Ellis Island Medal of Honor: Share The Pride

By MICHAEL SCHENKLER

Last Saturday night, we took a trip to Ellis Island.

Allison, Lil and her mom, Phyllis, accompanied me to the 2003 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Ceremony.

It sounds pretty heavy duty, but at first I was not overwhelmed about the honor nor taken with the pomp and circumstance that seemed to surround this prestigious medal. I was grateful to be one of the group of a little more than a hundred selected out of the ten thousand nominees for the medal. I was grateful to my friend who had nominated me.

But, I wasn’t planning to write about the evening or the medal because, believe it or not, I’m a bit uncomfortable telling about my awards or achievements.

But the evening, the medal and the very moving ceremony was not at all about me — I’m not even sure why I was one of the impressive group of honorees from across the country. It was, in fact, a story about our borough.

The Ellis Island Medal of Honor – like the Island and Museum – is a tribute to immigration in our country — the spirit embodied most dynamically in Queens, New York.

“Today we honor a distinguished group of Americans. Each of them represent the very essence of the American way of life, having greatly contributed to our national identity while preserving the distinct values and heritage of their ancestors,” the program opened.

“The Ellis Island Medals of Honor have been aptly named, for the Island is a symbol of the diversity of our nation’s people — a people whose genius, culture, artistry and thought have joined to form a single mosaic of many cultures and ancestral backgrounds. It is from this diversity that the United States is still a beacon of hope for so many, and the greatest democracy the world has ever known,” and although I may have had a personal disconnect or distance with the words, I found comfort and pride in being there for Queens.

“So,” the intro concluded, “this day is a celebration of not only the outstanding accomplishments of the Medalists, but also an acknowledgement of the spirit, hard work, and values of our ancestors . . . those who took the ‘American Dream’ from just a hope, and made it a reality.”

Yes, it was a little stiff and I was a bit overwhelmed to be among the group which included the CEO of Walmart, the President of NBC, 60 Minutes’ Mike Wallace,  NJ Guv Jim McGreevy and Director Martin Scorcese.

There were more down to earth celebs among the group: Olympic superstar gymnast Mary Lou Retten, entertainer Ben Vereen, musician Michael Bolton, Guardian Angel Curtis Sliwa, actors Dennis Leary and Tony Lo Bianco, others — some names you’d know and others whose credentials were awe inspiring.

But Queens, at the vortex of American immigration, was well represented. I chatted with Appellate Court Justice Joe Golia, road on the ferry with former interim Queens and York College Prez Russ Hotzler, met Fort Totten Commander Major General Richard Colt, and never made it over to say hello to Howard Lee, publisher of the Chinese World Journal.

Congressman Joe Crowely and wife, and Mary and Joe Mattone were in the audience.

Although the evening was long, they orchestrated it well. We started at a private reception for medalists where I got to chat with old friend John Castimatidis, vice chairman of NECO (National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations) the foundation that runs the show and is dedicated to paying homage to the immigrant experience. Omni-present longtime New Yorker Bill Fugazy chairs the operation.

This was followed by a ferry ride past the Statue of Liberty along with Russ Hotzler’s tour from afar of Governor’s Island — hopefully the site of his next CUNY institution. We disembarked amidst military hoohahs and ethnic celebrants and were lined up in a great hall for a processional to the gigantic tent that would house the evening’s ceremony.

As we marched into the tent and towards the stage, I saw Allison, Lil and Phyllis who was already in tears — Holocaust survivors are understandably, more easily moved by the Ellis Island experience.

Watching the color guard — the most formal presentation of the flag I’ve ever seen – sitting on the stage as my fellow medalists were called to the podium; receiving my medal; hearing the speeches; the entertainment highlighted by the 89th Airborne’s Glee Club, and the evening’s message made this not normally patriotic person proud to be an American.

But it made me prouder to tell my fellow medalists that I publish the largest paper in Queens County, the most ethnically diverse place on earth. We were celebrating Queens.

Share the pride.

Getting Mayor Mike Re-Elected

Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s popularity is rapidly waning. The polls have him at an all time very low, low. What’s a politician to do?

It’s really rather simple. Mayor Mike need only pay attention to the messages around him and listen to what the people are saying.

Let’s listen.

The message is clear: don’t touch the cops and back off on the firehouse nonsense. Eleven million dollars and you’re risking lives? C’mon Mike listen to the firefighter commercials. We can regain your popularity.

Oh, you know my personal priority. Don’t cut education. Restore those school building cuts to the capital budget and make sure the new Department of Education has every cent it needs to live up to its difficult mandate.

Oh, and also the libraries. They’re important too. So restore their funding.

 Some Council members have placed a high importance on the zoos. You were just going to close two. Let’s restore them.

And drop that ridiculous cut in garbage pick-ups. Queens can’t live with a once a week schedule. It’s nonsense.

And Mr. Mayor, the City’s hospital system must be preserved, please don’t take any funds from healthcare.

The AAA and the thousands of drivers they represent probably would be upset without full funding to maintain our streets and roads.

And don’t mess with the AARP and the seniors — they vote — you can’t touch senior centers.

And Mike, the City depends on its rich cultural heritage to attract tourists, so leave the museums and cultural institutions alone.

Don’t even think of cutting back on public programs for the less fortunate. It would be political suicide for a billionaire to cut programs for the most needy.

Mike, I’m not sure what’s left, but as you evaluate each of the remaining potential cuts, remember to listen to the special interest groups. These groups are potent. They organize election time. So tread gently on any remaining budget cutbacks.

Perhaps Mike, we should look at “revenue enhancers.”

The normal everyday guy is carrying too large a burden already; don’t add to the average person’s problems.

By now, you have discovered that increasing taxes is a fiasco. The public doesn’t buy it. That 18+ percent property tax hike started your problems. Those others were pure political suicide. You can’t raise taxes.

Shhh!

We call them “revenue enhancers.” We’ll develop “new revenue streams.”

But Mike, don’t go near Wall Street with those enhancers; they’re in trouble enough already.

And the business climate just won’t allow you to find any new revenue streams there. The economic conditions preclude increasing the burden on business – big or small.

Those increased fines – parking, sanitation, etc. – just don’t do anyone any good. They hurt big business, small business and the guy in the street.

So, Mike find some other way.

It’s quite simple, the people merely want you to work your business magic for them without them ever having to pay the piper.

And when you’re done with that, you can come up with a cure for cancer.