A Bay Ridge Arab-American group blasted the planners of a Fourth of July picnic this week after its offer to pitch in during the event was rebuffed by organizers who said they didn’t want to turn a patriotic celebration into an “ethnic event.”
The Arab American Association of New York said it offered to help out with entertainment at the picnic — which was sponsored by state Sen. Marty Golden (R–Bay Ridge) and Councilman Vincent Gentile (D–Bay Ridge) — and hire an Arab band to play a show, but organizer Chip Cafiero turned them down. (More)