Public Employee Press

Letters to the editor

Praises union dentist

I am taking this opportunity to express my appreciation to DC 37 dentist Dr. Saks and his assistant Maria Velez who administered dental services to me recently. Dr. Saks was very thorough, painless and professional.

—GERALDINE JAMES
Retiree
P.S. a big shout-out for all DC 37 services.


Alas, early retirement

It was reported that if 6,000 state employees accept an early-retirement incentive package, $182 million dollars would be saved. There does not seem to be any disputing these figures.

So why did Mayor Bloomberg choose not to opt into the plan and garner similar savings for the city? Is he retaliating against the unions for not backing him in his bid for mayor? Is it his desire to coerce the unions into accepting a new Tier 5 pension plan? We are left in the dark to wonder.

On the surface, it would appear a buyout makes good economic sense, saving jobs and proactively dealing with next year's projected NYC deficit of over $3 billion. The mayor has been projected as a smart business man, so what is his rationale for not opting in to an ERI ASAP? Union members want to know.

—MARK SHOENFIELD
Computer Specialist, Local 2627


Miracle man writes

The New York Therapeutic Riding Center is most grateful to you for your excellent article, "Miracle on 48th Street," recently published in the Public Employee Press.

"Miracle on 48th Street" is one of the finest articles that have been written about the New York Therapeutic Riding Center in our 12-year history. This article will be of great help in the further development of our therapeutic horseback riding program for children with disabilities living in the five boroughs of New York City. Once again, many thanks!

—RICHARD BRODIE
Executive Director, the New York Therapeutic Riding Center


"A job well done"

I recently had to call the Inquiry Unit of the Health & Security Plan about a verification of schooling form that I sent in for my son that was rejected.

I was transferred three times. At first, I thought I was getting the runaround, but I was just being directed to the right party, Sabrina Terry, who researched my case and even gave me a direct line to call her back on.

When I called back an hour later, the matter was resolved to my satisfaction. I want to personally thank Sabrina for a job well done.

—CHRIS INGUANTA
Local 2627


End Afghanistan war

In a recent PEP, a letter writer argued that the U.S. should remain in Afghanistan to keep the Taliban out of power, especially because of how badly they treat women.

But is life better now for the Afghan people than it was almost 10 years ago when we invaded to crush Al-Qaeda and capture Bin Laden (remember them?)? What did the people there get for the $360 billion we spent on them?

International agencies paint a picture of a population in dire distress. Some 68 percent of the people face "food insecurity," five million children, mostly girls, are still not in school, and over a million children have lost at least one parent.

Drug use has soared and sexually transmitted diseases have increased as more women sell sex to care for their families. The U.S.-supported Karzai government has increased restrictions on women's freedom of movement, access to work and rights within the family.

The UN reports that 87 percent of the women are subject to domestic abuse, rape is an everyday occurrence, and women's suicide rate is up 50 percent.

The UN says life doesn't get worse than it is in Afghanistan. And that doesn't include the horrors of having your wedding attacked by drone bombers or your brother tortured in prison. I wonder how much more of our help the Afghan people can survive. Let's bring the troops home now.

—FRANCINE KOROTZER
College Office Assistant, Local 2054