To the editor,
I enjoy your newspapers. Your writers are excellent.
I enjoy them all, especially Joanna DelBuono (“Not for Nuthin’”), Stanley P. Gershbein (“It’s Only My Opinion”), and Carmine Santa Maria (“Big Screecher”).
Antoinette Marrone
Brooklyn
Uncle Sham
To the editor,
Those television commercials for the Wounded Warrior Project, asking for donations while tugging on even the most hardened heart, really get me angry.
We, as Americans, should not have to donate money for the men and woman who served their country and returned from war disfigured and paralyzed — with missing limbs, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other horrible consequences of war — while this country gives money and aid to so many countries, many of which hate us.
We give money, housing, food stamps, medical aid, and so many other benefits to so many in this country — whether here legally or not, whether they really deserve it or not.
Our country takes better care of its prisoners than the brave men and women who gave not only their heart and soul for this great nation, but literally their arms and legs.
The Wounded Warrior Project is certainly a worthy cause, but wounded soldiers should never have to depend on donations to help them live some type of normal life. They should come first, let others wait on donations.Peter G. Orsi
Marine Park
No-class DOE
To the editor,
It is so true that we are taking away the magic from education (“Parents, kids: City plan will destroy our school,” Oct. 25). Education and educational programs are getting so complex that it’s totally different from when I went to school. The public education system is sounding like a microcosm of the business world, because it seems to be taking a lot of business practices and business management into education. Three of my best teachers would never make it now in the system.
What are we seeing now in our schools? Teachers are under attack, their lessons were being scripted, their careers are being threatened by test-based evaluation systems, and they are forced to teach in ways that undermine their autonomy and professional integrity.
Scott Krivitsky
The writer is a teacher at PS 188 in Coney Island.
Czech-ing in
To the editor,
Leave it to a Czech to simplify the plight of our country. Some people have the vocabulary to sum up things in a way that you can quickly understand them.
The quote below came from the Czech Republic. Someone over there has it figured out. It was translated into English from an article in the Prague newspaper Prager Zeitungon:
“The danger to America is not Barack Obama, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their president.” Joan Applepie
Mill Basin
Sandy victims
To the editor,
I have a friend — a Hurricane Sandy victim — who has been living with other friends because his bank was holding all of his insurance money until his work is 85 percent complete. A bunch of friends just helped him redo his house so he could get his money. He is moving back in this week, but can’t afford to raise it so he is wondering if he can afford to live there if his flood insurance goes too high. We all know he won’t be able to sell it.
I have another friend who took $40,000 out of his retirement fund to pay to get his house raised. When he asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to get his money, they sent him a check to him for $30,000, but they put the bank’s name on the check and they wanted to hold it until the work was all done.
My wife and I just took an apartment because we cannot afford to fix the house and raze it. If we can’t raze it, we cannot afford the flood insurance premium. So we are looking at just saving as much as we can, pay off the banks, and cancel the flood insurance and homeowners insurance.
The agency has finally agreed to pay for our rented apartment, so we can at least get something, but I agree that this outfit and the Small Business Association should be dissolved. If they paid people what they were insured for, none of this would be necessary, but I was told by an adjuster that I wouldn’t get the $250,000 that I insured the house for even if they couldn’t find the house.
So what does that tell you? They collected the money all those years and now when they have to pay off, they don’t want to pay.
The government handed over $10 billion a month for two wars — no problem — but $1.6 billion for American citizens is too much. What else is new? And they wonder why people go berserk.
Bill Wilkie
Brooklyn
…
To the editor,
Of the 135 homes that were burned on Breezy Point during Hurricane Sandy, along with another 200-plus flooded and destroyed, only one home — as of today — has been rebuilt.
Right after the hurricane, federal, state, and city agencies were Johnny on the spot, chests puffed out with pride, saying how much they were helping. In reality, it’s a sad eye-opener that thousands of people are still homeless one year later.
So exactly what type of help did they receive? I seriously doubt these poor people will be back home by next year.
The truth is that authorities have done very little to help, and have thrown up countless roadblocks and red tape to stymie homeowners. Insensitive insurance companies are still refusing coverage to those who justly deserve the money to rebuild their properties.
A hearty thanks to the media, which gave all those governmental agencies and stodgy insurance companies a well-deserved black eye!
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Cig blowhards
To the editor,
Recent legislation passed by the New York City Council raising the age for consumption of cigarettes from 18 to 21 is doomed to failure.
The growth of street-corner cigarette sales, known as “loosies,” sold two for a dollar, will grow as a result of this legislation. The underground economy will make even more money selling tobacco products to those under 21. The city and state will continue to lose tens of millions of dollars, and now more, in uncollected tax revenues. Why sell hard drugs when you can sell cigarettes with no penalties?
Consumption of tobacco has been part of mainstream America, transcending generations. Despite the best efforts of government to limit consumption via excessive taxes and smoking restrictions, just like alcohol prohibition in the 1920s, both have been total failures.
Creative entrepreneurs will always provide the citizen’s desire, regardless of government approval. Consumers have voted with their dollars, making tobacco consumption a multi-billion dollar enterprise today.
Our tax dollars would be better used, if police and judges spend more time prosecuting those who commit real crimes against individuals or property than going after those who openly display cigarette packages in stores or sell to those between 18 and 21 years old. Law enforcement authorities should be free to pursue those who commit real crimes against citizens and property.
This proposal is the latest in a steady stream of insane and expensive legislation coming out of Washington, Albany and City Hall that is infringing on both our economic and civil liberties. At 18, you are old enough to vote, be a parent, pay taxes, own a car, take out a bank loan, serve in the military and die for your country — but not consume tobacco. It makes no sense.Larry Penner
Great Neck, N.Y.
Aim high
To the editor,
There should be background checks before people are able to purchase guns.
Sue Barat
Marine Park
Sweet idea
To the editor,
A while back, I was shopping at a neighborhood store, and throught of such a great idea, that I blurted it out — how about creating apple pizza pies? Perhaps a reader will read this and use my idea. It would definitely bring about some new jobs.
What I have in mind is to make a pizza-shaped pastry and top it with baked apples, and other combinations of toppings to create a variety of pies. Then drizzle them with melted caramel, peanut butter, yogurt, icing, etc.
New York State is known for its apple orchards. A sweet slice of an apple pizza, reasonably priced, would be a healthy treat.
What I would like to see is a chain of Johnny Appleseed Pizza parlors.
Amy Kaye
Sheepshead Bay
