How Covid 19 pandemic changed NYC and food to survive it

 

In my last post, I was providing assistance to those first responders who needed assistance during the COVID 19 pandemic, and thank those who have participated in this estate planning probono services. 

Unfortunately, the new threat to first responders now is not from a virus, its from the lawlessness in NYC.  I learned first hand, when I went to court this morning on behalf of my client in the Bronx Criminal court, to appear for a case that had been adjourned for 4 months because the court thought that things would be back to normal now.   This was not the case, and after speaking to the very professional police officer at the court house, learned that no cases are being heard at the criminal case.   

I watched as all the individuals with appearance tickets that rather than enter the court; were asked to fill out a form, and leave the courthouse.   This means any criminal act that is not a direct arrest is basically being dismissed or moved into the future to maybe be resolved in the Bronx, County court.

In addition to these dismissals, there is an odd feeling in the air near the bronx court and this area of NYC where the Yankees play.   Everything is still shut down, and the police scared for their lives due to the criminal activity on the streets being directed against them.   When I spoke with an officer in the courthouse, he indicated he was scared for his life because of insurrection groups that are targeting the police for killing and injuring them.   The officer told me that he was glad to have his life insurance policy because he is scared if something happened to him he could not financially support his family.  It is too bad that our first responders fear for their lives based on a group of insurrectionists that are given free rain to destroy NYC and are not held accountable.  You can see their call to injure our first responders in their recent occupation of City Hall where they chanted and spray painted phrases to "kill pigs" etc...  How despicable!

We all support our men and women in blue and firemen and women and health care workers, and I write the following quick recipe for them, who are on the go, and to bring them comfort that most of us are with them; My suggestion for a quick meal in to take the last few recipes and suggestion of a substitution of an item to make it even easier with what you prepare.  For instance in my soup recipe, the Mexican soup, instead of using the garbanzo beans if you have none, use just plain old corn canned corn.   You still need the Mexican tomatoes as a key ingredient, but try substitutes.    If you are making the vegetable or vegetarian dishes, you can use a different vegetable.   For instance, rather than use eggplant, use zucchini. Much like today's life, you need to adapt and make do with what you have in your kitchen.   And, please do so with upbeat attitude in these trying times.

Enjoy your  new experiments in these dishes.

Zampogna PC Providing Free Wills and Health Care Proxy's to First Responders and Health Care Workers in NYC and DC Area during the COVID 19 Pandemic

Today, my office sent specific details of how it will help directly the NYPD in Precinct 1, to complete wills and health care proxy during this pandemic for free.

In addition, a few days ago made a podcast about the same.   God Speed to all.

Letter in substance below:

Zampogna, P.C.

Attorneys at Law

                                                                32 Broadway 13^th Floor, NY NY 10004; PO Box 724 NY NY 10008_____

                                                                             Tel.: 347-941-1940 * www.zampognalaw.com

April 3, 2020

Ofc. Brian Nelson

1^st Precinct

16 Ericsson Place
New York, NY, 10013

Via Email only to brian.nelsen@nypd.org

Re: Pro bono Will and Health Care Proxy Service by Zampogna, P.C.

Dear Ofc. Nelson: 

            Per our conversation, due to dedication of first responders and health care professionals during this COVID-19 pandemic, my office is offering pro-bono service to members in your precinct regarding drafting wills and health care directives. 

We hope in this service will help you and thank you for your service to the community.  I particularly grateful because my office and New York apartment are located in your precinct.   

My credentials include, in part, former Assistant DA in Erie County, NY, and now in private practice in NYC and DC.  I am outside counsel for AARP which primarily deals with drafting wills, in addition to other areas of practice.  You may find a complete listing of experience on my web page at www.zampognalaw.com.  

Please contact my office via email at caz@zampognalaw.com; or via the phone above, or my cell phone 202-309-3803.   All mail should be directed to the PO Box 724, Church Street Station, NY, NY 10008.

  I will provide this service remotely, via email or phone, facetime, or skype to keep our social distancing rules in place.   

Again, thank you for your service.  

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                Christopher A Zampogna

                                                                              Christopher A. Zampogna

Zampogna, P.C.

Twist on Mexican Pozole soup and how litigation more like cooking than baking

When you make a recipe like trying a case you add your own mark to it, and character.   I recently tried making Pozole Mexican soup and added my own twist to it.

This is important to make your own mark on a case like a recipe.   In Pozole you use tomatillos, jalapenos, chicken, cumin, onions hominy (usually) etc.   In my recipe I substituted hominy out for garbanzo beans and added pepper flakes.   These changes make it an even thicker and healthier soup.

In a legal case for instance as an analogy, you might get advice not to have your client testify at a criminal trial.  However, you choose to have her testify before trial in order to provide her side of the story in a pre-trial hearing in order to provide the evidence but not at a trial stage.   You do this to limit the cross exam to only the issues of the hearing and not input any trial info into the record.   This preserves the client’s testimony creating an issue that may result in a verdict in your favor, or more likely a dismissal of the claim.    And, at worst, makes a record for an appeal.

As many have said, cooking is more of an improvisation rather than baking which is more of a science, with exact measurements of ingredients and cooking time.

So too is law or litigation, it is more like cooking rather than baking.  Baking, might be more applicable to transactional work.

You then add your character or touch to the case, much like I have to the recipe below.

So, be sure to add your part to the case and to your recipe.   

My Twist on the Pozole Soup (Verde)

A great treat to eat, and delicious and warm with a little Calabrian and vegan twist:

Ingredients:

1.     Six chicken thighs

2.     Three jalapeno peppers

3.     About 8 tomatillo tomatoes (green tomatoes)

4.     A whole regular onion or substitute red onion

5.     Two cans of garbanzo beans

6.     Pepper flakes

7.     Six cloves of garlic

8.     1 teaspoon of cumin

9.     To add after: two radishes; 2 limes; 4 cups chopped lettuce; tortilla chips, chopped cilantro, chopped onions

10.  Large Pot (you only need one pot)

11.  Use one or two boxes of chicken broth depending how thick you wish it to be, but best to make it yourself; I like thicker better, so use 1 and 1.5 boxes.

Initially, cook the chicken and onions together in the pot, with a little water or broth, with garlic clove; once its cooked thoroughly, about 20 to thirty minutes; remove them, and add the garlic, cumin, tomatillos (whole just remove the stem); jalapeno (remove the seeds unless you like it really hot) cook for another 20 minutes; then remove this by straining it, always start with a boil then remove or lower it to a simmer; put this mixture into a blender and blend it; then put it back into the broth, shred the chicken with a fork from the bone and add it back into large pot; then add the garbanzo beans; and pepper flakes and the let the entire mixture cook for another 20 minutes

After it is finished, place in bowl, and add the radish, limes and lettuce and cilantro and onions to garnish on the top of the soup.

This is tough to put down, and delicious the next day if you cannot eat it on the first sitting.

Blog for a lifestyle dressed to be yourself or biting off too much than you can chew?

Many want to practice law illegally; without a license.    Mr. Roger Stone’s recent daily caller video, really takes it to a new level or low, as he is known to do, by giving legal advice to those who have been recently arrested (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Lg_gwyMCXBs)in an effort to benefit from his run in with “the feds.”

Roger Stone recently wrote a book, “Stone’s Rules: How to Win at Politics, Business, and Style.”  And, he seems to believe he is all knowing in all things when it comes to presenting himself to a court.   He recently plead not guilty after being charged with seven counts of obstruction, witness tampering and making false statements in DC Federal District Court wearing a single breasted blue suit with a pocket square. 

It is accurate that you must dress well if you are appearing in court as a defendant, however, you need not follow Stone’s pocket square advise.

In recent appearance of Cohen the disbarred "hit man" lawyer of Trump, you see no pocket square on his suit, only his lawyers wore the square.   While his testimony's importance will remain debatable, it was good entertainment, and did reveal the truth about the Stormy coverup.  In Cohen's testimony, he tried to reducing his sentence, and provide advice to those that follow a leader blindly, including hiding his extramarital affairs, he chose not to wear the square.   (https://www.c-span.org/video/?458125-1/michael-cohen-president-trump-he-racist-con-man-cheat).   Cohen looked more appropriately dressed defendant than Stone,  he did not look like his attorneys who wore the pocket square.    We will see which one benefits for dressing like they should.

An adage that Stone missed miserably, is do not out dress your lawyer.   If you do so, the jury or your audience will think you are upstaging them, and that you want to be the center of attention always. This is not a good strategy for an accused because you should have the jury not focus on your physical appearance, but your innocence.  Although, you want to appear comfortable as possible given the intense and stressful nature of court appearances; you still must dress respectfully, but still feel like yourself.

Stone, in his own words and actions, has managed to disprove his own point about double breasted suits due to his recent clothing change. He posted a photo of his judge on his Instagram feed, with an inference of cross-hairs of a gun near her head.  This caused the judge to call him to return to court to explain himself.   During his hearing, you will notice something changed in his dress and demeanor.

Stone, now, after a hearing, has had his release conditions increased or the gag order enforced entirely against him. He is lucky he did not get his bail revoked after that stunt.  But, you will notice, Stone, originally stated in the DC video that you should not wear any type of double breasted suit to court, because you cannot make a “Nixon” sign with both of your arms, wearing one. 

Despite his former advise, Stone is ultimately comfortable wearing one. And, you will see him wearing one in this recent court appearance; he is now following my advice that you ultimately need to be comfortable in how you dress, even if it is from the early 80’s (see my comments in the Washingtonian regarding same https://www.washingtonian.com/2019/01/31/dc-attorney-what-to-wear-roger-stone-in-court/).

A takeaway from all this debate on how to dress in court, and maybe a good thing we have all learned from Roger Stone’s flurry of talk about his dress for success at court, is that anyone facing such an onslaught of prosecution needs to do things that make them feel comfortable to sustain them during the intense stress.   For Roger Stone, it is thinking he is still in control of the narrative by putting out fluff pieces about how to dress, and sprinkling them with his comical “half Italian from the waist down” comment, that garner a lot of attention.   He is someone who is always seeking the limelight and feels comfortable in it.  In this way, he is being allowed to be a little over-exposed while getting ready for one of the most difficult things any man or woman may face; a federal prosecution by the United States Attorney’s Office.   He is facing possibly, the rest of his life in jail, when he should be spending his time writing a memoir. 

While not trying to emote sympathy, it is important to know that when you are representing someone facing such a foe, with so much on the line, it is best to let them try and be comfortable.   Not to their detriment, but, enough to keep him/her able to face the jury and judge at the trial in a helpful demeanor.    This is the final lesson we glean from Stone, be yourself, even if it means being too exposed.  We will see at his next court appearance on March 14, 2019.

Men in Ties .. Cooking Thai Cuisine

"MEN IN TIES ... COOKING THAI CUISINE"

Recently, nine guest chefs, including myself (left most person in photo with white shirt, white shoes), had the honor to cook Thai food for the DC Women's Bar Association Foundation and Women's Bar Association (WBAF-WBA) at the 7th annual dine in.   This truly mixed lawyers and food, and my recipe of Curry Calabrase (seen in previous blog) opening dish captured this tough jury.

Judges and fellow lawyers from around DC, had a chance to eat ten dishes by the "Men in Ties" and had a delightful host, Ms. Paulette Chapman.   While we did not have a winning dish the others included Spicy Coconut Milk and Chicken soup; Thai Chicken with peanut sauce, Thai Basil Beef, Thai Pork Chops, Thai Green Curry Chicken, Coconut red curry with vegetables, Papaya Salad and Jasmine Rice.    The unofficial judge (my wife Karin), while always loving my dish gave the nod to the Spicy soup by Mingo Roberts.  The dessert was also delicious, Thai Mango pudding with strawberries by Rob Bertin.

Last year, at similar event, Past DC Bar President, Darrell Mottley, and myself spoke about it, and he thought Thai food would be the best type to prepare.  And, he was right, a night to remember raising money for the WBAF.   

You could not have mixed the law and food in any better way and for any better purpose. 

Cooking Healthy recipes from me, "legal gourmet", taped and show to air in February 2016 with Valerie Grange of Buddha B Studio on Healthy You TV show.

You know from reading this blog that I like both the law and cooking, and in February you will get a chance to see the cooking part displayed.   In a recent taping, I prepared both a Curry Calabrese and a spicy Eggplant with spagetti.    Both, recipes, I chose because they are healthy and quick/easy to prepare.  Hopefully, all you busy lawyers and others, can take a stab at trying either or both.     I fused some Italian flavor with vegan dishes, enjoy:

Curry Calabrese

Ingredients:
1. Butternut Squash
2. Curry Paste (1/3 cup or little more depending on your taste)
3. Garbanzo Beans (chickpeas) one 15 ounce can
4. Pepper Flakes (kind you use on pizza) about 2 tbs
5. Coconut Milk (unsweetened) 13 ounce can
6. Italian Parsley (or substitute cilantro) 1/3 cup or more
7. Olive Oil (2tbs)
8. Course Salt (Kosher) about 1 tbls or less depending on your taste
9. 3/4 cup water
10. Pasta

Time : 40 minutes total, about 10 to prepare

Prepare:
1. Peel the squash (hardest part of dish), cut in half, scoop out seeds (you may use them for something else, i.e. cook them in oven like many do with pumpkin seeds), cut each end off.   Then approx 3/4 inch wedges, and 1/2 inch thick half moons from neck end.
2. At same time, add water for pasta, cook in different pot while squash cooking
3. Heat large pot over medium high heat (less if good conducting pot), add oil, then curry paste and stir for a minute.    Add squash, and coat with paste, stir in the garbanzo beans, add salt, then coconut milk, and 3/4 cup water, and simmer.   Reduce to medium low or low heat depending on your pot, cover and simmer for 10 minutes, check squash for to see if it has softened (use wooden spoon).
4. Add the Italian Parsley, and pepper flakes, for 20 minutes, until squash is tender, but not too mushy.  Add salt to taste.
5.  Add spagetti to plate with curry calabrese on top (you may even delete the pasta if you wish)

Spicy Egglplant with broccoli-- this one is even faster

1. One eggplant (dice it, keep skin)
2. One bunch of broccoli (two cups, chopped)
3. Olive Oil (2 tbs)
4. Course Salt (1 tspn)
5. Cayenne Pepper 1/4 tsp or more
6. Two Garlic Cloves (minced)
7. paprika (1/4 tsp)
8. crushed red pepper (1/4 tsp) optional
8. water (3 tbsp)
9. pasta

10 minutes total cooking with five minutes prepare

Sautee (3-5 minutes) the the diced egglplant and broccoli on high heat (depends again on stir fry pan), with olive oil until browned eggplant, then add salt, parika, crushed pepper (optional b/c may be too spicy for some); cayenne and salt, mix well.   Stir well after reducing to medium heat, add water and cover, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes more, until broccoli soft to touch with wooden spoon.

Cook the pasta at same time, drain, and place on pasta if desired or even alone.  You may add a little more olive oil on the pasta at end too.

Cutting your losses in cooking and lawyering

We have all had this happen when cooking, a disaster in the kitchen.  I had this recently happen, I was cooking some sweet potatoes, and made the mistake of over cooking.    Really, better word would be  burning the food.    I made the mistake of doing too many things at the same time, and not paying attention to the food, on the stove.   A classic no, no.   And, as a result, my food burned and I had to throw out the pot due to the burn on the bottom.

And, much like this, you need to keep an eye on your case if you are the client.   Lawyers do work hard on cases, but at times need their clients to contact them, and lawyers need to keep an eye on the case and send updates to the client. 

If you don't, you will get burned and from the lawyers perspective, you will get lose out on some important pieces of evidence, and if you are the client you might get burned by the case.

Then what do you do?  Take note, you can rescue many situations, but, sometimes you have to throw out the pot and start over.  Hopefully, this will not  be the case in your case.