EDITORIAL
BY DHIREN SHAH
Hello Readers,
Last week, I took a vacation and visited Alaska. As we heard before, with going on vacation in Seattle and Alaska, the worst part of the weather is rain. However, for all nine days, there was no rain, and the weather was not even cold, but a little warmer. That’s our good luck.
The best part about Alaska is its natural beauty. As soon as we landed in Anchorage, we felt that we were in a different world. Every side you go, the natural beauty attracts you. The worst part though is that it is too costly. Seattle is a little expensive, but Alaska is very expensive. I thought the standard of living was very high in Hawaii. But I think Alaska has almost the same cost of living. I visited both places, and this is my assumption or experience.
Our beloved political and public leader Sheila Oliver is no more. It was shocking. I was on vacation when I received a call from Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake. Thanks, Ms. Timberlake, for informing me. I was shocked for a few minutes and started making some calls.
When Sheila Oliver was Assemblywoman, we talked a few times and one time for over half an hour. She impressed me with her heart for the people. However, to work for the people, she had to work with the politicians. She was surrounded by politics, and I think she wanted to do a lot more for the people, but she was restricted by the political environment. Her good heart was always with the people. Local Talk’s staff and I pray for her soul and offer condolences to her family and friends.
A memorial service was held at Bethel New Life in East Orange for Ann Elliott (1935-2021) and Walter R. Elliott (1933-2023) the parents of our writer Walter Elliott. Local Talk’s staff and I pray for their souls and offer our condolences to their family and friends.
Ex-Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao was convicted by a Minnesota jury. He was the last former officer convicted in state court for his role in the killing of George Floyd. He was sentenced on Aug. 7 to 4 years and 9 months. J. Alexander Kueng pleaded guilty to a state charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in October and sentenced to three and half years in prison. Chauvin was sentenced to 21 years in prison. Thomas Lane, a former officer who held down George Floyd’s legs, got 3 years in prison for aiding and abetting manslaughter. I think justice has been served. The judgment this time has importance for the future, as no other officer will go overboard to kill or punish a citizen above the line of duty.
Trump’s defamation lawsuit has been denied by judge Lewis Kaplan, who was appointed in 1994 by then-President Bill Clinton. According to the judge, there was no substantial truth of the claim Mr. Trump has made. Trump claimed that the writer E. Jean Carroll publicly defamed him by continuing to mention that he’d raped her even after a jury found him not liable for doing so. Trump has many cases ahead of him, including criminal charges.
Short Hills resident Peter Serruto has signed a new deal with the Yankees. He played as a catcher with Rutgers University and Indiana University. He will join the Yankees minor league affiliate in the Florida Complex League.
Have a wonderful week. I’ll talk to you next week.
