To the editor,
I can sympathize with Allan Rosen’s comments because I’m all for safety, whether it’s bike riding or driving. (“Reader: ‘The city screwed us in Sheepshead Bay’, Sound off to the Editor, Sept.2).
He also made a comment about the traffic plan and the B36. So they changed the bus stop. Get over it! The train station is only one short block away, and walking is good for the heart. The B4 stops there too, and there are people on the B4 that walk to the train station with no problem. You want to make complaints, I’ll give you a few.
First, I see some people riding their bikes on the sidewalk. People and children walk on the sidewalks — you’re not allowed to ride on the sidewalk unless you’re under 14 years old. I don’t see it being enforced. Second, there are people still driving while texting and talking on the phone. You’re not supposed to do that, but again, it’s not being enforced. I also noticed some drivers don’t stop at the stop signs.
There are people who don’t respect other people’s quality of life. I see people throw garbage on the floor when there’s plenty of garbage cans around. I see dog poop on the sidewalks and in front of homes when you’re supposed to pick it up. Some people even toss their poop bags on the ground!
So you see, Allan, know nobody really cares about what we have to say. Why does the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have town meetings with the public when it already decided to raise the fare? Why does Mayor DeBlasio have $5 million for another Utica Avenue subway station when he could use the money for better use?
What the higher-ups do or don’t do just boggles my mind. Then you wonder why some people move out of New York.
Name withheld upon request
• • •
To the editor,
If Shelley Zeppernick had carefully read my letter, nowhere did I say motorists were “blameless” (“Richie on auto,” Sound off to the Editor, Sept. 9).
My letter was basically about the city’s policy of implementing their muni-meters, bike lanes, Citi Bike docks that eliminate street parking, street narrowing, and other policies without community input. I said that many bicyclists and pedestrians have this mentality that they are above the laws made to protect all, drivers included.
Vision Zero will never succeed unless all modes do their part. In my daily driving — which I do safely, thank you Shelley — the bikes are still the worst offenders of any laws, and of course are rarely called out on it.Richard HechtBay Ridge
Tell ’em, Shav
To the editor,
Shavana Abruzzo’s “Say can’t you see? Col fumbles the anthem” (A Britisher’s View, Sept. 9) tells it like it is, and should be required reading in our schools.
Clueless San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the National Anthem because he believes that America is oppressing black people, and that cops are murdering them — the false narrative of black activists.
Our post-WW II history disagrees with Kaepernick. Our country has gone above and beyond the call of duty to make the black community inclusive. In 1964 President Lyndon Johnson signed both the Civil Rights Act and the War on Poverty Act into law specifically to help minorities. Since then costly laws and guidelines favoring minorities, such as affirmative action and quota systems, have been front-and-center, and still, after more than two generations, the black community lags behind in education, employment and functional families.
America has elected black officials, most notably Barack Obama, but that fact escaped out dim-witted quarterback. It is Democrats, including Obama, who refused to enact policies that would help black children in failing schools, such as school vouchers. The “bodies in the streets” Kaepernick has referenced are the bodies of black criminals, of ambushed cops, and innocent victims of black-on-black crime, like the ones in this year’s J’ouvert parade in Crown Heights. If Kaepernick bothered to check the criminal records of those shot by cops, he would likely see lengthy arrest records signifying dysfunctional lives.
In the Rio Olympics, Army Reserve 2nd Lieutenant Sam Kendricks was in the running phase of his pole vault event when he heard the National Anthem playing. He immediately dropped his pole and saluted, which to 2nd Lt. Kendricks was more important than winning an Olympic medal.Elio Valenti
Brooklyn
Gun babies
To the editor,
First day of school and already a gun was brought in. At least the supervisors can’t say that the teacher wasn’t motivating the child. This recalcitrant should be transferred to Eva Moskowitz’s schools, so we can see first hand the miracles that she can make. It will just be another year of dismal test results and utter mayhem if students go undisciplined.
This recalcitrant probably came from the J’ouvert festival. When will our mayor, chancellor, and other officials learn that no learning will take place until there is rigid discipline in our schools?Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
Uncivil servants
To the editor,
Captain Faison, I read your interview (“Checkin’ in with … 61st Precinct’s Capt. Winston Faison” By Julianne Cuba, online July 25).
You speak of respect, community relations, and police involvement with the community they reside in. The NYPD’s Finest live across the street from me. Their concept of community relations is leadership by arrogance, not example. They always park on both sides of the traffic median where it states “No Standing Anytime.” Their bicycles have been chained and covered with tarps for the last two years on the “One Way Signs” and the “No Standing at Any Time” signs (no room where they live and they have never ridden them). No one with an NYPD (also FDNY) plaque gets ticketed.
They have loud parties way past 11 pm out on the front yard. Last year my neighbor and I had enough at 2 am. We both called across the street our NYPD example-setting neighbors came on the building’s property demanding to know who was telling them to be quiet. They were full-blown intoxicated and demonstrated community respect by telling us both “F… you.”
When you speak about your “rules” think about this: If the level of contempt and disrespect for the neighborhood the NYPD live in is so blatant and tolerated (no tickets for them), I can see why there are issues of resentment and mistrust in the communities where they work.
We are all good neighbors and people here in Sheepshead Bay. Let’s demand the same from our police, firefighters, and other public employees who live in our neighborhoods.
Name withheld upon request
Deserted
To the editor,
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the city seems to have deserted the Trump Village and Warbasse area. We have lost the Barnes System, in which all the lights change at the same time. Instead, we have cars turning from two directions, not waiting for people to cross the street.
There are many seniors with walkers who cannot cross the street quickly. We need to get the Barnes System back. This is a dangerous intersection.
We also have no elevator or escalator service on the F and Q subways, making it difficult to access the subway. The MTA says there are not enough people using the subway lines, but that is not true. There are many people in both developments who go to work every day and have to climb four or five staircases in order to access the subway. Many retirees would like to use the subway — if it was more usable. Too many stairs make it impossible for them to use.
Also, there is no way to get to Cropsey Avenue. There is no bus service from Neptune Avenue and W. Fifth Street to Cropsey. We cannot shop at any of the stores or go to the diner — and as our shopping center has become a ghost town and we cannot even get a cup of coffee. It would be nice be able to get to Cropsey. I’m sure the stores would love to have our business.
It is time for the MTA, and the city to stop ignoring us and give us the services we pay taxes for.
Elaine Berger
Trump Village
Republi-CONS
To the editor,
Congratulations to the people who voted for the Republican Party. After 9-11 devastated the whole country and many first responders gave their lives to save people what did your party do for them? I’d say nothing for years — while many were dying from toxic fumes your party was quiet.
It took many years for Congress to finally act and do the right thing, but did they really care? Then your Republican Congress decided to shut down the government. Once again your party decided not to fund this Zika outbreak to the full amount that the president wants.
Saving all lives from people who should never have a gun again hasn’t swayed your party. Then I wonder if one of their family members was killed by gun violence, would it make any difference?Jerry Sattler
Brighton Beach
Free java
To the editor,
As temperatures fall, the desire for a warm cup of joe rises. On Sept. 29, celebrate National Coffee Day with a free or reduced-price cup of coffee at coffee shops nationwide.
In past years, Dunkin’ Donuts, Krispy Kreme, Caribou and many others have offered food and drink deals on this day.Joan Mangano
Mill Basin
A-nniversary train
To the editor,
Happy anniversary to the A train! On September 10, 1932 service started on the A train, which originally ran between 207th Street in upper Manhattan and Chambers Street in downtown Manhattan.
This was the first city owned and built the Independent Subway System subway line. At the time, it was considered state of the art, with rattan seats, metal straps and overhead fans, and providing speedy service. The subway cars were so well built, many ran over 40 years into the early 1970s. The basic design of these cars served as the foundation for future generations right up to the present day. Stations on the A line were built to accommodate up to 11 car lengths. During the 1930s, the city began building and financing construction of the new independent subway — today’s A,C,E,F and G lines). This new municipal system completely subsidized by taxpayers dollars would provide direct competition to both the privately owned Interboro Rapid Transit (today’s 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 lines) and Brooklyn Manhattan Transit (today’s B,D,J,L,M,N,R,Q and Z lines).
The original base fare of five cents was established in 1913. Municipal government forced both the B.M.T. and I.R.T. into economic ruin by denying them fare increases in future decades that would have provided access to additional badly needed revenues. Big Brother, just like the Godfather, eventually made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. The owners folded and sold out to City Hall in 1940.
The A train became famous in the 1940s when jazz musician Duke Ellington wrote “Take the A Train.” The A line was extended in 1936, known as the “Fulton Street branch” and running thru Brooklyn, terminating at Lefferts Blvd. in Queens. When the Long Island Rail Road abandoned the Rockaway Beach Branch in the 1950s, the A line was extended to provide new service to the Rockaways on June 28, 1956.
In 1953, the old city board of transportation passed on control of the municipal subway system, including all its assets to the newly created New York City Transit Authority. Under late Governor Nelson Rockefeller in the 1960s, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority was created.
Many are too young to remember that up until the 1970s city transit extended E line service, which ran express in Brooklyn, providing supplemental service to the A line during rush hours to the Rockaways. Riders up until the early 1970s had to pay an extra fare when traveling beyond Broad Channel to any other station in the Rockaways.
For off peak and late night service, there was the old local shuttle from either Rockaway Park or Far Rockaway to Euclid Avenue Station which was the first stop in Brooklyn.
Larry Penner
Great Neck, N.Y.
McBots
To the editor,
All across the region I am noticing that McDonald’s is busy improving their hamburger joints, not for better aesthetics or customer service, but a direct response to the mandated $15 minimum wage.
The restaurant being rebuilt on Flatbush Avenue, near the Ryder Post Office is a prime example. My grandsons and I have visited several of these stores to see newly installed electronic-ordering kiosks where one doesn’t order food with a human, but through a video screen. We are told it is for better service, though it has been revealed that these new kiosks enable the company to substantially reduce staffing, thus improving their bottom line.
Well done (and not the burgers) to federal, state, and city legislators who through their concern to boost wages to aid minority workers have now hurt the very people in the community by eliminating their jobs.
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
‘Despicable me!’
To the editor,
Hillary hit the nail on the head, as I am one of those filling her “basket of deplorables.” I believe that political correctness has run amok. I believe that after almost a century of government handouts, everyone should stand on his or her merits, without being given special status.
I believe that being a citizen means standing up for the Pledge of Allegiance and the American anthem. I believe in being proud of my country’s achievements in technology and business without apologies to those who add nothing to our greatness. I believe that certain politicians have been playing social experiments in the hope that we will soon be governed by those who openly follow Lenin and Marx.
Yep, I am proud to be one in that “basket of deplorables!” Oh my, despicable me!
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Lights off!
To the editor,
The 1,250-watts lights on the sidewalks outside the Sheepshead-Nostrand Avenue Houses, as part of Mayor DeBlasio’s study on using lighting to deter crime, are so blinding that one must turn one’s head away, even from as far as a block away.
Because these are not high overhead lights, as are street lamps, but are only a few feet higher than eye level, the light shines right in one’s eyes. When walking or driving down Avenue V and turning into my street, the blinding light causes me to turn my head away or down. The inability to look straight ahead and be aware of one’s surroundings is counterproductive to the aim of deterring crime. It could also potentially cause a vehicular accident.
These lights also make the neighborhood look like a prison yard. Wouldn’t it make more sense to simply increase the wattage of the existing street lamps, which are overhead lights and do not shine directly in one’s eye?
Unless the light is increased throughout the whole area of the public housing, I don’t see how an occasional light placed at two-or-three-block intervals can do much to deter crime. Good intentions aren’t enough.
Shirley Ranz
Sheepshead Bay
Field of cleans
To the editor,
Something has to be done with some of these baseball players who look completely disheveled on the field.
How can they play ball in such hot weather with that long hair? Many sport beards as well. They look like they’re answering a casting call for the remake of the musical “Hair.”Kudos to the New York Yankees for having a policy which demands neat, clean shaven players on the field.
I’m not advocating a suit and tie on the field, but their appearance on the field is disgusting to view.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
Star spangled canner
To the editor,
It was sad to see the San Francisco 49’ers quarterback not stand for the National Anthem. Of course it is anyone’s right to not stand for the rasing of the flag, regardless of his reason for not doing, but he should realize many soldiers in the past and present have made the ultimate sacrifice for it.
There are still conflicts overseas, with are troops being put in harm’s way. If he has issues that are politically motivated or otherwise, he should put that aside to be respectful of the red, white and blue.
Joseph V. Comperchio
Gravesend
•••
To the editor,
Certain professional sports players are making a political statement on the field by sitting for the national anthem and bashing cops. As citizens of this great country we can make a statement too.
The teams condoning these un-American actions deserve a good kick in the wallet. Find out which product endorses these teams and team members, and which products are advertised during the games, and then write to the head of each company, telling them that you will stop buying their products and spend your hard-earned dollars on competitors’ offerings. This, along with simply turning off the continuous anti-American drone on the television networks, should send the message that the playing field should be devoid of demonstrations and political activism.
Now grow up and play ball!
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
‘Teflon dame’
To the editor,
If “Teflon dame” Hillary Clinton was ever indicted for any crimes she committed, which is very doubtful, she should use the “Affluenza Defense,” which seems to apply perfectly in her case.
She is wealthy and successful. She shows signs having trouble functioning in normal society. She has trouble distinguishing right and wrong. She has a sense of entitlement. She believes she has a superior intellect, and doesn’t seem to understand the consequences of her actions and ignores the rules.
Peter G. Orsi
Marine Park
SBS’ ‘failure’
To the editor,
After a year and a half delay, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Department of Transportation finally released its B44 Special Bus Service Progress Report which your newspaper did not feel was worthy of a mention. Had you read and understood the report, you would see how through omissions and careful selection of data, they tried to show this failure as a success.
The purpose of S.B.S. was to reverse the declining trend in bus ridership and operate service more efficiently, using longer buses making fewer stops, thereby reducing costs. The goal supposedly was to help the passengers while having little impact on traffic using exclusive bus lanes. The M.T.A. claimed success by stating ridership was up by 10 percent.
All good until you read the fine print. Only S.B.S. ridership was up by 10 percent, and only during the second year while declining the first year. And that includes B49 riders who took the B44 S.B.S. only because it arrived first on Rogers Avenue. Local bus ridership declined four percent the second year, so with approximately the same numbers of passengers on S.B.S. and the local, the real B44 gain during the second year was only six percent, not ten percent.
But wait. It’s even worse than that. They don’t tell you that during the first year of operation, B44 ridership declined by eight percent. So when you look at all the numbers, B44 ridership is lower today than before S.B.S. started. Add to that the program cost $20 million to implement and $2 to $3 million additional each year to operate. Also traffic speeds on the streets where the exclusive bus lanes were implemented declined by about four or seven percent and increased by only one percent for one segment in one direction during one time period. Traffic speeds on surrounding streets also declined and parking spaces were lost. So exactly who benefitted?
Those making very long trips when the average B44 trip length is only 2.3 mph. It was an even exchange for most everyone else who traded shorter bus trips for longer walking distances to and from the S.B.S. bus stops which are as much as a mile apart because of the M.T.A.’s refusal to add an S.B.S. bus stop at Avenue R. Those former limited stop users were hurt by now being required to take the slower local as well as anyone else who needs Kings County- Downstate Medical Centers on New York Avenue.
The report is deficient by omitting the following topics: the need for some passengers to pay an extra fare to use S.B.S. if they want to change to the local and another subway or bus; inadequate public notice; unfair fare evasion summonses; the entire topic of fare evasion and the costs to reduce it; the need for additional S.B.S. bus stops; inadequate local service; poor bus service reliability; nearly empty S.B.S. buses during the peak hour south of Avenue X while the B36 is jam packed and skipping bus stops; fare machine reliability; or the failure to survey local passengers after S.B.S. was instituted as part of their satisfaction survey; deficiencies in signage and roadway markings or any mention of passenger trip times and walking distances. Some buses operating faster because they are making fewer stops does not necessarily translate into passengers being better served, yet that what the M.T.A. is asking us to believe.
Allan Rosen
The writer is a former director of bus planning for the M.T.A.’s N.Y.C. Transit Authority.
Donald Thump
To the editor,
How very interesting that Donald Trump is the only graduate of Trump University with a doctorate degree. The thing is what has he learned?
As a college student one is exposed to many new cultures and backgrounds which should broaden one’s understanding to learn and share knowledge with others, while making new friends. Instead all he did was find ways to insult Mexicans, Muslims and a Gold Star veteran who died for this country, and then insulted his mother for not speaking.
Trump also denies extreme weather changes that have taken place now and in the past. In California there’s been a five-year drought, and hundreds of families have lost their homes in constant wild fires. A few winters ago areas, some southern states had massive snow falls and ice storms that caused major roads to be closed down. This has never happened before. Also, the East Coast has had record heat waves. This should be a concern to each and everyone of us.
Trump says he could walk down Fifth Avenue and shoot someone without fear of being arrested. How does that make you feel to hear that when we’ve had so many killings? It makes me uncomfortable.
Solomon Rafelowsky
Brighton Beach
Junk justice
To the editor,
Sheldon Silver, the disgraced former Assembly speaker, was convicted of taking millions of dollars in bribes, but hasn’t done a day in prison yet.
Hillary Clinton doesn’t even get indicted after all her illegal shenanigans, and laughs about it while mocking the judicial system. I guess justice really isn’t completely blind for everyone.
Justice is supposed to be blind. Justice is supposed to be fair to everyone — no bias or prejudice because of who you are or how much money or fame you have.
First Lady Michele Obama once said, “For the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country.” I have to say this may be the first time in my adult life that I am not proud of my country.
Cronin Miller
Midwood
Capt. America
To the editor,
In an era where political correctness is rampant, it was nice to see Captain America, a white guy, heralded as a hero. True, he is a comic book and movie character, but he rallies all to the great cause of the American way.
Some people are hell bent on decapitating statues of great Americans like Washington and Jefferson, along with brave civil war heroes, simply because that they are ignorant of history and their true contributions to America. To them it’s black or nothing!
They should stand back and be grateful that without these men building our country and protecting it, they wouldn’t have any opportunity at all to grouse about their color.
Times have changed and any hero of any ethnicity should be embraced, celebrated, and immortalized without first deciding whether their color is appropriate.
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Trump humph
To the editor,
Donald Trump must have rocks in his head for saying Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was not a war hero because he was captured. What evidence does Trump have that Senator McCain asked to be captured? He is extremely far fetched, to put it very gently, to imply it was McCain’s own fault.
By Trump’s way of thinking, if there are any more prisoners of war, he will feel it is too much trouble to rescue them.
Elliott Abosh
Brighton Beach
Ryan n’ Hil-liar-y
To the editor,
Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte gets drunk with some friends in Rio, vandalizes a gas station, pays for the damages, exaggerates and maybe even lies about what happened, then admits to what really happened, and apologizes sincerely and takes full responsibility for his stupid actions, but he’s getting crucified by the media, and the U.S. Olympic Committee is setting up disciplinary committee so he is punished accordingly.
He already lost some endorsements and he is being dragged through the mud by the court of public opinion. He is being called a disgrace and an embarrassment. I guess President Obama will be making a trip to Brazil, another stop on his apology tour, once he finishes his golfing vacation and visits Louisiana. Now, no argument from me that what Ryan did was just plain dumb, but shouldn’t the punishment fit the crime? After all, the guy didn’t kill anyone, he didn’t rob anyone, he didn’t mug an old lady or anything close. He got drunk and did something stupid. Give this guy a break, not because he is a 12-time Olympic medalist, but because many of us did some real stupid stuff too, and thankfully our lives weren’t ruined for it.
Hillary Clinton, who is a serial liar and has been for years, isn’t getting treated nearly as harsh as Ryan Lochte. She lied to the FBI, Congress and many times to the American people. She lied about Benghazi, she lied about landing in Bosnia under heavy gun fire, she lied about leaving the White House dead broke and in debt.
Her trail of lies goes back to when she was a lawyer for the Watergate investigation, when she was only 27 years old, but despite all her lies, Hillary became the first woman to be nominated by the Democratic Party to run for president — and she’s still lying.
Ryan Lochte went through enough while Hillary has been given an easy pass. She was rewarded for her lies, making millions of dollars giving speeches. Something ain’t adding up here.
Peter G. Orsi
Marine Park
…
To the editor,
When we were drafted during the Korean War, Hillary was playing with her dolls. We received $80 a month, and more for overseas.
After the military, we began our careers, and I chose teaching. In order to teach in the city in those days, you had to pass a series of exams, and if you failed one, you were finished.
By the mid-1950s, many people had a yearly salary of $4,000, and the total sum of the salaries of a cop, fireman, and teacher over 20 years wouldn’t add up to the $150,000 that Hillary Clinton is supposed to make for a speech. How much money did the party which hired her pocket?
I’d like to read a transcript of one of those speeches, for I want to know what her super-message is. It surely exceed the knowledge of Einstein, Aristotle, and Diogenes, and the wisdom of Confucius.
At a senior affair in Florida, an elderly lady said that she was present when Hillary kicked off her shoes and said she wished she had her dad’s World War I gas mask. No comment.
I have a question for people voting for Hillary because she’s a woman: Would you go to a beauty parlor to fix your teeth?
George Manos
Bay Ridge
•••
To the editor,
First lady, New York senator, Democratic nominee are all terms that can be used to describe Hillary Clinton. Throughout her life, there have been many conspiracies and rumors about Clinton and her husband, Bill. The majority of these rumors and conspiracies have always sounded too spurious for a regular person to perceive as believable. Yet one piece of news that was reported in April sounded more bizarre than any prior conspiracy, and more like false reporting. “For the Ku Klux Klan, Clinton is our choice,” said Will Quigg, a California grand dragon. Quigg went on to say, “She is friends with the Klan, and all the stuff she is saying now; she’s saying so she can get into office. OK?” Hillary Clinton, the woman whom Republicans despise for being too far on the left side of the political spectrum, was endorsed by an important figure in an organization that is more Neo-Confederate Republican than any other in the U.S. Yet perhaps the Klan’s endorsement does have some reason behind it. There are a few major issues that make the KKK who they are: Firstly, their racist history, and secondly, their opposition to homosexuality. While Hillary Clinton was serving as a senator to New York, she was asked in 2004, what her stance on homosexuality and marriage is. She said she believed “marriage is not just a bond, but a sacred bond between a man and a woman.” (And only recently when the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay marriage did she say that “marriage equality represents America at its best.”) Not only was she against homosexual marriage, but in 1994, her reaction to Bill Clinton’s “three strike” criminal bill was perceived as racist (another trait which the KKK has always possessed).
The then-first lady said, “They are not just kids anymore, they are often the kinds of kids which are called super predators, no conscience, no empathy. We can talk about why they ended up that way, but first we have to bring them to heel.” Super predators is a term used mostly to refer to black children who commit crime, and is considered a racist term. Even more recently, Dolly Kyle, Bill Clinton’s childhood friend told Sean Hannity in an interview that we should “watch the imperious way Hillary treats anyone beneath her, especially young black women.” He then confirmed his allegation that Hillary Clinton is racist and said, “I am absolutely suggesting she is racist.”
But it is not a surprise, since Democrats prior to Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Civil rights Act, were always the ones who supported racism. Perhaps Hillary Clinton is a classic Neo-Confederate Democrat. Just from her previous stances on race and homosexuality, one can understand why the KKK would come out in endorsing Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton is also conservative. Gun control, abortion, and immigration are issues that Conservative Republicans have always had strong opinions on. Coincidently these issues are also ones that Clinton is passionate about. In April of 2008, then-Secretary Clinton said that she disagreed with then-Sen. Obama’s assertion that “people in our country cling to guns.” She then went on to say, “You know, my dad took me behind the cottage that my grandfather built on a little lake Winola outside of Scranton and taught me how to shoot when I was a little girl…You know, some people now continue to teach their children and grandchildren. It’s part of culture. It’s a part of a way of life. People enjoy hunting and shooting because it’s an important part of who they are.”
That statement sounds like it came out of the mouth of an old Texas conservative. Although since becoming secretary of state she has changed her opinion on guns, she did indeed have a pro-gun past. She has the same past with abortion as with guns. Although she was never quite clear on her abortion stance, she always said that no matter what, abortions should not happen frequently. During her run for president back in 2008, she said that abortions should be “safe, legal, and rare, and by rare I mean rare” — another opinion that she shared with Republicans.
Her stance on immigration follows the pattern. In Nov. 2015, Clinton was asked what she thinks about securing the Mexican border. She answered with no hesitation, “Well look, I voted numerous times when I was a senator to spend money to build a barrier to try to prevent illegal immigrants from coming in. And I do think you have to control your borders.” Yet again, as with the other issues, she has since has changed her stance on immigration into one more coherent with that of the modern Democrat.
America has become more liberal than ever before, and this is why Hillary Clinton is choosing to hide her conservative past, and choosing to display herself as the common liberal.
Batya Goldberg
Brooklyn
‘No clue’
To the editor,
In all honesty, how could Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina say that the school system is better off with fewer suspensions?
Doing this will only embolden disruptive children to carry on even worse than they usually do. There is no fear now whatsoever since it appears that anything goes in our system.
The chancellor and mayor know full well that some of our schools are so bad that the military needs to be called in. We need to instill military discipline in these schools if we have any hope of salvaging them. Why is there no talk of returning to the 600-school concept for chronically unruly pupils? Are we afraid that if we did this, teachers would be able to teach and be recognized for their efforts instead of being admonished for not being able to “control” certain children?
The basic problem is that our so-called educational leaders and “experts” spent little or no time in the classroom, but are able to dictate policy. At least 10 years of teaching experience should be required before you become a supervisor. Experienced educators know the rigors of classroom teaching; others have no clue.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
Trump dump
To the editor,
I have had a lot of questions about Donald Trump’s qualifications to be president of our country, since he began his campaign, and his acceptance speech at the Republican Convention left me with a lot more.
First of all, how many writers did he hire to write his speech? Did he study it beforehand or just read it off a teleprompter without really knowing or caring what he was saying, as long as he got support from his listeners? How much of the speech did he really mean, besides the parts blasting Hillary Clinton?
Will Trump, if he becomes president, actually do any of the things he promised he would in his speech, other than building a wall between us and Mexico which will undoubtedly antagonize Mexico and many other countries, and not keep out terrorists or drug dealers? They will either break through the wall or tunnel under it. Will Trump send thousands of homeless immigrants, including hungry children, back to their homelands to be either assassinated or starve to death? Trump now says he wants to help all Americans, including women, minorities and L.G.B.T. citizens. Can we really believe him?
Trump’s speech and Hillary Clinton’s supposed carelessness or dishonesty have left me wondering if there is such a person as a completely honest politician, and whether a completely honest politician could win an election. I doubt that honest Abe Lincoln could have won the presidency in today’s political environment. However, I do think that Hillary Clinton, honest or not, is far more qualified to run our country than Donald Trump. I have a few questions for Trump that he has never answered: Why haven’t you released your tax returns? Why did you create, sponsor, support, and give your name to a fraudulent so-called university that bilked thousands of students out of hundreds of thousands of dollars? How do you expect to manage our country’s budget when you couldn’t even keep your hotels and casinos in Atlantic City from going bankrupt?
Hopefully, we’ll have all the answers we need before November.
Elaine Kirsch
Gravesend
War and peace
To the editor,
Another senseless loss of life in Nice, France, where men, women, and children who had nothing to do with politics of the country paid the ultimate price.
Can leaders be so blind? For every loss of life, the anger of many begins to build up. Quite often we hear that war should be the last resort, but why do we continue bombing countries that never attacked our nation?
I suppose that history will not judge us in a positive way. We stoke the flame of anger with each bomb drop and drone strike that kills innocent people. Payback is what we reap.
How many times have we heard let’s have a dialogue? Have we really tried that? Or are they just a bunch of empty words?
Name withheld upon request
Err waves
To the editor,
I tried to watch the Republican National Convention only to find that regular broadcast TV — a wasteland of inane comedies, unreal reality shows, and a spattering of highly filtered and biased network convention coverage — did not have continuous coverage of this most important event. I and the millions of others who have cut the cord find that we just have to muddle through whatever limited coverage is offered.
It is only too well known across this land that the talking heads of the networks have their own slanted democratic agenda, which are only to be believed with a really big grain of salt.
After they put their spin on the events, we’ll just have to keep our eyes and ears open to get the straight story.
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Bad sports
To the editor,
It’s baseball season again. Teams will be battling it out on baseball diamonds across the country.
I watched a game in which the Atlanta Braves were playing. It was obvious to me that Native Americans would be offended by this team being called “Braves” and having a tomahawk symbol on their uniforms. Another offensive thing is the tomahawk chop.
The equivalent of that would be to have a team called the San Francisco Soldiers, and the symbol on their uniform was a rifle, with fans doing a mock rifle shoot in the stands. I think many people in this country would be offended by that.
After the genocide we caused them, the least we can do is to treat Native Americans decently.
Jerome Frank
Coney Island
Ain’t no rest
To the editor,
I hate it when I’m trying to exercise at Dreier-Offerman Park in a quiet atmosphere, when some folk insist on turning the children’s playground next to the basketball court into their personal amphitheater.
Layfayette Park is also a total lost cause, with loud music blaring in the mornings. I tired of complaining to the city with no corrective action taken and no warnings of any kind given to the offenders.
Music should be confined to a gym or home, unless it’s played on headphones.
Joseph V. Comperchio
Bath Beach
Coney past
To the editor,
I will never call Coney Island the “People’s Playground.”
Hurricane Sandy changed the lives of people living there, and many residents are still struggling years later, but every year there is a hot-dog eating contest, the Mermaid Parade, and other festivities. Now there is the new amphitheater. But do the residents benefit from any of these events? I think not.
With more traffic congestion now, how will any emergency vehicles, such as police, fire, and ambulance, will be able to respond in time to save lives?
I remember when there was a rush to not only replace the amusement area, but also the broken Boardwalk from West 12. Street to Stillwell Avenue. Wow, how fast those new boards were replaced. Can’t say the same about the other broken and cracked wood that has not been repaired.
So, people will fall on the Boardwalk, sue the city, and collect more money. Don’t you think it would be more cost affective to fix the boards?
Right next to Childs Restaurant there was a beautiful community garden. African Americans, Spanish, Russians had their own plot of land to grow fruits and vegetables. Each group got along in an open and friendly manner. I felt at peace there, with only the sound of the water being used to keep the plants alive, and nourish the fruits and vegetables.
It’s a shame when the same city talks about having a clean environment and decides to destroy all the hard work of those community gardeners.
Jerry Sattler
Brighton Beach
‘Comm’ off it
To the editor,
I read Jerome Frank’s letter about how the media is not liberal, but conservative ((“Rob ‘ Jerome,” Sound off to the Editor, July 10). I want to thank you for a good laugh, but my next thought was how can an adult person be so naive?
Jerome, for you knowledge, the media is overwhelmingly liberal and bias. I emigrated from a so-called Latin-American country. I know what Communism does to people.
When I was younger my compatriots were immigrating in masses to Venezuela for a better future. Venezuela was the most prosperous country in Latin America. And now after years of Communism the Venezuelan people are looking in the garbage disposals to feed their children.
I am old enough to remember the old Soviet Union where stores were empty and people were waiting in line to buy any food available. Today if you visit Russia and the rest of the former Soviet Union, nobody is waiting in line for food, the stores are full of merchandise. So what does Venezuela today and the former Soviet Union have in common? The answer is very simple: Communism.
Is that what you want for the United States? The most corrupt politicians in the United States in recent history are the Clintons, without a doubt. They did not invent bribery, but they perfected it. Do you really think that anybody pays hundred of thousands of dollars to listen to Hillary’s words of wisdom?
Then you were parroted the Clintons’ line about Donald Trump failing several times in his businesses. That is right, he failed and he picked himself up, and he started again, that is something to admire, actually.
Hillary never failed because she never risks her own money, she is playing safe, she is always using our money.
Ana Pusar
Marine Park
Blame game
To the editor,
Everyone seems to be blaming someone else for the killings of black men, the killings of cops, the killings of people in custody, the killings of innocents — whether at war or just walking down the street minding their own business.
I’ve heard it’s the president’s fault, the mayor’s, Al Sharpton’s, the guns’, the judges who let loose career criminals, and parents who don’t give their children family values and discipline, or teach them about consequences for bad actions.
We can blame friends, gangs, the father who wasn’t around, the courts and the legal system, drugs, unemployment, the media, and the weather. Hey, what about blaming Ted Turner, who started the 24-hour cable news networks bombarding us with much of the same stuff over and over. But let’s not blame the rotten, dirty, no-good, demented scoundrel who pulls the trigger or causes the mayhem.
He’s usually just a good boy who made a mistake or is being falsely accused. Just look at his cherubic face on his first-grade graduation picture, but don’t look at the one on social media — you know the one where he is holding a gun and flashing gang signs.
Peter G. Orsi
Marine Park
Oy vey
To the editor,
Jewish people have a way of addressing trouble with two little words — oy vey — and oy vey, do we have trouble. We have a president worse than Carter or Nixon. This president lied and made a treaty with a terrorist country that calls for the death to America and Israel.
We also have the worst-ever mayor who should go to jail. We have a Congress which would rather protect pedophiles and perverts than innocent children. Oy vey! Oy vey!
What can we look forward to? Two wannabe presidents who out-lie each other. What to do? Just say oy vey and go on our way.
Jay Sonners
Coney Island
Parking hogs
To the editor,
I live on East Third Street between Avenues X and W. There are two cars, owned by brothers, that are constantly illegally parked during alternate side parking.
We have alternate side parking on the west side of the street on Tuesday and on the east side of the street on Fridays. The two cars parked illegally are left in the same parking spots for months — one of the cars has been in the same spot since January! Currently they are parked on the west side of the street which has alternate side parking rules on Tuesday. The reason why they get away with this because they have covers they put on their cars that prevent Sanitation from issuing tickets.
I understand that there are problems like this in other parts of Brooklyn — some are also worse than my street — and I was told by someone knowledgeable that these cars were slated to be towed away, but they still sit here. If the city doesn’t have enough tow trucks to handle the removal of all these illegally parked cars, then it should let towing companies in each borough bid in order to remove these cars.
I know the police have many priorities during their shifts and this maybe considered low priority and a quality of life issue, but I and my fellow car owners in this neighborhood have to drive around sometimes half an hour or more to find a legal parking spot so we don’t get ticketed. We usually have to walk several blocks to get home and go back to our cars, yet because these cars have covers — one has a beige cover and the other a blue cover — preventing Sanitation from seeing their registration stickers so they can be ticketed they get to skirt the law.
Car covers are illegal on city streets. You can use them for a car parked on your driveway or in your garage, but not on a city street. This is not fair and something has to be done to ticket them and make sure they don’t park these cars for weeks and months at a time, abusing the alternate side parking regulations.
Name withheld upon request
•••
To the editor,
I am not one to wrote to newspapers, but the letter from Charles K. Barra — regarding his mother getting a summons for double parking her car — made my blood boil (“Law and marauder! City’s ‘unfair’ ticket blitz,” Sound off to the Editor, June 2).
Does Charles and his mother know that to double park a car is against the law? It causes lots of accidents. Alternate side street parking means that the Sanitation Department sweeper can sweep that particular street. When the sweeper driver sees cars double parked, it is difficult to get through, and many times skips the street. Therefore that street has litter, and along comes the Sanitation inspector and gives the homeowner a summons (the 18-inch law).
How dare Charles and his mother think they were not performing a criminal act by double parking a car. If she is elderly, as he says, and does not know the law about double parking, she should not be driving a car. If any councilman is helping them, he is enabling them to break the law.
Thank God for the diligent meter-enforcement agents. I hope there are hundreds more like that because double parking is against the law.
Name withheld upon request
Tech-NO-logy
To the editor,
There are not too many jobs around, as technology seems to have taken over. At my local Chase Bank, there are the usual ATM machines at the entrance, but now they are in the lobby itself — two machines have taken the place of two tellers.
When will the two remaining teller windows be replaced by machines? I find it very disturbing.
I like to do my banking with a human, one who smiles and wishes me a good day, not a machine that spits out receipts and currency.
Etta Dorf
Sheepshead Bay
Brexit and USA
To the editor,
British exit and America’s future choice!
The vote taken in Great Britain to extract them from the European Union is a direct result of government ignoring the will of the people. Citizens ultimately get frustrated, angry, and then decide that; they must take matters into their own hands.
This scenario has unfolded over many millennia when the people, fed up, rise against their existing ruling establishment and yet another change of government is executed. For better or worse.
What happened in England, now expanding to Germany and other European Union member states, should be a clarion call to the entire American government. Your people are sick and tired of the same bull, year after year. Your people are frustrated at the severe lack of representation this republic was founded upon. Your people are disgusted with city, state, and federal elected officials ignoring the will of the constituents and, going on a tangent, doing the exact opposite of what they were voted in to do. Your people see the deteriorating conditions when it comes to foreign policy, finances, and immigration, and their calls for help and change fall on deaf politician’s ears.
I know in my heart that there will be no change from now until November where the citizens will be given a stark choice. Then and only then will the people make it known at the ballot box the direction they want to take. Do they want to continue being “sheeple” led down a road to third-world status or will they grow a pair and say enough is enough, and force a major change.
It’s in your hands now my friends — your hands!
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Dems’ hissy fit
To the editor,
So now the Democrats in the Congress and Senate are throwing a hissy fit because they didn’t have the votes to pass a Second Amendment-compromising, anti-gun bill. Since they couldn’t get their way, they staged a takeover of the house, fostering demonstrations and sit-in protests.
It is funny to note that the gentlemen and women Republicans have never done anything as despicable as this, and cause such uproar in the sacred halls of government. When we lost a vote, we grumbled a bit, licked our wounds and continued forward. I guess the old adage is true where Democrats are seen as low-life street people where the Republicans show a touch of class in their dealings.
Hopefully, this fall, Democrats do not retake the house, senate and presidency where mob rule applies!
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Off-track
To the editor,
Problems with New York City Transit subway and buses may be attributed to less funding provided by both Albany and City Hall, not Washington.
Federal support for transportation has remained consistent and growing over past decades. When a crises occurred, be it 9-11 in 2001 or Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Washington was there for us. Additional billions in assistance above and beyond yearly formula allocations from the United States Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration were provided. In 2009 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided billions more.
Most federal transportation grants require a 20 percent hard-cash local share. In many cases, the feds accepted toll credits instead of hard cash for the local share. This saved the Metropolitan Transportation Authority $1 billion in the previous 2010-2014 five-year capital program. The same will be true with the 2015-2019 five-year capital program.
Washington has made available over $1 billion in 2016 for the M.T.A., and funds 35 percent of its capital program. There are other opportunities for several hundred million more in discretionary competitive grants.
Larry Penner
The writer is a transportation historian, advocate, and former 31-year worker with the United States Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration.
Black n’ white
To the editor,
I have heard many times that President Obama is the first black president, when in actuality his father was black and his mother was white, so Obama is of mixed blood. He is not the first mixed-blood president — Dwight D. Eisenhower’s mother was of mixed blood.
J.A. Rogers (Joel Augustus) wrote a book in 1965 titled “The Five Negro Presidents.” Very interesting! Google this information for more on this usually unspoken subject.
I was a librarian down in clean, wonderful Atlanta in the early 1990s, and many times our readers would check out this thin book, which was eye-opening to me. Doubt if that book is still around, but the information is, I believe, factual.
Joan Applepie
Mill Basin
BDS boycott
To the editor,
Governor Cuomo spoke eloquently at the memorial at the Stonewall Inn. After he spoke, a Muslim woman, also an LGBT member, spoke and denounced him for wanting to boycott industries that wish to boycott Israel. What does this have to do with the tragedy that occurred in Orlando?
May I also remind the lady that if she lived in many of the Arab countries, her sexual preference would never be tolerated. Ironically, but she would be tolerated in Israel.
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions’ members should be ashamed of themselves for what they advocate. They take umbrage at the idea of a boycott on places that wish to boycott the Israel nation. What hypocrisy they show.
Even more shocking are those of the Jewish faith who align themselves with this group, like Sen. Bernard Sanders. They are nothing more than self-deprecating Jews. Since they are ashamed of our religion and abandoned it long ago, they think that by trying to assimilate into non-Jewish tradition, they will win the favor of others.
We owe it to humanity to denounce Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions for its actions. We owe it to the memory of the six million Jews and others who perished for the sanctification of the Lord’s name.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
‘Embrace” gentrification
To the editor,
I have been reading stories in your newspaper and others of how people are so upset at the gentrification taking place across the city. I scratch my head and wonder why? I’ve lived long enough to see the old Coney Island parks close in the 1960s only to be replaced with projects which became nothing more than warehouses, crime-ridden hulks. Our beloved Brooklyn Dodgers waved goodbye for greener pastures in Los Angeles. Here, too, the fields were razed and yet another instant slum, Ebbetts Field, was constructed.
City officials may have had good intentions, but the result of these complexes across the five boroughs has proven devastating.
Now there are complaints about building middle- and upper-income housing in Sheepshead Bay. Here, too, I scratch my head and wonder why! Sheepshead Bay ceased to be a quaint little fishing village years ago. Monstrous luxury party yachts have replaced most of the fishing boats moored in the bay. Old Mcguinnese’s roast beef restaurant is long gone, replaced with a kitschy, upscale Russian nightclub, and the remaining stores and other businesses are benefiting somewhat, from tourists and residents alike.
The immigrant (read-Russian) developers need to be directed to not only build their condos, but there should be strong input from the city forcing them to maintain the many restaurants and shops along the avenue. Unless Mayor DeBlasio, whom the feds are investigating for fiscal improprieties, has been taking their money under the table, too.
As gentrification takes hold across the city, one sees a big improvement in life and lifestyles. True, we must save historic districts that deserve saving. But tearing down and rebuilding for the better is a way of life that must be embraced.
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Reader v. reader
To the editor,
Donald Trump is doing so well because there is a huge segment of the population that is suffering economically. Their legitimate concerns must be dealt with. There has been a decrease in low-level jobs for many reasons, including automation, increased technology, and jobs going overseas to nations with lax labor and safety laws. Online shopping also puts stores at a severe disadvantage, further reducing entry-level jobs.
If wages went up some businesses would fail. This has always been the case. When the price of goods go up, businesses either fail or pass on the cost to their customers. It’s a risk all businesses take. Workers in low-end jobs often resort to food stamps and other government subsidies. Raising the minimum wage would give more spending power, create more jobs, and reduce government expenditures on items like food stamps.
Critics claim making the tax rate more progressive will result in every individual becoming poor. This is ridiculous, as a small increase in the tax rate paid by the top one or two percent will only have a minimum impact, if at all. It will increase government revenue and enable our government to improve our terrible transportation system. This will help increase jobs and productivity.
There are people who will take advantage of paid sick time and maternity leave. I worked at a job with those benefits and very few people abused the privilege. The few who did were watched and some were fired. I do not want to work in an environment where there is no sick leave, nor do I want sick people coming to work because they can’t afford to miss a day’s pay.
As to those who think free college tuition never existed. I am approaching 70 years of age and I remember when City University was free. There were vigorous admission standards, and it was recognized that by giving needy students a free education society would benefit in the long run. Many leaders of industry and government took advantage of this opportunity. They paid back this investment many times over through taxes, creating businesses, and serving on civic associations.
Alan Podhaizer
Trump Village
Oaf-icials
To the editor,
Too many municipal elected officials who complain about the Metropolitan Transportation Authority forget their transit history.
In 1953, the old city Board of Transportation passed on control of the municipal subway system, including all its assets, under a master lease and operating agreement to the newly created New York City Transit Authority. Under late-Gov. Nelson Rockefeller in the 1960s, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority was created. The governor appointed four board members, the mayor four more ,and the rest by suburban county executives. No one elected official controlled a majority of the votes. As a result, elected officials have historically taken credit when the Metropolitan Transportation Authority or any operating subsidiary such as New York City Transit would do a good job. When operational problems occurred or fare increases were needed, everyone could put up their hands and say, “Don’t blame me, I’m only a minority within the Board.”
Decade after decade, city mayors, comptrollers, public advocates, council presidents, borough presidents, and council members would all play the same sad song — if only we had majority control of the board, things would be different.
All have long forgotten that buried within the 1953 master agreement between the City of New York and New York City Transit is an escape clause. The city has the legal right at any time to take back control of its assets, which includes the subway and most of the bus system as well. Actions speak louder than words. If municipal elected officials feel they could do a better job running the nations largest subway and bus system, why not step up to the plate now and regain control of your destiny?
Larry Penner
Great Neck, N.Y.
Pissed off
To the editor,
Doesn’t our ultra-liberal idiotic City Council members realize that many of the deviants started their way to crime by committing so called “minor offenses?”
It is outrageous that the Council has voted not to have jail time for such people. Besides being disgusting and vulgar, public urination definitely poses health problems. The stench will permeate the city, and with no fear of going to jail, it will only embolden them to do even worse things. Let us hope that the deviants now urinate in front of the homes of these legislators. Let them get a whiff of a situation they have made much worse.
I’m wondering just how more “progressive” the Council can get. Setting aside a day to honor Ethel Rosenberg was awful, but this even tops that. I wonder if the deviants will use the supermarket bags they’ll pay a nickel each for to relieve themselves.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
Town halls
To the editor,
As the Republican District Leader of the 46 Assembly District, I was compelled to attend the recent densely packed town hall meeting with Mayor de Blasio in Bay Ridge, the heart of my Assembly District. While I recognized the usual politicos and their staff filling the room, it was refreshing to see that actual concerned citizens and residents of Bay ridge were there in full force. Too bad the current Assemblymember of the 46 Assembly District did not present her views on the topics discussed, and opted to sit quietly.
Some of the issues discussed were the illegal conversions in Dyker Heights, sex shops posing as spas, and the waste transfer station being built upon our shoreline. A question was posed to the mayor about property tax rates and assessments. He stated that he would look at the tax rates, and request the City Council n
