Public Employee Press

Mail and Media
Letters to the Editor

Kevin Smith’s family sends thanks

The following letter came to PEP from the family of Kevin D. Smith, the late president of Local 1655, who died on June 12.

We are all still in as much shock as you must be. It has been almost two months since our brother and your co-worker has left us. Some of you may have known Kevin for 28 years. Some for eight years and some for as little as eight months.

But the outpouring of well wishes throughout his illness and the expressions of sympathy that were shown in his death by you has made us much more aware as to why he loved his job and loved all of you.

Some of you may have only known his brisk walk or his kind smile. Some of you may have shared a cigarette or passed in the halls and shared a “good morning,” but whatever way you crossed paths, I am sure it is memorable to you.

The family wishes to thank you for having made Kevin’s life happy and enjoyable.

So every time you smell a cup of coffee or see an overstuffed briefcase, think of Kevin and the kind thoughtshe had for the Transit Authority and for his local.

Gov. David Paterson appreciates PEP

The following letter was received by Ralph Palladino, Local 1549 2nd vice president.

Thank you for your thoughtful note of congratulations on becoming governor. Your kind words mean a great deal to me.

I also appreciate you sending me a copy of DC 37’s newspaper. I have shared it with the appropriate members of my staff. I am sure it will be of interest to them.

Once again, thank you for writing and warmest regards.

David A. Paterson

Another side of Israel/Palestine

There is another side of the state of Israel that is never mentioned in your newspaper. Modern Israel/Palestine is an apartheid state which exhibits open contempt for the rights, wishes, and well being of the Palestinian population.

Palestine/Israel is one of the most economically unjust societies on earth. National Geographic reported several years ago that the annual income of the average Palestinian is less than 5% that of the average Jewish Israeli. Some “socialist” utopia!

When people have been deprived of all hope that either they or their children will live to see a better day, it is inevitable that many will condone violence and support extremist movements.

The brave people of the Peace Now movement are the righteous who will ensure Israel’s survival. One day, a modern Gideon will blow her or his trumpet, and the wall will come a-tumblin’ down.

Shalom Achshav! Peace Now!

Larry A. Ginsberg
Local 2627

Wrong way to go for HIP and GHI plans

The letter from Michael Padwee in the June 2008 PEP, regarding converting GHI and HIP to for-profit status, concerns me also. I agree with Mayor Bloomberg that we would be negatively impacted. The reason our health care in this country has so many problems is because medical care is treated as a business. The conversion of GHI and HIP to for-profit status is a step in the wrong direction.

Everett Allen Fox
Retiree


Correction

An article on series of child health fairs in the July-August PEP should have mentioned the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corp., the Manhattan Child Health Coalition and the Commission on the Public’s Health System, which coordinated the fairs.