Perkins Fights For Environment
To the Editor:
In the current New York State Senate, there are few lawmakers truly fighting for a better environmental future for New Yorkers. Bill Perkins is one such legislator. He has a proven record of fighting for New Yorkers and getting results.
As State Senator for the 30th District, Bill Perkins has fought for cleaner air in a district where nearly one in four children suffer from asthma. He has worked with local organizations to fix problems at the North River Sewage Treatment Plant and has fought against the siting of additional bus depots in Northern Manhattan, a huge source of air pollution. And while he was serving in the City Council, Bill led efforts to pass The Childhood Lead Paint Poisoning Act of 2004. This crucial legislation led to a sharp decrease in lead poisoning cases, particularly among people of color and in low-income neighborhoods.
It is for these reasons that my organization has endorsed Senator Bill Perkins in the upcoming September 14 Democratic Primary. Senator Perkins’ demonstrated commitment to the environmental health of New Yorkers makes him the right choice for voters of the 30th District. For the environmental health of New York, we urge Democratic voters in Washington Heights, Harlem and on the Upper East Side to support Senator Bill Perkins this September 14.
Marcia Bystryn
President, New York League of Conservation Voters
Colorful History
To The Editor:
Can we ever have (“Uncovering Forgotten New York,” July 21) too many historians? Never! Especially when they so eloquently bring our fascinating local history back to life. Coney Island’s “Dreamland,” the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire—almost everyone knows a little about these, but it’s the efforts of people like Kevin Baker filling in the details and revealing the backstory that makes it play like a newsreel. Thanks for introducing us to him.
Chris A. Randolph
New York City
Traffic Tragedy
To the Editor:
Words fail to describe a criminal lawyer’s reaction to this tragedy (“Harsher Penalties in Traffic Crimes,” Aug. 18), along with the “situation that prevails” on the streets of NYC.
To put it succinctly, we have laws that are not enforced; so many drivers have “carte blanche” to do as they wish. Need I tell you who is supposed to enforce the traffic laws? Sad to say, of all the accounts, complaints and suggestions regarding the problem, rarely is there mention of the NYPD’s responsibility in the matter. Until this reality is confronted, people will continue to die on our streets, and the rule of law will suffer another affront.
Nicholas Arena
Upper West Side
Even more “Culture Schlock”
To The Editor:
I couldn’t agree more with your dismay at today’s Hollywood fare (“Culture Schlock,” July 22). Imagine what awaits us in the future if 3-D with IMAX sound becomes the standard format in moviemaking, and screenwriters and directors feel even more compelled to focus on eye-popping special effects rather than mind-expanding themes, ear-splitting sound rather than sparkling dialogue. One can only hope that Hollywood regains the ability to once again make movies that are “absorbing, serious, or truly witty,” the kind we used to enjoy and that a new generation of filmgoers has been deprived of.
Sy Oshinsky
Upper West Side
No Mail Weds.?
To The Editor:
In reading Ruth Unterberg’s letter (“No Mail Saturdays,” July 29), I’m inclined to partially agree with her—giving up one day of delivery to save the rising cost of stamps, which will continue to go up for some time as there does not seem to be a strong will to keep this from happening. But Saturday is not a good day. Think of all the three-day weekends and not being able to have mail delivered on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Some mail cannot wait three days to get to its destination and FedEx is just too expensive. Perhaps closing the post office on Wednesday or Thursday might be an answer, but I cannot imagine there will be much enthusiasm for mail-less Saturdays, or any mail-less days for that matter.
Bunny Abraham
Upper West Side
What Mystery?
To The Editor:
I’ve lived across the street from Ansche Chesed since the ’60s, and I feel very protective of the place. The night that the ghost bike first appeared, I saw two men fiddling with it, and it looked like they were trying to light something underneath it, but I am not 100 percent sure; in any event it made me nervous. (Keep in mind, at this moment I had no idea it was a memorial: I saw two guys possibly messing with electricity right next to a synagogue across the street from my building under cover of night. It seemed noteworthy.) Read more
No Mail Saturdays
To the Editor:
The U.S. Post Office is in financial hot water right now (who isn’t?), but I think that it would be preferable to eliminate Saturday mail deliveries than to raise postal rates. It would save millions.
Ruth Unterberg
New York City
Watching New York’s Checkbook
To The Editor:
As an advocate in New York City for more than three decades, I’m often asked, “Where do my tax dollars go?”
Those answers can be found at the Checkbook NYC website recently launched by City Comptroller John Liu. Read more
West Side Republicans
To The Editor:
Clearly the author is either not familiar with or biased against Republican candidates (“Open State Senate Seat Draws Crowd of Candidates,” July 22). The article should have been titled “September Democratic Primaries.” Read more
SRO’s Not Hotels
To The Editor:
SRO buildings were never designed to occupy the amount of people that these converted hotels (“Lawmakers Move To Close Hotel Loophole,” July 15) are now housing. If there was ever a fire in my building, “The Belleclaire Hotel,” I’m afraid that there would be many deaths. These landlords are multi-millionaires and full of greed.
Joe Scalla
Upper West Side
