To the Editor,
The apple, Gov. Kathy Hochul
didn’t fall far from the tree
in former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Both enjoy the perks of offi ce
at taxpayers expense. Is it really
necessary for Gov. Hochul
to travel from Albany via helicopter
or airplane to events in
NYC and Long Island? Upon arriving
at Penn Station, the governor
can transfer to either a
NYC Transit subway or Long Island
Rail Road (LIRR) train to
reach her fi nal destination. Just
like ordinary New Yorkers who
travel with a lab top or other
communication devices, she can
still be working and staying in
touch with her offi ce while riding
Amtrak, NYC Transit or
LIRR.
As a senator, President Joe
Biden was known as Amtrak
Joe. He commuted from his
Delaware home to the Capitol
via Amtrak on a regular basis
for decades. Why can’t Hochul
emulate Biden. Forget the helicopter
and private airplane
trips between Albany and NYC;
set an example for others. Show
your support for transit just
like Biden and become Amtrak
Kathy.
Larry Penner
To the Editor,
The apocalyptic vision
presented this week by the
extreme right-wing columnist
is reminiscent of the fi lm
“Mad Max,” but instead of
mutants and psychopaths creating
mayhem, he substitutes
politicians who disagree with
his ideology. The author employs
one of the conservative
crowd’s favorite devices, fear,
in an effort to discredit his political
opponents. Let us apply
some real world reasoning
and logic to some of the various
misleading statements
and wild claims presented by
the columnist.
The author downplays the
awful signifi cance of the Jan.
6 insurrection, calling it, “…
a single day’s violence in one
city…”. In a remarkable display
of hypocrisy, an attempt
to overthrow the government
is minimized by the author
but isolated incidents at protests
for social justice are
highlighted as if they were
the norm. Fear, baby, fear.
Fear the rabble in the
streets, fear those black troublemakers.
Oh, and remember
Democrats are opening
the border to drug cartels
and human traffi ckers. Fear,
baby, fear. The extremist further
declares that the Democrats
“…are enriching Moscow’s
fi nancial ability to fund
its armed forces…”. Another
fearful development. How so?
Well, if Frank can imagine it,
it must be true.
The current president is
faulted for his supposedly
tepid efforts to combat COVID,
despite ramping up testing,
using FEMA to expand
hospital capacity, sending
test kits to American households
and using the Defense
Production Act to insure an
adequate supply of tests. In
stark contrast, Mr. Trump
denied there was a problem,
sought to limit testing, promised
the virus would disappear
and ultimately washed
his hands, declaring, “It is
what it is.”
Some people claim that
Trump cannot be blamed for
the insurrection. Did they
not see the speech given by
the former president immediately
preceding the Capitol
attack? Did they not witness
the former president laying
the groundwork for months
prior to the election, prophesying
that the election would
be stolen?
Conspiracy theories, baseless
accusations, character
assassination and appeals to
fear characterize the efforts
of the right-wing ideologue.
Hopefully, readers will recognize
the lack of credibility of
the “ideas” promoted by the
extreme right-wing columnist.
Pasqual Pelosi
LET US HEAR FROM YOU
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J BTR JAN. 28-FEB. 3, 2022 13
The MTA’s 145th Street subway station stop. Photo | Adrian Childress
A scene from the movie “Mad Max.” Photo courtesy Getty
To the Editor,
The same people with the same
stories keep repeating themselves
on the letters pages of this newspaper
with no end in sight. Whether
it’s from the left or the right side
of the political spectrum, Pasqual
Pelosi, Nat Weiner and Frank Vernuccio
are falling for the greatest
trick of all — wasting their time
trying to prove their interpretation
of the truth is correct.
Here is a theory and interpretation
of the truth that I hope the
aforementioned would use to have
a cup of coffee with each other,
rather than volleying letters in
the Bronx Times. Focus on action
rather than being one of too many
pontifi cators and patron saints of
believing human nature can be
predicted.
Take the quantum approach
over a binary approach to life.
Realize that everything is an interpretative
construct and that
nobody has a monopoly on truth.
Use it for basic human needs to
make a difference locally by smiling,
showing kindness, humility,
generosity and, most importantly,
have love and empathy in everything
you do and hear.
In conclusion, I urge you to not
volley a letter back to me to prove
your position since none of us are
right or wrong.
Renato Zeko
To the Editor,
Re: “Welcome Throggs
Neck Ferry,” op-ed by Larry
Penner in the Jan. 21 issue of
the Bronx Times and Bronx
Times Reporter.
I am glad the people in
the transit desert near Ferry
Point Park and Clason Point
have another transportation
option, and anything relieving
congestion on the subway is a
good thing. However, has the
author taken the time to look
at a map?
Unless one lives within
half a mile of the Clason Point
Ferry landing, a bus or taxi
must be taken to the ferry,
causing additional travel time.
The four stops on the ferry
are all on the very east side
of Manhattan. This means at
least some riders will have to
board buses to reach their fi -
nal destination. The author
doesn’t appear to have an issue
with this. Yet, in a Nov. 18,
2021, opinion piece published
in “Garden City News,” the
author specifi cally mentions
riders utilizing the proposed
LIRR connection to Grand
Central will have to make additional
connections to subway
or bus. Why is it that when
the author is in favor of a project
none of the details matter,
but when he is against a project,
the devil is in the details?
The author states “ferryboats
equipped with fuel effi
cient engines can make a
positive contribution to air
quality.” Huh? Aren’t the
boats equipped with internal
combustion engines? Do internal
combustion engines not
release carbon monoxide into
the air on the exhaust stroke,
polluting it? So, is it not so
that fuel effi cient engines don’t
make a positive contribution
to air quality but rather pollute
less?
Re: Mr. Pelosi’s request I
elucidate my statement on parents
having a say in their children’s
education. First I apologize
for spelling his name
wrong. Second, I don’t claim
to be an expert on education.
But, I partially agree with the
COMACTA columnist: Parents
should not necessarily
make a fi nal determination
in the education curriculum,
but they should be given a real
voice as to what their children
do and do not learn. Not to be
confused with advocating “the
world is fl at.”
Finally, going for the “trifecta,”
letter writer Michael
Wilbekin inquired as to the
name “Ferry Point.” It was
named for the Ferris family,
one of the patrician families
in the Bronx from the 18th century,
that built a home very
close to the park.
Nat Weiner
Letters to the editor are welcome from all readers. They should be addressed
care of this newspaper to Laura Guerriero, Publisher, the Bronx Times Reporter,
3604 E. Tremont Ave., Bronx, NY 10465, or e-mail to bronxtimes@cnglocal.com.
All letters, including those submitted via e-mail, MUST be signed and with a
verifi able address and telephone number included.
Note that the address and telephone number will NOT be published and the
name will be published or withheld upon request. No unsigned letters can be
accepted for publication. The editor reserves the right to edit all submissions.
letters & comments
Hochul should
use public transit
downstate
‘The devil is in
the details’
Views resemble
movie
script
Stop wasting
your time proving
each other wrong
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