To the editor,
Just in time for the Christmas shopping season I got hit with a double whammy this week when I received both the city’s water and sewer bill and makeup bills for the property tax increase on the same day.
I resigned myself to pay these immediately and get them out of my hair altogether when I noticed, while sealing the envelopes, that they had moved the Water Bureau and the New York City Department of Finance to New Jersey. Yep, both addresses went to a location in Newark! Is the city government so incompetent that it has to farm out its financial collections to an out-of-state location?
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Brighton Breach
To the editor,
As I read your article, “Cops seek Brighton Beach laptop-nappers” (Dec. 27), the first thought came to me was how many times I had been to meetings of the 60th Precinct Community Council and brought up why we need uniform cops in the area.
I do understand that most crime takes place in Coney Island, but Brighton Beach is still part of the “60.” Maybe what Brighton Beach needs is a sub-station to serve the east end of Ocean Parkway.
It seems the only time there are cops in force is when the area’s high schools are dismissed. Even residents who live close complain about the teenagers running through the neighborhood. Many have small children that they are concerned about. Wouldn’t anyone feel the same way?
Solomon Rafelowsky
Brighton Beach
Truth serum
To the editor,
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said if he becomes president he will resume waterboarding to combat terrorism. I agree that the Islamic State is a clear, present, and future danger, but you do not fight fire with fire.
Sodium pentathol, also known as the truth serum, was created at the turn of the 20th century, and is said to be 95 percent effective and accurate. It cannot be used in a court of law, but if prisoners convicted of crimes against the state or nation were to request it in exchange for a pardon or executive clemency it would have a greater impact with the technology we have.
We have adequate resources, so why not use them when such occasions arise? The governors of 44 states, as well as the president, have the power to pardon or grant executive clemency to felons.
If a prisoner is willing to take a risk, regardless of potential side effects, the president and governors should also be willing to take the risk of granting them freedom or commuting their sentence.
Elliott Abosh
Brighton Beach
Good ol’ days
To the editor,
Brooklyn will become the next Manhattan, if more and more skyscrapers are built. Brighton Beach has out-of-scale condos in the bungalow district, but so many are vacant, as many new developments are around the borough.
Would pro-development people feel the same way if they lost their views, and morning and evening light? Often we hear that you can’t stop progress. I’m not against progress unless it’s within reason. Many people will be displaced by high rents they cannot afford, so where will they go?
Growing up in my neighborhood each block had its own pharmacy, and the owner knew you by name. Quite often you were able to get credit. Who remembers when you got sick and called your local doctor, he came with his black bag and gave you a shot of penicillin, and only charged you $5? Jerry Sattler
Brighton Beach
Pro-guns
To the editor,
Reader Jerome Frank stated that citizens do not have the right to own guns, except as part of the militia (“Shun guns,” Sound Off to the Editor, Nov. 13). He is 100 percent, positively, totally — wrong.
The U.S. Supreme Court, in both the Heller and MacDonald cases, affirmed that the Second Amendment is an individual right of citizens to own guns without the requirement of being a member of a “well-regulated” (well-trained) militia, which actually do still exist. To paraphrase Nancy Pelosi, “You have to read it (the Bill of Rights) before you can talk about it intelligently.”
Mr. Frank said that we have police forces to protect us, and therefore people do not need to own guns. This is total nonsense. The Second Amendment is not a “Bill of Needs,” it is a “Bill of Rights.” The police cannot protect us, and they will be the first ones to tell us that the law does not require them to protect any individual (with some exceptions), only “the public” as a whole. When an armed intruder breaks into your house, you may not have time to call 911, but even if you do, what do you do to protect your family in the meantime? When every second counts, the police are mere minutes away. By the time they arrive you might already be dead. If you had a gun, you could retreat to a bedroom with your family and your gun, and be able to defend them until the police arrives.
The National Rifle Association provides gun safety training to civilian shooters, and even trains police officers in gun safety and marksmanship. There is even a gun safety program for kids, teaching them what to do if they happen to come upon a gun. The association advocates for the preservation of Second Amendment rights for all citizens, not only its members. Politicians on both sides of the aisle are well aware that pushing for more ludicrous gun control laws is a non-starter and that is the reason they shy away from it. There are about five million N.R.A. members and members of other Second Amendment advocacy groups who have never committed any crimes whatsoever and they resent being put in the same class as criminals, mental cases, and domestic abusers. Our lawmakers should focus on the right target and increase the penalties for using guns in the commission of crimes.
David F. Podesta
Marine Park
‘Weakened’ Chuck
To the editor,
I am not surprised that according to a recent poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, Sen. Charles Schumer’s (D–N.Y.) most recent favorable approval rating is down to 52 percent. This represents his lowest approval rating since May 2000.
There are two reasons for this decline: One, like the cowardly lion from the Land of Oz, Schumer came out against the proposed treaty with Iran, but with a wink and nod to President Obama refused to lobby his fellow senators in joining him to oppose the treaty. Many Jewish and non-Jewish friends of Israel are not happy with his abdication of leadership on this issue.
Two, since 1981 under Schumer’s watch as both a congressmember and senator our national debt went up by $17.4 trillion, increasing from $1 trillion in 1981 to $18.4 trillion, today. No wonder Schumer never talks about this at his standard Sunday news conferences. It is nothing to be proud of.
Besides conservatives and Republicans, many mainstream moderate Democrats and independent voters are not happy with his fiscal mismanagement of Washington. Younger voters who will have to pay off this debt are especially displeased.
Schumer faced unknown Republican challengers with no-name recognition, money or, party support in 2004 (Howard Mills) and 2010 (Jay Townsend). New York Republicans now have a surprising opportunity in 2016. Given Schumer’s weakened poll numbers, perhaps a brave Republican candidate with both name recognition and the financial resources to offer a serious alternative will finally step forward to challenge him in 2016. It might make for an interesting contest as opposed to another Schumer coronation.
If New York Republicans give Schumer a free ride for the third time, he will be free to run around the nation in 2016 assisting other fellow Democrats running for the Senate. Democrats only need a net pick up of five seats to regain control of the Senate. Schumer will use his well-oiled, pay-for-play fund-raising machine — he already has $20 million in the bank for his 2016 race with no announced opponent — to raise whatever it takes, be it $100 million or more, so he can become the Democratic Senate majority leader.
Larry Penner
Great Neck, N.Y.
Frankly, Jerome
To the editor,
Jerome Frank seems to think I favor the upper one percent of Americans that achieved their wealth through hard work and a drive to do better (“Income inequality,” Sound off to the Editor, Oct. 16).
Maybe in his case, his attitude and the attitude of so many people who bemoan the fact that they are not rich are self-repressing them to the lower rungs of society.
My family emigrated from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and other European states prior to 1900. Nothing was handed to them on a silver platter. They knew that to succeed in the new land, they had to learn its language and get together, getting their hands dirty, to scratch a living out of whatever they chose to do.
I pride myself, in some little way, of championing the rights of the workers, as I once was a vice president in a local union. During my tenure I learned a lot of the so-called one percent versus the 99 percenters. I saw how the different attitudes of the workers determined how far they progressed or regressed through the ranks. Those individuals with a sense of drive and determination climbed the ladder of success, ultimately leaving the ranks for management positions. Those with an attitude, a socialist-communist attitude of I-deserve-everything, were always in trouble with the boss, calling upon me and others in the union to help bail them out.
I invite Jerome to learn the true history of his favored socialist parties and understand that even with them, there was an upper one-percent-plus crust of political hacks enjoying a very good living while the people, under their tutelage, were the true working “slaves of the state.”
Capitalism ain’t perfect, but at least under its reign and our hard-fought-for-and-won American freedoms, one has a chance to stand up, excel, and achieve a higher income and attitude status.
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
On track
To the editor,
I whole-heartedly agree that express service should be restored to the F train in Brooklyn. I was able to enjoy the benefits of express service until I retired in 2003. However there was, and still is, another problem with F service, and probably with other trains going to and from Coney Island as well. Many trains terminate at Kings Highway, five stations away from the last stop, Coney Island. Passengers going further have to wait on the elevated platform in boiling hot or freezing cold weather until another train arrives.
I understand the need to avoid congestion at the Coney Island station. What I don’t understand is why they can’t get the arriving trains out of the station at the last stop as soon as they unload, either by sending them right back to Manhattan or to the train yard. I would rather wait five minutes on a heated or air-conditioned train while other trains are being cleared out of Coney Island than to be forced to leave my train and stand on a snow-covered platform shivering until another train comes in. Winter is coming! It’s time to take all trains to the last stop.
All stations are used by senior citizens and people with disabilities, at one time or another. All stations need elevators or escalators. Many stations need repair work, especially on stairways at elevated stations. Fares keep going up, but transportation services and stairways do not get any better. Many seniors who need elevators cannot use the subways in their neighborhoods. They are forced to use Access-A-Ride.
The city would save money in the long run, if it spent more on making subways accessible to seniors and other physically-challenged, would-be passengers, and would improve the service on city buses. Then fewer people would need to use Access-A-Rides.
Elaine Kirsch
Gravesend
Live in peace
To the editor,
After all the human lives taken by the Islamic State, I decided I needed to see something positive that would cheer me up — like watching “Woodstock” the movie. The 1969 concert was one of the greatest, non-violent gatherings ever and young people spent three days through heavy thunderstorms to listen to music.
The original crowd was 250,000, but swelled to 500,000, making it a totally free concert. Many were against the Vietnam War and tired of learning of the killing of civilians. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? How a large group of people all coming from different backgrounds united in peace is a lesson worth reminding ourselves again.
Solomon Rafelowsky
Brighton Beach
Vigilance not vengeance
To the editor,
I am as sickened as everybody else about the devastation in Paris, but I do not agree with those of us who would close our borders to Syrian immigrants and destroy cities abroad that are now safe havens for terrorists. Destroying those cities and killing thousands of innocent people in the process would make us as evil as they are.
Innocent Muslims, refugees and their hungry, frightened children, must not suffer just because a few killers may try to sneak into the country with them. We and our allies do need to screen potential immigrants from Syria, but we also need to help them find homes, not turn them away to starve.
Rather than creating violence and revenge of our own, we need to improve our security and screening methods so that we can detect potential terrorists before they strike. I still don’t understand how a bunch of terrorists were able to get into our country in the 1990s, go to Florida, take flying lessons while being undetected for years, and in 2001 fly planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. We need vigilance, not vengeance. Vengeance always kills innocent people and spurs further violence.
As the 74th anniversary of Pearl Harbor approaches, I would like to urge us not to do what President Roosevelt did, imprisoning hundreds of loyal and innocent Japanese-American citizens in internment centers for the duration of the war, making innocent families suffer and depriving our country of the services many of these citizens would willingly have given. Let’s never again do this to any race or religion, including innocent and loyal Muslims. What we need is vigilance, not revenge.
Elaine Kirsch
Gravesend
Two-fare drone
To the editor,
The proposal by state Sen. Marty Golden (R-Bay Ridge) to offer two free transfers for those who have to ride two buses before boarding a subway is wishful thinking. People who moved to Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach and Gravesend — areas represented by Golden — knew full well that they would be living in a two-fare (bus to subway) and sometimes three-fare (bus to bus to subway) zone with longer commutes to and from work.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority services continue to be one of the best bargains in town. Since the 1950s, the average cost of riding either the bus, subway or commuter rail has gone up at a lower rate than either the consumer price index or inflation. The MetroCard, introduced in 1996, affords a free transfer between bus and subway. Prior to this, riders had to pay two full fares. Purchasing either a weekly or monthly pass further reduces the cost per ride. Many employers offer transit checks, which pay even more of the costs.
For years, local politicians would stir the pot on this issue. Now the latest cause is the cost for those handful of people out of several million daily riders who have to pay two fares versus one. An overwhelming majority can afford and already purchase either a weekly or monthly unlimited MetroCard, which makes the “double fare” issue moot.
Residents, taxpayers, and commuters in Golden’s district would be better off if he worried more about how the State Legislature will find the $8 billion Gov. Cuomo promised to bridge the $8.3 billion shortfall in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority-proposed $28 billion, five-year capital plan when they reconvene in January.
It all comes down to the availability of increased funding for additional transportation service to serve residents of two fare zones in the outer boroughs. Operating subsidies are required to increase the level of service and reduce the amount of time one waits for a bus on existing routes. Same for adding more off-peak, late night and weekend service.
Larry Penner
Great Neck, N.Y.
Tarnished Silver
To the editor,
First Shelly, then Skelos, then…So our dear New York State democratic leader, Shelly Silver, has been convicted on all counts of bribery and other misdeeds of directing clients’ money to his own pockets. Shelly lamented in his defense that it is standard practice by all legislators in Albany to do what he did.
A few months ago, I’m told, the State Senate refused to fund an expansion of jails. It was sad to hear that, as the good citizens of New York are eagerly waiting to hear about the next round of indictments, then convictions, of crooked politicians who infest the state house. Their next stop should be a few years in the overcrowded jails of this fine state.
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
*****ED GREENSPAN LETTERS****
Mitt’s a hit
To the editor,
Given the current crop of Republican presidential candidates for 2016, a new “three Rs” should be in vogue — “Run, Romney, Run.” Millions of voters now realize the mistake that was made in 2012, and many will cross party lines and vote for him. Why not? Richard Nixon came back from defeat in 1960 to win the presidency in 1968.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
Classroom trenches
To the editor,
As Warner Wolfe used to say, “Let’s Go to the Videotape,” when he would want something investigated further. Similarly let’s go to the school records of violent criminals, or better yet, do something with them in their formative years so that they don’t resort to such violence. If you opened the school records, you would see evidence of cutting class, constantly disrupting the class, roaming through the hallways, cursing, screaming, fighting, and causing all sorts of mayhem.
The city’s school system has failed these students and others by their complete refusal to deal with disruptive youth. As a result, the latter become more emboldened with each passing year, and their deviant behavior worsens until an innocent life is lost.
We keep such students in regular classes if the parent refuses to sign for special placement. As a result, chaos results as teachers desperately try to keep order with burgeoning class sizes. When are we going to face this problem head on and not keep sweeping it under the rug? This is not a racist problem. Disruptive pupils come in all races, religions and all backgrounds.
Empty out the regional and district offices and get teachers back in the classroom. We need more psychologists and psychiatrists in the schools. Less suspensions will not solve anything.
So-called staff development is a complete joke and everyone knows it. Let all the militants, ultra liberals and critics of teachers get themselves teacher licenses and get a taste of what it is like in the trenches.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
