Please help injured florist
To The Editor:
Re “Drag-racing driver careens onto sidewalk, injuring 4” (news article, June 20):
I wanted to follow up on your article last week about the horrific car crash in the East Village on July 19 to let The Villager’s readers know that there is an online fundraiser going on to raise money for Mohammed Akkas Ali, the flower shop worker who was grievously injured when he was struck by the car.
I experienced a similar personal tragedy when my father, who was just four years younger than Mr. Ali, 62, was seriously and permanently injured when he was hit by a speeding, intoxicated driver. In fact, at the time, I was the same age, 23, as Mr. Ali’s son Rukanul. As such, I know how much this kind of support will help Mr. Ali and his family, both in terms of providing money for medical and other costs, compensating for lost income, and giving Mr. Ali the peace of mind to know that his family is being looked after by a caring community.
I hope The Villager’s readers will please consider donating whatever they can by going to the follow Web site link: www.giveforward.com/akkasali. The fundraising effort will conclude on July 20, at which time a check will be sent to Mr. Ali for whatever amount we raise. My thanks, in advance, to every contributor for their kindness and generosity.
Chad Marlow
Rabbi’s beautiful legacy
To The Editor:
Re “Rabbi Pesach Ackerman of Anshe Meseritz dies at 84” (obituary, June 20):
Unfortunately, I never met the late rabbi, but I know the phenomenal fruit of a beautiful daughter from his familial tree. His legacy is assured and the world is blessed.
Aldon James
The whole family loved rabbi
To The Editor:
Re “Rabbi Pesach Ackerman of Anshe Meseritz dies at 84” (obituary, June 20):
The article about my uncle Paul (Rabbi Pesach) Ackerman is beautiful.
I, too, am a survivor of the rabbi and was very close to him, as were my sister Andrea and her sons, Michael, of the New York area, and Ira in Los Angeles, and Richard Malek in Laguna Niguel, California — who came in from California and was with the family during this time — Jerry, of Monticello, and several others, in Florida and California. Likewise, another niece, Susan Ackerman (Meyer, I believe) of New York, and in the Ackerman family, was close to the rabbi.
The obituary could have also included dear family friends Rose, Vincent and Rose Pomponio, who were no different than family.
Usually, obituaries include children and siblings, but in this uncle’s case there is a whole bevy of family and friends whom he thought of as his family. As you mentioned these two nephews, I thought I would include the rest of us. We adored him.
Other than that, thank you so much for the loving tribute.
Kol HaKavod. Susan L. Birnbaum
Some good advice for C.B. 2
To The Editor:
Re “Conservancy concerns” (editorial, June 20):
Thank you, Villager! This is so well summarized and stated. The community board should revisit this issue — since they voted last Thursday night in favor of this conservancy, as is, and rejected a substitute resolution to review things further — and should give consideration to your well-founded concerns.
Cathryn Swan
Swan is editor, Washington Square Park Blog
The tyranny of the gardens
To The Editor:
Re “Déjà vu all over again” (letter, by Pamela Pier, June 13):
When I belonged to Green Oasis, Pamela Pier was the epitome of everything that’s wrong with the gardens. When she couldn’t make it to a meeting she had one of her employees from Dinosaur Hill run over to the garden and declare that the meeting was canceled. When we voted on preserving the grass in front of the stage, she made a secret deal that went against the democratic vote. Like the board at Dias y Flores, Pier resorts to deception and innuendo, insinuating that I was involved in underage drinking.
No one should be allowed to be president of a garden for life. Term limits are necessary in community gardens just as they are in politics. The board at Dias y Flores rushed to destroy my plot that I had offered to turn over to the community. They destroyed a legacy of plants, some of which originated in the famous Chico Mendez Mural Garden. They are self-serving, power hungry vandals and will be voted out as soon as the misguided deputy director of GreenThumb, Roland Chouloute, lifts his onerous ban on people joining the garden.
The Dias y Flores board’s actions are naked acts of retaliation against members who dare speak up about their awful tyranny. But as the Bible says, “First will be last and last will be first.”
Thank you to The Villager for making this a cause célèbre. Viva democracy. Viva the East Village. Viva free speech!
Jeffrey Cyphers Wright
A couple of ‘key’ points
To The Editor:
Re “Garden revokes his membership again, throws away the key” (news article, June 13):
A few corrections to your article. I was never sent a notice by the board revoking my membership. As far as I’m concerned, I am still a member.
Second, the painting of the keys shown in the article was done by Jeff Wright. The original key painting was mine, but the board painted over it. I did it on Memorial Day. The original key painting was done in commemoration of the key ceremony, where 41 people brought Jeff Wright a key to the garden after he was unlawfully booted out by “the board.” It was also in response to a board member in the garden ordering me to “do some work.”
As far as the Memorial Day gathering goes, it was just a meeting of friends for a barbecue, not an organized party, although a Memorial Day party is written into the Dias y Flores bylaws.
Debra Jenks
E-mail letters, not longer than 250 words in length, to lincoln@thevillager.com or fax to 212-229-2790 or mail to The Villager, Letters to the Editor, 515 Canal St., Suite 1C, NY, NY 10013. Please include phone number for confirmation purposes. The Villager reserves the right to edit letters for space, grammar, clarity and libel. The Villager does not publish anonymous letters.
