‘Taxpayers Revolt’

Kudos to Steven Malanga for documenting the inspired actions of fed-up residents in Erie County. [“Taxpayers Revolt,” Opinion, February 23, 2005]. Something similar is happening in the City of Long Beach, New York.

The Long Beach Superblock Plan first became controversial after the city’s then Democratic chairman, Eugene Cammarato, was chosen by the all Democrat City Council as the “director of economic development” in November 2002, which included the responsibility of selecting a developer for the $150 million project. Mr. Cammarato’s appointment, and moreover his decision to cap the preferred developer’s acquisition cost at $11 million even as the property was valued closer to $20 million by the Nassau County tax assessor, surprised many citizens.

In 2003,after 32 years of one party rule, the Long Beach City Council was infused with newly elected citizens. This coalition quickly identified waste, such as 22 dead people that were receiving health benefits at a cost of $1 million annually to the taxpayer. With hope, they’ll be able to tackle the potentially corrupt Superblock plan that was scheduled to occur below market value, at a cost of $2,500 per Long Beach homeowner.

From Buffalo to the City of Long Beach, New Yorkers are reaching a threshold in continuing to finance political malfeasance.

MICHAEL P. MULHALL
Point Lookout, N.Y.

2012 Bid Opponents Respond

The New York Sun’s “Bush Bolsters New York Olympics Bid; Visiting committee Hears of Backup Plan” [Julie Satow, Page 1, February 24, 2005], incorrectly stated that our delegation from six community groups in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens “balked” at a meeting with the International Olympic Committee. Although NYC2012 has not seen fit to reach out to opponents in over four years, we requested a meeting with the IOC after Evaluation Commission Chair Nawal El Moutawakel announced in Madrid that they would be willing to meet with bid opponents. But the IOC then acquiesced to NYC2012’s denial of our request: NYC2012 would only allow one person from one community to attend, thereby telling the other five to “take a hike.” NYC2012 also loaded up the meeting with pro-Olympic groups who, we found out later, were allowed to have more time and bring additional attendees. By claiming to have held a meeting, the IOC cannot lay claim that they have met with, listened to, and ultimately dismissed, the opposition.

JOHN FISHER
Clinton Special District Coalition
(Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen)
Manhattan

Men And Manners

Re: “Powerful Men And Their Manners,” Tina Brown, On The Town, February 24, 2005. Thank goodness men didn’t “please and thank you” themselves through the previous century; had they, I doubt many of the great accomplishments they achieved would have been realized. We have come to a time in our history when it is impolite to raise your voice, be demanding, have an opposing opinion, or otherwise make someone else feel uncomfortable. According to Ms. Brown these powerful men are clueless, victims of their testosterone-fueled bad manners, but it was precisely this type of behavior that was once respected in our society, before Ms. Brown and her ilk demanded we become feminized. I’m sure Edison stepped on a few toes, as did Ford, or Einstein or any of the thousands of industrialists, statesmen, or scientist who inhabited the 20th century.

MIKE JACOBS
Manhattan

Israel At Columbia

Dean David M. Schizer of Columbia Law School represents the modern feckless liberal who promotes academic freedom over and above Jewish existence [“Hamilton and Israel at Columbia,” Opinion, March 3, 2005]. Columbia’s professor Khalidi is a longtime supporter of the PLO. In its enabling document – its 1964 Charter created at a time when there were no Jews in the West Bank or Gaza – the PLO proudly proclaimed as its primary goal the annihilation of Israel and all its Jews. Dean Schizer would undoubtedly say that this “pro-annihilation position” be presented as a valid side of an argument.

With blind obedience to academic freedom, liberals such as Dean Schizer myopically repeat the mantra that there are two sides to every issue – even if one of the sides is homicidal for Jews. I’m sure Dean Schizer and all the liberal professors at Columbia can propound and defend the “pro-Auschwitz” position under the guise of “open intellectual exchange.”

RICHARD SHERMAN
Brooklyn

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