Leandra’s law is named after 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, was killed when a friend’s mom driving her to a sleepover crashed her station wagon in Manhattan. The driver’s been charged with DWI. What a tragedy, even moreso considering that only a few months before, Diane Schuler drove the wrong way on the Taconic, drunk and high, according to toxicology reports, and killed herself, her nieces, her daughter and three Yonkers men in a vehicle she struck.

After the Taconic tragedy, Gov. David Paterson proposed the Child Passenger Protection Act. (It later became Leanda’s Law.) The Editorial Board then weighed in, calling the proposed law “wholly proper,” but noting, tough sanctions alone won’t solve the problem.” here’s a slice:

Kids are in no position to find another ride or snatch away a drunk’s keys. Heightened sanctions, however, should not be construed as a salve for the harm to be avoided.

and unloading their young passengers. Here’s today’s report from our Albany Bureau on the result of a 40-day program that put cameras in school buses in Brewster, Bethlehem and Canandaigua. Each district had just one camera. That camera recorded 22 illegal passes in Canandaigua, 20 illegal passes in Bethlehem and four illegal passes in Brewster, according to today’s article.

When this program, called Operation Safe Stop, was unveiled in April, I looked into the issue for an editorial we published under the headline, “What’s the rush?” The statistics were pretty shocking.  Around New York, motorists pass stopped school buses at least 50,000 times each year, safety officials say. That’s 50,000 potential tragedies. Another way to slice it: Every day, an average 1.72 vehicles pass a school bus during its stops, according to data collected from drivers by Peter Mannella, executive director, New York Association for Pupil Transportation.

Jack Coxen, transportation supervisor for Brewster schools, explained that the motion sensitive cameras was to be installed on a bus that would take alternate routes. Four drivers snagged in Brewster may seem like a small number, but that’s just on one bus a day, in just 40 days.

Dr. Berezin was the first pediatrician to open a practice in Rockland County, his family said. He retired just four years ago, at age 85.
Dr. Elliot Siegal, president of Clarkstown Pediatrics, said that he considered it a privilege to work with Berezin. “He was really an old-school doctor,” Dr. Siegal said today, between seeing patients. “He really loved what he did and did it very well.”

Dr. Berezin joined Clarkstown Pediatrics, one of the county’s largest practices, when he was in his mid 70s. That way, he could ease up on the night and weekend calls. In the guestbook for his obituary on LoHud, though, several remembered his house calls, and kindness (and lollipops).

One former patient wrote:

For many years as a child I was sick with asthma and had to make many trips to Dr. Berezin and every visit he made me feel better with just the way he used to make me laugh and his incredible way that he would calm my fears. ... My mother and I both cried today learning of his passing.

I saw a big picture of President Obama to the left. I  thought, “oh, someone put in the wrong JPEG … I wonder who won the Nobel Peace Prize?”

And then, it clicked. Good thing that coffee wasn’t ready yet, so there was nothing to spew. It was a shocker. The more I read, the more I saw the how the committee determined that choice, and it is, after all, their award to give. (And it says a great deal about the importance of the American engagement in the world, which we in the U.S. may not always fully see.)

The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited Obama’s “efforts to strengthen international diplomacy,” and his “vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons” and for inspiring hope and creating “a new climate in international politics.” I’ve proudly noticed how the Nobels this year in the sciences have had heavy U.S. representation — scientists whose work over decades hase begun to produce results. It’s worth noting that the Peace Prize is given by a different committee, with a different mission.

What I’ve found really interesting is the variety of responses, many not so different than mine (borderline bemusement).

The comment of Lech Walesa, who won the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize in The Wall Street Journal :

Who, Obama? So fast? Too fast—he hasn’t had the time to do anything yet.

In an increasingly challenging and volatile world, President Obama has given a sense of hope and optimism to millions around the world.

The real question Americans are asking is, ‘What has President Obama actually accomplished?

Jesus says we will know a tree by its fruits. Even the best fruit takes time to ripen. How can our president – as good-willing as he might be – bear meaningful fruit after less than a year in office?  The Nobel Committee should do better than this. I hope that many other voices will join me in expressing their disappointment in this decision.

The real problem with Obama’s Nobel is not that it might neuter him, but rather that it may embolden him. In the name of peace, he and previous presidents have kept America in a virtual state of perpetual war for three generations. The Nobel is a signal to Obama that he can keep talking like a man of peace even as he acts like a master of war. Those who favored Obama, thinking he’d be less belligerent against Iran than McCain, now have more reason to worry.

New York is the first state (and only, so far) state to require health-care workers to get both the seasonal flu vaccine and the swine flu vaccine. So, she’s right that it’s a government mandate making her uncomfortable, but the wrong layer of government.

Her complaint, though, is not unusual. Nurses unions have been protesting New York’s move, and I’ve met friends in the health care field who are upset they have no choice.

In other places, some individual hospitals are demanding their workers get either seasonal or H1N1, or in some cases, both vaccines. Some hospitals have been making workers sign forms stating they are aware they are putting themselves and their patients at risk if they opt out ofa flu shot (not mandatory, just guilt?) And health care workers are always encouraged to get the flu shot. Compliance is anywhere from 40 percent to 60 percent, depending on the what’s predicted for the virus that year (some years, it’s expected to be a mild flu season, and then fewer people tend to be interested in getting vaccinated.)

BTW, my understanding is New York health care workers can only opt out for medical reasons.

“The rationale begins with the health-care ethic, which is: The patient’s well-being comes ahead of the personal preferences of health-care workers,” New York State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines told the Washington Post.

Do you think health workers should have a choice? Is a mandate the right way to go? A reward system? If you are a medical provider or a patient, it would be interesting to hear your perspective.

period between Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, involves passing a chicken over one’s head three times while a prayer is recited, a symbolic transfer of sins. The chicken is later slaughtered, and its meat given to charity.

Lefkowitz, a butcher by trade, and others who perform kapparot, have said it is hard for those who do not ascribe to kapparot to understand the deeply moving ceremony’s importance. That may be so. But it is easy to understand the Rockland County Health Code, and those rules have to be met within the county’s boundaries. Given, it may be very hard to meet the guidelines with so many live chickens in such a small area, as Lefkowitz has pointed out, but they still must be followed, or violations—and fines—will ensue. And those fines should be paid.

Lefkowitz told staff writer Hema Easley the Rockland Health Department fines (in the thousands of dollars, similar to what he was fined last year and the year before) were “ridiculous.” He says he won’t pay. (He ’s only paid a portion of past fines.) But, last year, in a letter to the editor, he called the health department’s decision to fine him “fair,” and apologized for incurring the violations. He pointed out the health department’s hard job in dealing with the “unique requirements” of the “burgeoning” Orthodox community.

Here’s a letter to the editor from Lefkowitz published Feb. 6, 2008:

Apology for violations at kapparot site

I apologize to everyone: the county, the community, my friends and others who were discomfited and dismayed by the violations I received for the Kaporoth (kapparot) program several months ago. I am especially distressed that I was the cause of much discussion of the issue that had nothing to do with me and my failings, but with others who had nothing to do with my program.
The county government officials were fair in fining me. I respect them for their professionalism and what they did was correct. I am sad that anyone can be mistaken about that.
In the lengthy exile of the Jewish people few governments have been as kind as the Rockland County government. It is not easy for them to deal with the unique requirements of our burgeoning population. But they try. For this we must thank them and bless them.
I conclude by saying that no violations were found regarding cruelty to the chickens. The cleanliness issues were caused because of failed deliveries of certain items and because of other issues. But there was no violation because of cruelty to the chickens.
I thank you for allowing me to apologize.
Moshe Lefkowitz
Monsey
The writer organized a kapparot ceremony at the Rockland Drive-In. The Rockland County Board of Health fined him $3,000 for poor conditions left at the site.

Nothing to cheer about here. Makes you think, the Legislature must be so proud, what with looking at such property tax solutions as a circuit-breaker that ties school taxes to household incomes, or a property-tax cap, but alas, doing nothing. Oh, no, they did one thing — agreed to a state budget that yanked middle class STAR tax rebate checks.

The New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief, headed by Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi (his county’s again ranked No. 2 in median property taxes paid on homes) has called for a property tax cap, and mandate relief (unfunded mandates mean someone’s gotta pay, and that would be the taxpayer. The lion’s share of a homeowner’s property tax bill goes to school districts.)

See the report from the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has monitored fiscal policy at the federal, state and local levels since 1937 — it’s creatively named Fiscal Fact. No. 192.

Of the limited action the Senate was able to muster the strength to undertake, senators unanimously passed legislation to add Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to the list of diagnoses that would be covered under Timothy’s Law, which ensures insurance coverage parity for biologically based mental illnesses. State Sen. Thomas Morahan, R-New City, a longtime champion of Timothy’s Law, introduced the PTSD coverage.

Here’s Morahan’s statement:

On this eighth anniversary of the September 11th attack on our nation, it is appropriate and timely that we include persons exposed to acts of terrorism, as well as veterans who have been in combat in this legislation. According to a study issued in 2007, twenty percent of troops, about 300,000, returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan report symptoms of PTSD, depression, or severe traumatic brain injury. This landmark legislation would also cover victims of violent crime, childhood abuse, and those exposed to catastrophic events under the umbrella of Timothy’s Law.

I spoke last evening with Jaffee, who said she submitted many letters for projects in the communities she represents, as many localities lined up to make stimulus funding requests. The New Square project was among them. “I did that for everything,” she said of the various grant applications, “to support all this funding.”

Jaffee points out that the original plant had “very sever issues,” and under this proposal, it would be demolished and condemned. She said the new plant was to include technologies that would minimize smells and mess. She also said that the new plant would have two USDA inspectors present at all times (because of its size, that’s part of the regulations). Jaffee said the trucks would be cleaned carefully, minimizing smells, and would be routed through the Village of New Square, not busy Route 45. She also discussed how newer plants use water recycling systems (chicken processing is a heavy water user, and New Square has had problems with low water pressure.)

Rockland County Planning Department has issued a negative declaration about the plan. Aren’t the concerns of the Rockland Planning Department relevant to this grant?

“I do my homework,” Jaffee said. “My understanding is there is an attempt to respond to the planning department. ... they are trying to do their due diligence,” she said of the village officials.

There are still issues between documentation supplied to Empire State Development and the county Planning Department. For example, the County Planning Department-submitted plans show a facility at 50,000 square feet on a .99-acre lot that has been subdivided. Empire State has the plant at around 26,000 feet on 7.8 acres, which is the size of the entire property. (The old plant was 5,000 square feet.) Jaffee said she did not have the information from the county planning department, but noted that the plant must be approved, and built, before the Restore NY grant can be paid out.

Jaffee also noted, as Empire State Development had, that the plant will supply 100 full-time equivalent jobs. But she did not know, nor did Empire State, how many jobs the old plant provided. My question is (and when I find it out I will post it here): What i the job growth, how many MORE jobs will there be?

Jaffee reiterated several times that the new proposed plant would be state-of-the-art and be much cleaner with high environmental standards.

She added: “I’m not here advocating for this … I want to support the plan for municipalities I represent.”

Last Friday, I spoke to Ron Levine in the office Sen. Thomas Morahan, D-New City. His statements, as reflected in Saturday’s news story, were that at first he checked and was told there wasn’t a letter, but he immediately checked further with more staff members and called back to say the senator’s office had sent a “generic” letter of support for a plan that would supply jobs in the community. Letters that seek consideration for projects in communities are commonly sent by the public officials who represent those communities, Levine has said. “We do this because we believe those who represent the localities know the needs of the area far better than we do,” Levine said. In other words, they rely on local officials to give them the whole picture on projects.

JOURNAL NEWS PHOTO: A worker hoses down empty chicken crates at a poultry processing plant in New Square Sept. 3,. New York state has provided New Square with $1.6 million toward the construction of a new that would replace the existing plant. ( Seth Harrison / The Journal News )

Both Westchester and Rockland have invaluable programs that help protect seniors who suffer from cognitive impairments. Project Lifesaver in Westchester outfits Alzheimer’s patients to tend to wander with a tracking device that is strapped to their wrist. Last fall, an elderly Yonkers woman who had the bracelet for a week was reported missing. She was found, uninjured, within two hours, wandering a half-mile from her home. In Rockland, the county sheriff’s Computer Assisted Rescue Effort program, or CARE, archives school pictures and vital information for children between kindergarten and eighth grade, providing quick access to a recent picture of a child reported missing to be transmitted to all police agencies, as well local merchants, businesses, agencies and other outlets that have signed up for the alerts. CARE coordinator Deputy Sheriff Walt Famular has expanded the program to include vulnerable adults, including those with dementia, Alzheimer’s or  developmental disabilities. “The power of the program is proportionate to the amount of people we can reach,” Famular told the Editorial Board explaining the expansion of CARE in 2007.