To the editor,
Elections can bring people to do really dumb things. When I was walking to a debate for a Council race in Borough Park, I saw Yoni Hikind posters spray-painted. One part of the posters not spray painted on was the rabbi sitting next to Hikind. Later, returning from the debate I saw Kalman Yeger posters either drained by the rain that day or also put down by someone. (Not sure which it was.)
In the last presidential election and in some of the special Congressional races, there were reports and videos of yard signs being stolen as well.
Whatever side any one person is on in any race, stealing a sign, tearing down a sign, spray painting a sign or doing anything to erase the hard work of another campaign is despicable and should never be supported.
In a campaign, a person should do their best and hope for the best. Ripping up products the other campaign has been spending money and energy on is not the best a person can do, it’s some of the worst a person can do.
Nobody wants their campaign sign torn down or vandalized. So why do people do it? Do they think no one is watching? Do they think they’ll get away with it? Someone is always watching.
So please, if you’re planning on campaigning in a state or national race next year or in any race ever: don’t touch the signs others put up. It’s simply a rude thing to do.
Invest that time into something useful: like canvassing, making calls or doing something positive for your candidate.
Destroying signs of the opponent is not positive, it is just a bad thing to do.Martin Samoylov
Midwood
Let’s honor our vets
To the editor,
Patriotism has taken a new low in this country.
I am just hearing that the Department of Education in New York City has eliminated Veterans Day as an official observance.
Excuse me for using the pun, but all veteran groups as well as any decent American citizens should be up in arms over this terrible decision.
We must have a day to remember those who sacrificed their lives so that this republic could continue. How could the mayor and school’s chancellor go along with this outrage?
What are we soon going to have? United Terrorist Day, where we close schools and everything else to remind us of the terrorists or animals who hate everything this nation stands for?
Yet, I and others shouldn’t be shocked at this. We can only witness the kneeling by overpaid sports players when our national anthem is sung.
Unpatriotic acts are increasing in this country. Isn’t it coincidental that as we see this occurring, we also see the rise in hate and bigoted crimes committed?
By refusing to no longer honor our veterans, we are a disgrace to our American ideals.
May the Lord take pity on us. Shame!Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
Isolation won’t work
To the editor,
I have to agree with Mr. Greenspan that disruptive students may have to be transferred to alternative settings, but I don’t know if disciplinary schools where these children would be ostracized and not helped is the answer.
I think these students, and their families, need help, not punishment. Many of these students come from broken or abusive homes, or possibly from no homes at all. Some live in shelters or foster homes.
These children and their families need counseling, help in finding decent housing and jobs, and they or their family members may need drug and alcohol intervention, health care and various other services before these students can settle down and try to learn in a classroom. Some students may come from homes where there are guns in their houses as well as on the streets, and environments full of gangs and drug pushers. Their environment needs to be cleaned up before they will be able to settle down and study.
The help these students need must start with the Administration For Children’s Services which is suffering from a huge shortage of properly-trained social workers. ACS needs a much larger budget. The newspapers are full of stories of infants and young children who are beaten to death in their own homes because some social worker at ACS failed to remove these children from their abusive homes the first time they were beaten.
It’s no wonder the survivors of this abuse, and their brothers and sisters, are disruptive in school.
Mr. Greenspan, we need to think not just in terms of isolating and disciplining disruptive students, but in terms of helping them and their families overcome the problems that are making them disruptive.
Then these once-disruptive students may be able to concentrate on getting a meaningful education and leading useful and meaningful lives.
They need help, not ostracism!
Elaine Kirsch
Gravesend
Beware of terrorists
To the editor,
I am saddened, though not surprised, at the latest Muslim-terrorist attack in lower Manhattan. America has been warned all too many times, and liberals with other left wing groups fought the President’s actions on fully vetting all immigrants and visitors to our shores.
It is a far more dangerous world out there as insane zealots, for their twisted beliefs, are trying to kill as many Americans as possible.
So my friends, keep ignoring the warnings and do what you can to derail our government’s efforts to stop the infiltration of this scum … at your own peril!Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Stop battling!
To the editor,
The current disagreement between Gov. Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio over how to deal with the increasing numbers of homeless people in the New York City subway system is nothing new. This ongoing feud over numerous issues between Cuomo and DeBlasio is now into the fourth year. It represents the latest chapter in the respective behavior and ongoing fights between Cuomo and DeBlasio. Based on past history between previous governors and mayors, this is really nothing new.
Democrats Cuomo and DeBlasio have a lot in common with the late Republicans Gov. Nelson Rockefeller (1959–1974) and Mayor John Lindsay (1966–1973) along with Gov. George Pataki (1995–2006) and Mayor Rudy Giuliani (1994–2001). The same is true for the late Democrat Gov. Mario Cuomo (1983–1992) and Mayor Ed Koch (1978–1988). Nelson Rockefeller, George Pataki, Mario Cuomo and son Andrew Cuomo deal with mayors who want equal billing on the political marquee. Lindsay’s urban, Koch’s Big Apple, Giuliani’s safety and quality of life, and DeBlasio’s progressive agenda is dependent upon both increased state and federal assistance. DeBlasio envisions himself as the national spokesperson for progressive mayors from all cities. This conflicts with governors who have to worry about all 62 counties making up New York State. It also creates problems for governors like Cuomo who harbor Presidential ambitions in 2020.
Actions speak louder than words. If municipal officials feel they could do a better job managing the MTA — including running the nation’s largest subway and bus system and dealing with the increasing homeless population living underground — man up and regain control. Instead of complaining, Mayor DeBlasio should come up with the balance of $2.5 billion the city still owes toward fully funding the $32 billion MTA 2015 – 2019 Five Year Capital Program, add several billion more and match dollar for dollar any additional state assistance. Gov. Andrew Cuomo should deliver the outstanding $5.8 billion balance toward his original $8.3 billion pledge plus his most recent new commitment of an additional $1 billion.
The MTA can’t afford to wait until 2018 or 2019 for both DeBlasio and Cuomo to make good on their respective promised financial commitments. Neither can transit riders and taxpayers who are looking for accountability, efficient and timely completion for both capital projects and routine maintenance to assure more reliable and safe on time service. Larry Penner
Great Neck
