There is a need to tell what happened, as much as a need some people have to bury it.
Many of us, if not all Americans, remember where we were on that horrific morning. I remember not only where I was at 8:46 AM… But I remember the days that followed, as they engulfed the tragedy. On 9/11, my 911 went out to Foodirect.
Foodirect is the largest wholesale food distributor company In New York. They carry a catalogue of over 3,500 products. Beyond traditional meat and poultry warehouse fulfillment, they supply fresh produce, pantry staples, dairy, specialty items, beverages, paper products and cleaning supplies. Foodirect operates out of a massive 72,900 square foot full-service distribution center in the Hunts Point Cooperative Market...following a $22.2 million expansion project (more about that later). Foodirect is a family owned business. And I was married to the owner.
We all have our terrible memories of where we were, what we were doing, when the twin towers were attacked. When our lives, our freedom and our beliefs were attacked by terrorists. At such crucial turns of history, Americans have choices to make – to come together, to support one another – or despicably, to turn the other way. The owner of Foodirect…he turned the other way.
How my then husband reacted to the terrorist attacks pretty much tells you a lot about a person. All that I have written about my story… Well, you shouldn’t be surprised. The owner of Foodirect chose to not support his fellow Americans. He chose to continue business as usual. Not helping a single soul - Robert Levine was OK so that was all that mattered to him. Diagnosed as a person with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, he fit the description perfectly.
When someone is in need of help, a person with strong narcissistic traits responds based on how the situation impacts their own image and control. Because they typically are incapable of empathy, they don't offer genuine, altruistic support. Everything is transactional.
As much as we don't desire to live in the past, the past lives in each and every one of us to some extent. And I remember that day, 25 years ago, clearly.
I was in a friend's kitchen on September 11, 2001. I was housesitting a home in New Jersey, leaving my Greenwich, Connecticut apartment for a few days.
It was early morning, as I drank my coffee with the radio on. I heard the words that America heard. A plane had flown into one of the towers. Unheard of, I froze, looking out the window at the sky, which only miles away, was a weapon used by evil. My first thought was of my friend, whom I had just dropped off at Newark airport only hours ago. He had just flown to Amsterdam on business the night before. I had not heard from him since his expected arrival in Amsterdam.
In a complete frenzy, I finally contacted him via phone, to hear his voice, and thank God he was OK. Then I turned my attention to the television. I was in shock along with the rest of the world.
I literally jumped into action - I respond well in times of crisis but change the aisle in the grocery store and I'm screwed. I got on the phone to my lawyers in New York City who were helping me through my tedious divorce at the time.
My representation through the divorce proceeding, which was underway already for 3 years at that time, was Raul Felder. His right-hand man in his law firm, Ken Goldstein, was not only my acting attorney, but a dear friend in my life. I need to link this all together....
In 2001, I was still married to Robert Levine, with the divorce from hell well underway. Foodirect was a marital asset…
So, at the time of 9/11/2001, I was still married to Robert Levine. And the business of Foodirect was a marital asset, which I was entitled to half. Robert was always boasting that he owned the largest wholesale food distributorship in the Hunts Point Market of the Bronx - he sold thousands of items from food, paper goods, cleaning supplies to beverages. You can look it up on their website and see their inventory, which has not changed much since.
Hearing of this horrific tragedy, my immediate reaction was to get supplies, whatever possible, out to the workers and survivors at the World Trade Center. To get the workers food and supplies, along with Foodirect trucks to assist the volunteers, the rescuers the survivors… I wanted to get whatever they needed to them ASAP!
Surely, the Foodirect trucks could be there to help and assist in the rescue and recovery. And all the cleaning supplies, paper goods, food! Whatever they needed.
I phoned Raul Felder, telling him that I wanted to have food wrapped up and at the disposal of the city of New York. I wanted all products sold by the company to be donated to the cause of rescue and recovery, clean up etc.
The comment I received was that it would never fly with Robert Levine. Mr. Felder knew who he was dealing with by that time. Everyone knew who Robert Levine was… And who he wasn’t. He wouldn’t give a person ice in the winter as the old expression goes. A true narcissist and business owner with unscrupulous tactics - the world revolved around him – – there wasn’t an ounce of giving in his body, unless he could use a situation – as he would only occasionally give unsellable foods to a shelter in order to get a tax write off… Only foods that were spoiled, past expiration dates or in broken or unsealed packages.
I was persistent as I then spoke to Ken Goldstein, my other attorney. I insisted the business Foodirect was half mine. I wanted my part to be used to help our country. My half of the business was to do whatever Mayor Giuliani needed at the time. Mayor Guiliani was also a client of Mr. Felder's and we had met several times in Mr. Felder's Manhattan office.
Phonecalls were made by the attorneys. All assistance was then denied by Robert Levine. Foodirect did not donate a morsel, nothing, not even a paper cup. Shame on him. Shame on his livelihood and all the luxuries he will continue to enjoy. Shame on what he taught my sons on that horrible day of 9/11.
My 911 call to help New York was mocked by my then husband. He wouldn’t give anything to help our country. As I asked Mr. Felder to contact me or Giuliani on my behalf to see if we could override Robert's refusal and disgraceful attitude, I was told I would have to go through the courts, and get a judge to decide… And it would continue to be a tremendous battle with Mr. Levine. His orchestration of legal abuse to drain me in court was already underway during my divorce proceedings.
The city was so overwhelmed. Our country was in a state of trauma, terror, and devastation. There was no time to begin another legal motion to get the necessary goods and services donated, against Mr. Levine‘s decision. Foodirect never got involved to help our country. Robert Levine continued to run his business as usual. Without a second thought as to what happened, only miles away from the Hunts Point Cooperative Market, only miles away from the warehouse of Foodirect. It was no sweat off his back as he liked to say. It was business as usual for him, on September 11, 2001.
So now, as I look back, my heart is wrung dry. My sons are now working in the company. All that I tried to teach my sons throughout their childhood years with me may have been totally forgotten.
Friends of Karen, helping families with children suffering with cancer, donating to buy an ambulance in Israel, Mogen David, midnight runs in soup kitchens… All that I did with them during their childhoods is most likely forgotten.
Not long ago, I was watching the news on television when the company Foodirect was mentioned. My divorce has been completed years ago, but Robert Levine never gave me the financial equivilent of half of the company in the divorce settlement. He made so much disappear. But when I heard the company on the news...I was surprised.
New York is a most forgiving state. Governor Hochul gave Foodirect $1million in a donation toward their expansion! With all the struggling businesses in the state of New York, businesses going bankrupt, owners losing everything....Hochul gave so much money to a company owned by affluent millionaires - my ex and my 2 sons who all live in the multimillion-dollar homes with luxuries most people only dream of. Robert tells everyone he is "living large."
While the state documents the $1 million grant to Foodirect as a standardized infrastructure project for green energy and food logistics, it completely ignores the interpersonal and familial wealth behind the business. To the everyday citizen or a struggling business owner, seeing a company tied to multi-millionaires and highly influential real estate empires receive a massive taxpayer-funded handout feels incredibly unfair.
When New York needed Foodirect, no assistance was given. And for the life of me...how does a business that doesn't need the money take it away from other livelihoods that are truly struggling in our economy?
Here's an article about it:
Ethics of the fathers “be on your guard with the ruling power, for they bring nowhere near to them except for their own interests; seeming to be friends such time as it is to their own advantage, they stand not with a man in the hour of need.”
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