To the editor,
Unlike your columnist Shavana Abruzzo and some of the “community leaders” you quoted in your most recent issue, I think that Marty Markowitz’s choice of Linda Sarsour for Community Board 10 was a good choice. In view of the fierce opposition, it seems also to have been a brave choice.
Though I do not know her personally, I have been present at inter-faith multi-ethnic gatherings where Linda Sarsour worked constructively with Jews, Christians and Muslims from various national backgrounds. She seemed to me intelligent, open and deeply concerned for the whole community.
The only objections made against her are apparently that she disagrees with some others about the strife between Israel and Palestine, that she has relatives who are radicals in the Middle East, and that she is a Muslim. I don’t think anyone can fault her record of service to the community.
Americans should not have to all agree with each other on the rights and wrongs of the Middle East, and no one should be judged by what their relatives may or may not have done. And — like Irish-Americans, Polish-Americans or any other group — Arab-Americans have a right to be proud of their homelands and advocate their interests.
Shavana Abruzzo seems shocked that Ms. Sarsour thinks bigotry against Muslims is considered acceptable in America. I wish she were wrong about this, but on the evidence of Abruzzo’s attitude in his column she is apparently correct.
Rich Accetta-Evans
Bay Ridge
Pro-prisoners
To the editor,
The U.S. has the largest per capita inmate population in the world for juveniles and adults. Our country has the highest inmates in the prison system in solitary confinement, which mentally affects inmates, especially inmates diagnosed with mental illness.
Our citizens are the victims of “tough on crime” politicians who use every violent crime as an opportunity to frighten the public into passing legislation that has ultimately made us less safe — 95 percent of all inmates eventually are released into society. Since punishment and not rehabilitation is the goal of our prison justice system, these former inmates return to a life of crime, since the felon law prohibits them from public housing, food stamps, job opportunities. Budget deficits and decreased state revenue due to the recession have caused states to reduce their building of new prisons. California recently had to release non-violent inmates early.
The D-Day is coming when politicians will be voted into office on a policy of intelligent crime reduction policy and the treating of prisoners in our system humanly.
Allan Feinblum
Midwood
For Pete’s sake!
To the editor,
After all we know about now of the widespread abuse of steroids in Major League Baseball — some proven, many not — isn’t it time Pete Rose take his rightful place in Cooperstown?
Give him the honor he deserves now while he is alive to see it. Charlie Hustle did it the old fashion way: He earned it, while so many other players who did make it in hustled us.
Cronin Miller
Midwood
Dim bulb
To the editor,
We know very well that the late Mayors Wagner, Lindsay and Beame would have had both Con Edison and the locked-out union at Gracie Mansion for round-the-clock talks. Each of these mayors would have sat there despite the fact that Con Edison isn’t a city agency.
Other than using profanity at a hot-dog eating contest and his constant bashing of the United Federation of Teachers, where was Mayor Bloomberg during this crisis? He should have actively been involved. We know he wouldn’t since we know where his sympathies are regarding this situation. Several summers ago, while parts of Queens were darkened for days, our Mayor heaped praise on CEO Kevin Burke. The Bloomberg 3rd term has been a disaster beyond belief. This life-long Democrat might consider voting for Mitt Romney, if the latter promised to put Bloomberg in a cabinet position. It would be worth it just to get him out of town a year before his term expires.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
The bad old days return
To the editor,
Back in the 80’s and early 90’s, July 4th was the most dangerous holiday of the year. It seemed that everyone had fireworks and firecrackers and everyone was setting them off at the same time, sometimes an entire box at a time. There was one year when it was so intense and loud that my wife at the time could not hear me when I yelled my message to her, and I was standing next to her with my mouth a couple inches from her ear. That night it continued at a torrid pace deafening volume even after 1 am. I never went out of the house on July 4th because I never felt safe. I was in fear for my life.
Then Mayor Giuliani stepped in and created steps to stop sales of illegal fireworks and firecrackers that resulted in making July 4th quiet and safe. For several years, I could go out and not worry. Granted there was the occasional blast, but they were few and far between.
This year we took a giant step back to the 80’s. Again it seemed that everyone had firecrackers and fireworks. It may not have been as loud as that fateful day I mentioned above, but it was consistent. It was loud and continuous, even after 11 pm.
So I ask the Mayor and the Police Commissioner: why did you fail us this year? Why did you let the sales of illegal fireworks soar? Why did the police not do their jobs? I want to go back to the past few years where I don’t feel like a prisoner in my house and to feel safe to be outside on Independence Day.
Ronald Cohen
Sheepshead Bay
