11.3.10: Election Day was slightly chilly, sunny and fair

Election Day was slightly chilly, sunny and fair

Looking south from Murray and West Street. 9:30 PM. Photo: JH.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010, the day after the national elections. Mr. Cuomo is the new Governor of the State of New York. Ms. Gillibrand and Mr. Schumer remain our Senators.

Election Day was slightly chilly, sunny and fair.

Snapshots. Monday night at the Library, a friend, just back from three weeks in Southeast Asia and China, was raving about the progress of the Chinese.

Exposed to some of the higher levels of technological and industrial development, this friend was astounded, speaking with wonder and authority. And certainty. “We’re f**ked,” he concluded.

Those who know me know that I can be very critical of leadership on all levels. Many would mistake it as political opposition of one kind or another. However, they misunderstand. My friend’s conclusion about the US annoyed me. Listening to his raving about China and her superiority compared to the dramatically waning inferiority of these here United States might be based on convincing facts, but I could imagine myself in an argument defending. I wanted to counter with some of the great qualities about these here United States. Historically great things. While it does in many ways, many times seem as if we’ve lost our mojo, I’m one who’s inclined to believe in our roots. Can. Do. China is having her Renaissance; that is inarguable. But American ingenuity couldn’t have died in less than a generation.

New York Magazine’s cover this week was “ME the People ...”


	Paul LeClerc, retiring CEO of the NYPL on his way to receive his Library Lions Medal on Monday night.

Snapshots. At my table Monday night at the Library Lions dinner was a professor who teaches Information Systems at a local university. I I told him I didn’t even know what that meant, Information Systems.

Computers, he replied.

I asked him about his students; what they were like. They’re not interested in reading, he said. They say they don’t have time. He gave an assignment to make a record of an average day to see how they spent their time. A great deal of it is spent on texting or on the computer. My professor friend felt that they were distracted by the technology of their world. Everything is suddenly different. They are “not present,” he said. He’s not pessimistic. He has a daughter. Her assignment last summer was to read ten books.

Reading, he believes, is everything. He believes it's his challenge as a teacher to find ways to bring his students into the present. And to read. I couldn’t argue with this guy, still thinking of my friend just back from Asia.

I was sitting at table in this brilliantly decorated room of grandeur and the garnering of intelligence. The food was very good: Halibut, Shrimp and Lobster Tarragon in Acorn Squash followed by Lamb Curry with Mango Chutney and Basmati Rice with peas, plus Pear Tartin with Crème Fraiche.

A great many of the guests (and there were hundreds) were members of what you could call the Privileged Classes in this country. A good portion possess great wealth, some immense, both inherited and self-made. The men were spiffed up and turned out in black tie. The women were beautifully dressed and a large percentage were very good looking, even beautiful, radiating stature, grace, and self-confidence. True or not, that is what it looked like. A great many others, men and women, were individuals of achievement; famous, accomplished. I couldn’t see any evidence of my two conversations on any of the faces, meaning it’s not apparent on the face of it.

At many of the tables, it was easy to see how much people were enjoying this beautiful and even august, privileged environment. It was created to raise funds to assist this great institution, and they succeed. Many were well educated, many were creative forces who influence the day to day in New York and even the world.

Privilege abounded, as it often does in the world I report on.

I was observing the intelligent faces, enjoying the camaraderie of the scene. I was thinking about my friend who’d just returned from Asia profoundly amazed, enthusing about the new land of plenty and abundance and ... bottom line ... what it meant for us, the US. I was thinking about my professor dinner partner describing how he would help his students learn how to “focus,” and to “be present.” I couldn’t see it in that room. Or even imagine it without being reminded.

Center Coordinater Allie Fasth, student Princeton Hall, and Literacy Partners' Christie High at Michael's yesterday.

Yesterday I went down to Michael’s for a noon meeting with a man named Princeton Hall to learn about his experience and his progress. Princeton was one of the “readers” at last year’s Literacy Partners’ gala benefit. Literacy Partners next benefit is already in the planning stages. I thought it could be interesting to tell the NYSD readers a little bit about their progress and their mojo.

Most of us are not aware of the enormous percentage of adult Americans who either cannot read or cannot read at a fifth grade level. They number in the millions. Those of us who can read are so used to it, it’s like knowing the language you're speaking. Being unable to speak it/to read it, is inconceivable. Not. What is even more difficult to imagine is what it feels like NOT to be able to read and write.

Princeton Hall's speech at last year's An Evening of Readings Annual Gala to benefit Literacy Partners:

My name is Princeton Hall. Beginning in the 4th grade, I was falling behind and didn’t understand school at all. I struggled all the way through the 8th grade; I tried and I wanted to do well, but it was too hard. When I got to the 9th grade, it was just too difficult and I lost motivation. My 9th grade teacher told me “if you think it’s tough now, wait and see how hard it is the second time around.” But I failed the 9th grade and dropped out of school.

I decided to start working, but without a diploma I couldn’t find a job. Then I started doing drugs. I’d get picked up by the police here and there for drugs and would end up staying at Riker’s Island. I tried rehab, but when I got out I fell back into my old ways. But my sister wouldn’t give up on me. My sister was always helping me. She would come over and read my mail to me because I couldn’t. Then she told me she was going to help me quit drugs. And my sister gives the kind of help that doesn’t quit.

So I went to rehab again. But this time I decided to have a plan when I got out. I wanted to fill the holes in my life with something positive to keep me clean and moving forward. So, I decided to go back to school and found Literacy Partners. I found out that I could not read, do math or spell. The first test I took said I had a 2nd grade level. I didn’t believe it. So I went to school everyday to catch up. After a few months, I was doing very good and took the test again. I got a good score and was promoted to the GED school. When I was told I was being promoted, I cried. That was when I knew I could be somebody. The GED classes were very hard in the beginning. But I wanted homework everyday. The more homework I got, the better I got. The teachers always told me that if I keep on coming, I will get better. So I come to school four days a week. My teachers were right, I got better thanks to Literacy Partners.

These teachers always believe in you. They don’t want to hear that you can’t do it, and now I can do it. I was even able to get an internship with the city of New York doing discharge planning for inmates. I used to get locked up in Rikers but now I work there helping people who are where I was. I am able to read faxes, follow written directions, and read evaluations. Now I help others ask for help and fill out the right forms.

But I always remember where I came from, and I want to thank Literacy Partners for where I am going. I would also like to thank my sister Diane. She was the key to my recovery and success. And thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who made this happen for me.

Scary, for a lot of reasons.

Princeton read and wrote a speech for last year’s gala. I remember it, especially for his graciousness in thanking his sister for helping him get his act together.

Princeton is a Brooklyn man. When he was a kid, as he explains in his speech, he was not a good student and for whatever reason he lost interest in school and by 9th grade he dropped out and before he reached what would have been 12th grade he had a life of a drug-user. He told me yesterday that he never expected to have the life he has now, which is a life of enthusiasm and excitement about having a life that is “clean” and can be measured in progress. When he was an addict he never imagined anything but an early death (he’s 57 now) because that’s all an addict can imagine about the future.

He ended up in Rikers. He finally got himself into a rehab program that stuck. From there, as he progressed in his recovery, he was guided to Literacy Partners which has a complete program of schooling besides reading, including math.

Princeton told me that for most of his life, growing up without motivation or education, he was afraid. Afraid his secret (his inability to read, inability to think, to focus) would get out and expose his real self. The self for which he lacked respect. “I didn’t know how to talk to a white man,” he said in listing his confidences to this white man, and he did so with confidence and aplomb.

His story about his long road and achieving rehab was told by a man full of self-confidence as well as the honesty to admit his shortcomings. Now he sees those abilities he lacks as objectives to pursue and overcome.

Right now Princeton is completing his G.E.D. His next goal is college. His quest to learn is the new road he’s on. And all because Princeton has learned to read and learned to think. That’s how he put it.

Literacy Partners has a long waiting list of people wanting to get into the program and improve their lot in life. Literacy doesn’t have the funds for the facilities and staff to accommodate them all.

Government funding cutbacks only hinder the progress of men and women like Princeton Hall, the progress of this here United States. We need to find a way to raise more funds to educate more adults both young and old to read and improve not only their lives but the lives of everyone. This is the real potential, this will be the strength of our future.

Last night at the Chinese Porcelain Company, Pierre Durand, Conor Mahony and Emanuele Alliotti (pictured right with Estelli Marino) hosted a private viewing of the Vhernier Contemporary Jewelry Collection in thanks and acknowledgement of Vhernier's generous donation made to Venetian Heritage, with Exhibition and Sale going on through Saturday the 6th.

Bob Fribourg, Nadine Kalachnikoff, Effie Fribourg, Lars Bolander

Christopher Kennan and Gaetana Enders.

Alex Hitz.

The Vhernier jewelry collection. Diamonds and silver.

More reports from this past Monday night. As we reported yesterday, our friend Geoffrey Bradfield, the very enterprising international interior designer staged an Art Exhibition, “The Quick and the Dead,” whose creation was inspired, Geoffrey said, by the death of designer Alexander McQueen. The exhibition was at Chelsea’s Sebastian & Barquet Gallery. Here's a look thanks to Jill Lynne ...

Baroness Gabrielle Von Lagendorff and Geoffrey Bradfield.

Gloria Muller and Mimi Strong.

Artist Mel Odom, creator of Collectible Dolls.

Douglas Hannant, Helena Lehane, and Fred Anderson.

Chiu-Ti Jansen.

Lisa West and Donna Soloway.

Monique Van Vooren, Roric Tobin, and Majwa Stone.

Model twins.

Nicole Miller and Leslie Potvin.

Mike Strohl and Countess Dagmar de Brantes.

Cynthia and Dan Lufkin.

Geoffrey Bradfield with Mimilo and Marion Emilio.

Patrick Askin.

Emma Snowdon-Jones and Roy Kean.

Arnold and Paola Rosenshein.

Sacha Turner and Andrea Karambelas.

Geoffrey Bradield with Tom Cashin and Jay Johnson.

Naomi Engel and Eric Javits.

Libby and Kyle Bunting.

Nicholas and Jamie Kilner, Helena Barquet, and Julie Manheimer.

Brian Lawrence Saipe and Craig Dix.

Chappy Morris.

Anne Smithers and Seymour Gruion.

Brian Stewart and Stephanie Krieger.

Also on Monday night, after the Library Lions dinner at the New York Public Library, the Young Library Lions had their own party beginning at 10 pm.

Young Library Lions gathering and dancing ...

Bethany ?, Sam Dangremond, Bevin Peters, Rich Littlehale, Fatima Sanandaji

Stephanie Danhakl, Sam Dangremond, Bevin Peters, Rich Littlehale, and Fatima Sanandaji

Guests departing the dinner in the Rose Reading Room approached the staircase hearing the sounds of the party ramping up three floors below. The Library’s Chairman and CEO Paul LeClerc soon joined the party on the dance floor, ear plugs (as reported in the New York Times) and all.