webadmin, Author at Brooklyn Downtown Star

The 7 Line Army gets Mets fans back on the road

webadmin on July 29, 2021

Since COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings have been widely lifted, (at least for the time being), baseball season is in full swing and ballparks nationwide are operating at 100% capacity. Mets fans are not just returning to Citi Field, they are also hitting the road to support their team at away games.
Though traveling to see your favorite team is nothing new for baseball diehards, The 7 Line, a supporter group and Mets-centric clothing brand created in 2009, hosts a unique experience for fans traveling to support the team. The 7 Line, which acquired an official MLB license to produce merchandise in 2014 and has a kiosk at Citi Field, creates a unique ticket package that includes a t-shirt and a “special event” patch for each road game they attend as a group.
“We travel around and hit different ballparks, last year it wasn’t a thing, but now we’re back to full-strength trying to give our guys that home field advantage when they’re on the road,” said Darren Meenan, the owner and creator of The 7 Line. “We had about 1400 fans in Pittsburgh and we’re going to Philly in a couple of weeks with almost 900, and to Boston with 1400 people in September.”
On The 7 Line’s most recent road trip, to see a three-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates from July 8-11, a total of 1409 fans converged on the “Steel City.”
“Our Taproom is located a little over a mile from PNC Park. I’m originally from Queens and a lifelong Mets fan,” said Adam Bey, owner of Pittsburgh’s 412 Brewery. “It was great having members of The 7 Line Army stop in before the games on Friday and Saturday, seeing a flood of Mets gear at PNC, and the loud cheers for the Mets, even if they did drop two of three games to the Pirates.”
The 7 Line began hosting group outings at Citi Field in 2012 and organizing road trips in 2013. Since then, they have visited almost every National League ballpark to support their beloved Amazin’s, bringing droves of Queens-based Mets fans with them. Meehan says “The 7 Line Army will check the final NL stadium off of their bucket list on August 21st when they visit Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, where he’s already expecting a group in excess of 1,000.
Woodside resident, Angel Livreri, said her family loved traveling to Pittsburgh to watch the game with The 7 Line.
“My wife and I have been to Philly to see the Mets at away games but this was our first trip with The 7 Line,” Livreri said. “It’s a great excuse to get out to see a different area and stadium as a family and The 7 Line brings such excitement to the game, there’s really not much else like it.”
Livreri, an NYPD Sergeant, and her wife, Elia Cortes-Livreri, brought along their 4-year-old daughter, Leni Livreri.
“Leni absolutely loved it and we had an amazing time as a family. We’re thinking of going to see the Mets play in Boston with The 7 Line,” Livreri said. “It’s a great experience to bring kids with you. She had so many people stop and talk to her and they were genuinely happy to see her cheering on the Mets.”
Anthony Giordano, a Howard Beach native, and his wife Patrizia, were with The 7 Line Army for their Spring Training Outing in Port St. Lucie, Florida, in 2017. They decided to leave their kids home.
“There was lots of heavy drinking. They serve these rum buckets at the stadium (in Port St. Lucie,) and if I remember correctly there were over 350 of those buckets tied to the outfield fence after all was said and done,” Giordano said. “It was the first time The 7 Line went to Spring Training. I hear that the line of empty buckets of rum has gotten even longer now.”
Other Mets fans are finding their own path to road games.
Kathleen LaVeglia of Middle Village said she and her boyfriend attended the series in Pittsburgh without knowing The 7 Line Army would be in town. LaVeglia saw all three of the games of the series, using the between time to check out the city.
“We got to see a lot of Pittsburgh, had sandwiches at Primanti Brothers, took the Duquesne Incline to Mount Washington, and went to Southern Tier Brewery after the games,” LaVeglia said. “It’s cool that the Roberto Clemente Bridge into PNC Park and the streets around the stadium are closed to vehicular traffic. There was face painting and balloon twisting for kids, outdoor bars, and live music. I wish we had that at Citi.”

Opinion: Keep your eyes on the prize, Mr. Adams

webadmin on July 29, 2021

Earlier this month, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams went to Washington to talk gun safety with President Joe Biden. He also made appearances with disgraced New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand, two politicians who the current Borough President would work closely with if elected mayor.

However, Eric Adams has not yet been elected mayor. Although registered Democrats in New York City outnumber Republicans five to one, the former police captain must win a general election in the fall.

His opponent, Guardian Angels founder and red-beret aficionado Curtis Sliwa, is still actively on the campaign trail, visiting neighborhoods throughout New York City’s outer boroughs. This past week, he visited Middle Village for a press conference following the violent assault of an off-duty Firefighter in Juniper Park.

It is true that Adams is far-and-away the favorite in the general election. However, if he wants to play the role of Mayor already, he must start by fulfilling the duties of a mayor. When there is violence in our communities, Adams should be there. When there are concerns about public safety, Adams should be there. When people have questions of concerns, big or small, Adams should be there.

If Adams wins this fall, it would be a waste to have severed his relationships with communities that could use an ally in Gracie Mansion. The people of Queens and Brooklyn have long memories, and Adams’ absence following events like those in Juniper Park will not soon be forgotten.

Policy aside, if you want to be mayor, you have to act like mayor. Instead of “Mr. Adams goes to Washington,” the headline should read “Mr. Adams heads to Queens.”

Bucks win first NBA title in 50 years

webadmin on July 29, 2021

Bucks crowned NBA champions

The Milwaukee Bucks won their first NBA championship since 1971 last week, defeating the Phoenix Suns in six games. It was a remarkable performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo that sealed the series, as he became the sixth player to score 50 points in a Finals game.
It was the second time Milwaukee overcame a 2-0 series deficit, previously coming back to beat the Nets in a 7-game thriller. They never backed down from a challenge and the hunger of Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton prevailed.
Antetokounmpo was named Finals MVP after three games with 40+ points. He joins LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players to win an MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP award.
After a brutal injury in the Eastern Conference Finals, it seemed like Giannis would joining a long list of star players to miss time with an injury, but the Greek Freak made a remarkable recovery and helped Milwaukee advance to the finals.
Not enough can be said about Antetokounmpo’s journey. After making money as a street vendor in Greece, he and his brothers found a path to fame through basketball, and now three of them hold NBA titles.
Now Giannis and the Bucks can look forward to a daring title defense, as plenty of challengers in the East and West are starving for a chance at a championship.

Nets need finishing touches on roster

There’s no doubt the Bucks championship will make Nets fans bitter, as they fell in seven games, beaten in overtime in their own home.
The Nets were pegged as favorites for the title, especially after the Lakers fell in the 1st round. They will likely be favored again next season, as Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden look ahead to their first full season together. Brooklyn set a franchise record .667 winning percentage (48-24 in the shortened season), with the Big Three only taking the floor together 8 times in the regular season.
The glaring issues with the Nets were their lack of depth at guard and center and inexperience at the helm in Steve Nash’s first year as coach.
Brooklyn would love to see a breakout season from Nic Claxton, the athletic big man entering his third season. Increasing his strength and longevity should earn him plenty of minutes next year.
It may be a pipe dream to bring back guard Spencer Dinwiddie. Brooklyn could offer his desired 5yr/$100M deal, but it’s more likely they deal him in a sign-and-trade or let him walk.
Brooklyn will also need role players to deliver in the postseason. The bench is a big part of a championship roster, and the Nets need to improve theirs if they want to win their first NBA title.
With the right tweaks and Nash growing more comfortable in his 2nd year, the Nets should be playing deep into the playoffs.

Knicks need a star to take the next step

The Knicks blew away all expectations this season as they finished as the East’s 4th seed. Unfortunately they only picked up one postseason win, their only one since 2013, as they fell to the Atlanta Hawks.
While New York’s rebuild was progressing well, nobody expected them to make the jump this season. A remarkable year by Julius Randle earned him the Most Improved award, and Tom Thibodeau was great at the helm, winning Coach of the Year.
It’s clear that the Knicks are in a prime position to attract stars to the lights of Madison Square Garden after losing a lot of that appeal over the last decade. The Nets were able to use a playoff appearance to help lure Durant and Irving to Brooklyn, and the Knicks could do the same.
The name tossed around the most is Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard, though there’s no confirmation he’ll be leaving Portland. It would take a massive package to land him, including multiple 1st round picks and players like RJ Barrett or Obi Toppin.
The Knicks have plenty of cap space to pick up a strong option in free agency. Grabbing Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, or even Lonzo Ball could give them help at guard.
The Knicks were a top defensive team last season, now they just need the offensive power to put them past opponents. New York made a lot of noise this year, and now they can keep progressing and earn the respect they’re hungry for.

Brooklyn Diocese honors act of subway bravery

webadmin on July 29, 2021

Sean Conaboy, a resident of Sunset Park and a parishioner at St. Michael’s Church, was waiting for a train at the Union Square Station in Manhattan on May 19 when he heard a woman screaming.
He rushed over and found a woman being attacked by a man with a knife. Conaboy immediately tackled the assailant, who was later arrested on four felony counts.
The incident was the second violent crime at the Union Square subway station within seven days.
Last week, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and community members gathered at the Diocese of Brooklyn’s headquarters in Windsor Terrace to honor his bravery.
“It was an honor to be with Sean this morning and recognize him for his selfless sacrifice on behalf of his fellow New Yorker,” said Bishop DiMarzio. “Sean was the Good Samaritan here when he stopped the attack and put his faith into action.”
The Most Reverend Kevin Sweeney, Bishop of the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, who previously served as Pastor of St. Michael’s, also praised the actions of his former parishioner.
“Sean’s Catholic upbringing nurtured him and made him ready for that moment, with the help of the Holy Spirit and with the protection of St. Michael, he stepped into that battle and saved someone who was being attacked,” said Bishop Sweeney. “As a native New Yorker, it is great to see New Yorkers being who New Yorkers are; we respond when others are in need.”
Conaboy remained selfless throughout the ceremony, reminding those present that violent crimes have a serious emotional and physical impact on victims.
“I am moved beyond words and say thank you to both Bishop DiMarzio and Bishop Sweeney,” Conaboy said. “As honored as I am to be here, there is a victim in all of this, and it is not me. I think she deserves all of our prayers from this day forward.”
The assault Conaboy stopped was one of many throughout the year. Crime has risen significantly throughout New York City, with the NYPD reporting close to 200 felony assaults on the subway in the first six months of 2021 alone.

Two bills

webadmin on July 28, 2021

Dear Editor,
In his letter last week, Dispatcher Larry Penner tries to equate the January 6th Capitol riot with the protests that took place after what he refers to as the unfortunate death of George Floyd.
First of all, the “unfortunate death” was murder. He’s right that taxpayers were “stuck with the bill” to clean up after the protests, but what is “the bill” to be paid after Donald Trump incited white supremacists to attempt an insurrection of our democracy?
Penner complains of a bill that needs to be paid, yet looks the other way regarding an attack on the Constitution of the United States.
Sincerely,
Robert LaRosa, Sr.
Whitestone

No Chick ban

webadmin on July 28, 2021

Dear Editor,
State Assembly members Harry Bronson of Rochester and Deborah Glick and Danny O’Donnell of Manhattan recently sent a letter to the New York State Thruway Authority executive director Matthew Driscoll opposing the opening of Chick-fil-A franchises at the Thruway rest stops.
They claim to represent the interests of the LGBTQ community, but in calling for the denial of this free enterprise business to open new locations is also intolerant.
Chick-fil-A has opened dozens of stores in New York State. They are in the process of opening 200 stores in New York City alone.
Chick-fil-A provides gainful employment to construction contractors and their employees to build each operation, as well as cooks, cashiers and food supply deliverers. This benefits many who reside in communities with high unemployment in upstate New York.
Many more open-minded members of the LGBTQ community work or dine there. Chick-fil-A provides a quality product at reasonable prices.
And revenues generated by Chick-fil-A at Thruway rest stops will help the Thruway Authority pay off the $3.9 billion tab for the Mario Cuomo Tappan Zee Bridge.
If you don’t like the politics of Chick-fil-A, don’t eat there, but don’t deny the civil liberties of others who might prefer Chick-fil-A.
Chick-fil-A owners and employees are our neighbors who pay taxes. True tolerance means accepting those with different values than your own. There are plenty of other dining options available at New York State Thruway rest stops if you don’t want to patronize Chick-fil-A.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Great Neck

Left behind

webadmin on July 28, 2021

Dear Editor,
As an EMT/EMS first responder who was awarded the Healthcare Hero award for COVID-19, I was honored to march in the parade in the Canyon of Heroes on July 7 with truly amazing and wonderful participants.
However, I was disappointed that although
I marched with the First Responders Contingent that included EMTs, nurses, doctors, police officers and members of the FDNY
However, I was disappointed we were placed behind other groups that marched ahead of us, specifically the United Federation of Teachers and Planned Parenthood.
Who made them heroes? The mayor and City Council. Was it to curry favor, endorsements and political contributions?
By the time the first responders hit City Hall, all the ticker tape was on the floor and had already been thrown on the people and groups that were placed at the head of the parade.
The showmanship is distasteful when the city throws a parade to honor COVID-19 heroes, but puts them at the back of the line.
Sincerely,
John Ciafone
Astoria

Investigate Cuomo

webadmin on July 28, 2021

Dear Editor,
It is beyond any sense of decency, logic or comprehension as to why the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will not investigate whether the civil rights of residents in New York nursing homes were violated by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s controversial policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cuomo continues to evade responsibility for causing this tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of more than 15,000 people.
The 15,000 families who lost loved ones should file a lawsuit in federal court to demand DOJ investigate. And Cuomo should immediately step down as governor because his political credibility is gone.
Sincerely,
John Amato
Fresh Meadows

Epigenetics: environment & genes

webadmin on July 28, 2021

There has been a pervasive thought in both biology and medicine that humans are limited by their genes. It’s true that traits like height and eye color are dictated by the genes you inherit. You can’t manipulate your eye color, for example, without contact lenses.
Diseases also have a genetic component. So, are we are locked in by our genes, as far as disease goes? Not necessarily. Most chronic diseases are influenced by a combination of genes and environment. This means that your family history of cancer or diabetes, for instance, does not necessarily mean that you are highly likely to get the disease.

Epigenetics
Epigenetics is a burgeoning field with a potentially powerful impact on preventing and treating chronic diseases. Literally, it means “above the gene.” In other words, epigenetics regulates gene expression, or the turning on and off of genes, based on our behavior and environmental factors. This can have beneficial or detrimental effects.
It does this through transcription factors – proteins that bind to genes and determine whether they are expressed or suppressed. There are at least 2,000 transcription factors. Examples of some of the more researched transcription factors include NF-kB, increasing oxidation and inflammation; p53, a tumor suppressor; and NRF-2, an antioxidant response.
However, epigenetics does not alter the DNA sequencing of the gene itself. This differentiates it from gene therapy, which is a more complicated process that has thus far eluded medicine, with a few exceptions.

The biochemistry behind epigenetics
Environmental factors, such as diet, toxins, drugs and exercise affect which transcription factors are up-regulated or down-regulated and then, in turn, the genes that are turned on or off. For instance, vitamin D may have an effect on over 200 genes.
To date, cancer is the disease most extensively studied. Cells can be transformed into cancer cells due to down-regulation of tumor suppression genes and expression of oncogenes, pro-cancer genes. The opposite is also true. Epigenetics can cause tumors to either proliferate or be suppressed, depending on environmental influences.

Dietary factors
Diet plays a central role in determining whether cancer develops. There are bioactive compounds in foods that bind to the transcription factors.
Examples of dietary agents that can interfere with the development of tumors in cancer and activate tumor suppressor genes include spices, such as curcumin (turmeric); genistein, a polyphenol found in soybeans; tea polyphenols, highest in green tea; resveratrol, found in grapes, peanuts and blueberries; and sulforaphanes, found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli. This is not an exhaustive list.
There was a study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology demonstrated the benefits of soy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, the most common type. The soybeans increased the sensitivity of cancer cells to the radiation, allowing for their destruction.
Soybean isoflavones help to boost the effect of radiation on cancer cells by blocking the enzyme APE1/Ref-1, which inhibits DNA repair in these cells. They also protect surrounding healthy cells with an antioxidant effect.
The soy isoflavones also had an inhibitory effect on transcription factors NF-kB and HIF-1 alpha. These are examples of factors that induce oncogenes (pro-cancer cells) to be up-regulated, or turned on. Interestingly, in previous studies, soy pills with genistein were used to help destroy cancer cells, but the author suggests that soybeans themselves, with multiple bioactive compounds, are more effective.
Cancer prevention and treatment is but one of the effects of epigenetics. It has also been shown to have potentially beneficial effects in cardiovascular disease, diabetes and allergies. It may even have a direct role in longevity or an indirect role, by preventing chronic diseases such as cancer, obesity and diabetes.
Thus, our health outcomes are not predetermined, and the wonderful news is that we have much more control than we once thought.

Don’t Expand Draft Registration, End It

webadmin on July 28, 2021

In a rare moment of moral clarity, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) points out that “America’s daughters shouldn’t be drafted against their will.”
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the usually bellicose Cotton voted against advancing the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act after committee chair Jack Reed (D-RI) added an amendment requiring women between the ages of 18 and 25 to register with the Selective Service System.
It’s good to see Cotton on the right side of an issue, as happens occasionally (very occasionally). And the NDAA, being mostly unrelated to anything resembling actual “national defense,” deserves to go down hard for many, many reasons.
But where’s Cotton’s opposition to requiring men to register for the draft?
In the early 1970s, the U.S. armed forces transitioned to an “all-volunteer force” after drafting 2.2 million men into its Vietnam war machine between 1964 and 1973.
About 1.5 million Americans were drafted for the Korean War, 10 million for World War II, and 2.8 million for World War I. Draft registration ended in 1975, but resumed in 1980.
Fortunately, even during the darkest days of the “nation-building” fiasco in Afghanistan and the naked aggression of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq, Congress quailed from reinstating the draft and allowed the military to lower recruitment standards instead (perhaps explaining how a sociopath like Tom Cotton became an infantry officer).
But nearly a half-century after the last involuntary induction, the shadow of potential conscription still looms over young Americans.
In fact, many states have moved against the ability to resist draft registration as a form of civil disobedience (as a brave handful of Americans, including prominent libertarian commentator and personal mentor Paul Jacob, went to prison for doing in the early 1980s) by automatically registering males who apply for driver’s licenses or state ID cards.
Both of my kids received postcards from Selective Service “thanking” them for registering, even though they never did so (the state of Florida did so “for” them).
Supreme Court rulings to the contrary notwithstanding, conscription is clearly unconstitutional under the 13th Amendment: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
And even if it wasn’t unconstitutional, it would still be slavery and slavery would still be wrong.
Instead of registering women for potential slavery, draft registration should be ended, entirely and permanently.

Thomas L. Knapp is director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism.

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