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Sound Off to the Editor

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See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.

Brooklyn Daily

To the editor,

At the end of this year, Brooklyn will be losing an outstanding public servant in Borough President Markowitz (“Farewell to the King of Brooklyn,” Nov. 15).

I had the privilege of working with Marty, and I will always remember those first days, months, and years where I was a first-hand witness to Marty’s new leadership, vision, and charisma that transformed the borough presidency, and became a style for others in his position to emulate.

However, what I will always remember about Marty is his character and fairness. As many know, I have always been a Republican, and ran for public office after I left Borough Hall. Despite my party affiliation, Marty promoted me, recognizing the quality of my work and loyalty to Brooklyn and constituent services. It was an outstanding opportunity that ushered in the next chapter of my life working with two congressmembers and a mayoral candidate. In addition, I will always cherish the personal, almost father-son, relationship that we developed, partly based on our shared experiences of losing our fathers at a young age, and trying to help our mothers and younger siblings any way we could.

Marty’s accomplishments are well known. When he talked about bringing an NBA team to Brooklyn, people laughed, yet today the Brooklyn Nets are here. When Marty began new initiatives, like his “Take Your Man to the Doctor” or “Lighten Up Brooklyn” campaigns, some questioned their longevity and seriousness, yet they lasted successfully through his time in office. Brooklyn’s restaurant week, tourism center, and economic development programs have also been positive hallmarks of his administration. Hi-tech companies and start-up businesses are flourishing, there is a new and revitalized Coney Island, and the film and arts industries love Brooklyn.

Marty Markowitz made Brooklyn a better place to live, work, and raise a family, and perhaps more importantly, he made people proud to say they live in Brooklyn. He made our borough a place people want to move to — not from — and ensured Brooklyn is not in anyone’s shadow.

Marty gave me and my new wife a proclamation for our wedding last month where it said, in part, “I give my congratulations to Bob, my favorite Republican, though I’m hoping his children will be Democrats.” I say to you Marty, you will always be my favorite Democrat (aside from my wife of course!), and one of the most honorable public servants New York will ever have.Bob Capano

The writer served as Borough Hall’s director of community boards, and senior advisor for community relations and legislative affairs, 2001–2005.

Fair-weather Stan

Columnist Stanley Gershbein doesn’t understand global warming (“For Stan, he who laughs last, laughs best!” It’s Only My Opinion, online Oct. 21).

Experts say it should be called “global shift” because the planet doesn’t warm uniformly. The first decade of the 2000s was one of the hottest on record. Every major glacier is receding. Last year was the hottest on record. People 35 years old or younger have never experienced a year with average temperatures.

Stronger storms have brought destruction across the country. Droughts, floods, and wildfires have increased. The amount of rain and snow that has fallen in the heaviest one percent of storms in the nation has increased, on average, 20 percent over the past 50 years, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The warming of the oceans has caused extreme storms, such as Hurricane Sandy and Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the Philippines. Such storms cost us lives, suffering, and billions of dollars.

The United Nations has determined that human activity is the main cause of climate change. Some experts believe we will never be totally off fossil fuels, but wind, solar, and hydrogen fuel cells will provide most of our energy.

Jerome Frank

Coney Island

John Q. Punchbag

To the editor,

I am totally astonished, confused, dismayed, saddened that I have not heard one word about this sick “knockout game” on any of my favorite radio and TV news stations. It is their duty to make people aware of the danger that’s possibly lurking in their neighborhood, for this horrible, senseless “game” is being played all over nation and elsewhere.

Be aware of this, and be especially careful as you walk down the street, day or night.

Teens today are crazy. Google “knockout game” for sick examples and videos.Name withheld upon request

Lesson for Eric

To the editor,

I applaud the fact that Brooklyn President-elect Eric Adams is looking to engage all of Brooklyn in celebrating the rich resources that are available to them (“New Beep Eric Adams talks about Marty’s shoes, rooftop farms, and building upwards,” online Nov. 15).

I would make a recommendation that he create a student tourism department that focuses on school field trips. Education without excitement only inspires boredom. When children don’t experience fun while learning, sometimes they simply don’t learn.

One of the best things a teacher can do to teach children effectively, bring out the brighter side of a lesson plan, and have fun while doing it, is to take a trip somewhere that makes the lesson objective come alive before their eyes.

Both the students and the teacher benefit from field trips. Students get the chance to see with their own eyes a historical time they’ve read about, for example, when visiting a national exhibit or museum staged like that very time in history they’ve imagined.

Teachers get to go into more detail while at the location, to directly point out certain points he or she may not have been able to make with words alone. When it’s time for a test on the material, students will have visual and personal experience to draw from — much easier and more meaningful than memorizing textbook material.

A strong connection between the curriculum and a field trip allows students to not only remember what they did, but why they did it.Scott Krivitsky

The writer is a teacher at PS 188 in Coney Island.

Uncle Sham?

To the editor,

Great empires were built with free market capitalism. Americans built fortunes utilizing sweaty labor, God-given wisdom, and fossil fuels.

That wealth was invested, at risk, in entrepreneurial ventures, which created new jobs and businesses.

Today, we the people are deeply divided. When big government confiscates my profits and wealth, what happens? I lay off workers, hide my savings overseas, and pray for conservative libertarians to get elected to public service.

I’ve had more than enough of big government, class warfare, trillion-dollar deficits, and lies and propaganda. These are un-American, communist activities of the American left.

God bless America — my home.

Tod Davis

Marine Park

Abe snub

To the editor,

Why would anyone be surprised that President Obama couldn’t find the time to attend the ceremonies for the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address? No golf courses, no checkbooks — what’s a person to do all day by his lonesome?

“If you like your civil war battlefield, you can keep your civil war battlefield.” Hmm, that might’ve worked.

Dr. Stephen Finger

Mill Basin

Pol patrons

To the editor,

Councilmembers Jumaane Williams (D–Brooklyn), Jimmy Vacca (D–Bronx), Annabel Palma (D–Bronx), Melissa Mark-Viverito (D–Manhattan), Dan Garodnick (D–Manhattan), Mark Weprin (D–Queens), Inez Dickens (D–Manhattan), and Jimmy Van Bramer (D–Queens) are all potential candidates to succeed outgoing City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

The winner will be decided by the five Democratic Party County leaders, who will meet behind closed doors: Frank Seddio of Brooklyn, Assemblyman Keith Wright of Manhattan, Rep. Joe Crowley of Queens, Assemblyman Carl Heastie of the Bronx, and John Gulino from Staten Island. Loyal councilmembers from each of their respective organizations will follow their advice and vote for the candidate they sponsor. In return, everyone will share in the spoils of victory.

Besides the speaker’s office, there are chairpersons of various council committees, employment opportunities for both the speaker’s office and various supplemental staff assigned to councilmembers, along with the usual lulus for chairing council committees and funding for future member items.

Everyone will get a piece of the pie at taxpayers expense.Larry Penner

Great Neck, N.Y.

Late Diocese of Brooklyn Bishop Francis Mugavero died in 1991, but according to the Board of Elections he remains an active voter, despite the Church’s efforts to get his registration cancelled (“Late Catholic leader Francis Mugavero lives on in poll books,” online Nov. 12).

Readers discussed the issue online.

So you can be an active voter if you’re shown to be dead, but not if the post office can’t deliver your mail? What a terrible response. What a terrible policy.Mike from Williamsburg

If they lose your registration, just go to Clinton Hill and vote as Bishop Mugavero.Ed from Bay Ridge

I sent in an absentee ballot to 345 Adams Street, and it was returned by the post office as undeliverable.Ken from Williamsburg

The postal service in Brooklyn is a sad, sad organization. How the head of this region’ still has his or her post is baffling.Ty from pps

So if voters can elect a dead politician, then dead voters should be allowed to vote! Let every vote count, baby!o3 from bk

Of course, this is just the opinion of one man, but I believe that once a human has passed away, he or she should be considered “void of opinion.” Animals and cats are another story all together, but this does not apply here, in any case.

John Wasserman from Prospect Heights

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