A Gunfight in Western Queens &
A Missing Newspaper Column

THE LATEST: So, as you read in this column first, Walter McCaffrey is challenging incumbent frosh Congressman Joe Crowley. While McCaffrey made his announcement on Monday, John Sabini, his compatriot in insurgency, readies a potential challenge of his own.

Sabini, the buzz has it, will challenge Astoria State Senator George Onorato. Onorato, the weak link of the organization regulars, is considered to be a loyal Dem with a curiously unimpressive record. Not known as a hard worker or creative legislator, Onorato could be vulnerable to an aggressive attack. Sabini has little to lose. Term-limited out of the Council at the end of 2001, he might as well start his job hunt now. Along with McCaffrey and Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan (the three were dissed by County Leader Tom Manton who gifted his Congressional seat to Joe Crowley), he has declared war on the Dem organization, so he will receive no help there. So, Sabini picks the weakest link in western Queens and challenges Onorato.

As McCaffrey and Sabini maneuver, the first organized Democratic County insurrection against Tom Manton begins. Manton, somewhat weakened by the current courthouse scandal, is more vulnerable now than he’s ever been. However, the western Queens troika of McCaffrey, Sabini and Nolan has been unable to attract any other followers of note – yet.

Perhaps they’ll seek to hook up with omni-candidate Kimon Thermos who has challenged Astoria Assemblyman Dennis Butler a number of times previously. Expect Thermos, who came close to Butler last time out, to be in the race against the Queens Assembly dean again. Thermos will likely look upon Sabini and McCaffrey as allies.

With Sabini and Onorato in a primary for Senate in a multi–ethnic, diverse district, strange things could happen. A fight between two white Italian males could pave the way for an ethnic candidate to steal the race. Community Board 1 District Leader George Delis has previously challenged Onorato but lost due to the efforts of a united Dem Organization – not the case this time. Delis says no go – for now. Or, on the Eastern end of the District a strong voter turnout from Jewish Bay Terrace could produce a number of challengers. A mixture of Hispanic, Asian and several other ethnic groups hold the balance in this mosaic.

To add to the west Queens mix, comes word that Bob Holden, president of the Juniper Park Civic Association, is exploring a primary run against organization regular frosh Assemblywoman Marge Markey. Markey who was handed the seat by the organization when Crowley moved to D.C., has yet to make her mark or estabish a potent powerbase and therefore could be vulnerable if the powerful civic association is mobilized.

Add in a couple of district leader primaries there could be a good gunfight out west as McCaffrey and Sabini look to build their insurgency.

Then, there is the rumor that either Onorato or Butler may retire and we’d see a son of Council Speaker and Mayoral- wannabe Peter Vallone seek to fill the vacancy.

The time is getting short to put together an effective well-funded effort for this year. But political pros, who’ve done this before, or their heirs, have a leg up on mere mortals.

Isn’t the system wonderful? And somehow, the guys in office can never come up with the votes for meaningful election reform. Wonder why?

September primary, November election, February prediction: Every incumbent that seeks reelection this year will win!

FLUG FLACK: It’s career number three for Jamaica Estates’ Arthur Flug. After retiring from the Bd of Ed., Arthur spent a decade as Chief HooHah to Congressman Gary Ackerman. Then, he packed up his goodies, headed to Israel and after a three month extended visit, returned to part–time retirement, part–time grant writing and consulting and full–time hubby to Supreme Court Judge Phyllis Flug.

Not so fast. Before Arthur could get the hang of the semi-leisure thing, he was snatched up into the do-goody world of the American Jewish Congress. The liberal organization, which pursues social justice causes, has hired Arthur as their executive director.

We had the pleasure of dining with our (much) older friend recently who had several observations about life. "I discovered I was old last week, even though I don’t feel it," Arthur told us over fried calamari. "I was on the subway and a young girl got up and gave me her seat. That’s when you know," he sighed.

As the second course was served, Arthur reminisced, "As a kid, I used to eat spaghetti. When did it become pasta?" he inquired.

Flug’s ready for the AJC gig, which begins this week.

Are they ready for him?

We wish him and them well.

And Arthur, the true indication that we’re aging: Paul McCartney is on this month’s cover of the AARP "Modern Maturity" Magazine.

COLUMN MISSING: Weekly political columnist Arthur Nitzburg’s column was not published by the Courier last week. No explanation was given. We emailed Nitzberg:

........

Via email, Arthur Nitzburg responds:

I’m proud. At least I will have a clear conscience the next time the entire Democratic Party goes down in flames. Come to think of it, we should make a rule: No Democratic candidate for office should live in Queens. Then, at least, we’d be consistent with the Dem Party Organization. And I think I’ll write a segment of congratulations: I’m calculating the exact date on which Tom Manton’s law firm will hit $1 million in court appointments. I think it could be in April or May. I hear they’re going public; their symbol on the NASDAQ will be FUKU."

"I am rewriting it and expanding it. I'm talking to the dailies, trying to get an op-ed piece on the subject. That, at least so far as I can see, is where it will wind up. You got any interesting info you'd like to pass my way on court patronage? Or any kind of Manton-world patronage that would make a good story?"

........

Arthur, we try not to censor divergent opinion. Please don’t pre-judge us at the Trib. However, we believe you can criticize without being offensive. As for Manton and company, we don’t approve of the entire system that permeates court appointments and patronage in every county in the state. It is not illegal. However, the whole thing is vile and distasteful.

Legislative reform is called for. But, you know those guys in Albany — lots of attorneys waiting in line for their share. It ain’t gonna get fixed so easily.

Don’t get mad, write.

If we have anything worth printing, you’ll read it here.

And, Arthur, you’ll never look that good! Sorry.

Dr. Berkman, more than just a good time!

OPEN WIDE: Two weeks ago in a column entitled "I’ve Got Two Words For You: Dentistry and Politics," I wrote: "Now, I have a wonderful dentist. Charlene Berkman in Forest Hills. She’s great, inspires confidence, and is pleasant to be with. As a matter of fact, we’ve become friends with Charlene and her husband Richard. Anyway, she’s a wonderful dentist, but I’d rather meet her at a restaurant than her office."

In a totally unconnected development, which puts teeth into the credibility of this column, a press release arrived Tuesday from the international headquarters of Alpha Omega, one of the world’s largest dental associations. It announced the election of Charlene as Chairwoman of the Alpha Omega Board of Trustees.

Congratulations, Charlene.

 

REPORTING: A reporter from Philadelphia, was visiting an old colleague who now edited a newspaper in a small town in Maine.

"I don’t see how you do it," the reporter said. "How can you drum up interest in the news when everybody in town knows what everybody else is doing?"

"Sure they know," the editor said, "but they read the newspaper to see who got caught at it."

 

GAG LINE: Monica Lewinsky (being interviewed on CNN’s Larry King Live regarding her Jenny Craig weight-loss) said: "I’ve learned not to put things in my mouth that are bad for me."

Political pic of the week Just before Sunday’s surprise endorsement from the pulpit of the Allen AME Church, Veep Al Gore with Queens powerhouse Reverend Floyd Flake.

 

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS: I have two close friends intimately involved in Nassau County politics.

Former Democratic County Chair John Mathews, we were informed by an email release from Bill Bradley for President Campaign, was named Nassau County Coordinator of the Bradley campaign. John, along with Dollar Bill’s former Knick teammate Dave De Busschere was on hand for the opening of the Bradley Nassau Office on Middle Neck Road in Great Neck.

Not to be outdone, Gore 2000 has named my good friend Robert Zimmerman (Zimmerman & Edelson Public Relations in Great Neck) as Managing Chair of the Gore NYS Steering Committee.

Hmmm! John is with Bradley. Bob is with Gore.

Me, I’m with all my friends.

REPRINTED FROM THE TRIB: The photo at the left, from The Equinox – the student newspaper of Keene State College in New Hampshire – was taken by my son, Lee Katzman. It did, as described in the Equinox first appear on the Tribune holiday card. A different version of the photo also appeared as a graphic for the first Not For Publication column printed in the Trib last millennium – 10 weeks ago. Wonder if the Equinox will reprint this reprint of their reprint of our photo? Photo by Lee Katzman, photo editor, The Equinox, Keene State College.

Michael Schenkler can be reached at: MSchenkler@QueensTribune.com

Click Here For The Not 4 Publication Archives