A Very Pricey Probe

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I weigh in on the internal Bridgegate investigation commissioned by Governor Chris Christie and question the decision to have taxpayers foot the bill:

 

A VERY PRICEY PROBE

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

I recently had the pleasure of attending an event hosted by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, at which he discussed his desire for local governments to explore consolidation and pursue more shared services opportunities. In addition, Governor Cuomo promoted his plan to cut property taxes and noted that he is encouraging people to contact their local lawmakers, some of whom may be resistant to imposing and adhering to a property tax cap, and urging them to sign on to his plan to help achieve much-needed property tax relief.

 

During his pitch, Governor Cuomo made a comment that resonated with me. “The bureaucracy is not going to win,” he said, referring to lawmakers. “Do you know who’s going to win? The people are going to win. When the people speak, the people win.”

 

In theory, he is right. Government is designed to work on behalf of the people. The people’s voices are supposed to be heard by their governmental representatives and their opinions and interests are expected to be duly considered.

 

Unfortunately, in New Jersey, that does not seem to be the case lately.

 

We recently learned that Governor Chris Christie spent an estimated $1 million (or perhaps even much more), essentially to investigate himself. As incongruous as that sounds, the situation became even more contemptible and concerning when we learned that the Governor spent our money. Yes, you heard me right. $1 million of taxpayer funds – our funds – were used by Governor Christie in an attempt to burnish his image.

 

As the fallout from the Bridgegate scandal continues to chip away at Chris Christie’s political persona, he decided to enlist the services of a law firm to conduct an “independent” investigation into what transpired.

 

The issue is that Christie did not just hire any old law firm. Instead, the Governor engaged Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, a high-priced, politically connected law firm that has close ties to his administration.

 

The high-powered attorneys at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher conducted an investigation, to the tune of $650 per hour.

 

Not surprisingly, the report they ultimately issued at the conclusion of their investigation vindicated Governor Christie and determined that there was no wrongdoing on his part.

 

Interestingly enough, they were somehow able to ascertain that the Governor was not culpable in any way, despite the fact that three of the central figures in the scandal refused to cooperate with their investigation.

 

Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie’s former Deputy Chief of Staff, Bill Stepien, his former chief political advisor and campaign manager, and David Wildstein, a Christie appointee to the Port Authority, all declined to be interviewed by the Governor’s hired guns.

 

Although I am certainly not questioning the veracity or integrity of the attorneys who were hired by Governor Christie to conduct a probe of his role in Bridgegate, I am definitely troubled by the appearance of what I perceive to be a clear conflict of interest.

 

Calling on a bunch of old friends to delve into the details of a scandal that has rocked the Governor’s administration and asking them to make a finding if there was any wrongdoing smacks of cronyism.

 

Making matters worse, Governor Christie dipped his hand into our pockets in order to pay his hefty legal bill. I certainly cannot speak for every New Jersey taxpayer, but I suspect that the overwhelming majority of New Jerseyans, who are struggling with high property taxes and an array of other financial challenges, would not have voted to spend $1 million of their money to rehabilitate the Governor’s image and reward his friends.

 

Remarkably, the $1 million fee that Garden State residents incurred accrued over just a two month period. Governor Christie brought Gibson Dunn & Crutcher on board in mid-January, which means that they earned an average of $500,000 a month, or $125,000 a week investigating their old pal. Not bad work, if you can get it.

 

Was absolving Governor Christie of any liability relating to Bridgegate at a cost of $1 million worth it? If you were to ask Chris Christie, I would imagine the answer is yes. However, if you were to ask New Jersey taxpayers, I am quite certain that the answer would be a resounding no.

 

Putting aside the exorbitant fee that was paid for the “independent” inquiry commissioned by none other than the Governor himself, the fact is that the only investigation that truly matters is the one being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

 

Christie’s self-initiated $1 million investigation is glorified window dressing. It is the investigation that is being carried out by the federal government that counts. It remains to be seen whether or not the U.S. Attorney’s office will be as magnanimous to Chris Christie as his hand-picked legal eagles were.

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler

 

National Council of Young Israel Ushers in New Era

The following is an article that appeared in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I detail some of the exciting things that have been happening at the National Council of Young Israel, a century-old organization that has been a leading voice on the issues that face the Jewish community in the United States and Israel:

 

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUNG ISRAEL USHERS IN NEW ERA

 

By: Aaron Troodler

 

When he joined the National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) this past August as its Executive Director, Rabbi Perry Tirschwell hit the ground running. With his considerable experience in Jewish education and organizational life, Rabbi Tirschwell was tasked with overseeing and making Young Israel a transformative force in American Jewish life.

 

At the six-month mark of his tenure as the head of NCYI, which has ably served the broader Jewish community for over 100 years, the immediate impact that Rabbi Tirschwell made was extremely evident. Intent on cutting costs and achieving financial stability, accountability and transparency, Rabbi Tirschwell and the NCYI Board of Directors were successful in significantly reducing the organization’s expenses, which have been cut by more than 50%.

 

Rabbi Tirschwell and the lay leadership of NCYI, including President Farley Weiss of Phoenix, Arizona, Chairman of the Board Bob Levi of Silver Spring, Maryland, and 1st Vice President Yosef Poplak of New York, initiated a thorough review of the organization’s finances and enlisted the services of an independent, outside comptroller.

 

As part of its financial restructuring, Young Israel’s national office relocated from downtown Manhattan to Paramus, New Jersey. In addition to cutting the organization’s rent by 60%, the move signaled NCYI’s desire to work with the greater Jewish community. It is now housed in the same building as the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, the regional Israel Bonds office, and the North American headquarters of Nefesh B’Nefesh. Rabbi Tirschwell has already begun discussions with these new neighbors about joint projects.

 

“With the assistance of our dedicated and forward-thinking board members and a talented and devoted professional staff, the National Council of Young Israel is taking a proactive role in order to strengthen our organization and renew our relationship with all of our branch synagogues,” said President Farley Weiss. “The Young Israel movement is deeply committed to furthering the vital role that synagogues play in Jewish communities all across the United States.”

 

As part of the organization’s efforts to strengthen the NCYI’s relationships with its branch synagogues and members across the United States, Rabbi Tirschwell embarked on a “Young Israel listening tour.”

 

Rabbi Tirschwell has spent a great amount of time traveling to various Young Israel synagogues, where he has met with their rabbis, presidents, board members and congregants, in an effort to ascertain how NCYI can be of assistance to them and to learn which innovative “best practices” they have to share with their sister branches.

 

In a relatively short period of time, Rabbi Tirschwell has already spent Shabbat at the Young Israels of Oak Park and Southfield, Michigan; Scarsdale, New York; West Hartford, Connecticut; Sharon, Massachusetts; Staten Island, New York; Stamford, Connecticut; East Brunswick, New Jersey; St. Louis, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee and Plainview, New York.

 

In addition, Rabbi Tirschwell has also visited the Young Israels of Brighton Beach, New York; Teaneck, New Jersey; Brookline, Massachusetts; Hollywood, Florida; Fair Lawn, New Jersey; Flatbush, Brooklyn; Houston, Texas; Fort Lee, New Jersey; Pembroke Pines, Florida; the West Side, New York; West Hartford, Connecticut and Kingsbay, Brooklyn.

 

“In his recent visit to the Young Israel of Scarsdale, Rabbi Perry Tirschwell delivered an engaging Shabbat morning presentation about the past, present and future of the Young Israel movement,” said Rabbi Jonathan Morgenstern of the Young Israel of Scarsdale. “As the National Council of Young Israel resets its focus and priorities, we look forward to seeing Rabbi Tirschwell’s ambitious vision for our unique brand of Orthodox Jewish life realized over the coming years.”

 

Aside from bolstering its synagogue services, the National Council of Young Israel has begun an intense effort to return the organization to its roots by putting the “Young” back in “Young Israel.” Young Israel was started a century ago by 25–30 year olds who were not connecting religiously. Rabbi Tirschwell has conducted dozens of meetings about services for, and with, members of this age group, which sociologists now call the “Odyssey Years.” In this vein, he has reached out to the Orthodox Union, Rabbinical Council of America, Yeshiva University, the Jewish Federation and numerous synagogues about undertaking joint projects and working collaboratively for the betterment of the greater Jewish community.

 

“We are in the midst of writing an exciting new chapter in Young Israel’s distinguished history,” said Rabbi Tirschwell. “For more than a hundred years, the National Council of Young Israel has played a pivotal role in the robust growth of Orthodox Judaism in North America. By working in tandem with our branch synagogues, our talented professional staff and dedicated lay leaders will continue enriching the work of the National Council of Young Israel and further cement its reputation as one of the leading Jewish organizations in the United States and Israel.”

 

Confiscation Without Condemnation

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I contemplate the apparent indifference by the international community following Iran’s brazen attempt to smuggle deadly weapons to terrorists in Gaza:

 

CONFISCATION WITHOUT CONDEMNATION

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

In light of the usual chatter on the world stage and the ongoing dialogue that takes place amongst members of the international community, the eerie silence of the world was both conspicuous and confounding.

 

After Israeli forces recently seized an arms shipment in the waters approximately 1,000 miles south of Eilat, the world was largely silent. The “Klos-C,” which is the vessel upon which the weapons cache was hidden, was bound for Gaza. In a frightening revelation, we learned that the weaponry, which came from Iran, was intended to be delivered to Islamist militants.

 

The contents of the weaponry that was confiscated by Israel was certainly great cause for concern. Among the items that were found hidden aboard the ship under false bottoms of fake shipping containers were 40 Syrian-made M-302 rockets, which have a range of between 60-100 miles. Had these rockets reached their intended destination in Gaza, the terrorists would have greatly enhanced their ability to easily strike targets throughout Israel, including Haifa, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv.

 

In addition, Israel impounded 181 120-mm caliber mortar shells, which are the same kind of rockets that militants in Gaza have been repeatedly firing into Israel since 2001. The Israel Defense Forces also discovered 400,000 7.62-mm caliber bullets, which is the type of ammunition typically used in the Kalashnikov rifles that are utilized by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

 

As shocking as it was to discover this brazen attempt by Iran to arm militants in Gaza with high-powered and sophisticated weaponry that could be used to attack Israel, it was equally as alarming to see the apparent lack of interest by the international community in the aftermath of this troubling incident.

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quite blunt in his remarks questioning the absence of condemnation from the rest of the world.

 

There is always widespread condemnation of Israel “when it builds a balcony in Jerusalem,” the Prime Minister stated, yet there was virtually no public outcry after Iran’s attempt to secretly provide terrorists in Gaza with deadly weapons.

 

“I heard only isolated and weak condemnation of Iran from the international community regarding this deadly shipment,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said. “By contrast, we were witness to smiles and handshakes of representatives of the West with the representatives of Iran in Tehran at the very same time that these missiles were being unloaded in Eilat.”

 

Netanyahu’s not-so-subtle reference to the overly friendly relationship between the European Union and Iran was with regard to Catherine Ashton, the EU’s foreign policy chief, who was visiting Iran at the time and met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. While in Iran, Ashton spoke with Rouhani about entering a new era of cooperation between the EU and Iran.

 

Seizing on the opportunity to once again remind the world about the grave danger posed by a nuclear Iran, Prime Minister Netanyahu called the international community’s silence concerning Iran’s effort to arm militants and encourage terrorism “hypocrisy.”

 

“The world needs to awaken from its state of illusion and prevent Iran from acquiring the capability to create nuclear weapons,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu. “The international community’s decision to ignore the seized weapons ship is biased, dangerous, and unacceptable.”

 

Even the United States, which is one of Israel’s staunchest allies, did not immediately come forth and denounce Iran following this incident. In fact, it was not until five days after Israel took control of the hidden arsenal from Iran that it issued a public condemnation of Iran.

 

In a somewhat surprising and perplexing move, the U.S. chose to temper its condemnation with a qualifying statement addressing its ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent a nuclear Iran.

 

“It is important to make clear that even as we continue efforts to resolve our concerns over Iran’s nuclear program through diplomacy, we will continue, in coordination with our partners and allies, to push back against Iranian support for terrorism, threats against our friends and partners, and violations of human rights,” said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

 

As Iran continues to blatantly mock the world by openly supporting terror, the international community inexplicably believes that it needs to bend over backwards when it comes to Iran’s nuclear program and blindly trust the leaders of this rogue nation.

 

I would posit that in light of the severity of Iran’s devious and dangerous attempt to deliver deadly weapons to terrorists intent on destroying Israel and terrorizing its citizens, nothing short of a swift and strong condemnation is warranted.

 

“The condemnations I’ve heard from the international community in the face of this murderous shipment have been limp, few and far between,” Netanyahu said.

 

The Prime Minister is categorically correct. The silence of the world is absolutely deafening.

 

When it comes to criticizing Israel, the line stretches around the block. There is never a shortage of folks who relish the opportunity to deprecate the Jewish State whenever possible.

 

This incident is yet another example of the unreasonable double standard with which Israel is judged and forced to contend with. Whether it is building new housing for its residents, engaging in measures to defend its borders and its citizens, or a multitude of other activities, Israel has an eternal target on its back and is a perpetual magnet for criticism and condemnation.

 

Sadly, it is therefore no surprise that after the confiscation of Iran’s illicit weapons shipment, the widespread international condemnation that theoretically should have ensued, never really materialized.

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler

 

Governing In the Eye of the Storm

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I take a look at how the Bridgegate scandal is affecting Chris Christie’s ability to govern in New Jersey:

 

GOVERNING IN THE EYE OF THE STORM

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

Amidst a barrage of controversy and under the dark and ominous cloud of a growing scandal that hovers above him, Chris Christie is still the Governor of New Jersey.

 

While the reaction to much of the Bridgegate controversy has primarily focused on Christie’s 2016 presidential prospects, the practical impact that it has on his role as Governor is often overlooked. Despite all the unanswered questions that continue to swirl and the various investigations into the lane closure episode, Chris Christie’s gubernatorial tenure endures and he has to continue governing.

 

The issues and concerns of the approximately 8.9 million residents of New Jersey do not magically disappear simply because their Governor is fighting for his political life. Property tax relief, the state’s fiscal condition, rebuilding in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, education, health benefits, and rising pension costs remain real issues that must be addressed, irrespective of Governor Christie’s political problems.

 

However, although Governor Christie theoretically must continue to govern, the reality is that his ability to lead the Garden State is significantly impaired by the controversy that has enveloped his administration.

 

As Chris Christie fights for his political life, a recent Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press Poll found that 56% of New Jersey residents believe that the Governor is more concerned about his political future than with governing the State of New Jersey. This is rather significant because it is the first time since Christie took office that a majority of New Jersey residents believe that his interest in his personal political career outweighs his interest in the issues that are important to New Jersey.

 

In more troubling news for Governor Christie, the poll found that his job approval rating is now at just 50%, which means that his approval rating has plummeted 20 points over the last year. Since the news of the Bridgegate scandal broke, Christie’s approval numbers dropped 15 points.

 

In another unsettling sign for Chris Christie, the poll also found that his management of the recovery and rebuilding effort after Sandy is being openly questioned by New Jersey residents. According to the poll, only 4-in-10 residents would give the Christie Administration a grade of A (10%) or B (30%) for its handling of the Superstorm Sandy recovery, while another 32% would give the administration a C, and 1-in-4 would give just a D (16%) or an F (9%). That is a precipitous drop from the 70% of New Jersey residents that thought Christie deserved an A or a B just five short months ago.

 

With Christie repeatedly touting his response to Superstorm Sandy as one of the highlights of his time as Governor, the fact that his poll numbers in this area have nose-dived is yet another strong indication that the scandal is having an adverse effect on how New Jerseyans view Chris Christie and is a stark reminder of the struggles that he faces as he endeavors to govern.

 

If Governor Christie believes even for a moment that the average New Jersey resident is not paying attention to the Bridgegate scandal, he is sadly mistaken. One other interesting tidbit from the Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press Poll is that a whopping 92% of New Jerseyans are following the Bridgegate story. In addition, 61% of New Jersey residents believe that Christie is not being totally honest about what he knows regarding the circumstances surrounding Bridgegate. Further, of the New Jerseyans who have actually been following the controversy, half of them believe that Christie was personally involved in the decision to close the toll lanes in Fort Lee near the George Washington Bridge.

 

To his credit, Governor Christie has desperately been trying to salvage his political career. In an effort to regain the faith of New Jersey residents, he is attempting to demonstrate a renewed ability to govern by reverting back to his inimitable style of governance and by engaging in campaign-style retail politics.

 

For example, the Governor held three Town Hall Meetings over the past several weeks, at which he met with New Jerseyans, answered an array of questions, and discussed a number of important issues, such as federal Sandy recovery funds and his budget priorities for the state’s Fiscal Year 2015 Budget.

 

The problem is that despite Chris Christie’s dogged efforts to get past the Bridgegate scandal, he is unable to do so. He can run from Bridgegate, but he cannot hide from Bridgegate.

 

With New Jersey residents skeptical about his role in the scandal and doubtful that he had no knowledge of what transpired, the euphoria and confidence that Chris Christie felt when he won a decisive victory in November has completely dissipated.

 

Chris Christie will continue to govern because that is what he must do, despite the inquiries and investigations that persist. However, with a big bull’s-eye on his back, Christie is now only a shell of the political superstar that he once was.

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler

 

Overcoming the Turbulence

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I reflect on my recent trip to Israel and analyze the tension that presently exists between the secular and religious camps in the Jewish State:

 

OVERCOMING THE TURBULENCE

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

I will not easily forget my recent trip to Israel. The magical experience of being in Israel is only part of that. What I will remember most is a confluence of events and conversations that caused me to contemplate the current situation in the Jewish State in a very meaningful and substantive way.

 

It began on the flight from New York to Tel Aviv. Prior to taking off, the pilot informed us that we would probably experience some degree of turbulence during our journey because of the weather. I’ve been caught on many turbulent flights, but the turbulence we encountered on that flight was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. For more than half an hour, the plane rocked back and forth and bounced up and down. The severity of the turbulence had me, as well as my fellow passengers, wondering if we would make it to Israel in one piece. One woman seated behind us wondered aloud if she would ever see her children—who were not traveling with her—again. It was a harrowing experience.

 

Once we landed safely, I realized that that kind of turbulence was especially appropriate on this trip to Israel because Israel is presently experiencing her own version of turbulence and is on an extraordinarily bumpy ride. With the tension between the various religious camps and the secular community at fever pitch, Israel is on the precipice of sociological calamity. There are distinct differences of opinion on an array of issues, including army service for those in the haredi world and the role that religious life should play in Israeli society.

 

My wife and I were pleasantly surprised when our daughter, who is currently in school in Israel, met us at Ben-Gurion Airport unannounced. Together, we took a taxi from the airport to Jerusalem. During our journey, the taxi driver, Eli, engaged me in conversation—in Hebrew. Our dialogue quickly morphed into a deep philosophical and sociological discussion, putting my linguistic skills and conversational Hebrew to an early test.

 

Eli is a secular Jew who goes to shul twice a year—on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. He is also a very proud Israeli. He served in the Israel Defense Forces and continued his military service in the army reserves. As we drove along Highway 443 and passed a number of Palestinian villages, he spoke of our Arab neighbors with great disdain.

 

Despite his lack of connectivity to religious life, Eli told me that the most important thing to him is Jewish identity. He wears his Jewish identity on his sleeve and noted the Jewish pride which manifests itself in everything that he does. We said our good-byes in Jerusalem, and spent our first Shabbat in Efrat.

 

Chofni, the taxi driver who drove us to Tel Aviv from Efrat, is an observant Jew. While he has never been to the United States, he told us he has visited Italy, England, and Germany, though he did not truly enjoy those countries because he was concerned about anti-Semitism and never felt at ease there. Chofni declared he only feels comfortable in Israel.

 

As we drove through the winding hills, Chofni pointed out the majestic beauty of the land and the spectacular scenery. He told me that the more people come to Israel, the better off Israel and the Jewish people will be. “Eretz Yisrael belongs to Am Yisrael, and Am Yisrael belongs in Eretz Yisrael,” Chofni proclaimed.

 

After the deep discussions with our drivers and spending some time observing interactions between Israelis hailing from varying points on the religious spectrum, I realized the turbulence Israel is experiencing is self-inflicted and certainly avoidable.

 

My two drivers, one secular and one religious, may have different perspectives, yet there is a commonality that ties them together. There is a deep love of Israel that transcends any ideological divides. The gratitude they feel for having the privilege of living in a Jewish State that they proudly call home is genuine. The appreciation they have for the Land of Israel and all of its natural beauty and historical and cultural significance is heartfelt. They are two people with divergent backgrounds who share an unbreakable bond, namely, their love of Israel.

 

As Israel continues on its turbulent journey, we ought to spend more time figuring out how to repair the potholes on that bumpy road so we can have a smooth ride. Israelis [and all Jewish people] must stop highlighting the disparities between them and focus on the one unifying factor that can help them rise above their differences: their appreciation of the Jewish State. While Israel may mean different things to different people, there is no denying the fact that it is the Jewish homeland for all Jews, irrespective of one’s religious beliefs or background.

 

Yes, army service requirements and religious doctrines are important issues that merit a healthy debate. However, we cannot allow disagreements over these issues to tear at the fabric of Israeli society and cause a rift that further exacerbates an already tenuous situation. People need to take a step back and stop fighting amongst themselves in order to focus on the things that unite us, not divide us. As we Jews fight a needless and senseless internal battle, our enemies on the outside view the infighting as a sign of weakness and it emboldens them.

 

By shifting the focus to the love and appreciation of Israel that virtually all of us feel, perhaps we can help stop the turbulence and enable the Jewish State to move forward smoothly.

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler