Political Pig Latin In NYS

Quid pro quo, ipso facto - Latin or the way things work in NY? Governor Cuomo continues to get hammered relative to his shut down of the Moreland Commission that he created to investigate political corruption. On Monday in Buffalo, Cuomo used the ipso facto wording to explain his version of fact versus a New York Times story that seemed to show his office's involvement in trying to control or guide what he had proclaimed as an 'independent' Commission. His initial response to any criticism was always how it was his commission and therefore he could do anything he wanted with it. That didn't seem to be working so he seems to have convinced various parties to come out and explain how independent they really were. The only problem is that some of these same people seem to have given a different impression to not only the New York Times but also to the Federal Prosecutor who has taken over the corruption investigation where the Moreland Commission left off.

Now Governor Cuomo has always had a heavy hand in orchestrating support for his activities and positions. Prior to announcing any initiative, his staff start making phone calls to line up all the people who they believe should support his effort. They will even write the quotes that will be issued in people's names. That's a fairly common practice but normally parties are allowed to review, wordsmith, etc. The NYS Governor's office makes it pretty clear that their words are the words to be used. I have also heard numerous times how intimidated people feel relative to their 'mandated' participation in these public relations efforts.

My point is that there does seem to be a long history of orchestration and control on Cuomo's part and some of that is political reality. There is a difference though when a Federal Prosecutor is conducting an investigation. Getting involved in what people say, when they say it, how they say it and potentially having people change earlier impressions could be interpreted as witness tampering or obstruction of justice. The Federal Prosecutor has reminded the Governor of that fact - ipso facto.

Suing The President

Congress has decided that suing the President is more important than getting any real work done. You'd think this was a joke but it isn't. Some of these folks are the people we've heard preach for years about Tort reform to end what they have considered frivolous lawsuits. Isn't that ironic? Now the same folks file what just about everyone agrees is not only frivolous, but a complete waste of time and money.

It's not like they don't have real work to do. Immigration reform could have been done a year ago if people had put their minds to it. The minimum wage needs to be addressed. So many other things that people could work through if they just sat down and committed to negotiations. Congress truly is an embarrassment. Both parties have blame here and the President could be doing more to make things happen. Something has to give eventually.

Adding salt to the wound, this do nothing Congress is preparing for their August vacation break. Oh yes, their coming home for their town meetings and fund raising picnics and election campaigning. Harry Truman used his constitutional authority to call them back to Washington to get to work during a similar summer break. Perhaps Obama should at least consider a similar tact.

Gaza, Tel Aviv and Texas Boarder Towns

Yes, Gaza, Tel Aviv and Texas boarder towns. What do they have in common? Sadly the answer is innocent children and few advocates. In Gaza and Tel Aviv, these innocents are dying or are threatened with death. If not death, the fear of it from bombs and missiles. Safety is difficult to find and the leadership you would expect from adults is also something you need to search for and is hard to discover. Two peoples who hate each other. Palestinians and Israelis both with plenty of blame and both not caring much about the innocents. Worse yet, their hatred and continuation of violence just creates more hatred, creates more terrorists and creates more violence. Two hundred Palestinian children blown up, dead and gone, for what?

Then there are the Texas boarder towns and boarder towns in other states where again, innocents, children are being used as badly by gangs, coyotes, cartells and politicians as well as people who present themselves as patriots. We have people standing with American flags and chanting USA, USA, USA as they block and scream at children trying to escape some pretty dangerous and horrible conditions. We, the bystanders watching this, wonder if people understand the difference between immigrants and refugees. We wonder who will speak up for kids who have walked hundreds or thousands of miles to free themselves from danger.

Innocents seem to be used all over the world - children, people with disabilities, the elderly, religious minorities, people with differences who have no control over those differences, young girls wanting an education. That's why we can't just be bystanders. We all have to speak up and point out the madness. Whatever way you can, speak up.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo Revising History

Yes, the Governor is trying very hard to revise history relative to the Moreland Commission that he created to investigate and deal with corruption in Albany, NY. Last week the NY Times broke a story on his office's questionable involvement in trying to guide, steer and re-route the commission in its investigative process. After the article appeared, the Governor was out of the public eye and the media's scrutiny up through this past weekend. At 11pm last night it was announced that he would be in Buffalo to make an announcement at 10 am on Monday morning. This made it difficult for NYC and Capitol reporters to cover the event and question Cuomo on the Moreland Commission. Thankfully there are good journalists in the Buffalo media market who covered the event and followed up with questions on the Times' article and the ethics investigation.

I've followed quotes from the Governor, mainly through Twitter feeds that indicate his attempts to change what he said when he first created the investigative commission. The contradictions are pretty amazing and I guess show how a politician ends up believing his own tale telling. I believe the Albany Times Union, the NY Times, the Buffalo News and others will have a good listing of these contradictions later today. In the end, we'll see if it really makes any difference. People seem to accept Cuomo's shortcomings in this area while supporting his efforts to 'get things done' relative to the NYS economy, jobs and legislation. So it goes.

What I do find interesting is the fact that this whole fiasco has given some indication of the lack of interest in Cuomo as a presidential candidate. Think about it. When you compare how the national press was all over Chris Christie for the Port Authority issues, there seems to be little interest in the Cuomo story. Frankly, the ethical and governance issues related to Moreland are much more significant than the George Washington Bridge lane closures in my opinion and yet few people are showing interest on the national level. I think that says Christie is taken more seriously than Cuomo as a potential national candidate.

If the national press does get very far into this story, the revisionist aspect of Gov. Cuomo's response will not be lost for long.

Andrew Cuomo Reported Meddling In Ethics Investigation

The New York Times has published a harsh review of Governor Andrew Cuomo's involvement and his office's involvement in the ethics investigation Cuomo initiated through the creation of a Moreland Commission last year. The article, as well as the Cuomo administration's response can be seen HERE. It is an interesting read and provides some insight into not only Cuomo and his administration but the workings of politics in Albany.

People sometimes wonder why the electorate is cynical and why voter turnout tends to be so low. This story should help in that regard. People in general get disgusted pretty easily at the antics of politicians. The real disservice is by those politicians who present themselves as morally superior and above any reproach. Those who become the prosecutor, the judge and the jury.

Now I understand that there may be issues with some of the story as presented by the Times. Context and perception sometimes cloud issues. But here's a reality that lots of people seem to confirm over and over - Andrew Cuomo has to be in control of everything. He likes to be and seemingly needs to be involved in every decision made by his administration. To the point that he has lost good people who just couldn't get the job done that they thought they were hired to do. These reports have been around for many years and before he was Governor. In addition, he reacts quickly, many times off the cuff, and tries to make anyone questioning his actions look foolish and small. Again, he has to be in total control from issuing press releases to barnstorming the state with announcements about everything under the sun.

None of this is the sign of good governance or true leadership. Some say he still yearns for a national image and presence, perhaps as a presidential or vice-presidential candidate. I'm not sure his personality or governance style will bode well for him in those areas.

Cuomo presents himself as a progressive. I don't think he is at all. He presents himself as a terrific prosecutor and white knight going after corruption wherever it exists. Again, I don't think so. He is always right and others, no matter who they are, including the voters, seem to be wrong.

You don't have to look very far to see what he's done to good people. Bodies are strewn all over the political landscape. His staff basically have learned their strategies and approaches from him and they play very hardball.  The Times article provides details and a sense of how the Governor's game is played. I think it's good reading and many good lessons are learned. Sadly it just builds on the existing disgust with politicians and elected officials.

Followup Editorial by NY Times HERE on Cuomo's Broken Promises.

Health Update

This past week I saw an Oncologist as followup to my colon surgery in early June. I could have seen someone associated with the hospital where I had the surgery but felt it may be important to see someone a bit more independent. In the end I'm not really sure that mattered but it made me feel a little more in control of the situation. I also knew someone who had seen this particular Dr. who thought highly of him. Anyway, I prepared for my meeting with my usual list of questions and concerns. The Dr.'s office had also sent me a pretty extensive new patient questionnaire and had received a complete referral packet from my primary physician including all of the information from my surgery.

This was another hour long trip but in the opposite direction from where my surgery took place. Health care does have it's limits and proximity to patients is one of them and I'm sure it will get even worse. Again, not something you think about much until you need the services.

I had a nice visit with the Dr. He was very engaged, interested in all aspects of my health and knowledgable. He was complimentary of the surgery based on all of the reports and materials he had reviewed. He told me that the surgery and pathology report were really the best outcome one could expect with this type of cancer. He indicated there was a slight chance of the cancer returning over a five year period but said the chances of it not returning were much greater. He is not recommending any Chemotherapy or Radiation at this time. He indicated the importance of regular followups and that was it.

I left the office feeling great and realizing that I am a very lucky and blessed individual. To celebrate I did some yard work. I discovered after about 45 minutes that my arms and legs weren't ready for a total workout. I am going through the classic situation of my head being at a different place then my body in the healing process. So, one step at a time, a little bit at a time and a little better planning in terms of the level of work to be done. Onward.

Reconnecting With An Old Friend

I wrote recently about the importance of reconnecting. Of making sure that certain relationships not be left to sit without a real effort to find old friends and acquaintances. Those feelings and thoughts are intensified when you have the need to recognize your own mortality. The reality is though, that there is usually a tremendous value to reconnecting. I've been doing some of that lately and some of it has come from the other direction, people reconnecting with me. It really is a wonderful expierience.

This past weekend I went to visit a friend, mentor, supporter and icon. The drive was long but beautiful for someone who has been cooped up for a number of weeks.

A number of months ago I had seen an article on my friend, Judy Lerner, Changing The World At 92. A link to the article is here. Please take the time to read it and learn about Judy and the important role she played and still plays relative to peace, justice, reconcilliation and Women's rights. You will also learn some of her message about staying focused and involved.

I knew Judy in the 60's during my involvement with the Catholic Worker, as well as the anti war and the civil rights movements. Judy and her husband Irving, were wonderful friends and supporters and in many ways protectors. Over the years we lost touch. I tried many times to find Judy and wasn't successful until recently. I had seen the article, found an address and mailed her a letter not knowing if this was my Judy at the address I had found. Within a day or two I got a short but excited email letting me know that we had in fact reconnected and yes, we needed to get together. All of this was before my cancer diagnosis and surgery.

Judy had told me that her son, Martin, had a gallery and restaurant in the small Catskill village of Roxbury - The Martin Lerner Gallery & Queens Mountain Cafe. A great place by the way for food, drink, art and conversation.

Judy had sent me a note that she would be in Roxbury through Sunday on the 4th of July weekend. I got back and made her aware of my recent health issues but said I would try to get there. On Saturday morning we made the trek and it was a long trip but seeing Judy after all these years was well worth it. We talked, laughed and reminisced about other old friends and events.

Judy will soon be 93. She was a contemporary, and college friend of Bella Abzug. She was one of the founders of Women's Strike For Peace. She was a labor leader at the school where she worked for many years teaching kids with special needs. She raised hell along the way in addition to her three kids. She protested, was arrested and chained herself to fences. What I always loved about Judy was that she brought diverse people together in her house for drinks, food and intense conversation. Many evenings would end in song, someone strumming a guitar while everyone sang old, new and important songs about the work of justice and peace.

She continues on today, going to the United Nations during the week and getting involved with the international issues surrounding women's rights, disability rights and so many other issues. Judy continues to bring diverse people together and there's probably some singing along the way. We said our goodbyes on Saturday but committed to not lose touch again and we plan on getting together again and again.

Like I said, read the article - Changing The World At 92 - you'll love her.

Are People With Disabilities Being Exploited?

As with most questions it depends on who you ask. Recently an article appeared in regional papers implying that non-profit agencies in NYS were doing just that, exploiting people with disabilities by paying sub-minimum wages in vocational rehabilitation programs. In addition, the article tried to tie the salaries of the agencies' executive directors to the issue. Now this issue has been raised in the past, most recently on the national level with a story about Goodwill Industries. In addition, Congress has been looking at reforms to not only vocational rehabilitation but to the much larger issue of supports and community based services to people with disabilities. It should also be noted that people with disabilities, government agencies and providers of services have been working together to try to find solutions to these issues for some time and no surprise. problems as well as solutions all seem to revolve around money.

Right or wrong, our society and culture has always placed a high value on work. People who don't work are seen as less valued, drains on society, bums, welfare cheats, etc. Work has often been cited as a tool used to rehabilitate people in our society, from prisoners to people held in institutional settings for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled. It's a long and somewhat shady history. In many cases it had its basis in religious teachings from the Puritan culture. I recently read an article about an Austrian immigrant in the early 1900 who was placed at what was once Willard Psychiatric Center. Over the years he dug 1500 numbered graves by hand for individuals who passed away at the institution. All of this was justified as part of his 'rehabilitation'. In very recent history, up through the 80's, people in institutions for the developmentally disabled performed work tasks and manual labor without pay or with small subsidies. Prisoners today are still paid pennies per hour as part of their 'rehabilitation'. Recently people in local communities have attempted to keep a number of prisons open using the justification that municipalities and non profits got 'free labor' from the inmates. All of this relates to the history of how rehabilitation has been viewed.

In the 1930's people began to develop centers for people with disabilities that trained people in work expieriences using real work. These programs expanded greatly during and after World War ll in response to the large number of returning disabled veterans. They were later expanded to include other populations. The Fair Labor Standards Act included a section that recognized the concept of using contract work and allowed people to be paid at below minimum wage. Their wage was based on the percentage of their productivity using accepted methods and time studies. That legislation has been criticized and updated over the years and is currently under review.

The problem with the recent article is that it is blame based and offers few if any real solutions. There are people in our society who have serious and challenging disabilities. Some of them, not all, want very much to work in a very traditional sense. States, NYS included, have come up with processes and regulations relative to how all of this should happen. States and the federal government fund vocational training and rehabilitation and the model is one that uses real work, through contracts with private industry and government, that allows people to be paid in the process. The ultimate goal is competitive employment. In other words, the person with the disability working side by side with a non disabled employee making minimally the same wage as their co-worker. Sounds easy. Let's do it. Then no need for articles about people with disabilities being exploited. But I think we all know its not that easy. We currently are graduating students from college who can't find work. What about access to the workplace? Are work sites accessible to people with disabilities? Then there's the economic challenge. Are private employers prepared to pay minimum wage or above to people who may in fact have serious challenges to their productivity? If the answer to all of these things is a resounding yes, then lets get started. There are many people to be hired right now and any rehabilitation agency will assist in that process.

My point is that there are a number of problems related to all of these issues. That doesn't mean though that we shouldn't be trying to find solutions. Some solutions revolve around funding and economics. If people think or expect that rehabilitation agencies should be the only employer of people with disabilities and therefore pay everyone minimum wage or better, then they will need additional employment subsides. Another solution is making sure people with disabilities are really doing the things they want to do with their lives and that may not include work. Hmm - how do we fund the things people really want to do - living in a community with all of the necessary supports? Another solution to a problem pointed out in the referenced article is that enforcement should be enhanced. It should be more than complaint based and yes there should be more personnel from the US Department of Labor assigned to this task (sorry folks, more money). Another solution is to look at a well thought out, planned reduction in any States' use of sheltered employment. NYS has been attempting to do that but the plan still needs lots of work with input from the people impacted, people with disabilities, their families and the people responsible for providing the supports. The danger is that some solutions could just shift people and funding from one program or support model to another. Some of that's happened already. As an example - Let's not have people work where they get paid. Let's have them volunteer where in effect they do real work for no pay. We need to be very careful with solutions like that.

The salaries of CEO's or executive directors may grab attention but they aren't really a part of the solution. Most of these executives are responsible for much more then one program. In addition if you do the math, reducing these salaries to create minimum wage or above jobs create few in relation to the number of people with disabilities these organizations are already supporting.

At the end of the day, it is human nature for people to feel their life has a purpose, to feel valued and to help others. When this doesn't happen, for whatever reason or set of reasons, what is government's role in helping to make it happen and are we prepared to pay the cost?