Letters to the editor

Letters to the editor

Reservations about McNally

To The Editor:
Re “McNally vows to boycott hotel till billboard’s down” (news article, Feb. 28):

Interesting to see Keith McNally bearing a sign at the Gansevoort billboard protest. I recall a McNally New York Times interview in which McNally promised a working-class restaurant where the local meatpacking employees could lunch. Need I say more? Yes. With the opening of Pastis, McNally was at the forefront of the gentrification/Sohoization of our beloved neighborhood. What’s the difference between a giant billboard on top of an already-giant eyesore of a hotel and the billboard that spans the corner of Ninth Ave. and Little W. 12th St. that is Pastis? Give us a break, McNally!

Jackie DeCarlo

Glick sticks to status quo

To The Editor:
The issues raised in your Feb. 14 editorial, “Keep focus on reform and the key projects,” and talking point, “The governor can’t steamroll separation of powers,” by Assemblymember Deborah Glick, in the same issue, concerning state legislators’ recent vote to select Democratic Assemblymember Thomas DiNapoli to replace indicted former Democratic State Comptroller Alan Hevesi should come as no surprise to anyone.

The votes by Assemblymember Glick and colleagues in favor of DiNapoli reminded me of the cowardly lion from the land of Oz, otherwise known as the New York State Legislature. The state’s Constitution affords the governor the right to call and set a date for a special election within 60 days upon any seat in the State Legislature becoming vacant. Why not amend the state Constitution to do the same when the office of state comptroller or state attorney general becomes vacant as well? Will Assemblymember Glick or any of her Democratic colleagues be brave enough to come forward and introduce such legislation in the State Assembly? Don’t hold your breath waiting. This would afford the voters the ability to select a new comptroller, rather than allowing Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and their loyal followers to rig the process to pick someone like my former assemblymember, DiNapoli, to preserve the status quo in Albany.

How ironic that members of the State Legislature’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus overlooked Martha Stark, New York City’s Finance commissioner, who is African-American, a woman and clearly more qualified. Members of this minority caucus, along with all other loyal Democratic Assemblymembers, continue marching to the beat of boss Speaker Silver’s instructions in exchange for their share of both pork-barrel projects, lulus for chairing committees and special favorable legislation to reward various interests of “pay for play” campaign contributors.

Assembly boss Silver couldn’t care less if you are liberal or conservative, gay or straight, man or woman. Just play ball like Assemblymember Glick and you’re now just one of the boys hanging out in the smoke-filled back room Albany career-politician insiders’ clubhouse. How ironic that yesterday’s so-called liberal Democratic reformers from Manhattan, after being elected, quickly morph into everyday Albany regulars under Speaker Silver.

Larry Penner

We’re all in the mix

To The Editor:
Re “Cyclists gone wild” (letter, by Marilyn Dorato, Feb.14) and “Cars are the real danger” (letter, by Carol Wood, Feb. 21):

As the recent victim of a sidewalk cyclist mentioned in a position letter from the Greenwich Village Block Associations, I feel qualified to chime in.

I very much appreciate Ms. Wood’s comments regarding the lack of proper behavior on the part of many pedestrians. Believe me, I have learned long ago not to step several feet off the curb in anticipation of a light change. This is unfair to motorists and bicyclists alike. Of course that issue should be addressed along with many others that are making our shared public spaces threatening and dangerous.

Ms. Wood does, however, slide past the main point of the G.V.B.A. letter, which is that traffic regulations should be rigidly enforced and bicycles should not be ridden on the sidewalks. Instead, she triangulates to a rationalization of Paul Steely White’s admission that he sometimes ignores traffic rules. As the head of a lobbying group like Transportation Alternatives, his own behavior should be exemplary.

I would surely hope that Mr. White would use his platform to educate bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike. We’re all in this mix together.

Alas, until Mayor Bloomberg leans on the Police Department to enforce the existing laws regarding bicycling, I fear that those of us on two legs — with or without canes — in wheelchairs or pushing baby carriages are at the mercy of those on two wheels.

Tom Bernardin
Bernardin is founder and president, Save America’s Clocks

Attitude needs a tune-up

To The Editor:
Re “Cyclists gone wild” (letter, by Marilyn Dorato, Feb.14):

As a former bike shop owner (Hi Ho Cyclery at 165 Avenue A), I am pro-bike. As a cyclist, I am pro-bike. But as a pedestrian who was recently hit by a cyclist going against traffic on Second Ave., I am bike wary.

As a cyclist, I have been “down” twice by vehicles. Bike riding may be healthy but it is no stroll in the park — well, maybe in some parks it is. However, the jeopardy in which scofflaw cyclists consistently put pedestrians, motorists and fellow cyclists alike is akin to homegrown terrorism.

Cyclists in a hurry and cyclists with attitude have created fear, anger and resentment among pedestrians of all ages — especially the elderly. Business owners must be held accountable and financially liable for the inconsiderate and lawless actions of delivery personnel; State Senator Liz Krueger is sponsoring legislation in Albany to strengthen this law.

Most bikes belong in the street. Legally they are vehicles. As support builds, the city is gradually improving conditions for cyclists. As bike riders return to the streets and comply with the rules of the road, general tension should lessen. A petition is circulating calling for enforcement toward the restoration of safe sidewalks and streets; it is available from Transportation Alternatives by e-mail at bike@transalt.org. This petition should be copied and returned to establish a comprehensive database. This is proving to be an effective way to address this issue.

Jack Brown

Don’t blame tenants

To The Editor:
Re “McMansion legal beef continues; Landlords win appeal” (news article, Feb. 21):

I take exception to Jeffrey Turkel, attorney for the landlord at 47 E. Third St., implying that it was tenants that caused the current stop-work order. That was imposed by the Department of Buildings, not tenants, in an ongoing effort to force the landlord to comply with building code regulations. Such was the case with three previous stop-work orders, for the same renovations, in less than a year’s time. Two of those orders were for safety violations.

And it was not tenants who completely revoked the work permit of the landlord last September for three and a half months. Again, that was the action of the Department of Buildings against a recalcitrant landlord for refusing to correct violations found by a D.O.B. audit more than three months prior. This current stop-work order may be a “temporary hitch” in Mr. Turkel’s view, but it is the latest in a long string of code violations found by the Buildings Department.

David Pultz

Hooked on Pier 40 as is

To The Editor:
I have lived in the Village for many years, and have been using Pier 40 for recreation, along with my family, especially for fishing. If Pier 40 becomes a mega-entertainment complex, it most certainly will not be a park anymore. As someone who has spent many happy hours fishing at the pier, I vote solidly for The People’s Pier project.

Matt Umanov

Thanks! Xie Xie!

To The Editor:
Re “Bilingual students strut, and hip-hop, into 4705” (news article, Feb. 21):

On behalf of the Shuang Wen School, I wanted to thank you very much for the wonderful article the other week in The Villager about our school. We were so thrilled and so proud to be one of your stories.

Posie Wilkinson
Wilkinson is parent coordinator, P.S. 184 M, the Shuang Wen School

Enforce immigration laws

To The Editor:
Re “Protesters call immigrant game insensitive, racist” (news article, Feb. 28):

Strange, misguided article. This game is not about race, gender, color or language. It’s about the laws of America being broken and the loss of rights and freedoms of its citizens. In fact, the racist excuse is becoming so old and boring its not even funny anymore.

John Campbell

E-mail letters, not longer than 350 words in length, to news@thevillager.com or fax to 212-229-2790 or mail to The Villager, Letters to the Editor, 145 Sixth Ave., ground floor, NY, NY 10013. Please include phone number for confirmation purposes. The Villager reserves the right to edit letters for space, grammar, clarity and libel.