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Follow the Funds
Matt Taibbi's article was a fine piece of hell-raising ("Unfair Hike," 4/16). Bravo. In February, Comptroller Alan Hevesi said: "It is unconscionable that the MTA operates in an atmosphere of delay, obfuscation and secrecy. The financial plans of the MTA are by law public?not privileged?information."
Taibbi leaves the precise cause of the MTA budget shortfall, which compelled the MTA to demand a fare hike, a little unclear. Corruption (e.g., overpaying for work, to say nothing of bribery) no doubt was a factor. But two other causes were at work: the MTA's heavy investment in capital projects and mismanagement of the workers pension fund.
Speaking to the former, Pataki and the MTA borrowed heavily to build and rebuild. Paying down these hefty debts is eating up revenues, leaving the MTA cash strapped for operations (see the Randy Kennedy piece in the New York Times on 1/17/2003).
I've also heard?and this needs further examination?that the MTA's labor contracts require it to pony up a certain amount to the pension fund each year. Said fund was grossly mismanaged, losing all sorts of dough in the stock market. This means the MTA needs to scrounge more dollars to meet its contractual commitments. Thus, a fare raise.
Kevin R. Kosar, Brooklyn
Fallen Man
What planet do C.L. Walker and Mary K. Doris live on ("The Mail," 4/16)? Their praise for Giuliani reeks of ignorance and more pro-government jingoism. They defend Giuliani by blaming his faults on human nature.
Funny, no other mayor tried to shut down museums because he didn't like the art. Were they all non-humans? Funny, no other mayor announced his divorce on television before telling his wife. No other mayor took all the public papers with him when he left office. Funny, no other mayor endorsed Mario Cuomo and then did a complete 180 afterwards. Most other politicians also didn't flip-flop on their party affiliations either. (Rudy switched to Republican to get a job in the Reagan administration.) The mayor of Los Angeles didn't threaten the Grammys because they wouldn't put him on the broadcast and then chase them out of town. And no other mayor in NYC history gave himself a 50 percent pay hike while slashing services for the poor and elderly. No other mayor insulted and slandered unarmed dead men "accidentally" killed by police.
Am I to believe that all these other politicians are not human? These pro-Giuliani people frighten me.
Janice Amato, Manhattan
Giuliani Fact Wrecking
Wow. This letter from C.L. Walker ("The Mail," 4/16), in response to Christopher X. Brodeur's article ("Brodeur v. Rudy," 4/2) is insane.
First, Walker states: "As for Brodeur's hysteria over the media 'covering up (Giuliani's) adultery for months' let Brodeur, if he is over fifty, in a position of power and has never had an affair, throw the first stone. Oops! He already has."
Uh, what are you saying here, Walker? That because Giuliani was an old dude with some power we should forgive him for one of his esteemed commandments? Wasn't this the man who tried to shut down the Brooklyn Museum because he was offended, allegedly on religious grounds, by a depiction of the Virgin Mary made with traditional African art materials (yes, elephant dung is a traditional African art material)? If Giuliani thinks it's his job to impose some of his religious views on the public, then surely he should be able to abide by a commandment. Or does being over 50 make one exempt?
And by the way, Giuliani cheated on his first wife, his second cousin Regina Peruggi, when he started dating his second wife, Donna Hanover. He was in his 30s then.
But wait! There's more! Walker then writes that he "can't imagine a headless chicken walking? nor for that matter shitting his pants." Well, Walker, that's one of your problems. You've got no imagination. In fact, headless chickens have been known to live up to 18 months without a head. Additionally, everyone who's ever seen a chicken get its head cut off knows that the bird does in fact run around and defecate for a few moments after (if it's not trapped in some sort of device, that is). That's how the expression came about. If the chicken were wearing pants, which is not outside of the realm of possibility, it could indeed be shitting them.
Oh my, I thought I was done. But there's even more. Walker goes on to chastise Brodeur for suggesting that bin Laden could have been Time magazine's "Person of the Year." Although Walker doesn't say specifically, I believe Walker's implication to be that only "good" guys become Man of the Year. In fact, it is generally the person that makes the most impact that year. In 1938, it was Hitler. In 1939 and 1942 it was Stalin. Bin Laden had a much bigger impact on the world in 2001 than Giuliani. Why does that suggestion make Brodeur "sick, dangerous and mentally ill"? Are you implying that the editors of Time are also sick, dangerous and mentally ill?
Walker then goes on to berate Brodeur, assuming that he did not vote. Dude, Brodeur ran for mayor. If you'd voted, you'd have seen his name on the ballot. Additionally, I'd like some facts and statistics to back up your statement that women and children are no longer safe. Reports of rape went up under Giuliani, not down.
Walker, you're certainly entitled to your bizarre opinions. But please don't present them in the guise of facts.
Marie Mundaca, Manhattan
Groved
Mike Signorile: Thanks for sharing the inside story ("The Gist," 4/16). It was easy to recognize that Lloyd Grove saved some special vindictiveness for David Brock and any liberal in general, but I just thought he was hot for Doughboy Rove. It is very enlightening to realize just how organized the gossip business is.
Darla Morgan, Austin
Rummy's World
MUGGER: To describe a borderline psychopath and chronic liar like Donald Rumsfeld as a visionary is a bit like describing Jack Kevorkian as a leader in healthcare ("MUGGER," 4/16). Vindicated, you say? How is that? Looted hospitals full of screaming children and suffering civilians?without a plan to get them medicine and protection? That's vision for you. The looting of the Iraqi national museum, another bit of forward thinking and planning? Oh, but wait, the third-rate dictator split town and the under-fed and demoralized army rolled over. Not being stupid.
So I guess we can call this criminal colonial war a success, right? Dumping depleted uranium on an entire country and expecting them to embrace us and our army of occupation?more vision! Likudnick Jay Garner to run things?more planning and cultural sensitivity. Yeah, Rummy has it in spades. On to Syria, right? Hell, on to China and North Korea. Let's take over the world. Let's everyone get with the program?yours and Rummy's.
John Steppling, Pasadena, CA
TransGas Responds
Your cover story ("No Smoking Please," 2/26) by Johnny Dwyer, contains a number of misleading statements and glaring omissions.
Mr. Dwyer writes that "the TransGas proposal interrupted a more than decade-old community plan to revitalize the waterfront." In fact, TransGas has demonstrated that their proposed facility is fully consistent with community 197-A plans, and has been designed to be compatible with a wide variety of land uses, including residences, businesses and open space. The proposed TransGas facility will also provide public access to the waterfront in a location that has lacked such access for decades.
The article claims that, "Neighbors first heard of the TransGas plan on September 13, 2001, when the smoke and dust of the World Trade Center was still visible from the proposed site on N. 12th St." Though it is far less dramatic, TransGas actually reached out to the community to inform them of their plans three months earlier, in June 2001.
The heavily contaminated site for this proposed plant is undergoing soil testing paid for voluntarily by TransGas Energy?even though the contamination was caused by more than a century of other companies' pollution. Mr. Dwyer asks if the facility will "spew toxins over the area"?TransGas' Article X filings demonstrate that the facility will not only comply with all applicable health standards, but will reduce the pollution that is being deposited in the neighborhood right now.
The comparison to the Con Edison plant across the East River is particularly misleading. The distinct TransGas facility plant will be quiet and without perceptible odors, dust, vibration, heat and humidity, while the stunning architectural design and beautiful landscaping will create a vibrant and inviting atmosphere, complemented by office space, meeting and community rooms, and gallery and display spaces. A single sleek elliptical structure will house the exhaust stacks, which will also be shorter than those at the Con Edison plant.
Finally, Mr. Dwyer neglected to even mention most of the major benefits that the TransGas facility will provide for the Greenpoint-Williamsburg community. The facility will result in a clean, reliable source of energy, less air pollution and a major clean up of a waterfront area. It will also become an important anchor and economic engine, providing jobs, generating millions of dollars in economic activity and spurring additional future investment right here. In summary, the TGE facility is a win-win proposition for all of Greenpoint-Williamsburg.
Len Shapiro, Senior Vice President, TransGas Energy Systems, Manhattan
Bringing the War Home
MUGGER: As a longtime reader of your articles I find it laughable that you deplore Senator Kerry's partisanship and use of the word "regime" to define President Bush's administration ("MUGGER," 4/9). After all, hasn't that been your style of being biased and inflammatory?
John Pianoforte, Ridgefield Park, NJ
Bending Over in Baghdad
Mike Signorile: Thank you for your article "Sodomy Hussein" ("The Gist," 4/2). I was rather surprised that an article with that name failed to mention that sodomy actually is legal in Iraq, according to www.sodomylaws.org, from which site I found your article linked. Although it still is considered taboo, it is thought-provoking that Iraq has more secular laws in this area than its attackers have. Keep up the good work.
Leif Arne Storset, Trondheim, Norway
Barney the Bubble
Bravo to Christian Viveros-Fauné! His article ("Art," 4/2) is right on target about not only Matthew Barney, but about the state of the so-called art scene in general. Glad I'm not the only one who's fed up with the pretension, the lack of skill and substance. Is there really nothing better to encase the Guggenheim in? The seemingly permanent Frank Gehry doo-da on the Gug's exterior really says a lot about what's going on inside, too. You gotta have technique or it doesn't mean squat.
Shock art is not art either, it's just a waste of time, like your righteous critic says. My first letter in, so I must say good job to all. I'm enjoying the editorials, art and comics more than ever before. Thanks again.
John Moredock, Manhattan
Welcome Back, Reba
I am sick and tired of right-wingers like Russ Smith opining about the Democratic presidential candidates?a topic they know nothing about ("MUGGER," 4/9). The fact is that core Democratic voters who vote in Democratic primaries (which does not include media whore Thomas Oliphant) applauded Kerry's statement that regime change should begin in America. Democrats feel let down by our leaders, who have been cowards when it comes to attacking the illegitimate thug who used Nazi tactics to win the presidency. And that is why we have never regarded Bush as our president.
Contrary to what Smith writes, Dick Gephardt is not the frontrunner?he is dead meat as far as Democrats are concerned because of his collaboration with the enemy on the Iraq resolution. This treacherous behavior is something we will never forget. We Democrats are looking for a candidate who will articulate the hatred that we feel for Bush?a man who has destroyed this country and is unfit to be president.
Reba Shimansky, Brooklyn
How About Al Capone's Vault?
Mike Signorile: You wrote that "Geraldo Rivera, on the other hand, should be deployed to the farthest reaches of outer Mongolia?forever" ("The Gist," 4/9). Hey, hey, now that ain't nice. Since there are probably fairly few people to speak here in defense of Mongolia, I feel I must. I worked there briefly, and it's actually a fascinating little country, with lovely people but enough of its own problems. It is massively unfair to unload someone like Rivera on them.
Would you consider China, instead?
Lynne Batik, Aberdeen, UK
Rees' Species
MUGGER: Thanks for the remarks about Michael Kelly (4/9). I think he pegged President Bush about right. He may not be the most erudite of our presidents, but I wouldn't swap his sincerity or honesty about his intentions for all the glibness or pseudo-glibness of Clinton, Gore or McCain. Besides that, I kinda like Rumsfeld, Rice, et al.
Go Red Sox. Maybe this year.
Bill Rees, Plano, TX
Daydream Believers
MUGGER: I don't have a problem with the protesters, at least the ones who are not truly serious (4/2). Enjoying the camaraderie and sense of mission makes for an interesting day?at least you're out of the apartment doing something. The ones that believe the twisted oil industry conspiracy theories or that Bush equals Hitler are also sadly entertaining, except when you realize their vote is equal to yours. It's the ones who don't believe terrorism exists or that we shouldn't do anything about it except hide under our bed sheets that I can't stand. Did they forget what happened on 9/11? Hopefully, 3000 ghosts from the World Trade Center will start screaming in their dreams every night.
Ed Gehrke, Long Island
Brandon Greenberg, Austin
Texas Trio
MUGGER: I'm glad to be reading MUGGER again. I haven't had a chance since my last trip to NYC, back in the summer of 2001. Today I found New York Press on the web, and the first column I read was yours and I like everything in it. Thanks, and nice to see you again.
David Curtin, San Angelo, TX
How Much Do We Owe You for This?
I just got around to taking a look at the "50 Most Loathsome New Yorkers" article (3/26), and much of it is on-point (not to mention hilarious).
But didn't you feel just a bit self-conscious as the issue was going to print? It's obviously a great p.r. move, but not a twinge of guilt that the article was on the one hand an extremely ostentatious "We're the fucking-New York-fucking-Press, and we don't give a fuck?seriously," and on the other hand a display of the voyeuristic bitterness of the educated underclass?
Because the bitterness (the seething fucking bitterness) is honestly incredible. It reminds me of the embittered table of unpopular (but, of course, eminently cool) kids in the high school cafeteria, who know everything that goes on in the cool world but have the profoundest contempt for it. It really makes them angry, this pathetic stupidity, this hypocrisy. But it's all they talk about. And you guys sure know a hell of a lot about stuff like the Naked Angels Theater Company.
So you're bitter kids (I don't mean this with any kind of malice, my nickname in high school was actually "Bitter"), but I'm sure that given the opportunity to circulate in the world you describe with such explosive, sputtering anger you wouldn't mind so much. I'm not saying you'd change your ways of thinking. Just that you'd probably take what you can get. Is it really the stupidity and hypocrisy of the famous and privileged and in-power that pisses you off, or is it that you yourselves are just close enough to squint through the hot mist in your eyes and masturbate, but no closer?
But you probably already understand this, which makes the piece (maybe a just bit) cynical. I'm sure that, at this point, most of the people who read your paper moved to New York after college (from a smaller, more Midwestern population center). They absolutely devour this kind of personality-sketching (because, ya' know, it's cool as hell to know minor personalities, and this young-man bitterness doesn't have that nasty geriatric smell that floats up from tabloid society pages). Also, I'm sure most of them thought The Corrections was a great fucking book.
(By the way, that's why speed will never fly in New York. Reminds the kids too much of those snaggle-toothed truckers they'd occasionally see in gas stations on the way to Cleveland and the caked-make-up girls who live on the outer edges of town and work nights at Arby's.)
I know it's been like eighty years, but what the hell is going on with Andrey Slivka? I used to pick up the Press mostly to read his pieces. The first Press piece I ever read was part two of his trip to the South, and let me tell you, that was a fucking piece. And lastly: both of Matt Taibbi's things in the last issue ("Unfair Hike" and "Cage Match," 4/16) were great. Very pleasant to return to a publication you thought was going to hell and find it at least somewhat not going to hell.
Wait, I was wrong, this is actually the last thing. I think that on the "Advice Columnist Who's Consistently a Horrible Fucking Cunt" front, Weekly World News beat you to the punch a long time ago with their, I believe, "Dear Dotty" column (I'm not even sure if they publish that anymore, but they sure as hell did when I was in grammar school and regularly stole it from the local C-Town; I used to tell my unsuspecting and highly moral mother it was free, heh heh). The only edge this Judy McGuire stuff ("Dategirl," 4/16) has is that it's slightly more literate.
Milosz Meller, Chicago
Drilling for Fun and Profit
MUGGER: For some time, Halliburton has (due to internal needs) developed a far better than good system of care for their troops (employees) around the jungles, dunes and wet platforms of the world ("MUGGER," 4/16). It's so good they subcontract this skill, which was what they used to attract people to Halliburton. It predates Dick Cheney, but he pushed and improved the logistic end of the company. They can set up field camps anywhere fast. Of course Halliburton also drills for oil. Thanks again for keeping the MUGGER's light on Raines and that whole bunch. I love it.
Frank Sebek, Lakewood, CA
Brodeur on Tap
Christopher X. Brodeur's movie review was pretty mild ("Brodeur v. Rudy", 4/2), I thought. The movie was a major turd and neglected to portray Rudy as the democracy-hating maniac he was and more. Please give us more Brodeur and less Rudy.
Loved the MTA cover story ("Unfair Hike," 4/16). The government is nothing more than a bunch of criminals and bless you for acknowledging this when the media is becoming a lapdog for powerful scum.
Ron Shapiro, QUEENS
Tried and True
MUGGER: First of all, predictable ("MUGGER," 4/9). You follow the program as always: link Kerry with France, call him "calculated," attack his patriotism, praise Bush's "resolve" and "vision." What's worse is you criticize Kerry's anti-Bush statements under the guise of telling him he's making a political mistake?as if you don't want Kerry to misstep.
Here's where your argument breaks down: You say Kerry's anti-Bush statements are "typical of the arrogance that's marked his calculated political career." You then go on to say that his statements are risky and ill-advised. If Kerry was as calculated as you, Mickey Kaus, and the rest of the punditocracy says, then why would he say such risky, ill-advised things? If anything, he's finally gone beyond cautious moves like voting in favor of Bush's war and now he's making bold statements, no matter what the pundits (and centrist Democratic candidates) say.
People like to pretend that there's widespread support for the war, but your own reasoning (Kerry has no right to make "outrageous statements about President Bush even as U.S. soldiers are dying in Iraq") shows that people don't support the war, or even Bush. They just think that it's bad timing and bad taste to criticize a war as it's happening. The bizarre party line has always been: "You can criticize a war before it starts, but once boots are on the ground, you must support them," which is why Bush rushed into this war and never paid any attention to critics anyway.
You fatuously call the U.S. "a cauldron of protest and debate" when you yourself have attacked protesters and anyone who dares to even suggest that debate is in order. (Remember all those ugly senile comments you made about Robert Byrd, when all he wanted was a little discussion before the bombs started falling?) We are, of course, a much freer country than Iraq, and Bush is no Hussein. But that doesn't mean we're a functioning democracy with meaningful debate, an informed electorate, and responsive and responsible leaders.
I have to say, I've never understood your vitriol, especially since January 2001. Read Matt Taibbi's column in your own paper this week. You attack left-leaning pundits and protesters, as if they make a difference at all. Why can't you just claim victory and shut the hell up? Your team won, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Not yet, anyway.
John Paul Spiro, Brooklyn