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City's Polish Community Up in Arms Over Stereotypes in Article

Submitted by Adrian Baron, Nov 7, 2006 12:49

Hon. Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007

Re: Park's Department Employee David Langlieb

Dear Mayor Bloomberg,

In a recent published article to his Haverford College alumni magazine, NYC Park's Department Project Manager David Langlieb referred to Greenpoint's large Polish community as infesting vermin, dumb polaks and illiterate morons.

While I am confident that Mr. Langlieb's essay does not reflect the views of the Park's Department or the Mayor's Office, he clearly identifies himself as a city employee in his byline. Whether misguided satire or a reflection of his true feelings for Poles, the essay was in bad taste and reflects poorly on the city of New York.

I am a Polish American educated in New York schools. I received my BA from Manhattanville College and my Juris Doctorate from Pace University. Like many Polish Americans, I speak three languages. My cultural heritage includes the music of Chopin, the science of Copernicus, the poetry of Milosz and the compassion of Pope John Paul II. Not surprisingly, I take offense to being labeled an illiterate moron or rat.

Poles have contributed so much to American society; it is shameful that a City employee would disparage our community in a written publication. As you know, Polish businesses contribute to the success of New York City. In fact, Greenpoint's Polish residents rate among the area's highest investors. They have been honored for their efforts in helping clean up the Hudson River. They bring culture to a city that was built on the diversity of its immigrant population.

Mr. Langlieb owes the Polish community an apology. As a park department employee, I suggest reassigning him to clean pigeon droppings off central park's statute of King Jagiello of Poland.

Very Truly Yours,

Attorney Adrian M. Baron

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
After reading the "Black Squirrel's Burden" written by David Langlieb'05, I became ill. I felt like I received an ulcer... [MORE]	Mrs. Teresa Wojcik	Nov 20, 2006 15:26
I have nothing against satire, but I find Mr. Langlieb's attempt at "satire" in this article quite pathetic. Simply put...it... [MORE]	Karen M	Nov 12, 2006 18:50
It is the highest time that we learn to laugh at ourselves just like the members of other nationalities do!... [MORE]	Liliana	Nov 11, 2006 16:39
You might be educated, but not smart enough to see that this was written to offend a great population of... [MORE]	Zbigniew Z.	Nov 21, 2006 22:59
David Langlieb should have studied history..... During the Holocaust the greatest number of Gentile rescuers of Jews were Poles, despite the... [MORE]	Zbigniew Z.	Nov 8, 2006 00:33
Hon. Michael R. BloombergCity HallNew York, NY 10007 Re: Park's Department Employee David Langlieb Dear Mayor Bloomberg, In a recent published article to...	Adrian Baron	Nov 7, 2006 12:49
i don't care much about his apology. damage has been done and man should be panished. it is time to... [MORE]	jan jakubik	Nov 7, 2006 22:12
i don't care much about his apology. damage has been done and man should be panished. it is time to... [MORE]	jan jakubik	Nov 7, 2006 22:19
Mr. David Langlieb is trying to defend his own article entitled "The Black Squirrel's Burden" as a "satire". Filled with... [MORE]	Mariusz B	Nov 7, 2006 07:51
After reading David's's article titled " The Black Squirrel's Burden", I was deeply offended by his remarks even tough I... [MORE]	Bart. M	Nov 7, 2006 00:09
I sympathize with the frustration, anger and hurt expressed by Polish-Americans, and other people who were shocked and upset with... [MORE]	Nora Spriggs	Nov 30, 2006 12:28
The article reveals reveals the darkest side of U.S. Nowadays, it is extremely hard to find people of this sort... [MORE]	prawy wrzesniowy	Nov 6, 2006 12:45
If there is anything that is true it only reveals the darkest side of U.S. Nowadays, it is extremely hard... [MORE]	prawy wrzesniowy	Nov 5, 2006 02:25
A note from Adolf Hitler's desk, Berlin August 1939 On August 22, 1939, a few days before the official start of... [MORE]	marie glowacki	Nov 4, 2006 23:21
it's really simple! take Langlieb's piece, replace Greenpoint with Midwood, Williamsburg or one of many other Brooklyn's hideous neighborhoods, replace... [MORE]	Hans Kloss	Nov 4, 2006 11:45
You know, I have nothing eloquent, pretty or witty to say. I am not an English major but a biology... [MORE]	Maggie Pogorzelska	Nov 3, 2006 23:30
It personally hurts my pride when I hear offensive remarks under the Polish people's address. However I cannot help but... [MORE]	Dominika Binkowska	Nov 3, 2006 21:12
The writer of the article in question is definitely no Jonathan Swift. Being of Polish extraction I got use to... [MORE]	GLisowski	Nov 3, 2006 15:32
I like satire as much as the next person, and I am the first to point out the failings and... [MORE]	Ania	Nov 3, 2006 14:59
The spokesman for the Department of Parks and Recreation, Warner Johnston, says that Mr. Langlieb is "writing as a private... [MORE]	Christina Gutt	Nov 3, 2006 12:52
I wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Gutt's comments. A rereading of the article also makes me question the ethnic derivation of... [MORE]	Marianne Wojciechowicz-Metelitz	Nov 3, 2006 15:30
I was very offended by Mr. Langlieb's article. The polish culture has contributed a great deal of "good" to the... [MORE]	Theodore Sliwinski, Esq.	Nov 8, 2006 21:13
I am a Polish immigrant but I have to admit that ultimately, I liked Mr. Langlieb's article. Of course, I... [MORE]	JK	Nov 3, 2006 11:10
I too am a Polish immigrant and thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Langlieb's article. While perhaps there weren't enough obvious winks to... [MORE]	SM	Nov 3, 2006 13:27
Amazed? Good satire? I cannot believe that an educated young man who must have done brilliantly in college English could express... [MORE]	A.B	Nov 3, 2006 14:32
The article is clearly a satirical piece with a self-deprecating coda. It is written in a provocative, albeit heavily sophomore... [MORE]	Jarek Wieczorek	Nov 3, 2006 15:10
If you are a Polish emigrant like you stated why are you hiding your name? Adam Szenk [MORE]	Adam Szenk	Nov 3, 2006 17:09
Haverford graduate Langlieb, with his pathetic attempt at satire, unnecessarily gambled with the emotions of a whole ethnic group that... [MORE]	Stefan Komar	Nov 4, 2006 18:27
very, very sad indeed... [MORE]	Gabe Mazurkiewicz	Nov 5, 2006 04:11
Dear All, We always have to fight with all the klishes other nations have about Poles...they do not know anything about... [MORE]	sylwi	Nov 7, 2006 11:55
Dear JK, Mr. Langlieb's sense of humor is not shared with the majority. If that kind of satire was officially accepted,... [MORE]	Justyna Ball	Nov 8, 2006 10:01
Mr. Stefan Komar is to be commended for his thoughtful and measured response. Personally, I do not feel offended by... [MORE]	Eva Hoffman-Jedruch	Nov 15, 2006 17:10

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