Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s family makes their first visit to New York City
Traveling in savior style
Thanksgiving for Timothy Cardinal Dolan meant 10 relatives in from a place called Missouri. New Yorkers have heard of it. Only nobody knows where it is.
His family, here for their first NY visit, was escorted to the Music Hall’s Christmas show. Me, I was the shepherdess.
We began at His Eminence’s residence — formal dining room, elegant furnishings — but this time little children were playing in it, one small boy was running from the john, and, somehow, boxes of animal crackers were around.
Plainclothes men did our shortcut walk right through St. Patrick’s. Said the Archbishop of New York: “I remember my first time conducting a service here. It was intimidating.”
Forget lines, ticket takers, crowds, ushers. His Eminence’s crew entered the Music Hall side door, got handed tubs of popcorn, water bottles, programs, souvenirs, plastic 3D glasses, and escorted early into a still empty palace. The row reserved for him. Even one seat just for coats.
As mobs arrived, seats directly ahead of us stayed mostly unused.
Afterward, His Eminence & Co. were escorted backstage through an in-house private door. Assuming we had nonreligious issues, we were first ushered to backstage johns.
We then met Rockettes, saw props, scenery, stagehands and the immensity of what’s behind what audiences out front applaud.
I already decided I’ll do no more theater unless I can personally schlep NY’s Timothy Cardinal Dolan with me.
De Blasio set to pay the piper
De Blasio’s being nailed with a $155,000 fine on account of having charged city taxpayers for his manure-laden presidential campaign — like more than $319,000 just for travel, lodging and eats on 31 Iowa to South Carolina campaign trips — before he shriveled out of the race.
He claimed the six-figure bill “afforded the elected mayor autonomy over how to lead the City.” The city’s Conflicts of Interest Board claimed this dodge shields accountability and “New Yorkers should not be forced to pay de Blasio’s expenses in violation of our charter.”
Per a transcript, he’s informed penalties will be instituted and restitution demanded . . . there’s “grave danger to the authority if any public servant who doesn’t like interpretation of the conflicts of interest law is able to secretly overrule the determination by substituting his counsel’s judgment for the board’s.”
De Blasio contends that won’t apply because a more permissive rule exists for the most powerful person in that government. Judge Casey’s ruling, filed under seal, demanded de Blasio reimburse the city plus a hefty $155,000 penalty — biggest in the board’s history. His lawyer, Andrew Celli of Emery Celli, has until mid-December to respond.
Accused of a “chilling vision of an imperial mayoralty,” Chirlane’s separated husband could be on the hook for half a mil. His new ladyfriend — forget her bosom and behind — better have a full change purse.
KNOWING how the rest of our God blessed country’s being governed, can this . . . could this . . . might this . . . is it possible that something like this could be maybe have happened only in New York, kids, only in New York?
