A Ruckus for America
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- Written by: Diane Greenwald
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(This is the opinion of Diane Greenwald)
I hope you share my horror and outrage about Rumeysa Ozturk, a Ph.D. candidate at Tufts University, a Muslim woman from Turkey with a valid student visa, who was abducted Tuesday night off the street by hoodie-clad, masked agents of ICE. I am shaking in terror (as is the point.) Please watch this footage:
Chilling. This is not my America.
According to several accounts and this video, Ms. Ozturk was touched, cuffed, sent to Louisiana against a court order, stripped of her status without notice and before ever talking to her lawyer. She is apparently getting deported. Why and why this way? She did not resist. Would she not have just come into an immigration office, if called? Who are these many (inefficient) swarming sinister agents on the street? They looked like criminals. How is that safe?
I have heard some assume Ms. Ozturk incited violence, supported terrorists in campus protests over the Hamas/Israel war. There are no criminal charges though. And if this government had evidence that this Tufts graduate student posed an imminent threat to public safety, wouldn’t they have 1) told Tufts (they did not;) 2) proudly and loudly report their work to all of us? (they did not.) Instead, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “we revoked her visa… once you’ve lost your visa, you’re no longer legally in the United States… if you come into the US as a visitor and create a ruckus for us, we don’t want it. We don’t want it in our country. Go back and do it in your country.”
A ruckus? This is not a 1980s John Hughes movie, this is a woman’s life, a student, now traumatized and upended. When has a ruckus – a din, a fuss, a hullabaloo – risen to the level of sudden incarceration? When have we forsaken due process, even for dangerous actors? Is she dangerous?
What we know is she co-wrote an op-ed for her student paper with 3 other grad students on behalf of several others involved in institution-sanctioned student government. I hope you read it for yourselves. Letter here.
As I read it, I thought about campus life since October 7, 2023. I disagree with the authors’ assumptions, goals, and conclusions about Israel. It would not be an op ed if we all agreed. The letter is one-sided, expressing sympathy for Palestinian loss, a sentiment I share, in a way that I do not, and without mention of Israeli losses or hostages, thus to me, undermining any humanitarian high ground. It is otherwise written within the standards of community dialogue, and no mention of support for Hamas terrorists. The graduate students express frustration that the student resolution to divest from Israeli interests had been summarily (and repeatedly) rejected by the Tufts administration. These students seek reconsideration, without threats.
I have read many of these arguments and while I again disagree, I have never been harmed by reading. If this letter is the sum total of the government’s reason for grabbing a visa-holding student from the street, this is truly terrifying. It would be arbitrary, a stunning overreach, and an unhinged assault on free speech. This sure seems like fascism. Fascism makes nobody safer.
I appreciate any Jewish organization that supports “civil liberties and democratic norms,” consistently and for all. Amy Spitalnick, CEO of Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) and a Tufts alum, says over and over, “Selectively applying due process based on someone's identity or views makes Jews – and everyone – less safe… and [this administration] is exploiting our community’s real concerns to undermine our democracy.” Link here. I am a Jew, and this cannot happen in my name.
Campus Antisemitism
Last year, when my son was a senior at Tufts, a school he loves, I was critical of Tufts response to aspects of campus protests over the Hamas/Israel war. I wanted the school to respect first amendment rights, allow peaceful exchange of ideas (like in an op ed), and provide due process. But the student responses were often disruptive, uninformed, or out of proportion — and at the worst, they were overtly antisemitic. I felt Tufts had ignored its own neutral campus safety policies and was insensitive to hateful language. Tufts honestly tried, but also seemed ill-equipped for rapid educational responses. I was looking for commitment to building critical thinkers, armed against social media-fueled radicalization and misinformation. These highly educated students are meant to be our future and global leaders, and they need skills for tackling complex problems, not screaming irrational slogans absent nuance or solutions.
I thought I knew a lot about my son’s campus, but I didn’t. On social media, with video clips at the ready, parents were experiencing campuses in ways that had never before been available, and while there were real issues for many students, what we saw was often absent scale or context. I would see some incident on social media that looked like a massive uprising, and I would call my son. He would dismiss my fears quickly – it was small, it was over, it was nothing, or what are you talking about? Each kid’s experience is their own, but my son never directly experienced antisemitism, only faced ignorance (still a sad commentary for a place of higher learning.) When the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) gave his campus an “F” grade for Jewish life, he felt dismissed and alienated, saying, “I have not had a failing Jewish experience here.” I felt manipulated and fear mongered. I have learned from many friends with kids on lots of campuses, they had similar feelings.
To assume Ms. Ozturk unlawfully disrupted campus because she co-wrote an op ed would be a leap – evidence of her even being at a protest last year has yet to emerge (and there was a lot of film.) In fact, this year, campuses improved and quieted across the country, including Tufts, that made visible strides, though not publicized much. Focus on social media has been in a few places, like Columbia, but many other campuses across the nation heard Jewish voices and allies and responded with iterative changes to improve programming, ensure the compassionate enforcement of neutral regulations, and to de-escalate campus conflict. I am sure more work can be done, but I am grateful for these and other ongoing efforts, for all students to feel safe and seen. I sometimes hear the drum beat complaint from Jewish friends, “oh this or that Jewish issue would never happen if it were about a ‘fill in the blank for another minority’ student.” I see no value in victim competitions, and I do not imagine many minorities on college campuses feel protected right now.
Antisemitism, like any targeted hate, is real and must be tracked and fought, but Jews are not powerless or ignored. When we use a monolithic notion of “rising campus antisemitism” without nuance or even accuracy, it can be divisive, harms our credibility about real threats, and leads to dangerous assumptions – like Jews imagining without evidence that we are being protected when a Muslim woman is deported without due process. Again, not in my name.
American Democracy
Everyone is vulnerable in an authoritarian regime, especially when divided. We must all come together around our shared values rooted in democracy. I love my country. I feel privileged, and grateful, and ready to serve others far more vulnerable than myself. Ms. Ozturk deserves American due process and the protection of the First Amendment. Everyone does, even folks with whom I disagree. That’s what I think is great.
I am a patriot. This is the country that let all four of my grandparents escape hatred and achieve the American dream. I want our nation to remain a welcoming place of opportunity, a melting pot of ideas, innovation and debate, where the golden rule defines us, and the rule of law guides us. As a mom, when I see the video of Ms. Ozturk grabbed off the street, I shiver in fear. I also want to give Ms. Ozturk (and her mother) a hug and an apology. But if she (and her mother) now hates America, who could blame her?
Want something to do? Here are some suggestions from my niece, an immigration attorney.
Give to and support:
- Florence Project (AZ): https://firrp.org
- AMICA Center (DC): https://amicacenter.org
- NYLAG (NY): https://nylag.org/immigration/
HIAS (love HIAS), https://hias.org/
Catholic Charities, https://www.crs.org/
Make the Road, https://maketheroadny.org/
CUNY Citizenship https://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/communications-marketing/citizenship-now/
Mutual aid groups can be really interesting as well -https://mutualaid.nyc/
For volunteer opps (or to explore other orgs), can use this link to do a search for groups in your area: https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonp.../legaldirectory/
Volunteer opps can be anything from escorting people to ICE appointments, giving know your rights presentations, helping people fill out a citizenship application (with attorney supervision), delivering food even, etc.
PT Council Supports Proposed Budget But Expresses Concerns About Reserves and Elementary School Math Program
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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Here is the PT Council Executive Committee and Budget Study Statement on the Proposed Budget for Scarsdale Schools, 2025-26, read at the Board of Education meeting on March 24, 2025.
The PTC thanks the District and the Board of Education for their ongoing efforts in developing the 2025-26 Scarsdale School Budget. We appreciate the District’s formulation of a budget that stays within the tax cap, a limit that is widely supported by the community.
This proposed budget reflects many goals shared by the PTC, including maintaining small elementary class sizes, and supporting a broad range of course offerings at the high school.
Furthermore, the proposed budget acknowledges the importance of maintaining both sanctioned and non-sanctioned sports programs, recognizing their role in promoting not only physical health and fitness but also supporting student mental well-being, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging.
The mental health and physical safety of our students remain priorities for the PTC. We value this proposed budget’s continued investment in social work support across all grade levels, as well as the presence of safety monitors within the schools. We appreciate the District’s sustained efforts to enhance the safety of our school buildings and buses through infrastructure improvements.
The PTC acknowledges the District's efforts to advance the upcoming bond initiative. We commend your commitment to involving the community in the process, ensuring that the bond addresses the needs of all stakeholders. As the District’s work progresses, we encourage thoughtful consideration of the long-term operational costs associated with these bond-funded improvements, particularly in regard to their potential impact on both current and future budgets.
The PTC is appreciative of the effort that has gone into formulating a budget that stays within the tax cap, but we also have concerns regarding the increasing use of Fund Balance. The current practice of using a fixed amount to balance the budget each year, coupled with the dependence on these funds to cover budget shortfalls, is unsustainable. Persisting with this approach will ultimately compel the District to either exhaust the Fund Balance or propose budgets that exceed the tax cap—both undesirable scenarios.
The PTC believes that our teachers are the heart of our schools. Salary and wages, along with employee benefits, accounted for 80% of our current budget. As such, the PTC respects the District’s thoughtful attention to staffing, as it works to provide a rich academic experience while also being mindful of cost.
We share the District’s concern about the rising health insurance costs. These costs represent a large portion of the budget, and all efforts must be taken to control and manage spending in this area. The PTC applauds the decision to include a member of the Board of Education on the Health Advisory Committee.
Additionally, the PTC recognizes the importance of supporting students with diverse learning needs and appreciates the District’s continued investment in Special Education. We have noticed an increase of nearly one million dollars in the Special Education budget. We urge the District to carefully consider costs while expanding the program, both in this budget and in future budgets.
The PTC values continued transparency and communication regarding the intersection between curriculum and budget. There is community concern related to the Reveal Math Curriculum, including its efficacy and whether the program has the continued need for a second math coordinator. Specifically, what will this second coordinator do to address the ongoing concern about the program and for what period of time will the District require a second math coordinator? We request that the District more clearly articulate steps that will be taken to assess the elementary math program and remediate any program weaknesses.
In conclusion, the PTC thanks the District and Board of Education for your work to date. We recognize and appreciate your efforts to support the personal and academic growth of our students; however, we are concerned about the continued depletion of the Fund Balance. We urge the District to explore ways to balance future budgets with more limited use of the Reserve Fund. Thank you for prioritizing transparency and communication with our community as you continue your work.
We encourage the community to actively engage and ask questions regarding the proposed budget before the vote on May 20, 2025. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
The PT Council Executive Committee and Budget Study Chairs
Meryl Satler, PTC President
Erica German, PTC President-Elect
Jeanette Rosen, PTC Secretary
Shilpa Spencer, PTC Treasurer
Jessy Li, Edgewood School PTA Co-President
Katie Garvey, Edgewood School PTA Co-President
Eul Hui, Fox Meadow PTA Co-President
Katy Goldman, Fox Meadow PTA Co-President
Tulika Khemani, Greenacres School PTA President
Andrea Burinescu, Heathcote School PTA President
Lindsay Forschner, Quaker Ridge School PTA President
Emily Hira, Scarsdale Middle School PTA President
Cindy Yau, Scarsdale High School PTA President
Irena Spiegel-Turner, Budget Study Co-Chair
Ranjana Saini-Chandarana, Budget Study Co-Chair
White Plains Social Security Office to Close May 31, 2025
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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It’s confirmed: the Social Security office in White Plains is closing. Upon learning about the department’s plans to close the local office, County Executive Ken Jenkins and Congressman George Latimer offered to provide the department with available space so that the office could remain open and accessible to Westchester residents.
On March 5 George Latimer said, “The expected closure of the Social Security Administration’s White Plains hearing office will mean seniors and people with disabilities will have to drive long distances – as far away as New Haven and Albany — at greater expense, to fight for their rights. But that does not have to happen,” said Rep. Latimer. “I am very glad to work with my friend and former colleague County Executive Ken Jenkins to offer County space to keep these important services in White Plains. I will work with officials at all levels of government to try to make this a reality.”
Ken Jenkins said, “Our priority is ensuring that Westchester County maintains access to essential services. We are committed to supporting seniors, individuals with disabilities and many others by finding solutions that keep Social Security resources available in White Plains. I’m grateful to Congressman Latimer for collaborating with me and Westchester County to turn this request and proposed solution into a reality.”
However, the Social Security Commissioner turned down the offer. On March 19 the Acting Commissioner of Social Security sent a letter to Latimer advising him that the White Plains office will close on May 31, 2025. He suggested residents drive to places as far away as Goshen, NY and New Haven, CT to resolve any issues with social security.
County Executive Ken Jenkins said, “This is a disgraceful decision that prioritizes bureaucratic indifference over the well-being of Westchester residents. The Trump administration is effectively cutting off access to Social Security resources for those who need them most. Westchester County will not stand by while Washington abandons our communities. I will continue fighting alongside Congressman Latimer and Congressman Lawler to ensure our residents are not left behind.”
At the same time, the agency issued a new edict requiring identity checks for any changes to benefits. As of March 31, 2025, “People who want to file for benefits or change the bank where their payments were deposited will no longer do so by phone and must first verify their identity online or go into a field office.”
So though the administration pledged to leave Social Security in place, Westchester residents are already seeing a diminution of the program.
Here is the letter from the Social Security Administration to Congressman George Latimer dated March 19, 2025.
The Honorable George Latimer U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative Latimer:
Thank you for your March 4, 2025 letter regarding the decision to close our White Plains, NY Hearing Office on May 31, 2025. I am committed to maintaining service options for our claimants in the White Plains area.
Please note that we have been evaluating options for the White Plains Hearing Office for some time. The office has had long-term issues with mold over the past five to six years, which the General Services Administration (GSA) has been unable to resolve. GSA has advised us that, as of May 31, 2025, we will no longer have a lease in the current office space due to the landlord’s decision not to renew it.
We will continue to provide the option of an in-person hearing for our claimants in the White Plains area, including at the following locations:
• Bronx Hearing Office (220 East 161st Street; Bronx, NY 10451)
• New Haven Hearing Office (157 Church Street; New Haven, CT 06510)
• New York Hearing Office (26 Federal Plaza; New York, NY 10278)
• New York Varick Hearing Office (201 Varick Street; New York, NY 10014)
• Goshen Permanent Remote Site (3 Coates Drive; Goshen, NY 10924)
We also will continue to provide the option of a virtual hearing by audio (telephone) and online video, which is selected by over 83 percent of our claimants who receive service from the White Plains Hearing Office. Because the vast majority of our claimants will not be affected by the office closure, we are not exploring an alternate location.
I hope you find this information helpful. If you wish to discuss this issue in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me, or have your staff contact Dustin S. Brown, our Acting Assistant Deputy Commissioner for the Office of External Affairs/Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs, at (410) 907-5418. I am sending a similar response to Representative Lawler.
Sincerely,
Leland Dudek
Acting Commissioner
Latimer Votes No on Government Funding Bill and Speaks Out on Tariffs and Cuts to Federal Work Force
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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Newly elected Congressman George Latimer has been speaking out and voting in defense of his constituents in NY District 16.
Here are his comments:
Government Funding Bill
"It is clear that everyday residents are outraged with the cut and destroy method of management by the Trump Administration. This strategy is an outrage. Without providing guardrails or reasserting Constitutional authority about how to spend money that Congress appropriates, this systematic dismantling will continue.
The government funding bill today deserved a 'no' vote. It does not include any of these critical guardrails and submits to the will of Trump and Elon Musk as they to continue to tear down our government. We offered an alternative bill which would keep the government open without implementing disastrous policies - the Republican majority wouldn't even consider it.
The bill has significant cuts to housing programs for seniors and domestic violence survivors, and cuts funding for veterans' healthcare. My priority is to make life less expensive for working families. This funding bill does not achieve that goal. It does the exact opposite."
Tariffs
On March 10, 2025, U.S. Representative George Latimer (released the following statement after the government of Ontario, Canada, applied a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to New York, Minnesota and Michigan:
“Electricity rates, which are already high, are about to go up. As we predicted a month ago, President Trump’s ill-advised and thoughtless trade war with our ally Canada is needlessly adding to increasing prices already felt by New York ratepayers. The stock market has dropped again today after the President refused to rule out a recession. He is gambling with our economy and the wallets of working Americans.
Last week President Trump announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico after rescinding them in February. The 25% surcharge on electricity exports is expected to affect electricity sales to 1.5 million homes across New York, Michigan and Minnesota."
Firing of Federal employees
Watch this video with Latimer’s address on the house floor on cuts to the federal work force which he calls “heartless and cruel.”
Local Legislators Fight Back on Social Security Office Closure, Aid to Ukraine, Cuts and Tariffs
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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(Updated Marchh 5, 2025) At a press conference on March 3, 2025, Congressman George Latimer (NY-16) and Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins announced that they have identified county space that can be used for the White Plains Social Security Office that will be closing in May.
“The expected closure of the Social Security Administration’s White Plains hearing office will mean seniors and people with disabilities will have to drive long distances – as far away as New Haven and Albany — at greater expense, to fight for their rights. But that does not have to happen,” said Rep. Latimer. “I am very glad to work with my friend and former colleague County Executive Ken Jenkins to offer County space to keep these important services in White Plains. I will work with officials at all levels of government to try to make this a reality.”
“Our priority is ensuring that Westchester County maintains access to essential services. We are committed to supporting seniors, individuals with disabilities and many others by finding solutions that keep Social Security resources available in White Plains. I’m grateful to Congressman Latimer for collaborating with me and Westchester County to turn this request and proposed solution into a reality,” said County Executive Jenkins.
In February it was announced that the Social Security Administration would not be renewing its lease for the White Plains Hearing Office. The Office has since been placed on the list of cuts made by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Last week it was announced that the new Administration is planning to cut Social Security staff by 50%.
“On behalf of the AALJ, I want to thank Congressman Latimer and County Executive Jenkins for generously offering to make equivalent hearing space available in White Plains for social security disability claimants who depend on the White Plains facility to secure their benefits. If the White Plains office closes without a replacement, residents will incur the additional expense and inconvenience of traveling to far away hearing locations without consideration of where they live,” said Judge Som Ramrup, President, Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ).
Latimer submitted the following comment after attending President Trump's address to Congress on March 4:
"President Trump, in his first major address of his second term, could have given a reason to all Americans to welcome his new term.
He could have described in detail how he planned to lower the cost of living for everyday Americans.
But rather, he defended his decision to levy tariffs that will raise everyday prices, and stifle economic growth. The stock market continued its slide, showing that Wall Street and Main Street reject tariffs. All economic indicators are now below what they were on Election Day in 2024.
He could have described how he would help secure a better life for seniors and veterans. But he did nothing to dispel plans for major cuts to the Social Security Administration or Department of Veterans Affairs, meaning deserving seniors and veterans will get fewer benefits than they have earned. There was no pushback against Elon Musk’s ‘Ponzi Scheme’ slur against social security.
He could have described how America will take the lead in the Free World, defending democracy on every continent, as did Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush, as well as all Democratic Presidents. Instead, he punishes Canada, Mexico, insults Denmark, ignores Britain and France, and sacrifices Ukraine to appease Russia.
The massive, erratic cuts to government departments does not show a rational, business-like strategy. It shows an ideological desire to throw the baby out with the bath water, systemic cuts rather than well-planned, strategic cuts.
This is no way to run a government. I know. I ran one well for seven years. It appears this speech is a roadmap for the next four years.”
Statement of State Senator Shelley B. Mayer on President Zelenskyy's Meeting with White House:
State Senator Shelley Mayer issued the following statement on March 2, 2025
I was deeply disturbed by President Trump and Vice President Vance’s bullying behavior towards Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and our democratic ally of Ukraine on Friday. I am concerned that the repercussions will damage our relationship with Ukraine. For over three years, the Ukrainian people have been the victim of Russia’s attacks on its people. New York State is committed to doing everything in its power to assist the Ukrainian people, and despite the White House’s lack of empathy, New York stands firm in its unequivocal support for Ukraine. It is unprecedented for the leaders of the United States to treat our allies with such disrespect.
The only acceptable outcome is for the White House to apologize to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people, who have endured aggression from Putin and Russia, and for them to affirm support for a fellow sovereign, democratic nation.
