to Make Your Future” vaccine raffl e. Amaya Thalappillil’s name was called by Gov. Andrew Cuomo during the fi fth and fi nal round of the drawing on June

New Yorkers should become more patriotic

As reported by 1010 WINS, New York has the biggest July 4th fi reworks show in the country, but it is at the bottom of patriotic U.S. states. The Empire State ranked 50 in WalletHub’s list of most patriotic states. This list showed New York with the lowestnumber of military enlistees, veterans, election voters and those volunteering.

As a lifelong New Yorker, I fi nd this most troubling and sad. I myself served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era, I am Grand Knight of St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus in Douglaston and am a member of the American Legion Post #103 in Douglaston. I am also a member of the Queens Village Republican Club. I am still working for my company at Northeast Plumbing for 41 years at age 72. Therefore I don’t understand why more people are not trying to give back all America has given us and that includes our freedom.

Now on my block in Bellerose my American Flag is the only one fl ying here on the 4th of July. Today I was ushering at Our Lady of the Snows in Floral Park and handing out church bulletins and a woman came up to me and said she like my patriotic tie of red, white and blue. She told me she left a communist country 30 years ago where there was no personal freedom and came to America. She said many Americans don’t understand how good they have it. I thank her for her patriotic sentiments.

So, to my fellow New Yorkers be more patriotic and get involved and make America a better place for all those in need of compassion. May God Bless America! Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Bellerose

Shameful response to Wheatley speech

I’ve been reading your ongoing coverage of the shameful incident at last month’s Wheatley School commencement ceremony, and I think there are a few things worth pointing out.

Firstly, the bigoted, unhinged behavior of some students’ relatives who attended the ceremony was inexcusable and should be unconditionally condemned. This is not a situation where frayed nerves caused a temporary lapse in judgment, nor is this a “both sides” situation.

Regarding speaker Huda Ayaz’s reference to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, I believe her choice of language was appropriate. I also believe that had she used a more generic term like “plight” or “treatment” rather than “ethnic cleansing,” the reaction of some in the crowd would have been equally vitriolic.

Unfortunately, we’ve come to the point where even recognizing Palestinians’ cultural identity or using the term “Palestinian” is met with unbridled hostility and any criticism of the Israeli state is refl exively branded anti-Semitic. That’s why Wheatley School administrators have treated the victim as the villain in this case. That’s why not a single local politician has publicly spoken in her defense.

In fact, just days after the ceremony, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran issued an executive order adopting a controversial defi nition of anti-Semitism routinely used by bad-faith actors to chill criticism of the Israeli government. I suspect this timing was not coincidental.

While I often fi nd myself a critic of your organization’s local coverage, I have to say that you’ve reported on this terrible episode fairly and comprehensively and other than our disagreement over the speaker’s choice of words, I applaud your July 2 editorial. I only wish Ayaz’s school administrators and elected representatives displayed similar integrity.

Matthew Zeidman New Hyde Park

East River tunnel repair to delay new service

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg forgot to visit the East River tunnels during their recent press conference and Hudson River Tunnel tour on behalf of the proposed $11 billion Gateway Tunnel project.

There is the $11 billion basic (two new tunnels plus rehab of existing tunnels) or full build $33 billion (including new track and platform capacity) versions of Gateway. Ongoing cancellation and combining of trains due to signal and other problems in the East River tunnels along with other locations on all nine branches of the LIRR system will continue for years to come. Amtrak will not initiate decades-overdue major repairs of the 110-plus-year-old East River tunnels until 2025 (two years after East Side Access to Grand Central Terminal begins).

This work on all four tunnels, including two that suff ered signifi cant damages from Superstorm Sandy in 2012, may not be completed until 2029. Amtrak has previously gone on record that these two tunnels will require a minimum of one year each for completion. It will require one of two tunnels damaged by Sandy being out of service at a time for one year to support this work. The other two tunnels will need similar work.

With only three of four tunnels available, there will be a reduction in Penn Station access and capacity. To preserve existing service, many LIRR rush- hour trains will be canceled or combined. Until this work is over, it will be impossible to guarantee safe and reliable on-time service to Penn Station for LIRR commuters.

Reduced East River tunnel capacity may also make it very diffi cult to add new services previously promised by Gov. Cuomo. This includes East Bronx Metro North New Haven line Access to Penn Station, increased Port Washington branch service to support the LaGuardia Air Train via Shea Stadium Station, new Elmont Station service to support the Islanders Belmont Arena and a 50 percent overall increase in reverse peak service after opening of East Side Access to Grand Central Terminal.

Both Amtrak and New Jersey Transit need access to the Queens Sunnyside Yards via the East River tunnels to support their own respective planned service increases. Going from four to three available East River tunnels results in a signifi cant capacity reduction. This translates to no increase in existing or new services until work on all four East River tunnels is completed by 2029.

Larry Penner Great Neck (Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Offi ce).

Radical right-wing decision negates voter rights

Continued from Page 17 in her fi ery dissent “a signifi cant race-based disparity in voting opportunities,” and blasting the majority’s list of guideposts as a recipe for voter suppression.

“The list — not a test, the majority hastens to assure us, with delusions of modesty — stacks the deck against minority citizens’ voting rights,” Justice Kagan wrote. “Never mind that Congress drafted a statute to protect those rights — to prohibit any number of schemes the majority’s non-test test makes it possible to save Elections are often fought and won at the margins — certainly in Arizona.”

She added, “What is tragic here is that the court has (yet again) rewritten — in order to weaken — a statute [the 1965 Voting Rights Act] that stands as a monument to America’s greatness, and protects against its basest impulses. What is tragic is that the court has damaged a statute designed to bring about ‘the end of discrimination in voting.'”

What this Supreme Court decision means is that the scores of legal challenges against the fl ood of state voter suppression laws may well be dismissed under Alito’s newly fabricated standard.

The function of the Supreme Court – the “originalist” conservatives have claimed over and over – is to make sure laws adhere to the strict wording of the Constitution (actually that was not determined until Marbury v. Madison in 1803). But the right-wing extremists who have dominated since 2000 have clearly demonstrated they intend to use their power to reshape laws and lives and advance a political agenda.

Indeed, the language of the Constitution – the 14th and 15th Amendments — is plainly on the side of equal access to the vote — the most foundational right upon which rest all the other rights we Americans hold dear.

But voting rights are under multipronged assault (you might call it a conspiracy).

So in addition to passing the federal Voting Rights Act, which set minimum federal standards for access to the ballot and protection of free and fair elections (this necessitates ending the fi libuster), there needs to be reform of the Supreme Court: expanded to 13 (to redress the three seats stolen by Mitch “Machiavelli” McConnell); term limits instead of lifetime appointments, so that every president gets to select a judge within a fouryear term; ethics reform so that a Justice Barrett can’t refuse to recuse herself on a case involving her father’s company, or a justice can’t go hunting with a defendant in a case (Scalia and Dick Cheney); barring the ability of the Federalist Society and infl uential donors to buy seats on the Supreme Court and federal courts.

Selling home during a divorce

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused much death and havoc to our world and it has unleashed a multitude of issues for everyone, especially the undue stress on family fi nances, loss of jobs and businesses. Unfortunately, this in turn has created an environment conducive to increases in the divorce rate. If one has ownership of a primary residence or investment properties, this can be a very challenging and sticky situation as to the discussions, assuming they are civil, which is generally not the case or norm, as to how the property will be divided or potentially sold.

Most important is when young, pre-teen or teenage children are involved and the stress and anxiety that is created as to whether or not the living environment will be stable or a move will be unfortunately ground shaking for all in the fi nal settlement. I had a call the other day from a new client, whose identity and location will remain very private, who is in the process of a divorce. The discussion arose around whether he would be staying and refi nancing to pay his soonto-be ex-wife her share or selling the home altogether.

It is an unfortunate situation that many, many families are in the process of going through but due to the pandemic has made life much more untenable and diffi cult to manage. This is particularly true due to fi nancial stresses in the loss of jobs and businesses, especially in the restaurant fi eld, where 50 percent have closed in New York City. This has only exacerbated living situations and made life worse at home. Couples have been struggling and unfortunately divorce raises its ugly head when a situation cannot be mediated, agreed upon and solved.

Real estate, whether your primary residence or investment properties, have to be dealt with through matrimonial attorneys who should handle these matters in the most proper and caring fashion. However, there are always two attorneys involved who are representing their clients’ best interests; and that is where some diffi culties and log jams begin to occur. They are billing by the hour and it obviously can get very very expensive—sometimes between $50,000 and as much as $200,000-plus—depending on the length of time, fi nancial assets and the complications and unreasonable expectations by both parties that come about over the one to three years or even longer that it may take to resolve. It is very sad and disturbing to me when I hear the stories from friends, acquaintances and especially clients how equitable distribution of real estate and assets becomes extremely diffi cult when the individuals cannot agree on the terms. My thought is that when children are involved, couples should focus on their most crucial and important interests and not as much about their own. How will moving out of their current home aff ect them mentally, physically and socially? Stability and civility are the name of the game and although very diffi cult and challenging for the majority of couples to sometimes comprehend and deal with, it is extremely critical to minimize the eff ects on the children.

I know and realize it’s easier said than done; but it can be accomplished if a bit of common sense (which is not always common among fi ghting couples) and logic can prevail and come into play. Selling one’s domicile when you have been living there for many years or even short term is a very disheartening, diffi cult, heartbreaking and depressing situation to have to deal with. Figuring out all the pros and cons in solving who will be staying and who will be going is probably the most impossible task to wrap your head and mind around.

Again, if you have children, the focus should be about their welfare and stability, which will be most aff ected by the decisions that both parents make in settling their divorce. Many couples lose sight, however, of what is really the most important, a safe and stable environment for their children, but get caught up in arguments and disagreements. When all is said and done we only have our children right now and when we are gone, their situation and well-being should be No. 1 on your list today.

When determining whether you or your spouse will be selling or staying, hiring a competent, knowledgeable, expert and caring broker will go a long way in not only assisting and helping both parties through the process, but potentially solving problems. As a broker, I fi nd myself many times keeping the peace and minimizing tempers and stress and becoming an advocate for both parties instead of one.

Legally, if the home is in both names, both parties have the right to hire two brokers in the sale of all properties. I have been involved in a multitude of divorce situations in the sale of homes and investment properties and have great success at being an intermediary or what

PHILIP A. RAICES

Real Estate Watch

some would say a level-headed arbitrator to keep the parties grounded and allowing civility to rein. Divorces can be very, very expensive, but a more economical remedy can be attained when both parties are in agreement.

This is most rare when it comes to an uncontested divorce whereby the couple would go through their local county and it could cost less than a $1,000-$5,500, if no lawyers were involved. But I always recommend initially using a attorney to get things down on paper in a legal fashion before going to your local county and mediator. However, most do not choose that path because the emotional and fi nancial toll becomes so great that the parties can’t seem to agree on a settlement, and as I mentioned earlier, end up spending an immense amount of money with separate matrimonial attorneys.

The pandemic has caused tremendous fi nancial and mental stress and my professional opinion is that couples should really try to do their utmost best to use common sense and logic and sit down and work out a plan as best they can as to who will be staying and who will be moving out or selling the home altogether and both then go their separate ways. If children are involved, hiring the right caring and concerned broker and attorneys to be involved in such a personal matter will end up minimizing the turmoil and stress while ending up potentially having a more positive fi nancial and personal outcome.

As they say winners never quit and quitters never win, so if you have to sell or refi nance to pay a spouse off , sit down, be civil and work it out. Plan on where you are going, whether renting or purchasing another place to live. Are you able to pay cash or will you be applying for a mortgage, has your credit been aff ected which will affect your borrowing capabilities?

But remember, if you have children, do the right thing for them and be level-headed in your decisions going forward through the process and good luck.

Philip A. Raices is the owner/ Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 40 years of experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certifi ed International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S). For a “FREE” 15 minute consultation, a value analysis of your home, or to answer any of your questions or concerns he can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate. Com