LET US HEAR FROM YOU
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J BTR ULY 26-AUGUST 1, 2019 13
This week’s As Stated explores
reactions to the U.S. Department
of Justice’s decision
not to prosecute the police offi
cer involved in Eric Garner’s
death, the rallies to oust the
governor of Puerto Rico and
a NYS Department of Health
Medicare decision that will
impact the elderly.
State Senator Gustavo
Rivera on the U.S. Department
of Justice Decision to not charge
police offi cer Daniel Pantaleo.....
“The decision by federal
prosecutors to not charge police
offi cer Daniel Pantaleo for
Eric Garner’s death is an outrage
that deals another tragic
blow to his family. It is appalling
that Pantaleo and those
other police offi cers whose actions
resulted in Mr. Garner’s
death fi ve years ago, have not
been held accountable. This is
a grave injustice and a shame
for our city, state and nation.
That’s why I will continue to
call for the immediate termination
of Pantaleo from the
NYC Police Department.”
Statement by Assembly
Member Michael Blake on
the U.S. Department of Justice
decision not to fi le civil rights
charges against Opolice ofi cer
Daniel Pantaleo and others
involved in the killing of Eric
Garner.... “The disgusting but
unfortunately unsurprising
decision by the Department of
Injustice to not fi le civil right
charges against the offi cers
who killed Eric Garner is a
blatant disregard for life, civil
rights and humanity.
“For Attorney General
Barr to overrule his Civil
Rights Division is reprehensible
and disrespects Eric’s
mother, Gwen Carr, their family
and all advocates who fi ght
for justice.
“We once again look directly
at Mayor de Blasio and
NYPD Police Commissioner
O’Neill to make clear - what is
more important, protecting a
few offi cers or providing justice
to families?”
Assemblyman Victor M.
Pichardo on the Justice Department’s
decision to dismiss
Eric Garner’s case..... “After
fi ve years of internal disputes
over the death of Eric Garner,
to have the Justice Department
not seek federal civil
rights charges against police
offi cer Pantaleo is extremely
disappointing and disheartening.
“Police offi cer Pantaleo
used a disturbing amount of
authority and trampled upon a
civilian’s right in the name of
justice. Members of the NYPD
are meant to keep our streets
safe, but I fear Pantaleo will
continue to abuse his authority
through his warped perception
of protecting others.
“Therefore, I urge both
Mayor de Blasio and NYPD
Commissioner James O’Neill
to fi re police offi cer Pantaleo
immediately and offer some
measure of justice and closure
to the family of Eric Garner.”
Councilman Fernando
Cabrera continues his Puerto
Rico protest calling for the resignation
of Governor Rosello.....
statements
“Puerto Rico deserves better
leadership than this.
“Years of corruption, mismanagement,
inappropriateness
and total disregard for
the well-being of the people
cannot go on. Puerto Rico is at
a critical moment, where its total
trajectory could change for
the better. Puerto Rico needs
leadership with the moral and
managerial muscle to advance
recovery efforts. Rosello must
go.”
Assemblyman Marcos A.
Crespo’s statement on the current
state of Puerto Rico..... “I
was proud to have been a part
of New York’s response in the
aftermath of Hurricane Maria,
and just as proud to have
worked with this and the previous
administration to call
on Washington to do right for
Puerto Rico.
“Once again, all of that
work was energized to support
the people whose needs are
still as pressing and urgent as
they were mere days after the
storm. It is for this reason that
we must all join in a common
cause of seeking leadership
that can articulate this sentiment,
represent the needs of
all Puerto Ricans and demand
action from Washington.
“It is clear that Governor
Ricardo Rosello has lost the
trust of the people. Strong
leadership, accountability and
a supported vision for Puerto
Rico’s future is needed now
more than ever and for these
reasons I believe Governor Rosello
should step down.”
State Senator Alessandra
Biaggi issued the following
statement on the NYS
Department of Health’s elimination
of hospital bed holds
for elder and vulnerable New
Yorkers.....“It is criminal to
literally rip the beds out from
underneath elderly and vulnerable
New Yorkers on Medicaid
while they are temporarily
away from their long-term
care facilities for hospitalization
or emergency care, only
to cut corners for the budget.
“Low-income seniors are
already at risk of eviction and
often depend on long-term
care facilities for shelter, access
to food, and other basic
necessities.
“I will not allow New York
to save money at the expense
of senior New Yorkers’ housing
and safety and call on the
Department of Health to rescind
this regulation change
immediately.”
ASSEMBLYMAN MICHAEL BLAKE
BTR letters & comments
Setting the
record straight
Dear editor,
It has come to my attention
that every organization in and
around the Pelham Parkway
vicitiny is claiming responsibility
for having the Bronx
Park East dog park built.
Let me set the record
straight: Edith Blitzer, myself
and the Pelham Parkway
Neighborhood Association in
conjuction with then-Councilman
James Vacca, Borough
President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and
Councilman Richie Torres
and of course the Parks Department
are the only ones responsible
for getting the ball
rolling and for seeing it completed.
There were numerous town
hall meetings and scoping sessions
and none of the so-called
leaders of the other organizations
took the time to come
and give their input, but they
sure know how to try and take
credit now that it’s up and
running. And then complain
about what is missing.
Everyone had the opportunity
to fully participate and
the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood
Association would
have welcomed each and everyone’s
participation. But,
unfortunately that was not
the case.
Andrea Siegel
Senior apts. on
psych grounds
Dear editor,
By now, most if not all community
boards in this city
are on their annual summer
holidays. However, come September
one of their fi rst acts
should be to get together with
planners to turn the former
Bronx Physcratic Center into
apartments for the elderly and
handicapped as well as an assisted
living facility.
Unlike the senior citizen
building at 3033 Middletown
Road, the new senior citizen
buildings would have its own
bus service, the Bx 21.
For those who wish to
take the bus into Westchester
Square to take the subway
downtown, a foot bridge can
be built across Waters Place
to the corner of Eastchester
Road.
Joseph P. Wall
No stomach
for slowdowns
Dear editor,
MTA’s reorganization plan
prepared by the consulting
fi rm Alix Partners for Governor
Cuomo will like all his
previous special commissions
and advisory committee reports
not be worth the paper it
was printed on.
Why reassign management
of major NYC Transit, LIRR
and MNRR capital projects to
offi ce of Capital Construction?
Capital Construction is preoccupied
attempting completion
of LIRR East Side Access
to Grand Central Terminal by
December 2022 and begin Second
Avenue Subway Phase 2.
How could they manage additional
work?
Cuomo and other elected
offi cials who depend upon
transportation union endorsements,
campaign contributions,
phone banks and volunteers
will not stand up against
their benefactors and support
MTA management in instituting
these reforms during contract
renewal negotiations.
Riders do not have the
stomach to put up with potential
work slow downs, service
disruptions, employee sick
outs and potential strikes by
unions who are not going to
give up what they have. As a
result, it will continue to be
the status quo.
Larry Penner
Disagreement
is not treason
Dear editor,
The current White House
resident has slandered certain
congresswomen by
falsely claiming that they
“hate America” and “they
should go back to where they
came from”, for the sole reason
that they strongly disagree
with his divisive,
dehumanizing and counterproductive
policies. Citizens
are guaranteed the right to
free speech: they are not required
to agree with the
President or anyone else,
which the current President
seems to have forgotten, or
perhaps never learned, since
it is abundantly clear that
the Constitution has not been
studied or probably even read
by this individual. Disagreement
is not treason in a democratic
society.
Pasqual Pelosi
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.
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