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Brooklyn Daily
To the editor,
I applaud Councilman Carlos Menchaca (D–Sunset Park) for thinking outside of the box to find ample classroom space for our students (“A new direction! Sunset Parkers to city: Build schools west of Third Avenue,” online Dec. 23).
The Sunset Park community continues to grow, and is considered one of New York’s hidden treasures, especially with the stunning views of the skyline of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
As an educator and community education advocate in Coney Island, I would like to see a bigger picture drawn for the students who live and come to school in Sunset Park. Let’s talk Brooklyn history and the various transformations of the Sunset Park community. Our students should know the grass roots of the community and how accessibility to the harbor was a key factor in the life of Sunset Park. They should also know how the Native Americans inhabited the area in the 1600s, and sold maize, peaches, venison, and oysters to the Dutch settlers.
Then in 1834 you saw the establishment of Brooklyn as a city and an urban planning project took place. Sunset Park changed swiftly from farmland to an urban community, due to its central location. Urbanization continued into the 1850s with horse car lines and factories being built all across the area.
Scott Krivitsky
The author is a teacher at PS 188 in Coney Island.
‘Dead-horse’ Tom
To the editor,
I feel compelled to write about problems I see in Tom Allon’s “Spin Cycle” columns. In one piece he beats a dead horse, so to speak. He is opposed to horses pulling carriages around Central Park and on the streets of Manhattan. This issue was proposed, discussed, screamed about, and it was rejected as a real issue. It was whispered to be a “real estate” issue, in so far as developers wanting the land the stables are on. It was championed by animal cruelty advocates, despite proof that the people making their livings from this innocent endeavor actually cared well for their horses, had a low incidence of accident or death of horses, and that the majority of New Yorkers and tourists love this industry. Every film I have seen shows the carriages when they seek to evoke the flavor of New York City. They are iconic.
Political animals, including the mayor and the City Council, have backed off from a losing an unpopular issue. Most of Tom Allon’s reasons for bringing up this topic again and banning the horses are invalid. This makes me read his writing with more skepticism.
He is also a self-styled security expert. Contrary to his spin on events before 9-11, the growing desperation caused by Osama bin Laden’s threats of harm were well known to our security apparatus. What was missing was specificity. When news of the use of airplanes to hit us became known, to the best of my recollection, the government did issue warnings and airport security was beefed up. I believe that airport security was on heightened alert on 9-11, but the lack of specificity and the lack of cynical viewing of all traveling mid-easterners helped lead to the disaster.
When I taught high school in the Bronx, we had a false bomb threat. We were told to evacuate the building immediately. The police standing out in the rain with us told us that the police have a protocol — they do not act until the threats reach a certain level of specificity. There had been three separate calls to authorities. The third one was much more specific. Then the authorities took over, searched for a bomb, and took us to safety.
Seeking to blame Bush, Cheney, and Giuliani is quite suspect in an election year. It is also in the category of beating a dead horse. I don’t require that op-ed writers share my opinions, but I do expect a lack of hysteria, absence of overwhelming bias, and a comprehension of all of the facts. Dianne Stillman
New York City
‘Bravo,’ Sue
To the editor,
Inevitably some will call her racist but I say “bravo” to Sue Smith of Bensonhurst for her letter describing how our borough is being taken over by illegal immigrants, who use our social services and contribute nothing to our society (“Sounding off,” Sound of to the Editor, Dec. 25). Thank you, Sue, for being brave enough to write what you did.
Maureen Abato
Sheepshead Bay
Islamic State
To the editor,
While I agree with President Obama that guns should not be in the hands of people on restricted flying lists, I take exception to his statement that the Islamic State began to evolve several years ago. If this were the case, why did he say last year that he didn’t have a plan to deal with them?Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
•••
To the editor,
I frequently hear the word “inspire” in reference to persons joining the Islamic State, as having been “inspired” to join this group. It seems to me that “inspire” is a word that should be used as “inspired by a great piece of literature, a great musical composition, or an historical figure,” but to use this word in reference to a bunch of thugs like the Islamic State puts it, in my mind, totally out of context. The proper word to use should be “corrupt.”
Anything to do with the Islamic State can only be corrupt. The fools that join this terror group have been corrupted. Eliminate the word “inspire” when referring to the Islamic State and substitute it with “corrupt.”S. Loeb
Coney Island
•••
To the editor,
After all the human lives taken by the Islamic State, I decided I needed to see something positive that would cheer me up — like watching “Woodstock” the movie. The 1969 concert was one of the greatest, non-violent gatherings ever and young people spent three days through heavy thunderstorms to listen to music.
The original crowd was 250,000, but swelled to 500,000, making it a totally free concert. Many were against the Vietnam War and tired of learning of the killing of civilians. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? How a large group of people all coming from different backgrounds united in peace is a lesson worth reminding ourselves again.
Solomon Rafelowsky
Brighton Beach
Frankly, Jerome
To the editor,
Jerome Frank seems to think I favor the upper one percent of Americans that achieved their wealth through hard work and a drive to do better (“Income inequality,” Sound off to the Editor, Oct. 16).
Maybe in his case, his attitude and the attitude of so many people who bemoan the fact that they are not rich are self-repressing them to the lower rungs of society.
My family emigrated from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and other European states prior to 1900. Nothing was handed to them on a silver platter. They knew that to succeed in the new land, they had to learn its language and get together, getting their hands dirty, to scratch a living out of whatever they chose to do.
I pride myself, in some little way, on championing the rights of the workers, as I once was a vice president in a local union. During my tenure I learned a lot of the so-called one percent versus the 99 percenters. I saw how the different attitudes of the workers determined how far they progressed or regressed through the ranks. Those individuals with a sense of drive and determination climbed the ladder of success, ultimately leaving the ranks for management positions. Those with an attitude, a socialist-communist attitude of I-deserve-everything, were always in trouble with the boss, calling upon me and others in the union to help bail them out.
I invite Jerome to learn the true history of his favored socialist parties and understand that even with them, there was an upper one-percent-plus crust of political hacks enjoying a very good living while the people, under their tutelage, were the true working “slaves of the state.”
Capitalism ain’t perfect, but at least under its reign and our hard-fought-for-and-won American freedoms, one has a chance to stand up, excel, and achieve a higher income and attitude status.
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Tarnished Silver
To the editor,
The legacy of former State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in the area of transportation leaves much to be desired. Consider the schedule, budget, and the cost for four major transportation projects that he took great pride in promoting.
Washington paid twice with your tax dollars for building the new South Ferry subway station. First, for almost $600 million in 9-11 funding, a second time with more than $300 million in Hurricane Sandy funding to rebuild what was damaged. The downtown Manhattan Fulton Street Transit Center was first paid for with 9-11 funding. Cost overruns of several hundred million were covered by American Recovery Reinvestment Act funding.
Fourteen years after 9-11, the Cortland Street World Trade Center subway station is still several years away from being back in service. If there are no new delays, perhaps the station will reopen by December 2018. Transit officials fought for years over budget, funding sources, scope, and schedule. Construction for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority portion of the project just started a few months ago.
There is no funding in the agency’s propose 2015-2019 capital program to initiate construction for the second segment of the Second Avenue subway, north from 96th Street to 125th Street. It will take several decades and $20 billion more for completion of the next three segments of the Second Avenue subway, north to 125th Street and south to Hanover Square downtown in the financial district. The project was originally proposed in 1929!
Silver claimed to be a friend of both commuters and the 99 percent. In reality, he lived the life style of the one percenters. He frequently traveled around town with a personal driver at taxpayers’ expense. I doubt if he ever purchased a MetroCard or rode the subway, like several million New Yorkers do daily.
Larry Penner
Great Neck, N.Y.
•••
To the editor,
First Shelly, then Skelos, then others. So our dear New York State democratic leader, Shelly Silver, has been convicted on all counts of bribery and other misdeeds of directing clients’ money to his own pockets. Shelly lamented in his defense that it is standard practice by all legislators in Albany to do what he did.
A few months ago the State Senate refused to fund an expansion of jails. It was sad to hear that, as the good citizens of New York are eagerly waiting to hear about the next round of indictments and convictions of crooked politicians who infest Albany. Their next stop should be a few years in this fine state’s overcrowded jails.
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Two-fare drone
To the editor,
The proposal by state Sen. Marty Golden (R-Bay Ridge) to offer two free transfers for those who have to ride two buses before boarding a subway is wishful thinking. People who moved to Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach and Gravesend — areas represented by Golden — knew full well that they would be living in a two-fare (bus to subway) and sometimes three-fare (bus to bus to subway) zone with longer commutes to and from work.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority services continue to be one of the best bargains in town. Since the 1950s, the average cost of riding either the bus, subway or commuter rail has gone up at a lower rate than either the consumer price index or inflation. The MetroCard, introduced in 1996, affords a free transfer between bus and subway. Prior to this, riders had to pay two full fares. Purchasing either a weekly or monthly pass further reduces the cost per ride. Many employers offer transit checks, which pay even more of the costs.
For years, local politicians would stir the pot on this issue. Now the latest cause is the cost for those handful of people out of several million daily riders who have to pay two fares versus one. An overwhelming majority can afford and already purchase either a weekly or monthly unlimited MetroCard, which makes the “double fare” issue moot.
Residents, taxpayers, and commuters in Golden’s district would be better off if he worried more about how the State Legislature will find the $8 billion Gov. Cuomo promised to bridge the $8.3 billion shortfall in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority-proposed $28 billion, five-year capital plan when they reconvene in January.
It all comes down to the availability of increased funding for additional transportation service to serve residents of two fare zones in the outer boroughs. Operating subsidies are required to increase the level of service and reduce the amount of time one waits for a bus on existing routes. Same for adding more off-peak, late night and weekend service.
Larry Penner
Great Neck, N.Y.
MTA delay
To the editor,
No one should be surprised by the recent news from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that the Second Avenue Subway won’t be open by next December. The agency reminds me of Capt. Renault from “Casablanca” when he said, “I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on!”
Riders who have been waiting since construction restarted in 2007 with an original service date of 2013 may not be able to pick up their “winnings” until 2017 or 2018. The project was originally proposed in 1929!
Larry Penner
Great Neck, N.Y.
*****ED GREENSPAN LETTERS****
Mitt’s a hit
To the editor,
Given the current crop of Republican presidential candidates for 2016, a new “three Rs” should be in vogue — “Run, Romney, Run.” Millions of voters now realize the mistake that was made in 2012, and many will cross party lines and vote for him. Why not? Richard Nixon came back from defeat in 1960 to win the presidency in 1968.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
Classroom trenches
To the editor,
As Warner Wolfe used to say, “Let’s Go to the Videotape,” when he would want something investigated further. Similarly let’s go to the school records of violent criminals, or better yet, do something with them in their formative years so that they don’t resort to such violence. If you opened the school records, you would see evidence of cutting class, constantly disrupting the class, roaming through the hallways, cursing, screaming, fighting, and causing all sorts of mayhem.
The city’s school system has failed these students and others by their complete refusal to deal with disruptive youth. As a result, the latter become more emboldened with each passing year, and their deviant behavior worsens until an innocent life is lost.
We keep such students in regular classes if the parent refuses to sign for special placement. As a result, chaos results as teachers desperately try to keep order with burgeoning class sizes. When are we going to face this problem head on and not keep sweeping it under the rug? This is not a racist problem. Disruptive pupils come in all races, religions and all backgrounds.
Empty out the regional and district offices and get teachers back in the classroom. We need more psychologists and psychiatrists in the schools. Less suspensions will not solve anything.
So-called staff development is a complete joke and everyone knows it. Let all the militants, ultra liberals and critics of teachers get themselves teacher licenses and get a taste of what it is like in the trenches.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
‘Demagogue’ Donald
To the editor,
It has become apparent to me that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump would be absolutely perfect in still another remake of the great film, “All the King’s Men.” After all, as demagogue Willie Stark, Broderick Crawford received a well-deserved, best-actor Oscar. Trump could easily pass that, if not do even better in the part. He gives new meaning to the term demagoguery. Hollywood should definitely take notice.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
Liberal ‘nonsense’
To the editor,
There goes liberal nonsense again. Having the police less in schools will only worsen the situation. I guess that the rights of students who come to school to get an education, as well as teachers who want to teach, are disregarded to protect the chronically disruptive students. It is due to the liberal philosophy of those in charge of our schools that have ruined the school system.
Where is the teacher’s union in this matter? Probably out campaigning for other liberals. Our schools will never improve until disruptive students are removed.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
Pledge allegiance
To the editor,
Of course the Pledge of Allegiance should be recited in schools. As a student of public schools in the 1950s, I remember “the lord is my shepherd” being recited from the Bible in the auditorium until someone finally realized that this was a violation of separation of church and state.
Religion does not belong in our public schools. This means that all symbols representing a religion should not be in the school either. After all, by doing this, we are doing a disservice to those students not of a particular religion, as well as students who are atheists.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
Bernie Panders
To the editor,
Bernie Sanders, what’s so bad about living in a rent-controlled building? You bemoaned that fact about living in such a building in Brooklyn at the last debate.
The rent-controlled buildings on Kings Highway were, and are still, lovely buildings with affordable rents. Ditto for rent stabilization. You’ve been away so long that you probably don’t know that since 1970, if a rent controlled apartment is vacated, it becomes rent stabilized. May the Lord bless rent control and rent stabilization.
At the first sign of any change, you and so many other phony liberals are the first to move out of neighborhoods. Your remark about rent control shows that you’re a landlord’s man. Without rent control or rent stabilization, rents would be over the roof and this would lead to more homeless.
Apparently in Vermont, where you fled to, no such problems of homelessness exist to the degree we’re facing in New York.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
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