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Published: 04 November 2010

Created: 04 November 2010

Last Updated: 04 November 2010

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Two recent high school grads from Scarsdale are taking a gap year between high school and college and living and working in China. Rick Altieri and Greg Kristof are taking Mandarin classes in Beijing at Tsinghua University, volunteering at a local school, teaching English, and working at a newspaper. They are also keeping a lively blog of their experiences that you can find here.

Here are excerpts from their blog:

The Trip - Posted on September 3, 2010 by Rick Altieri: I suppose any blogger owes readers an explanation.

I’m writing because I have a worthwhile story. Though I’m eighteen, I will not attend college this fall. I’ve deferred my enrollment at Amherst College for a gap year in China. In high school I studied Chinese, and I spent six weeks in Beijing on a homestay program during the summer of 2009. The memories lie on my shelf: snapshots with the local shopkeepers, a thermos dressed in calligraphy, a snapshot with the shopkeeper who conned me into buying that thermos, a lighter that sings the national anthem, and yellowed boosterism from Mao’s rule. Other memories, like Fidel’s favorite cigar, were confiscated at the gate.

This time, along with my friend Greg Kristof, I’ll study Mandarin at Tsinghua University, work for a newspaper, and volunteer at a local school. To defray some of the cost we’ll also teach English. On this blog, I’ll record some of my experiences, from poorly translated signs (“public notice board” once became “pubic notice board”) to observations on an ancient city leaping into a fast-wired world.

I leave tomorrow on a direct thirteen and a half hour flight from Newark. Last time, in the height of the swine flu epidemic, government officials in surgical masks boarded the plane and checked our temperature. Chinese law stipulated that anyone with a high temperature—and all passengers within two rows—would be quarantined for two weeks.

Sure enough, when an official checked the woman in front of me, the machine flashed red and began beeping. Passengers craned their necks while the masks descended upon the new patient. She pleaded over the rumble of the plane. ”I was wearing a hat the whole flight!” she said. “Look, that’s why I’m sweating! Please, try it again!”

After talking it over, the officials waited five anxious minutes before testing a second time. One by one, they waved their devices over the passenger’s forehead. One by one—with relieved sighs between—the machines passed in silence. Scattered applause and whistles broke out as the pilot turned off the fasten-seatbelt sign. We filed off the plane, preparing for the world ahead.

We’ll see what this year’s day one brings.

Duck Blood Anyone? Posted on September 30, 2010 by Greg Kristof

It is served as a semi-solid glassy blubber that jiggles this way and that, like jello. I spooned it around in my bowl, thrusting it against lettuce and cow stomach. Then I closed my eyes, prodded my soul for courage, and lifted the stew to my lips. Grrackk! I wish I could say that I savored this crunchy rampage of jumbled body parts, this casserole of Chinese tradition that fractured but would not go down. Wish I could.

A Chinese investment banker, Mr. Shi, and his son had treated us to lunch, and we were all hunched over a pot of boiling water. It’s called Beijing Hot Pot. Waiters heap the table with raw food, and the customers dip that food into the bubbles, thereby cooking it.

The process allows us to be our own chef, which sounds marvelous—if you’re a harebrained teenager. I had spent the last 20 minutes stockpiling my plate with slithery entrails from multiple beasts, submerging them in the cauldron until I could practically hear their souls bleating for mercy. To further convey enthusiasm for the meal, I tore apart a loaf of meat, released a mini battle whoooop!, lowered teeth to platter, and razed everything within scent-range like Godzilla after a bad breakup. Not everyone did that.

“Wow guys, it’s so…so delectable.” I said after coming up for air.

“I knew you’d like it,” Mr. Shi said.

But I wasn’t done. “Hey Ricky, aren’t you going to try some?” A silence, as Ricky pondered how he could best preserve his manliness.

“Well, of course,” he replied. “I’m not one to duck a challenge.” (Badaboom!)

He dipped into his duck blood while warding off applause for his bulls-eye wit. Nice, Ricky. But luckily I had been saving my own buckshot for deployment at the right time. “I just love the fowl taste.”

“You say it tastes foul?” Mr. Shi’s face hardened.

“No! I mean, err…” Rats. A silence, as I pondered how I could best preserve my dignity. I didn’t have to ponder long. “Oh, he’s just dabbling in the lowest form of wit,” Ricky said, coming to my rescue. “And drowning.”

Times like this have made me long for real Chinese food. You know, the kind they have in America.

But times like this have also shown me China’s rich, soft underbelly: the gracious friend of a friend who treats you to an unforgettable meal, displays the true meaning of hospitality, and who then can’t go home with a smile until you’ve tried some of his duck blood.

My suggestion is this: next time you visit a foreign country in the hope of discovering a New World, eat local food and learn the local language—no matter how rubbery the meat, or how grueling the grammar. Your life will leap open. Next time you’re strolling by the Western Wall and feel the stomach growl, don’t go for the ubiquitous pretzel stand. Instead, waffle down some Falafel. Next time you’re being chased by bandits in Colombia, turn around and, en espanol, offer them your wallet in return for some home-cooked potato sopa. If you lose an arm along the way, well, at least you’ve still got another. And it’ll make an awesome story for the grandkids.

Ahh, but my mind wanders. Duck blood will do that to you. For now, at least, I’m back in the dough-colored room. Ricky and I are smiling professionally at our host.

“I’m so glad you like it,” Mr. Shi said as he reached for our plates. “Here, have some more.”

Read more here

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Published: 31 October 2010

Created: 31 October 2010

Last Updated: 31 October 2010

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Not much needs to be said about the wisdom of voting for Andrew Cuomo for Governor. Carl Paladino probably never had much of a shot in the general election - but made things a lot worse for himself by continuously creating a negative personal presence in the news ever since he won the Republican primary in September. But the act of electing Cuomo for Governor alone won't be enough to really throw down the gauntlet for reforming New York State government.

In fact, on Tuesday the most important vote New Yorkers can cast to begin real post-partisan efforts to fix Albany -- would be to elect Harry Wilson State Comptroller.

I've previously written about Wilson in the Huffington Post as well as in Scarsdale10583 as has Henry Stern and Dan Collins . Nearly all editorial boards of New York papers across the state have given full-throated endorsements to Wilson's candidacy.

Why? He's smart, he's a real outsider to Albany, and he has vision.

On Sunday, the Albany Times-Union endorsed Wilson highlighting his financial expertise and restructuring chops -- but perhaps most compelling, said:

“While Mr. DiNapoli, to be sure, has been as outspoken on issues like the state's financial problems as any comptroller in memory, Mr. Wilson is a real outsider in a town where just about everyone, it seems, would like to pretend to be one right now.

“He isn't beholden to the Legislature that Mr. DiNapoli came from and was appointed by.

He owes nothing to the state unions that have supported Mr. DiNapoli's campaign, and whose interests, it has seemed, have eclipsed those of ordinary taxpayers in state government.

As a Republican, he offers a balance to the Democrats who have ruled state government exclusively for the past two years and are likely to continue to dominate it after Tuesday's election. This post, remember, involves more than managing the state's money; it also serves as an independent watchdog that can audit agencies and public authorities. New York could use a comptroller who isn't, ultimately, another member of the ruling clan.....

“We are encouraged, too, by Mr. Wilson's plans to further clean up the comptroller's office. While Mr. DiNapoli made a strong start in ending the pay-to-play culture there by banning work by financial firms for two years after they make political contributions to a comptroller or candidate for the office, Mr. Wilson proposes similar restrictions on outside law firms that can reap millions representing the state. He would also ban the acceptance of contributions from state employee unions.”

In fact last week the New York Post reported that outside law firms bidding for pension fund work have shown up on DiNapoli's campaign contribution list. So Wilson's outsider status and independence from the political class of either party in Albany can turn the Comptroller's office into something of a transformative governing partner with Andrew Cuomo in dealing with the State Legislature.

Having a Comptroller Wilson alongside Governor Cuomo will likely incentivize the powers-that-be to move more forthrightly in dealing with the most intractable problems and issues facing New York State -- and this governing coalition could serve as a model for genuine, accomplishment-driven post-partisan state government for the rest of the country to emulate.

David A. Singer is a former political consultant/campaign professional and political junkie currently toiling as a lawyer in Westchester and managing real estate and media investments.

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Published: 28 October 2010

Created: 28 October 2010

Last Updated: 28 October 2010

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In another heated exchange concerning safety netting at the Quaker Ridge Golf Club, the Scarsdale Planning Board met on Wednesday night October 27th to consider the club’s application to construct a 60-foot safety net to border two Brittany Close homes.

The issue dates back to 2009 when Brittany Close residents Gail and Leon Behar sought approval to construct their own 40-foot safety net to shield them from flying golf balls hit from the second tee at the Quaker Ridge Golf Club. They complained that during one seven-day stretch, 69 golf balls flew into their yard, preventing them from using their property and pool.

When the Board of Appeals denied them a variance to construct the fence in March 2010 the Behars hired attorney Julius Cohn to take action against the Club. The case was heard in State Supreme Court in White Plains in June 2010 who recommended that the Club construct a 60-foot fence, pending approval from Scarsdale Village. Until a resolution was reached, limitations on the use of the second tee of the Quaker Ridge Golf Club were put in place and they remain in force today.

The Club and Behar were not the only concerned parties. Neighbors from the Brittany Close development expressed their concern about the possibility of a 60-foot structure looming over their carefully planned community.

After the June 24th meeting , the Planning Board decided to hold the matter over until the Club could provide the following:

• Receipt and review of additional information including alternatives to the fence –including trees to provide natural screening coupled with a temporary screening structure
• Scientific data regarding the height of the proposed netting to determine whether or not it would effective
• Continued communication between the applicants and their neighbors to come to an amicable resolution.

At the October 27th meeting, the Club’s attorney and landscape architect proposed a 60-foot high fence, 204 feet in length, rather than the original 169 feet that was on the table at earlier meetings. The Club had decided to extend the length of the fence to shield the Behar’s neighbors to the north and to allow the placement of the fence poles behind existing trees on the neighbor’s property.

The proposed poles were to be 60 feet high and 21 inches in diameter. The applicants also proposed planting a stand of 35 foot Armstrong maple trees on the club side of the fence. These trees grow at a rate of 2 feet per year and would therefore take twelve years to entirely cover the fence on the Quaker Ridge side. The architects advised that the trees be planted on the club side for maximum safety, however this would do little to hide the screen from Brittany close neighbors.

The scientific data revealed that a 60-foot fence would trap 99% of errant golf balls, a 40-foot fence would trap 98% of the balls and a 25-foot net was projected to trap 95% of golf balls.

The President of the Brittany Close Neighborhood Association and a resident attended the meeting to represent the neighborhood. They have the unanimous backing of all the circle residents, excepting the Behars.

Though the neighbors “are sympathetic to the situation (they) should not have to have a 60-foot eyesore and bear the burden on the property values.” The Association President told the Planning Board that they met with the Behars on September 7 and unanimously expressed their reservations about a 60-foot screen. They were told they would be kept in the loop but were surprised that they had not seen any of the photos of the proposed fence until the meeting.

Furthermore, they said, “In the spirit of compromise we agreed to accept plantings that would create a natural barrier. If that were found not to be sufficient we would agree to the screen, not to exceed the height of the Behar’s house. The screen should be removed when golf is not in season and taken down at an agreed upon date or when the trees were sufficiently tall. Brittany Close resident Seth Plattus warned the Board against setting a precedent allowing 60 foot fences in Scarsdale and said that “life involves risk” and the Behar’s don’t need “100% protection from golf balls.”

Addressing the club attorney’s, Beverly Sved, Chair of the Planning Board stated, “I thought it was clear that we asked for various alternatives…one was supposed to be landscaping alone” She asked the Club’s representatives if they had considered a plan that only included natural screening with landscaping, per the Board’s instructions. Referencing the Board’s June instructions for the Club to work toward an amicable resolution, Sved said, “I am floored that they (the neighbors) have not seen this (plans and photos) until this evening.

Village Planner Elizabeth Marrinan questioned why the net was necessary, as the original plans for the subdivision did not stipulate the need for a fence. She asked why the group had not considered plantings on both sides of the property line and a temporary fence until the trees reached a sufficient height.

A discussion ensued of placing the trees on the neighbor’s side, using evergreens rather than deciduous trees, removing the fence when golf is not in season and removing the fence permanently when trees reach a sufficient height.

The Behar’s attorney Julius Cohn made a plea for neighbors to “put aside aesthetics to ensure the safety of the family and allow “Mr. Behar’s wife and children to go outside for a barbeque.”

The Planning Board heard the neighbor's pleas and approved a 40-foot fence supported by poles of reduced diameter.  The club has approval to keep the fence up for five years, providing time for the trees to grow to an adequate size to screen the Behar's yard.

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Published: 24 October 2010

Created: 24 October 2010

Last Updated: 28 October 2010

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One of the dilemmas we will face in the voting booth (or voting-table, as the case is this year with new voting machines) on November 2nd, will be who or whether to vote for…..for those obscure, down-ballot races for judge. For the life of me I cannot fathom why we have elections for judicial candidates! Unless you’re an active practitioner in the courts — or are a relative, neighbor, or friend of a judicial candidate — how and on what basis do you pick and choose?

In Westchester there are contests for Supreme Court Judge (not the highest court in the State — that being the Court of Appeals in New York where judges are appointed), Westchester County Court, Westchester Family Court, and Surrogates Court. So although I believe these positions should be appointed in some nonpartisan fashion, given that the selection is put up to a vote — I want the opportunity to try to make an informed decision and cast my ballot. In past years I would sometimes defer to the editorial endorsements from Gannett owned Journal News, hoping that they have undertaken adequate due diligence. But they no longer makes endorsements in judicial races.

But if you think you can simply defer to specific political parties to make the choice for you –think again.

By way of example, I’ve chosen to focus on the Westchester County Family Court race, in part because if what I found by doing some bare bones due diligence.

According to the New York State court website, the Family Court hears and determines most legal issues involving children and families… including matters involving: child custody and visitation; adoptions and guardianship; juvenile delinquency; persons in need of supervision; child neglect and abuse; monetary support for children, spouses and ex-spouses; determination of paternity; and domestic violence between family members. Now fortunately, I have never had any direct personal experience in or with Family Court, nor do I have any contact with it professionally. The family Court judges are elected for 10-year terms and their current salary is pegged at $136,700 per year.

There are 10 candidates vying for 4 slots on November 2nd. They are:

• Judge Nilda Morales Horowitz (D,C,I,WF)(no website)
  Hal Greenwald (D,C, WF)(no website)
• David Klein (D,WF)(no website)
• Michelle Schauer (D,WF)(www.electschauer.com)
• Edward Borelli (R,C,)(www.edborelli.com)
• Bill Edwards (R,I)(no website)
• Patricia O’Callaghan (R,C,I)(www.ocallaghan2010.com)
• Mary Clark (R,I, RTL)(no website)
• Raymond Belair(RTL)(no website)
• Anthony Decintio (RTL)(no website)

(It makes me crazy that judicial candidates take the “Right to Life” party line — I believe this to be high unethical — as would someone who would run on a hypothetical “right to choose” party….but I digress…)

So the first thing I did was “Google” the major party candidates. Nilda Morales Horowitz is on the ballot with 4 parties: Democratic, Conservative, Independence, and Working Families. She has served as Family Court Judge since 2001. The first Google mention of Judge Horowitz is the fact that she was censured by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct in 2005. A dissent was filed in the matter advocating her removal from the bench rather than censure. The Commission’s quite damning decision is here. In a nutshell, the Commission found that Judge Horowitz interfered with cases before other judges on the Family Court — not once — but twice — seeking preferential treatment for participants in cases before the Court. According to the Commission decision, when one judge objected to Horowitz’ request, Judge Horowitz chastised her colleague as being “ridiculous” and that “everybody does it” The “it” I can only presume is to interfere in cases before the court. Nowhere can I find some statement of contrition from Judge Horowitz. The Commission’s censure occurred 5 years ago. Why did the Democratic, Conservative, Independence, and Working Families parties decide to nominate Judge Horowitz for another term? Are there no other qualified lawyers in Westchester do perform this job?

This is ludicrous.

Now contrast the Horowitz candidacy with another Democratic candidate who I actually met a few weeks ago, Michelle Schauer. She was appointed to a temporary slot on the Family Court by Governor Paterson and is now running for a full 10-year term. I met Michelle Schauer through a mutual friend, and she came on a radio show I guest hosted with the editor of the Westchester-Eye, Peter Moses. Although Michelle is not permitted to talk about “issues”, she did lay our her experience, qualifications, and her calm, deliberative temperament (what you really want in a judge) was clearly on display. And unlike some of the other candidates, she provided a detailed bio to the New York State Court website voterguide and she has a website. Of the other candidates, I’ve seen television ads and tons of signs for Patricia O’Callaghan — who appears to be spending the most money of all the candidates on the race. Other than reaching out and talking to each candidate (which I don’t have time to do) — this is the basis for my choice for Family Court. So I will, on November 2nd lodge a bullet vote for Michelle Schauer. And I will continue to wonder why four political parties including one major party chose to nominate a formally censured judge for re-election.

David A. Singer is a former political consultant/campaign professional and political junkie currently toiling as a lawyer in Westchester and managing real estate and media investments.