Sunday, May 24, 2009

Less development, smaller schools

To the editor:

The Press’ story of a waiting list at PS 81 demands a solution. Unfortunately, our leaders can only think of ones that are taxpayer-funded, like bigger schools. These are less solutions than temporary fixes with problems of their own. Larger schools are usually worse for kids, require more buses, metal detectors, real estate, and taxes, and have less community feel.

The real solution, which would save taxes and improve our environment, is to stop development. Every bit of woods that’s cut down and turned into a house or a high-rise crowds our schools and taxes (literally) our systems of education, water, traffic, police, sewerage, and fouls our wonderful Riverdale air. Does anybody in Riverdale want these extra buildings? Then why are we constantly faced with bulldozers destroying what used to be Riverdale? Stop the crazy building and the overcrowding of schools won’t be a problem.

JIM WACKER

This is part of the May 21, 2009 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

4 comments:

Frank said...

That could be said for anywhere in NYC, not just Riverdale. Of course, since Riverdale is full of rich folks they might actually get some say.

Queens Crapper said...

Exactly why I posted it, Frank.

Anonymous said...

I think that if the politicians want to line their pockets with developer's money, the developers should be mandated to kick in money to a fund to build the schools. Take a percentage of their profit off the top and let it go into a construction fund for education. Then, set up a fund for infrastructure and let them kick in. When it's not so lucrative to knock down lovely one-family homes and put up crap, they might think twice about preservation.

Anonymous said...

THIS IS VERY VERY FUNNY.

WHY CANT THE MAINLINE PRESERVATION COMMUNITY OPENLY DISCUSS THIS INSTEAD OF GIVING BULLSHIT LECTURES ON HOW TO LIVE WITH DEVELOPMENT.

IS IT BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ARE IN CAHOOTS (IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER) WITH THE PERFIDIOUS 'CULT OF DEVELOPMENT' THAT HAS ITS ROT IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS CITY?

LANDLORDS OF GHETTO BUILDINGS IN THE UPPER EAST SIDE?

HIRERS OF BASEMENT DWELLING NANNIES LIVE IN BROOKLYN HEIGHTS?

QUEENS CRAP FINANCIERS LIVING IN THE WEST SIDE?

LEADERS OF PRESERVATION INVOLVED WITH COLUMBIA, PRATT, MAS, CITY PLANNING LIVING IN THE VILLAGE?

MY! MY! MY!