Our Readers Respond...

‘Diesel from Peekskill’ Draws A Strong Response

Dear Editor,

It’s very unfortunate that in 2007 we still have people like Diesel of Peekskill, ranting their blatant ignorance and racial bigotry. Last week I read, with great dismay, a Letter to the Editor titled, “Man With A Grudge Takes It Out On Columnist Mayfield,” in which Diesel proceeded to criticize Vicki Mayfield’s grammar, writing technique, opinions on the subjects she writes about, and, to add insult to injury, he implied that she’s a racist. In conclusion he lets us know he’s a “White man” with a disability, and has just as many problems, if not more, than any “minority.”

First of all I would like to say, I know Vicki Mayfield. Vicki is a proud, strong African-American woman, extremely intelligent, who takes on subjects that most likely would not be printed in mainstream media, making her very unique. When she writes a story, it usually involves her life experiences, often her community
of Mt Vernon, which is dear to her heart, and yes, she writes about racism. She is passionate about those subjects and that’s why I look forward to reading her column. I can relate to many of her columns, because, I too, am a “proud, strong African-American woman”, who has experienced some of the same life experiences that she has. But being a “White man” such as yourself, with strong bigoted and ignorant views, I wouldn’t expect you to write otherwise.

Maybe if you were more educated in the English language, more open-minded and took the time to read about our history and, by the way, we have a rich history, you might understand what you’re reading. It’s because of people such as yourself and others that some are encouraged to scroll racist and anti-Semitic graffiti, as well as place nooses in our communities and our schools.

Speaking of showing true colors, your letter epitomizes yours. Your problem, Diesel, is that you happen to be not just a “White man”, but a “privileged angry White man” with some serious issues. Let me explain what I mean by a “privileged White man.” First of all, it was your ancestors that brought Vicki’s family here in chains as slaves from Africa. they stripped us of our identity, our culture, our language, our family ties, our religion and
our motherland. they beat us, raped our women, broke up families, worked us until some of us died and sold us.

Once we were so-called emancipated we were promised 40 acres and a mule, that was a joke, denied us an education and the right to vote. I know you’ll say, “I’m not responsible for what happened back in the day
because slavery didn’t exist in the north.” News Flash! I suggest you read Complicity: How the North Profited From Slavery.

Up until 1946, not only her male ancestors but mine, as well, were recruited into a segregated U.S. Armed Forces. President Harry S. Truman integrated the armed forces in 1946 and my father, a proud “African-American man”, went into one of the first integrated Navy units. However proudly my father, Vicki’s father, uncles, grandfathers and cousins served their country, they could not vote in certain parts of the country, namely the South, and could not live where they wanted to live because of the color of their skin. They couldn’t even eat in certain restaurants much less use a restroom.

In the 1940’s African-American men were being lynched at an alarming rate in this country. They were the targets of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan, because of their skin color. It wasn’t until the mid-1960’s that we got the Civil Rights Bill, Voting Rights Act and a Fair Housing Law. But that wasn’t just given to us; many men,
women and children lost their lives in the struggle to gain those rights.

Now that you’ve gotten a little history lesson on “my people” and their struggle in a world of “the privileged
White man” with his many problems, I would trust that you would take stock of yourself, as well as others, who think like you. Tell me one “White man” in this country who has endured what the Black man has. Tell me if you’ve ever been denied the right to vote because of the color of your skin, or told to ride in the back of a bus, or would ever get lynched because you dared to look at a woman other than one of your race, or not be able to get a loan to buy the home of your choice in a nice neighborhood.

The list can go on and on. You also stated in your letter that Ms. Mayfield is blaming George Bush for creating the diversion in this country so as not to get impeached. There’s all the lies he told about getting us into Iraq, the so-called “Surge” that’s supposedly working, raising “Terror Alert Levels” when he’s down in the polls and
now his foray into Iran.

As far as “living, eating, breathing, walking, cooking, driving, sleeping, shopping, working, reading, suing, Latino,
get used to it. Eridania Camacho has just as much right to write and express herself about “her people” as Vicki
Mayfield. That’s right. Diesel, I got that message; you’re fed up with Latinos too.

But I do agree with you on one thing, you are a “White man” with a disability and many problems. But your
disability is a mental, racist and hateful disability. And, guess what, unfortunately there are many other ignorant
and racist people just like yourself. It’s very tragic, but as long as you harbor these feelings, you’ll soon find, “Freedom Isn’t Free.”

Renee Smith, Peekskill

Reader Exposes Amicone Financial Foibles

Dear Editor:

nValley Tech is a perfect example of the incompetance of the Amicone administration. A $21-million-plus fi-
asco started by Mayor Spencer who was smart enough to annoint his Deputy Mayor, Mr. Amicone, as the “day to day administrator of the city”.

Now this white elephant has been sold to I Park at a knockdown price, still occupied by the same city agencies
and the politically connected. Has the city realized one penny of revenue from this building?

Add this to the Philipsburg Hall screwup; to 11-23 St. Casimir, which went bankrupt; to Diam International
which used the city, got tax breaks and then basically took off to the former Alexander Street Oil Terminal which is now a school bus terminal; to the ball park that still is to be built, years behind schedule, and you have a record
to run away from, not to run on.

To piss away HUD funds on nValley is a disgrace and the alphabet list of loans and grants this project received is
just mindboggling. In my opinion, this Mayor should be blown out to sea, maybe on his ferry to Hoboken.

Readers can confirm most of this information by talking to McLoin, although Murtagh is playing with Phil
Amicone for now, he was tossed out of the building by Ed Sheeran and had some strong words to say about this building. I am sure Vinnie Restiano could be very helpful in confirming this.

Readers may also call Joseph Fiore, Chief investigator in the NYS Comptrollers office, 1-212-383-2594 or Ass’t Comptroller Steven J. Hancox at 1-518-474-4037, or Carrie H. Cohen, Chief PIU Unit, NYS AG @ 1-518-402-2472.

“The Facility Is Safe; So Was The Titanic!”

Dear Editor:

Let me get right to the point, Indian Point, that is. The current evacuation plan that is in place right now for
New York City, Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties is enormously flawed, and will not work, period!

I am beginning to think that the NRC stands for Nobody Really Cares, instead of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. I am not against nuclear power to provide much-needed electricity. Until an alternative is found, this seems to be the way to go. However, we cannot let politicians and businessmen jeopardize the lives of innocent citizens in the area of these facilities. Indian Point should be relocated to a more rural, desolate location. If we are going to work with the deadly brew we cannot miss a single beat when it comes to safety. We already made a huge mistake allowing a nuclear power plant to be built so close to the most vibrant city in the world.

Now we are being told to accept Entergy’s bogus evacuation plan! Listen, I was born and raised in Westchester and I can honestly tell you that it is impossible to get to a beach on a hot, summer day with all the traffic and river crossings!

Can you imagine what it would be like during a catastrophe? I know, I know, the facility is safe; so was the Titanic! They can’t even provide a stable, working warning system! If Entergy’s evacuation plan is really a good one, then why isn’t it being distributed to the citizens of the region? Everyone should have a copy of the plan hanging on their fridge!

I did my own poll by asking 200 people who ride the Metro North Railroad if they knew of Entergy’s plan to
evacuate the area if an accident or a criminal act was to release radioactive material from Indian Point. Well, not
one person knew the details and they all had their own plan of getting away.

Sounds like chaos to me! Heck, even if some did make it out of the deadly area, where would they go?
Now is the time to confront Entergy before their license is renewed for another 20 years. Remember that your life and your children’s future may depend on it. He who hesitates is lost, but in this case it might mean death.

Dom Nanni, Scarsdale