BRONX TIMES REPORTER, O BTR CT. 29-NOV. 4, 2021 13
letters & comments
To the Editor,
In his latest rant the archconservative
columnist wrote,
“America’s future is at serious
risk … from dedicated internal
forces that seek to replace
constitutional government…,”
a fear I share with him. Right
wing extremists, supported
by Republican politicians,
are infi ltrating government
institutions in an effort to
remake America into an authoritarian
state. Elections
administrators, nonpartisan
civil servants, are resigning
in unprecedented numbers in
the face of verbal and physical
harassment, including death
threats against themselves
and their families.
Republican political operatives
are attempting to replace
these offi cials with partisan
lackeys who cannot be
trusted to impartially fulfi ll
the duties of election administrators.
The 45th president
was unable to effect his coup
due to courage and devotion to
the Constitution that election
offi cials displayed when they
were pressured to falsify voting
results. Perhaps the most
shocking example occurred
when Trump himself, not a
subordinate, asked one lieutenant
governor “to fi nd 11,780
votes” and dishonestly place
his state in the Republican column.
On the national level Neo
Nazi and white supremacist
groups have recruited members
of the U.S. military, while
on the state level they have targeted
members of local police
departments and the National
Guard, individuals with weapons
and tactical training.
These developments do not
concern the hard-right columnist.
In his eccentric view, the
real threat to America is —
wait for it — “progressive propaganda.”
Space limitations
do not permit a complete refutation
of every “talking point”
presented in the latest collection
of misinformation, but I
will target the most glaring
examples of bad faith. The author
is distressed by the “assault
on history…”, another
Photo courtesy Getty Images
point where we agree, though
for different reasons. The 1619
Project, the author maintains,
is “demonstrably false and
inaccurate,” while failing to
support this doltish statement
with even one example, trusting
his faithful readers to take
his word for it. Apparently the
problem with the 1619 Project
is that it does not conform to
the conservative fi ction, as
does the widely ridiculed 1776
Project, which cartoonishly
depicts all American history
as 100% positive and included
the contributions of exactly
zero historians.
The author also references
the recent tumult at school
board meetings, falsely attributing
the uproar to the alleged
leftist slant of many educators.
In reality, these meetings
have been disrupted by parents
who have been duped
and whipped into a frenzy by
right-wing propaganda aimed
at dismantling COVID mitigation
efforts such as mask
wearing, all in the name of
“freedom.”
It is unfortunate that week
after week the Bronx Times
publishes such a deceptive column,
written by a far-right
ideologue.
Pasqual Pelosi
To the Editor,
I would like to praise Councilman
Mark Gjonaj’s offi ce
on their quick response to
garbage left all summer near
Westchester and Burr avenues,
creating a health hazard.
The NYC Department of
Sanitation was not responsible
for this garbage. The garbage
has been picked due to
the quick response from his
offi ce.
This is not the fi rst time as
a homeowner that I have had
to call for their help, i.e., street
construction equipment being
left in front of homes in our
area.
It is with great sadness that
Councilman Gjonaj is not running
again. This is a great loss
to our area. I have lived in this
neighborhood for 60 years,
and have never seen such regard
for our welfare.
Marie Romer
To the Editor,
Re: Larry Penner’s opinion
piece on infl ation and its alleged
connection to President
Biden.
If the author would check
his history, circa 1974-75,
then-President Gerald Ford
issued WIN (Whip Infl ation
Now) buttons. In 2008, George
W. Bush was president. Mr.
Penner should think about it;
each president was a Republican.
I’m not thrilled about infl
ation but it — like the economy
— is cyclical. A good deal
of the infl ation we see now is
likely due to the disruption
in the supply chain caused by
COVID.
Why does the author pound
out opinion piece after piece,
criticizing elected offi cials
and stating the problem but
not offering a solution?
Nat Weiner
To the Editor,
MTA and Amtrak still
need to reach a fi nal agreement
concerning the scope of
work, track outages and Amtrak
Force Account support
to advance the project. Amtrak
wants the MTA to pay
for related work on the same
corridor. The MTA believes
that Amtrak should be paying
for these improvements
out of their own Capital Plan.
The MTA promised to initiate
service within one year
after the Long Island Rail
Road initiated service into
Grand Central Terminal. The
$11.2 billion LIRR Eastside
Access project to Grand Central
terminal is forecast for
December 2022. Metro-North
previously promised start of
service into Penn Station in
December 2023. This has now
been delayed until December
2025.
Claims that this project
will save Bronx commuters
up to 50 minutes lack detailed
justifi cation. The same holds
true for 33,000 anticipated riders.
In our new post COVID-19
world, Metro-North needs to
reevaluate anticipated future
ridership growth projections.
More people are going to telecommute
from home on a part-
to full-time basis.
The anticipated fi nal cost
will never be known until
completion. Costs will be further
refi ned by award of construction
contracts followed
by change orders due to unforeseen
site conditions or
last minute changes in scope
to contracts during construction.
Coordination will be
needed between various contractors,
Amtrak, Long Island
Rail Road, MTA Offi ce of Capital
Construction (LIRR Eastside
Access project) and NJ
Transit. Another contract for
hiring a construction management
fi rm will be required
to support coordination effort.
The existing Metro-North
fl eet will have to be expanded
to support this new service to
Penn Station.
Will Amtrak be able to provide
suffi cient track outages
and force account support
(Amtrak employees) to meet
this aggressive schedule? Will
Metro North be able to provide
suffi cient force account
to do the same? Will there be
any need for Metro-North to
combine or cancel trains on
the New Haven line to support
this project? Can construction
be completed in less than
three years? Time will tell.
Larry Penner
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.
File photo
Photo by David Cruz
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