Dan’s Papers October 8, 2010 danshamptons.com Page 85
LETTERS THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK! Dear Dan, As a resident of Hampton Bays, I’d like to know what David Lion Rattiner was thinking in his column about Dennis Rodman, when he wrote “Nobody wants this kind of thing in the Hamptons, Not even Hampton Bays! We’re better than this. Right?” As if bad behavior is usually accepted in Hampton Bays and not anywhere else? That comment was completely unwarranted. Patricia Mason Hampton Bays I have no idea what my son is thinking. – DR. DISTURBING ARTICLE Dear Dan, While I enjoy reading your paper, a recent article you wrote entitled “Labor Day” disturbed me. Obviously this is a free country and, as such, you are free to criticize the President. Unfortunately, political discourse in this country has recently been the victim of a campaign of misinformation. The constant stream of false claims has made any attempt to engage in honest debate about the important issues we face nearly impossible. So I was somewhat taken aback when you published one of the falsehoods that has been repeatedly pushed by some segments of the media. In your article, you state “Obama spent over a trillion dollars bailing out Wall Street.” This is simply not true. President Bush bailed out Wall Street. This may seem like an innocent mistake, and I am sure it was, but it comes at a time when certain people are attempting to rewrite history: “there were no terrorist attacks when Bush was president” “Obama started the Afghan war” “the President is a Muslim who was born in Kenya” “death panels will be pulling the plug on your grandmother.” Please don’t join this parade. Paul Lewis Laurel, NY Nobody’s pulling any damn plug on my grandmother. – DR SAVE OUR COLLEGE Dear Dan, “Stony Brook University Closes Southampton Campus Again…Decision Made On October 4, By University Council” That will be the headline unless the East End community rises up in full force to impress the University Council with the importance of the school to the community. I want to encourage you, Mr. Rattiner, to follow up the Illegal Closing Article with a major article that will encourage the entire community to become involved and to show support for the Stony Brook Southampton College. This includes Superintendents and Mayors of the local municipalities who should be out in force to defend the interests of the citizens of the community. Fred Thiele’s letter describes the issue perfectly and should be reprinted in it’s entirety and then the leadership and citizens of the East End should be encouraged to attend the meeting on the 28, and to write letters in support of the school. Please ask people to write to Kevin Law, the President of LIPA and Chairman of the Stony Brook University Council, and to call Susan Hines 631-632-6270 in order to attend this critical meeting. “Seating is limited” is not acceptable when there is a serious public issue. Yours truly, Edvin Karl Stromsten, Chairman of the Planning and Governance Committee of the American Institute of Architects Peconic Chapter
We published it in its entirety. – DR KUDOS TO ASSEMBLYMAN FRED THIELE Dear Dan, I’m not surprised with the judge’s ruling in the Southampton students’ lawsuit. I also won’t be surprised if the Stony Brook president has the university council go through the motions to be in compliance with the law, with after-the-fact “approvals” of something that has already been illegally implemented. If that is what happens next, that entire council will be seen as a total sham. In several news articles, Stony Brook representatives state that the council now “will meet to discuss the closure.” That is many months too late and much of the horse following the cart. As a wise man recently said in reference to this situation, “one cannot offer to pay for what one has already been caught shoplifting.” The law requires that such a discussion, along with reviews, alternative considerations, recommendations, and approvals be done before a decision can even be made, never mind implemented. The university president broke the law and harmed 800 students in the process, period. The SUNY chancellor, who gave him free-reign to do so, has said that she “stands firmly behind” him and his action. These highly paid administrators of a public state institution violated state law and hundreds of students were harmed because of them. They both must be held accountable and should be fired for the debacle they caused. I applaud your Assemblyman, Fred Thiele, for speaking out so strongly and relentlessly fighting for these students and the interests of your community in this situation. If that university council is wise, it will restore Southampton’s four-year residential undergraduate college to full operations, re-instate the environmental sustainability programs, and bring back the students
and faculty and resume classes first. Then all stakeholders can have an open meeting to discuss expanded uses for the campus and the other cost-saving alternatives that the president has admitted he never even considered before illegally cutting out my child’s college for his own agenda. Sincerely, Julie Semente Staten Island (Parent of a Stony Brook Southampton sophomore who is also one of the plaintiffs vindicated in the above-mentioned lawsuit) Saying sorry doesn’t do it. - DR KISSES Dear Dan, Splendid! A word that comes to immediate mind. Grateful! One that pursues closely. Followed by professional and expectant. These are just a few deserved adjectives I toss to you, good friend, for you have done it again – maintaining the highest journalistic standards. Your staff follows your lead. Please give all of them, including Barry Gordin, my gratitude and my appreciative thanks. Yours forever and always, Cliff Robertson Thank you, sir. – DR
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POLICE BLOTTER Plant Thief A business in East Hampton reported several plants and items stolen from their headquarters, including Japanese junipers, a hydrangea and a log rack. Those items on the black market are worth approximately nothing. Where’s the Fire? A man in Sag Harbor drove his car directly into the doors of the Main Street Firehouse. The Firehouse did not suffer much damage, but the man’s reputation as a driver, well, let’s just say that he’s going to be made fun of for the rest of his life. Exposure A man in Mattituck was arrested after he was accused of exposing himself and cursing at employees and diners at McDonalds. The man was arrested by police shortly after the incident. Apparently, the man decided that it was a good idea to show off his McWeener after he ate his Big Mac. Shelter Island AHHHHHHHH!!!!! SOMEBODY!!!! NOOOOOO!!! All I Need Is One Mic A man at a karaoke bar in Hampton Bays began singing along to a song and then became irate after he received boos from the crowd. The man began to
curse over the microphone, which was turned off. Reports from the crowd indicate that not only did the man have a bad voice, but he also had a very dirty mouth. Fake Bills Counterfeit bills showed up in Bridgehampton after a bank employee noticed one of the bills and called police. If you think about it though, with the state of the national deficit, isn’t all are money sort of counterfeit these days? Stolen Two men were arrested in a huge scandal in Southampton involving stolen items from a seafood market. The rash of burglaries prompted a police investigation, and involved over $1,000 worth of stolen seafood. The detective who solved the case noticed that something was fishy about the suspects. J-E-T-S Reports throughout the Hamptons indicate that Jets fans are so happy about the recent performance of their team that they are NOT causing problems in bars such as throwing drinks, cursing and fighting with Patriot fans. Oddly, there have been reports of Jets fans smiling and buying each other drinks. – By David Lion Rattiner