To the editor,
I read the column, “It’s the end of the road for Rev. Al” by Shavana Abruzzo, and it’s a great article (A Britisher’s View, April 18).
I am an American-born, black male with West Indian roots. I would like to say that the article was on point.
However, the problem is that there are not enough black people saying how destructive Al Sharpton is for the black community, and in general.
He is not there when our people shoot each other. He is the reason behind why the black community is the way it is. He turns his eyes towards anything that is black and white only. He does not use his voice to better our community, but to only cause tension among races. Paul D.
Flatbush
Reader-to-reader
To the editor,
Reader Barry Brothers asked “why Hillary?” for a presidential run in 2016 (“Sound Off to the Editor,” April 18).
Why? Well she has all the qualifications. She lies like a rug and has had no major positive accomplishments, except for fiascos like Benghazi, and the Clinton healthcare farce. And so, if you measure her up against Obama, they are on a par.
A perfect candidate? Time to get some new candidates. We need a change, and it is not Hillary!
I also agree with reader Ed Greenspan who wrote about the need to restore discipline in public schools in the same issue.
Without discipline there can be no education. Disruptive students must be removed.
Years ago we had the “600” schools for those who could not or would not behave appropriately. Maybe that is the solution.
There was nothing wrong with the education curriculum. There is no need for the dumbing-down travesty that is Common Core.
Get back to basics and those who will not learn, need to suffer the consequences. Period.Marie Martorano
Sheepshead Bay
Art-smart
To the editor,
It’s wonderful to see schools like Roy H. Mann Junior High School step up to the plate for parent engagement through art education (“Art night brings families together,” April 18).
When families are involved in education, schools and students will benefit. As an educator and community education advocate in Coney Island, it’s wonderful for me to see arts education being brought back into our classrooms. The city is allocating $50 million to promote arts education in our local schools.
Arts education brings out the important life skills needed for future careers in our 21st century workforce. Let’s talk about creativity and being able to think on your feet, and also think outside of the box. Next, the skills developed through theater not only train you how to convincingly deliver a message, but also build the confidence you need to take command of the stage in front of a large audience. Then, artistic creations are born through the solving of problems: How do I turn this clay into a sculpture? How do I portray a particular emotion through dance?
Finally, in an increasingly competitive world, where people are being asked to continually develop new skills, perseverance is essential to achieving success. We have to include focus, non-verbal communication, receiving constructive feedback, collaboration, dedication, and accountability.
Arts education is something that you have to experience and grow with. It’s fun to learn when you are engaged in something you like to do.Scott Krivitsky
The writer is a teacher at PS 188 in Coney Island.
Restore B51 bus
To the editor,
Some seniors approached me and asked if I could get the B51 bus back on route. The line was discontinued almost four years ago. It was the only bus route that traveled between Brooklyn and lower Manhattan and Chinatown.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority train system is horrible, dirty, smelly, scary, rats everywhere, overcrowded, too many stairs to climb, and an ordeal to navigate. People need a better transit alternative to trains and street-clogging cars.
Perhaps we could have artists decorate the buses, making them a tourist attraction, to promote economic growth and revenue.Justine Swartz
Brooklyn Heights
Earth Day, everyday
To the editor,
April 22 was Earth Day, but let’s make it a daily observance.
Besides recycling newspapers, magazines, glass, plastics, old medicines, paints and cleaning materials, there are other actions we can take which will also contribute to a cleaner environment.
Leave your car at home. For local trips in the neighborhood, walk or ride a bike. For longer travels, consider many public transportation alternatives already available.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, and Staten Island Ferry, along with other private transportation owners, offer various options, such as local and express bus, ferry, jitney, subway, and commuter rail services.
Most of these systems are funded with our tax dollars. They use less fuel and move far more people than cars. In many cases, employers offer transit checks to help subsidize a portion of the costs. Utilize your investments and reap the benefits. You’ll be supporting a cleaner environment and be less stressed upon arrival at your final destination.
Many employers now allow employees to telecommute and work from home. Others use alternative work schedules, which afford staff the ability to avoid rush hour gridlock. This saves travel time and can improve mileage per gallon. You could join a car or van pool to share the costs of commuting.
Use a hand powered lawn mower instead of a gasoline or electric one. Rake your leaves instead of using gasoline-powered leaf blowers. The amount of pollution created by gasoline powered lawn mowers or leaf blowers will surprise you. A cleaner environment starts with everyone. Larry Penner
Great Neck, N.Y.
Hill’s a shoe-in
To the editor,
This is my version of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s shoe-tossing incident in Las Vegas:
“This is crazy — another vicious attempt on my life. First in 1996 in Bosnia where I was shot at and ducking bullets with my then-16 year old daughter Chelsea, who thankfully has no recollection of the incident. Now, another attempt on my life.
“I was giving a speech in a Las Vegas hotel on recycling — nothing unusual, plenty of security, and of course my Secret Service detail was present — when out of the blue here come shoes from all different angles being thrown at me. I started ducking and bobbing and weaving not to get hit with these missile-like objects.
“There were all kinds, dozens of them — men’s shoes, women’s shoes, shoes with stiletto heals, even men’s construction boots with steel tips. I managed to deflect a few pairs with some basic monkey-style kung fu moves I learned after I was shot at by snipers at the Bosnia airport back in 1996.
“Still moving at lightning speed from side to side and ducking, I managed to not get hit with any of these dangerous and deadly projectiles. Believe it or not what got me through this attack was a song that was playing in my head while all this was going on: “It’s raining men” by the Weather Girls. I only changed one word, and sang “It’s raining shoes” over and over.
“Thankfully I came out of this horrible attack unscathed when they ran out of shoes to throw, the Secret Service subdued the assailants, and I continued my speech, which I’m certain everyone loved.”Rosie Boxer
Rockaway Point, N.Y.
Coney’s ‘forgotten’
To the editor,
You would think the city would cough up urgent bucks after an emergency, as quickly as it grabs our taxes.
But nearly two years after Hurricane Sandy, many homes and businesses in Coney Island are still suffering from the dire aftermath of this killer storm, and the city just doesn’t seem to care. It’s as if the people of the People’s Playground are the forgotten people.
Mayor DeBlasio announced that he would cut 500 reimbursement checks and start 500 reconstruction projects by the end of this summer (“Re-Build It Back: City announces reforms to recovery program,” online April 23). Coney Island will hold him to that. Get on with it — please! — for all our sakes.T. Vargas
Coney Island
