By Demetrios Rhompotis
The weather hasn’t been very accommodating so far, but summertime is barbecue time and people in New York find ways to gather in the open air to meet with family and friends and spend some real quality moments – with really cold beer and premium cigars, if possible - that make existing bonds stronger and forge new ones. However, for Cypriot Americans, whose country of origin, Cyprus, remains divided after the 1974 brutal Turkish invasion and occupation, this time is not just about leisure and happy hours: barbecue has become a political tool with which friends of the cause are thanked and new ones are enlisted.
Recently, Philip Christopher and Nikos Mouyiaris, with Peter Papanicolaou as host, organized such a barbecue reception honoring Congressman Michael E. McMahon from New York’s 13th Congressional District, covering Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn (where Papanicolaou, and more than 20,000 Greek-Americans, live).
“He’s been a great friend of our community, he’s been outspoken on the issue of Cyprus and all the issues of concern of the Greek American community,” said Peter Papanicolaou. “Therefore we want to make sure he stays in Congress for many years and advances these issues.”
“I have a real kinship for Cyprus and what her people want,” Congressam McMahon explained at an interview with NEO magazine. “It’s very similar to what my forebears had in Ireland. There was an invasion and then after the invasion, settlers were brought to the island. Although it happened 600 years ago, the actions are sort of similar.” He also spoke of the need of citizens to have open lines of communication with their elected officials and to educate them on the issues, while making sure follow-up is taking place. “Often in American politics the squeaky wheel gets the oil. It sounds a little disparaging, but it is true: those who raise their voices are heard. So you have to continue to raise your voice.”
Rep. Michael E. McMahon was elected to the 111th Congress in 2008, winning a seat held by Republicans for almost thirty years. His District includes the entire borough of Staten Island, as well as the Bensonhurst, Gravesend, Dyker Heights, and Bay Ridge neighborhoods of Brooklyn. Improving the quality of life for residents through better infrastructure, jobs, healthcare and schools is the top priority of the Congressman. Rep. McMahon serves on the powerful House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where he sits on the Subcommittees on Aviation, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, and Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials. He also serves on the influential House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and was named to the Subcommittees on the Middle East and South Asia, Europe, Terrorism, Non-proliferation and Trade.
Prior to his election to the 111th Congress, he was a respected member of the New York City Council for seven years, and a partner in the law firm of O'Leary, McMahon and Spero. He chaired the Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management, and led the fight for environmental and conservation issues in New York City. A life-long Staten Islander, Rep. McMahon has been married for over twenty years to New York State Supreme Court Justice Judith Novellino McMahon. They have two children, Joseph (19) and Julia (17).
The economy is in everybody’s mind nowadays. How are things going?
I think what we see are some glimmers of hope. As the President has said, the stock market continues to tick upward, there seems to be a trend on that and that certainly is a reflection of confidence I think that people have in our economy. Also, the consumer confidence index has picked up half a percentage point in the last few months. I also see some important indicators, such as an increase in orders for short rail delivery; meaning that whole sales products are starting to move again, that is for manufacturing or construction. The real estate market, and I talk to real estate brokers all the time, they see some activity. We know that there is a lot of pent-up demand in the real estate markets, especially home owners and we are seeing that starting to manifest itself. We have a long way to go, but I’m optimistic that we are out of the deepest part of recession and we will start to move forward. And that’s what we need to have: we need to have growth in the economy that will solve the problems with the deficit, with unemployment, so we need to continue working on some of those priorities, like fixing the economy and creating jobs.
What are the main challenges for people from your district?
The economy certainly affects everyone, even those who haven’t lost their jobs, whose business haven’t been challenged. There is always that overriding concern and this trepidation in people’s conduct, so it is a big factor for us. But we also have in this district some overarching quality-of-life concerns. Living in a growing community and dealing with the fact that we have terrible traffic conditions, lack of mass transportation services; we need to do better on our schools, with our parks - maintaining them and making sure that people have a place for recreation - so we’ve got a lot of work to do and that’s what I started to do with the City Council and that’s what I will continue to do in the Congress.
What did you think of the Obama speech in Cairo?
For me, foreign affairs are very important and that’s why I got a seat on the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House. I think the president’s speech was a somewhat bold, yet measured, attempt to begin a dialogue with so many people in this world that had not had a dialogue with America for a long period of time. I don’t think anything he said was so much earth-shattering as the fact that we went to Cairo, to a major capital in a Muslim country, and said, look we have many issues. We are not going to solve them all today or tomorrow, but at least let’s talk about them. I think that it was a brave thing to do and I give him credit for it.
When it comes to the relationship between the US, Greece and Cyprus, there is a pattern of mixed messages from Washington. It seems as if these two countries are not treated as steadfast friends and allies by America.
I think that for America and for all democracies in the world, Greece, being the first democracy, and also because of its strategic position, its loyalty and friendship to the Western and Judeo-Christians ideals that we all share, it is such an important partner to us as we try to find a way to coexist with the Muslim world. Greece is an incredibly strategic partner for us and extremely important to us as well. I’m part of the Hellenic Caucus and consider myself a good friend of Greece for those reasons and also because there are many Greek-Americans in this district, 15,000 the census number showed and probably there are more, it’s always understated. So, I think we have to do work there. There is one thing in particular, which is the Visa Waiver Program and I had a meeting with Foreign Minister Bakoyannis to talk about that in Washington. I think it’s a mistake in American foreign policy that we don’t have that highest level of partnership on all levels with Greece and that is something we have to remedy. I didn’t know that (problem existed) until I was elected in the House and I thought how is it possible that we treat Greece differently than we treat Germany?
Or Slovenia…
Right, or any of our allies. That makes no sense to me. It’s something that I will continue to advocate on.
Regarding Cyprus, a European Union country and proven friend of the US, we have the case of a brutal invasion and continuous occupation by Turkey. Again, the US hasn’t been consistent, or even clear, when it comes to that issue, sometimes openly favoring the invaders.
About a year ago, in the very place that we sit today, I had the honor of meeting President (of Cyprus) Christophias, together with Archbishop Demetrios, and I had a great discussion with President Christophia and I was encouraged by his optimism that progress would be made in the talks Cyprus was having with his counterpart, the leader of occupied Cyprus. He seemed to think that some progress could be made. Obviously there have been some setbacks last year. It’s very similar to what my forebears had in Ireland. There was an invasion and then after the invasion settlers were brought to the island. Although it happened 600 years ago, the actions are sort of similar. So I have a real kinship for Cyprus and what her people want. They coexisted with Turkish Cypriots before and they can do that again, I’m sure. My country and the policy that I advocate for in the Committee, is that we have to convince the Turkish government to remove the troops from Cyprus and it’s important for us in the West that Turkey becomes a reasonable partner and even joins the EU. But, they should not be able to join the EU until they remove their troops from Cyprus. For me that is an absolute mandate. Cyprus is so strategically important to the world and the Eastern Part of the Mediterranean and I think that America should speak with a clear voice. Earlier this year, in a Committee meeting with Secretary Clinton, I raised the issue, and in particular the thought that we should not allow any aid for infrastructure coming from the United States or the UN to be used in other way other than be integrated for the whole island. She recognized that as a very important issue and said that she would consider that further.
While in Chicago she got very actively involved with the Macedonian Societies and continued after she moved to the East Coast, serving as member and president of various Hellenic organizations and specially the Benevolent Society of Aliakmon. She served as a Secretary and Governor to the Pan-Macedonian Association of USA and Canada. In 1995 Barbara Papigiotis, Paul Evangelou, Fotis Gerasopoulos and myself incorporated the Pan-Macedonian Studies Center, where she served on the board till her passing.
