Frank Morano discusses some of the hottest topics and gives his opinion. Frank talks about the NYC Charter Revision Committee and then Frank talks about getting a prime viewing spot for the City's 4th of July fireworks display, Frank talks about the push to reinstate a mask ban and then Frank talks about a lesson politicians need to learn.
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The Other Side of Midnight Good morning everyone, this is The Other Side of Midnight on 77 W.A.B.C. I'm Frank Morano, well, did anything happen interesting in the last couple of hours? My goodness, what a debate that was. I have a lot of thoughts, mostly shaking my head about how sad of a display that was, but I'm going to get to that mostly in the 2 AM hour. We have a debate panel that we're assembling in the 2 AM hour, and I'm going to invite you to comment on the debate in the 2 AM hour, along with any questions you might have about the debate. But for now, it is Friday, so we're going to do a little ask Frank anything. If you have questions about any subject, you can ask about the debate. But because we're doing the whole 2 AM hour about the debate, I would prefer to get some other questions in about other subjects as well. Whatever you have questions about, as long as it's interesting, as long as it's different, as long as it's creative, I would love to hear from you. We will do a full debate panel in the 2 AM hour, along with my colleague Anthony Wiener, who will be here as well, along with E.O. Brian Murray and a lot of other interesting subjects as well. Hey, a really interesting situation developing in the New York City Charter Revision Commission. Do you know, and if you haven't been following this, I've been talking about it. I've been posting the clips to my Facebook page, Facebook page is facebook.com/maranofan. Do you know the number one issue so far that people have been testifying about? I hear from a lot of listeners about sanctuary cities and have their upset with it. If you don't testify before the Charter Revision Commission and say that they need to put this on the ballot this year, I don't want to hear from you. The information can all be found at nyc.gov/charter. You can testify right from the comfort of your computer or your mobile phone via Zoom. And you can do so next week and just take 2 minutes and say why they need to put this on the ballot. We've heard some very emotional testimony about all these people that shouldn't even be in the country, but for the fact that New York City refuses to cooperate with law enforcement agencies like ICE. So I hope you will join me and a host of other New Yorkers from all political stripes in saying it's time to end New York City's sanctuary city status. Beam me up. To be continued. The other side of midnight. Good morrow everyone, this is the other side of midnight on 77 W A B C. Alright, it is time to talk about the debate. If you have a comment or a question about the debate and you'd like to be heard, you can give us a call at 646-720-1062. I'm going to break it down in just a moment with former Congressman Anthony Wiener and noted political analyst and consultant E. O'Brien Murray. But we are just a few days away from the 4th of July, hard to believe. And as the 4th of July approaches, many New Yorkers are gearing up for the city's grand fireworks display, however, getting a prime viewing spot has turned into quite the ordeal this year. Here's the lowdown on how you can still snag a ticket for the show and I'll also give you my take on this whole frenzy. So here's what happened, the city initially planned to give away 10,000 tickets for prime viewing spots at peers 45 and 84 in Hudson River Park. But when the tickets went live on Wednesday, the website NYCJuly4.com crashed almost immediately due to overwhelming demand. Over a million people tried to log on within 5 minutes, but only 2,000 tickets were successfully claimed before the site went down. Don't worry though, if you missed out, the city's announced that the remaining 8,000 tickets are going to be made available. The website's technical issues have been addressed, so hopefully the process will go smoother this time around. Each person's limited to two tickets, so plan accordingly. Mayor Eric Adams highlighted this new approach noting that while the annual fireworks show is free and viewable from multiple locations along the Westside Highway, these tickets offer access to a prime viewing area. It's the first time in roughly a decade that the event is moving back to the Westside of Manhattan, which adds to the excitement and I'm sure the people that live on that side of Manhattan appreciate it as well. Now, if you don't manage to get a ticket, don't fret, there are miles of space along the Hudson River open to the public where you can still enjoy the fireworks display. So there's plenty of room for everyone to celebrate. Personally, I don't quite understand the hype. Yes, the fireworks are spectacular and it's a classic New York summer event, but does it really warrant crashing a website and this level of frenzy? If you're someone who loves the fireworks and wants the prime spot more power to you, but if you like me and prefer a more laid back approach, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the fourth without the stress of snagging a ticket. I mean, Joey Chestnut is not even in the hot dog eating contest this year. I feel like a lot of the luster of July 4th in New York City has been diminished because of that, but I hope you have a fantastic and safe Independence Day, whatever you choose to do. Enjoy the celebrations. to be continued. The other side of midnight. Yesterday, some of you may have heard the conversation that I had with Dominic Carter over what they're proposing in Los Angeles, a prohibition on masks while protesting and in New York, they're doing the same thing. Let us dive into a hot topic that's sparking a lot of debate, the push to reinstate a mask ban in New York State, a group of Democratic lawmakers along with civil rights and Jewish organizations are rallying behind a new mask ban with limited exceptions for medical masks. Assembly member Jeff Dinowitz has introduced legislation to bring back this ban originally passed in 1845 and repealed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, I'm here to tell you why this is a move we should all support. First off, let's talk about public safety. The primary reason for prohibiting masks at protests is to ensure accountability. We've seen how some of these masked individuals can exploit anonymity to intimidate, threaten and commit crimes without being identified. This isn't about stifling free speech, which if you listen to this program you know I'm all for. It's about preventing violence and maintaining order. History has shown us time and again, the dangers of allowing people to hide their identities in public. The Ku Klux Klan is a grim reminder of how masked anonymity can be used to terrorize communities. We've always known that hiding behind a mask is a tactic used by those who wish to evade accountability and spread fear. Sure, some folks want to wear masks for medical reasons and that's perfectly fine according to this legislation. If you need a mask to protect your health, go ahead. No one's arguing against that, but using a mask to avoid the consequences of your action at a protest? Oh no, no, that's a different story. It's not about suppressing dissent. It's about ensuring that those who choose to voice their opinions in public do so openly and responsibly. Some might say they wear masks to avoid being canceled for their views. Think David and the Bronx brought up that point and it's a good one, but let's be real. If your opinions are so controversial that you fear repercussions, maybe it's worth reconsidering going to a protest to express them. Open dialogue is the cornerstone of democracy and it's hard to have an open dialogue with someone hiding their face. The idea that banning masks will stifle legitimate protest is totally misguided. We've had peaceful protests throughout history without masks. Martin Luther King Jr. didn't need a mask to lead the civil rights movement. Suffragettes didn't need masks to fight for women's right to vote. If you believe in your cause, stand tall and stand proud. Our own mayor, Eric Adams, has pointed out that masked protesters are increasingly using their anonymity to intimidate and break the law. This behavior is totally unacceptable and it's high time we put a stop to it. The idea of someone needing a mask to feel brave enough to protest brings to mind Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz pulling back the curtain to reveal that the great and powerful Oz was just an ordinary man. If your cause is just, you shouldn't need a curtain to hide behind. Team me up to be continued. The other side of midnight. Local spotlight. Today, let's talk about a lesson that politicians just can't seem to learn. The importance of avoiding scandals, hubris and gaffes. Chris Churchill of the Times Union wrote an insightful column about David Soros, the Albany County DA, and his words should resonate with every politician out there. Now David Soros, I was really hoping was going to win reelection. I thought he did a pretty good job as the DA, but as the longtime district attorney in Albany County, he recently gave himself a $23,000 bonus. Now why he would ever do this, but especially in an election year is beyond me. This move, which Churchill aptly described as shooting yourself in the foot, has secured Soros's place in Albany political lore until this news broke. Soros was facing a reelection as smooth as a warm bath, but then the landscape shifted and Lee Kinlan entered the race, ultimately defeating Soros in the Democratic primary. Now let's be clear. This scandalous bonus wasn't the only reason for Soros's defeat, but it was the catalyst for a competitive race. It reminded voters of his complacency and hubris, leading to what Kinlan calls Soros fatigue. And this is not a new story. Joe Crowley learned it in 2018 when he lost to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He didn't take care of his district. That's the first thing you needed to do. Elliott Engel learned it in 2020 when he lost to Jamal Bowman, when he made the gaff of going to a group, asking to speak and saying, if I didn't have a primary, I wouldn't care. And Jamal Bowman, Mr. Fire alarm, who wouldn't even return Governor Patterson's call, is learning it this year. Politicians often focus on big issues, and that's crucial, but they also have to remember that avoiding scandals and maintaining humility are equally important. Constituent services matter as well. The voters want to see that their elected officials are working for them, not for their own financial gain or ego. It's a shame this lesson keeps needing to be learned, but it's a reality of political life. "Beam, me up!" To be continued.
