Dielli | The Sun

Albanian American Newspaper Devoted to the Intellectual and Cultural Advancement of the Albanians in America | Since 1909

GROUNDBREAKING FOR ILLYRIA COMMUNITY AND WELLNESS CENTER

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Jordana Bailey, Mark Gjonaj, Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz

by Rafaela Prifti

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the Illyria Community and Wellness Center was held Sunday afternoon at the Jacobi Medical Center Rotunda in the Bronx. The event was well attended by a number of politicians, elected officials, community leaders and families. At the celebration, New York City Councilman Mark Gjonaj was joined by senior United States Senator from New York and Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer, US Representative for New York’s 15th congressional district and Co-Chair of Albanian Caucus Ritchie Torres, NY State Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, Jordana Bailey, Chief Operating Officer of NYC Health, Hospitals, Albanian diplomats, dignitaries, community members.

After the ceremonial opening of the center, councilman Gjonaj led a tour of the attendees on one floor. Inside one of the newly renovated rooms furnished with tables and chairs, he said “the construction cost that we contributed to is $8.7 million, it’s going to renovate the auditorium, the rotunda, the gym, it’s going to create multi-functional rooms and a library with a technology center. That’s indoors! While outdoors, there will be a community garden and a sports center for the youth and elderly, and most importantly the next generation of Albanians.” Councilman Gjonaj acknowledged Dr. Alan Ross as one of the visionaries for this project. Over twenty years ago, the Illyria Family Practice at Jacobi Medical Center was the brain child of the pediatric doctor. At the end of Kosovo war, some 10,000 ethnic Albanians who settled in the Bronx were presented with new challenges in navigating the health system. So one-of-a-kind medical practice was born and with it, the idea and notion to expand, said Leonora Lulaj, a seasoned Behavioral Health Department Coordinator at Jacobi Medical Center.

In the auditorium, the celebration program included Father Popaj’s invocation, as well as remarks by Councilman Mark Gjonaj, elected representatives and Albanian dignitaries. In giving his blessing to the community center, Dom Pjeter Popaj cherished it as a “place of their own” that will bring people together, closer to one another and “closer to the Creator”. Mr. Mark Gjonaj remarked that the idea of the community center has been brewing for decades, while noting that “after seven years of hard work and commitment of working with city and state over $ 8.7 million have been invested into the wellness center at Jacobi Medical Center.” There was no estimated date for the completion of the whole project. In the renovated facilities, Saturday classes for the staff and students of Alba Life School have started on September 4th.He acknowledged the presence of high ranking officials, distinguished guests, and Albanian diplomats and officials including Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosova, Donika Gervalla Schwarz, Consul General of Kosovo in New YorkFrymëzim Isufaj, Head of Mission of Kosovo in Washington DC, Valdet Sadiku. In his greeting remarks, US Representative Ritchie Torres called Mark Gjonaj “a local hero” and the wellness center “part of his legacy”.

Councilman Gjonaj has announced that he is not seeking re-election for the city council. Mr. Gjonaj began his political career in 2012 in the New York Assembly. He served as Assemblyman through 2017. The Morris Park resident and Bronx native was elected to the New York City Council in 2017 and became the first Albanian-American to serve in it.

The celebration program ended with performances by the Alba Life Schools, Children of the Eagle School, Albanian Youth Center and Dance Groups like Rozafati, Freski Ana e Malit, Shoqata Kraja etc. The singing and dancing by the younger generation of Albanian Americans exhilarated the audience inside the auditorium symbolically opening the curtain for Illyria Community and Wellness Center.

Top Priorities at 76 UN General Assembly: Global COVID Response and Climate Action

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by Rafaela Prifti

The world “is challenged like never before”, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday, at the event marking the start of the 76 General Assembly. He said that the key message to the world leaders is “Wake up, change course, unite, and let’s try to defeat the enormous challenges we are facing today.”

The UN General Assembly is meeting virtually at the New York Headquarters to discuss international cooperation as it highlights the need for a global pandemic response to COVID 19. The data collected from Johns Hopkins University indicates that confirmed cases of the virus have surpassed 30 million and there are nearly 1 million deaths globally, There will be more than 80 virtual meetings covering all aspects of COVID-19, including a high-level session focusing on coordinating a global response, that includes an affordable future vaccine accessible to all. President Biden has vowed to boost the pace of global COVID-19 vaccinations, and the White House has planned a virtual summit on the topic for Wednesday, to coincide with activities held at the U.N.

Climate action is at the center of the agenda of events scheduled throughout Assembly meetings.

Mr. Biden who is addressing the General Assembly for the first time as president, will also be focusing on his two priorities: fighting the COVID pandemic, and addressing climate change. The White House believes that in order to meet these challenges countries need to work together, roping in the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and institutions, a senior administration official told reporters.

The administration has faced criticism for putting together plans to give Americans a third booster shot even as millions of people in the world’s poorest countries are still waiting for an initial dose. The World Health Organization and other groups have urged the United States to hold back on broad preparations for extra shots, arguing that other countries need the vaccines more. The White House has responded by claiming that the U.S. has enough doses even as it donates more doses than any other nation.

In accordance with health protocols, one delegate from each of the 193 member states, plus the European Union, the Holy See and the non-member Observer State of Palestine will be allowed in the hall to watch the video speeches. Hand sanitizer stations are placed in the side aisles. Delegates are required to wear face coverings. In case of positive testing by a delegate attending the session, a U.N. spokesperson says there is a plan for case management and contact tracing.

BORIS BECKER FEEDS NOVAK’S VICTIM COMPLEX

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Open Letter to Boris Becker –  Eurosport 

By Rafaela Prifti 

Boris Becker, former coach of Novak Djokovic, told Eurosport Germany: “It is not acceptable that Novak is always the bad guy and Roger and Rafa are always the good guys – that is unfair. I know Novak privately and professionally, and I can only say that he is a fine guy.”
Last Sunday, US Open delivered an upset in denying the world number one, Novak Djokovic, his dream of 21 major titles and the calendar Grand Slam. After his triumphs at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon earlier in the year, it was Daniil Medvedev who claimed his first title in three straight sets (6-4) in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows. 
Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, known as the Big Three in tennis, each have 20 grand slams. Winning the US Open would have taken the Serb past the tallies of the Grand Slam titles held by his rivals. 
In the final set, Novak was able to get a break that seemed to draw from the supportive energy of the fans in the crowd. Yet, a few minutes later, it was all over. After shaking hands with the winner, an emotional Djokovic sat down and burst out on the tennis court, while waiting for the ceremony to begin. He choked up again during his speech as he thanked the fans for making him feel “respected and loved”. 
With both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in post-surgery recovery, Novak Djokovic had a once in a lifetime opportunity to make tennis history. Known as a competitor who throws temper tantrums on the court, Novak doesn’t get a fair treatment from the media, according to Boris Becker: “It is not acceptable that Novak is always the bad guy and Roger and Rafa are always the good guys – THAT IS UNFAIR.” 
Such statements only feed Novak’s ego and victim complex.
Referencing his speech at the US Open award ceremony, Becker said that he hopes that it (the speech) “ensures that Novak is finally seen in a different light.” To bolster his argument, the German former coach and tennis player mentioned  that the Serb stands up for other players. Interestingly, no word from Becker on Djokovic Tweeter posting about athletes’ mental fortitude with regard to the US gymnast Simone Biles at the Tokyo Olympics. In what could be described as a quick karma reward, the Serb did not win Gold and after smashing his racket walked away from the mixed double match leaving the tennis partner to fend for herself at the Tokyo Games. 
In Becker’s comments, there is a justification for everything Novak does. When he smashes his rackets, Novak is justified in his anger by Becker who says “Who doesn’t” do that? A lot of tennis players don’t allow their anger to be displayed in public!  When Novak walks away from the Olympic games, he is allowed because “he is a proud Serb” and the exhaustion from “the travel, the Olympic village, the opening ceremony” have taken a toll on him. Doesn’t stress affect others who refrain from such misconduct? When Novak loses the US Open finals, it was because “he was tired and should have taken three or four or weeks off as he usually does after Wimbledon”. Excuses, right?
Finally, Boris Becker addresses the issue at the heart of who Novak Djokovic is. “He wanted to make history. He wanted to become the most successful Grand Slam player of all time. He didn’t want to become one of the best – he wanted to become the best, and he would have underlined that with a victory here.” 
There it is! The difference between Djokovic and the two great rivals. In the past years, reporters have asked Rafael Nadal what would it mean for him to have 20 major titles. He answered that he sleeps all right with 19. 
The point is athletes strive to achieve new records and push the ceiling in their respective sports. It is partly why we admire them. Novak Djokovic wants to be the first for the sake of being the best. That’s not the media’s fault. Also complaining about a perceived unfair treatment does not help him. On the contrary, might have a negative impact on Novak Djokovic because it feeds his complex of victimhood. Let him cry it out! 

FDA endorses Pfizer booster shots for 65+ and high risk

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Rafaela Prifti 

An FDA advisory panel has rejected a plan to offer Pfizer booster shots against COVID-19 to most Americans. 
It recommended booster shots only for those who are 65 or older or run a risk of developing severe desease. The decision was made by a committee of outside experts who advise the Food and Drug Administration. The rejection presents an issue for the Biden administration in its effort to shore up vaccinations as the highly contagious delta variant ravages the population across the country.
The White House plan proposed by administration a month ago was to offer booster shots of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to nearly all Americans eight months after they get their second dose.
Panel members complained about insufficient data provided by Pfizer on efficacy, booster shots and side effects.
Research shows immunity levels among the vaccinated wane over time, yet the Pfizer vaccine is highly protective against severe illness and death, even amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant. 
CDC advisory committee that sets policy for U.S. vaccinations campaigns is set to meet on Wednesday to debate who gets boosters and how many months after the second dose. The CDC has said it is considering boosters for older people, nursing home residents and front-line health care workers, rather than all adults.
FDA and CDC will take separate decisions on booster shots for people who received the Moderna or J&J vaccine.
World Health Organization has  objected to rich nations giving a third round of shots while poor countries are dealing with limited first doses.

Citizens, not the state, will enforce the Texas Anti-Abortion Law

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Despite not having a high profile in the anti-abortion movement, Jonathan Mitchell developed and promoted the legal approach of the Texas abortion law. A few years earlier he helped write major portions of the Texas abortion bill that was rejected by the Supreme Court in 2016. Mitchell who was the Texas state government’s top appeals court lawyer was called out then for his attempt to structure the law in a way that would prevent judicial action to block it. Last month a new Texas legislation that practically bans abortion in the state was allowed to go into effect by the Supreme Court’s majority. Notable the Court’s decision did not address the law’s constitutionality.

The legislative structure that Mr. Mitchell has conceived here is built around deputizing ordinary citizens to enforce it rather than the state. Critics say that Mr. Mitchell is gaming the judicial system through a legislative procedure since the law is deliberately devised to make it much more difficult for the courts to stop it by evading judicial review. The new Texas law represents a new iteration of the anti-abortion campaign, one that’s not based on principles, according to reports.

Mr. Mitchell briefly addressed his work in a statement. “The political branches have been too willing to cede control of constitutional interpretation to the federal judiciary, but there are ways to counter the judiciary’s constitutional pronouncements, and Texas has shown that the states need not adopt a posture of learned helplessness in response to questionable or unconstitutional court rulings.” Mitchell has written a law review article pointing at the legal vulnerabilities at the state level resulting in challenges in the court. This article set out the approach that he would go on to use in the municipal ordinances across Texas and then in the 2021 state law: helping states protect themselves from judicial review by delegating enforcement authority to private citizens. In a largely procedural ruling last month, the Supreme Court declined to block the Texas law, emphasizing that it was not ruling on its constitutionality.

The Texas abortion law, known as Senate Bill 8, amounts to a nearly complete ban on abortion in the state. It prohibits most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy and makes no exceptions for pregnancies resulting from incest or rape. Citizens, not the state, will enforce the law. The law effectively deputizes ordinary citizens — including those from outside Texas — allowing them to sue clinics, health providers, doctors, staff and even a patient’s driver to become potential defendants for violating the law. It awards them at least $10,000 per illegal abortion if they are successful.
The persistence of the anti-abortion movement has shifted from focusing on stacking the courts with anti-abortion judges to a willingness to embrace unconventional approaches to further erode the right to abortion. The novel approach conceptualized by Mitchell hinges on civil enforcement while the state itself is being prohibited from enforcing it purposely structured to largely evade liability which was the intention from the start of the legislation’s adoptions in municipalities across Texas.

Mr. Mitchell runs a one-person law firm since 2018 after efforts by the Trump administration to bring him onboard proved unsuccessful.

News Report Summary by Rafaela Prifti