‘The Teachers Pact’

Apparently, the New York City Department of Education and the United Federation of Teachers have resolved their differences to the extent that they have arrived at a contract for four years, two and a half of which have already been completed. Unfortunately, the agreement promises more work. It is difficult to view additional money as a raise in this regard [“The Teachers Pact,” Editorial, October 4, 2005].

However, teachers have been without a contract and raise for over two years. This happens at a time when teachers are confronted by the same huge cost and price increases plaguing our society. However, as these increases occurred, many people had sources of income that enabled them to keep pace somewhat with the increases. Teachers were kept at bay by a mayor who held the livelihoods and economic viability of teachers and their families hostage.

In short, the possible, if not the probable, passage of the proposed agreement represents a coercive tactic employed by the Bloomberg administration. It highlights a major flaw with the Taylor Law and one that citizens of New York should insist be corrected by the state legislature and the governor.

The law must be modified to permit resolution of contract negotiations where it is apparent that one side’s good faith in bargaining can be reasonably questioned. “Hungry” teachers are being pressured to approve a contract proposal that gives them an increased workload, the loss of contractual grievance protections, and diminished seniority rights.

What is even more important is that the re-election of Mayor Bloomberg may almost make certain that, if approved, this contract could very easily be viewed as a seven-year contract with the last three years having no salary increases. Is it unreasonable to expect a mayor, who made teachers wait two and a half years for a new contract, to wait again?

JOSEPH B. MARGOLIN
Valley Stream, N.Y.

‘Police Round Up Bicycles’

Recently, some indignation, outrage even, was expressed at police removing bicycles chained to MTA subway stair railings. Because a law is not enforced should not ineffectuate its purpose. Certainly, our police force is not to blame for acting on orders, nor is the sight of 25 liberated bikes being hauled away a blatant display of power [“As Police Round Up Locked Bicycles, Some Activists Cry Foul,” Jeremy Smerd, New York, October 11, 2005].

But aside from any legal trappings, I wholeheartedly applaud the MTA on either reaction to public complaints or pro-action on freeing sidewalks for the main purpose of providing more pedestrian circulation space.

The issue here is simple: Sidewalks are meant primarily for people on foot, not for impedimenta such as security planters, outdoor cafe seating infringements, deli menu boards, and certainly not for bicycles fastened to whatever stationary device is at hand.

And it is wrong to assume that a bike, chained out of the mainstream of traffic appears to not impede others. At some point, that bicycle will affect people’s travels, be they exit or hail a cab, alight a bus, or simply stepping out of the mainstream of the adjacent moving pedestrian flow.

I do sympathize with cyclists’ environmental pursuits or maybe parsimonious methods to save money, but chaining their vehicles willy-nilly should not be a part of their self-righteousness. To do so is simply selfish.

Unless bike racks are available and properly situated a bit out of the way, some personal travel desires just cannot be accommodated in this most dense of U.S. cities. Freedom of choice does not always translate to a freedom to do anything one wants to do.

Years ago, then-Mayor Giuliani attempted to liberate our sidewalks from lunch-cart intrusions through legislation. Mayor Bloomberg would be wise to act on the MTA impetus, and further attempt to ease sidewalk congestion being ignored. The evidence in support is clear: People have a hard time walking throughout Midtown.

STEVEN P.SCALICI
Staten Island, N.Y.

---

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.