Letters to the Editor for May 1

Sch’dy must find programs to help returning ex-cons

Re April 29 article, “Rash of recent gunfire blamed on ‘vendettas’ ”: Of all the crime-fighting strategies employed in these same three Schenectady neighborhoods over the last two decades, there is one we have never engaged.

These neighborhoods are home to a very high proportion of individuals who have done time in state prison. With no coherent infrastructure of re-entry support, they re-offend at an alarming rate. In fact, they are the most statistically predictable population likely to commit a new crime. Any rational and balanced strategy of community crime reduction should make them a high priority.

In April, President Bush signed into law the Second Chance Act, which will spend some $165 million a year on prisoner re-entry programs. Schenectady should commit itself to going after a share.

We must also light a fire under the state Legislature and [governor] to do more than have task forces and public hearings on this subject. Closer to home, city hall should take the lead in turning the community’s numerous service providers into a coherent infrastructure that evaluates individual returning prisoners and directs them to services that maximize their chance of reintegrating successfully.

The state prison system releases some 26,000 inmates a year who overwhelmingly return to distressed neighborhoods, damaged families and very little chance of getting their lives together. Instead of a never-ending law enforcement dog-and-pony show, we need a system that recognizes that if we don’t help these people, there will inevitably be more victims of crime.

Terry O’Neill

Albany

Palestinians have only themselves to blame

Karen Laub’s April 27 AP article, “As Israel celebrates, Palestinians suffer,” is buying into distorted PLO propaganda. Her story about Mohammed Shaikha’s suffering is propaganda.

He’s a victim of his own terrorist ideology and hatred and manipulation by his Arab people, who want to destroy Israel. Israel was created in 1948 on 20 percent of the lands of Palestine. Jordan, a Palestinian nation created in 1922 by the British, occupies the remainder. Jews lived for over 3,000 years in the lands of Israel. Most Palestinians are local Arabs who migrated into Israel in the last century for economic reasons. There never was a historic Palestinian people.

Arab leaders told their people in 1948 to flee so that their five Arab armies could destroy the Israelis. That failed and about 600,000 Palestinians fled, and Israel won her war of independence against those who would have destroyed her, including some Arab leaders who followed the Nazis in WWII. The Palestinian refugees were refused resettlement in other Arab lands, put in U.N. refugee camps, fed a diet of hatred and anti-Semitism, and trained to be suicide terrorists — weapons against Israel. The rich Arab states have kept these people miserable and in squalor for 60 years. Most of the billions in world aid for these people goes to their corrupt leaders and for terrorist arms purchases; not for education, jobs and better homes for these people.

From 1948 through the 1960s, Arab states expelled almost 1 million Arab Jews from their lands. They lost tens of billions of dollars in property, homes, etc., and most came to Israel. These Jewish refugees were resettled in Israel, have been educated, and live peaceful, useful lives. Not a single Arab Jew who was expelled from Arab lands committed terrorism against local Arabs in Israel.

The Arabs have spent much on propaganda and terrorism against Israel. If they taught their people peace and coexistence, and educated them for useful, constructive jobs and positive lives, instead of terror and death, their would be hope for peace in the Mideast.

Jack Lauber

Latham

Hard to feel too sorry for someone making $150K

Re April 27 Viewpoint by Barbara N. Dolan, “What is justice worth?”: I guess I really have to be in sympathy for her and her husband — after all, it must be tough to get by on a mere $150,000-$200,000 a year — with no raise in pay since 1998 or ’99. Gee whiz, that’s really tough.

I should have some idea, since I retired from Verizon in ’92 with a pension that hasn’t been increased since, and possibly never will. But then I can collect on my Social Security, which I contributed to for over 45 years, bringing my total yearly income to a whopping $18,000 a year! Try living on that, lady.

If she and her husband can’t make it on their income, quit and go into private practice; I’m sure someone else would like a crack at her hubby’s income and is well-qualified also. Or maybe they should try to live like so many of us poor “slobs” in this work.

Douglas Kipp

Sprakers

Sheridan Plaza perfect spot for hospital parking

Here’s a win-win solution to Sunnyview’s search for more staff parking. All the blacktop they need is at the Sheridan Plaza! Located at the corner of Rosa Road and Gerling Street, it’s less than a five-minute walk.

What will Sunnyview officials gain? There’s plenty of parking, with the added benefit of staff possibly using their five-minute stroll to help the psyche gear up for the day or clear the mind after work. Employees will also have time-saving access to a dry cleaner, Capo de Pizza, a liquor store, a Laundromat, Chinese takeout and a CVS.

What will area residents gain? An extension of Sunnyview Hospital as an anchor for their neighborhood. Undoubtedly, the plaza’s merchants will welcome this solution as well. All those Sunnyview employees may provide a shot in the arm source of revenue, too.

Elizabeth A. Uzig

Glenville