Who’ll get the cash?
To The Editor:
Re “Mayor signs bill doubling fines for harassing tenants” (news article, Oct. 9):
I question who will get the fine money from this new law, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the courts or the tenant?
As I understand it, currently, if a tenant brings a harassment case against his or her landlord in Housing Court, the civil penalties imposed go directly to the court and not to the tenant who has suffered through horrendous harassment.
Cynthia Chaffee
Editor’s note: According to City Councilmember Margaret Chin’s Office, the fines, as was the case before, will continue to go to the city. However, the judge always has discretion to impose additional compensation to the tenant. And, if the case is settled, that generally involves direct compensation from landlord to tenant.
Snark.Y.U.
To The Editor:
Re “ ‘Drop the appeal!’ N.Y.U. project opponents cry” (news article, Sept. 25):
Hey, John Beckman, why do you have to be so snarky when talking about those of us who oppose N.Y.U. 2031, both legally and morally?
N.Y.U. has already cast a large black cloud over our neighborhood for the last few years and N.Y.U. will continue to do so until we win.
Judith Chazen Walsh
Trump Soho surprise
To The Editor:
Re “An object lesson in lack of government oversight” (talking point, by Andrew Berman, Oct. 2):
Go, Andrew! Great op-ed. To see Scott Stringer caught up in this was surprising. I thought he was one of the good guys.
Shawn G. Chittle
Monstrously good shot
To The Editor:
Re “An object lesson in lack of government oversight” (talking point, by Andrew Berman, Oct. 2):
Actually, this is a great photo of this monster. It shows how out-of-scale the Trump Soho is with the surrounding community.
Jean Standish
Shofar, so good
To The Editor:
Re “The winds of change are a’blowing” (photo, Sept. 25):
The Shalom Center (theshalomcenter.org) initiated the effort to make shofar central to the Jewish contingent on the People’s Climate March. Somewhere between 50 and 100 shofar-blowers came, and took part in the multifaith prayer service on the march, as well as were aboard the enormous float of Noah’s Ark that was one important part of the march, symbolizing the protection of all life in the face of planetary disaster.
More than 100 Jewish organizations endorsed the march, and we will be working to involve them in further efforts to address the climate crisis.
Rabbi Arthur Waskow
Wheely have problems
To The Editor:
Re “In bike nirvana, trying to stay sane in the lane” (talking point, by Michele Herman, Sept. 25):
One of the main bike-riding problems is that half the people who ride bikes in this city don’t know how to ride properly, thereby presenting risks to themselves, cars, pedestrians, etc.
And the majority of the bike lanes are poorly designed. In a ridiculous kind of default design mode, all the lanes have too many grates and drain covers that were previously on the street itself.
Plus, the cops never enforce blocked bike lanes. And most of the time if there is a road obstruction problem, it’s shunted into the bike lanes.
I have ridden a bike for 30 years in New York — all boroughs — and most of the time I’d rather take my chances in the regular street than trust the bike lanes, particularly in Midtown Manhattan. Out in moving traffic, at least you know some clown in a huge S.U.V. actually wants to run you down!
Having said that, it is truly the responsibility of the city planners to sort out a workable bike lane system. Many cities throughout the world have done it. Why not here?
Incidentally, most of the bike paths that were installed up and down Manhattan are too narrow to ride safely two abreast. So please don’t do it!
Peter Rippon
For safer cycling
To The Editor:
Re “In bike nirvana, trying to stay sane in the lane” (talking point, by Michele Herman, Sept. 25):
Michele Herman’s observations are right on point. I commute by Citi Bike and ride my own bike further afield in the city on the weekends. Cars and pedestrians pose definite threats, as she notes, but she is also right to single out other bicyclists.
It can be dangerous to stop at a red light or at a crosswalk on a bike path with the other cyclists bearing down on you, and it is no wonder that some pedestrians, notably older people, hesitate to cross when I stop.
Transportation Alternatives and other advocates of cycling have to stress common courtesy along with basic rules, like cycling with traffic and not using your cell phone while you’re riding. Bike without a helmet if you want, but don’t be a jerk and imperil Herman, me and other cyclists, as well as pedestrians.
John Bacon
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