Editorial
by Joseph V. Scelsa
HAVE Italian Americans become America’s invisible minority taken for granted and ignored? Just this past week the New York Daily News reported that Mayor Michael Bloomberg has invited members of the Sopranos, the TV mob drama, to join him at the Columbus Day Parade to march up Fifth Avenue. Obviously he does not think that the legitimate concerns of Italian Americans are important to him. True, not all Italian Americans think the show is insulting to their heritage in the way they present a corrupted version of our family values. However, even if Mayor Bloomberg disagrees, isn’t he still the Mayor of all the people? At least 30 % of those killed tragically at the World Trade Center were of Italian heritage including the very backbone of New York-- our firefighters, police officials and emergency service workers not to mention the construction workers who had to clean up the site. We represent over 10% of the vote in New York City. Why doesn’t he get it? Or does he.
Mayor Bloomberg is a very smart and successful man who before becoming Mayor built a media empire. He more than anyone knows those who have a voice will be heard. A&I Weekly wants to be your voice, our voice. We are dedicated to bringing you all sides of every issue that affects us as a people, you, your family, your business and our image. We are interested in bringing you both an American and Italian perspective on what is happening today, which you won’t find in The New York Times, or Washington Post.

Thanks to the assistance and support of America Oggi which believes in our vision of an English language weekly, we have been able to bring you this prototype of A&I Weekly in time for the Columbus weekend. Please support A&I Weekly even if we disagree. We promise you will be heard.

Publisher A&I Weekly