Finally I recall reading the article on the dumping in the Times a few months back. I recall the dumping violation was an admittedly paper violation in that the contractor lacked the necessary paperwork for the DEC and NYC agencies, not that the soil was contaminated. This is the same type of paperwork that is decried by the right wing author of this piece as unnecessary and wasteful, as an impediment to small businesses. Your paper should report the facts and just the facts. There is a place for editorializing elsewhere in the paper and such obvious opinion and rank speculation shouldn’t be reported in the news-section of the paper (or anywhere, for that matter) unless you are reading the New York Post.

To be absent as an elected official during these difficult times is unacceptable. Maybe for some it should signal that their time has passed and they should step a side and allow more capable people to do the work of the people.

You should be ahsamed of yourself, you big tool.

I must respectfully disagree with your views concerning myself and my letter.

I don’t consider putting the Korean community’s need for effective representation from now until the current term is over (or long term) to be silly – not one bit.

Those who are dire need of assistance probably don’t find it to be silly, either.

And to be clear, I was careful to avoid stating whether Senator Stavisky has been active in the community or not – my first sentence was a sign of respect that I try to show all people. Whether she has or has not been is a topic worthy of an entire debate.

And concerning the assertion that I have never shown my face in Flushing before – not all the hard work that people do lends itself to the spotlight.

As an attorney at the largest Chinese-American law firm in Queens, I have certainly done my share of work for the businesses and people of Flushing. But as an attorney, unless you get a sensational case, that hard work will not necessarily show up in the media.

I was also a top advisor for James Milano, the Republican Congressional Candidate in 2010.

People can say what they will, but they must back it up with facts.

What I am trying to do is not engage in politics as usual but bring some respect and reality to the process.

Thank you again for your comments,

J.D. Kim

Conservative Party roots never really die do they Serf

First, new Asian immigrants have a strong interest in not having government intervene by forcing shops to post signs in English. A Vietnamese shopowner thus has the same interest as a Korean shopowner. (I’m not saying this position is right or wrong, but if it’s a common interest, someone needs to represent these interests in the government)

Second, Asian immigrants may have a similar interest and stance on immigration policies. Sure, they may have come from different countries and might not agree on other issues. But they certainly have an interest in having a rep speak up for them on issues relating to a more open-door naturalization process.

So I don’t think it’s so simple as mere racial identification. I understand the temptation to think that some districts might be drawn “to include Asians to elect Asians.” But I think grouping Asians — specifically in Senate district 16 — will allow otherwise splintered groups to come together and put someone in the state legislature that will represent their interests.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you suggest that he’s afraid of a well-funded Democratic challenger to his city council seat. I think that’s a big reason why he decided to switch. As a Democratic incumbent, he could stifle any of the many young up-and comers in Flushing. Back in 2009, there were five candidates in the Dem primary — four of them were Asian Americans. As a Democratic incumbent, Koo would be able to box out these young and ambitious politicos.

My theory is that he only ran as a Republican in 2009 (and in 2008 for Stavisky’s seat) in order to clear the path to higher office. In 2009, if you wanted to be a city councilman from Flushing, and you wanted to go through the Democratic Party, you’d have to win a highly competitive primary before you could even make it on the ballot for the general. If you went in as a Republican, you faced no primary. Same for 2008 — as a Democrat you couldn’t run for State Senate because of Stavisky, but you could as a Republican.

(B) The world is catching up with the U.S. on a number of fronts and our business should be business – not Israel. We’ve had enough. The world is coalescing against Israel and against U.S. support of Israel because Israel is immoral – not moral. So get off our backs (or better yet, we should get off your backs as it only leads us in the wrong direction).

(C) We’ve already colonized a people, taken their land – and we got away with it. We shouldn’t be pushing our luck helping you do the same a hundred years year when these things are “passe” to say the least.

(D) It must be incredibly powerful to be on top of so many games – politics, banking, education, business etc. (especially in NYC) – and claim that there is a world-wide “discrimination” of some sort under every table and behind every ally.

Look, antisemitism is real – but not because of racism or prejudice, no one has time for that anymore. If we don’t like you, it’s because you’re assholes, or greedy, or full of shit, or because you’re dragging this country down by tying us to your external (i.e. Zionist) agenda. So let down your “the world is against us” force field because we’re getting to the point where you are crying wolf so many times we’ll have a hard time singling out the real anti-Semites and racists in this world – save it for the real haters…

So knock it off. The world is complex enough as it is and we all got work to do.

at the same time

I’ve vented my spleen plenty on this issue so I’m not going to say too much. All I know is that unless something gets done, this is going to set a precedent that’s going to bode very, very badly in the future for all of us!

Already, I have contacted our elected officials asking them to publicly denounce this decision. They have been extremely helpful and supportive during this entire process;(Senator Avella, Councilman Halloran, and Assemblyman Weprin especially) There has been legislation introduced by Councilman Halloran attempting to put an end to this entire process. Obviously, we will support it in every way.

As for an appeal, it would be very difficult but I plan to find out how it could be done. I understand in rare cases there were successful appeals, but the cards are really stacked against us in this instance considering Bonfilio’s past involvement with BSA. To be honest if we did appeal, I do not want any of us to have to spend any money on this process. It would be beneath our dignity. With that in mind, if anybody knows a real good zoning expert attorney who would like to appeal for us pro bono, he/she can feel free to step up to the plate.

Already, I have thanked everybody who has assisted us in this fight, and I thank you once again————-Michael Feiner, BHCA President

Dear Editors:
Maybe you should try and get the facts straight once in a while. Your commentary in the article, “City Councilmen Break Out In Spontaneous Debate in Liberty Plaza”, that I was “lucky to have made it out without getting pelted” belies the bias sensationalistic reporting you routinely engage in.
I spent over three and a half hours at Zuccattti Park, talking with dozens of people individually, without incident. Then I gave three impromptu press scrums and engaged dialogues with people and press, including one that included almost 50 of the young folks there. I had a lively and friendly banter with CM’s Rodriguez and Williams, and we had a good time engaging people. Not only was I warmly received but had a series of constructive dialogues. Maybe you should do a better job of fact checking- or look at the dozen or so YouTube and news reel videos where it even shows *gasp* I got applause and cheers…
Liberty doesn’t require us to agree, simply to debate civilly and discuss the issues as rational human beings. That we did and more- many agreed that corporatism is a looming problem, banking deregulation has caused severe damage to the stability of our nation, that government should not be subsidizing private companies and conglomerates, and the Federal Reserve is fundamentally flawed- even discussing Madison and Jefferson’s debates on a National Bank…. so there, liberty republicans and libertarians found common ground with the angst over Wall Street.
I discussed Teddy Roosevelt and Trust/Monopoly busting and the similarity in the modern era created by the big-bank mergers. We also talked about Campaign Finance reform, and voter participation and election involvement as tools to repair some of the damage done in this current disenfranchised age.
Next you took a cheap shot at Ron Paul, who at least has the courage of his convictions and isn’t owned by any corporation or union or other special interest. Over 2000 young people came to Webster Hall last week to listen to him – he is reaching out to the future of our Nation. Does that bother you? As a matter of fact there are dozens of libertarians camped out in the occupy wall street movement – NOT that you bother to report that fact.
In sum, the left-bias you betray in the framing of your last line in the story shows your are less interested in fostering true discussion and dialogue and instead would rather whip up controversy to perpetuate division and the problem of talking past each other – rather than search for solutions.
If no Council Members went there, you’d ask “where were they?” and if a Republican didn’t go you’d say, “see they dont care”…. but a Republican Council member went- one of the first politicians to show up there- so of course, you have to find fault… because, heck, that’s all you can do…
Good job!
Council Member Dan Halloran (R-Queens)
Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Libertarian