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TRANSIT: MTA: Expect Marine Parkway Bridge delays tomorrow morning

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By Max Jaeger

Brooklyn Daily

The Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge will intermittently close early tomorrow morning, and pre-dawn drivers leaving Queens may want to find another way back to Brooklyn, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced.

Workers will close the bridge for 20-minute spans from 12:01 am to 5 am on March 9 to test lifting mechanisms, officials said.

The bridge’s Queens-bound roadway is closed from 7 am Monday to 1 pm Friday until mid-May, according to an authority service advisory.

Reach deputy editor Max Jaeger at mjaeger@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260–8303. Follow him on Twitter @JustTheMax.

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CONEY ISLAND: Head surgery: City removes two leaders from Coney Island Hospital

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By Julianne Cuba

Brooklyn Daily

It’s an emergency doctor-ectomy!

The city is removing top leaders from Coney Island Hospital a month after a controversial emergency-room death on Feb. 1. Officials reassigned executive director Robert Hughes and medical director Dr. John Maese from the city-run hospital “to improve the patient experience,” and a chief nurse is retiring, a spokesman said.

Patient Grisel Soto died there last month after workers apparently mistook a serious illness for bad reaction to synthetic marijuana, the New York Post reports. But her death was not the sole reason for the high-level changes, officials aid.

“The changes at the hospital are not related to any individual incident,” said New York City Health and Hospitals spokesman Ian Michaels in a statement.

Soto’s death spurred the agency to extensively review Coney Island Hospital, uncovering leaders there hired 450 employees — mostly nurses — without proper authorization, according to the Post.

Michaels insists otherwise but refused to elaborate.

“I don’t know the steps that actually need to be taken to authorize a nurse,” he said.

Michaels does not know when the review began or ended, he said.

Hughes will be executive director of Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility, a post he previously held. Maese will remain in the system at an unspecified leadership role, and chief nursing officer Terry Mancher will retire, Michaels said.

The medical examiner’s office is still investigating Soto’s death. Family members believe she died from undiagnosed meningitis, the Post reported. Investigators are performing additional tests, because the initial autopsy did not reveal what killed the woman, said medical examiner spokeswoman Julie Bolcer.

“An examination of the body was completed last month, but the autopsy is not yet finished,” said Bolcer. “Highly contagious meningitis has been ruled out, whether it’s a different kind, we have no idea yet.”

Reach reporter Julianne Cuba at (718) 260–4577 or by e-mail at jcuba@cnglocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @julcuba.

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SHEEPSHEAD BAY: Sheepshead Bay rising: Tide of development washing over nabe

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By Julianne Cuba

Brooklyn Daily

Development is anything but sheepish in Sheepshead Bay.

The once-quaint marina town is shaping up to be the borough’s next development hot-spot, real estate watchers say. A 28-story condo is going up on Voorhies Avenue, and that’s just the bellwether for a building boom that could leave the old fishing village looking more like Downtown. But one resident says if the neighborhoods creaky infrastructure doesn’t get updated pronto, all construction should be called off.

“I’ve been preaching the warning of over development for over 30 years,” said Steven Barrison, president of the Bay Improvement Group, whose family has lived and worked in the area for more than a century. “And now after Sandy, we should have stopped development. Our infrastructure can’t handle it. It’s a disaster, it’s shameful.”

Councilman Chaim Deutsch (D–Sheepshead Bay) has called on new developers to build water holding tanks to stem sewer backups when heavy rains slam the seaside nabe.

And don’t expect the boom to slow any time soon, one real estate pro said.

“There’s a lot of development in Sheepshead Bay,” said Nancy Pecoraro, a broker with Fillmore Real Estate. “Definitely more in recent years — tearing down old buildings. It’s definitely more of a city feel with all of the condominiums going up. And definitely a big change to the waterfront — Sheepshead Bay itself — and Brighton Beach.”

Developers submitted plans for 18 new offices or multi-family apartment buildings since March 7, 2015, according to city records. They applied for 17 such permits last year and just 13 in the same period the year before that.

Recent interest appears to center on the Sheepshead Bay Road subway station, Kings Highway, and Ocean Avenue between Avenues S and U.

There are four new buildings — all six stories or higher — in the pipeline within a five-minute walk from the neighborhood’s eponymous subway stop. One of them includes the massive 300-foot, 236-unit apartment complex under construction at 1501 Voorhies Ave.

Kings Highway is another development hot-spot with nine new applications on file for buildings six stories or more.

And the city has already approved four residential buildings six stories or more along Ocean Avenue between Avenues S and U, records show.

One of the first buildings to top out will likely be the seven-story, 58-unit apartment rising from the rubble of El Greco Diner, said Aliaksandr Svetlakou of real-estate megalith Cushman and Wakefield.

The new Voorhies Avenue complex — soon to tower 20 feet over Saint Marks Roman Catholic Church’s six-story-steeple as the area’s tallest building. The 28-stories complex is unique to the area — city zoning law limits structure size based on the building’s lot, but developers on Voorhies Avenue combined several lots to allow for a taller building without needing a rezoning, city records show.

It will be the area’s largest for the foreseeable future, Svetlakou said.

“A lot of development is happening as we speak, but nothing of that caliber,” he said.

Reach reporter Julianne Cuba at (718) 260–4577 or by e-mail at jcuba@cnglocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @julcuba.

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GRAVESEND: Bank error in their favor! Chase mortgage crisis settlement funds $3-million Marlboro Houses upgrade

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By Dennis Lynch

Brooklyn Daily

They’re investing cash from Wall Street in W. 11th Street!

Residents of Gravesend’s Marlboro Houses will get new appliances and a brand-new basketball court courtesy the unscrupulous mortgage loaners at JP Morgan, local pols announced on March 3. The banking giant forked over $13 billion to the state in 2013 for its role in the 2008–2009 financial crisis, and $3 million of that will pay for the sorely needed upgrades, said the tenant association president.

“Our stoves are outdated, and our fridges are the same, so that’s really why need this,” Betty James said. “The playground on the grounds is owned by the Parks Department so we’re going to break new ground on our property for the court.”

They plan to build the new court in a space on W. Eighth Street, behind Building 20, James said. Officials haven’t determined whether the court will be lit — designers will figure that closer to construction, a spokeswoman for Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Sheepshead Bay) said.

The money will buy new stoves and refrigerators for all of the 1,765 apartments in the development and will also fund picnic- and recreation-area rehabilitation along with the new ball court.

Cymbrowitz and Assemblyman William Colton (D-Bensonhurst) announced the upgrades to a crowd of residents gathered at the Marlboro Senior Center. They credited Gov. Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) for funneling the dough to the housing authority for the much-needed improvements.

State lawmakers put aside $100 million from 2013’s landmark settlement with JP Morgan — the largest with a single entity in American history, according to state Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman — in the 2015–2016 state budget to fund upgrades at New York City Housing Authority developments. They allocated another $148 million in the budget “to support various affordable housing and community development programs” in the city as well, according to the attorney general’s office.

The housing authority upgrades are not the only benefit Brooklynites got out of the settlement. Roughly $613 million in cash went to provide legal aid and housing counseling to victims of Hurricane Sandy. Another $400 million went to “consumer relief for struggling New Yorkers,” according to the attorney general’s office.

Reach reporter Dennis Lynch at (718) 260–2508 or e-mail him at dlynch@cnglocal.com.

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BAY RIDGE: Asleep at the wheel: Driver zonked out in 86th Street traffic

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By Max Jaeger

Brooklyn Daily

Call it a passing-out lane.

Police arrested a 33-year-old man for driving under the influence after they found him slumped over the wheel of his car in the middle of 86th Street on March 5.

An ambulance driver discovered the guy passed out in traffic between Fourth and Fifth avenues in Bay Ridge at about 5 pm, police said. The driver was so whacked out that he couldn’t stand on his own, law enforcement sources said.

The man, who gave a North Carolina address, refused a breathalyzer test, officials said.

Police charged him with driving impaired by drugs, cops said.

But officials in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office said the case was sealed on March 7 and declined to specify why.

Courts typically seal cases when the defendant is a juvenile, to protect trade secrets, or when leaving the records open to public inspection could hamper an ongoing national security investigation, according Federal Judicial Center materials.

A woman who answered the phone at the North Carolina address the man gave said she’d never heard of him.

Reach deputy editor Max Jaeger at mjaeger@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260–8303. Follow him on Twitter @JustTheMax.

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BOROBEAT: People’s Playground celebrates Black History Month

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By Dennis Lynch

Brooklyn Daily

Coney Island’s white sands are full of black history.

Locals celebrated African- and Caribbean-Americans’ contributions to the neighborhood with song, poetry, and awards during a Black History Month party at Liberation Diploma Plus High School on Feb. 23. One of the sea-side do-gooders honored said he could not have been more proud to receive a proclamation from organizer Councilman Mark Treyger (D–Coney Island) recognizing his work in the neighborhood.

“It’s a great feeling to be honored,” said Keith Suber of the Suber Foundation, which provides free “pre-apprenticeship” construction industry training to troubled youth and recently released convicts. “Overall, the whole night was really entertaining too, there was a lot of spirit going around.

The councilman also presented local activist and Community Board 13 member Queenie Huling with an award for campaigning to open a local medical center quickly after Hurricane Sandy shuttered it in 2012.

Students from area schools including PS 188 and IS 303 read poems by Maya Angelou, Tupac Shakur, and Langston Hughes. Other student groups sang black history-themed songs. Young members of local community groups including Coney Island Generation Gap and Coney Island Youth Alive also performed skits and musical numbers, and a Coney rap duo also performed.

Students from PS 90 sang the classic civil rights protest song “We Shall Overcome” along with “A Song of Peace,” and “America the Beautiful.” It was the chorus’ first public performance — and one to remember, the group’s music teacher said.

“They were very excited, and I think that was very impressionable event in their minds,” Phyllis Hoffman said.

Reach reporter Dennis Lynch at (718) 260–2508 or e-mail him at dlynch@cnglocal.com.

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: South Shore returning to Madison Square Garden

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By Joseph Staszewski

Brooklyn Daily

South Shore sped out to an early lead and never slowed down in its best performance of the season — one that will bring it back to Madison Square Garden.

The top-seeded Vikings, the defending city champions, cruised to a 68–38 victory over No. 4 and rival Grand Street in the Public School Athletic League Class AA girls’ basketball semifinals at City College on March 8. It is the program’s sixth trip in the last eight years.

South Shore got there again by jumping out to a 20–5 lead in the first quarter and never looking back against a Wolves team known for its comeback.

“It was very important, because we know how they get when we get a big lead,” said sophomore guard Destiny Philoxy, who scored 16 points. “They start going crazy. We had to keep the lead.”

The Vikings (22–4) started strong behind junior forward Selena Philoxy — Destiny’s older sister — and Velana Hickerson. The duo combined for 12 of the team’s first 20 points. Grand Street had little answer for Selena Philoxy on both ends of the floor as she scored 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. She set a tone that South Shore was going to be the aggressor. “I don’t care who is down in that paint, I’m going to box them out and get the boards,” Selena Philoxy said. “That’s one thing I’m good at.”

Grand Street, whose star Kaisah Lucky got into early foul trouble, kept trying to push its way back in the game, but South Shore just wouldn’t let it. Asianae Johnson and Shanice Graves each scored nine points for Grand Street (18–8), which was down just 12 late in the second quarter and 13 late in the third. Vikings coach Anwar Gladden credited the team’s defense.

“We got better as the quarters went on,” he said.

And Destiny Philoxy, who hit a 25-foot trey in the fourth, continues to play beyond her years. She kept turnovers to a minimum to limit Grand Street transition opportunities and continually found teammates for easy hoops after penetrating the paint. It is the type of play Gladden expects from her.

“We love her toughness,” he said. “She is tough as nails, and she refuses to lose.”

Gladden’s club also refuses to end the year with anything less than a city title. It faces No. 2 Francis Lewis at Madison Square Garden at 10 am on Saturday. A win would be the program’s second-straight crown, but this group of players sees it as their first, because key seniors graduated.

“We want this title so bad,” Destiny Philoxy said. “We are not going to stop until that last buzzer ends.”

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Lincoln could throw quite the Garden party

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By Joseph Staszewski

Brooklyn Daily

Saturday was a banner day for Abraham Lincoln — and this Saturday could be even sweeter.

Railsplitters alum Isaiah Whitehead dropped in a career-high 33 points, while connecting on six of 10 three-pointers in Seton Hall’s 80–66 win at DePaul in its regular season finale on March 5.

Later that night, the high school’s boys’ basketball team punched its ticket to Madison Square Garden for its first Class AA Public School Athletic League title game in three years. It beat George Westinghouse 59–50 in the semifinals at St. John’s University with former Seton Hall assistant Dwayne “Tiny” Morton back at the Coney Island school’s helm after a year in New Jersey.

“It definitely feels good for me, but those kids too,” Morton said. “A lot of the kids are from Coney Island. They always dream about going back to the Garden.”

If you think that sounded great, imagine what it will be like on March 12 at the World’s Most Famous Arena. Lincoln takes on rival Thomas Jefferson at noon for its potential first title since 2013. If Seton Hall can get to the Big East final at 5:30 pm that night, Whitehead and Desi Rodriguez — the two kids responsible for the Railsplitters’ last crown — will be playing for an even bigger championship.

Morton, who watched Whitehead in the afternoon, wasn’t aware how big next weekend could be for Lincoln until he was told after the game. Whitehead — an All-Big East first team selection — and Rodriguez likely heard about it soon after too.

“That would be wonderful,” Morton said. “Wow — imagine that. I’m going put pressure on them.”

It is certainly a possibility. The Pirates are the No.-3 seed and would need to beat No. 6 Creighton in the quarterfinals — and likely No. 2 Xavier in the semis — to get to the title game. Seton Hall owns wins over both clubs in the second half of the season.

Seton Hall is on the cusp of its first National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament appearance since 2006, and Morton is a win away from ending a roller-coaster season with yet another city title. Knowing Lincoln alums might be playing after them will only add to the players’ motivation to bring a city championship back to Coney Island.

“That’s great knowing that a couple of players from Lincoln are playing in the championship game and we’re playing in the championship game,” senior fowaard Cahiem Brown said. “That just boosts your confidence seeing great players.”

What a Garden party it would be.

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Canarsie-native Alkins picks Arizona over St. John’s

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By Joseph Staszewski

Brooklyn Daily

Rawle Alkins will not be returning home to play college basketball.

The former Christ the King star and Canarsie native passed on the chance to return to New York City and play at St. John’s when he verbally committed to Arizona on ESPN on March 7. Alkins picked Coach Sean Miller and the Wildcats over the Red Storm, North Carolina, North Carolina State, and University of Nevada Las Vegas. He let out a sigh of relief after the words Arizona left his lips.

“It’s a relief, getting that stuff away,” Alkins said on the broadcast.

Arizona came on strong for the 6-foot-4 Alkins, who is currently playing at North Carolina’s Word of God Academy. The Wildcats were a late addition to the five-star recruit’s final list of suitors, but it was the last team standing. Arizona is 24–7 and currently ranked No. 15 in the Associated Press Top 25. Alkins credited his decisions to the relationship he forged with Miller and assistant coach Emanuel “Book” Richardson.

“One thing when I took that college visit that really stuck with me was the fact that winning was the only option with them,” Alkins said. “Coach Miller just stresses winning.”

Alkins, sporting a gray suit and Arizona logo-emblazoned blue tie, said he didn’t realize how far basketball could get him until he was a freshman at Christ the King guarding current Fordham guard Jon Sereve — then a senior — at practice with then-Rams coach Tom Pecora in attendance. Fordham offered him a scholarship on the spot.

“From there I just said, ‘Wow. I can do something with the game of basketball,’ ” Alkins said.

He won three straight Catholic High School Athletic Association Class Intersectional titles with Christ the King and two state Federation crowns. Alkins was the league’s regular-season and playoff Most Valuable Player as a junior. ESPN analyst Paul Biancardi compared his game to former New York City greats Lance Stephenson and Isaiah Whitehead.

“This guy is powerful, he’s sturdy, he uses the body to score, and his skills are getting better,” Biancardi said on the air.

St. John’s will not be short on local talent next season — even with Alkins heading West. Jefferson guard Shamorie Ponds, junior college standout Bashir Ahmed of The Bronx, and German wing Richard Freudenberg highlight next season’s class. The Red Storm has the top recruiting class in the Big East, according to 247Sports.com’s composite team rankings. Coach Chris Mullin and his staff are still in the mix for five-star recruits Thon Maker and Terrance Ferguson.

Now Alkins will focus on getting ready to make an immediate impact at Arizona. He has plans on dominating the Pac-12 conference.

“I’m in the gym. I’m working out, trying to get the college ready body,” Alkins said. “I don’t want to be a freshman that sits on the bench cheering for the team. I want to be one of the impact freshman the [pundits] talk about at the beginning of the year.”

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LETTERS: Sound Off to the Editor

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Brooklyn Daily

To the editor,

My mom’s home phone went on the blink on Feb. 7. Verizon’s automated recording scheduled an appointment for Feb. 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 14. 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 and old. He would come back the next day — between 10 am and 2 pm— to put in new cables.

Feb. 17: A 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

Perv pass

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. 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 judges agree with the law or not, they have to interpret it to see it does not violate the U.S. Constitution, the state, and local charters.

Prohibition 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

Immigrant flap

To the editor,

Councilman Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush) wants 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, 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

Firing off

To the editor,

Thanks to the five members of the Supreme Court who voted for the Second Amendment that gives people a right to have guns, even though more and more people are losing their lives.

Instead of using common sense to protect us, they gave up the right to make any policy that puts the American people at risk. Shame on them. Some colleges refuse to allow their students to carry guns, but not every college feels the same way. How out of touch these colleges are, still living in the stone age. I suppose human life means nothing to them.

I think if a student on campus kills or injures other students, the college administrator should be deemed as responsible for the act of violence. This often happens when a group decides to rob a store and someone gets killed. The accomplices are just as responsible, even though they were the drivers of the get-away car or other types of abettors.

This would send a clear message not to get involved in such destructive behavior.

At what point does this craziness finally stop?Jerry Sattler

Brighton Beach

Mitt’s snit

To the editor,

It seems Mitt Romney has forgotten Ronald Reagan’s commandment: “Thou shall not speak ill of any other Republican.”

Romney was beaten in 2008 for the Republican nomination by John McCain, who just about lay down and gave Obama the presidency. He was spanked by Obama in 2012 in the general election because he was a weak candidate. Now he viciously attacks Trump the way he should have attacked Obama in 2012.

Trump seems to be the candidate the American people want right now, so Romney will be helping Hillary — another Obama Democrat — get in the White House, unless he has intentions of running again, in which case he will be a three time loser.

Peter G. Orsi

Marine Park

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 Sanders the Socialist, maybe they used some double-sided coins she supplied them with, in case a coin toss was necessary in that caucus. Maybe he agreed to the old “heads-I win-tails-you-lose” trick. I could just picture her having him pick the cup with the little ball underneath 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

Ferry bad

To the editor,

The Friends of the Brooklyn Queens Connector study claimed it could be built for $1.7 billion. Mayor DeBlasio said $2.5 billion. If the cost just went up by $800 million, imagine how many more billions it might cost when completed. It takes more than a simple planning feasibility study to turn into a viable capital transportation improvement project. There have been no environmental documents or preliminary design and engineering efforts necessary to validate any basic estimates for construction costs.

Claims that construction would start in 2019 and open for service by 2024 is just wishful thinking. History shows that construction of most major new transportation system expansion projects take decades.

There are many narrow streets along the corridor. Any street car system will have to compete with existing bus, auto, commercial vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. At an estimated speed of 12 miles per hour, how many people would actually take advantage of a street car versus other existing options? Which neighborhoods will come forward and accept two multi-acre operations, maintenance and storage facilities necessary to accommodate 52 or more street cars? What is the cost and funding source above the $2.5 billion, baseline-budget price tag to pay for two new bridges over the Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek as part of the project?

Plans to finance this project by taking a percentage of property taxes on new development is robbing Peter to pay Paul. This would reduce the amount of money available for police, fire, sanitation and other essential municipal services. Both the Department of Transportation and Economic Development Corporation have no experience in design, construction or operations of street car systems. Mayor DeBlasio will have to ask the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to serve as the project sponsor and future system operator.

The journey for a project of this scope can easily take 10 to 20 years before becoming a reality. A new limited stop bus route along this corridor would make more sense.

Larry Penner

Great Neck, N.Y.

Pigeon poop

To the editor,

Hundreds of pigeons converging on our building roofs, park benches, etc., pose a big health issue. They feast on crumbs and garbage people leave behind, and poo all over the benches and sidewalks.

Judith Heller-Braff

Sheepshead Bay

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 more than 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 Sanders the Socialist, maybe they used some double-sided coins she supplied them with, in case a coin toss was necessary in that caucus. Maybe he agreed to the old “heads-I win-tails-you-lose” trick. I could just picture her having him pick the cup with the little ball underneath 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

•••

To the editor,

The incessant noise between Hillary-Bernie fans informs and entertains me. I get a chuckle when folks chide Bernie Sanders for making promises they say he can’t keep. So what is a converse candidate? One not making any promises, or making very minimalist promises so they can be kept?

Bernie’s healthcare plan, and other promises he makes (e.g. on education) are not economically feasible. Hell, our damned, massive industrial war machine budget is not economically feasible either, yet many a candidate are willing to fund that machine, so why find it offensive to fund affordable health care for all citizens, too?

What the hell happened to the politic of this day that has people so fearful of daring, of dreaming large, and of working hard toward finding the way to begin approaching the lofty goals of an ideal that helps the many? Has our once-productive and prosperous energy become encumbered by laziness and fear created by the one percent, and spread like germ warfare by its wholly owned mainstream media? When it comes to political conversations on media and social media that are without humor and perspective, my head nearly pops off from shaking.

Donald Trump, like Marco Rubio, is a marketer, and with marketers perception is far more important than truth. And who believes the snake oil salesmen? The gullible, the uneducated? Those who went to schools where critical, individual thinking was frowned upon?

I ask that everyone please vote with their informed mind and hearts for the candidate they strongly believe will think and act as the representative of “we, the people,” and not bid for the monied interests that currently rule much, if not all, of governance.

Barry Brothers

Homecrest

•••

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, and includes: 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

•••

‘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

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 DeBlasio in Bay Ridge, the heart of my district. The usual politicos and their staff filled the room, but it was refreshing to see that actual concerned citizens and residents of Bay Ridge were there in full force. Too bad the current assemblymember did not present her views on the topics discussed, but 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. 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, which 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 them down and shut down at least one avenue of human sex trafficking. A “follow the money” approach was the mayor’s cookie-cutter answer, 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, and I am curious as to how and when these hookah lounges became exempt from this law.

Regarding the waste transfer station, 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”), 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****

Liberal pols

To the editor,

Now there are summonses to be issued and not jail time for those caught urinating in the street. Would city officials like it if these recalcitrant people were caught urinating in front of their homes? Our city and nation continue to go southward, due to these liberal politicians. The lack of respect continues towards our police, and youngsters can now literally get away with anything. It is becoming impossible to suspend an unruly child from school.

Then we have politicians, such as Democratic presidential challenger Bernie Sanders, who are upset that too many prisons are being built and minorities are occupying the jail cells. Well this wouldn’t be the case if the latter people and others behaved themselves, and followed societal rules. It’s a vicious cycle, and allowing youngsters to get away with anything in school only emboldens them to create further havoc as they get older.

Ed Greenspan

Sheepshead Bay

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

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

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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STANDING O: Sailing the seven seas

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See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.

By Joanna DelBuono

Brooklyn Daily

Borough Wide

Sailing the seven seas

Three bells for borough son and sensational sailor Jon Ramos, a hull maintenance technician, third class pro, stationed aboard the USS Carney — an Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyer currently sailing the seas near Rota, Spain.

Jon is a terrific tar who monitors the ship’s propulsion system, keeping it in tip-top shape and running like a well-oiled clock. With more than 70 percent of our planet covered by water, it is more important now, more than ever, that our naval forces keep our oceans safe and accessible. Sailor Ramos does just that.

Standing O thanks him and all our other service members in all branches of the military for their stellar service, and for working around the clock to keep our nation safe.

Read Standing O every Thursday on BrooklynDaily.com!

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STANDING O: Oh, the places you’ll go!

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By Joanna DelBuono

Brooklyn Daily

Bensonhurst

Long-time Standing O pal John Quaglione — director of communications for state Sen. Marty Golden (R–Bay Ridge) — celebrated children’s author Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2 with rapt third graders at PS 186, reading them the tickling tale of “Ten Apples Up On Top.”

This is John’s third year wearing the Cat in the Hat’s topper, as a guest reader taking young minds on an exciting word journey — something he cherishes, he told Standing O.

“It was a fun time reading and sharing the story with them,” he said.

Turning the page, Standing O would like to send a congratulatory shout-out to John and his lovely wife, Kerry Quaglione, for the birth of their bouncing bundle of joy, Olivia Nicole, on March 3.

Here’s wishing you and your family, health, happiness and joy, John, and lots of Dr. Seuss books in Olivia Nicole’s future. Get reading!

PS 186 [7601 19th Ave. at 76th Street in Bensonhurst, (718) 236–7071].

Boerum Hill

Put your hands together for borough daughter Angela Ferrante on her recent promotion to senior veep of operations at Garden City Group. She is currently in the company’s Lake Success headquarters — you know, over there on Long Island.

Our Standing O angel brings to this role more than 15 years experience in claims administration operations and legal practice.

At Garden City Group for the past nine years, Angela has led some of the most historic legal administrations of all time, expanded the group’s services, and spearheaded the evolution of the group’s technology. She served before as a senior associate at Akin Grump Strauss Hauer and Feld law firm, and as a law associate at Weil, Gotshal and Managers.

In her new post Angela will be responsible for the oversight and management of class-action settlement administrations, restructuring and bankruptcy matters, mass tort settlements, regulatory settlements, legal notice programs, and data breach response programs.

Her new colleagues are delighted to have her on board.

“We are excited for Angela to take this next step, and we have all the confidence she will continue to do great things,” said Kenneth Cutshaw, Garden City Group’s president and chief executive officer.

Standing O wishes Angela — who earned her law degree at Brooklyn Law School and her bachelor’s degree at New York University — good luck in her new position.

Sunset Park

Knit one, purl two

Clink the crochet hooks in celebration for three spry seniors at the Sunset Park Neighborhood Center. The creative ladies devoted four months to knitting baby blankets for new moms in need, and then presented the warm and cozy coverlets to grateful recipients at the NYU Lutheran Family Health Centers Women and Children’s Services.

A total of 11 hand-woven blankets, five for boys and six for girls, were given away. Every year, since 2013, center seniors take part in a crochet class to make baby items.

A well-deserved shout-out to all of these good Samaritans.

NYU Lutheran Family Health Centers [150 55th St. at First Avenue in Sunset Park, (718) 630–7000].

Brighton Beach

Save the date

Get those raffle tickets ready for the annual pre-Mother’s day brunch hosted by Shorefront Toys for Tots.

This year the honorees are “surrogate moms” Antonella Bove, principal of PS 215; Anne Marie Lettieri-Baker, principal of PS 177; Erin Lynch, principal of IS 96, Katherine Moloney, principal of PS 100; and Nancy Tong, District Leader, 47th Assembly District.

Brian Gotlieb founded the popular event to honor his late mother, who, like the honorees, was the finest surrogate mother to many children in need, helping to improve the lives of thousands of children throughout the community.

The fund-raiser will be held at Sirico’s Caterers, 8023 13th Avenue on April 16, from 10 am to 2 pm. Tickets are $80 per person and $750 for a table of 10. Attendees are asked to bring a new and unwrapped toy. There will be plenty of great prizes, an assortment of raffles, and a good time for all, promises Brian the host.

Here’s hoping this great brunch continues to nourish our communities for decades to come.

Shorefront Toys for Tots, c/o Brian Gotlieb [2930 W. Fifth St. in Brighton Beach, (718) 996–5668].

Read Standing O every Thursday on BrooklynDaily.com!

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NIGHTLIFE: Shamrockin’ out: The best St. Patrick’s events in Brooklyn

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By Dennis Lynch

Brooklyn Daily

Avoid the Erin go blahs!

Brooklyn is gearing up for two St. Paddy’s parades on Sunday, March 20, and every Irish pub along the routes in Bay Ridge and Park Slope will be throwing a party. But if you want to celebrate the man who drove snakes from the land of Eire on his special day — or in the days before the parades — we have found plenty of events that will keep Irish eyes smiling.

At Paddy’s on St. Paddy’s

A recently-opened pub with a name appropriate for the day, Paddy’s of Park Slope celebrates its first Saint Patrick’s Day with the local fiddle-and-guitar duo Reel Celtic. The band goes on at 6 pm and plays until 9 pm, giving you plenty of time to sober up for work in the morning!

Paddy’s of Park Slope [273 13th St. between Fifth and Sixth avenues in Park Slope, (718) 369–0831].

Green Hook

Red Hook’s bastion of the Gaelic League, Rocky Sullivan’s, parties on St. Paddy’s with the Lost Tribe of Donegal, a venerable supergroup of New York Irish-American musicians, led by bar co-owner Chris Byrne. And as always, Rocky Sullivan’s will be serving Irish classics like beef and Guinness stew.

Rocky Sullivan’s [34 Van Dyke St. at Dwight Street in Red Hook, (718) 246–8050. www.rockysullivansredhook.com].

Haven on Earth

Sunset Park’s Irish Haven is the spot to celebrate with New York’s Finest and Bravest, many of whom call it their home-away-from-home. On St. Patrick’s Day, the bar will hand out corned beef and cabbage to anyone who buys a pint — preferably a Guinness. The food comes out at 4 pm, but it will not last long. On Friday night, the three-piece band Brooklyn Bards will take the stage at 8 pm with a repertoire of folk tunes and songs of the Irish rebellion. Lost Tribe of Donegal will play after the parade on March 20.

Irish Haven [5721 Fourth Ave. between 58th and 59th streets in Sunset Park. (718) 439–9893].

Little person, big scares

Two Brooklyn screening rooms, Nitehawk Cinema and Syndicated, will screen Gaelic-sploitation horror film “Leprechaun” on the 17th. Nitehawk has a single showing at 9:30 pm, while Syndicated will show the Warwick Davis-starring schlock-fest three times between 6:30 and 10:30 pm, with more screenings on March 18.

Nitehawk Cinema [136 Metropolitan Ave. between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg. (718) 782–8370, www.nitehawkcinema.com].

Syndicated [40 Bogart St. between Grattan and Thames streets in Bushwick. (718) 386–3399, www.syndicatedbk.com].

Step in time

Irish Music Award-winner Michael Londra and his dance and song troupe will burn up the stage with “Celtic Fire,” a high-energy show of lightning-fast step-dancing driven by frenetic fiddle playing, accompanied by traditional bodhrán drums and uilleann pipes.

March 19 at 8 pm at Kingsborough Community College [2001 Oriental Boulevard at Oxford Street in Manhattan Beach. (718) 368–5596. www.onstageatkingsborough.org]. $35.

Saturday night’s alright for piping!

Celtic folk outfit Burning Bridget Cleary — named for the last witch burned at the stake in Ireland — plays the First Acoustics concert series at the First Unitarian Church. Broadway actor and musician Richard Stillman will open the show with tunes and Irish stories.

March 19 at 8 pm at First Unitarian Congregational Society [116 Pierrepont St. at Monroe Place in Brooklyn Heights. (718) 288–5994. www.firstacoustics.org]. $35 ($30 in advance).

No rest for the Wicked

The Wicked Monk has the week of Saint Patrick’s Day totally covered, with shows Sunday through Friday at 6 pm. The bar hosts its usual Sunday Irish seisun — a traditional folk pub jam — on both Sunday and Saint Patrick’s Day itself. On Monday, local song-slinger John Rafferty takes the stage. The Brooklyn Bards play a wide-ranging collection of folk tunes on Tuesday, and the next day, singer Chris Decker is up.

Wicked Monk [9510 Third Ave. between 95th and 96th streets in Bay Ridge, (347) 497–5152. www.wickedmonk.com].

Reach reporter Dennis Lynch at (718) 260–2508 or e-mail him at dlynch@cnglocal.com.

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EVENT: Dublin up! Two St. Patrick’s Day parades go head-to-head

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By Dennis Lynch

Brooklyn Daily

St. Paddy’s Day partiers are not seeing double — there are two parades on the same day!

Both of Brooklyn’s Saint Patrick’s Day parades will march on the same day this year, on Sunday, March 20 at 1 pm. So Irish ramblers will have to choose between the borough’s oldest parade in Park Slope — or its biggest parade, in Bay Ridge.

The latter, which has steadily grown over the years, is the culmination of years of work and is not to be missed, said its lead organizer.

“I had two goals when I took over five years ago — to make it the biggest possible and to incorporate a scholarship for Catholic school students and we’ve done both,” parade committee president Frankie Marra said. “If it’s a nice sunny day, you don’t get a better atmosphere.”

Grand Marshal James B. McHugh, a senior vice-president of Signature Bank, will lead the Bay Ridge parade along 30 blocks of Third Avenue, from Marine Avenue at the southern tip of the neighborhoood to 67th Street, with a review stand on 77th Street.

Over a dozen marching bands, including the fire and police department’s pipe and drum bands, will march in the parade alongside floats from local businesses and organizations.

Fifteen bars along the route will serve as “official headquarters,” where Paddy’s partiers can get information about the bands and floats in the parade and buy raffle tickets, which fund tuition scholarships for 10 incoming local Catholic high school students.

In Park Slope, organizers of the 41-year-old Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Day Parade parade will hold a “re-dedication ceremony” for the heroes and victims of the Sept. 11 attacks, shortly before the march sets off from Bartel-Pritchard Square. The Square, at the corner of Prospect Park West and 15th Street, is the start and end point of the parade, and the location of its reviewing stand.

Parade Grand Marshal Mary Hogan, the national president of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, will lead the parade in a large loop from the Bartel–Pritchard Square to Seventh Avenue, north to Garfield Place, and then back down Prospect Park West to the square.

Bay Ridge Saint Patrick’s Day Parade [Starts at Marine and Third avenues in Bay Ridge, www.bayridgestpatricksday.com, (917) 975–5691]. March 20 at 1 pm.

Brooklyn Saint Patrick’s Day Parade (Starts at Prospect Park West and 15th Street in Park Slope, www.brooklynstpatricksparade.com). March 20 at 1 pm.

Reach reporter Dennis Lynch at (718) 260–2508 or e-mail him at dlynch@cnglocal.com.

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STANDING O: Standing O says, ‘Keep on dancing!’

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By Joanna DelBuono

Brooklyn Daily

Midwood

Dancing letters and happy wishes to leap-year birthday boy Samuel “Sandy” Saunders for turning 100 years young. He does not let age get him down — hey, he is really only 25, having celebrated only that number of birthdays since being born on Feb. 29, 1916!

Sandy celebrated with wife Elba at the Senior League of Flatbush Center where our roving shutterbug caught up with the twinkle-toed pair. Sandy was born in Merry Old London, England, before coming here to make a great life for himself and his family.

“After finishing school he joined the family business as a hairdresser,” said niece JoAnna Der.

She added that in 1937 he was hired as a makeup artist and hairstylist for celebrities at Universal Studios on the other side of the pond. Sandy then served in World War II for the Brits, and moved to New York, where he married his first love, Belle. They had two children — son William and daughter Susan, who sadly passed away last year. After 56 years of wedded bliss Belle passed away, leaving Sandy to dance alone.

He found a new lease on life when he married Elba in 2009.

“He taught me how to dance,” Elba said. “He doesn’t look 100, and he certainly does not act like it.”

The pair loves to dance and travel, splitting time between homes here and in Florida. Sandy also loves to paint and puts brush to canvas capturing all the places that he has visited.

Standing O says, “Keep on dancing, Sandy” and wishes him an Italian toast: “Cent’anni” (another 100 years).

Senior League of Flatbush Center [1625 Ocean Ave. in Midwood, (718) 338–1749].

Read Standing O every Thursday on BrooklynDaily.com!

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BOROBEAT: Thrill Basin! Wrestlers crash American Legion hall

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By Dennis Lynch

Brooklyn Daily

Call it the Thrill-a in the Mill-a!

Grapplers with East Coast Pro Wrestling duked it out to the delight of a captivated crowd at American Legion Post 1060 in Mill Basin on March 4. The high-flying action and wrestlers’ over-the-top egos made it one entertaining night, said a Midwood father who came out with his daughter to support their friend the Great White Buffalo, who wrestled that night.

“This is our third or fourth night we’ve come and we’ve had a great time — its a father–daughter bonding thing and she’s really gotten into it,” John Duval said, sitting next to his daughter Sophie, who looked on entranced as wrestlers slammed each other into the canvas.

World Wrestling Entertainment alums The Nasty Boys, Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine were all on the bill, and the seasoned pros elicited rousing reactions from fans who packed into the American Legion hall. Many remembered them from their days at the top of the wrestling world, one longtime fan said.

“It was great to see them out in action,” Rosanna Gurgens said. “Greg ‘The Hammer’ Valentine — we remember him from several years ago when he was in the WWF (now World Wrestling Entertainment).”

The Nasty Boys — former World Wrestling Entertainment World Tag Team Champions — faced off against the Disrespectfuls in the night’s main event, and both duos certainly lived up to their names.

The pair tossed their opponents out over the guardrails and into foldable chairs and tables set up for the crowd, using every inch of the American Legion hall to pummel their opponents into submission. They even slammed them into the merchandise and collectable tables set up near the hall entrance.

Other highlights included a ladder match for the “New Generation Wrestling” Heavyweight Championship, which Rodney Banks won after a drawn out battle with JT Scott.

The New Jersey-based independent wrestling outfit returns to the Borough of Kings for the Battle of Bensonhurst on April 9.

East Coast Professional Wrestling at Our Lady of Guadalupe (1514 72nd St. at 15th Avenue in Bensonhurst, www.ecpw1.com). April 9 at 7:30 pm. $25.

Reach reporter Dennis Lynch at (718) 260–2508 or e-mail him at dlynch@cnglocal.com.

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BAY RIDGE: All jacked up! Ridge police pledge response to tire-and-rim thefts

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By Dennis Lynch

Brooklyn Daily

They’re rolling out.

Top brass at the 68th precinct are sending out more plainclothes officers in response to a recent rash of rim-and-tire thefts in Bay Ridge. Nogoodniks have left 20 cars on cinder blocks this year — twice as many as this time last year, officials said. Crooks are targeting Japanese cars along Shore Road — and that’s where officers will focus their efforts, the precinct’s new top cop said.

“Hondas are the top target,” said Captain Joseph Hayward, who took over the command on March 3. “We have our anti-crime team out in unmarked cars doing surveillance of the area.”

Thieves targeted Hondas in 11 of this year’s 20 thefts — and nine of those were from Honda’s CR-V models alone, Hayward said.

He suspects bandits are targeting the make for its stock rims are worth a pretty penny, according to the commanding officer who himself drives a Honda.

Such thefts are up across Southern Brooklyn, but cops know exactly what they are looking for, according to Hayward.

“They use these big 12-passenger vans so that’s what we target at night if we see them driving through a residential block,” Hayward said. “You just gotta get them.”

Bay Ridgites have noticed the uptick, too. Many are circulating photos on social media of victims’ cars teetering on concrete blocks, and the local community board office has gotten more calls lately reporting the crime, according to district manager Josephine Beckmann.

A neighborhood biker posted a photo to Facebook on Feb. 7 of a victimized car parked right outside an apartment building entrance on Shore Road near 92nd Street. The next day a woman posted a photo of her sister’s specialized handicapped van “off Shore Road” missing two sets of tires and rims.

A single tire and rim set can set a car owner back about $500 — and thieves trained to jack them can get in and out with their ill-gotten goods “in a minute,” a spokesman for the American Automobile Association told CBS News. Officials are classifying many of the thefts reported as grand larcenies — punishable by up to a four years in prison — because the ripped-off rims were worth more than $1,000, police said.

Officers are suggesting drivers replace wheel lug nuts with locking, anti-theft lug nuts, which require a special tool to remove. But the locking nuts are not a guaranteed deterrent, so car owners should be smart about where they park their rides, Hayward said.

“If they really want to get them off they can — seeing the locking nuts is not necessarily going to stop them,” he said. “You can park in more well-lit areas, put lights in front of your house — and installing video cameras is always a good thing.”

Reach reporter Dennis Lynch at (718) 260–2508 or e-mail him at dlynch@cnglocal.com.

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A BRITISHER’S VIEW: Ink fascists rip Trump over KKK non-remarks, but bypass Obama’s black supremacist ties

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By Shavana Abruzzo

Brooklyn Daily

What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander.

Media bigots skewered Donald Trump for not swiftly denouncing former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke in a weekend interview — a miscommunication due to a faulty ear piece, he claimed — and continue to hound the Republican presidential frontrunner, who has disavowed the white supremacist since then and on numerous other occasions.

Yet ink fascists wet-nursed President Obama’s indifference to dead Americans when he went golfing minutes after commiserating with the nation over journalist James Foley’s 2014 beheading. They also babied him when he conceded — without apology — that he “should have anticipated the optics.”

Islamic State terrorists released a sickening video that summer showing Foley, 40, kneeling and pleading in his final breaths, “I wish I had more time, I wish I could have the hope for freedom to see my family once again,” before a masked thug sliced off his head with a knife.

Obama responded to the national horror and loss with a hollow press conference before hitting the links to yuk it up with his golfing buddies, while his journalist groupies tried to diminish his nauseating nonchalance:

• “Terrorist Horror, Then Golf: Incongruity Fuels Obama Critics,” reasoned a New York Times headline.

• “Obama: Golfing after condemning James Foley’s execution was a mistake,” mitigated a CNN screamer.

No such luck for Republican Trump:

• “KKK Leader Finds Donald Trump a Great Recruiting Tool,” thundered Time.

• “Donald Trump declines to condemn KKK leader” roared CBS News.

Late Democratic senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, a Klansman who voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act, enjoyed an enduring career as the longest-serving member in Congress history until his death in 2010, free of the media vultures now circling Trump.

It’s high time the mainstream communications industry reaffirmed its allegiance to a free press and questioned President Obama’s ties to proud black supremacists like Al Sharpton, who incites racial violence and calls people “crackers,” “homos,” “punk faggots,” and “Chinamen.”

But first it must stop being the commander-in-chief’s personal pooper-scooper.

Follow me on Twitter @BritShavana

Read Shavana Abruzzo's column every Friday on BrooklynDaily.com. E-mail here at sabruzzo@cnglocal.com.

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BAY RIDGE NIGHTS: Bay Ridge is going green!

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By Dennis Lynch

Brooklyn Daily

Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner!

Does that mean you should you take the weekend off to rest up? No way! There are plenty of options at all levels of Bay Ridge revelry!

Friday night is a bit quiet in the neighborhood, but Saturday is rockin’. Take advantage of the beautiful weather this weekend — 62 degrees predicted for Saturday! — by heading to the outdoor patio of Red, White, and Brew (8910 Fifth Ave. between 89th and 90th streets), with a step inside to catch some farm-to-table tunes courtesy of Rock Farm. The four-piece plays from 4 pm to 8 pm, and during that rockin’ stretch you can take advantage of the bar’s bucket beer and cocktail specials.

Then fly on over to Three Jolly Pigeons (6802 Third Ave. between 68th Street and Bay Ridge Avenue) to catch local rockers Full Disclosure, who go on at 9:30 pm. The band’s wide-ranging repertoire takes you through the last four decades of rock and roll. And you can prep for St. Patrick’s day — Guinness will be handing out samples of its new Nitro India Pale Ale all night.

On Sunday take a break from the madness and check out Shiozaki Duo — violinist Alex Shiozaki and pianist Nana Shi — at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (7429 Fourth Ave. between Bay Ridge Parkway and 74th Street), part of the fantastic Art on the Corner concert series. The will play an international set of orchestral pieces by composers including Somei Satoh, Gabriel Fauré, and Aaron Copland. Tickets are $15 ($10 for seniors and students).

And the Wicked Monk (9510 Third Ave. between 95th and 96th streets) is outdoing itself during the week of Saint Paddy, with its usual Irish seisun, or pub session, on Sunday, and another one on ol’ Padraig’s day. Also, the Irish bar hosts a show each night from Monday to Wednesday at 6 pm. Local favorite John Rafferty takes the stage on Monday, the traditional three-piece the Brooklyn Bards on Tuesday, and local solo-man Chris Decker on Wednesday.

Reach reporter Dennis Lynch at (718) 260–2508 or e-mail him at dlynch@cnglocal.com.

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DITMAS PARK: Coward slashes Ditmas Park woman from behind

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By Julianne Cuba

Brooklyn Daily

A man wearing an American flag bandanna over his face slashed a woman in Ditmas Park on March 10.

The nationalistic good-for-nothing came up from behind the woman on Beverly Road between Rugby and Argyle roads around 9:45 am and knifed her in the neck, police said. The two are apparently strangers and did not interact before the attack, law enforcement sources said. It did not appear to be racially motivated, cops said.

The woman went to Maimonides Medical Center in stable condition, police said.

Cops recovered two knives at the scene, officials said.

It is the most recent in a spate of random slashings that motivated the Guardian Angels to renew subway patrols after more than a decade.

Reach reporter Julianne Cuba at (718) 260–4577 or by e-mail at jcuba@cnglocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @julcuba.

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