Op-Ed Letters to the Editor
How could they
let this happen?
BY LEE BERMAN
I am outraged at the Oct. 5
mass homicide in Chinatown
— and am furious that neither
the mayor, our local or
state elected officials or even
our community boards will
be called out as being complicit
in the murder of four
defenseless people.
A modern civilized society
does not allow its most
vulnerable citizens to live
on the streets, in its parks,
on its subways, under its
highways or in its tunnels. A
civilized society does not allow
its drug addled or mentally
ill to decide that it is
ok to urinate and defecate
in train cars, bathe in children’s
playground sprinklers
or eat from garbage cans.
And a civilized society
does not allow a revolving
door criminal justice system
where individuals repeatedly
arrested for violent crimes,
are allowed to reoffend with
no repercussions.
I pass by the area daily
and saw the homeless encampment
on East Broadway
every morning. I began
my career documenting and
reporting on New York City
in the late 1980s. Much of
that coverage included the
skyrocketing homeless situation
which, at the time,
helped define the crime and
lawlessness in New York City
- from the homeless encampments
at Columbus Circle,
to Tompkins Square Park, to
the “Mole People” who lived
in the railroad tunnels under
Riverside Park and countless
other areas.
As bad as the homeless
situation in the city was
back then, it was a drop
in the bucket compared to
what we are currently experiencing
under the present
administration.
Passing by the blood splattered
homicide scene Monday
morning, I recognized
the location and description
of the elderly homeless victim
brutally killed as that of
the gentleman I gave food
and water to on one of this
past summer’s hottest days
as he sat in that very spot,
minding his own business.
To argue that the root
cause of the murder spree
is a lack of affordable housing
(as some politicians
have already done) is disingenuous
to the homeless
as well as to everyday
New Yorkers.
This “homeless attacker”
has a long rap sheet with 14
prior arrests, including violent
assaults in a homeless
shelter and on the subway.
He even assaulted his own
mother and grandfather.
Had he encountered anyone
else during his murderous
spree, surely they too would
have been part of his body
count, whether they were
homeless or just walking
down the street.
Kimlau Square, where 3
of the 4 murders occurred,
is in the direct line of sight
of, and only a few hundred
feet from Police Headquarters.
On Saturday night,
police prevented the homeless
from sleeping in Kimlau
Square because it was a
crime scene.
Where were the police
two nights ago, two months
ago or even two years ago
when Kimlau Square, like so
many other parks, sidewalks
and streets in our city, were
taken over by the homeless?
The city has let these people
down. How many more
must die before the mentally
ill, drug and substance abusers
and vulnerable others
who live on the streets and
are unable to care for themselves
are finally afforded
the treatment and compassion
they so deserve?
Lee Berman is a District
Leader from the Lower East
Side, a member of Community
Board 3, a founding
member of the Grand
Street Democrats, former
Democratic State Committee
Member from the 65th
Assembly District (which
includes Chinatown) and
a lifelong Lower East
Side resident.
CHEERS FOR
THE BUSWAY
The new 14th Street travel
plan has been in place for almost
a week now. The only
changes on West 16th Street
that I have noticed are many
fewer trucks, a few more autos,
and a lot fewer horns.
This is good news to
me! And taking the bus
on 14th Street has become
a real treat!!!
Paul J. Groncki
I used to avoid walking on
14th Street when possible, because
of the noise and fumes
from all the traffi c. Now with
the busway, it’s much more
pleasant to walk there (additional
plantings and cleaner
sidewalks would help).
Most likely stores on 14th
Street will experience an
increase in business due to
increased foot traffi c.
Ginny Donnelly
AN INDICTMENT
OF THE CITY
Having grown up on 13th
Street on the Lower East Side
in a “railroad“ apartment,
with the toilet in the hallway,
I know fi rsthand about the
lack of affordable housing.
Gentrifi cation in the neighborhood
has only made matters
worse as there is no low
income housing opportunities
at all. These residents
have seen their communities
disappear and many are
one paycheck from joining
the homeless.
The continued lack of affordable
housing in NYC is an
indictment of our society!
Luis Perez
FREEZE TAXES FOR
LANDLORDS
Regarding the rise of vacant
storefronts in Chelsea
and Greenwich Village: Why
not allow landlords in landmark
areas to freeze their
taxes? They can’t increase the
size of their buildings for they
are in a landmark area, yet
taxes and costs always go up
while renting space can take
a full year with free rent concessions.
Then maybe they
would lower rents.
Freeze taxes in Landmark
areas for ten years
on buildings with less than
ten apartments.
Ralph Petrillo
SCREENING FOR
ANEURYSMS
Prevention is an important
part of maintaining a healthy
lifestyle. But when it comes to
abdominal aortic aneurysms,
or AAA — a leading cause of
sudden death in men over 60
— prevention isn’t just important;
it’s lifesaving.
That’s why Lenox Hill Hospital
Vascular Surgery, in cooperation
with Lenox Health
Greenwich Village is offering
free screenings on Nov. 2 at
Lenox Health Greenwich Village,
200 West 13th Street,
6th Floor, New York, NY
10011.
Why is there a need for
free screenings? Many people
don’t know that smoking, and
high blood pressure, for instance,
can put them at risk
for this deadly condition. By
providing this free service,
we hope that people will take
advantage of this fast and
easy ultrasound test, without
having to take time off from
work, or make an appointment
with a physician.
AAA is a blood-fi lled bulge
or ballooning of the abdominal
aorta, the largest blood
vessel in the body. Over time,
the bulge (known as an aneurysm)
can become weak and
the force of normal blood
pressure can cause the aorta
to rupture.
Because most people do
not experience symptoms, it’s
estimated that more than one
million people are living with
an undiagnosed AAA. Even
worse, for those who suffer
a rupture, survival rates are
about 10 to 25 percent. These
deaths are preventable.
There’s good news — a
simple and painless ultrasound
screening will detect
a potentially life-threatening
aneurysm early enough to
take corrective action.
Advance registration is required
and space is limited.
Call (888) 871-3801 for an
appointment.
The Division of Vascular
Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital
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Schneps Media October 10, 2019 13
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