Long Beach letters
Civic group is out of bounds
To the Editor:
While I applaud Matt Pinelli’s efforts, I think certain aspects of his newly formed East End civic association are misguided and self-serving (“Strength in numbers,” Dec. 3-9).
I've lived in Long Beach just about my entire life and lived in every part of town. The East End does not begin at New York Avenue, as Mr. Pinelli would like to define it. There are technically about four geographic areas to Long Beach that almost evenly divide the population: the West End, from the Atlantic Beach border to New York Avenue; Westholme, from New York Avenue to about Laurelton or National Bouelvard; Central, from about Magnolia Boulevard to Long Beach Boulevard; and the East End, from Long Beach Boulevard to the Lido Beach border.
Anthony Chryseliou
Long Beach
A battle to remember
To the Editor:
Everybody remembers Dec. 4, 1941, but how many remember Dec. 16, 1944? On that day at 5:30 a.m., eight German armored and 13 infantry disvisions launched an all-out attack on Allied forces. It was the beginning of what came to be known as the Battle of the Bulge, the bloddiest battle of World War II.
The weather was a definite factor. It snowed for 10 consecutive days and when the sun finally came out on Dec. 26, our aircraft were able to bomb and strafe the enemy. It took another four weeks to push the Germans back to where they started, at a cost of 80,000 casualities, including 19,000 who made the supreme sacrifice and 25,000 who were taken to POW camps.
It was the turning point of the war and Germany surrendered less than four months later. The tenacious defense by the American soldiers caused the Germans to retreat after penetrating 60 miles into the American sector.
George Fisher
Long Beach
A trial location idea
To the Editor:
Re Randi Kreiss’s column “By all means, try the alleged 9/11 terrorist in N.Y.” (Nov. 19-25): Why not try them in the field in Pennsylvania that Flight 93 crashed into? There, it would be a fitting memorial to those brave people who saved so many from being killed.
We could build a temporary building to house them and the court, and a gallows right outside their window so they could contemplate Paradise. It would save a lot of the $75 million that security would cost in New York City.
Larry Cohen
Valley Stream
Longs for a bygone era
To the Editor:
Regarding Scott Brinton's column "How the county exec can beat high property taxes" (Nov. 19-25): I understand and appreciate Brinton's suggestion to loosen our housing codes so we could freely rent out our basements. Nassau County leaders are in short supply of colorful ideas to assist residents in affording their property taxes.
If I had a basement, I might entertain the idea. However, since many Nassau County residents do not have basements, or do not have the funds to finish them, it would unfortunately be a short-term solution for some and would have no effect on others. Also, consider that many feel they shouldn't have to constantly diminish their quality of life to supplement an irresponsible leadership.
There was a time when Nassau County spending resembled other places in the nation, when we paid our school, police and county workers a fair stipend and fair pension, with higher-than-average employment security. Housing was affordable when Levittown was built in 1947. A pretty good earner could save wages for three or four years and have enough to buy a home outright. A family could get by with just one breadwinner, and babysitting wasn't a career. Property taxes and health-care costs were just a bee sting.
Is there any way we could go back to that great time today? Yes, but there's a catch. You have to pack your bags, drive through the Midtown Tunnel, avoid New Jersey and Connecticut, and you're there.
Alex Razzano
Merrick
