‘Build It’— and they’ll mess it up
Staten Island: The article “Build It Back makes progress in fixing homes damaged by Hurricane” (June 7) focuses only on those who received help, in a positive way.
Build It Back destroyed my house — much more than Hurricane Sandy did! I have official documents that contradict other documents, scopes of work that make no sense, emails, texts and paperwork that prove all of my claims; they depreciated the value of my home by re-siding only one side of my house, using a different color and material than the other three sides. After re-siding one side, I cannot open my kitchen windows because the siding overlaps them!
They did lead-based paint, mold and asbestos abatement/remediation without using the proper health procedure and/or tools (they used my household vacuum instead of a HEPA vac). The didn’t use drop-cloths at all, in any room, and ruined hardwood floors and stained my carpets.
They broke 1930s crown molding, left it broken and replaced other molding with 2×4’s. They removed custom 6″ saddles and replaced them with 4″ saddles; they chipped tiles from walls and floors and never fixed the damage, broke my two front gates and my backyard walkway wall, and threw away my basement screen door.
They removed doors and jambs that tested negative to lead-based paint and didn’t remove ones that tested positive. They never addressed obvious mold growth in my basement and my bedroom attic. For the attic, they told me to just keep the door closed. In April, I tested positive to mold exposure. The normal range is “<46"; my level was 74.4! They continuously lied to me about doing "air quality tests," while they were doing hazardous material removal (because they insisted it was safe for us to live in the house while they were working); all four of us and the dog were getting sick. I kept asking them for the air quality results, so I can go to my neurologist (because I'm disabled) and they kept stalling.
When I mentioned that I would call an independent air quality company to get the needed results, they threatened to shut the job down! There’s so much more — and I have proof. Diane Mody
Rent papers, please
Bronx: I don’t see any problem with the owner of this building asking to see paperwork proving immigration status (“Show me your papers,” June 19). The banks ask for it. I can’t open a bank account without proving it. If the landlord was smart he would ask for all rent in the form of personal check. This would ensure the tenants are legal. I also find it ridiculous that the Daily News would show a picture of the landlord’s house. Why? He can’t have anything nice? I’m sure he works hard for it. Where do the owner and editor of The News live? The News is such ridiculous trash, I can’t even read it anymore. Laura Long
Food stamp wisdom
Arverne, N.Y.: To Voicer Eva Bedell: Several years ago, actual “food stamps” were done away with. Today, food stamps and cash assistance are loaded on a bank card. These cards are no more identifiable than regular bank cards, which come in a variety of designs and colors. Just as I can’t tell you what bank card the shopper in front of me used to pay for their purchase (nor do I care), how is it that these witnesses to food stamps being used to buy alcohol and tobacco are able to determine whether this person has a welfare card or Visa card. How do they know food stamps were used and not the cash allotment since they are both placed on the same card? A shopper can buy food items and toilet paper with the same benefit card. The food will automatically be charged to the food stamps and the toilet paper will come out of the cash. One transaction, one card, no way for the know-it-alls to tell which paid for what. So the next time you read that someone saw a customer pay for cigarettes with a food stamp card, trust me they are lying and need to be more concerned with themselves than putting down the less fortunate. Eric B. Hill
NRA hearts blacks
Santa Clara, Calif.: As a long time NRA member, I was distressed to read Carron Phillips’ column (“that the NRA doesn’t care about black people,” June 21). Perhaps Phillips has not heard of Shaneen Allen, an African-American nurse and mother pulled over and arrested in New Jersey for carrying a gun, while having a legal permit to carry in Pennsylvania. The NRA went to bat for Allen to help her avoid being convicted of a felony and being sentenced to prison in Jersey. The NRA worked hard for her release and Gov. Christie eventually pardoned Allen. Perhaps Phillips has not heard of Otis McDonald. Yes, this is the same Otis McDonald in the Supreme Court case McDonald vs. Chicago, that established that the Second Amendment right is, in fact, an individual right to own a gun and that it does apply in states and cities. McDonald, a black man, was being denied his right to own a handgun in the city of Chicago. NRA helped in that case to win Mr. McDonald, and every person, including blacks, their right to own a gun. Sorry, Mr. Phillips, but the NRA does help black people too. Kevin Morris
First amendment on campus
Bellport, L.I.: Free speech leading to the exchange of ideas has always been a great strength of our country. Thugs, hooligans, goons and name-callers who call themselves liberals but are actually fascists are polluting our colleges and, indeed, our country with their denial of free speech. I was always fortunate to have professors who were educators, not indoctrinators. Free discussion always enriched my classes. Too many professors today are not educators but indoctrinators. They are robbing their students of an education. Students who disrupt opposing views are robbing themselves of an education. Edwin M. Schultheis
Puppy justice
Mahopac, N.Y.: Re “Staten Island man busted for kicking puppy down stairs” (June 21): This man should get serious jail time and be in with those inmates who are animal lovers. Justice for this poor puppy will then be served. Anyone who does this to an animal for any reason should be in jail for many years. Adrienne Crognale
Hurting all of us
Fairbury, Neb.: The Senate GOP health care bill is wealth care — not health care. Donald Loren McBride
Mark vs. Megyn
Far Rockaway: I really used to enjoy Mark Simone’s program on WOR radio because it was fun and entertaining. Lately I’ve had an epiphany of sorts. I find it very disturbing Simone has been using his microphone to launch one angry diatribe after another against Megyn Kelly. What’s Simone got against Kelly?? There is no excuse for Simone to indulge in this childish petty behavior. Sharon Rutman
Not horsing around
Manhattan: Voicer Stephen Hill has no knowledge of us buying any horses and yet he gets to claim that “he” has never seen it. On June 25, 2010, I found a former NYC carriage horse from West Side Livery dumped at the New Holland, Pa., kill auction – one day away from being sent back to the slaughter pen. His owner said, “it was too old.” His four-digit hoof number was intact, which allowed identification. We purchased him and Bobby II Freedom has lived at Equine Advocates sanctuary in New York State since that time. His re-birthday is this Sunday. The carriage industry was furious that we found and purchased him. Bobby was also not in the best of health – particularly his legs and hooves, but has since thrived. Although we would love to take them, the carriage trade does not want to sell their horses to animal rights activists. To further set the record straight, we put our money where our mouth is by donating to horse rescues and related campaigns around the country. Elizabeth Forel, Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages
Beast sympathy
Manhattan: I agree wholeheartedly with Voicer April Lang on the use and abuse of wild animals in circuses. We are teaching our children that it’s acceptable to capture, torture and display wild animals and beat and terrorize them into submission for our “entertainment.” This is disgusting, and is certainly not in teaching our youth to grow up to be sensitive and kind human beings. As always, it’s all about the money and profit. Enough, already! Brenda Nicholls
Hitting for the cycle
Manhattan: Coming out of Penn Station last week, the Citi Bike docking station was advertising a contest around the Citi Bikes with Mets logos. Sure enough, there were two such Citi Bikes at the station, the only two available. As I approached, I noticed that both had their seats turned backwards. Perfect, I thought. Broken, just like the Mets. Hal Cohen
