WWW: We are here today with Donny Ankri, architect extraordinaire for the frum community. Our discussion today will focus on what a person should look for when doing a small addition. We’ll get into specifics and talk about the process. Donny, if somebody’s thinking about making an addition, who’s the first person they should call?

Donny Ankri: Definitely call an architect. Although you might typically think of calling a builder or a loan officer, they don’t have the vision that the architect does. Architects are really good at giving you a good understanding of the big picture. We take the bucket list of what you’re trying to achieve and show you how it can best fit your house. Once you have the general framework, you can reach out to other people involved.

WWW: Hello, we are here today with Yitzy Schleifer, Councilman for the Fifth District. Yitzy, thank you for sitting down with us today. Let’s start by talking about COVID and the vaccine effort; then we’ll touch on crime. First off, how has COVID impacted the community? How has the community responded to it?

WWW: What exactly do you do as a city councilperson? What is your actual role and how do you assist members of the 5^th district?

Schleifer: I deal with all day-to-day city/life issues. From police, fire, trash-pickup, the roads – really, any service the local jurisdiction is responsible for.

WWW: If someone has an issue, how would he or she know when to call you for assistance?

Schleifer: Most people don’t know, but I find that they reach out anyway. Because a city councilperson is visible and accessible, people reach out with all sorts of city, state, and federal issues. When it is out-of-city jurisdiction, I connect them with the appropriate agency or party.