COMMON SENSE: A senseless change

In a few weeks, the New York City Department of Educationintends to end the practice of allowing religious organizations tocontinue to rent space in schools for services. This will result inhundreds of small churches and thousands of worshipers needing anew home for their weekly services. It is sure to create greathardship and may even cause some to shut their doorspermanently.

The Department of Education is taking this action as an extremeresponse to a judicial decision that wended its way to the SupremeCourt. Instead of implementing new rules that would reduce thelikelihood of litigation, the DOE has instituted a completeban.

It should be noted that these religious organizations rent thespace and have formal written agreements in place. The practice hasbeen in force for as long as anyone can remember and does notinterfere with any of the Department’s educational activities.

In response to DOE’s failure to adopt new regulations, StateSenator Marty Golden together with Assemblymembers Nelson Castroand Nicole Malliotakis have introduced legislation that wouldprovide the city with language that would protect it from theconcerns raised by the judicial decisions.

The proposed legislation has been circulated to all members ofthe legislature for co- sponsorship. To date, DOE seems moreinterested in moving forward with the ban rather than making anychanges. Thus, the need for the legislation increases with eachpassing day.

Hopefully, the Department of Education will come to its sensesand work out an arrangement whereby these houses of worship cancontinue to rent space. These churches provide an invaluableservice to our city and should be aided, not thwarted, in theirefforts.

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Congratulations to my Home Reporter and Spectator colleague TedGeneral, who together with Jack LaTorre and Peter Scarpa, hasreleased a new book on Bay Ridge entitled Bay Ridge Etc.

I attended the announcement at Yellow Hook Restaurant on ThirdAvenue earlier this month. Yellow Hook — which is named after thecolonial name for Bay Ridge — also was for many years the locationof the popular and famous Lento’s Restaurant: Two perfect reasonsto choose Yellow Hook as the announcement location for a book thatcontains over 150 historical pictures with captions of ourcommunity.

The book is sure to be a best seller. You should get yoursbefore copies run out.

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The Brooklyn Conservative Party has endorsed David Storobin forState Senate in the district that was vacated by disgracedDemocratic State Senator Karl Kruger. David, who also has theRepublican endorsement, will face off against Democrat Lew Fidlerin a special election that will take place on Tuesday, March20.

The district has strong Republican-Conservative tendencies withRepublican Congressman Turner receiving 67 percent of the vote thispast September in his election. Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloombergalso had big wins in this district. Of course Fidler, a many termcity councilmember, is formable opponent who will work to separatehimself from his liberal voting record.

Expect this race to receive a lot of attention.