To the editor,
Re: Larry Penner’s letter, “Stamp it Out” in the Feb. 16–22 edition of Bay News.
While Mr. Penner has some legitimate points about poor postal service in America, in retrospect it was a mistake to privatize the Post Office and I believe now it should be returned as a Department with Cabinet status, [like it was] prior to 1972.
While it is true much mail is regarded as junk mail, rightly or wrongly, and while I understand Mr. Penner’s way of thinking, there is even greater waste in both the Pentagon and, especially now, with health care in America, while the annual budget is $3.2 trillion.
During World War II, the U.S. Senate created a special committee which Harry Truman chaired, [which was successful] in reducing $500 million [in spending] which was wasteful and nonessential.
After Mr. Truman became President he invited ex-President Herbert Hoover to become chairman of a commission, which was known as the Hoover Commission, to reduce needless spending in the U.S. government. Why can’t this be done today?
I agree that $500 million is twoppence today, but this would be more constructive than the Post Office delivering junk mail. Having worked for the Telephone Company for more than 22 years, I tried to send my fellow workers their mail at their home addresses if they were absent or on vacation.
I remember an instance where one piece of mail the company sent [was] an application form for a $1,500-a-year scholarship for my fellow worker’s children. I made sure that employees who weren’t present would receive it wherever they were. As a rule, those who weren’t there would get nothing.
The moral of this story is even what is second or third class mail could be very valuable and my fellow workers were entitled to it whether they were sick or on vacation. What needs to be remembered is that the so-called junk mail can have as much value as regular mail, if not more so.Elliott Abosh
Brighton Beach
Bad Oscar review
To the editor,
Marine Park’s Jimmy Kimmel tried his best to prop up the fading Oscar broadcast. In fact, this year’s show received the lowest ratings in history. Why, you may ask?
Where else would you find a solid, left wing, self-important bunch given a national stage to bash America? Where would one find the ad nauseam references to me too-you too-them too?
And where would you find staunch anti-gun message being spewed, while their own industry glorifies the use of guns and assault rifles?
It is no wonder why Americans have turned their backs to the Oscars in record numbers. Maybe if they make it a truly entertaining award show, extolling great acting and film support, people would come back and enjoy a few hours of decent television. Nahhhh!
Robert W. Lobenstein
Marine Park
Spread the blame
To the editor,
In his Feb. 16 letter (Buses discussed), Mr. Lobenstein absolves the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of all guilt for his delayed B41 Limited trip.
Yet the MTA is not innocent. Blame is attributed to traffic delays caused by dozens of illegal jitney buses and vans. What Mr. Lobenstein does not know is that the MTA is responsible for the vans.
Back in 1975, the MTA cut rush-hour service in half from every two minutes to every four minutes on the city’s most crowded routes where including the B2, B35, B41, B44 and B46 because. This was justified as a minimal inconvenience causing riders an extra wait of only two minutes.
Several weeks later, “gypsy cabs” popped up all over the city to fill the demand that the buses could no longer handle. In response, the MTA further reduced service in future years to match what they determined to be a lower demand.
The gypsy cabs morphed into rampant “dollar vans.” Unreliable bus service and outdated routes have increased the popularity of Uber.
The MTA’s goal is to provide the least amount of service it can get away with, and secretly welcomes the competition because it is viewed as service they do not have to provide.
If the problems mentioned by Mr. Lobenstein remain unaddressed the proposed B41 SBS, which will cost more to operate, will not speed his trip.Allan Rosen, Sheepshead Bay
Panning the Prez
To the editor,
The idea that Donald Trump said he would have gone in this school in Florida with or without a weapon (and, seemingly, with or without backup) is such an insult to all those who bravely serve day in and out and have served in the name of these great states, this country, this flag and all those who bravely serve the police department and all other ‘first on the scene responders.’
How dare he say how he would have responded when his record of deferments go well and shamefully before him. How may deferments did he get not to serve because of his foot? And he has the audacity to question another person’s actions? He’s absurd!Rob Hagen
Gravesend
Missing Dem Bums
To the editor,
The passing of former Brooklyn Dodger great Duke Snider on Feb. 27, 2011 seven years ago marked the end of the “Boys of Summer.” He was the last living day-to-day player who made up many of the 1950s Dodgers winning teams. They included catcher Roy Campanella, first baseman Gil Hodges, second baseman Junior Gilliam, shortstop Pee Wee Reese, third baseman Billy Cox, right fielder Carl Furillo and Jackie Robinson, who played several positions. Most have long forgotten that today’s Los Angeles Dodgers had their roots in Brooklyn New York.
The original Brooklyn Dodgers name was derived from Brooklyn residents who would dodge the hundreds of trolley cars which ran on dozens of routes for decades until their own decline and final death in the 1950s. The golden era of baseball in New York City took place in the ’50s with a three-way rivalry between the American League’s Yankees, and the National League’s Giants and Dodgers. All three teams claimed to have the best center fielder in baseball. On street corners all over town, citizens would argue whether the Yankees’ Mickey Mantle, Giants’ Willie Mays or Dodgers’ Duke Snider was champ. Ordinary Brooklyn natives could ride the bus, trolley, or subway to Ebbets Field to see their beloved Dodgers. Working and middle class men and woman of all ages, classes, and races commingled in the stands. Everyone could afford a bleacher, general admission, reserve or box seat. Hot dogs, beer, other refreshments and souvenirs were reasonably priced. Team owners would raise or reduce a player’s salary based on their performance the past season. Salaries were so low that virtually all Dodger players worked at another job off-season. Most Dodger players were actually neighbors who lived and worked in various communities in the County of Kings. Residents of the era sat outside on the neighborhood stoop, shopped at the local butcher, baker, fruit and vegetable stand. Television was a relatively new technology and the local movie theater was still king for entertainment. The Dodgers’ departure from Brooklyn coincided with many residents also moving out of town.
This year marks the 61st anniversary of the old Brooklyn Dodgers playing their final season in Brooklyn. During the 1950s, Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley tried to find various locations for construction of a new baseball stadium, which he pledged to finance using his own funds. With limited seating and automobile parking capacity at Ebbets Field, he needed a new modern stadium to remain financially viable.
New York City master mega-builder Robert Moses refused to allow him access near the current day Atlantic Yards project site. This location was easily accessible to thousands of baseball fans from all around the Big Apple via numerous subway lines.
Thousands of fans who moved to eastern Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk County would have had direct access via the Long Island Rail Road. Imagine how different Brooklyn would have been if elected officials had stood up to Robert Moses and allowed construction of a new Dodgers stadium in downtown Brooklyn. The 1950s Boys of Summer might have played on with new players entertaining new generations for decades more.Larry Penner
Great Neck
