Dan’s Papers October 28, 2011 danshamptons.com Page 50
LETTERS SO MUCH FOR THAT DREAM! Dear Dan, I’d like to comment on a letter written by Gene DePoris urging Southampton voters to elect Democrats (October 14, “Because They Can”). While De Poris makes valid arguments, some of those same arguments can be used to justify electing Republicans. Democrats have regularly complained about the “muscle” used by Republicans to appoint Russell Kratoville, muscle that according to them shows little decency for the democratic process, however, if anyone has shown a complete lack of decency for the process, it must be Alex Gregor who, in order to build what is in my opinion an unwanted and unneeded recharge basin damaged homeowner property and seriously jeopardized homeowner safety without warning or background research. An eyesore now exists where once two acres of woodland grew, and while expending dollars on this project, Gregor unilaterally decided to restrict the Southampton leaf-pick-up program even though T.J. Clemente and other homeowners have pointed out that it probably would cost each taxpayer less if the Town picked up or outsourced the pick-up of leaves, debris, and recyclables. Democrats are correct that Southampton’s finances were mismanaged, however. Steve Kenny sat on the Town Board during the time those finances, including the reassessment, spiraled out of control. Additionally, Mr. Kenny attempted to regulate Sagaponack beachfront and to create trailer parks on other Town beaches, both of which brought howls of protest. Yet Mr. Kenny has been appointed to the Southampton Housing Authority and is now suggesting that the Community Preservation Fund be “morphed” into a housing fund, which completely disregards the understanding that the CPF program was intended for preservation not development. Finally, Ms. Throne-Holst promised that,
as Supervisor, her door would always be open which turned out to be untrue. Keeping a door open would have in fact been a smart maneuver since Ms. Throne-Holst would have learned the depth of cronyism that permeates Southampton politics. Instead Ms. Throne-Holst wound up rewarding the cronyism she alleged she would fight. Respectfully, Susan Cerwinski East Quogue Politics. – DR SAVE US Dear Dan, It is not just wishful thinking that states can live without the death penalty. Generally, states that do not have capital punishment have lower homicide rates than states that have capital punishment. People of New Testament times need to consider what Jesus did when asked about the legality of divorce. Jesus was aware of His present time and of what the law stated, but He referenced a time before the law was ever given to reveal what God’s intentions were/are for humanity (Mt. 19:3-8). What Jesus did regarding divorce is also valid for capital punishment. We only need to go back and to examine what God did about the very first homicide. After Cain killed Abel, God put a seal on Cain so that no human being would presume to execute him (Gen. 4:15). Execution is God’s domain - not man’s. This is the ideal of what God intended/intends for humanity even for today. Cain became a wanderer, but society today cannot have killers on the loose. This is why we have jails. Incarceration is enough. The law of love leads one to choose life instead of
Police Blotter Wow A man crashed his car into a deli in Westhampton and then fled the scene. Police are still looking for him. The car crashed into the deli head-on last Sunday. Two men were seen by witnesses fleeing the car. The deli, clearly, is not a drive-thru, no matter how many times somebody tries to crash through it. Car Break-In Police are on the hunt for the culprits behind a string of car break-ins that have occurred in Hampton Bays, East Quogue and Southampton. Many of the items that have been stolen out of cars are electronic equipment such as laptops and cellphones. In one instance, a harmonica was stolen. A harmonica? Anybody with any information regarding these break-ins can call police anonymously at 631-728-5000. Dead Turtle A very large dead turtle was found on the beach in East Hampton Village. Police were called and the Riverhead Marine Foundation was called to remove the turtle from the beach and to give it a proper burial. We will miss you Raphael, you were one of my favorites, kind of a jerk, but still very cool. Cowabunga. Shelter Island It’s late October on Shelter Island and once again, the island is just out of control with wild
parties, loud music and too many people letting loose. Old Man McGumbus, 103 years of age and former World War II radio man, said that he is sick and tired of all of the ruckus going on on Shelter Island and he’s not going to take it anymore, while giving a public speech in the square in opposition to the large rock festival that has been going on for the last two weeks that has attracted Brittany Spears, Janet Jackson, Celine Dion, Eminem and Jay Z to perform. Islanders have been struggling to deal with the massive traffic inflows and code violations. But hey, it’s late October on Shelter Island, that’s just how it goes over there, it’s what you signed up for when you decided to live there McGumbus! Pull Over A man was given a D.W.I. in Southampton after he was spotted pulled over on the side of the road. When police went to help out the man, they noticed that he was passed out drunk in his car. P.C.P. A man in Riverhead was arrested after he was pulled over for a traffic violation and then made a run for it. When police caught the man, they found him to be in possession of the drug P.C.P., also known as the street drug angel dust, which makes users of the drug feel like they can do anything, such as running from the police when they get pulled over.
Send your letters to askdan@danspapers.com (e-mails only, please) death. New York, please pray the little prayer at www. de-vrouwe.info every day, and please abolish the death penalty. “Society will never learn to respect human life when the state hypocritically kills those who have killed.” “The violence of capital punishment only begets more violence.” Let the New Yorker without sin be the first to put the lethal needle in! Sincerely, Matthew R. Dunnigan Roma, Italia An affirmation of life. – DR HYPOCRITE? Dear Dan, Did anyone notice the irony that many of the celebrity visitors to the “Occupy Wall Street” protest such as Kanye West and Russell Simmons are multimillionaires? Democratic Congressional minority leader Nancy Pelosi (personal net worth $35 million) who supports the protest has raised tens of millions of dollars in campaign contributions over recent years from the same crowd. They are all part of the 1% of America who Wall Street protesters claim are not paying their fair share of taxes that the other 99% of America contribute. By the way, the infamous 1% already contributes 40% of all taxes paid. It is the billions in taxes on profits, income and bonuses which Wall Street companies and their employees pay which fund many of the essential public services we count on from both city and state government. Haven’t they already done enough? Can’t some of the 46% of other Americans who pay $0 contribute something? Did the bright lights of Broadway, Hollywood, Hip-Hop and VIP visitor celebrity status blind the protesters from their hypocrisy? Sincerely, Larry Penner Great Neck Another view. – DR MUSSEL CHOWDER Dear Dan, I have been meaning to write this note for some time. When John Ross had his Rotisserie on Sound Ave., I stopped in one Sunday evening to pick up dinner. John always had a soup there, and on this particular night he had his New England style creamy mussel chowder. I love mussels, but had never heard of mussel chowder, so I had to try it. I also picked up a copy of Dan’s Papers while I was there. When I returned home and tasted the soup, I absolutely loved it. Then, by coincidence (or maybe not) I opened your paper, and there was the recipe for John’s mussel chowder. Even better, when I made a batch it tasted exactly like the soup from The Rotisserie! Sometimes chefs hold out secret ingredients, but not John. Since that time I have made a batch of the chowder every year for our church group during Lent when we have our ‘soup and sustenance’ night - a time when three people make soup for the group. Even if I triple the recipe, there is never any left. So I just wanted to say thank you to chef John Ross for sharing that great recipe, and also to you Dan for printing it. Ed Cline Always at your service. – DR Jamesport