Letters to the Editor: 07.13.17

All These Years

East Hampton

July 10, 2017

To the Editor,

Mama Lee Rose and Jim Lawler would like to thank our fellow band musicians and guests who performed at the sold-out show at Guild Hall on July 5, as well as Andrea Grover, Josh Gladstone, and the incredible staff of Guild Hall.

Above all, we would like to thank our fans packing the place. You have supported us all these years.

In 1951, James Lawler played the drums with Paul Rickenbach Sr. (father of Paul Rickenbach Jr., mayor and East Hampton Village trustee) at Guild Hall. Sixty-five years later, James J. Lawler with Mama Lee Rose and friends took the stage at Guild Hall, demonstrating that Guild Hall has been here for generations of musicians, actors, and writers.

With sincere thanks from the Lawler family, to our wonderful supportive community!

MAMA LEE ROSE and 

JIM LAWLER

All Their Help

July 3, 2017

Montauk

To the Editor:

It has been 38 years that the Friends of the Montauk Library has run our annual book fair, first on the green and now at the library. We are pleased to report that this year we raised about $8,000 to support the programs of the Montauk Library.

We want to thank the many people who made this possible. We must thank our volunteers, who did anything and everything, from baking for our bake sale to spending the whole weekend at the library. 

For the first time, this year we asked the help of the Coast Guard station here in Montauk. They came through for us, big time. They sent strong, polite young people who arrived on time and stayed as long as we needed. 

We must thank the many people who donate quality books, yard sale items, and jewelry all year for us to sell and recycle, and the businesses that donate supplies for us to use and sell, and items to be part of our auction. 

Thanks also to Denise DiPaolo and the staff of the Montauk Library for all of their help, and we cannot forget to thank the crowds that come to shop and buy auction tickets.

I would personally like to thank the executive board of the Friends of the Montauk Library who, under the leadership of Bob-E Metzger, our book fair chairwoman, prepare for this all year.

SALLY KRUSCH

President 

Friends of the Montauk Library

Appreciation

East Hampton

July 4, 2017

To the Editor, 

There are no words to express the gratitude and appreciation to all our family and friends for their acts of love, support, and kindness on the passing of our loved one, Ronald B. King.

Thank you so much, we love you all.

WILLIAM KING

For the Family of Ron King

The Airport Issue

Springs

July 9, 2017

Dear David, 

I must protest your posting of a politics-oriented editorial in the Fourth of July week edition. You caught us with our fists full of frankfurters and firecrackers. Surely, partisan bickering should be set aside while we all celebrate the birth of our great and remarkable nation. I urge you to adopt this policy forthwith.

Now back to the bickering. Your analysis of why the local Republicans were (thumped, drubbed, clobbered, take your pick) in 2015 is seriously flawed. First, it is ludicrous to think that the airport issue determined the outcome of the trustee races. The loss of our 5-4 majority was due almost entirely to some bad decisions regarding the Lazy Point leases and related issues, initiatives promoted by Democrats but unfortunately signed onto by some Republicans. That will not happen again.

A difference of only a few hundred votes would have preserved our majority and perhaps increased it to 6-3. As you pointed out, Republicans have almost always held the majority on the board of trustees since the 1980s, and for good reasons, the details of which are not the subject of this letter.

Second, your analysis of the Republican policy on the airport leaves out a very important element. Yes, we openly supported a functioning, viable, environmentally concerned airport facility, and we still do. So does the majority of the East Hampton citizenry. The Democrats, on the other hand, have to hide the fact that a significant portion of their voters would prefer to close the airport entirely, even if only dirigibles and gliders landed there. 

Most importantly, you should have asked what exactly the current town board has done with the mandate you claim was given them to solve the airport issue. They have not done the hard work of negotiating a reasonable arrangement between the two sides. Honest negotiations necessarily involve compromises. Instead, this board has made things even worse by laying the heavy thumb of government on the scales in favor of the antis. They did so by spending gobs of taxpayer money on frivolous, fruitless litigation and by hiring a second law firm, supposedly skilled at closing airports, whose billing costs will no doubt be in the millions.

The serious work of reaching a fair deal between the parties has been abandoned in favor of an obvious (and expensive) pander to the hard-core anti-airport faction. A death by a thousand cuts is still a death, and a costly one to boot.

Sincerely,

REG CORNELIA

Chairman

East Hampton Republican 

Committee

 

Whipper’s Return

Amagansett

July 6, 2017

Dear David,

Janet Van Sickle wrote, “I sincerely hope Diana Walker has not permanently furled her whip and in her role as town whipper will consent to beat this dastard down Main Street.”

The dastard referred to is a local billionaire who attempted to leverage new zoning for his massive waterfront property in exchange for a few cesspools. (Didn’t work.) 

The East Hampton Town common whipper was made redundant a few centuries back, when public humiliation lost favor as an enforcement method. Dumb. It’s very cost-effective, as fees are covered by the whippee.

My friends who are candidates for local government positions must strongly consider the whipper’s return, along with a townwide tax reassessment, a centralized school district, affordable work-force housing, shoreline hard-structure retreat, pesticide bans, an airport moratorium, and remembering that all are created equal.

Unfurled I remain.

All good things,

DIANA WALKER

Dedication to Youth

Springs

July 8, 2017

Dear David,

Since 2004 I have been actively advocating for the children and hard-working families of our community.

As a former trustee of the Springs School Board, I worked diligently during my nine years of public service, the last two as president, to deliver a quality education to Springs students while protecting the taxpayer’s pocketbook. I was most proud of the exceptional programs we offered. Programs such as balanced literacy, character education, and the fourth-grade opera, to name just a few.

As a town board member and liaison to the Human Services Department, I have worked tirelessly for the last four years to support our kids by increasing the availability of mental health services for adolescents struggling with anxiety and depression. Initiating discussions with our high school students about sexual assault on college campuses. Sponsoring suicide awareness training. Supporting in-school swim instruction at the Y.M.C.A., which serves to “waterproof” our kids, given their access to pools and beaches. And securing funding for the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center and Project Most — quality child-care and after-school programs that are a lifeline to our working parents.

I believe that my record over the last 13 years clearly demonstrates my dedication to the youth of our community. I ask for your support in my re-election campaign for town board, so I can continue to address the pressing needs of our children and hard-working families.

Save the date! Primary Day is Tuesday, Sept. 12.

Sincerely,

KATHEE BURKE-GONZALEZ

Democratic, Independence, and

Working Families Candidate 

For Town Board

To Know Jeff Bragman

Amagansett

July 10, 2017

To the Editor:

Like a lot of Star readers, I’m tired of (disgusted with?) self-serving, misleading politicians, tired of people who call real news fake and fake news real. We’re a small town, and in a small town we know the importance of civility, and of talking with and listening to our neighbors. Today, people are hungry for elected officials who are honest and of good character — men and women with the knowledge to lead, who can work with others to build consensus and get things done. It’s a lost art.

That’s a long preamble to a simple fact. I’ve gotten to know Jeff Bragman, who is the Democratic Party endorsed candidate for town board. He fits that ideal.

Many of you already know Jeff as a lawyer with a 30-year record of standing up for our town and its natural resources. He has fought to protect our land, our waterways, and our traditions as hard-working people who care about our neighbors. And as a working dad who raised his son here, he cares about East Hampton’s future as a real community, serving real needs. 

I’ve come to respect and admire Jeff as a decent and caring human being, a person of integrity, whose candidacy for town board I enthusiastically support. I am writing to ask you to take a minute to get to know Jeff. You’ll find he will listen to you, he will represent you, and he will get things done for you and for our town. 

At the end of the day, we need more good, talented, and qualified people like Jeff who are willing to serve. He is a winner.

JIM LUBETKIN

That Person

East Hampton

July 10, 2017

Dear David,

Occasionally, rarely, during an election, but very rarely, a person offers his service who is just a bright shining star. I have felt, wow, how great would that be to have that person on the town board. Someone who would fight for what was right for the people, not bend to politics. The too-hard-to-handle job is to get the person known, recognized, trusted, and elected by November. That’s a hard job. We’ve lost many good opportunities.

The chance has come around again, and I do not want to lose it. I know Jeff Bragman is that person.

We worked together for more than 25 years, when I was a planning board member and chairwoman, and a member of the town board. Jeff is the one lawyer  I know who is always guided by honesty and sincerity and can make the law plain and understandable. 

He’ll be the best councilman we ever had!

PAT MANSIR

In the Line of Duty

Springs

July 10, 2017

Dear David,

This week six children lost a parent, three in New York City and three in Watertown, N.Y. Both their parents died in the line of duty as heroes, public servants that gave their lives.

Police Officer Miosotis Familia, at approximately 12:30 a.m. on July 5, was ambushed by a male perpetrator who approached and fired one shot through the window of the marked mobile command post vehicle Officer Familia was in, striking her in the head at the intersection of East 183rd Street and Morris Avenue in the Bronx. Police Officer Familia had served with the New York City Police Department for 12 years, assigned to the 46th Precinct, and was a resident of the community she served as a well-respected neighbor and loving mother. N.Y.P.D. officers responding to the call of an officer down confronted the perpetrator fleeing the scene. The officers shot and killed the subject in an exchange of gunfire. In this instance it appears the perpetrator was motivated by hate talk and speech against police officers.

New York State Trooper Joel Davis was shot and killed in Theresa, N.Y., while responding to a domestic disturbance and shots-fired call on July 9. Trooper Davis was shot and killed after arriving at the scene when he had to take immediate action to attempt to save the lives of two female victims. Sadly, the perpetrator murdered his wife and seriously wounded the other woman. The perpetrator put his gun down and surrendered when a back-up unit arrived. Trooper Davis had served with the New York State Police for four years, had previously served with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and also was well-regarded and loved in his community. Trooper Davis was the father of three children.

In my 33-year career of public service as a police officer, I have always understood, as has every police officer and firefighter, that there are no guarantees of returning home at the end of a tour of duty. As a profession we accept this for the greater cause of serving the public. It is our calling to serve our community, out of a desire to help those in need, to be there for the downtrodden, be the voice of reason when all appears lost, and make our community a better place to live.

Patrick J. Lynch, the president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, New York City police officers’ union, summed it up best when he said, “Police Officer Familia, fully knowing the dangers that she faced, she suited up in uniform every day and stood tall against those who threaten and terrorize the good folks of the Bronx.”

Please keep these families in your thoughts and prayers.

O Almighty God, whose great power and eternal wisdom embraces the universe, watch over all policemen and law enforcement officers everywhere.

Protect them from harm in the performance of their duty to stop crime, robbery, riots, and violence.

We pray, help them keep our streets and homes safe, day and night.

We commend them to your loving care, because their duty is dangerous.

Grant them strength and courage in their daily assignments. Dear God, protect these brave men and women.

Grant them your almighty protection, Unite them safely with their families after duty has ended.

Please God, grant us this wish.

MANUEL M. VILAR

Local Priorities

East Hampton

June 25, 2017

Dear David,

The Deepwater Wind farm project, much touted for the promise of bringing clean power to East Hampton, has concerned many in the local fishing community, uncertain as to its effects on their livelihoods. This unease particularly focuses on the farm’s proposed siting of its 15 turbines in the prime fishing ground of Cox’s Ledge and any impacts caused by the laying, maintenance, or operations of their interconnecting cables and long run of the final transmission cable to a beach landing somewhere in town.

Despite the fact that the process leading to the creation of the wind farm is already several years old, it has been only recently that all local fishing interests, encompassing offshore commercial, near-shore commercial, and recreational, have been given a central, protracted, and accessible forum in which to learn about the plan, express their concerns, and influence project details going forward. By sponsoring informational presentations and public comment in their regular meeting schedule (one completed, another planned) and two recent issue-focused meetings of their harbor management committee, the town trustees have taken it upon themselves to provide this forum, and they should be commended for doing so.

The dialogue has already yielded results, in that Deepwater has declared that its planning process has now seriously considered and is surveying for the rerouting of the main transmission cable from Block Island Sound/Gardiner’s Bay to an all-ocean route, a concession to local interests. In standing firm on local priorities, while acknowledging the realities of the world in which we live, this is one example of the benefit of this board’s proactive policy of engagement and cooperation.

JOHN ALDRED

P.S. I am, as you know, a trustee candidate.

 

Real Listening

Springs

June 26, 2017

Dear David,

On June 22 I was privileged to witness a heartening event that is all too rare in our antagonistic political culture: open dialogue and real listening between parties with differing points of view about one of the most controversial issues facing our town: the South Fork wind farm off Montauk’s shore.

The meeting was hosted by the East Hampton Town Trustees Harbor Management Committee under the able leadership of Rick Drew. The committee is holding a series of meetings so the local fishing community can voice its concerns to Deepwater Wind about the wind farm’s impacts and find out how much and how well the company plans to incorporate those concerns into its planning process.

In the room were folks from the fishing industry (recreational fishing, baymen, and commercial draggers), local environmental and clean energy advocates, interested parties like me (I am running for town trustee on the Democratic ticket and was there to learn), and four representatives from Deepwater Wind.

The fishing community is understandably worried that the offshore wind project will be disruptive to fish stocks, both during and after construction. Environmental and clean energy advocates are worried about the threats from fossil fuel-driven climate change, like species destruction, extreme weather, and sea-level rise. 

Tensions ran high at first. It was clear that most of the fishermen felt they had little reason to trust the company. The Deepwater representatives tried to calm fears by pledging their commitment to listen and take the fishing community’s concerns to heart. The trustees pressed the company on the need for robust baseline environmental studies before the permitting process begins, so that impacts on species can be fully understood.

But close to the end of the two-hour meeting, something shifted. Maybe it was when Linda James of the town sustainability committee thanked Captain Fossberg for using the term “windmills” to describe the wind turbines. She went on to remind the group that “windmills” have been an East Hampton tradition for 350 years. Captain Fossberg told the group that the fishing is actually good around Deepwater’s Block Island windmills, which are already operating. Another participant asked if there was anybody in the room who did not want to fiercely protect our fishing stocks: No one raised their hand. 

The Deepwater representatives said they had really heard the concerns and wanted to continue the dialogue. And Trustee Rick Drew followed that up with an offer for the trustees to host any and all meetings between Deepwater and the fishing community as often and as long as necessary.

With all the gridlock and contention that dominate our politics these days, the meeting was a reminder of what can happen when all sides really listen to each other. I want to thank the harbor management committee for making it happen — and for showing what good government looks like.

FRANCESCA RHEANNON

Trustee Holdings

East Hampton

July 10, 2017

Dear David,

I was disappointed but not surprised by the recent letters to the editor by Diane McNally and Margery Courtney.

First off, let me address Ms. Courtney’s comments. 

I am a lifetime hunter, fisherman, kayaker, surfer, clammer, and all around waterman. I have spent over 50 years on our local waters both commercially and recreationally. Furthermore, the current trustee board has worked very hard to proactively manage and protect trustee holdings on behalf of the Freeholders of the Commonalty of East Hampton. 

Let me be particularly clear: The current board has not relinquished control of any trustee holdings. Rather, we are professionally managing our holdings on behalf of the public. The trustee office has become a community hub for meetings and great discussions on our harbors and beaches. Cooperation and community engagement have been the cornerstone of our tenure. 

Personally, I have attended every trustee meeting since the start of our term in January 2016. I am an extremely capable and hard-working person. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this topic with Ms. Courtney publically or privately. As the co-chairman of the trustees’ harbor management committee, I am working on updating the trustee dredging plan for our local waterways; this plan had not been updated since 2008. I am currently leading comprehensive meetings on the proposed Deepwater Wind farm with members of our commercial and recreational fishing community, environmental community, and members of the general public. 

The ponds committee that I serve on with Jim Grimes and Brian Byrnes is currently managing approximately 30 environmental projects on Georgica Pond, Hook Pond, and Lily Pond. This is an unprecedented level of trustee project management and environmental stewardship. Improving the health of Georgica Pond and other local water bodies is in the best interest of our fishing community and the general public. Personally I have been involved in numerous environmental, health/wellness, and water safety-related fund-raising efforts over the past 10 years for the Cornell Marine Cooperative Extension, Peconic Baykeeper, East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The health, wellness, and safety of our community is my utmost priority. 

Unfortunately, one member of our current trustee board has chosen not to engage in a proactive dialogue with the community or other trustee board members. That would be Diane McNally. I offered to work with her on the harbor management committee and she declined. As a result I am thankful that Jim Grimes volunteered, and we have enjoyed a very positive, proactive tenure on the harbor management committee as co-chairmen. 

Diane is quick to criticize other board members’ work, but her committee work is sorely lacking of any accomplishments over the past 18 months. While she possesses some historical knowledge of trustee affairs, her poor communication skills and narrow purview of the public at large inhibit her ability to effectively lead or engage the East Hampton community. Members of the public have referred to her as intimidating, and she often loses her temper at the trustee meetings. 

At a televised trustee meeting when Diane was asked about the status of Accabonac Harbor and the imminent need to dredge the channel due to shoaling and boating safety issues, Diane had no reply. How could the former longstanding trustee clerk not know or understand the permit status of an important local water body that serves the local fishing community? The answer is her lack of willingness and inability to work with other agencies and individuals. 

Fortunately, other members of the current board conducted the necessary research on Accabonac Harbor and expedited a dredging project in six weeks. As part of this project we used the beach-compatible dredge spoil to replenish a neighboring beach. This enabled local baymen to use the Accabonac inlet to safely start the fishing season this year and protected a beautiful local beach in the process. 

There are many complicated and formidable challenges facing our community. Major issues such as climate change, sea level rise, beach erosion, pollution, and overdevelopment will often require a multi-jurisdictional effort. These issues are larger than any one board or agency and will require a proactive and professional approach to managing them. I am proud to be a member of the current trustee board and work hard to serve our community and to communicate with other governmental agencies when required to protect the health and safety of the public. 

Sincerely,

RICK DREW

Getting Things Done

East Hampton

July 10, 2017

To the Editor:

I was taken aback a little when I read the letter written by Diane E. McNally and the supporting and coordinated letter from her sister-in-law, Margery Courtney. You and your readers believe that several of the last few trustee boards, under Diane’s leadership, were argumentative and unproductive, because they were. Ask anyone from Lazy Point or anyone who applied for a permit about it. 

The current board is getting things done by working in a cooperative fashion with everyone involved to make progress in cleaning up our waters. We, on our own, got the shoaling in the Accabonac Harbor channel removed and the Gerard Drive culvert reopened with the cooperation of the D.E.C. We are moving forward and making progress without giving up any trustee rights or any trustee property, in a civil manner.

We ask for your continued support.

BILL TAYLOR

For the Democratic Majority 

More Polluting Traffic

East Hampton

July 5, 2017

To the Editor,

I have read with astonishment the arrogant and Nimbyish letter in the June 29 issue by Chuck Collins on behalf of the Cedar Street Committee. He suggested that citizens owning property along Cedar Street will pay themselves to have the depot dumped on other people in another part of town. This is the height of arrogance of people with money against the least affluent part of town. Anything but in my backyard!

The East Hampton High School is in the central part of East Hampton and has been there for many years. It already has a lot available for its school buses, appropriately right next to the school. It seems illogical and unfair to suggest that it should move to the eastern end of East Hampton, on the edge of Springs, under the pretext that the area is zoned commercial.

Indeed, the area is zoned commercial, but in recent years more and more commercial activity has been placed there. It is just easier to continue adding more, I suppose. Large truck activity and other commercial vehicle activity have grown tremendously, and the road is often clogged with heavy traffic. To add more polluting commercial traffic in the area would be intolerable. 

In addition, the road itself is already making it hard to breathe sometimes. The edges of the road are often either nonexistent or in nearly a collapsed state, causing muddy conditions in wet weather, and can hardly support the existing traffic, let alone new large-vehicle traffic.

The Springs School has its own bus lot next to the school, so why not East Hampton High School? Each area should support its own needs, and not dump them on other areas.

ROBERT G. PINE

No Questions Answered

Amagansett

July 10, 2017

Dear David,

I went to my first school board meeting, asked 12 questions, and never received an answer. I was told I had two minutes to make any comments, or ask any questions, but I would not receive an answer until the next board meeting. When asked why, the board said they voted to let the superintendent, Mrs. Tritt, answer all questions. Since Mrs. Tritt was absent the night of the meeting, there would be no questions answered. 

Not sure why the board felt they could not answer the questions, or why Mrs. Tritt was the only one that could answer, but I asked the following questions:

• What was the final increased amount asked of the taxpayers in the budget vote last May 16?

• How much was transferred from the excess account into the general account?

• Why, if we just voted in May, did Mrs. Tritt and the board feel they needed to transfer money in June, when we just increased the taxes and the school year hasn’t begun yet?

• Why was Dr. Lamorgese’s title chang­­ed to “interim administrator” from “evaluator”? 

• Why was Dr. Lamorgese still going to work after the students and staff were out on June 23? 

• Why did he get an increase of $50 per day/$1,000 per month?

• Since when do we now have an assistant to the district clerk?

• How many Pre-K students are entering the school next year?

• Why do we have a lawyer present at the last three meetings, when the board could be answering the questions?

• How much is the lawyer costing to sit at the meetings?

• Why were organizational decisions made at the June meeting, instead of the July meeting when the new board/school year takes effect?

• When will the administrative job descriptions be on the website that was promised in May? 

I was also told that all the questions I asked were found on the school website, aufsd.org

I could not find them, but maybe you in the community can. Please come to the next board meeting to find out the answers.

MARY A. EAMES

Failing Septic System

Springs

July 10, 2017

Dear David,

As the town’s representative to the community preservation fund’s advisory opinions bureau for many years, I strongly endorse the use of C.P.F. funds to assist in the replacement of the failing septic system at the Springs School. The school is the most significant polluter of Pussy’s Pond and Accabonac Harbor, and this project is exactly the kind of water quality improvement project that was envisioned by the change in the C.P.F. law. 

I have presented this view to the Springs Citizens Advisory Committee and to the trustees. Assemblyman Thiele has stated that fixing the septic at Springs School and other institutions is a permissible expense of the C.P.F. Just as important, the town’s water quality technical advisory committee has recognized the “bang-for-the-buck” of using the C.P.F. funds to fix this problem.

The Springs School Board and the new school superintendent have recognized the urgent problem and are exploring how to fix it. If the town board works quickly, and alongside the Springs School Board, we can fix this problem in a matter of months and not years. A replacement of the failing septic system at the Springs School is exactly what we overwhelmingly voted for — to use community preservation funds to bring our waters back to health.

ZACHARY COHEN

Obsolete Septic Systems

Springs

July 9, 2017

Dear David:

In a letter dated June 24, the co-chairwoman of the East Hampton Republican Party touts her party’s proposed “solution” to the septic problem, and its “creator,” as the “real deal”?

Ms. Campolo asserts that “there is no one . . . on the town board who has the requisite skills to deal” with this problem. She is a bit late to the game; the standing town board has already proposed a solution to this problem. She also must have missed the meeting at which a parade of community leaders rose to vocally praise the board members for its sanitary-septic initiative. Under this program, eligible homeowners, including those in sensitive environmental areas, could receive rebates to cover the cost of replacing obsolete septic systems with state-of-the-art low-nitrogen systems. Homes within water protection districts would be entitled to the highest rebates.

Admirably, the goal of the rebate program envisioned by our town board is to impose little or no cost upon eligible homeowners. Not so the program she credits Mr. Giardina with inventing; his plan imposes upon the consumer the entire cost of system replacement, ignoring the fact that this cost will be mostly shouldered by the least affluent of the East Hampton community.

One also has to question the qualifications Ms. Campolo touts as qualifying Mr. Giardina for either this project or a seat on the town board. We don’t need a nuclear engineer to deal with the issues facing the board, and it doesn’t matter how many years of irrelevant experience he has — it’s still irrelevant.

The parade of concerned citizens that praised the town board’s proposal speaks volumes. Ms. Campolo’s praise of irrelevant expertise says nothing. 

We should all stand behind the results delivered by our town board. Peter Van Scoyoc and Kathee Burke-Gonzalez have delivered results that deserve your vote. Please support Ms. Burke-Gonzalez in the primaries to be held on Sept. 12.

BRUCE COLBATH

Chance He Deserves

Sag Harbor

July 9, 2017

Dear David.

With interest, I read the letter from Joanie McDonell this week in your letters to the editor section, where she tries to use a scientific methodology to analyze Mr. Trump’s behavior. What a load of nonsense. I am a Democrat and I did not vote for Mr. Trump, but he is our president now and we should all get over the fact that he won the election and not Hillary Clinton. If anyone wants to understand President Trump’s behavior, they should read his book “The Art of the Deal.”

Aside from some questionable tweets, he is doing an outstanding job as our president, against incredible headwinds. It is sad that the mainstream media either does not report on his accomplishments or chooses to chase false narratives about him. We should all give him the chance he deserves and support him, rather than trying to catch him out on trivia. In other words, show President Trump the respect that was shown to President Obama.

THOMAS METZ