Mayor & schools
To The Editor:
Re “Keep mayoral control, but with modifications” (editorial, June 5 – 11):
As a parent and parent coordinator for Washington Irving H.S., I am happy to see that Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has been so supportive on renewing mayoral control of our public education system. It is important that we continue to see the progress we have seen over the past six years. Without mayoral control of the Panel on Education Policy, which Silver has strongly supported, there would not be the accountability that has made such progress possible.
Harlingtton Ariza
To The Editor:
The Downtown Express deserves an A+ for its recent editorial, “Keep mayoral control, but with modifications.” Mayoral control enables us to vote for, or against Bloomberg based on his performance in regards to public schools. Reverting to a diffuse system with multiple layers of management, and accountability, means we can’t ever hold any single entity responsible. We should encourage our lawmakers to extend mayoral control, and then use our vote to express our opinions.
Neeta Vallab
A leader’s message
To The Editor:
Pete Gleason’s win over Alan Gerson for the endorsement of the Downtown Independent Democrats was rightly heralded as a major upset (news article, June 5 – 11, “Gerson loses Downtown club’s endorsement vote”). Lost amid the headlines, however, was a small win of my own that I want to highlight.
I’ve never been one to care about the spotlight, and spent no time in the press touting my two terms as district leader, even though I was challenged within my club this year. So when 124 D.I.D. members came out to vote June 2, and 89 cast their vote for me to continue as their district leader for the 66th Assembly District, Part B, (a 3 to 1 victory over my opponent, Noel Jefferson) I was overwhelmed by such support.
Such across the board belief in me means a great deal to me, as years of hard work put into my leadership obviously didn’t go unnoticed.
I also want to thank State Senator Daniel Squadron, State Assemblywoman Deborah Glick and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer — who called me “my eyes and ears in Lower Manhattan” — for their endorsements. I am humbled to have them at my side.
We have done and will continue to do great things for Lower Manhattan.
Jean Bergantini Grillo
District Leader, 66th Assembly District/Part B
The ‘true majority’
To The Editor:
Re “Privatizers romp at Southbridge” (news article, May 15 – 21):
The intent to maintain Southbridge Towers in the Mitchell-Lama program didn’t gain and didn’t lose in this last “election.” Of course the same can be said of those who wish to exit from the Mitchell-Lama program. Neither did they gain or lose…in fact we might inform Downtown Express that only 39 percent of the community voted for the Southbridge Rights slate. Sixty-seven percent would be needed for a privatization vote. Where is the romp for privatization? Such misleading declarations by the Downtown Express display a superficial analysis. At the very least, 300 voted to keep S.B.T. affordable for the middle class, the true majority in this city and this country.
What seems overlooked intentionally by the privatizers is the rampant, brazen practice of the sub-letters who rent out their apartments at market rate prices and keep this illegitimate money. What is the president of our board, Wally Dimson, doing about this? I have not heard. What is the Dept. of Housing and Community Renewal doing about this? I have not heard. What are the pols, Gerson, Silver, Stringer, doing about this? I have not heard. Their silence is deafening.
The noise heard here is that “the majority has spoken.”
I would like to issue a warning to that majority. It doesn’t take long to become impoverished. It’s harebrained to believe that it cannot happen to any of us. The 300 losers in the election voted to keep a roof over our heads that we can pay for and not be in fear every month of the rent bill and maintenance fees.
Losing Victor Papa in this election is a loss for all fair-minded people with a sense of good judgment as applied to long-sighted thoughtfulness.
Geraldine Lipschutz
“Silver hints W.T.C. consensus is to build more towers” (news article, posted June 5):
Finally a solution to this mess is in sight. Bravo to Silver and the Mayor for pushing this forward. It’s been 8 long years and we have waited long enough. Of course we need to build these buildings now – by the time they open, the economy will be back and NY will once again be the capital of the world. Typical for the Port Authority to refuse to budge – what is the matter with these people? Haven’t they screwed up the WTC enough already?
Dr. Remick
Pathetic. Rebuild the Twin Towers.
Travis
