Dan’s Papers February 25, 2011 danspapers.com Page 40
LETTERS WRONG AGAIN Dear Dan, Just read your story on “HarborFrost”—lots of fun—only thing is the fireworks went off without a hitch at 5:46ish, I was right there with Nancy Haynes from Pat Malloy’s Waterfront Marina, watching it. The best part was the reflection of the fireworks on the frozen harbor and marina was just amazing. It was probably one of the most fun fireworks I’ve ever seen and I’m a fireworks nut (the first 16 years straight at Boys Harbor). The wharf was packed as far as they would let you go and so was Main Street and Bay Street. I know they paid decent money for Grucci so they should get the credit for doing a fabulous job under pretty miserable circumstances. Just some feedback, Ellen Dioguardi Sag Harbor I left before it happened. Wish I’d stayed. – DR A BRIDGE TO SELL YOU Dear Dan, I read your newspaper every week at my son’s house in Westhampton Beach and wanted to complement you for writing an article filled with so much wisdom. Attached is a letter to the Editor on that topic and much more. I hope you see fit to print. To The Editor, Since we live in an age where phony arguments abound and information can be so easily manipulated, our ability to suppress all the carefully planted seeds from growing can only be accomplished by encouraging people to question what they are told. With that in mind I have made a list of thought-provoking issues for a curious mind to ponder. Don’t believe them when “they” say: 1- ERUVs will not harm our community!
2- People are too smart to be fooled. 3- You can learn all you need to know about history by listening to politicians and pundits. 4- The simple act of voting by itself will change things for the better. 5- Fixing ethical standards is a substitute for stronger laws and real punishment. 6- Guns do not kill people. More of them will make us safe. 7- Encouraging gambling is good for society. 8- Releasing information from whistle blowers by WikiLeaks is unpatriotic and harmful to our ability to insure a strong economy and honest government. 9- You can trust government statistics to be transparent and use them to formulate your ideas. 10- The Supreme Court is a non-political arm of our government. 11- Our Constitution says there is no difference between people and corporations. 12- The Constitutional right to free speech is protected when big money is used to influence government policy. 13- Accounting rules and standards are just fine just the way they are. 14- The enforcement of tax laws and Wall Street regulations can be effective without the necessary manpower. 15- Business is harmed by regulations that keep them honest. 16- Free enterprise without regulation reinforces our liberty and freedoms. 17- Wall Street and bank speculation is good for the economy. 18-Government policy is controlled by the voters and not by self-serving, moneyed contributors to political campaigns. 19- The Federal Reserve is an independent agency that prints money to help the economy and not to cover up bank losses. Their low interest rate policies do not harm people who are not interested
POLICE BLOTTER Stay Classy East Hampton A man driving home to his house in East Hampton stopped with other vehicles behind a school bus, which was unloading children. He then saw his neighbor who was walking outside and beeped his horn to say hello. After he beeped his horn, the driver in front of him turned around and gave him the middle finger. This set off both drivers into a yelling match. The two vehicles pulled up next to each other at which point the finger giver then pulled out a knife and pointed it at the other driver. After the knife was drawn, a police officer, who happened onto the scene after hearing the beeping of the cars and thinking he was approaching a car accident, ended up arresting the knife-wielding driver. Shelter Island While driving his 1961 Mercedes Benz, Old Man McGumbus, a 96-year-old WWII Navy Admiral, became startled after he saw a deer leap out in front of his vehicle. McGumbus slammed on his brakes with lightening reflexes to avoid the deer and saw the deer run off into the woods. McGumbus then got out of his car and pulled out his favorite rifle, an XM-15 Assault Rifle, targeted the deer, then changed his mind. Shocking After being pulled over for driving 6 miles per
hour in a 40 mph zone, a man in Southampton was found to be in possession of marijuana. Chase A man in Hampton Bays was arrested after police went on a high-speed chase through the hamlet to catch him. The man ran 13 stop signs to shake off police and also drove at high speeds through residential areas. Police were able to catch him. I guess the guy never watches the television show, “Cops.” Too Much Love A man in East Hampton was warned by police to stop sending e-mails to a woman he was interested in or he would be charged with harassment. The woman complained to police that the man sent her 25 e-mails a day for a long period of time. Too Much To Drink A woman in Hampton Bays required assistance from a restaurant owner there after she had so much to drink that she fell asleep in the restaurant’s bathroom. Bananas A clerk at a Riverhead deli did not press charges after he caught a man eating a banana inside his store. – By David Lion Rattiner
Send your letters to askdan@danspapers.com (e-mails only, please) in gambling their hard earned money with Wall Street. 20- The fundamental goal of American corporations and banks is to create American jobs that pay a living wage. 21- Using a corrupting and obsolete property tax assessment system and tax caps rather than a state income tax to pay for education is good for students. Last but not least, good teachers are overpaid. If you believe any of these things, see me I have a bridge to sell you. Leo Montagna Northport Wow. – DR ALL BENNY Dear Dan, The destiny of Governor Cuomo and his reform package is in the hands of fellow Democrat, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. With 100 of 150 votes in the Assembly, Silver is in the driver’s seat. Silver controls his own members via lulus for chairing committees, passage of legislation, pork barrel member item earmarking, office budgets, staffing and mailings along with renewal of gerrymandering district boundaries every 10 years after reapportionment. Republican State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos has similar powers, but only controls his chamber by one vote. With Silver’s overwhelming majority, he can let many members off the hook when controversial budget bills come up for a vote and stop whatever he desires. Cuomo has to deal with Silver and Skelos along with their respective loyal members who have powerful backing. These include various special interest pay for play lobbyists, powerful teachers, health care, state employees and other unions along with trial lawyers, business and developers. There are hundreds of Albany’s infamous State Street lobbyists representing clients who donate millions of dollars to both the Assembly and Senate campaign committees. Successful implementation of Governor Cuomo’s agenda is clearly dependent upon the cooperation of both Silver and Skelos. They both along with Cuomo make up Albany’s infamous “Three Men In the Backroom” who run the show. Sincerely, Larry Penner Great Neck Should be nobody in the back room. – DR GIVES GOOD RENT Dear Sharon, Thanks for all your ideas and insight in last week’s article, “Renting Your House: Game On!” It really helped put us on the right track. We realized that we need some “professional help” to get our property renter-ready. Keep up the good work; we look forward to future articles. Stephania Nicken East Hampton Thanks for the feedback and best of luck! – SM