Prosecutors are investigating
the organizers of a much-hyped
holiday market at the Brooklyn
Museum, after a vendor who
signed up to hawk her wares there
claimed the Christmas-themed
bazaar was a Yuletide scam that
ended up costing her big time
(“Christmas caper: DA investigating
organizers of Winterfest market
at Bklyn Museum after vendor
filed complaint,” by Colin Mixson,
online Dec. 7).
Canvas-bag maker Pamela
Barsky said she paid more than
$6,000 for the privilege to sell her
totes from one of Winterfest’s stalls
fashioned after quaint log cabins,
which she claimed constantly
leaked and lost electricity, deterring
would-be customers from
dropping any dough — a shortfall
the market’s bigwigs blamed on its
sellers, according to Barsky, who
accused the organizers of brazen
deception.
Readers, including some other
vendors, weighed in on the alleged
shortfalls of the event, which
is now admitting guests free of
charge until it closes on Dec. 31:
Six-thousand dollars in rent seems
outrageous to begin with.
Mathematician from Brooklyn
I am a vendor at the event, and although
it has been frustrating and we
feel let down, those of us who didn’t
drop out of the market still hope to
make it a success!
There are some great local vendors,
some tasty food, a wine tent —
come on out and support small business,
in spite of the organizers’ fail!
Cheryl Boiko
from Carroll Gardens
Winterfest is a bust due to inexperienced
organizers. It originally said
it will be open seven days a week,
then six days, now only four days,
most likely due to lack of operation
funding for basic staffing (including
Santa). It’s a shame and should be
closed down. MJ from Bay Ridge
There are still many fantastic
vendors at Winterfest with lots to
offer holiday shoppers: really good
food, lots of fun, and live music in
the wine tent, and so many unique
and wonderful gifts throughout the
market, many made by local artists
— like me!
The season is just beginning
Brooklyn, don’t give up on your local
small businesses!A
nnmaria Mazzini
from Riverdale
I am a vendor at this market, and
although it’s been troubled due to the
reasons outlined in the article, we
ask all Brooklynites to come out and
shop here.
We are honest businesses and need
the support of our great borough as
we had nothing to do with the organization
of this market. An update: all
the previously paid attractions are
now free. Happy holidays!
Live Poultry Designs
from Red Hook
It’s not inexperience. The organizers
are experienced scam artists.
They pulled the same thing in Boston
last year under a different business
name. Left a trail of angry and
ripped off small-business owners.
Don’t trust a word Lena says. The
stories they’re spinning about other
vendors being responsible for their
failures are the same ones they told
last year. Sara from Boston
Why would you pay to shop?
Old time Brooklyn from Slope
Keepers of Brooklyn Bridge
Park are shelling out millions to
build an entirely new span in place
of the beleaguered Squibb Bridge,
which zig zags from its namesake
park in Brooklyn Heights down to
the waterfront lawn below, and
for the second time closed due to
structural problems back in July
(“Second coming of Squibb: Multimillion
dollar bridge to Bridge
Park will be replaced after just
five years,” by Julianne Cuba, online
Dec. 10).
“We have announced plans to
fully replace Squibb Bridge,” Eric
Landau, president of the semi-private
Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation,
which oversees the green
space, said at a Dec. 5 corporation
board meeting.
Some readers pointed their fingers
squarely at meadow stewards
for the bridge boondoggle, which
has already cost more than $7 million
— excluding the estimated
$6.5 million necessary to construct
a new span to replace it:
COURIER L 28 IFE, DEC. 21–27, 2018 M B G
Irresponsible leadership has
caused situations like this that are
used to justify the two ridiculously
out-of-context tall buildings going
up at Pier 6. The entire Brooklyn
Bridge Park Corporation leadership
should be fired and replaced by people
whose goal is to run the park responsibly,
not line their own and developers’
pockets!
The Squibb Park bridge is unnecessary
— you can walk the same distance
down Columbia Heights and get
to the park. The bridge should be removed
and the money used to build a
bridge to the park farther south near
Montague Street, which would actually
provide useful access.
In related news, who is paying for
the expensive-looking repair of the
wave dampening docks at the marina
(which itself provides nothing to
99.9 percent of the people who use the
park)? Cobble Hillbilly
from Cobble Hill
The fat cats at BBP Corporation
have no interest in being responsible
and-or truthful, since there’s no punishment
for their being slipshod and
reliably dishonest.
Actually, they’re rewarded for being
slobs, since the money to do over
crappy work is unlimited. Of course
the whole thing stinks: DeBlasio and
the Real Estate Board of New York
are behind the luxury land grab and
the sloppy construction. Gavin
from Ft Greene
I try and use the park often, after
work, in all seasons. I thought it was
excellent use of development for the
public on the waterfront. It’s a great
way to experience the harbor as well.
I don’t think development of private
luxury homes and a hotel should
even be on that space. You can’t help
but ignore the above comments.
Patrick Kinsella from Bay Ridge
To the Editor,
This letter is addressed to Bob
Capano for his column about the
passing of former President George
H.W. Bush (“A farewell to ‘41,’ ” online
Dec. 6). I am sad that, in remembering
the president and his accomplishments,
you left out a very
important thing.
In 1990, former President Bush
signed the Americans with Disabilities
Act into law. This was very important
bipartisan legislation that
helped everyone.
It did not matter if you were a Republican
or a Democrat, liberal or
conservative, a veteran, rich, poor,
gay, etc. The law helped everyone
with a disability. This also why I am
sad he passed away, because he put
aside politics to pass the Americans
with Disabilities Act and help all
Americans.
In many of your articles you have
brought up that both parties should
work together. You may not at this
moment have a disability, but I’m
sure you know many persons with
disabilities. I, for one, am — as is my
son, who you know. My late mother
was also helped by the act.
But it seems, as usual, anything
having to do with disabilities is not
important to those who do not live
with one. Debra Greif
Sheepshead Bay
To the Editor,
Commemoration of heritage is
everywhere. Whether celebrating
Hanukkah with latkes, toasting
Christmas with eggnog, or enjoying
Kwanzaa’s Groundnut stew,
this is the time of year we pass a
“wealth” of traditions to future
generations.
We can pass our actual wealth to
future generations, too. The family
home or business can be part of our
legacy.
In retirement, the family dwelling
can become a management burden.
Options vary. In Brooklyn, where
home values have skyrocketed by 50
percent over the past decade, we may
find our home is a far more valuable
asset than anticipated. We may gift it
to our children (mind the tax consequences),
sell it to them (and continue
living in it, if desired), or even loan
them money for its purchase.
The family business is another
ideal vehicle to transfer accumulated
wealth, with priority on identifying
a successor. Sometimes multiple siblings
have worked in the business,
and deciding which should inherit it
can be daunting.
Occasionally, a valued employee is
a better choice: Selling to a non-family
member and disbursing the profits
among relatives is another avenue
for passing on wealth. Or, parents
can gift voting and non-voting stock
to their offspring. This helps ensure
that heirs share the wealth.
Whether personal, commercial,
or metaphorical, our wealth should
be transferred to future generations
as our legacy. Mark Seruya
Midwood
The writer is a vice president at Morgan
Stanley.