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Brooklyn Daily
To the editor,
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders returned to his Brooklyn home on the CBS nightly news. He took Scott Pelley on a brief tour of E. 26th Street in Midwood. Bernie could have been someone I knew way back when. His apartment house was in walking distance of mine. Bernie’s description of his childhood was so much like my own. Once we left our front door the world was ours to explore. He spoke of stickball and Spaldings, and decision making and rules during games that were defined by kids, not parents.
I, too, grew up in that atmosphere where I rushed down the steps of my apartment house and met my friends to run, play and do whatever felt right. His description of a Saturday afternoon back in the late 1950s took me back in time to candy stores and comic books, squash courts and tricycles. I became heartfelt for the simplistic time, when life was whatever you made of it that day. When did childhood become so hectic? When did parents decide their kids’ every move?
Midwood was instrumental in creating a generation of creative, intellectual, self-assertive truth seekers. Ruth Bader-Ginsberg, Bernie Sanders, Woody Allen, Barry Manilow, Marisa Tomei, Arthur Miller, and me!
Did they all play in my remarkable park on Avenue L? Did they place a penny on the ground and try to hit it with the magic pink ball, wait for the Good Humor truck, and ride their bikes up and down the avenue? Did they decide to come home at the right time, choose the right friends, and determine their destiny? Did the streets of Midwood make them independent? It seems that the art of street smarts is of real value.
A new study reveals that when kids are left on their own to make choices they become more creative. They are more apt to make big changes in the world, whereas those who are told what to do become successful, but never come close to reaching that one-in-a million level of greatness. My parents gave me guidelines to follow, but they gave me the confidence to open my front door and take matters into my own hands. I had their trust.
So Bernie, you truly made me homesick for a world I used to know more than 50 years ago. That world is long gone. I wish there was some way to bring it back.
Phyllis Weinberger
North Woodmere N.Y
Stop-n-go
To the editor,
I see that yet another traffic light is about to spring up in Marine Park (“New stop a go! Traffic signal coming to Marine Park intersection” by Julianne Cuba, online Feb. 23).
I guess that our police department has finally given up on scofflaws zooming past stop signs to the peril of anyone driving or crossing the streets. Riding around the neighborhood today is a maze of zigzag turns one must take to get home, avoiding as many of these lights as possible. A red light nowadays is no guarantee the drivers will stop either!
I remember a time, pre 1965, when there only were lights on main thoroughfares, such as Flatbush and Nostrand avenues. Drivers respected traffic signs, and police were quick to pull over and issue tickets to anyone passing a stop sign. But that was a time when police actively patrolled our neighborhoods and drivers respected police officers, drivers spoke English, knew what “stop” meant, and really cared about safety.
The very first traffic light in the neighborhood appeared in the fall of 1965 after a convertible loaded with teenagers blew a northbound stop sign on E. 36th Street. A cement truck was traveling westward legally on Avenue S. The carnage at the intersection made the newspapers, ushering in the new light.
The way things have deteriorated in the city, I believe that by 2020, just about every corner will have a traffic light, the mayor’s “Vision Zero” will be complete, and traffic will be at a virtual stand still.
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
J-Smart
To the editor,
Bravo to Dennis Lynch for his article about Jmart (“Asian market to replace Bensonhurst Waldbaum’s,” online Feb 1). We still live in a capitalist country. If a store does not carry what the customers want, the store goes out of business. If the store carries what the customers want, it becomes a success. From your article it seems Jmart will be a success
Name withheld upon request
‘Lyin’ Hillary
To the editor,
Hi, Shavana Abruzzo! I loved your Hillary Clinton column (“Lyin’ Hillary for prez? Not on yer nelly,” A Britisher’s View, Feb. 19). It was right on target for me!Ira Wolfe
Brooklyn
Speed hogs
To the editor,
I have one question about building a footbridge over Flatbush Avenue near the Kings Plaza shopping mall (“Panel says footbridge top priority,” By Julianne Cuba, Feb. 26): What happens to the senior citizen shoppers who cannot climb stairs to get on and off the bridge?
Hundreds of seniors go to Kings Plaza every day, as do other shoppers using crutches, wheelchairs, and canes. Young mothers push baby carriages and strollers throughout the mall. What are all these people supposed to do, if they have to cross Flatbush Avenue on foot and are unable to access the bridge? I do not think a footbridge is the solution to the traffic problem near Kings Plaza. What we need is a reduction in the speed limit near the plaza, and traffic control agents, guards or other policing of the traffic on Flatbush Avenue. It would probably be profitable to the merchants in Kings Plaza, as well as to those on the other side of Flatbush Avenue, to pay at least part of the cost for crossing guards to help potential customers cross the avenue and, thereby, be able to walk from one store to another on either side of the street.
It could be financially profitable for the city to station school crossing guards at shopping malls, senior centers and hospitals where there are dangerous crossings. These guards could prevent innumerable accidents and save the city a fortune in the costs of caring for injured accident victims. Patients going to and from Coney Island Hospital, for example, have to cross Ocean Parkway. This street is one of the most dangerous in Brooklyn. Hospital patients cannot be expected to climb onto a footbridge. They need guards to help them cross the street.
The only place where footbridges would be really useful is near schools and playgrounds where healthy children and students can easily cross them. The rest of us need crossing guards and slower speed limits.
Elaine Kirsch
Gravesend
MTA boondoggle
To the editor,
Another gasoline tax to help pay for infrastructure repairs will never solve the problem, if left up to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to correct the transportation situation (“Time for pols to fix this city up,” Political Spin Cycle by Tom Allon).
The Verrazano Bridge tolls paid for its construction 50 times or more over, but the tolls are still rising. In Sheepshead Bay the new express bus to Barclays Center has been a real boondoggle, totally wasting taxpayers’ money, not to mention the aggravation caused to riders of the B44 bus having to wait double or triple time only to see totally empty new buses passing them by — sometimes two at a time!
Had they kept the old system and didn’t change it until Flatbush Avenue, it would have adequately served its purpose of pleasing the politicians who needed to fill up Barclays Center with patrons.
Name withheld upon request
Shav’s readers
To the editor,
I am appalled and shaken up, by what M. M. Abdullah wrote in Sound off to the Editor (Feb. 12) about Shavana Abruzzo’s “A Britisher’s View” columns on Muslims.
He says she verbally attacks Muslims and “encourages violence.” Is Abdullah’s head in the sand? Duh?
Tell this person to read the Holy Quran, damn it! Tell this person to watch public videos of Islamic State dogs slicing off the heads of non-Muslims, and committing other cruel and horrific acts. I, too, “encourage everyone to read about Islam with an open mind…” Then the world will know why we have these religious fanatics.
Name withheld upon request
Sex offenders
To the editor,
Lenore Skenazy’s column “Sex offenders: Our favorite punching bags” (Rhymes with Crazy, Feb. 19) is very thoughtful and logical. I do not condone sex offenders, but I do not believe they should be banned for the rest of their lives when they did the time and paid for their crime.
I am reminded of Wyatt Earp, who was convicted as a horse thief in Arkansas in the 19th century. If his father and brother had not helped him escape, he would have been hung, yet he turned out to be a respected lawman in Dodge City. At that time if a person committed a murder in states such as Arkansas and Texas, they would be sentenced to 15 years in prison, but if they stole a horse, they were hung.
Like any other country, our criminal justice system is not perfect, and as Supreme Court Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes said: “The law is not based purely on logic, but more to the needs and traditions of a particular era in society.” Whether the judge agrees with the law or not, he or she has to interpret it to see it does not violate the U.S. Constitution, the state, and local charters.
The Prohibition era from 1919 to 1933 was also very illogical and the 18th Amendment was repealed by the 22nd Amendment. I believe judges should interpret the law accordingly and not let their fears guide them, whether justified or not. Some of these sex offenders, like thieves, may be decent in a different environment. They should be judged accordingly, whether they are good or bad.
Elliott Abosh
Brighton Beach
Veri-gone
To the editor,
My mom’s home phone went on the blink on February 7. Verizon’s automated recording scheduled an appointment for February 13 at 8 pm. My young-at-heart mom could only make outgoing calls, but not receive any. She had a cell phone during this time. Oops, she dropped it! It was dead as a door nail. Back to square one.
Feb. 13: The repairman called me, and said he fixed the phone. He said he would call me later to follow up. I still could not call my mother. He never called back. I called Verizon again. They said they would send out a second person on this day. Of the two repair people, no one called, no one showed up.
Feb. 14: I spoke to another Verizon representative. She made it a medical emergency, and said someone would be there by 3 pm. By 4:15 pm no one showed up. I called Verizon again and the representative in California said she had no record that I called on Feb. 13 and 14th! I threatened to switch to T-Mobile and demanded to speak to the supervisor. The supervisor double talked me. But she found the records that I made the phone calls. From sunny California she called the New York office. She told me the office was closed due to the freezing weather conditions. She explained that the wires could freeze and might split. She said she was making it a medical emergency for the next day.
Feb. 15: I spoke to the same supervisor who informed me that the office was closed because it was President’s Day. I received a text (hooray!) that someone would come on Feb. 16 by 4:59 pm. I also received an email.
Feb. 16: The repairman came and said the cable in the building was rotted out and old. He would come back the next day — between 10 am and 2 pm— to put in new cables.
Feb. 17: The repairwoman arrived at 11 am. She called me and explained everything she had to do. She also gave me her phone number. It would take approximately five hours. She installed Fios in the basement and wired my mother’s apartment. She also installed a large black box. She had a repairman assist her in the basement. By 4 pm the job was completed.
The bottom line is this: Either don’t use Verizon, or if you have a problem with your Verizon phone service, try to wait it out until June. There are very few holidays that could delay your appointment. Also, the weather is quite nice that time of the year! Mom, I love you!
Sherry Berkley
Coney Island
Bump Trump
To the editor,
As a concerned citizen, I am closely watching the race for the presidency, with particular interest in Donald Trump’s campaign. He has ascended to the top of the Republican field in large part by attacking or insulting his opponents and others, rather than for his detailed policy proposals. His attacks know no bounds. They are often personal and no one is immune. The list of those who have felt Trump’s wrath is long and growing all the time. Here, in no particular order is a list of those Trump has attacked, insulted or feuded with since he announced his candidacy for president: Megyn Kelly, a FOX News Anchor for having “blood coming out of everywhere”; Roger Ailes and Fox News; Mexican immigrants who according to Trump are largely criminals, rapists or drug couriers; all Muslims whom he would deny entry into the U.S.; American Muslims for allegedly celebrating the 9-11 attacks in New Jersey; Sen. John McCain for being shot down and held for years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam; Sen. Lindsay Graham, whose personal cell phone number Trump disclosed; President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Secretary of State John Kerry; Serge Kovalski, a disabled reporter for the New York Times and all disabled Americans by extension; Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and President George W. Bush; Sen. Ted Cruz, whom Trump purports is ineligible to run for president and is a liar; Sen. Marco Rubio; Soldier Bo Bergdahl who was captured and held as a hostage by the Taliban; Carly Fiorina’s face; former Texas Gov. Rick Perry; all government leaders for being incompetent; Planned Parenthood, and the Pope.
Given the extent and vituperative nature of Trump’s attacks, it is clear that he lacks the temperament and positive vision needed to be president. The American people must reject his candidacy.
Arnold Kingston
Sheepshead Bay
Immigrant flap
To the editor,
I heard on two different radio stations this morning that Councilman Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush) was one of two councilmembers who want to grant illegal immigrants the right to vote in New York. Remember, they broke into our country. They did something that is not legal. Understand that? Allowing them to vote is leaps and bounds away from American justice. Shame on you, Councilman Williams. You ain’t my friend anymore!
When I go to my senior center today, I will make an announcement about your plan, along with the facts that illegals are not being health-checked at the border, did not pay the fee to enter USA, etc. Aarrgh, I am angry.
John Perry
Flatlands
•••
To the editor,
Did anyone in your family ever tell you that you cannot accomplish anything you started. Well that’s not so. You can change your stars and follow your feet.
That’s what so many Central Americans were attempting to do. Getting away from the constant violence, rapes, murders to make a better life for their families. The big problem is many were sent back do to fear-mongering by the so-called political leaders. The same fate waited years ago for Haitians, who also were sent back.
How is it that no Cuban refugees were sent back to face Castro’s regime? After a short stay they became American citizens. In the 1980s, when many Russians came to America they were given benefits that native-born Americans could never receive. So many refugees can make a valuable contribution to society, if only given a chance.
Solomon Rafelowsky
Brighton Beach
Partisan wars
To the editor,
I read the recent pro-Democrat Party letters (“Sound Off to the Editor) and wonder if anyone recalls when President Bush had over a year left on his second term and Harry Reid’s bootlicker, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-Brooklyn) remarked, “We should not reverse the presumption of confirmation. The Supreme Court is dangerously out of balance. We can not afford to see Justice Stevens replaced by another Roberts or Judge Ginsburg replaced by another Alito.”
Notice his lack of respect when he didn’t call the other justices by that term. Now with less than a year left to serve, these same Democrats think the current occupant of the White House should have the same courtesy they wouldn’t extend to President Bush. Now these Democrats think this year’s docket is so important, but the one in 2007 was nothing because it wasn’t in their favor.
Basically the Democrats started this going back to the nominations of Robert Bork and Justice Clarence Thomas. Payback hurts, doesn’t it, Dems?
I watched the debates where Democrats competed to see who could give away more of other people’s money to those that didn’t earn it, and to bow down to special interest groups whose vote they were courting. They say Republicans want to cut social programs. Well many of them don’t work and are wasteful, yet they’re given more money every year. It is this current president that doubled the national debt in seven years, effectively burdening future generations to pay for it. Both parties voted on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. These wars would be closer to ending if this president hadn’t withdrawn troops before it was secure, and hadn’t let Libya and Syria go to hell causing a rise in the Islamic State — his “JV team.”
Eleanor Six
Brooklyn
Tricky Hillary
To the editor,
Hillary has to be one of the luckiest people on earth. Could you imagine winning six coin tosses in a row for the Iowa delegates? Wow! What are the odds? She should play the stock market or commodities market. Oh, wait, she did — almost 40 years ago she turned $1,000 into $100,000 in no time, lucky her.
I think she might have flimflammed poor Bernie the Socialist, maybe they used some double-sided coins she supplied them with, in case a coin toss was necessary or maybe he agreed to the old “heads-I win-tails-you-lose” trick. I could just picture her having him pick the cup the little ball was under while she scrambled them around, or the old odd finger trick throwing out the whole hand and telling him that was wild, she wins. Or even the old eenie-meenie-minee-moe trick, and tell him “and out goes you!”
However she did it, I guess we’ll never know — she is a pro.
Cronin Miller
Midwood
•••
To the editor,
Don’t “lie” with dogs Hillary! I can’t understand the uproar of hearing Hillary barking at a news conference. We’ve known for quite some time now that she was a dog and her hubby, Bill, has been a stray for years!
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Taylor-n-Kanye
To the editor,
Taylor Swift’s recent remarks on misogyny and the inhuman void known as Kanye West made me think of megalomaniac and greedy marketing “geniuses” (ghouls) who created megalomaniac-infused “creative acts” and successfully sold them to a willing public. Before their time arrived, and often before the individuals in these acts have had time to hone their craft, let alone know themselves, or pay their rightful dues via the passage of time.
I agree with Carlos Santana when he said about the Super Bowl half-time festivities: “This is just an invitation for you to consider iconic bands as part of your halftime entertainment. Real live music, real live vocals, and give the audience real live chills.”
In today’s world the vast reach of the Internet allows most anyone to now do this for themselves. All one need do is create and post a video on YouTube. Couple this with the desire of the mainstream media to distract citizens from being informed about the vital, socio-economic-political issues of the day by shoving garbage “reality” programming in front of the willing, and we have a vast, thick, tasteless soup of mediocrity defining too much of our culture today — a la the likes of the Kardashian clan, which includes Kim Kardashian’s misogynistic and messaging fool of a husband, Kanye West.
Good for Taylor Swift for having the composure and smarts to respond as she did to West. I hold on to a hope that if reminders like this, about misogyny, or racism, or greed, or other non-ideals keep finding a way to reach the masses, one at a time, then change can and will arrive, hopefully in my lifetime.
Barry Brothers
Homecrest
Town halls
To the editor,
As the Republican District Leader of the 46 Assembly District, I was compelled to attend the recent densely packed town hall meeting with Mayor de Blasio in Bay Ridge, the heart of my Assembly District. While I recognized the usual politicos and their staff filling the room, it was refreshing to see that actual concerned citizens and residents of Bay ridge were there in full force. Too bad the current Assemblymember of the 46 Assembly District did not present her views on the topics discussed, and opted to sit quietly.
Some of the issues discussed were the illegal conversions in Dyker Heights, sex shops posing as spas, and the waste transfer station being built upon our shoreline. A question was posed to the mayor about property tax rates and assessments. He stated that he would look at the tax rates, and request the City Council not raise tax rates, but he skirted the assessment issue. Let us clarify the fact that property assessments are based upon the property’s market value. Market value is how much a property would sell for under normal conditions. The property’s assessment is one of the factors used by our city government to determine the amount of the property tax.
Property tax rates are set by the City Council by determining the amount of taxes it needs to raise in proportion to the amount of money it needs to spend to maintain city programs.
Property tax rates and assessments are important points that pertain to illegal conversions of one- and two-family homes, especially in Dyker Heights, into multi unit dwellings. The main bone of contention is the lack of enforcement by the city and their inaction to alleviate this burgeoning problem. I believe that city agencies remain inactive in dealing with illegal conversions because illegal conversions generate high profit margins to those who invest in certain areas. Homeowners are offered and paid very large sums for their one- and two-family homes, increasing the market value of these homes, which result in higher assessments. Thus, the higher the assessment, the higher the tax rate for the neighborhood, resulting in more money for the city’s coffers.
The mayor stated he is aware of the situation, and has hired some new building inspectors, but he also pointed out that not every complaint is a true illegal conversion. He also placed the burden of accessing these illegally converted properties onto the shoulders of the NYFD. Mr. Mayor, the NYFD is there to save lives, not to generate income for the city through inspections resulting in fines and violations.
Quality of life issues regarding “spas” acting as illegal sex shops were brought up. A resident pleaded with the mayor to close down these “spas,” and shut down at least one avenue of human sex trafficking. A “follow the money” approach was the mayor’s cookie-cutter answer for this problem, but clearly more needs to be done to close these sex shops. In addition, the proliferation of Hookah lounges in Bay Ridge leads to the problems of exposing minors, especially teenagers, to the dangers of smoking. There are smoking bans throughout the city of New York, I am curious as to how and when these hookah lounges became exempt from this law.
Regarding the waste transfer station under construction on our neighboring shoreline, the shoreline of Brooklyn is not a dumping ground and our concerns need to be addressed and not be brushed aside. The sanitation commissioner clearly stated that Bay Ridge is one of the better areas in the city that follows recycling rules, and that garbage tonnage is down five percent in our area. Obviously no good deed goes unpunished!
Many other issues and concerns of Bay Ridge still need to be addressed and discussed. It is only through participation and awareness that they can be resolved. Town hall meetings should be more common, proliferate, and not be an occasional occurrence.
Lucretia Regina-Potter
The writer is the Republican District Leader of the 46th Assembly District and the Secretary of the Kings County Republican Party.
Challenger ‘lie’
To the editor,
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster took place 30 years ago, leaving us with more questions than answers over the decades.
Why did it lift off on a day when it was too cold to function properly? President Ronald Reagan liked to talk to the astronauts in space. His State of the Union speech was the next day. The shuttle had to be launched the day before to be up and running so he could talk to them during his speech.
Reagan pressured NASA to go through with it, even though it was too cold. Unfortunately the astronauts, who were also scientists, were not told about this. A news conference was held by the panel which investigated the disaster. The panel members were from NASA, except for Richard Feynman, a noted physicist and an independent member. He showed that the sealant got brittle and lost its ability to seal if too cold. He put a piece of it in a beaker of liquid nitrogen, then he took it out and broke it. Likewise the shuttle seals were rendered useless. The official story said the disaster was caused by a defective worker, but that was a lie.
Jerome Frank
Coney Island
Nuke mook
To the editor,
So now it’s the little fat guy with the bad haircut from North Korea trying to shakedown America by pounding his chest like a gorilla to show his strength so he doesn’t have to fight another gorilla. We used to call this “selling woof tickets” when we were kids growing up in Brooklyn — it was all for show.
Obviously President Obama, who is said to be a poker player, probably isn’t a very good one because he can be bluffed over and over again. I doubt Obama ever read Trumps’ book “Art of the Deal” or Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War,” a book written more than 2,000 years ago, and still used today by generals and leaders all over the world. Obama telegraphs his intentions to our enemies, telling them when we are sending troops and when we are leaving, complete with date and time. He traded five hardened terrorists for Bowe Bergdahl, a deserter whom he praised and who is now being court marshaled.
Obama made a deal with the devils of Iran, a country whose mantra is “Death to America,” giving them billions of dollars and withdrawing sanctions so they won’t continue making a nuclear bomb. They went back on their word and broke the agreement before the ink was even dry. So now the little fat guy with the bad haircut is going to see what he can get from Obama, like some other tyrants will certainly be doing soon because they only have about another year before he leaves office. They have to work fast, but they also know that if the new president has some cojones, like a Trump for instance, they will be out of luck.
Let’s not forget Iran held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days during the Carter administration. Jimmy Carter — a good, decent and very intelligent man, but a poor president in many ways — wasn’t respected at all by the Ayatollah of Iran at the time. Yet only hours after Ronald Reagan was sworn in, the hostages were released. Any guess why?
Maybe Trump is pounding his chest with his fists like the others who have been shaking Obama down, and maybe he isn’t, but either way I really don’t think those who bully Obama will try their crap on a Trump.
Peter G. Orsi
Marine Park
Reader wars
To the editor,
In response to J.J. Lauria (“Elliott Kibosh,” Sound Off to the Editor,” Dec. 18, 2015), I proposed sodium pentothal (truth serum) for terrorists and other violent criminals and suspects because I regard America to be very hypocritical in trying to preach and teach justice abroad when we can’t practice it at home.
Are not the members of the Ku Klux Klan — whose ranks included late President Harry Truman, late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W-Va.), and late Supreme Court Judge Hugo Black — and the American Nazi and Communist parties terrorists? Yet the First Amendment guarantees them the right to speak freely within the confines of reason.
Supreme Court Judge Abe Fortas, who served from 1965 until 1969, was a member of the Community Party, and even his most vocal critics — Sen. Howard Baker (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) — did not even bother to bring this issue up during his nomination because he was a hawk on the Vietnam War.
I would also like to point out to J.J. Lauria that if we engage in waterboarding what will our enemies do to our imprisoned soldiers? Remember, what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Elliott Abosh
Brighton Beach
Republi-CONS
To the editor,
How interesting when the Republicans running for president talk about taking back our country. They must have amnesia, since it was our government that signed peace treaties with the Indians, and broke each and every one of them. Then it pushed the Indians out of their lands, making them less then second-class citizens. All the stolen land should be returned to each Indian nation — pronto.
So what is the Republican agenda, besides each one attacking the other candidate? All I hear is how they want to cut every social program. What they seem to want is another war. Since we can’t seem to get out of Iraqi and Afghanistan, why would we want to send more American soldiers in harm’s way? I often wonder if these Republicans would encourage their children to join the military.
In Israel you have two options: military service or community service. Let’s stop this madness of war once and for all, and for once save lives.
Jerry Sattler
Brighton Beach
Gov. Gavone
To the editor,
Republican presidential candidate Gov. Chris Christie showed his true colors when he showed disdain for the young woman in the audience who asked why he wasn’t in New Jersey, but campaigning, while the snowstorm and flooding devastated his state. A lot of people might think Christie’s tough guy talk is cool, but in this case I think a lot of people think he’s a “gavone” — an Italian word for disrespectful and ill mannered.
That lady asked a sensible question and she deserved a reasonable answer. Don’t forget, Chris, you work for the people who your salary. To say to her, “What, do you want me to do go down there with a mop,” is as insulting and sarcastic as Hillary’s comment about wiping her server with “a cloth of something” while smirking.
If Christie wants to be known as the tough guy from “Joyzee,” try it with someone your size — if you can find someone. You just lost any slight chance you ever had of getting elected. The “I was only joking” doesn’t cut it. That’s what bullies say when someone finally stands up to them. You, governor, are a bully.
Peter G. Orsi
Marine Park
Chapter and verse
To the editor,
I am writing to convey my dismay at my treatment at a branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, where I went to replace a lost card. When I attempted to inquire about a new card at a room marked “staff” I was rudely told that I was in a staff work area. Someone vaguely gestured toward a hidden information desk, without standing up. At least four staffers were drinking coffee from large painted mugs.
I am a semi-retired, visually impaired senior citizen who has lived in Sheepshead Bay for 59 years. Two days after my family moved to the neighborhood in 1956, my father took me to the library to show me a place of “learning and safety.” He would be very surprised at the way library consumers are treated there today. When I reached the information desk and asked about renewing my card I was met with blank stares from two staffers. After repeating my question two times I was told to go to the computer behind the desk. A staffer expressed impatience when the computer was slow to reboot. She said she did not have time to hold my hand and said I should “just fill in the blanks and press send.” I asked how long it would take to obtain a new card and she clearly said one to two weeks.
I returned to the library in the given time period to inquire about my card. Two staffers ignored me until I asked to see a supervisor. Within five minutes I had a new card. One of the unnamed staffers asked me why I had waited so long to come back to the library. When I asked the supervisor what she was going to do about the way I was treated, she said she would meet with the staff “sometime in the future.” I returned to the library a few days later to pick up a book for my wife and asked a staffer about the supervisor that I had spoken to. I was told that she was at an all-day meeting. I went back to the library the next day and asked to talk to a supervisor. I was told they were off until the following month.
That Saturday I went to the library to read a newspaper. The supervisor I originally talked with suddenly appeared and asked to speak with me. With her voice raised so that all of my friends and neighbors in the room could hear, she said she hoped that we could be good friends and that I could be a “star” of the library. I told her that I had called the New York City Human Rights commissioner to lodge a complaint for discrimination. She said loudly that was my right. As she continued to talk to me in a raised voice she was joined by two other staffers. I left the library immediately because I felt embarrassed and confronted.
Martin Adelstein
Sheepshead Bay
****LARRY PENNER****
Off-track Andy
To the editor,
There is more to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s announcement that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority- New York City Transit will increase rehabilitation for subway stations to a state of good repair by 10-percent to 50-percent from originally 20 planned in the proposed 2015-2019 capital plan. The original $34 billion plan announced in Oct. 2014 proposed $448 million for bringing 20 subway stations to a state of good repair. The plan was cut by $6 billion to $28 billion. The MTA Board approved this revision. That was prior to Cuomo’s declaration about increasing the number of stations (or dollars) for New York City Transit’s renewal program. This plan still needs approval by the State Capital Program Review Board. It also requires the State Legislature to find $8 Billion promised by Gov. Cuomo. The City Council must also come up with $2.5 billion to meet commitments made by Mayor Bill DeBlasio to fully fund the capital plan..
If you increase the number of stations, the overall station renewal program would grow by $224 million to $672 million. Just what other transit capital projects and programs would have to be cut to support finding $224 million? Cuomo was silent on this key question.
According to a New York City Citizens Budget Commission report released several months ago, it will take 52 years or until 2067 for all 468 city subway stations to reach a state of good repair. Cuomo’s math just doesn’t add up. He reminds me of the cartoon character Wimpy who famously said, “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” When the bills become due, taxpayers will end up paying Cuomo’s bill.
Larry Penner
Great Neck. N.Y.
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.
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.
****ROBERT LOBENSTEIN*****
Crooked pols
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
Hill-n-Donald
To the editor,
Hillary Clinton was complaining that the Muslim terrorist groups were using Donald Trump for video recruitment purposes. That lie was quickly exposed and Hillary wound up with egg on her face. Then a video surfaced where Muslim terrorists actually were using footage from Trump’s campaign to recruit new terrorists. I wonder how much Hillary paid them to do this?
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Pie in the $ky
To the editor,
Our dear Gov. Cuomo has been on a media blitz unveiling grandiose building schemes — rebuilding the old Pennsylvania Station to an almost former glory, expanding the Javits Center to house the world’s largest ballroom and exhibit center, and other fantastic municipal works endeavors.
One thing that was silently spoken about, off camera, was the way the multi-billion-dollar projects will be paid for. Yes, it will be you and I, and our children and future grandchildren, who will be paying off his follies for decades to come. To build any project on time and within budget is a pipe dream, knowing the ineptness of state and city governments. After these clowns leave office, we all will be saddled for years with the debt load created by their schemes.
Maybe most of these plans should be voted down until Albany straightens up its own corrupt financial mess though, as these politicians are busy picking our pockets, I doubt it.
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
*****ED GREENSPAN****
Roving Randi
To the editor,
It’s bad enough when elected officials are running for other offices and they are away from their official positions. It is just as bad when people, such as American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten will be criss-crossing the country for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Randi, you have responsibilities that await your urgent attention. In the city more teachers are resigning than ever, they’re throwing the towel in because of the discipline procedures you and other liberal lunkheads have created. Hillary does not need you directly, but teachers throughout the country do, as they struggle with burgeoning class sizes, unruly pupils, overly aggressive administrators, and parents who rule the teacher and principal.
If Randi Weingarten and other officials can’t fulfill their responsibilities, they should take a leave of absence without pay.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
Get a grip
To the editor,
There is always an excuse for outrageous behavior. As the years have gone by, the new one is that the perpetrator was off their medication. In a recent case, several women were slashed by someone in and out of hospitals for mental illness. Why was he always released after each episode, only to cause additional mayhem? Same thing in school. Any teacher can tell you which of their students will go on to commit crimes. No one bothers to listen to them as children, when they are literally crying out by acting out for help. Instead, we either play their friend or just pass them on.
Since the family of the slasher knew what he was capable of, it was their responsibility that this individual be looked after. That is what families are all about. Don’t throw your problems on society and expect them to clean up the mess.
I just love when they say that the recalcitrant was in the process of getting his or life together. It is time for individual initiative and responsibility for one’s actions to rest on the individual and family members. Sure, many of these recalcitrant people and family receive welfare benefits and therefore they feel that everything is coming to them.
Ed Greenspan
Sheesphead Bay
Classroom sham
To the editor,
Politicians have conveniently ignored the problem of discipline in our schools. The lack of discipline is the major cause for teachers leaving the public school system within five years of starting to teach, or retiring as soon as they are eligible to do so.
No matter how good a teacher you are, you can’t teach without effective discipline and everyone knows that. Discipline problems start as early as kindergarten and with nothing done, the child goes from year to year in elementary school and will only cause havoc. If a parent doesn’t sign for special education placement, the child remains in a regular classroom and the disorder continues. As important as class size is, all you need is for one child to be continuously disruptive and little to no learning results. Years ago the 600- school concept for disruptive children was done away with. At least hard core troublemakers were kept out and sent to alternative settings.
When a disruptive child enters intermediate school (grades 6-8) the situation worsens because the child now has the added freedom of roaming the halls during change of periods. The problem is exacerbated now by principals who never taught a day, but are now rating teachers. If these principals taught they would see directly what is going on and change their attitudes about blaming teachers for everything. No matter how much money you pump into the school system, without discipline, the results will be the same, year after year.
The mayor and schools chancellor should be ashamed for weakening disciplinary codes. Lord only knows what else is covered up on a daily basis. Our deteriorating schools have become schools for scandal. Where is the union? It’s so happy to be out of the classroom that it couldn’t care less. Union officials get in overwhelmingly each time they come up for reelection, and the hierarchy within the union collects double pensions.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
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
Teaching 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
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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