A September 2020 sky. Photo courtesy Getty Images
To the Editor,
Re: Larry Penner’s opinion
piece in the Dec. 10 editor of this
newspaper, concerning the city
Department of Housing Preservation
and Development and the
Department of Finance taking
out full page ads, warning those
with obligations on their buildings
they face possible liens.
How exactly are these two
city departments committing
fraud? Does the author have
personal knowledge that there
is absolutely no homeowner
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, D BTR EC. 17-23, 2021 13
letters & comments
Columnist is
much more than
a climate denier
To the Editor,
In his latest offering the
resident hard right columnist
would have us believe that addressing
the existential threat
of climate change is too costly
and inconvenient. He castigates
the Biden administration
for restoring our participation
in the Paris Climate
Accord and nixing the boondoggle
Keystone Pipeline, actions
which should be lauded
by anyone with a scintilla of
understanding and concern
about the effects of climate
change on the planet.
Efforts to address climate
change are dismissed, using
To the Editor,
Why not celebrate this
year’s holiday season by shopping
locally every day of the
year. Small independent businesses
are at the mercy of suppliers,
Heartland Institute misinformation
as a crutch to support
a scornful attitude towards
who control the price
they have to pay for merchandise.
The employees go out of
their way to help fi nd what
I need. Customer service is
their motto. As an independent
mom and pop store, they
don’t have bulk buying purchasing
power that Amazon
or large national-chain stores
have. This is why they sometimes
charge a little more.
It is worth the price to avoid
the crowds and long lines at
larger stores in exchange for
the convenience and friendly
service your neighborhood
community store offers.
Our local entrepreneurs
have continued the good fi ght
to keep their existing staff and
suppliers employed without
layoffs and canceling supply
orders. They work long hours,
pay taxes and keep people employed.
Customers patronize other
commercial establishments
on the block. Foot traffi c is essential
for the survival of any
neighborhood commercial
district.
The owners of independent
mom and pop stores are the
backbone of our neighborhood
commercial districts. Show
your support by making a purchase.
Larry Penner
owning a building in New York
City with delinquent obligations?
As far as these ads being
wasteful and/or abusive,
does the author have personal
knowledge of this? I can’t say it
is or is not wasteful, but if an ad
costs, for the sake of argument,
$10,000 and brings in $30,000 of
delinquent revenue, wouldn’t
that be cost effective?
The author is in favor of
levying state and local tax refunds
of delinquent obligators.
Why is the author assuming
everyone owing money on
his property will receive a refund?
Also, what about those
homeowners with residences
in Connecticut, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania or even further?
Does the author not understand
the fact that the position
of public advocate by its
defi nition has no authority to
force any city agency to do anything?
Finally, why is the author
so concerned about alleged
abuse, waste and fraud occurring
in New York City? Does he
pay local city income taxes? He
lives in Nassau County.
Nat Weiner
Tax Refund Check On top of Form 1040 and $100 bill.
Photo courtesy Getty Images
climate mitigation efforts. A
little research reveals that
the Heartland Institute has
as much credibility as a snake
oil salesman. This organization
is “known for its rejection
of scientifi c consensus on climate
change” and a “leading
promoter of climate change denial,”
according to Wikipedia.
The New York Times revealed
in 2012 that Heartland planned
to “undermine the teaching
of global warming in public
schools” and had hatched “a
plan to create a curriculum for
public schools intended to cast
doubt on mainstream climate
science.” Such a curriculum
would claim that “whether
humans are changing the climate
is a major scientifi c controversy.”
Financial supporters
of the Heartland Institute
include self-interested plutocrats
such as Charles Koch
and the Walton family. These
revelations help explain the
wild assertions of the columnist
regarding efforts to halt
global warming.
Readers might wonder why
they have never heard of the
sources used by the ideologue
to support his fallacious pronouncements.
This is because
his sources are invariably obscure
organizations or publications
catering to a small
demographic of ultra-conservative
zealots bent on proselytizing
their stunted worldview.
A worldview which holds
that hierarchy and inequality
are the natural results of traditional
social differences or the
inability to successfully compete
in the dog-eat-dog world
of unfettered capitalism.
Yet, this column continues
to be featured in the Civic Center
section of the newspaper,
portrayed as a public service.
Pasqual Pelosi
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.
Author fi xated
on fraud
Photo via Getty Images
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