Five Towns Letters to the Editor

Bigotry slant is disgraceful

To the Editor:
Wow! I read the Summit Avenue article “Residents seek increased security” in the July 30-Aug. 5 Herald, and although I have not lived in Inwood for 20 years, I still have family and friends there.
How incredibly disparaging for the mayor of Cedarhurst, Benjamin Weinstock, of all people, to quote the auxiliary police, who claim, “Summit Avenue is one of those streets that attracts kids from Far Rockaway and Inwood.”

How do they know that? Did they check for their identification? And if so, did they have probable cause to do that?
Clearly that’s a not-so-veiled accusation that these are the kids who have committed the alleged acts of random vandalism.
Why pinpoint those two communities? Is it because some of the populations of those towns are of color?
How disheartening that in 2015, anyone ­— or I would have to even address such blatant bigotry, whether that prejudice relates to people or an entire town. Shameful!

Catherine Romanelli Wheeler
Scottsdale, Ariz.