‘Overriding Mayor’s Veto’

I write to thank Alec Magnet for exposing New York City Councilman John Liu’s latest proposal that subjects small business owners to needless regulation in his “Stoop Line Stand Bill.”

As reported in The New York Sun, this bill would hurt small businesses that are mainly minority- and immigrant-owned. Ironically, the bill would especially affect downtown Flushing – currently a Mecca for small business – the very district that Mr. Liu purports to represent [“Council To Vote Today on Overriding Mayor’s Veto of Stoop Line Stand Bill,” New York, October 3, 2005].

With no public debate, a brand new city bureaucracy to finance, and virtually no controversy over whether these stands are affecting New Yorkers’ quality of life, one should question what the City Council is up to this time. It’s time for a change.

The City Council needs representatives who support small business, rather than imposing government control and unnecessary fees.

RAQUEL LACOMBA WALKER
Flushing, N.Y.

Ms. Lacomba Walker is a Conservative Party candidate for the New York City Council, District 20, in Northeast Flushing, Queens.

‘Trust But Verify’

It always strikes me as particularly ironic when American conservatives attribute the original use of the proverb “Trust, but verify” to Ronald Reagan in his nuclear disarmament negotiations with Mikhail Gorbachev [“Trust But Verify,” Cal Thomas, Opinion, October 4, 2005].

As I understand it, its true attribution properly lies with Joseph Stalin who used it in compiling lists of Communist Party loyalists during the many purges he inflicted. “Doveryai, no proveryai!” (Trust, but verify!)

LUKE G. GARDNER
Stamford, Conn.

‘Dear Mr.Gillinson’

Admittedly, Carnegie Hall is one of the great historic houses in the nation and the world. But I would start by restoring the grand lobby to its original order and beauty [“Dear Mr. Gillinson: A Letter to the New Director of Carnegie Hall About How To Restore His Venue to Its Past Glory,” Fred Kirshnit, Arts & Letters, September 30, 2005].

Now, it has the appearance of a tawdry bank lobby, pressed into service as the site of literature tables for a school fair. Not as a grand vestibule leading to grand experience: the hearing of the greatest and most stirring musical works played by the greatest performers and orchestras in the world.

Does anyone condescend to remember the glorious past when gathering here as young men was truly an enchanting experience, a prelude to greatness, thrillingly anticipated, in the performance of the greatest works of the classical repertory by the greatest concert artists, led by the great conductors of our time? And, in the company of others who also waited and were thrilled to wait in that golden place?

ALLEN TOBIAS
Brooklyn

‘Black Voters’ Independence’

I am not impressed with Mayor Bloomberg on Row C [John P. Avlon, “Black Voters Declaring Independence,” Opinion, October 4, 2005].

More and more revelations have come out recently about Lenora Fulani, Fred Newman, the Independence Party, and the All-Stars Project, including allegations of child abuse. And here we have a Republican, thrilled that people would rather vote on the marginal, Independence Party than on the established Republican Party.

That is some great argument for our party, folks. In the same paragraph that Mr. Avlon praises Mr. Bloomberg on Row C, he mildly scolds the mayor for not attending the debate at the Apollo Theater. Well, I’m sure you know that his absence is not intended as a slight to the black community. He is obviously afraid of being on the same stage with the only real choice, the only real Republican in the contest, Thomas Ognibene.

EVAN EDWARDS
Manhattan

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