Trump Takes Charge

Leadership vs Loyalty in his Cabinet

Trump Takes Charge

There is little doubt that Donald Trump is the boss.  His statements and mannerisms exude command.  But now he is taking it to another level.  He correctly feels that he was played by some people in his last administration.  Clearly certain government officials were not on board with the Trump plan in 2017-2021.  

It is apparent that he is determined to not allow that to happen again.  He is choosing people with a similar outlook on the deep state, foreign entanglements, and law enforcement.  He is also clearly appointing people who are (at least right now) loyal to him.  Trump has an unfortunate way of pushing people off his friends list, but personal loyalty seems like his highest priority right now.

The result is a lot of cabinet members who are new to the game.  This could be a good thing, but it could go sideways as well.  Washington insiders are tricky to handle, but they come with experience.  Having a cabinet of completely full of outsiders may be a bridge too far for Trump to get the results he wants.  Particularly when many of those people have never been in charge of anything before.

It may be that an outsider has the best intentions at reform but changing the system while trying to figure out how it works is a tough task.  Nominating people like Matt Gaetz, who doesn’t even have the support of many Republicans, comes with some serious skeletons in the closet, has no executive experience, and has never worked as a prosecutor seems like a move that will not turn out well. 

Trump has to ask himself an important question. Is past personal loyalty the most important criterion for a cabinet position?  Does it trump (pardon the pun) executive experience and ideology?  Trump may be placing too much importance on his personal loyalty, which in his case, can be fleeting. 

On November 5^th, 76,655,174 Americans voted for Donald Trump.  No doubt many of those people are talented executives with a wealth of experience and shared ideology.  Trump should ensure he appoints the most effective people to carry out his vision.  Good leaders can turn an agency around and achieve buy-in from employees.  That is what is necessary for Trump to drain the swamp - he can’t get rid of everybody. 

They’re out there, and they want to serve.  Trump needs to start finding some of them.

Mental Health and Crime

This week there was another tragedy in New York City.  A severely mentally ill man named Ramon Rivera randomly stabbed three people to death in separate incidents on the east side of Manhattan. 

Rivera had a lengthy criminal history both in New York and around the country.  Like many criminals, Rivera suffered from severe mental illness.  It was my experience as an NYPD cop that the relationship between crime and mental illness cannot be understated.  I always felt that mental disorders, diagnosed or not, are present in most criminals.  If mental health issues can be properly addressed, there will be a decline in crime. 

But right now: there is no plan.

Former Mayor Bill DeBlasio made a promise to address mental health in New York City.  He backed it up by spending a billion dollars through his ThriveNYC agency. 

Well, any New Yorker can tell you that his program was a complete scam.  Most of the money evaporated in a miasma of waste, mismanagement, and accusations of fraud.  It seems impossible that the program was launched with good intentions to improve the mental health environment in NYC.  The overall mental health outcomes in NYC seem to be significantly worse as a result of ThriveNYC’s ongoing expenditures.  Ramon Rivera is just the latest example of that. 

Clearly an epic fail….was it an epic theft as well?

Since it became apparent to all that this was a scam, New Yorkers on all sides have been calling for a Department of Justice examination of the program.  It is a bi-partisan cry for justice. 

Whoever takes the reigns as Trump’s Attorney General, we hope they initiate a full investigation into ThriveNYC. 

New Yorkers are still angry.  They correctly feel that their local, state, and federal governments allowed this scam to be perpetrated.  It is time for someone at DOJ to step up and restore a modicum of confidence in government.

Donald Trump: Is there a DOGE plan for cities?  We have a good idea where you could start.  Bring the handcuffs.

That Didn’t Take Long              

It was obvious when you thought about it.  A friend in the MTA told me it was happening.  People predicted it with accuracy.  But it is still infuriating.

The end of the election bought New Yorkers and their neighbors a gift.  The gift of more taxes, more inconvenience, and assuredly more unintended consequences.  The looming specter of congestion pricing has returned. 

Why do we elect these duplicitous people, knowing how they will act?  No one doubted that Kathy Hochul would put in place congestion pricing as soon as the political price to pay was diminished.  It didn’t help Kamala Harris win, but the delay was obviously intended to help with election results across the tri-state area. 

Now that the next election is as far off as possible, here comes the pain.  Hochul was magnanimous enough to reduce the fee to $9 to drive in midtown instead of the original $15.  We are sure that number was decided upon after careful analysis and polling, designed to balance getting the most income with the lowest possible political pain.  

No doubt, if Hochul is re-elected in 2026, the price will jump to the intended $15 as soon as the ballots are counted.  Another insult to our intelligence and lighter wallets will be coming our way. 

I admit to being furious over the congestion pricing.  Perhaps unduly.  It will be affecting me on a regular basis, and I will be jumping through hoops to avoid it. 

But what hurts the most is the insulting way it was done.  Well, $9 a day hurts the most, but the insult is a close second.  Expect nothing else from the one-party system in New York.  Democratic politicians are counting on you not remembering the congestion pricing tax a year from now.  Make sure you don’t forget and vote accordingly.  You don’t need to be insulted by people that are supposed to be working for us. 

Chicago Police Bury One of Their Own

Chicago has always had crime and corruption issues.  But as a crime historian, I can say: it has never been this bad.  This random, this brutal, this unnecessary. 

On November 18^th Chicago’s Finest lined the street outside of St. Rita of Cascia Church to remember and honor their fallen comrade, Officer Enrique Martinez.  Martinez was killed by a career criminal during a traffic stop.  The perp was out on electronic monitoring instead of remanded.  He should have been incarcerated many crimes ago.

Having participated in numerous police funerals, both for cops I knew well and cops I have never met, I can attest that it is a special and moving tribute to service.

One thing that is often on display at a police funeral is leadership.  Politicians and police executives orate their tributes to the fallen.  The officer’s commanding officer often fights through tears to speak on the life and death of deceased.  There is often regret and the feeling the tragedy could have been prevented -- the senselessness of the loss. 

At almost all police funerals, the mayor will speak.  The mayor never knew the cop that he was eulogizing, but an important message was always sent.  A message of leadership and ultimate responsibility.

Chicago’s Finest did not get that message.  Mayor Brandon Johnson holds such little respect by the cops of Chicago, that the family of Officer Martinez requested he not attend.  We are glad that he honored that request, but it speaks to a deep problem in the Johnson administration. 

Cops are integral to the community.  They are not separate; they are partners with the citizenry in general.  Cops and community are designed to work together and support each other.  If a mayor has lost the cops to such a degree that they do not want to see your face at a funeral, that mayor is failing. 

Brandon Johnson unfortunately probably doesn’t see the police as integral to the community.  He appears to view them as a racist, occupying force.  That is why his approval rating is currently at 14%.  That is why he sat on the sidelines as the people of Chicago gave a final salute to one who made the supreme sacrifice on their behalf. 

Rest in Peace Officer Enrique Martinez. 

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