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Brooklyn Daily
To the editor,
I agree totally— 100 percent — with Dennis Olsen’s comments about Ed “The Famous School Teacher” Greenspan (“Department of Ed.,” Sound Off to the Editor,” April 26).
It’s true that all he talks about is the board of education.
I’m sure that Mr. Ed was once a good school teacher, but there are more things in life to talk about than the board of education — week after week, month after month.Lara Maldonado
Gerritsen Beach
Ed’s lesson
To the editor,
The current crop of Democratic candidates for mayor again prove how little they know about the city’s school system.
They are all ready to allow cell phones to be brought back in the classroom. Teachers have enough disruptions to contend with, let alone be concerned with cell-phone use in the classroom.
What makes these so-called experts believe that disruptive pupils and others will easily surrender their phones when ordered to? Rather, it will become a case of “you touched me,” when an attempt is made to confiscate the phone.
Our candidates should be concentrating on the lack of discipline in schools. Instead, they find other sidebar issues to distract the public from the real problems that teachers and administrators have to put up with. Say what you want to say about him, at least, ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner knows what is going on in the schools. His mother is a retired teacher.
In response to the person who criticizes me for writing too much about schools, someone has to address these issues. Our tax money is being wasted on a system filled with disorder and mayhem in far too many schools.Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
MTA’s iDin
To the editor,
Riders on the subways, be prepared for more cell-phone users coming soon.
This is the bright idea of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. It’s bad enough to hear someone’s loud music from their iPad blasting in your ears, now we’ll be subjected to riders’ loud and annoying conversations.
I do believe the Long Island trains have a quiet car where cell phones are banned. Unfortunately subway riders don’t have the same luxury.
Too bad I’m afraid.Jerry Sattler
Brighton Beach
Weiner’s pal
To the editor,
I attended Brooklyn Technical High School with Anthony Weiner. I saw firsthand how many times Anthony fought the bullies and how he vehemently fought for students who were unable to fend for themselves.
He fought for his constituents as a councilman with that same dogged determination. He was always accessible and was never aloof to the people he represented. He came from humble beginnings, and as such he never wavered when it came time to fight for the working people of our city.
He supported President Obama when many Americans were against raising the debt level. It took a great deal of courage to support Obama’s economic policy, and now we are seeing results — the auto industry has rebounded and our economy is improving.
Courage is what Anthony Weiner is all about. Whether it was standing up to the bullies in high school or fighting for our country’s future on the floor of Congress, Anthony Weiner never backed down from his duty to his constituents or country.
It is certainly not easy for Anthony Weiner to enter the political forum, knowing he will face unhappy voters, and a barrage of relentless criticism from the press and other mayoral contenders.
Anthony Weiner’s possible re-entry into politics comes at a time when the city’s future is at a crucial junction. Mayor Bloomberg’s style of running the city as a one-man dynasty is all but finished. Voter disenchantment with government is reaching epic levels. Whoever becomes the next mayor will have a long, uphill battle ahead because the direction of our city will change dramatically.
Anthony Weiner has a proven track record of fighting for our city. We need a mayor with courage, foresight, and very importantly we need a mayor who does not treat the working people of our city as political pawns in a chess game.
Anthony Weiner came from a working-class neighborhood in Brooklyn. No matter what level of government he aspired to, he never forgot where he started, and he never turned his back on the working-class people of our city. Anthony Weiner was, and always will be, the voice of the voiceless. City voters remember how Anthony Weiner fought for them.
We need a mayor who will fight for our city’s future. Ever since his days in high school, when he fought the bullies, Anthony Weiner continues to fight for our city’s future. We cannot afford to have a mayor who will run the city as if it’s their own dynasty. Let’s hope Anthony Weiner does decide to run for mayor.
Who better to fight for the city’s betterment than someone who has been fighting for our city for more than three decades. That someone is clearly Anthony Weiner.James Sideris
Flushing, N.Y.
Birth rights
To the editor,
I am a member of Feminists Choosing Life of N.Y. Our group is against the proposed Women’s Equality Act, if included in it is the misnamed “freedom of choice” (Protect a Woman’s Freedom of Choice) clause.
Ninety percent of the bill is valid for women, but this proposed bill — as is — would extend abortions to nine months of pregnancy, plus give options for these abortions to be performed outside of hospitals with the choice of a health care person, not a doctor. This is outrageous and puts women’s health in danger. If we truly care about women’s health in New York, this bill needs to delete the “Protect a Woman’s Freedom of Choice” clause.
Three of our members met with state Sen. Marty Golden (R–Bay Ridge), who agrees with us on this issue. Golden realizes that two people would suffer if this bill goes through — the mother would be maimed physically and psychologically, while the baby in the womb would be legally killed. Many pre-born children are survivals of early deliveries in America today.
The senator is also a co-sponsor of S. 1950, which protects the weakest members of our society. This bill states, “that either a person or an unborn child in any stage of gestation may be the victim of an assault.” S. 1950 does not change the present abortion laws in New York.
Homicide is the number one cause of death among pregnant women, outside of medical complication, and is very often at the hands of an intimate partner. Thirty-three states have full or partial coverage concerning homicide laws that recognize unborn children as victims of assault any where from seven to 24 weeks of gestation. As science tells us, there are two victims in the death of a pregnant woman.
My fellow members and I want to congratulate Sen. Golden for wanting to help pregnant women as well as the children in their wombs.Kathy Peters
Waterloo, NY
Fad ads
To the editor,
The ongoing media blitz by the Empire State Development Corporation at taxpayers’ expense is a disgrace. The commercials have run in heavy rotation several times per hour on many television stations.
They have a catchy beat reminiscent of the song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” The costs rival major media buys from candidates running for public office. These frequent television ads started running last November, along with print ads in daily and weekly newspapers. After six months, you have to ask how many millions of dollars have been spent on these feel-good ads promoting “Big Things Happen Here in New York State?”
They claim that New York is open for business. It makes no sense to run them in New York markets. We continue to face an eight percent unemployment rate, along with seven percent who have given up looking, and a million more people working part time and-or at minimum wage, while looking for full-time work and higher salaries. This media onslaught has done nothing to promote real job growth.
Small, medium, and large companies based in New York can see beyond the smoke and mirrors. They are more likely to downsize than hire new employees in today’s economic environment. The net loss of jobs and businesses leaving is greater than what has been created in New York. Our local businesses know that the problem is in our backyard.
New York state is ranked as one of the most unfriendly states for business. This is due to excessive rules, regulations, and confiscatory taxation levels. The only business and jobs that have been created is for the media consulting firm hired by the New York State Economic Development Corporation, which has produced and placed these advertisements. These television commercials and newspaper ads should have been running out of state. Maybe they could have conned some naive investors to consider buying the Brooklyn Bridge. Larry Penner
Great Neck, NY
Tax-free ‘glory’
To the editor,
I want to point out that flagpole kits containing U.S. flags, and flags sold when attached to a pole, rod, or staff, are exempt from sales tax in New York, according to the state Department of Taxation and Finance.
Do not let retailers collect tax the next time you purchase a flag.
Joan Applepie
Mill Basin
Reach reporter Shavana Abruzzo at sabruzzo@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2529. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/BritShavana