DAN'S PAPERS, September 11, 2009 Page 56 www.danshamptons.com
Letters TO THE LETTER Dear Dan, Firstly, let me reiterate that I always read each and every article of yours in Dan’s Papers – and also your book, In the Hamptons, for that matter, with great relish, whenever I can get my hands on it, for I am sad to say, though it used to be available in my neighborhood years back, that’s the West Side in the 50s, I must walk to 62nd/B’way for a copy nowadays to find it... A couple of months ago or so, I finally-finally saw a Dan’s Papers dispenser on 8th Ave & 52nd Street, but never ever has there been a single copy deposited inside. That dispenser, together with several others such as the Village Voice and NYam & Metro, has been moved to a different corner now, still on N.W. 52nd St. corner of 8th Ave and still empty! Maybe you should have a talk with your distributor! Secondly, your article in the August 14 issue, “Gabreski Safe, Maybe.” On page 20, 3rd column, 2nd paragraph, you say: “Homeland Security has been in business for nearly five years now, For eight years, it has been doing its job quietly and very well.” I just had to bring to your attention that it couldn’t have been doing its job however well for eight years if it’s only been in business five years, right? Sorry, it must be the old picky teacher in me... Anyway, please do keep us posted as to this story’s denouement. Merci beaucoup. Alice Essesian Via e-mail You are forgiven. Street boxes in Manhattan sometimes get moved for parades and such. We don’t know to where they get moved sometimes, then people call up. – DR GROUND RULES Dear Editor, For the past two years, I have worked with Congressman Bishop and Senator Schumer to alle-
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viate the helicopter burden on East End residents. Just recently, the county adopted legislation I sponsored that prohibits helicopter operators from flying in a manner that creates an undue hardship to persons on the ground. I am now working with the County Executive and District Attorney Thomas Spota to establish enforcement procedures. As we have learned, the FAA does not regulate helicopter traffic. In fact, the FAA has told us not only does it not regulate it, no one else can either. As the recent accident over the Hudson River confirms, helicopter traffic needs regulation. Sadly the FAA has not exercised sufficient oversight regarding commuter helicopters. While my legislation may stop the most low-flying egregious offenders, the real solution to the helicopter burden is the ocean route. If Hamptons-bound helicopters were able to fly through airspace controlled by John F. Kennedy Airport, many now flying over the North Fork, Shelter Island, North Sea, and Noyac would fly the ocean route instead. Yet, the resistance to opening up the ocean route continues. After Senator Schumer was inundated with complaints from Nassau County residents burdened by helicopter traffic over the center of the island, the FAA was quick to create the north shore route. It was the actions of Senator Schumer and the establishment of the north shore route to placate Nassau residents that created the burden many East End residents endure today. The FAA should act in similar haste to open up airspace around JFK and alleviate the burden on the East End. Meanwhile, the Senate needs to pass the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009, which includes a provision sponsored by Congressman Bishop directing the FAA to study helicopter traffic over Long Island. This study is sorely needed and I commend the congressman for including it in the reauthorization act. Nevertheless, the bill has languished in a Senate committee after adoption by the House of Representatives earlier this year. East End residents should not have to endure
another day of helicopters buzzing over their heads. The FAA must open up the ocean route now. Sincerely, Ed Romaine Suffolk County Legislator, First District Via e-mail It’s whale watching, too. – DR FOR THE HEALTH OF IT Dear Dan, A public health insurance plan? We have it! Medicare. We get good care, promptly, by the doctors of our choice. Veterans are also happy with their care under the Veterans Administration. An extension of a Medicare-like plan is a public health insurance plan we know works – paid for by the government and delivered by private hospitals, clinics and doctors. Private insurance companies are in business to make money, and between 2002 and 2007 they made a hefty 40% profit. Everyone needs to have health care, as a moral issue as well as a life necessity. We also need to have cost saving efficiencies in our government plans, and regulation of private insurers so that they cannot change their policies, refuse payment, or increase fees when someone gets sick. There’s a place for a public health insurance option, community cooperatives, and private insurers. However, a public health option, by spurring competition, is crucial to lowering costs. So let’s stop shouting and threatening at Town Hall meetings, and believing misinformation and downright lies promulgated by conservative Talk Radio and right-wing extremists. We’re better than that. I believe we’re a decent, caring people. In New York, 1,190 people lose their health coverage every day. Premiums for private insurance are projected to hit $23,808. We cannot have millions of people going without. Healthcare or destroyed by bankruptcies because of tremendous medical expenses. Speak up, speak out, like the old time barn raising, it’s our contemporary way of helping our neighbors, and ourselves. Merle Levine Greenport, NY Via e-mail A guy in front of the P.O. in Bridgehampton today says Obama equals Hitler. Well, Obama hasn’t repealed free speech. – DR
Police Blotter Respect My Authorit-i, I mean my privici Southampton Town Supervisor Linda Kabot was arrested in Westhampton and charged with driving while intoxicated. The supervisor refused a breathalyzer test but completely failed field sobriety tests. She is not talking to the press under the advice of her lawyer. Arrested Three people were arrested and put in handcuffs in East Hampton for forgery of beach permits on their cars. You just don’t mess with the beach permits, folks. You just don’t mess with them. Soto, Oh No David Soto, the guy who stabbed and killed his wife in East Hampton, is pleading that he was acting in self defense. Soto was caught by police trying to stab himself in the neck to commit suicide, after stabbing his wife and killing her.
Open Bottle A young man in Montauk was walking with an open container of alcohol. When he was approached by police, he said that he was walking away from a bar and was going to smoke a cigarette. Police then asked him to show them the cigarettes because he appeared extremely nervous. He then admitted he wasn’t a smoker. Police told him to empty his pockets and two bags of cocaine fell out onto the ground. He was arrested for possession of an illegal substance.
her teeth in her own home. She was staring at him through a bathroom window, and then he watched her from another window. A full investigation is underway to catch Creepy McCreepsters.
Keyed Oh, this one is just horrible. Somebody keyed a black Porsche in East Hampton. The man that owned the Porsche was from Pennsylvania.
Fake ID A man gave a fake ID to a police officer after he was caught drinking and driving. The clever man just ended up getting charged with DWI as well as false impersonation after the officer discovered the ID was fake. By David Lion Rattiner
Stalker A woman in Southampton reported to police that a man was staring at her while she was brushing
Dog Statue A dog statue, one of two, was stolen from a front porch in East Hampton. There was no sign of forced entry. The statue of the dog was estimated to be worth around $1,500. Looks like a job for Ace Ventura, Pet Statue Detective.