Karma
An opossum lies dead for real
Opposite a Yard Sale sign.
There are no crows at work,
Nor black vultures
Up lately from firecracker country
To dignify our dump — I’m sorry,
Recycling center.
Maybe they’re in the house.
BERNIE GOLDHIRSCH
East Hampton
December 2, 2019
Dear Editor,
The Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legions annual Thanksgiving basket raffle on Sunday was very successful. We would like to thank Amagansett’s I.G.A. for the generous donation that they give us each year and the ladies who donate food and their help.
The winners of the baskets were Gene Prohaske and Lou Cusimano. This year we had two more prizes of an Amagansett gift certificate. Those winners were Amy Davis and Tom Preiato.
Thank you.
CAROL BENNETT
REGINA LYNCH
Thanksgiving Raffle Chairwomen
Springs
November 25, 2019
Dear David,
Reading Jackie Friedman’s “Guestwords” column I was heartened to know that I’m not alone. After 56 years, I’m still not over the assassination of President Kennedy. The enthusiasm and optimism that came from his administration had a profound effect on me. Seeing the picture of him in the open car, smiling at the crowd, was painful for knowing what would happen in the next minute. Here’s a thought for President Kennedy:
Oh Jack,
my heart did crack.
And never did it fully mend,
from the awful sorrow
of your untimely end.
STEVE SOBEL
Sag Harbor
November 26, 2019
To the Editor
We are dreaming. We are dreaming that we have a brighter future than we do. We are dreaming there is a backup plan. We are dreaming there is a solution to climate change. But we are in too deep, and none of us know how to swim. The truth is gravity is too heavy. The truth is truth is too heavy, that we built the economy and then single-handedly destroyed it. We have created a monster and every day fuels it.
The banning of certain plastics and foams in different states and countries has been a hot subject for these past few years. New York recently passed the law to have single-use Styrofoam banned. When I head this news I was overjoyed, but as I continued to watch the news show I could not help but frown. The words I heard come out of the TV were, “Single-use Styrofoam is banned in New York, we won’t be able to eat our favorite food anymore.” They were acting like this was the worst day in New York! As of July 1, New York will start fining vendors who still carry Styrofoam.
We are dreaming. We are dreaming to rise above. We are dreaming, and only a few of us wake up.
RUTH SEIDEL
Age 10
East Hampton
December 2, 2019
Dear David,
At check-out in Brent’s Store in Amagansett, a wizened fisherman blamed state regulators for the fact that the tags he’s allocated now allow him to catch barely enough fish for his own family table. And as a New York Times headline announced, “The Scallops Are All Dead.”
While we look for local influences, we ignore at our peril the fact that it is a global problem.
This week, to pick one from a thousand stories, The Washington Post profiled Tombwa, Angola, where in the 1990s there were 20 fish factories processing tons of fish coming from the sea. Now there is one factory left. The fish species recently thriving there have collapsed in the overheated water. Trawlers ranging from distant ports are gobbling up what remains.
Ten years ago Bill McKibben wrote, “Climate Change is about whether you eat or don’t eat.” Deniers called it alarmism.
This year, as temperatures in Bordeaux reached 106 degrees, the vineyards were parched and wine production was down 13 percent. Corn production suffered the same fate.
In the American Midwest unprecedented rain bombs flooded the fields and destroyed billions of dollars’ worth of crops. Last year (or was it the year before?) multi-year drought destroyed countless acres of nut orchards that had been prosperous for generations in California. A recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate report predicts a 2 to 6 percent decline in worldwide crop yields per decade going forward, at the same time as population swells.
Sidewalk experts, including the entire Republican Party, still scoff at the science. “These scientists can’t make up their minds. One day it’s drought, the next day it’s flood! Which is it, they don’t know what they’re talking about. They can’t predict the weather next week, and they claim to predict it 20 years from now. Gimme a break!”
More people now understand that we should have listened to James Hansen when he was informing the American Congress 30 years ago about climate disruption. Imagine how far we could have come in 30 years toward slowing the onset. Still we dither instead of taking personal responsibility for the problem.
Drive down any street lined with parked cars and note that most of them are SUVs. Their growth in popularity has canceled out the benefits we might have gained in the incipient move to electric vehicles. We burn as much gas now as we did before electrification because mammoth SUVs use more gas than the smaller cars we used to drive, not to mention the sky parade of private jets roaring in and out of our airport. So much for self-regulation in the face of global catastrophe.
Demagogues and religious zealots around the world can turn men without hope into terrorists. This is just the beginning. The World Bank projects 143 million climate-displaced migrants by 2050, and stresses that this is a lower bound estimate, with the numbers certain to go much higher, perhaps sooner, assuredly later.
As we approach the 2020 elections, no matter how you have voted in the past, if you care about fish, or food in general for the children you love, remember that we have two parties in this country with radically different attitudes about climate change. Forget about the personal foibles of candidates that the media love to dwell on.
Remember that one party makes its living serving the interests of the fossil fuel industry. The other party is finally listening to scientists and young people who will inherit this planet, and committing to meaningful action. Climate change is no longer about 2100, Bangladesh, or polar bears. It has come to this: not just in the long run, but for millions alive today in America, including the fisherman at Brent’s, nothing else matters.
DON MATHESON
East Hampton
November 25, 2019
Dear Editor,
Last Thursday, I attended the meeting sponsored by The East Hampton Press that focused on the business community titled “The Future of the Village of East Hampton.” Aside from Mr. Lawler, who was on the panel, none of the other East Hampton Village Board members attended the meeting. This struck me as odd as these individuals are the ones who can orchestrate change in our community. Perhaps this is the reason why we are not making any progress in our business community.
TERRY WALLACE
Wallace Gallery
East Hampton
November 28, 2019
Dear Editor,
Seeing dead fish in the sports section of The Star makes me ponder how fishing could be a sport. Apparently getting an animal to take the bait and bite into something they shouldn’t is a sport. Given such, the animal agriculture industry is great at playing this sport given that over 90 percent of Americans have taken their bait and are “Meathooked” (Marta Zaraska).
RANDY JOHNSTON
Montauk
November 26, 2019
Dear David:
I was deeply disappointed and surprised to see zero coverage of Lisa Rooney’s Nov. 21 hearing at East Hampton court in your paper. Particularly ironic since your last mention of the case was a Nov. 7 article titled “Bicyclist’s Family Calls for Justice,” and it has now been reported elsewhere that “about 40 members of the Latino community, many from Montauk, stood up and walked out of East Hampton Town Justice Court Nov. 21 as a call for justice” and that the “The walkout was coordinated by the Organization Latino-Americana of Eastern Long Island.”
Shocking that you did not find this newsworthy since I read in the same article that “the Latino community fears the incident will be overlooked, according to those on-hand at the courthouse Nov. 21.”
They are obviously right to “fear the incident will be overlooked” since you have done exactly that by not reporting it. You didn’t bury the story; you didn’t even report it.
There is no journalistic excuse for you not to report even a word on this hearing and event and not to continue your coverage of this tragedy and this event. Your news blackout can only be the result of Ms. Rooney’s white, wealthy, connected family and their personal and professional influence upon your reporting or lack thereof.
You have another opportunity on Dec. 11 when Ms. Rooney is again scheduled to appear before Justice Rana, hopefully to finally face criminal charges. This time report the event. Do your job.
GEORGE LOPEZ
--
Editor's Note: An article on Lisa Rooney's Nov. 21 court appearance was published online on Nov. 27 and on the front page of The Star's Nov. 28 issue, the next print edition following her court appearance.
Springs
December 2, 2019
Dear David,
There is no Springs Citizens Advisory Committee this month and, maybe, not any month in the future. It seems the leader of our group, Loring Bolger, went to Supervisor Van Scoyoc and asked for a new liaison as Ms. Gonzalez does not seem to work well with our group, having her own ideas of what the agenda should be for our meeting.
Our capable leader, and the only person who has stepped up to the plate to take on this complicated task and has spectacularly led this group for a long time, was denied her request.
Poor Springs! The town board has never given Springs the attention it deserves as the most densely populated hamlet of the town. There are not a lot of rich like Wainscott, elites like Amagansett, organized like Montauk, businesses like the village, it’s just a simple middle-to-lower-class folk with some scattering of rich folk. There are mostly working class people with bikes on lawns, occasional basketball hoops, and some trucks in the driveway, which is why I, who had a very rich family living in Water Mill when I bought my house in 2002, chose Springs, unpretentious and family oriented, but I didn’t realize the East Hampton Town government didn’t like Springs. Poor Springs!
Sincerely,
PHYLLIS ITALIANO
Springs
December 2, 2019
Dear Editor,
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” — Sir Edmund Burke on the French Revolution.
Throughout the history of our nation, there have been subversive groups. The K.K.K., the Black Panthers, Skinheads, Weather Underground, to name a few, and universally mainstream society has repudiated these vile groups and their philosophy. All these groups sought to make fundamental changes that were in direct contrast to the fundamental principles memorialized in our Constitution. From time to time, subversive groups have had concurrent messaging and conduct but have never successfully gained mainstream social acceptance.
Resist and replace is different:
• The resist and replace movement is an insidious philosophy and mirrors the philosophy championed by one of the evilest men of the 20th century.
• The resist and replace strategy is hard at first to distinguish as they slowly, over time, diminish the acceptable societal norms, and erode constitutional principles.
• Resist and replace promotes a mob rule mentality to make it acceptable to violate the rights of those whom they disagreed with.
• Resist and replace uses a broad brush to mitigate the actions of violent extremists within their ranks.
• Resist and replace uses that same broad brush to demonize groups of people, to diminish their value to society.
Look at what is occurring today in the political arena.
• Resist and replace promotes a political ideology that is biased and hate-filled.
• Resist and replace finds it is acceptable to violate our fundamental constitutional principles to achieve an end.
• Resist and replace has no desire to find common ground to reach bipartisan compromise or consensus.
• Resist and replace has co-opted acceptable dissent and the voices of many good Democrats to mask long-term goals.
• Resist and replace supports ANTIFA, which is nothing more than a modern version of the Sturmabteilung.
Groups that promote and advocate violence as an acceptable response regardless of the cause are wrong, and supporting these groups either directly or indirectly is also wrong. There is nothing wrong with political discourse and dissent. There is also nothing wrong with seeking consensus and compromise. What is wrong, un-American, and unpatriotic are political philosophies that seek to erode our Constitution and lend support to groups that advocate violence.
Oppose, resist, and replace. Stand firm against those who would try to diminish the rights of every American.
Support freedom. Let your congressperson know that you are opposed to Congress’s purposeful and willful disregard of the Constitution. Support candidates who support the fundamental principles memorialized in our Constitution.
If you believe in our Constitution and good government that works and serves our community come visit our monthly meeting on the third Wednesday of each month, You’ll be pleasantly surprised.
MANNY VILAR
Chairman
East Hampton
Town Republican Committee
North Haven
December 1, 2019
Dear Editor:
I just voted. With my wallet and my stomach. Everyone has the right to vote how they choose, and to associate with folks of their liking. Owners of local businesses do, as well.
It is not my nature to try to embarrass political personalities if they are spotted dining in the restaurant I am in. I like decent Greek food, and so do other folks, and that’s okay of course. Trouble is that the Bridgehampton area, and all of the Hamptons for that matter, is limited in dining opportunities at this time of year.
Accidents and coincidence will happen, but sometimes things are planned. If you are flogging your new book of lies and excuses, as the high-profile son of a profoundly criticized president of the most powerful country in the world, one would think every public appearance is carefully considered and checked out, so to speak. Although the owner was basking in the glow of the presence of his political celebrity, I think I heard someone shout “boo” as the party departed.
I think our nation is torn with vulgar dissent and disrespect now, and on the brink of political disaster and perhaps a worse form of social conflict. The only hope I see is for each of us to engage in civil intercourse with each other, because there will always be conflicting opinions among us.
In a true democracy we vote, rather than destroy, and we try to accept the outcome. This democracy is a fragile concept that only works if everyone agrees to treat each other with respect, and to be open to honest dialogue, and to have the willingness to negotiate and compromise opinions.
Recently, we voted and won significantly, although the outcome was “corrected” by the quirk of the Electoral College. Under the rule of law and our Constitution we must accept the outcome. What we must not accept is the shabby performance of the elected government and any unlawful behavior of its leaders. A record of lies, vulgarity, and self-serving is rightly and necessarily investigated to avoid a precedent of acceptance, should findings of high crimes and misdemeanors be found.
Meanwhile, when in a conflicting conversation, ask if the other can help you understand the thinking behind their beliefs. They might help you learn something you didn’t know, or even adjust your point of view. Of course, in fairness, they should be willing to respectfully hear your thought process as well. There will probably not be any absolute changes, but now there will be the possibility of each gaining a better knowledge of the situation, allowing an opportunity for mutual benefit.
Sadly, we are in a win-or-lose frame of mind, and seem to have forgotten that everyone can win in a democracy, even if a little compromise is necessary. Every day now we vote with our words and our wallets. Today I had to vote because I strongly agree with what my mother taught me many years ago, “Please be careful, you are known by the company you keep.”
I had to explain to the restaurant staff, who are professional and gracious, that I will miss seeing them because I cannot be comfortable dining in a place that is welcoming and fawning over dangerous and deceiving people such as —you know the rest!
I have lost a bit, and the restaurant has lost a bit, but after I politely explained myself, I just voted with my wallet and stomach to dine elsewhere.
As the so-called Republicans like to say, “Elections have consequences.”
ANTHONY CORON
Springs
December 1, 2019
Dear David,
Taxpayers’ money is being abused by the Democrats with this Trump investigation. I personally would like to know how many transportation bills have been put forward? There is a pothole on County Road 39 I seem to hit each and every time on a drive on this road. It is going eastbound, right near the railroad station.
Prescription drugs, nothing done; funding the government, not on their agenda. Congress do-nothing group has chosen to continue the sham process of impeachment rather than take care of its citizens.
We are fed up with you Pelosi, Schiff, etc. Please do a real day’s work.
In God and country,
BEA DERRICO
Plainview
December 1, 2019
Dear David,
Why do I seem to be the only person in the United States (including every news organization’s reporters) who seems to have noticed serious discrepancies (lies?) between the opening statements given to the House impeachment inquiry committee by Ambassador William Taylor on Nov. 11 and staffer David Holmes on Nov. 21?
In Taylor’s Nov. 11 opening statement, he said, “Last Friday [Nov. 8] a member of my staff [David Holmes] told me (presumably for the first time) of events that occurred on July 26 (the Sondland-Trump cellphone call that Holmes overheard). At the time, I gave my (closed-door) deposition on Oct. 22, I was not aware of this information.
But in David Holmes’s Nov. 21 opening statement, Holmes explicitly claims to have told Taylor all about that July 26 phone call after Holmes’s July 27 “planned vacation that ended on Aug. 6. After returning to the Embassy, I told Ambassador Taylor about the July 26 call.” (Note: Here, Holmes seems to imply he told Taylor about it on Aug. 7 or soon thereafter; but I think I may have heard him say “Aug. 26” during some of his televised testimony.)
There’s a big disconnect (to say the least) here, and one would think that Holmes would have told Taylor all about that mind-blowing July 26 call as soon as he had the chance. But if he told Taylor anytime between Aug. 7 and Aug. 26, how bad must Taylor’s memory be to claim Holmes never told him about it until Nov. 8?
RICHARD SIEGELMAN
East Hampton
November 25, 2019
To the Editor:
Lee Zeldin has been Tweeting up a storm and appearing on cable news with alarming regularity, barely able to conceal his fury about the impeachment inquiry. In fact, he has Tweeted several times about “an enraged liberal activist base desperate to take down a sitting president.”
Can someone please clue Mr. Zeldin in that many of these allegedly enraged liberal activists are, in fact, his constituents, and in reality are law-abiding, patriotic citizens who are appalled by the actions of a lawless president? He would know this if he ever held a town hall (which he hasn’t in over two years).
Where was this passion and energy when SALT was being debated? During that time there was barely a peep out of him, and certainly no attempt to rally colleagues to fight it, even though he openly acknowledged it would have dire consequences for Long Island. And it has. Housing prices on the East End have declined because of it, and many households have lost thousands of dollars because of the cap it imposed on state and local tax deductions.
Zeldin richly deserves to be voted out of office. Use your vote to let him know that when we sent him to D.C., it was to represent Congressional District 1, not a corrupt president.
Sincerely,
CAROL DEISTLER