Letters to the Editor

Local opinions submitted to the Staten Island Advance

• YOUR OPINION
I only have 350 words to refute Richard Seguritan's analysis that the "guido" culture "is the culture that the world sees" [Your Opinion, Aug. 7].

• YOUR OPINION
I was so pleased to see Pat Talaszek's Aug. 9 "Your Opinion" letter about the need for a debate between Mike McMahon and Steve Harrison before the Democratic primary for Congress on Sept. 9. Pat beat me to the punch, as I was about to ask the same thing. In fact, I know that both Harrison and many Democratic voters have continually asked McMahon for these debates.

• YOUR OPINION
I would like to thank Tom Wrobleski for his column of Aug. 8 about congressional candidate Carmine Morano. It seems that Mr. Morano is intent on introducing an air of honesty, intelligence and responsibility to the campaign to replace Vito Fossella as our congressman.

• YOUR OPINION
The following letter has been sent to Speaker Christine Quinn on behalf of the Staten Island Children's Museum [with a copy to Councilman Michael McMahon]:

• YOUR OPINION
We'd like to put Councilman Michael McMahon's letter of Aug. 8 in perspective for Staten Island residents.

• YOUR OPINION
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Re: The editorial of Aug. 12 on Henry Piotrowski.

• Hot and bothered
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Think global warming is wrecking the world? You haven't heard the half of it.

• YOUR OPINION
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- On Aug. 2, "The Lawn Litter Law" went into effect in the city. They want us to display "Do not place unsolicited advertising materials on this property" for homeowners who don't want advertisement flyers thrown onto their land. The policy is being enforced by Sanitation cops with $250 fines.

• YOUR OPINION
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- I%> read with great interest the article titled, "Heave-ho looms for tollbooth arms," in the July 31 edition of the Advance -- and while I agree that the arms on the toll booths of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge should be removed, I am wondering why there must first be a study and the installation of a new toll-collection system.

• YOUR OPINION
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As a registered Republican, I had very few good things to say about Guy Molinari for the past few years -- even though in the past I really admired the man and his daughter, Susan -- due to the fact that I thought he was stabbing the Staten Island people in the back when he pushed so hard for the NASCAR thing!

• YOUR OPINION
Front-page sticker was a political ad -- not an endorsement by the Advance

• YOUR OPINION
Staten Island Mental Health Society relies on dedicated volunteer corps

• YOUR OPINION
The trial and release of Rebekah Johnson was a total and outrageous miscarriage of justice. Her defense attorney contended that the place of the shooting was "pitch black," so that Jeff Gross could not have seen and identified the person who shot him.

• YOUR OPINION
On behalf of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce (SICC), I would like to take this opportunity to applaud Borough President James P. Molinaro for securing the requisite $3.5 million to perform the Alternative Analysis/Environmental Impact Statement (AA/EIS) studies for the re-activation of the North Shore railroad.

• YOUR OPINION
In rebuttal to the article from the Aug. 3 Advance titled "Boardwalk magic is back":

• YOUR OPINION
The residents of St. George are pleading with you to support our fight to stop Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers of New York from turning the Daughters of St. Paul convent into a halfway house for acute psychiatric patients and former prisoners with a history of drug abuse.

• YOUR OPINION
I appreciate reading readers' letters. They help me keep up with some of the less-publicized events here. But I am very uncomfortable with the bickering and personal attacks found in some of the letters.

• YOUR OPINION
The newly opened Seaside Wildlife Nature Park in Great Kills Harbor is a beautiful project and I commend all those who worked to create it. However, the decision to build the park with no access from the Cleveland Avenue/Mansion Avenue corner of the marina is a major mistake. Common sense would indicate creating a new park with access from all surrounding neighborhoods.

• YOUR OPINION
This summer my daughter has had the privilege of attending Ailey Camp at IS 61. My family recently spent the afternoon touring the facility and watching the campers and instructors do what they do. What we witnessed that afternoon was amazing.

• YOUR OPINION
In response to Mr. Bill Muller's complaint about flag disposal [Your Opinion, July 31: "Flag should be folded before proper disposal"], there are two mailboxes for disposal of worn American flags: One is at Borough Hall, the other is at the Staten Island Marine Corps League headquarters on Ontario Avenue in Sunnyside.

• YOUR OPINION
This letter is in response to Vanessa Williams of New Brighton's July 31 letter to the editor regarding spreading happiness to area nursing homes.

• YOUR OPINION
The problem with graffiti has gotten out of hand. The Advance published my letter last August about my house being vandalized.

• Among Islanders, a great debate
And, of course, Staten Islanders have a lot to say about the election. Read on.

• YOUR OPINION
The years 1907 and 1908 are when two of my father's grandparents came to this country. They were poor, Russian, Jewish immigrants who were escaping persecution in Russia. My great-grandfather was a poor furrier who came to this country and then became the vice president of the Fur Workers Union. He worked hard and made a nice, honest living for his family. My great-grandparents went to night school to learn English.

• YOUR OPINION
Recently, the owner of the home at 11 Woodbridge Pl. has transformed it into a lovely residence reminiscent of the late 19th and early 20th century origins of our community. Much work and care was put into restoring the home to its former prominence on the edge of Westerleigh Park.

• YOUR OPINION
The following was sent to Mayor Michael Bloomberg:

• YOUR OPINION
PROHIBIT HELICOPTERS FROM FLYING OVER RESIDENTIAL AREAS SUCH AS STATEN ISLAND

• YOUR OPINION
CRITICISM OF THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT ON U.S. FLAG ETIQUETTE WAS UNFOUNDED

• YOUR OPINION
In response to Tom Wortmann's letter of July 20 regarding graffiti removal:

• YOUR OPINION
The Advance's article on city funding of Staten Island cultural organizations (July 27, "Island hit hardest by cultural cuts") gives the impression that the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) has unfairly targeted Staten Island for budget cuts. That is simply not true.

• YOUR OPINION
I was going to take my bike and go for a ride in Clove Lakes Park, but decided against it, as I did not want anyone to think that I was a former or an active drunk who had my license suspended.

• YOUR OPINION
Re: Daniel Leddy's July 15 Advance column, "DA following bad law on child gun case": While I know that this child, Darren Rivera (14 is a child), made a huge mistake, trying him as an adult is one.

• YOUR OPINION
Politicians lie to their constituents because they believe that their constituents cannot handle the truth.

• YOUR OPINION
As I was reading the Advance and noticing all the work being done to try to create a tourist industry here on Staten Island, a thought occurred to me: Not all of the supposed tourists that would come to Staten Island would be by the ferry. This would increase vehicular traffic in the borough when that is the number one complaint of residents here already. Does that make sense?

• YOUR OPINION
Regarding your "On Older Drivers" editorial on July 21, I am offended by your last paragraph stating that since traffic on Staten Island is so big of a problem, you urge older drivers to stop.

• YOUR OPINION
The selection of District Attorney Daniel Donovan as president of the New York State District Attorney Association speaks volumes, good volumes, of the people on Staten Island. It is a showcase of what kind of electorates voted for him in the first place.

• YOUR OPINION
In response to Kiran Syed in the Sunday, July 20, article "New wave of ethnic voters will shape political future," Ms. Syed needs a lesson in U.S. history. It is not President Bush, Republicans or Americans that are doing harm to the world and Muslims. It is militant Muslims.

• But things aren't so beachy at local sun spots either....
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- There's a long-standing perception that Staten Island beaches leave something to be desired when it comes to cleanliness.

• First impressions are a "shore' thing
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Ken Pringle, the mayor of Belmar, N.J., took a goodwill tour of Staten Island yesterday after his comments about the borough's "guidos" and "girls behaving badly" ignited a media storm.

• YOUR OPINION
Re: "Island hit hardest by cultural cuts."

• YOUR OPINION
I read a letter in the Advance of someone thanking our councilmen for money their favorite program received recently. I must have missed something though. I didn't see where I was thanked. In fact, I didn't see a lot of names that should be thanked. I'm talking about the taxpayers of this city. For, in fact, it is not these politicians' own money they give out, it is our money.

• YOUR OPINION
I would like to address the articles that have been appearing in the newspapers about Jason Aiello. Unfortunately, this will appear in the back of the paper instead of the front page, but I would like people to read a different perspective. It seems that all the papers, including the Advance, rely on sensationalism, conjecture and assumptions for their reporting rather than on the facts.

• YOUR OPINION
Stressed ex-cop who was shot dead could have gotten help from peers

• YOUR OPINION
LET'S BRING SOME HAPPINESS EACH DAY TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN NURSING HOMES

• YOUR OPINION
As a physical therapist, I am disappointed that Congress failed to take action on HR 6331 -- the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act -- which contains key provisions critical for seniors and persons with disabilities.

• YOUR OPINION
After seeing the anti-Staten Islander comments of Mayor Ken Pringle of Belmar and the outrage that some have expressed in the Advance, I wanted to write and add a little perspective to the debate.

• YOUR OPINION
Mr. Tom Wrobleski's article of July 23 ["Island Republicans' relations with traditional allies strained"] refers to "traditional allies" of the Republican Party, and includes the Richmond County Independence Party in that category.

• YOUR OPINION
Island integrity challenged, raising the bar. "Justice delayed is justice denied" and the newly elected president of the Richmond County Bar Association is ready to roll: My opinion of Mr. Jonathan Behrins' letter, July 9, Advance ["Law on judicial district for Staten Island must be amended to add more judges"].

• YOUR OPINION
In the July 20 Advance, two opinionated letters appeared back-to-back that demonstrated so much hate and ignorance that I found it impossible not to respond.

• YOUR OPINION
I read the July 21 front-page story "Economy has many boaters bailing," and I don't know whether to laugh or be angry.

• YOUR OPINION
The July 18 editorial "Good rule, good cop" merits closer scrutiny of the New York Police Department's new Sean Bell breath-analysis policy.

• YOUR OPINION
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- There are few New Yorkers who have done more for our country than war veterans. Unfortunately, the men and women returning from Afghanistan and Iraq are being denied an important municipal property tax benefit.

• YOUR OPINION
There was a news report the other day about New Dorp Lane and Hylan Boulevard, and Target. At one point, Target was going to open its second location there but was rebuffed by Borough James President Molinaro, who said it would have too much traffic coming in and out of such a Target location. That made Target back out of the deal. This is all good. I can understand that traffic would be bad and all.

• Letters: Richmond Valley home shouldn't be landmarked
I read with great interest your article on July 1 covering the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission hearing on the potential designation of my home on Arthur Kill Road in Richmond Valley.

• YOUR OPINION
I would like to take this opportunity to address Belmar Mayor Ken Pringle's recent disparaging remarks about Staten Islanders.

• YOUR OPINION
I found your July 21 editorial on older drivers interesting.

• YOUR OPINION
This letter is in response to Belmar, N.J., Mayor Kenneth Pringle's unkind words about Staten Islanders.

• YOUR OPINION
Councilmen Oddo and Ignizio fund highly successful free English program

• YOUR OPINION
Why not dredge the Mississippi River to prevent misery caused by floods?

• YOUR OPINION
Re: "Stop All The Studies And Just Get To Work" regarding a new study of the Staten Island waterfront, Your Opinion, July 18:

• YOUR OPINION
Dear Mayor Ken Pringle, Belmar, N.J.: I was skeptical as I read the headlines of my local papers. How could a city mayor, regardless of how large or small the municipality, use such harsh generalizations to describe the entire female population of Staten Island? But, after accessing your Belmar Summer Rental News on-line, there it was for the world to see -- a prejudicial tirade directed at my hometown.

• YOUR OPINION
The attached letter was sent to the Asbury Park Press on July 17. Subject: Parody of a Mayor:

• YOUR OPINION
Shame on New Yorker magazine for distorting the image of Muslims in this country.

• YOUR OPINION
Belmar, N.J., Mayor Ken Pringle's recent summer newsletter, the July 4th issue of Belmar Summer Rental News, Published by the Borough of Belmar about seasonal residents, was appalling. Sure, he was careful enough to use terms like Staten Island Girl, but it doesn't take a genius to know that it was simply codeword for his anti Italian-American racism.

• YOUR OPINION
Staten Islanders currently face many problems and our opinions are not heard by those who have the authority and ability to remedy them. Maybe we need fewer lawyers as politicians who are coerced by special-interest groups, and instead have representatives who have the desires of common Staten Islanders at heart. These people should be so passionate about doing the right thing for our Island that they are not afraid of losing friends in order to fight for good legislation.

• YOUR OPINION
"When are you going to make an end of it, Buonarroti?"