In Support of Journalism;
Is Silver Tarnishing?
Monopoly Money Market!
By: MICHAEL SCHENKLER
WRITE ON! I don’t remember ever
using this column or any previous column I’ve written to directly solicit funds for a
worthwhile cause. Sure, I’ve endorsed and supported worthwhile projects, but never
used this space to ask for bucks. And, I’ve been involved in fundraising for a
variety of causes for as long as I’ve been writing a column.
Never say never.
I lunched at our office last week with
JoAnn Lee, professor of Journalism at my alma mater Queens College. My old friend, former
QC Prez Shirley Kenny, initiated the idea of a department of journalism at Queens. Her
successor, outgoing Prez Allen Sessoms, created a School of Journalism. There is a
proposal presently on the table to offer a graduate degree in journalism.
JoAnn, Professor Lee, is the strength
behind the department. It is her vision in part that has driven and will – with
support – continue to drive the college in exposing its talented student body to the
field of journalism.
Presently offered as a minor, this
columnist is supportive of Lee’s efforts because at QC print journalism is not being
discarded for new media, even as the stock market, technology and our fast-paced life
styles are dominated by the internet and wireless communications. The program, like this
writer, is committed to the future of the internet being the prime informational resource
for the world, while recognizing that the newspaper and the magazine, as we know it today,
shall be here for generations to come.
And, as you look for local resources, print
journalism shall continue to influence and control the marketplace for the foreseeable
future. Professor Lee, Queens College and the Queens Tribune all agree that
print journalism is a viable and noble craft which helps to mold communities and opinion.
It is an exciting profession and we are proud to be part of it.
Endorsing that idea, the students of the
Queens College journalism department have been publishing a six-times-a-year newspaper
called Queens World. Originally launched with the support of Newsday,
the Queens Tribune is proud to continue the sponsorship of this initial
opportunity to allow budding journalists to have their work published.
Queens World: Print
journalism alive at QC.
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Tribune editor Tamara Hartman, an
adjunct instructor at Queens College, will continue to edit and grow Queens World
as a laboratory for those students exploring print journalism as a potential career. The Tribune
will continue to make available our resources to further the program while we explore the
idea of paid internships and increased circulation with the college.
However, an under-funded program and a
newspaper without subscription or significant advertising revenue cannot survive...and
certainly cannot grow.
We therefore reach out to our friends in
the community and in elective office. We reach out to Queens College grads and to Tribune
readers. We need your help. We need your financial support.
In support of education and journalism,
please make checks payable to the Queens College Foundation. In the memo box on the check,
write "Queens World" – that will insure that your donation
goes where it is intended. Please send those donations directly to me: Michael Schenkler, Queens
Tribune, 174-15 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365. This
one is going to be my personal project. I thank you in advance for your support.
Stay tuned to this column for more on this
effort.
Write on!
SILVER TARNISH: The reaction has
been quick and plentiful to last week’s item detailing a major rift between Assembly
Speaker Sheldon Silver and Queens Dem chief Tom Manton. This column’s predicted
battle over Silver’s interference in and support of Walter McCaffrey’s insurgent
challenge to incumbent Congressman Joe Crowley has sparked many phone calls verifying our
scenario.
Seems that Silver has reached out to the
McCaffrey camp as well as to regular Dems to test the party’s resolve behind Manton
and Crowley. At the same time, we are hearing that the Queens Democratic Assemblymembers,
whose votes are needed to reelect Silver as Speaker, are not so quietly grumbling about
Shelly’s involvement in their borough. With the exception of Cathy Nolan, expect to
see the balance of Queens Assemblymembers (and likely a large block of Bronx members which
is also in part, Crowley’s district) stand united with Crowley and attempt to stare
down Silver, the Speaker that sold them (or tried to) the repeal of the NYC Commuter Tax
and got them nothing in return.
Silver, who rules the Assembly with an iron
fist and has been quietly criticized by his members for denying them meaningful input into
the legislative process, is flirting with disaster if he continues his challenge to the
Queens Regular Democrats.
Terri Thomson and Michael Schenkler confer on education.
Tribune Photo By DEE RICHARD |
TERRI-IFIC: Attended Queensborough
Community College Fund’s Partner for Progress Annual Awards Dinner last week. It was
a good time, like many of the fundraising dinners for worthwhile Queens organizations. Met
a number of old friends; made some new ones.
Time Warner and Jimmy Meng of Queens Lumber
were Arts and Business partners of the year recognized for the support of Queensborough.
The recipient of the Partner of The Year 2000 award was Terri Thomson. Terri is
Citigroup’s veep of State Civic Affairs and the Queens member of the City Bd. of Ed.
More importantly, to me, Terri is an old friend — almost 25 years — who truly
embodies that spirit of service to the community. She tackles each task with commitment,
principle and near-perfect interpersonal skills. I can think of no other who can so
effectively maneuver for the children of our city on a Board so mired in politics with a
mayor who makes functioning almost impossible.
Terri deserves the honor she received last
week. Terri deserves all the honors she will receive in the future. Terri deserves the
gratitude of the Queens community for her principled, tireless efforts.
And I don’t give praise that easily.
I salute her and treasure her friendship.
STOCK MARKET: I am not an expert on the
market or investing. I don’t spend enough time watching my own portfolio or educating
myself about the companies whose stock I buy or consider buying.
However, I am a games player. I’ve
excelled at the art of gamesmanship since childhood. Games: chess, bridge, monopoly,
scrabble, poker, hearts, whatever. I took to it and excelled.
Okay, let’s take Monopoly. If I were
giving advise on how to win at Monopoly consistently and in the long run, I’d provide
one rule of thumb. Buy the blue chips and build on them. In Monopoly, they make it easy,
the blue chips are blue: Boardwalk and Park Place; and right behind them green:
Pennsylvania Avenue, et. al. He who owns these properties with hotels wins. It’s just
about that simple.
Now, am I implying that playing the stock
market is like playing a game? Don’t be silly. I would never suggest that the
lion’s share of American investment dollars is merely in a gambling pool of some
fast-paced new economy electronic real world and virtual game. C’mon, all of you and
the rest of the folks across the country know exactly how and why you are investing in the
four-letter company whose full name you forgot and whose business is something high-tech-
internet related. And anyway, does it matter? Uncle Henry heard it from his business
friend’s neighbor’s brother and everything he touches turns to gold. He always
is investing in winners.
And so our nation’s money goes. New or
old economy, Boardwalk and Pennsylvania Avenue look pretty good right now.
Buy it, build and hold.
————————————
Michael Schenkler can be reached at: MSchenkler@QueensTribune.com
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