To the editor,
I was just going through some old papers which I tend to collect endlessly just because, and found an old June 11, 2001 Courier article, entitled “Al Sharpton: knowledge without character,” written by a wonderful, well-informed columnist: Shavana Abruzzo (“A Britisher’s View”).
She nailed him to a “T.” Just a few sentences from within: “Who can seriously admire the likes of an Al Sharpton, who has re-crafted his image so many times over that it’s hard to ascertain his authenticity? Who can forget his relentless, year-long onslaught on Flatbush Korean grocer Bon Jae Jang, whose store was boycotted by unemployed hoodlums under the leadership of Al Sharpton because a lady complained that she had been accused of shoplifting? The only civil rights violation there was committed by Sharpton and gang.”
That article’s a thought-provoking unmasking of the man who keeps “re-manufacturing himself.”
I’m so glad I’ve saved many of your informative articles, Shavana, if only to see their relevance in today’s world. Please, keep that pen (computer) at hand!
Sabina Pearson
Flatbush
Community alliance
To the editor,
It’s wonderful to continue to see the amazing work and dedication that the Alliance for Coney Island has brought to our community (“Coney comes out for block party,” May 2). We are seeing a new sense of community involvement by having Councilman Mark Treyger (D–Coney Island) join our team.
As an educator and community education advocate in Coney Island, I’m always looking for new ways to engage my students in learning. Research has demonstrated that engaging students in the learning process increases their attention and focus, motivates them to practice higher-level critical thinking skills, and promotes meaningful learning experiences.
Let’s talk field trips to Coney Island. Enriched field trips contribute to the development of students into civilized young men and women who possess more knowledge about art, have stronger critical-thinking skills, exhibit increased historical empathy, display higher levels of tolerance, and have a greater taste for consuming art and culture.
The time is now for the Alliance for Coney Island to venture into the world of education and create a Coney Island Alliance for Education. Since Councilman Mark Treyger originates from the education field, I’m sure that he would support this community education project. This would be a perfect example of the planning of new initiatives that are part of the Alliance for Coney Island’s mission.
There is a tremendous need to tie-in the businesses and community leaders into education, and this would be a homerun for the Alliance for Coney Island. Let’s do it for progressing and redesigning education for Coney Island students and families, alike. Let the Alliance for Coney Island be the hub of our community.
Scott Krivitsky
The writer is a teacher at
PS 188 in Coney Island.
Beep’s on target
To the editor,
I agree with Borough President Adams’ editorial that parents must help end gun violence, but I believe that, before parents can help their children, someone must help the parents (“Parents must help end gun violence,” May 2).
I keep thinking of Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza’s mother who kept guns in her home and taught her emotionally disturbed son how to shoot. She was the first person he shot before he went on his rampage — with her guns.
Before parents can try to make their children get rid of their guns, they must get rid of their own guns, drugs and alcohol. I believe that in order to improve public safety in our communities community organizations, the NYPD, and the schools must take responsibility for educating parents, as well as their children, in non-violence, and the importance of not having guns, drugs or alcohol in their homes.Elaine Kirsch
Gravesend
Egotist Chuck
To the editor,
Sen. Charles Schumer’s seven-point plan for reform of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey shows chutzpah.
Schumer (D–Park Slope) calls on the agency to stop spending money on projects which take away from its basic mission and transportation.
Since his election to the Senate in 1998, Schumer has been silent as the authority, at the request of either the governor, spent billions on projects which had nothing to do with either its basic mission or transportation.
Schumer wants more open meetings, but he participated in numerous closed door committee meetings and Democratic Senate caucuses. Many of his campaign fund-raisers, geared to pay-for-play campaign contributors who had to pony up thousands of dollars per ticket, were closed to the media.
Schumer wants the 12-member board of commissioners from New York and New Jersey to select the authority’s director and deputy directors. Why doesn’t he ask that the same reforms apply to the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority? Everyone knows that the MTA president serves at the pleasure of the governor. As such, he has little independence to make any decisions which might impact the governor’s political future or next election.
Schumer wants the authority to submit procedures that will allow a detailed annual operating budget and a multi-year financial plan that can be adopted after opportunities for public review and comment open up the budget process to afford the public an opportunity to comment. Why doesn’t he advocate the same for our federal budget?
Every year, he works hand in hand with Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D–Nev.) in introducing both legislation and budgets in the dead of night. Even fellow members of the Senate have no time to read the hundreds or thousands of pages contained in toxic legislation before being asked to vote. If senators don’t participate in any open process, how can the media or public?
Schumer wants to end the abuse of agency political patronage, but he has never been critical of political patronage appointments by any mayor, governor or president. Was the hiring of his wife Iris Weinshall by past mayors to serve as Department of Transportation commissioner or vice chancellor for the City University of New York based totally on her merits and had nothing to do with being the spouse of a powerful senator? Did her appointments have no relationship with his ability to impact the level of federal assistance, regulations or tax code legislation which could benefit the city?
Larry Penner
Great Neck, N.Y.
Google Maps flap
To the editor,
I am sitting here reading your article about Google’s attempt to map Brooklyn neighborhood’s, and I am shocked that both Google and your reporter failed to recognize Marine Park (“Border disputes! Brooklynites take issue with Google’s neighborhood maps,” online May 5).
I guess I have no idea of where I have been living for the past 24 years! It is ridiculous of Google to classify Marine Park as Flatlands or Mill Basin, all quite different neighborhoods. Based on that reasoning, may I suggest that Google’s headquarters is East San Jose, and not Mountain View, C.A. Like so many things one can find on Google, it’s close, but not exactly.
Perhaps Google might want to send some of their employees to a geography class at Kingsborough Community College. Anthony Borgese
The writer is chairman of the tourism and hospitality department at Kingsborough Community College.
Online readers also flew off the charts with our map report:
Google is a very responsive company and appreciates user feedback. Please contact Google at your earliest convenience and speak with a community representative.
I believe this issue can be resolved promptly.8RRT51327HL9
Maybe this paper should recognize more neighborhoods.
Mike from (East) Williamsburg
I do find it funny that just a few weeks ago all of the “real Brooklyn locals” were all up in arms about a Brooklyn Paper writer using a questionable neighborhood designation in an article. But now there’s a definite lack of outrage when L&B Spumoni Gardens is blatantly lying and cashing in on the “Bensonhurst” name.
Sounds like something a damn hipster from Iowa would do because they don’t understand the pride and honor that is Brooklyn. Where’s the outrage, I say?ty from pps
They got Park Slope right. That’s all that really matters.Ted from Iowa
Um, L&B is nowhere near 10th or 11th Avenue. It’s actually between Ave V and Ave W. In the heart of Gravesend. Also, Ave U is definitely the northern border of Sheepshead Bay. And the border between Williamsburg and Bushwick is definitely Flushing Avenue.
Also, Bay Parkway and Stillwell Ave is the obvious border between Bensonhurst and Gravesend. It’s where the numbered streets end and where the west streets begin.
Not excited at all, no caps or exclamation points, just pointing a few things out. The square slices at L&B are as good as it gets, their regular slices are just meh.The Duke from Flatbush
There never was agreement between real estate office definitions, political districts, school districts, civic association boundaries, or just plain proximity. DUH!
If I live a block and a half from Marine Park, but I’m not Marine Park by some standards, then that is just nonsense.
Google wants to reinvent and reinterpret everything its own way. Just ignore them.Mat from Marine Park
The boundaries of my neighborhood are correct with two exceptions. Google omits Clarkson Avenue, between Flatbush and Bedford Avenues, which are in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, and include portions of Lenox Road and Linden Boulevard, which are not.
Bob Marvin from Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Sorry, the Google map makers don’t know where Sunset Park is, because they live in Bushwick.
The Chooch from The Bohemoid Invasion
