‘PETA Targets Kosher Meat Processor’

It was only a matter of time. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has been attacking kosher and halal slaughter in England for years, so I can’t say I was surprised to read that they are now assaulting Aaron Rubashkin, the man who virtually single-handedly resurrected a beautiful old frontier town from economic death – the town’s name is Postville, not Pottsville, by the way [“PETA Targets Kosher Meat Processor,” Binyamin L. Jolkovsky, National, November 29, 2004].

I would caution the Jewish community, however, not to fall into the trap of crying anti-Semitism on this issue. PETA’s motives are not particularly anti-Jewish, or even related to any reasonable standard of “humane” slaughter. Rather, their goal is to force vegetarianism upon a significant segment of the population. PETA knows that if observant Jews and Muslims are not permitted to slaughter their meat by religious standards, which are virtually identical for the two groups, they simply cannot eat meat at all. This is the only result that PETA truly considers “humane,” and ultimately, they wish to impose this view universally.

From their U.K. adventure, PETA learned that once the issue is framed as one affecting only two smallish religious minorities – and not particularly well-liked ones at that – the general public will be less concerned than if the issue is framed as a radical group attempting to impose their views on the public at large. Fortunately, here in America, unlike in England, we have the First Amendment, which will pose a significant obstacle to PETA’s goals.

ADRIENNE SCHOLZ
Brooklyn

Battle Over U.N.’s Site

The unexpected good news from Albany – “Battle Brews in Legislature Over U.N.’s Site” – gives us a chance to revisit the issues of the location and role of the United Nations in New York as well as other opportunities for creative land-use in the rebuilding of our city [William F. Hammond Jr., Page One, November 22, 2004].

Given all the bad press that the state Legislature gets for rubberstamping backroom deals, it should be applauded for serving its proper function by stopping this plan and allowing a meaningful public inquiry to take place.

The present location of the U.N. complex is indefensible, both literally, in terms of the physical security burden it imposes, and economically, due to the loss of revenue that other uses for the site would generate.

Fortunately, another location is available that would provide ample space, simplify the physical security task, provide a visible prestige location that would encourage other development and tourism, and permit the restoration of the East Side property to the tax roles. That location is Governors Island.

The scheme of turning a location as valuable as Governors Island into another teacher’s college for the City University of New York reeks of the same wasteful crony politicking that almost forced through this sweetheart deal to expand the present U.N. complex. The present CUNY campuses should be sufficient for certifying public school teachers.

The 120-acre island would be ideal compared to the present U.N. location of only 18 acres. A new, secure headquarters could be constructed. Access could be regulated to permit or restrict tourism as the threat level changes. There is even housing available to convert into missions and conference centers.

In return for giving the U.N. the use of this magnificent location, the city should demand a significant return of properties to the tax roles. Additionally, this would ensure that the location of the World Trade Center would always be within sight of the U.N.

ROSS WEINER
Rego Park, N.Y.

‘New York “Emergency” ‘

The affordable housing crisis is quite real, and the budget crunch faced by working-New Yorkers like myself is not helped by the present craze to build luxury housing [“New York ‘Emergency,’ ” Editorial, October 20, 2004]. It seems that everywhere I turn, a new chic development is popping up, yet nothing is being built that I can afford.

New York City should not be split into neighborhoods of the super-rich and super-poor. When the average price of a co-op is $1 million, what are normal people to do?

That’s why Mayor Bloomberg’s efforts to rezone more than two dozen neighborhoods presents an opportunity too good to ignore.

We can shape the character of these neighborhoods – and the city at large – or we can let the developers continue to balkanize New York.

As the Bloomberg administration changes the zoning rules in these neighborhoods, we can add inclusionary zoning, which says to the developers that they can build their million-dollar co-ops so long as they also build some housing for police and firemen, teachers, and bus drivers, regular people with regular salaries. This way everyone benefits, not just the elite.

ROBERT SOLANO
Brooklyn

---

Please address letters intended for publication to the Editor of The New York Sun. Letters may be sent by e-mail to editor@nysun.com, facsimile to 212-608-7348, or post to 105 Chambers Street, New York City 10007.Please include a return address and daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited.