Doug Lee makes presentation
In a packed meeting hall, over 75 attendees listened intently to energy policy and subject matter experts, Maureen Koetz and Doug Lee present and answer questions in an informative open forum on Energy and the Environment. Facts and figures were presented, some astonishing, such as the gross amount of harmful pollution produced from the overseas production of solar panels in China which are subsidized by our tax dollars. Some of these and other myths were exposed as well as learning about policy elements for “Sustainable Republicans” and why sustainability matters. Comments of “genius,” “shocking” and “enlightening” were heard from the guests when describing the presentations of both speakers.
The following letter was sent to Senator Flanagan urging the State Senate’s passage of the VSF Disability Inquiry Bill S.1031 in order to support our disabled firefighters and police personnel, who have served and sacrificed their own life and limb for our safety and security here in New York City.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund hosts National Police Week each year, along with two other organizations: Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) and Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). In 1962 United States President John F. Kennedy signed into law that May 15th would be known as National Peace Officers Day each year. Henceforth, each year for the second week of May, the nation celebrates National Police Week.
This past Friday night I was putting up fliers in Maspeth, Queens for a candlelight vigil at our local police precinct in observance of National Police Week. I went into a pizzeria that was always willing to hang up fliers or make donations to schools events I have run in the past. I was a little taken aback when the owner hesitated about putting it in his window. He explained he was worried someone may break his window and it costs about one thousand dollars to replace. He agreed to place the flier in the window but said he was only doing it as a favor to me. Leaving the pizzeria I was struck with thoughts of how rioting and vandalism on the part of anti-police protests have affected the freedom of speech of those who support the police. When our leaders give a wink and a nod by not immediately and forcefully condemning these violent protest, as both President Obama and Mayor de Blasio have failed to do, they are not only put at risk the safety and property of those in the vicinity of the protests but abetting in suppressing free expression for us all. The media who claim to vigorously defend free expression are complicit in this by giving wall to wall and sympathetic coverage to violent protest while ignoring peaceful protest that does not fit their agenda.