In response to “Regulars at West Side Flea Market Worry It’ll Close” [Alexander Britell, New York, August 9, 2004], I submit the following:

The Con Edison lot referred to in the article was, itself, a new location to replace the lot that faced it directly across the street and was developed in 1999.

The likelihood for development for any vacant parcel in New York City is great in these times.

Knowing of both the imminence and inevitability of such development, we started the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market on West 39th Street, two years ago.

We have always been aware of the fragility of outdoor market locations and, for that reason, have always attempted to innovate new outdoor locations to serve both the needs of vendors for a place to market their merchandise and for the public to shop and otherwise interact with the vendors and each other.

I can certainly empathize with Adam, the filmmaker, in his anxiety about his livelihood and the undeniable fact that the markets are an institutional part of the cultural fabric of New York City.

The very centrality of the markets that he refers to is the essence of why the Con Edison lot is about to be developed.

Although that property is not alone under the threat of development, the other properties, The Annex Antiques Fair and The Garage, under our management, have no imminent plans to be developed.

There is more than ample space at the aforementioned locations, as well as the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market, to accommodate every vendor under the threat of being evicted.

As founder of the flea market on the Con Edison property and as someone who has innovated outdoor and indoor markets for 30 years, I can say that every vendor that will be displaced has an opportunity to continue their businesses with us at any one of our locations and will be welcomed with open arms.

As a lifelong New York City resident, I can say that the inevitability of change is guaranteed here but, also, that as the door to one opportunity closes, another one opens.

ALAN BOSS
Manhattan Founder The Garage, The Annex Antiques Fair, Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market, And the Metropolitan Pavilion

---

As a faculty member at Brooklyn College for over 25 years and president of the college’s Black Faculty and Staff Association, I would like to express my concern regarding the description of the college’s personnel and hiring practices in the op-ed piece by Robert David Johnson, a professor of history at Brooklyn College [“Diversity Comes to CUNY,” Opinion, July 21, 2004].

The characterization of the college’s practices is patently false, without foundation, misguided, and, indeed, unfortunate.

Contrary to what has been reported, Brooklyn College does not engage in “diversity by quota” but rather endorses a proactive approach of outreach to encourage qualified women and minorities to apply for faculty openings.

This is wholly consistent with both federal and state statutory guidelines.

It has not been the experience of the Black Faculty and Staff Association that Brooklyn College has ever advocated placing unqualified minorities in any position to achieve diversity or anything else.

According to City University of New York data, only 20% of Brooklyn College faculty members come from minority groups.

If the college engaged in hiring through a policy of “diversity by quota,” surely, this number would be much higher.

While too few minorities hold faculty positions at the college, apparently our scant numbers are too much for Mr. Johnson. And why?

What is the basis of his critique? Is Mr. Johnson suggesting that because a faculty member is of color that he or she is somewhat less qualified than white faculty?

If so, this bespeaks of a racial pandering and ignorance that has no place in an intellectually rigorous academic institution and should be viewed with a jaundiced eye by all who abhor racism.

PETER WESTON
Brooklyn
Mr. Weston is an associate Professor of psychology At Brooklyn College and president of the college’s Black Faculty and Staff Association.