Politics

All Politics are Local: Interview with Shelley Mayer

By Josh Rosenblut

In this column I will be interviewing different politicians that represent Rye Brook. I will be asking each politician many of the same questions. I hope that these interviews will help you learn about the people who represent us in government. For this interview, I spoke with Shelley Mayer, State Senator for the 37th District of New York. Prior to being elected State Senator for the 37th District, Mayer was a member of the New York State Senate, beginning in 2012. Mayer previously served as a Senior Advisor in the office of New York Attorney General Bob Abrams. Mayer resides in Yonkers, her hometown. Mayer was elected to the Senate in 2013 after winning a special election for the seat previously occupied by current Westchester County Executive George Latimer. Below are selected excerpts from our 30 minute interview:

What or who inspired you to get involved with politics? “My father ran for office and I grew up really understanding the value of speaking with your own voice and standing up for what you think and believing in this system of elections and not being deterred whether you won or lost. I mean, obviously you hope to win, he didn’t win, but I learned from him and I would say that he inspired me. My mother also inspired me because she was a person who grew up very poor and did not have an education, but she was the most empathetic, people-interested person I’ve ever met and she really encouraged me to listen to people. I think that’s been a big part of my success.”

What was your career before going into politics? “There is a funny line between government and politics. I was always involved in politics, I was always involved in community activity that was political because I am a believer in American democracy, really it is in my core. I became a lawyer and I started bringing cases on behalf of people who had lost their jobs, and then I went to work in the Attorney General’s office. I spent twelve years in the Attorney General’s office doing government work, but I also did politics on my own time and I’ve always been engaged in both politics and government.” What is your favorite part of the job? “Really being able to help people, whether it’s helping them on unemployment claims, for example, I was able to help the people who lost their jobs after the Doral Arrowwood hotel in Rye Brook closed, I helped them get money they were owed, 2.7 million dollars. Also, I was able to help schools. All the schools in New York were able to get the money they deserved, which took fifteen years to get.”

What Surprised You The Most About The Job? “Well I was in the Assembly before I was in the Senate, so I’ve been around Albany legislative politics for a long time. I was the counsel to the Senate Democrats for a while as well. At the very beginning I was surprised that partisanship was really a bar to considering good ideas and I represented the Attorney General’s legislative program and I asked the people in charge (the Republicans) how come they never considered the AG’s bills. They said we just do not work with the other side. That was my introduction that they don’t just do it on the merits. That was a surprise to me a long time ago and I’ve learned along the way and I’ve learned to make my way around the obstacles.”

My understanding as Chair of the Education Committee in the Senate your intervention was instrumental in helping Ridge Street School reopen, can you elaborate on this experience? “Well it was very difficult for everyone, all the students particularly. I have a very good relationship with the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Betty Rosa, who has oversight over all the physical parts about schools, so when there seemed to be a real conflict and miscommunication between the District and the State Education Department I went directly to Dr. Rosa and pushed them [the Education Department] to put a lot of resources into resolving the conflicts with the school district, with the board, with the prior superintendent, with the current superintendent and even though it took two and a half weeks, I worked on it every day to try to push it ahead and get a resolution because I knew kids weren’t in school. I tried to get away from the personalities and focus on getting that school reopened and I’m glad we were able to help in that regard.”

Advice For Future Public Servants? “Get involved, I had lots of people working on my campaign when I ran in the special election for George Latimer’s seat in 2018, many, many young people couldn’t vote, but they cared about gun violence, which we couldn’t do anything about until the Democrats became the Majority in the Senate. Young people helped lead to the Democrats’ control in the Senate. I think there is so much opportunity for young people to care about something, get involved whatever it may be, the food pantry in their neighborhood, a club in their school, running for school president, or working on someone’s campaign. I say jump in, have the confidence not to second guess yourself, and take a leap.”

Anything else you would like to share with the readers at Blind Brook? “I think people should know that myself and Steve Otis, your Assembly member, we’re both very dogged, serious legislators, we care about trying to take the problems we hear about and make a difference to change the result. He and I work every day together like we did for the Ridge Street School. I work with my colleagues to sort of force change and that’s what you have to do, I’m never rude, but I’m strong and opinionated and that’s what you have to do.”

States’ Political Leanings Coincide with College Choice

By Abby Zahl

New year, new seniors; the college process is starting all over again! Figuring out which school is best fit for you takes many factors into consideration. Do you want to go to a big school or a small school? Which college fits your educational and financial needs? Where in the world do you want to be for the next potential four years of your life? These days, another question has been added to the checklist: Which school would put you in an environment where your political beliefs are shared by others? Colleges need to be diverse with what they offer and in their own unique culture so students can find the establishment best suited for them. Listed in Accredited Schools Online, are the top ten liberal schools and top ten conservative schools in the country. These colleges vary in size and acceptance rates, as well as location. Compared side by side to the 2020 presidential election map, nine out of the ten most liberal schools are located in blue, Democratic states, while seven out of the ten most conservative schools are located in red, Republican states. As commented in Accredited Schools Online, “Many students choose the college or university they attend based at least in part on their personal politics.” With the United States having apparently become a politically divided country, many colleges are indeed influenced. Teacher and blogger, Anne Babson, explained one of her own firsthand experiences, “I often tell students in my classroom that I am a committed Christian. In the North, the room of students is usually slightly tense. Arms gently fold across chests. They wonder if I will judge them for not being Christians...or because they live a wild and reckless life...When I say the same words in the South, I hear an audible sigh of relief.” Most southern states are conservative, while northern states are liberal. Within this political bisect, there is also a split in faith and religion. As exemplified through the preceding quote, most northerners are often either not as devoted, follow a different religion, or not religious at all. On the contrary, many southerners are ardent Christians. An example of why this prominent divide matters relates to the timely issue of abortion. In southern states, for example Texas, political leaders are banning a woman from getting an abortion. In contrast, most northern states allow abortion to take place and their laws are not as strict. Depending on a person’s moral and political beliefs, one may feel more comfortable in the north over the south and vice versa. It is reassuring to be around people who have similar morals to you. This influences where students want to apply to college because like everyone else, they want to fit in. After interviewing Blind Brook senior Lucy Rosenblut about whether she took the color of the states into consider ation when applying to colleges, she stated, “For me, my political beliefs are a part of [who I am], and as much as I love debating with people, I do understand a person better when I align with them politically...I also want to go into public service for my future and I feel that in the northeast, which is mostly blue and where I have mainly applied to, I can get the best options out of that. It’s also something I’m more comfortable with, and since college is such a big transition already, some things I wanted to be simple.” The extent to which a state’s “color” will matter to a prospective college applicant will depend on each individual student. But in these times of extreme political polarization, college bound students may want to consider the political atmosphere in the state where they attend college.

Are Judges Elected or Appointed in NY State?

By Kunjal Kothari

Judicial selection in the U.S. varies not only at state level, but also within court types. There are six standards of selection: partisan, nonpartisan, Michigan-Ohio, assisted appointment, gubernatorial appointment, and legislative elections. In New York, depending on the court, the method for selecting judges varies. Contrary to popular belief, New York’s Supreme Court is not the highest court in the state, but is instead the lowest court in the state, with general jurisdiction in civil cases. The Supreme Court of New York uses partisan elections when electing justices to 14-year terms. These candidates are chosen by the people at partisan nomination conventions. Partisan elections allow citizens to view a candidate’s political affiliation adjacent to their name on a ballet. In non-partisan elections, people cannot view a person’s political party alongside their name. These rules can be different in other states. In order to qualify for a position on New York’s Supreme Court, one must be a resident of New York and have practiced law in the state for ten years. Supreme Court judges, called “justices,” begin their term on January 1st after their election. New York County Courts elect judges in a similar process for 10-year terms. One must live in the correlating county and state, be at least 18 years of age, and have studied law in the area for at least five years. There is an extensive process to figure out who will be the representatives in New York Supreme Court elections. Supreme court candidates compete in primary elections to determine the representative of the general party. Then, these candidates are chosen through the general election. Primary voters elect convention delegates, who later choose candidates for judgeships. Some believe this process is unconstitutional since it can become unpromising for party outsiders to obtain these positions. In 2008, the United States Supreme Court defended this system in a unanimous decision (New York Board of Elections v. Lopez Torres). Giving people privilege and accountability is an advantage of the partisan election. People believe that this method upholds the true beliefs of democracy, since it allows people to have some say in the candidates chosen to be justices for New York. However, there are numerous reasons as to why this judicial system has been criticized due to political fundraisers and tactics candidates use to get noticed. Some believe this system calls for more change and transparency to ensure only qualified candidates get the role, especially in New York’s Supreme Court. At the appellate level, there is a different method for selecting judges. Assisted appointment occurs through the use of a nomination committee and a judicial screening panel that qualifies candidates, to later be reviewed by a governor for appointment. The New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, the intermediate appellate court, also has justices appointed by the governor, using candidates recommended from committees. Similar to New York’s Supreme Court, judges serve 14-year terms in the New York Court of Appeals, our state’s highest court. As the highest court, candidates must be confirmed by the New York State Senate and renominated to remain on the Court. In addition, New York has several limited jurisdiction courts including New York District Courts, New York Family Courts, and more. Thus, a person has to know what kind of state judgeship an individual judge holds to be able to determine whether that person was elected or appointed.

Photo Courtesy of Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union

How Have Mask Mandates and Vaccination Status Become Such Political Battlegrounds?

By Anna Vnenchak

Ever since COVID-19 first reached the United States, it has wreaked havoc amongst the population. It has caused countless issues in health, numerous problems in the economy, and strangely enough, political division. In a crisis, the best way for a nation to stay strong is by maintaining unity. Unfortunately, despite scientific advice, the United States did the exact opposite when COVID-19 struck. Mask mandates soon became political battlegrounds, and later on, vaccination status followed. In early 2020, around the time when the Coronavirus reached the U.S., former president Donald Trump expressed that he wouldn’t go out in public with a mask on. This caused his large platform of supporters to follow his lead, despite the fact that masks had already been scientifically proven effective at reducing the number of respiratory viruses emitted in aerosols. Trump’s action was harmful to the United States as a whole because without masks, the population was at a far higher risk of contracting the virus from those refusing to wear one. Due to an increase in the spread of COVID-19 after Trump’s statement, it is evident that before turning to politics, the public must listen to science first. The majority of Trump’s anti-mask followers were of the Republican party, causing Democrats to begin to resent the Republican party altogether, even if a lot of Republicans believed in wearing masks. Polarization between political parties became more and more of an issue as COVID-19 progressed, causing a strong sense of division in the United States during a time when unity was necessary. Of course, there were other reasons as to why some people refused to wear masks. A popular belief was that masks could cause blood oxygen levels to drop, which was proven false soon after. Although people expressed this concern, mask wearing was centered much more around political parties. Influential Republican leaders like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell looked to encourage his fellow Republicans to wear masks. The idea was that anti-mask Republicans would listen to Republican leaders better than they would Democratic leaders telling them to mask-up. This strategy was successful in many ways, but some individuals still stuck to their early-quarantine beliefs. People protested and argued, COVID-19 progressed, and so did scientific discoveries. This scientific advancement led to the creation of the COVID-19 vaccine. The politics centered around the COVID-19 vaccine are different from those that have to do with mask mandates. Although Donald Trump was outwardly an anti-masker, he was in support of the vaccine. Trump even went on to say, “If we didn’t have a vaccine, it would have been just like the 1918 Spanish Flu.” Interestingly, a large portion of the people who were anti-mask because of Trump, are also against receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. His followers trust what he says without question, so it was surprising that they were not following him on this. There are many different reasons this could be the case, but it is most likely because of the unfortunate need these anti-vaxxers and anti-mask Republicans have to contradict Democrats and claim that they are incorrect in all instances. Ultimately, mask mandates and vaccination statuses have become highly political due to assumptions, immature decisions, and division in a time that necessitates unity.

The Crisis Continues

By Zoey Possick

Haiti has seen endless crises for the last ten years, including a 2010 earthquake that killed 200,000 Haitians. A year after the disaster, over 1,000,000 Haitians continued to live in tents, making Haiti one of the poorest countries today. The Covid-19 pandemic has had further devastating effects on their economy, only giving desperate Haitians more of a reason to make the perilous journey to the United States. Seeking stability and an escape from endless political turmoil, poverty, and conflict, Haitians are making the incredibly dangerous journey to ports of entry

Photo Courtesy of Erin Clark/The Boston Globe

at the U.S. border. Five years ago, Haitians flocked to Brazil to accept job opportunities building the 2016 Olympic Stadium. However, the jobs provided only temporary support, and citizens of Haiti were left with few options. Therefore, most Haitians are trekking from other countries, some traveling for years, clinging to hope of entry. In 2018, 126,000 visas were issued to Haitian citizens through the Haitian government. In the past year, approximately 3,000 have been granted. The sharp decrease in numbers accentuated already high tensions, prompting many to abandon their lives and travel to the United States. Many Haitians were under the false impression that they would be welcomed. Guerline M. Jozef, the executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance states, “False information, misinformation, and misunderstanding might have created a false sense of hope.” This

Photo Courtesy of Robyn Beck/Getty Images

misinformation also included false rumors on social media, claiming the Biden administration was handing out humanitarian visas to Haitians. Others traveled with the belief that those who have suffered persecution are eligible for asylum at a port of entry. Many of these rumors have been met with the Title 42 decree, which allows U.S. authorities to automatically expel almost all undocumented migrants seeking entry. This bypasses normal immigration laws and protections, as it attempts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In the current fiscal year, 28,000 Haitians have been intercepted at border control in the United States. In prior years, numbers were less than a quarter of today’s, reaching 4,395 in 2020. Today’s numbers have reached a 21-year high, coinciding with Biden’s presidency. In recent weeks, migrants have camped under the Del Rio International Bridge at the border of Texas, desperately awaiting the possibility of entry. President Biden condemns the Border Patrol treatment of Haitian migran- ts. Many migrants were mistreated by officials who were supposed to be aiding them. Biden stated, “I promise you, those people will pay. There is an investigation underway right now and there will be consequences.” The Department of Homeland Security is conducting an investigation into the events that unfolded at the current holding camp. Eventually, 12,400 migrants will eventually have their cases heard by an immigration judge, many of whom hope to obtain temporary visas and asylum. Biden has also enacted a reunification task force to reunite refugee children with their families. However, many migrants have been deported back to Haiti, where they will be met with the same dire circumstances they fought so hard to escape. Thousands still continue to flock to the U.S., despite not qualifying for protected status programs. These protection programs only apply to migrants who are already in the U.S. Haitians are collectively looking for a better life, and have turned to the U.S. as their last resort, but with disappointing results.