PEP, April 2010: Letters to the editor

Thanks union lawyers for help and kindness

I Never did I think I would need a lawyer, but I have had three in the past 13 years and was very thankful for their help. Jesse Gribben represented me in an eviction case, Belkis Talarico represented me for my divorce case and Max Paul represented me against a NYCHA rent adjustment.

I would like to thank them for their kindness along with their assistance in getting these cases handled in a timely manner. As a single parent, it meant the world to me to not have to pay huge lawyer fees like I would have if I was not in the union.

—Theresa Keane
School Aide, Local 372

Paying less on house

Last year, when the economy went down, I was struggling with a huge mortgage – close to $4,000. At the same time, my husband was laid off.

One of my co-workers told me about DC 37’s Municipal Employees Legal Service. My case was handled by an attorney from the Housing section of MELS, Carla Latty. She really did a wonderful job and kept me informed. I appreciate very much the way she handled my case.

Now, because of a job well done, I have a mortgage that is only half of what I had to pay before.

And when Ms. Latty went on vacation, Karen Spanos did the final job. She also handled the case very well.

Wake up and smell the coffee: Our union, DC 37, is the best, and is doing a great job for members, especially when they need help. God bless America, God bless President Obama, and God bless Carla Latty and Karen Spanos. My prayers will be with you both always.

—Irene Petit-Frere
Retiree, Local 372

Hits PEP on photographs of Lillian Roberts

Why is it that every edition of the Public Employee Press contains dozens of pictures of Lillian Roberts? Am I the only one who notices this? One edition I counted 23 photos of this lady. The last edition has 11. What is that all about? It reflects something, not so good, about the quality of this publication as a whole.

—Adam Firstencel
Watershed Maintainer, Local 376

Editor’s note: What this is all about is that Executive Director Lillian Roberts leads this union in its battles with management on behalf of members like you.

Wherever she appears in PEP, she belongs, because she speaks for the union on all major issues and at most important events.

Leaving out her picture would present a distorted view of District Council 37.

In addition, she is extremely popular with members and union committees, which often invite her to join in their activities and group photos. PEP wouldn’t even think about leaving out a hard-working union committee because she is in their photo.

At PEP we are proud that the faces of members predominate. There are dozens of pictures of rank-and-file members and local leaders for every one of a top officer.

Quality? PEP is one of the U.S. union publications most honored by the local and national organizations of labor journalists for the best reporting and graphic design.

Computer classes for seniors win high praise from retired member

I wish to thank DC 37 for the computer classes for seniors and to express my appreciation for how Ms. Rosetta Johnson responded to my telephone call today.

I lost my eyeglasses and I called her. She quickly went to the computer classroom and found my glasses.

I arrived at DC 37 at 1 p.m. and Ms. Johnson had my glasses in her hands after retrieving them from the computer classroom.

A new pair of glasses would have cost me more than $200.

Thanks for caring.

—Mary Greez
Retiree

Local prez tips his yarmulke to writer

I want to tip my yarmulke — I mean tip my hat — to Sr. Associate Editor Greg Heires for the nice story about me in the March 2010 PEP.

Thanks for asking me, “So what’s new?” and then writing about it.

All the time and work the PEP staff puts into our DC 37 newspaper to make it so professional does not go unnoticed by your readers. You put out a union paper that I am so proud of.

—Leonard Davidman
President, Psychologists Local 1189
Chair, DC 37 Jewish Heritage Committee