plains Road, in the Glenville section of Tarrytown. Turning off Rte. 119 and proceeding approximately 150 feet one reaches the Old White Plains Road section that I am describing. This dead-end street stretches about one-quarter mile from end to end. On this stretch of Old White Plains Road, one finds the Wedged-In, a deli-convenience store on left of the Park, and on the right of the Park one sees the rocky boundaries of the Dunning Street home property. This undeveloped tract of woods and wetlands stretches from a narrow opening into a rear area that includes two partially stagnant ponds, that are overgrown with natural foliage and are laden with fallen branches and downed trees. There is a pathway that allows individuals to walk, with care around the ponds to a man-made waterfall. This waterfall, at the time of my visit was reduced to a trickle. I was told that during a steady or aggressive rain or storm, the run-off was quite significant. Beyond the rocky waterfall the woods stretched a considerable distance. In fact one could eventually walk far beyond the ponds and eventually reach the hilly boundaries of both the Watch Hill properties on the upper right and the Dunning Street homes. Also one could reach the woods, up to the left that border on the Hackley School property that is located a considerable distance up and along Benedict Avenue.

II.                 The Parks and Recreation Department Concept: The concept is to create a small recreation park for children in front of the wooded area. There would be an effort made to make a “walking path” from that park to the ponds. The ponds would be cleaned of the floating logs and collapsed trees and branches. The shorelines would be weeded and the natural growth would be encouraged. The surrounding path would be made safer and more accessible to nature hikers of all ages. The area around the falls would be evaluated in regards to safety. It would be envisioned that the path would eventually continue deeper into the wooded area and connect to the Hackley property. There was also a thought, proposed by the consulting engineer, to the Commissioner that the nature path could be extended to the Tarrytown Lakes.

a)      Suggestions that were offered by the Commissioner and the consultant regarded: the placement of benches, the granting of easements, and the creation of connections from and through the Watch Hill and Dunning properties.

b)      Also the Commissioner asked for input regarding the type of playground, for whom it be constructed, and the potential parking spaces that would service the park. The connection with the Wedge-In was also discussed.

III.               Neighborhood Impact:  This wooded tract of land borders on the property of the Wedged-In, the Dunnings homes and the Watch Hill neighborhood. After the Parks and Recreation Commission’s presentation on November 9, 2002, I was able to meet with a number of residents from the Dunning area, the Watch Hill area and the owners of the Wedged-In. I solicited their views and was able to discuss a future meeting with the elected neighborhood representatives of the Watch Hill area, where I also reside. This meeting was held on December 1, 2002, with the officers of the Watch Hill Neighborhood Association.

IV.              Preliminary Conclusions: In my discussions with the Dunning area residents, I discerned a concern over security. Their main thoughts were not about access to the park from their area, but their concern that “outsiders” would have access to the rear of their homes. They also worried about the potential liability incurred by a path that would border on sharply sloped rock formations. The owners of the Wedge-In felt that they had cooperated with the needs of the residents and the Town and would be happy with a small park and a clean-up of the ponds. The meeting with the officials of the Watch Hill Neighborhood Association was quite frank and forthright. Their thoughts were of the following:

a)      There should be a recreation park for small pre-school youngsters

b)      The ponds and their surrounding areas should be cleared.

c)      The paths should be made safe.

d)      There should be “no lighting.”

e)      There should be “no eating,” because of health and sanitation concerns over vermin.

f)        There should be “no basketball” courts that could encourage late night “hang-outs”

g)      There was no need or desire for any upper paths from Phase II or Phase III to the nature path that would wind within the nature park for the following reasons: security, liability, health reasons (animals, deer ticks, etc.)1

 The Concept: Mission Statement: The Birthday Ball/ The March of Dimes

The re-creation of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Birthday Balls of the 1930’s, with the emphasis on raising monies for the March of Dimes effort to find the cure for birth defects. This effort should also bring forth to a new generation of Americans the eternal and enduring Roosevelt message of active faith, optimism, hope and the spirit of opportunity for all. By associating this effort with the January 30th birthday of President Roosevelt, the public will always be able connect the eventual elimination of birth defects with his great legacy.

The Project:

The project’s mission is to establish on January 30^th, of 2003 a dinner birthday ball at a place to be determined (Hyde Park, and or other locales). This event would bring together people and institutions to establish an annual event that would raise money for the continued research to eliminate birth defects and promote the name, message and legacy of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

The Committee:

The committee must bring together individuals from a number of disciplines. The committee must determine what it wishes to accomplish and how it wishes to get there.

It must establish attainable goals with reasonable expectation.

Disciplines listed below:

A)    Finance

B)     Organization

C)    Public relations

D)    Journal

E)     Advertising

F)     Legal

G)    Political/ Governmental

H)    Cultural

I)       Educational

J)       Medical

K)     The Internet and a Website

The Committee’s Function and Design:

The committee and its responsibility:

A)    Finance

1.      Create a budget.

2.      Raise money for “start-up” needs.

a)      Stationery

1.      Design

2.      Quality

3.      Amount

b)      Postage

1.   How much to mail

c)      Printing

1.   What quality?

2.    Who to choose?

d)      Travel expenses/incidentals

1.      Who to visit?

2.      Where to go?

3.      Establish funding vehicles

a)      Disbursement

1.   Controller, secretary

b)      Receiving donations

1.   Office Staff

c)      Accounting

1. Bank accounts

B)     Organization

1.      Setting meetings and agendas

a)      Local

b)      Regional

c)      National

2.      Delegating responsibility

   a)  Officers- titles

3.      Following-up on tasks

4.      Overall direction and course correction

C)    Public Relations

1.      Contacting the media

a)      Newspapers, television, radio

1. When, where and how

b)      Holding press conferences

c)      Writing press releases

1. Secretarial

2. Computer Access

2.      Meeting with local and regional community

D)    Journal

1.      The design and creation of a Birthday Ball Journal

a)      Contacting printers and design people

b)      Establishing a Journal cost budget

c)      Journal will present

1)      Mission statement

2)      Introduction

3)      Articles

4)      List of contributors

5)      Advertising

1. Advertising person

2.      The over-site function

a)      Its proof-reading

b)      The inclusion of all names and ads

c)      Its deadline

E) Advertising

1.      The selling of ads

               a)   Local

               b)   Regional

               c)   National or Corporate

2.      Availability of space and its cost

F) Legality and Liability

1.      Responsibility for liability and compliance

2.      The need for insurance

3.      The structural responsibility

a)      Corporate or non-corporate

b)      Election or appointment of officers

G) Political/ Governmental

1.      Local, regional, state, national

2.      Contact with these offices and officials and departments

H) Cultural

1.      Entertainment

a)      Music

b)      Dance floor

2.      Speakers, and or Master of Ceremonies

a)      Introductions

b)      Credits

c)      Acknowledgements

d)      Awards

I) Educational

1.      Local, regional, state

a)      High schools, colleges

b)      Scholarships

c)      Grants

1)      FDR-March of Dimes Essay Contest

2)      Annual awards

3)      Corporate grants

L)     Medical

1.      Consultant to committee

2.      Resource for press release person

K) The Internet and a Website

1.      The importance of the site

a) Reaching people

b) Providing information

c) Receiving feed-back

d) Raising funds

2.      Who and how the site is created

a) Finding the right programmer

b) Determining the cost

c) Approving the design

3.      The message on the site

a) Selecting the message

b) Checking the compliance of the message

4.      The inter-connectivity of the site

a) Having a site inter-active

b) Is that needed?

Conclusion:

For any effort to be successful one must be able to deliver on certain essentials. The first of these essentials is leadership; the second essential is a “good” team and teamwork. There must be the element of coordination between members of the team and an overall perspective relative to direction. Leadership must address this overall perspective and vision. Anything less will cause the project to falter, lose focus and get stalled. Therefore leadership and the committee it serves must have the vision to see a desired result. With that vision the leadership and the committee must set attainable realistic goals and have the commitment to reach those goals

.