The trials Downtown
To The Editor:
Re “Terror trials” (Letter by Rich Scorce, Dec. 18 – 24):
Rich Scorce somehow feels I have no geographic right to express opinions about the terrorist trials, even though my comment was support for additional (indeed, massive) aid for the Chinatown community, because I don’t live in his neighborhood (news article, Dec. 11 – 17, “Chinatown activists press fight to move terror trials”).
First, he should understand the trials are, in fact, in my neighborhood as well, as I live only blocks away from the courthouses. Moreover, my child spent seven years attending P.S. 124 on Division St. in Chinatown, “his” neighborhood, and several of those years were right in the middle of the terrorist trials beginning in the mid-1990s. She walked every day by the jail and the courthouse while the “Blind Sheik” was being held and tried. Mr. Scorce may not think I am willing to test my faith in the system with my flesh and blood, but I am. However, why are we arguing “my” versus “his”? ALL of Lower Manhattan needs to be protected, but especially those areas closest to the trial areas. As Jan Lee tried so hard to emphasize: we need to work together to do what’s best to get what the people and the businesses most affected need. That was the point of my coming and listening. Attacking each other just doesn’t help.
Jean Grillo
Democratic District Leader, 66th Assembly District, Part B
To The Editor:
Since 9/11/01 the Downtown area has been in total chaos. It took a long time for our area to bounce back from that awful day. We are now 9 years past and the clean up process is about over, however the rebuilding process is still in the works. What was once a nice little neighborhood, built up from people who grew up in Little Italy and Greenwich Village moved Downtown when there was nothing down there. We married, raised our children, sat in the area parks, strolled the Seaport when it was truly a seaport with vendors, picnic tables, the fish market and other wonderful sites. We watched the World Trade buildings go up and we watched them come down.
We are now in a change in our area. Gone are the Mom and Pop stores, the diners, where when you walked in everyone knew who you were and where you knew everyone, and small quaint stores where shopping was affordable. All these are being replaced by high end boutiques and stores, expensive restaurants and the like. But all this is good because it is bettering the neighborhood and making it once again a neighborhood where you can walk.
Now, they are bringing in the same people who caused all of the above destruction and chaos. Not only are they bringing them here to stand trial, they are bringing them here with the guarantee that security will once again be as tight as it was on 9/11. Our neighborhood and the surrounding areas will once again be in lockdown and once again we will all live with the fear of another attack in some shape or form.
I think it is a disgrace that this is happening. They murdered over 2,000 people and should not be allowed to stand trial in the very area where they committed those murders. We are trying to show the world just how just and fair we are that we are forgetting about the rights of those killed. When are we going to wake up? I hope soon.
Lorraine Fittipaldi
Consider fare increases
To The Editor:
“Saving the M.T.A.” (Editorial, Dec. 18 –24)) and “Bus & subway budget axe would cut deep Downtown” (news article by Julie Shapiro & Josh Rogers, Dec. 18 -24) made sense to those of us who work, live or shop in Downtown Manhattan. The recent M.T.A. board approval of new budget cuts is no surprise after previous Metropolitan Transportation Authority announcements of a new $200 million shortfall on top of the $143 million cut by New York State the previous week. It is terrible news for riders.
Perhaps it was a mistake for the M.T.A. to previously announce that there will be no fare hike in 2010. The proposed new Five Year Capital Plan of $29 billion faces an $8 billion shortfall. Past plans for creating new revenues by tolling free East River bridges and implementing congestion pricing continue to face opposition.
Reductions in the frequency of cleaning subway stations, buses and subway cars, elimination of routes or adding to the waiting times for the next bus or subway train as a means to save funds to fill budget shortfalls could be counter productive. The reaction could result in a significant number of riders returning to automobile use. Fewer riders mean less farebox revenue.
Future fare increases are inevitable. M.T.A. services are still one of the best bargains in town. Since the 1950’s, the average cost of riding either the bus, subway or commuter rail has gone up at a lower rate than either the consumer price index or inflation. Prior to the MetroCard, which affords a free transfer between bus and subway, riders had to pay two full fares. Purchasing either a weekly or monthly pass further reduces the cost per ride. Better to pay the piper now then later.
Larry Penner
“Bus & subway budget axe would cut deep Downtown” (news article, posted Dec. 17):
Ending M service into Brooklyn will hasten the end of Wall Street as the financial capital. Many back office workers live in southwest Brooklyn and rely on the rush hour M from Bay Parkway to get to work every day. This will disrupt their commute and encourage the remaining brokerage firms to either move to midtown or Jersey City. Assemblyman Silver, are you listening?
Reed Malloy
How will one go up Sixth Avenue if there is no 6 bus running from Lower Manhattan to 59th Street? Subways, for health reasons, are not an option especially at night.
Barbara Gordon
