To the editor,
… and Mr. Lobenstein. Like you, I am also saddened by the violence caused by terrorists and the mentally ill that seems to be escalating here in the United States, as well as all over our planet. However, I am equally concerned about the Syrian and other persecuted and starving families who have been forced to flee their homes and are being prevented from seeking refuge in our country by unfair immigration laws. I am also concerned about the “Dreamers” and other immigrants who have spent most of their lives in the United States but may be deported for not being Americans, although most of them would like nothing better than to become useful, contributing citizens of our country.
Are you aware, Mr. Lobenstein, that some of the terrorists and mass murders are United States citizens who were born and grew up here but were turned into killers by terrorist sites on the internet? Controlling what our children learn on the internet may be more important than controlling immigration.
In addition to the internet, we have another huge problem causing uncontrollable violence that has nothing to do with immigration but stems from American politics: lack of gun control. It seems like any would-be killer, sane or not, can easily acquire any guns he wants and easily smuggle them into a hotel room or anywhere else he chooses and then shoot everyone in sight. Moreover, anyone who can find the right site can order guns on the internet or get instructions on how to make a bomb, and can even order materials from the internet.
I think that before we keep out immigrants who could become useful citizens of our country, we need to clean up the mess in our own country caused by lack of gun control, the uncontrolled internet, and lack of proper security precautions to prevent potential murderers from bringing weapons to public places and venues.
Let’s clean up our own country and make room for those immigrants who really need our help. Let us also monitor and control whatever our children are learning from the internet. This can be done by using parental control software and providing proper education on the use of the internet for both parents and children. With these, along with proper gun control, and adequate mental health treatment for those who need it, I believe we can decrease the amount of violence in our country. Keeping needy immigrants out is not the answer!
Elaine Kirsch
Gravesend
Christmas jeer
The Dyker residents complaining about the traffic, crowds, and uncivil behavior of the visitors to the neighborhood during the annual Christmas lights display have the solution to the problem within their grasp. The city is not going to do anything about mitigating this problem, and the visitors are not going to clean up their act. Therefore, the residents need to take a proactive approach themselves by removing the incentive for the visitors to come here. The way out is for them not to put these huge displays up in the first place. The same way that moths are attracted to a flame — if there’s no flame, there’s no moths. When there’s no longer anything to gawk at, the crowds will vanish. When the only thing to see is a wreath adorning the front door, peace and tranquility will return. And the problem will be solved. Yes, it would be nice if people behaved properly and showed the proper respect and consideration towards others. But those days are long gone. So — douse the lights in Dyker Heights!Steven I. Danko
Dyker Heights
Rezoning battle cry
To the editor,
Regarding the article “Marine Park Surrenders” I beg to differ. As a Marine Park resident of 34-plus years, and a lifelong Brooklynite, we haven’t surrendered yet. In fact, as Captain John Paul Jones proclaimed: “We have not yet begun to fight!” Those voices of Dottie Turano and Sol Needle of Community Board 18 that are speaking, think they speak for all of Marine Park and Mill Basin. They are sadly mistaken!
Ms. Turano wants Marine Park and Mill Basin rezoned, claiming codes are “antiquated” and that homes, like my own, are “little one family houses” with “big back yards, big side yards, and room for growth.” I guess she forgot two years past, when CB18, along with other community boards, rejected Mayor DeBlasio’s grand plan. It would have permitted developers to build multi-story buildings throughout local communities, tearing down those ‘little one family homes’ (and adding more cash in their already stuffed pockets.) She was concerned then that a developer could pull a fast one, and build one of these mini-monoliths. Now she has a change of heart? I wonder why? In a version of pave paradise and put up a parking lot, Dottie proclaims: change the zoning and let them build it big! Imagine one of those multi-floor towers, like the one on Voorhees Avenue, in our backyards!
Seen Ocean Avenue lately, especially south of the Kings Highway intersection? My uncle and his family lived on Ocean, between Avenues S and T, in one of those charming, two-story, wood frame homes. There were several other such homes next to them. My uncle moved away a couple of years ago. Now look at it! Not one of those lovely homes remains, replaced by ugly, towering, concrete monoliths. A recent one offered 56 living units, but only 28 off-street parking spots. Where do the rest park their multiple cars? You guessed it: Ocean Avenue and the surrounding side streets.
As to just giving up and making it legal for everybody to build as they wish, as Sol Needle has stated? Never! If I recall my history correctly, isn’t that how World War II started, with the Munich Agreement of 1938? Germany wanted just a ‘little’ bit of Czechoslovakia. The major powers, including Britain and France, rolled over and handed it to them. The Czechs cried that it was “About us, without us!” We know how that turned out for the Czechs, and everyone else for that matter. Sounds like Ms. Turano and Mr. Needle support doing it “for us, but without us.”
The Orthodox families are welcome to move into our communities. Marine Park already has families from many ethnic backgrounds and religious practices. So come join the neighborhood and be a Marine Parker, or a Mill Basiner! But simply rolling over and re-zoning because people engage in illegal building practices? Stop it and fine them! Why not change the laws against murder and robbery too? People still commit those crimes, laws against it or not! I wonder if Ms. Turano or Mr. Needle would mind a large tower right next door, or even on each side, of their homes, blotting out the sun? I certainly don’t! Councilman Maisel – are you listening? Never give up, never surrender! Kevin Hanley
Marine Park
Needs a fix, quick!
To the editor,
During the past several years, on the bike path on Ocean Parkway, which goes from Church Avenue to Surf Avenue, various sections had been repaved. Yet the section from Avenue R to Avenue Y had not. There are places that are so badly broken up, upraised, etc., that bike riders have to resort to riding in the grass between the path and the road, making their own path. The sections just north of Avenue W and between Avenues W and X are especially bad. There are a couple other spots along the way just as bad. I had spoken to Community Board 15 a couple years ago but so far nothing has happened. (Yes I know it takes time and money.) What does it take to get someone to pay attention before some bike rider is seriously hurt?Ronald Cohen
Gravesend
An unhappy camper
To the editor,
The elections of 2017 are now in the bag and the citizens of the city have spoken. They voted, once again, to re-elect the same old Democrat denizens of City Hall, with the same one-party stranglehold our founders tried to break, so many scores ago. You’ll hear no sour grapes from me, as my peers still believe the ideals set forth, by keeping a one party socialist-style government, will make things in the city better.
Yeah, right!
As time progresses remember, I want to hear no complaints and grousing about conditions in the five boroughs. All problems highlighted during the election cycle, with bold promises to fix everything, are back on your plates. Now, do something, or we all threaten to re-elect you again in the next election!
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
