The Legislative Gazette
With Soares, things could get interesting
By Alan ChartockFri, Sep 24, 2004 1:03 pmOrdinarily, who in New York would care about a Democratic primary election that brought an obscure young lawyer, David Soares, into the limelight of Albany politics? It’s common knowledge that very few people in New York State know the first thing about the governor, the Legislature or anything else in Albany. They certainly have no idea who the Albany County district attorney is. Why should they care? In fact, for the past few years the Albany DA has been a young, politically connected district attorney named Paul Clyne. Clyne was virtually appointed to his DA post by a predecessor, a man who is almost as old as the Capitol Building himself, one Sol “Solly” Greenberg. Young Paul Clyne had what is known as “relative importance.” His father was known as the “hanging judge,” John Clyne. The papa was a stern, no-nonsense judge who had no use for street criminals and sentenced them to long terms in the penitentiary with a clear warning that their kind of crime was not to be tolerated in the City of Albany. If they were going to do that kind of crime they’d have to go somewhere else, like nearby Schenectady, to do it. Young Clyne followed the model laid down by Greenberg. He was tough on street crime and a little less aggressive about the kind of political crimes practiced by state legislators or governors. In fact, if major political crimes were to be ferreted out and punished, that would have to be done by the FBI and the United States Department of Justice. It has always been a nice arrangement for those in power. Since Albany is the seat of government, it is the Albany DA who is responsible for prosecuting most political crimes. So frustrating was all of this that the octogenarian Manhattan DA for life, Robert Morgenthau, took on the Legislature from his perch in New York and went down in flames for his efforts. He hasn’t done it since. So Soares decided to take on the machine. What is remarkable is that Soares happens to be an African American man, and he happens to have been a former assistant district attorney under Clyne, and he happens to detest the wicked Rockefeller Drug laws which are responsible for incarcerating thousands of young people, mostly black and Hispanic, now rotting in prison for what might be called relatively minor drug infractions. Historically, it has been the state district attorneys association that has held out against reforming this draconian system. Members don’t want to change the law because it will hurt them in their attempts to offer deals to offenders to make sure they take plea bargains. The Albany DA, because he is in the capital city, often has been one of the voices of the association testifying before the Legislature. So, if Soares wins in a three-way race which includes Clyne, the loser, a lot is going to change.As for Albany, where one of the last old-time political machines in the country continues to hold sway, a coalition of progressive types and minorities showed they could turn out and win. All the Democratic politicians who endorsed Clyne, the machine candidate, have quickly switched to Soares. Let’s face it, they don’t want the Republican candidate to win and they sure don’t want to be on the wrong side of the victorious Soares who, as former Chief Judge Sol Wachter once intoned, could indict a ham sandwich if he wanted to. This could be the beginning of sweeping changes in the capital city. One can only suspect that the machine must be breathing hard. Soares will have to make it clear that anyone committing any crime will be going to jail. If he doesn’t do that, you can be sure that the Republican candidate will have a fighting chance. A long time ago, a Republican named Arnie Proskin was elected in Democratic Albany, and the middle class of the city doesn’t like street crime. But if Soares is elected, things could get interesting.

- posted by Alan @ 9/30/2004 08:36:00 PM

 
Berkshire Eagle Column 9-26-04
Berkshire Eagle I, Publius
Making life and death decisions By Alan Chartock Special to The Eagle
Saturday, September 25, 2004 - When cats and dogs grow old and the end is near, we as their owners face that terrible moment when we must decide whether it's time to put them out of their misery. When their quality of life suffers, decisions have to be made. Veterinarians have come up with some wonderful temporary ways to prolong the lives of our pets, but things generally don't get significantly better.
We bought our two wonderful dogs, Glendy, a chocolate Lab, and Odysseus, a springer, at the same time so that they would have one another for company. At more than 14 years of age, they are both venerable elders of dogdom and, as if by some common understanding, they have both developed arthritis and back pain. We truly love these animals. They are such a part of our lives, we can't envision living without them.
In our house the vote is now split -- I'm for ending it, and Roselle is for holding on, hoping for a miracle. The ball is in her court as I write this. I would never insist. After all, Roselle is the mother, and it is a tough decision.
Interestingly, Roselle has always championed our right to die under our own terms and with dignity. Over the years, she has sent money to organizations that lobby for changing our arcane laws. The fact that she is prepared to wait until there is absolutely no more hope for our dogs shows that it is possible to act responsibly when it comes to ending life, be it human or canine. In the case of humans making these decisions, there are certainly ways to assure that it is the patient's decision and not those of children and relatives who would be relieved to dispatch someone who may, themselves, not want to go.
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On a less serious note, I am honored to have had two sushi rolls named after me at the Ichiban restaurant in Albany. One of these rolls has squid on the outside and eel on the inside. A good psychoanalyst might have a field day trying to figure out what it is about me that chooses to equate my sense of self with squid and eel. Actually, I admire the squid and the eel. Those guys can really move to stay out of harm's way.
My newfound sushi fame got me to thinking of other people and their sushi rolls. Take, for example, the "Pataki Roll." That would be white rice on the outside and turkey on the inside. A friend of mine thought it would be better if it was "white rice on the outside and nothing on the inside." How about the George Bush Roll, white rice on the outside and bile on the inside, dipped in oil? Or maybe the Mitt Romney Roll: white rice on the outside and blowfish on the inside. Maybe we could invent a John Kerry Roll, rice on the outside and ketchup on the inside. Someone could invent a Ralph Nader Roll. Let's see, that one could be green seaweed on the outside and viper on the inside. I look forward to getting over to the Bizen Restaurant, one of the best in the whole country, and seeing some of these rolls on the menu along with the always popular Yo Yo Mama Roll, obviously named after the great cellist and occasional visitor to the restaurant.
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It is a very good thing to realize that the authorities in Massachusetts have laid down the law to a small contingent in Lenox who wish to continue practicing the NIMBY, or "not in my backyard," syndrome. You will all remember that there was considerable opposition to locating an Austen Riggs facility in Lenox, where people emerging from treatment would have an opportunity to live in a wonderful and warm community, which, after all, describes Lenox. There were some bureaucratic shenanigans that made the going very tough for Riggs. The commonwealth had to set things right. Now that the law has ruled for Riggs, I take it that the folks who opposed the new facility will welcome their fellow citizens with open arms. I am sure they will.
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I have always admired the Literacy Network of South Berkshire. Their work with those who can't read or who have come to this country from other places is what true volunteerism is all about. It takes money to run the Literacy Network, so this year Maureen Hickey and her committee have organized a Latin dance party Nov. 6 featuring the great Alex Torres and the Latin Kings. Entrance drumming will be provided by Berkshire Bateria. Barbara Bouton will provide dance demonstrations, and tapas, sangria, wine and beer will be provided. I love the idea that we will all have an opportunity to get together and move our hips to the wonderful Latin rhythms. It will be held at the Southern Berkshire Community Center. I'll see you there.
Alan Chartock, a Great Barrington resident, is president and CEO of WAMC Northeast Public Radio and a professor of communications at SUNY-Albany. His web site is www.alanchartock.com

- posted by Alan @ 9/30/2004 08:27:00 PM