Increasing Crime on NYC Transit
Dear Editor:
How should we deal with fare evasion, vandalism and crime on NYC Transit subway and buses?. Perhaps it is time to return to the good old days when a transit police officer was assigned to ride and patrol most stations and trains. This, along with installation of security cameras on trains and at stations might serve as a deterrent against crime, fare evasion and vandalism. There also may be the need to increase fines and penalties as a deterrent for those who don’t pay their fare, commit crime or vandalism.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
(Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for the MTA, NYC Transit, Long Island and Metro North Rail Roads, MTA Bus, NYC Department of Transportation along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ).
Auschwitz Exhibit at NY Holocaust Museum
Dear Editor:
The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust recently announced there are only three months left to see the internationally acclaimed and popular exhibition, Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away., before it leaves New York City. The exhibition will be on view at the Battery Park City-based Museum through May 2, 2021.
Produced by the international exhibition firm Musealia and the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland, the groundbreaking exhibition Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. is the largest ever on Auschwitz with more than 700 original objects and 400 photographs.
The exhibition has been extended twice since it was opened in May 2019, due to the record number of visitors – more than 168,000 people, including more than 35,000 students – until the Museum temporarily closed because of COVID-19. The Museum reopened on September 13, albeit at 25% of the Museum’s previous capacity to maintain proper social distancing.
Currently, the Museum is open three days per week—Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays—rather than the previous six, and with limited hours, from 10 AM to 5 PM. General admission, timed-entry tickets purchased online in advance allow access to all Museum galleries. On the other days, the Museum deep cleans all public spaces.
Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. explores the dual identity of the camp as a physical location—the largest documented mass murder site in human history—and as a symbol of the borderless manifestation of hatred and human barbarity.
Sincerely
MJH – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
“MaskParade” on Purim Holiday
Dear Editor:
In advance of the upcoming Purim holiday on February 25th, and amid the pandemic’s limitations, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) will hold its inaugural “FIDF’s MaskParade,” a unique competition in which FIDF supporters are invited to design and submit creative Purim masks out of their Covid-19 masks. Winning masks will be produced and given to IDF soldiers.
“FIDF’s MaskParade” is seizing an opportunity to celebrate the mask, which over the past year has been purely associated with negative circumstances and uncertainty, and bring joy during the festive holiday of Purim.
Submissions will be judged in the following categories: weirdest, blingiest, funniest, cleverest, Purim-iest, FIDF-iest mask. Schools, synagogues, youth groups, etc., that submit 300 or more masks will receive a special certificate of recognition from FIDF.
Finalists in each category will be determined by FIDF’s judging panel and will be featured in three FIDF national emails. FIDF supporters will then be invited to vote for their favorite entries in each category on FIDF’s social media pages.
Contestants are asked to submit their designs for “FIDF’s MaskParade” by Feb. 24.
Sincerely
Friends of the IDF
Patriotism at the Super Bowl???
Dear Editor:
Do you remember Super Bowl XXXIX, when Americans were proud of our nation? When the opening to the game was filled with patriotism? When players of all colors stood while the Anthem was played and sung by uniformed, young patriots? That’s all gone, and now we must fight together, tooth and nail, for our survival.
Thanks,
Alan
