It’s rrruff without dog run at night
To The Editor:
Just before Hurricane Sandy tore apart our neighborhood, I adopted a 7-month-old puppy. A smart little watchdog, she was comforting company during the blackout. Since then she has grown like a weed and is now a large mass of moving puppy play energy. I want to raise a well-behaved canine good citizen, so now is a critical time to keep her well exercised and practice obedience training with her.
Unfortunately, due to Sandy’s destruction of the Hudson River Park’s electrical system, the park, which normally closed at 1 a.m., currently and indefinitely, closes at dusk (4:30 in December). This means that the many people in our neighborhood who take their dogs to the run after work and in the evening, no longer have anywhere to go…indefinitely.
Not having the use of the run at night creates a big problem for me since younger dogs need to be physically active and mentally engaged at least two times a day. (When puppies are not exercised and challenged regularly they develop behavior problems.)
I cannot train my dog during the daytime when the run is crowded — the shortened hours cause the already overcrowded run to be even more crowded. Also people who have under-socialized and/or aggressive dogs, and who used to use the run in the evening, are now much more likely to bring their socially challenged dog or dogs into the often crowded run.
There are roughly 25,000 people who own dogs in our immediate neighborhood and dog owners are the largest single use group that frequents parks. Neighborhood dog owners rely on the Leroy St. dog run since it is the only place left in our neighborhood where it is legal to have a dog off leash. I have contacted the Hudson River Park Trust to no avail. Why, when it would be so easy to accommodate so many, does the Trust continue to ignore dog owners’ recreational needs for their animals?
By the way, it is not unusual for a dog run to stay open later than the rest of the park. Some parks departments realize that if the amount of dog owners exceeds the recreational space available, lengthening the hours of dog run usage helps minimize overcrowding. For example, the new Washington Square dog run will remain open 24 hours a day, once it is completed, even though Washington Square Park will close in the evening.
The Leroy St. run could easily keep its usual hours during repairs to the park if there was the will to do so from the Trust. For instance, dog owners could use the park entrance right by the run to enter and exit, using stanchions to line the walk to the run’s gate. The Trust has a small fleet of little light generators. One little generator could illuminate the run since the lights along the bikeway still work, already providing some light. Please — we need the evening hours in the run back A.S.A.P.
Lynn Pacifico
Scoopy withdrawal symptoms
To The Editor:
When the paper didn’t appear last Thursday, I thought the readers were getting “Scrooged” out of Scoopy’s Notebook for Christmas, but the Scoopster came through! I need my weekly Scoopy’s fix, it’s that addictive. Thanks!
Lewis Nathan
Just call it ‘The Clemente’
To The Editor:
Re “Jazz greats, artists make a play for new L.E.S. venue” (news article, Dec. 20):
A few clarifications:
First, we’re not “accepting proposals” for adaptive reuse of the basement and ground floor. I try to be extremely clear that whatever architects we hire will do some kind of community outreach, probably “town halls,” where they explain what must be done — given code compliance issues and a tight budget — and will invite community members to discus what they would like to see the spaces ultimately used for.
Second, we don’t use “C.S.V.” anymore since it erases the Puerto Rican identity of the person it was named after, as well as the founders’ intentions, doesn’t communicate anything, and is often confused with CVS. We say, “The Clemente.”
Also, Patricia Parker’s mention of being in a former bathroom (one of her two spaces) is a little surprising since her application for an appropriate space is in, and is a high priority. Again, when the architects are in place — hopefully, by the end of January — they can help us analyze optimal space utilization.
Otherwise, it was an impressive article about the quality of program Patricia can put together. Thanks! Soon there will be articles where no mention of that old, long-dead struggle will appear.
Jan Hanvik
Hanvik is executive director, Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center
What a long strange trip it’s been
To The Editor:
Re “Nebraska burns beal; Gives pot activist 4 to 6 in the joint” (news article, Dec. 27):
Dana Beal and I started the mass marijuana movement when he had the first smoke-ins in Tompkins Square Park in 1967. Allen Ginsberg and his affinity group — LEMAR (Legalise Marijuana) — had the first demo for legalizing pot and freeing marijuana prisoners in front of the Women’s House of D (Dope) in 1965. Then I had National Marijuana Day, which Dana turned into International Marijuana Day. Steve D’Angelo took it further. The dude is an O.K., honest guy. Got to hand it to him. He fought Nazis. Steve, that is.
AJ Weberman
Pot prisoner and park panic
To The Editor:
Re “Nebraska burns Beal; Gives pot activist 4 to 6 in the joint” (news article, Dec. 27):
It is interesting to note that many of those who are demanding lower taxes are often the ones who want to keep funding the disastrous war on drugs. Investigating, arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating low-level drug crimes is not only a huge financial burden, it permanently harms people’s lives.
On the other hand, prisons are the only growth industry in some parts of the country. It turns out that the war on drugs is their bread and butter. As the old saying goes, if you want to find someone who is profiting from illegal drugs, find someone who wants to keep them illegal.
Re “Panic in Petrosino Square sparked by mini-crepe cart” (news article, Dec. 27):
I understand the neighborhood’s feelings about the crepe cart in their park but I also understand the vendor who is trying to make a living in tough times. Vendors have been part of New York City for generations but they are often easy targets for blame for problems that are not of their doing. It is a fact that vendors have often experienced bias and have been treated unfairly. With that in mind, I hope the new location they give this vendor provides a decent living and she finds a neighborhood that welcomes her microbusiness.
Lawrence White
Giant thanks to Tiny’s Giant
To The Editor:
Re “Chickens join children in an L.E.S. Magical Garden” (photo, Dec. 27):
Giant thanks to Dave and to everyone at Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop for providing kitchen-prep waste and day-old bread to gardeners and chicken volunteers who feed these food scraps to the chickens.
Marisa DeDominicis
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