Gjonaj letters & comments
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,BTR AUG. 28-SEPT. 3, 2020 13
census document form and ball point ink pen on American fl ag for
2020 Photo via Getty Images
The 2020 United
State Census
BY COUNCILMAN
MARK GJONAJ
As we have since crossed
over the halfway mark for
2020, so approaches the deadline
for the 2020 Census. I
want to reiterate — as a local
elected for the Bronx, as well
as a citizen stakeholder in its
future — the importance of
a high census response rate.
Despite an original completion
date of April 1, the US
Census Bureau has extended
the completion deadline until
the end of the year on Dec.
31, 2020, naturally in light of
COVID complications.
I’m sure you are all aware
of the cruciality of the census.
The census count primarily
determines how Congressionally
represented a
population is and how much
money it receives in federal
funding for the next decade.
Demographic data collected
from censuses is also used
toward a myriad of other
ends and proves immensely
useful in studying a population
and its needs. In no
world is there an advantage
to an insuffi ciently completed
census.
It is in our interest, as a
borough of NYC that is larger
than most entire cities in the
country, to achieve maximal
completion. More federal legislative
representation and
more federal funding improves
the quality-of-life of
our community. Shouldn’t
that be our ultimate goal?
Unfortunately, rates of
census completion in the
Bronx have been historically
less-than-optimal. 2010’s census
had a self-response rate of
53 percent, amongst the worst
in the nation. Failure to selfrespond
on the census jeopardizes
our access to funding
that our community needs,
especially now that it fi nds
itself disproportionately impacted
by COVID-19 and the
economic fallout of it.
My offi ce has been pleased
to host events encouraging
census completion, with the
US Census Bureau. These
events have been massively
successful and we hope
to continue hosting these
events until the deadline
has passed.
For assistance on Census
2020 completion and additional
information, please
contact my district offi ce at
either MGjonaj@council.nyc
or 718-931-1721.
LET US HEAR FROM YOU
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.
Dear editor,
Who is this inferior quality
human being who wants
to destroy Christopher Columbus’
statues? He’s a nobody.
Why doesn’t he sign a petition
to get rid of those criminals in
the Bronx, those who use crack
and marijuana? It’s up to the
legislature to have a referendum,
not him! He should mind
his own business. Italians are
going to defend these monuments
at any price.
– Robert Morales
Dear editor,
Once again, Mr. Vernuccio
has made a series of outlandish
claims with no attempt to
provide supporting evidence,
not even citing the propaganda
outfi ts that he often parrots. I
am not opposed to citizens expressing
different viewpoints,
this is their right in America.
I am opposed to misinformation
which pollutes the public
sphere, and this is why I fi nd it
necessary to criticize the voice
of COMACTA.
Misinformation and doublespeak
are the tools that allow
totalitarian regimes to hoodwink
a gullible public and language
can be twisted “to make
lies sound truthful and murder
respectable” as Orwell writes.
Clearly I have struck a nerve
with my latest letter, since the
COMACTA mouthpiece this
week has decided to play the
victim by advancing the conservative
trope of a “biased
media.” Just look in the mirror,
friend.
– Pasqual Pelosi
Dear Principal Pulphus,
Bronx Design and Construction
Academy
The plumbing and heating
programs at Bronx Design and
Construction Academy have
been a valuable asset to both
the students and the industries.
Westchester Square Plumbing
Supply has been taking interns
from these programs for many
years. The students have been
real assets and most have gone
on to successful careers and
become productive members
of our society.
I fear that if these programs,
which are already too few in
NYC, are lost, we will be giving
up on many of the young people
they serve. In these trying economic
times it is imperative
that we look to the future and
make wise investments. These
programs have a proven track
record of producing a talented
workforce as well as fi ne young
men and women who are the
proud future of this nation.
These programs provide a
path to fi nancial security for
students who may not have opportunities
that more affl uent
students have. Thus, cutting
these programs hurt the most
vulnerable of our society and
add to the systemic racism our
society is fi ghting so hard to
overcome.
In closing, I implore you to
refrain from any cuts to these
programs for the sake of the
students as well as the industry
and society as a whole.
Sincerely,
Robert L. Bieder
President, Westchester
Square Plumbing Supply
Mr. Pelosi,
The last time I looked, this
is still America and each of us
has a right to his or her own
beliefs. You have slammed Al
D’Angelo and on occasion Mr.
Frank Vernuccio. You say he
has made “outrageous claims”
and offers no sourcing to support
the claims. You say he’s
“ignoring the multitude of offenses
committed, without
any consequences, by Trump
and his enablers.” These are
your claims, where are your
sources?
I enjoy and respect what is
written by both Mr. D’Angelo
and Mr. Vernuccio. I don’t
agree with what you say, but I
think you have a right to say it
and so do they.
– Theresa Arnold
To whom it may concern,
After reading her letter
which appeared in the Aug. 21-
27, 2020 Bronx Times Reporter,I
am compelled to correct Mary
Jane Musano. Pasquale Pelosi
— whom I proved to be diabolically
deceptive (my polite way
of calling him a bald-faced liar)on “climate change” in a letter
that the BTR chose NOT to
publish — does not express his
liberal views in his letters, but
rather expresses his MARXIST
views in his letters (which are
now appearing in the Bronx
Times Reporter on a weekly
basis, proving the old saw that
the squeaky wheel gets the oil.)
Just wanted to set the record
straight.
– Michael A. Chmieloski
Dear editor,
I am writing regarding the
letters of Mr. Pelosi claiming
that the BTR has no journalistic
integrity because he believes
it has a conservative
slant. Mr. Pelosi, welcome to
the world of conservatives,where 90 to 95 percent of “supposedly”
mainstream media is
in reality pushing left-wing, socialist,
“hate America” propaganda.
I guess having most of
the media spouting Democrat
talking points is not enough
for him like CNN, MSNBC,ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, the NY
Times, the Washington Post,the NY Daily News, etc.
I believe that Mr. Pelosi
wants only left-wing, anti-
Trump and anti-American
viewpoints being proposed by
the media. I will agree with
Mr. Pelosi that true fact, not
agenda should be written, not
falsehoods. However, that must
cut both ways.
Sincerely,
Ron Summers
Call 718.260.2555
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