Speaker John Boehner Abandons Hurricane Sandy Victims - Makes Music Video Instead of Having House Vote

UPDATED FROM PREVIOUS POST


After making an error to not have the Hurricane Sandy Relief vote immediately scheduled, Speaker Boehner reconsidered the necessity of having the House vote on the aid measure.  The relief vote will occur this Friday, January 4th, 2013.  The Speaker realized that a mistake was made and reversed his position to delay the vote to January 15th, 2013.  Now that's good politics and we applaud the Speaker for listening to the needs of the people impacted by the super storm.

 

 

Watch This Video Of A Guy Climbing A Skyscraper During Hurricane Sandy. Seriously

It has been a month since Hurricane Sandy wrecked havoc on the Northeastern seaboard, including Breezy Point, Rockaway, Long Beach, and the entire New Jersey shore.

The day the hurricane hit New York City, I was driving my car when I noticed high in the air some guy climbing a 20 story skyscraper in the midst of gusting winds.

Seriously folks ....

Now, if you're a parent ... please don't teach your child to do this!

Giving A Helping Hand At A Synagogue - Hurricane Sandy

It has been several weeks since Hurricane Sandy hit the eastern seaboard, causing much talked about but still hard to imagine and comprehend destruction.  In the aftermath of the incomprehensible rage that left behind insanity, something so much more powerful than the tempest appeared: the empowering human spirit that knows how to rise up and push forward to advance our human condition.  Call it what you want - but know it stems from the goodness each person has within - and it can be seen everywhere here in the New York metropolitan area and around the country.

Each day, as I try to play a humble role in helping others here, I see first-hand people from all walks of life banding together to assist those who felt the wrath of the perfect storm.

It is times such as this when we are reminded to the true capability of mankind, and, as demonstrated by our failures and faults, the need to do better.  Much better.

* * *

Yesterday was a meaningful day for Maria and I: we spent part of the day at a synagogue in Brooklyn's Park Slope helping load supplies and food onto trucks that were headed to the Queens peninsula.

We were amongst a diverse group of New Yorkers - black, white, latino, asian ... Jews, Christians, Muslims, atheist .... doing what New Yorker's do best - mixing together through being part of the human race and simply trying to help those in need.  And once again, I was reminded just how special it is to know the true meaning of being a New Yorker: to celebrate our differences and weave them together into the beauty that is the spirit of this magnificent city.

* * *

While at the Synagogue in Park Slope I could not stop thinking of my adopted grandfather, Morton Kohn.  He was a great man in every way.

Which Organization To Donate To Hurricane Sandy Relief - Catholic Charities Is Making A Giant Impact

Over the past week, many of us have been playing our part best we can to help those who have been heavily impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

Many of my friends and readers from around the world have written to me asking how they can help, and who needs the help most.

From my viewpoint, obviously everyone affected needs assistance; however, there are a few groups that may need the most help.  They include:

1. Undocumented residents.  Many of these individuals living in the New York area have young children. 

2. Residents who rent.  Many of these individuals, including a large number of families with children, are not receiving the aid and relief they need, particularly since they have no insurance.

In trying to determine which organizations that may be best to provide support to, I have concluded that Catholic Charities would be my first recommendation to give support. Please consider visiting their website or calling directly at 718.722.6202.

Here is why:

• They are presently operating in some of the most impacted areas of Hurricane Sandy - meaning they are at the forefront of the battleline.
• Thought they are 'Catholic Charities', they do not consider one's religious beliefs when providing aid: they help everyone.
• They have been around a very long time, and have a tremendous reputation of helping others.

Obviously finanical donations are important and can be sent directly to Catholic Charities by visiting their website or call 718.722.6202.

As for supplies, this is what they are looking for right now:

1. New Sleeping Bags and blankets
2. Baby Daipers
3. Baby Formula and canned food
4. Socks for adults and children
5. Underwear for adults and children
6. Flashlights and batteries
7. Cleaning Supplies
8. Peanut Butter
9. Cans of Tuna
10. Coats and Jackets
11. Gloves and Hats
12. Thermal Underwear
13. Rain Gear

Large Product Donation Note: If you are an group or organization that might be able to send a large supply of these items, I suggest that you direct them to Catholic Charities Central Distribution Center, which so happens to be in Rockaway, Queens, which is one of the areas most impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

The Acting Central Distribution Center Address is:

St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish
1920 New Haven Ave
Far Rockaway, New York 11691
* The individual in charge of distribution is Mr. Sheldon Peters.  He can be reached at 347.585.7734.

Other Locations You Can Send Supplies To:

In Brooklyn:

Blessed Virgin Mary of the Visitation
98 Richards Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231

The Shrine Church of Our Lady Of Solace
2866 West 17th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11224

In Queens:

St. Helen's Church
157-10 83rd Street
Howard Beach, NY 11414

In Staten Island

Catholic Charities
120 Anderson Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10202
Phone Number: 347.447.6330

A Special Message From Peter Thomas Senese Concerning Hurricane Sandy and The Holiday Season Of Child Abduction

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, I hope that this message finds you and your family physically safe.  I am sad to share that numerous classmates, particularly those I attended elementary school and high school have been badly impacted by the storm.  Should you be interested in helping, or more importantly need assistance, please contact me.

Peter Thomas Senese

Last night, another former classmate of mine had her children internationally parentally abducted.  This was not the first time someone I went to school with experienced having a child illegally removed from the country – an act of kidnapping that sees few children ever safely returned home.  Indeed, the Christmas Holiday Season is amongst us – which means it is international parental child abduction season (herein known as ‘IPCA’).

So I thought I would specifically share my thoughts to my former classmates and provide some insight on this growing pandemic of international parental child stealing.  First and foremost, please do not think that you directly or through someone you know is immune to this horrendous act.  Reality is, you are but three degrees ofseparation from knowing someone who will have a child kidnapped and illegally taken or detained abroad.

But awareness of IPCA makes a tremendous difference – and right now, the Christmas Season is one of the bi-annual seasons of abduction. 

Now, most of you might be asking why in the world am I writing about IPCA, and why should you continue reading this?

Chasing The Cyclone

My answer is simple: hundreds of thousands of innocent children are targeted for international parental kidnapping each year. This is kidnapping under U.S. federal law. And yes, this plague hit my shore several years ago.  It was with a lot of everything, that I was able to safely bring my child home. During that time, I made a promise I would do my part to help other children and targeted parents so they would never have to go through what I did, as portrayed in my latest novel ‘Chasing theCyclone’.

In my capacity as the Founding Director of the not-for-profit I CARE Foundation, I am day-in and day-out at the battlefront of child abduction prevention andrecovery.  In a short time, the I CARE Foundation has accomplished some important things in the fight against abduction including assisting bring home or protect dozens of children targeted or kidnapped.

Amongst our activity and mission is conducting research in the area of IPCA (which in part was why the I CARE Foundation was invited to speak at the United Nations), pass new laws or policies that protect children, build a large, pro bono network of highly trained lawyers willing to come to the assistance of targeted families while also assisting the United States Department of State build their Hague Convention Attorney Network, and whenever possible, protect or help bring home a kidnapped child. 

Despite our efforts, it is expected that between 100,000 to 125,000 American Children and anywhere from 12,500 to 20,000 Canadian children will be internationally kidnapped over the next ten years. 

I know – hard to imagine, but a cruel reality.  And these projections do not include the number of children who are targeted for abduction but never taken.

And only 10% of these children safely come home.

As in all cases of parental abduction, these crimes against children are well-thought-out, well-planned and designed to catch a targeted parent off-guard and unsuspecting that a horrible scheme is underway to have their child taken.

However, if you know the warning signs to look for, parents have a fair chance of protecting their child or children from abduction.

Remember, the child abduction season has arrived. Don't let your child be abducted. Educate yourself.

What To Look For

 In many instances of cross-border parental child abduction that occurs during the holiday season, generally the largest number of incidents takes place when one parent travels to another country with their child or children of a relationship accompanied by, or with the initial consent of the other parent.

Generally, the travel takes place under a guise of a holiday trip abroad to visit family members of the parent intending to abduct. Of course, the targeted parent is clueless as to what is really going on.

The World Turned Upside Down

So for example, Father X was born and raised in the Middle East but married Woman Y, who is an American citizen. The couple lives in the United States, where their child was born and raised.

Unknown to the woman in the relationship, the husband wants to end the relationship and relocate back to his country of origin back in the Middle East. However, he has one problem: he knows that his wife will never allow for him to legally take the child with him.

So instead of announcing his true intent to separate, the husband will create critically important misdirection. Meaning, he will do everything possible to make his wife believe that he is happy and committed in the relationship.

I did say everything possible.

Why?

Because it is critical that she put her guard down and not suspect any foul play or scheme.

In the meantime, little things - that are really big things - may be taking place visibly or without knowledge of the targeted parent. There are many warning signs to look for, but if the subtleties are not carefully considered, then the would-be abductor will get away with their plan.

So the husband who is intending to abduct the child by wrongfully detaining the child abroad will continue to create a facade of being happily married and committed to the relationship while carefully laying out a plan to get the child abroad.

Eventually, and right about this time of the year, the would-be abductor makes the suggestion that it would be 'great' or 'nice' or 'meaningful' to travel abroad together or without the other parent (depending on reasonable circumstances) in order to see his parents, siblings, and extended family. And of course, all of this is in the best interest of the child of the partnership.

Now, since the wife may believe the husband is committed to their relationship and does not even consider that he may have intent to not return to their marital home, she more than likely is willing to consent to the holiday vacation.

Unfortunately for the mother and child, the trip takes place.

Unknown to both, the parent intending to abduct has already hatched a well-thought out plan, including what may be necessary to keep the child abroad while removing the other parent's rights to the child abroad.

Everything is deception - and everything must be considered.

For example: the husband may ship certain belongings like a crib or a stroller and other items of the child that may create the appearance the other parent knew he was relocating - and gave consent! Or, he may have begun to move his assets abroad.

Once abroad with his wife and child, the would-be abductor may make false accusations of child or spousal abuse (men and women both claim abuse in cases of of planned abduction), claims of drug use, or any other claim that may indicate that the child is at risk.

By stating the child is at risk, this could potentially allow a local court in the foreign country to grant him immediate custody of the child - even though the child's original jurisdiction is in the country they were born and raised. In addition, in cases where a Hague Application may be filed, the abductor has laid ground for an Article 13 Defense (which revolves around the best interest of the child and is also known as the 'Slander Defense'). In nearly every case of abduction, the parent intiending to abduct has cleverly orchestrated a public defamation campaign against the other parent - one that is typically concealed under the veil of anonymity.  Additionally, there are malicious and untruthful claims of spousal or child abuse made (by both men and women, equally).

If it sounds complicated, it is.

It is important for individuals married or in a relationship with partners who originate from non-Hague countries such as those located in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East to understand that if you are traveling to nations located in these areas and the other parent intends to not return to the child to the country of original jurisdiction, there is a very good chance they will be successful in keeping the child abroad . . . and your contact will be limited or absolved completely. Additionally, it is important to pay careful attention to Hague-Convention non-complying countries such as Germany, Brazil, Mexico, and Poland.

Of course, if you ever plan to travel abroad and have been involved in a suspicious or strained relationship, please contact an attorney who is familiar with international parental child abduction prevention.

Additionally, I strongly advise you consider obtaining a court order prior to travel that the child is to be returned. However, remember - in countries that are not members of international treaties regarding abduction or do not comply to such said treaties - if a child is taken - it will be very costly and difficult to bring your child home.

So - if you have any suspicion that abduction might be planned - and this time of year is the planning period for the high number of Christmas Holiday Abductions that occur - seek the advice of a qualified lawyer - and do not let your child travel abroad under any circumstance. Pay attention to the warning signs and act now!

The Power of A Book – A Little History

I am pleased to share my deeply inspired novel Chasing The Cyclone continues to have asignificant impact on a large and growing number of children and targeted parents of international abduction, and has helped pave the way for more than a few miracles. 

In fact, the natural progress of events beginning from the initial e-book publication of Chasing The Cyclone led to the creation of the not-for profit I CARE Foundation. I am happy to share that through the efforts of the I CARE Foundation dozens of children who have either been internationally kidnapped or who have been targeted for international abduction have either been safely reunited with their families or were actually protected from abduction, and remain safely home.

This is a fairly significant statement when considering that the foundation's volunteer reunification efforts represent a noteworthy number of all American children who have come home. Truth is, the majority of children will never come home. Some simply can't: they are gone forever.

And this sentiment is not a piece of fiction: it is reality. And it sucks. And it is worth standing up and fighting for.

I think for any author, the biggest goal when writing any book is to have an impact on your intended audience. The financial success of a book is obviously important; however, the desire to influence others is the real intent.

And with dozens of children either rescued or protected from abduction thus far, combined with the many initiatives the I CARE Foundation has under way that will further help others, I am pleased with Chasing The Cyclone's impact thus far. But there is a long way to go.

Having seen first-hand the horrors of abduction, I am committed to continuing fighting this fight. Fortunately, governments from around the world are taking notice of the I CARE Foundation's work - which means we're making a difference.

In't Visitors Leadership Program

In fact, last month I had the opportunity to participate in the United States’ Department of State's 'International Visitor Leadership Program' at the United States’ Mission to the United Nations concerning the foundation's advanced work in child abduction and human trafficking prevention. It was a great honor, particularly when considering some of the incredible global leaders who have previously participated in the program.  And I recently received a very special American Flag and U.S. Senate citation for my volunteer work with the I CARE Foundation.

Unquestionably, the publication of 'Chasing The Cyclone' has helped many parents and children: new laws have been passed, new policies implemented, and new legislation that could help stop abduction and trafficking is on the horizon - and children are home.

My own financial commitment to the I CARE Foundation and support of the organization's efforts to help children remains steadfast as shared by I CARE Board Member, Hague Convention Attorney Network member and highly respect attorney Joel Walter in avery kind article he shared on his website. In fact, I have donated 100% of allof my various novel's proceeds over the past year to the I CARE Foundation: it is a commitment I intend to continue (outside of the month of November, when all proceeds will be donated to help victims of Hurricane Sandy).

Being able to assist the I CARE Foundation has been a responsibility of mine that in truth has been a privilege to uphold.

 But truth is, nearly seven years ago I never even knew the collective words international parental child abduction were. Nor did I realize that I was one of a surging number of individuals who were not familiar with this vernacular. And quite frankly, at that time, most individuals in society did not realize the severity of this crime or what a chasing parent will go through to safely bring home their child. Nor did they realize that sociopathic tendencies of an abusive abductor, who, not only would kidnap a child, but would attempt to slander and defame the targeted other parent because international law has established a loophole known as the 'Abductors Defense' (Hague Convention: Article 13) that know targeted parent is immune from.

No child should ever be abducted.  And I intend to continue pushing the mountain of abduction back.  Fortunately, our numbers, particularly within our highly skilled attorney network, grows.

I am pleased to share that any monies generated from the of any books I have written during the month of November will be 100% donated to help former classmates impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Followed by a return of 100% of monies generated from my book sales to be directed to the I CARE Foundation.To purchase any of my novels, please visit Amazon or BN. 

I wish each of you and your families safety and happiness during these challenges times that have surely impacted all of us. And should you need to contact me or the I CARE Foundation, do not hesitate to do so. 

In the spirit of friendship,

Peter Thomas Senese

Click here to learn more about International Parental Child Abduction.

Peter Thomas Senese Donates 100% Of Book Revenue to Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy and the devastation it has caused on communities everywhere, I will be donating 100% of my author revenues generated from my various books, incluidng the critically acclaimed international legal thrillers 'Chasing The Cyclone', the international financial thriller 'The Den of the Assassin', and the theological thirller 'Cloning Christ', as well as all other publications. 

                                            

                                                           Hurricane Sandy Has Destroyed The Lives Of So Many

Should you desire to purchase a hardcover copy of any of my books, I would prefer you purchase this direrectly from my website as I will be able to include a dedication of your chosing.


As for e-book purchases, may I suggest shopping on either Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

The needs of the individuals in the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy are immense.  I will donate all revenue to help others up until at least December 1st, 2012, at which time a deciscion will be made as to what will be done next as my book revenues previously helped finance the I CARE Foundation - which has successfully rescued and safely brought home numerous internationally kidnapped children.

In advance, thanks for your willingness to help.

Peter

Read the essay, 'Trying To Wrap My Head Around Sandy'

Hurricane Sandy Was A Bitch: Thoughts On Breezy Point, Rockaway Beach, Long Beach, Gerritsan Beach . . .

At the moment I am in Southern Brooklyn, not to far from the Marine Park Bridge that crosses into Breezy Point, Riis Park, Rockaway Beach and Bell Harbor.

The eclectic communities that make up this area of Southern Brooklyn include Mill Basin, Mill Island, Bergan Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, and Gerritsan Beach (which has gotten hit really bad).  Few homes here have electrical power or heat. Many households have children or elderly people in them. And it is getting cold fast.

Every 2 to 3 minutes the blaring sounds of a fire engine, police car, or ambulance bursts into the air ... there are a lot of ambulance sirens.  Even when I am sleeping I hear them now in my dreams.

On the streets, which are mostly void of working traffic signals, I see teams of police officers standing in heavily dense intersections trying to keep the heavy traffic of frustrated and scared drivers flowing.  These policemen and policewomen out on the streets come from some of the most heavily impacted areas of Hurricane Sandy- many have lost their homes, or in the least, been displaced just like so many.  But there they are - doing what they do . . . responding.  And it amazes me.

Many of my friends have reached out to me asking what they could do to help.  I have said to each of you at this time pray ... and when ready plan on providing assistance at the local organizational level in communities in New York and New Jersey that have been badly hit because, as I experienced during 9-11, these local community organizations are able to help those individuals who fall through the cracks ... and Sandy didn't simply make a few cracks - it blew out more than a few walls. 

There goes three more firetrucks, a small convoy of the national guard and two more ambulances. 

I know that I am bouncing from place to place here, but my own mind is 'walking in a circle'.

The day before Hurricane Sandy came to shore I was thinking that I should have returned back home in Los Angeles: my nice heated pool, my boat, and a round of golf were all on the day's agenda.  However, I decided to stay here in New York because, well I am a New Yorker.  Weighing in on my decision was the fact that I knew I had many family and friends who may bear the brunt of this storm, especially since the weather forecasters were talking about it coming into the the Hudson Harbor and Long Island's Atlantic Ocean. 

There goes an two Con Edison utility trucks.  Why are they empty?

It was only five days ago since Hurricane Sandy ascended onto the New York and New Jersey shores but the havoc it has caused feels more like it has been a month of no heat, no power, no gas, limited food, limited access to most things ... and no answers.  Many individuals are simply trying to figure out who to turn to, how to turn to them, and what to turn to them for.

Have you ever walked around in circles for 5 minutes?  Try doing it for 5 days. It will seem like 5 weeks.

Have you ever lost an important photograph or your favorite sweater?  Well, think about losing all of your possessions.

Have you a place to lay your head tonight?  For many thousands, the same can't be said.

Which reminds me, a word to everyone who does not have heat: lather your body in Vaseline - the petroleum  jell will close your pours, serving to keep your body's heat in while also acting like a wind and water deterrent.

Hurricane Sandy has causes such a mess.

Long Island's city of Long Beach and most of the homes in it are now gone.  This was the home of my brother John and Kelly.  My brother, like many who made Long Beach there home, was a 9-11 hero firefighter.  He nor Kelly didn't deserve this.  Thank God my brother has Kelly.  Long Beach was also the home of several other family members: their homes are either gone or severely damaged  . . . but you know, even the houses that have been severely damaged are useless since their is now power, the water in contaminated, the sewer systems have failed, the majority of the stores and restaurants have been destroyed, the schools shut, and garbage from the flood-soaked houses - food and furniture and clothing - liter the streets: Christmas has come early for the rodents.

Long Beach as it was once known is gone.

But the spirit of those who lived in Long Beach is time-tested and resilient.  These folks, like my brother and Kelly, know how to come back, and come back stronger than ever.

God willing, that is what we will see.

Closer to where I sit here in Brooklyn - very close to the once sandy beaches of the Rockaway Peninsula that I grew up on as a young boy and young adult playing in the refreshing waters of Riis Park- is Breezy Point, which sits on the westernmost part of the Queens peninsula.  It is a community very similar in many ways to Long Beach.

There go two more firetrucks, their lights streaming and the sirens screaming.

As many of you know, over 100 homes were destroyed by an unthinkable fire that occurred during the height of Hurricane Sandy.  Many more were lost due to the Atlantic's swells that caused the ocean to meet Jamaica Bay. 

Many of my friends including my brother are firefighters.  I can't imagine what it was like for the firefighters who responded to the Breezy Point nightmare, especially because Sandy's fierce and furious wind along with the rain created an unreachable inferno fireball that was once the home of many of New York's first responder firefighters and police officers.

My cousin George and his wife Stella had a home in Breezy Point.  My heart breaks for George and Stella.  Last month, they lost their son and grandson in an early Sunday morning automobile accident.  Now Sandy.  

Another ambulance. 

As I think about how many first-responders have personally been hit hardest by the storm who are out there now or will be out there later this evening, I immediately think of two pals of mine.  My dear friend Paul, who I have been friends with for over 25 years and who has made a difference with the I CARE Foundation our our efforts to rescue internationally kidnapped children is a sergeant with the Port Authority and has his hands more than full dealing with the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and its still 30 million gallons of water inside that tunnel, and the Queens Midtown Tunnel and the 12 million gallons that sit inside that tunnel.  Paul lives in Staten Island - which has been hit so bad.  In fact, on Paul's city block, one of his neighbors - a father - drowned the night of the storm when a surge of water flooded his home when he was in the basement, causing the doors to close on his life forever.

I'm not kidding, there are more sirens going off.  I can't see what they are attached to, but I think they are firetrucks. 

My very good friend is a Suffolk County police officer.  He lives in one of the areas of the Queens Peninsula that has been hit hardest: Rockaway Beach.   Fortunately for Chris he lived in a high-rise. But that didn't prevent the Atlantic from racing into his building.  Chris didn't need this: before becoming a highly decorated police officer Chris was part of the FDNY.  Tonight, this man will patrol areas of Suffolk Country prone to heavy crime and looting.  Ever since Sandy has shown up, I pray for my friend's safety because he is out in an area that is simply not cool.  Not cool at all.  And so if you pray, please keep Chris in your prayers because he has another major challenge going on: his daughter had been internationally abducted and he is doing everything legally possible to bring her home.

Sandy was one real bitch.

The other night I ran into my old friend Joe.  Joe, like my brother John, is a FDNY hero now disabled due to the time he served the Great City of New York.  Joe lived in Rockaway.  Then the Atlantic showed up courtesy of Sandy.

Who invited Sandy? Seriously, Sandy was one real uninvited bitch.

My oldest childhood friend is Sam.

There goes another convoy of flashing trucks - National Guard, Black SUV's, and a few FEMA trucks - and some glaring alarm is going off. I'm on sound overload.

My friend Sam lives in Staten Island.  I have been trying to reach him.  I can't.  We have been friends since he was three years old and I two years old.  I am worried about him and his family.

Back in Manhattan, most everything below 34th street is still shut down. Imagine being stuck in a building downtown with no power and no working elevator. Now imagine being on the 30th floor of a building.

In my role with the I CARE Foundation, we had sent out an Amicus Brief to help stop an abduction.  The package was put into a Fedex drop located in one of the buildings downtown.  I'm not sure if it was picked up by FedEx . . . I can't reach the building as it is closed, and I don't have the immediate access to the FedEx slip to track it.  This weighs on me heavily: I take great pride in been able to help protect children who are at great risk of being internationally abducted by one parent from another.

I have many friends in New Jersey.  Many are now homeless. Many more have no power, no heat, and no food.  And it is cold.

Fuck you, Sandy. 

Two hours ago I heard from my dear friend Eugene. I love Eugene, and was deeply worried about him, Clarice, Philippe and Lindsey.  They have no power and heat.  But they are okay, and the children are staying at Eugene's sister's home - who so happens to have heat.

Police car, DOT, ambulance, police car, Con Edison utility truck.

Hurricane Sandy happens to be the worst storm to hit our shores in a very long time.  The size and force of Bitch Sandy was so vast and powerful that it literally wiped out very large communities, while severely damaging many others.  With so many people now homeless, with so little power in the region, and with the cold winter now on us, the people impacted by this monster storm unlike anything in American history need your help.

First, seriously ... prayer does work.  So pray.

Secondly, if you are going to donate money, please donate a percentage of your money to nationally recognized organizations.  In addition, please consider reserving a part of what you intend to give to local organizations run by community leaders in respective areas that have been severely hit.  From my own personal experiences, I have seen that local organizations have the ability of assisting individuals in immediate need or individuals who might fall through the cracks for whatever reason.  And God knows, right now there is a lot of cracks.

Most of all, please give what you can because so many people need help.

In the coming days I will share a list of some organizations worth considering.

Odd, 9 empty tractor trailers just passed by. 

New York City is one of the most special places in the world because of the people that live here.  New Yorkers come from all over the world ... some even live in other places (Hello Ned Treanor!) . . . but they have share something remarkable: a tremendous sense of determination and belief in one another and themselves.

One final thing: to the Sandy's of the universe out there ... this morning ray of sun is symbolic of the spirit of those who live in the New York area. All that was lost will be rebuilt.

Riis Park and Rockaway Beach Videos During Hurricane Sandy

In the aftermath of the brunt of Hurricane Sandy's massive storm on the New York metropolitan area, I had a chance to get out and take some video footage of Rockaway Beach and Riis Park.

                                                             Watch The Video 

Last night the Atlantic Ocean and it's 7 to 10 foot swells roared past the sand beach, crashed into and destroyed the concrete or brick sea walls, and then continued toward Jamaica Bay.  As it did, with the streets drowning with the Atlantic - some areas of Riis and Rockaway had water levels as high as 9 feet high - anything and everything that got in its way was destroyed. 

Combining this devastation that clearly has destroyed an enourmous amount of homes is the tragedy that occurred last night in Breezy Point, Queens - where at least 80 homes burnt to ash in wake of a wind-fueled electric fire.

The destruction that hit this beautiful penninsula of Queens was tremendous.  In the coming days there will be an assortment of fundraisers to help those that have lost so much.   Please do what you can to help others.