Article highlighted need to watch out for...
Article highlighted need to watch out for bicyclists
Thank you to Gary Moskowitz for your excellent coverage of the
hit-and-run accident involving a bicyclist last week. As a commuter
who gets to work by both car and bicycle, I see how the mix of
cars/trucks and bicycles works from both perspectives. And with my
wife’s brother having been killed by a car, I’m quite sensitive to
the dangers of riding a bike.
While many of us ride bikes to reduce traffic and pollution, I
sense that many drivers view us as a nuisance, and many simply don’t
understand the danger they cause by driving recklessly.
Let’s hope articles such as yours will help remind drivers of the
harm that they may cause by their careless driving.
SCOTT PEER
Glendale
Not so much a criticism, but more like a correction
New-Press reader Steven A. Wells came out swinging against Caruso
supporters on June 4 (“Bewildered by blind faith of Americana
supporters”), but returns with a rather feeble and defensive
justification of his several imprecise points of view (“Criticisms
abound in light of valid arguments,” Community Forum, July 1)
Addressing his defenses and responses to Patrick J. Foley’s
erudite and succinct response to his initial letter (“Faith in Caruso
is based on action, evidence,” June 21) is a waste of time. Mr. Wells
has been trapped by his own words, and his letter constitutes
flailing to regain his intellectual ground -- for about 19 column
inches.
He doesn’t make too convincing a case, succumbing to the very
evasion of valid argument he erroneously attributes to those who
responded quite soundly to his unfounded criticism of Caruso
supporters.
I will correct him, however, that Mr. Foley’s reference to Swiss
architect Le Corbusier was accurate. In his “Radiant City,” corridor
streets were destroyed. Automobile traffic was to circulate on
above-ground roadways, while ground level was a “gift” to
pedestrians, with pathways running in orthogonal and diagonal
projections. (Other transportation modes, like subways and trucks,
had their own roadways separate from automobiles.)
Pierre L’Enfant developed a Baroque plan for Washington, D.C.,
that featured ceremonial spaces and grand radial avenues, while
following natural contours of the land. The result was a system of
intersecting diagonal avenues superimposed over a standard grid
system.
I believe Mr. Foley’s point, however, was Le Corbusier’s
conclusion that intersections actually impede and create traffic. So,
once again, I’ll echo Mr. Foley: “If you can’t deny what someone is
saying, criticizing how he says it (or in this case mistakenly
criticizing his exemplar references) is the next best thing.”
JEFF KURTTI
Glendale
First-person account and advice on identity theft
Thank you for writing about stolen account numbers used by thieves
to make Internet purchases (“Hurdles left for identity theft bill,”
June 29).
In March 2003, I was attempting an ATM withdrawal when my request
for funds was denied due to a negative balance. Knowing this couldn’t
be right, I went into the branch and was told that an electronic
transaction was in progress for $753 to a company in Missouri. I
asked the bank to stop it and they said that until it posted, it was
not possible to place a hold on it. I asked for the address in
Missouri, but they had only the company name and state, but no
street.
The next morning, I called 411 for all of Missouri until I found
the number and spoke to the vendor, explaining that I did not
authorize this transaction. The vendor was cooperative, giving a
Glendale address as the delivery point. I gave all the information he
gave me to the Glendale Police. When I called the bank to give them
the police report number, they told me of a second transaction for
$400 also in progress, but they could tell me only the company name
and city, but not what state.
After calling 411 in nine states did I find them. They, too, were
helpful providing not only the name and address -- the same as the
other -- but also the phone number and the tracking number provided
by UPS. I promptly called the police and the bank.
The police got a search warrant, went to the address, waited for
the UPS truck, observed the delivery, and made an arrest. On scene
they found and confiscated lists of stolen credit and debit card
numbers, as well as illegally purchased merchandise.
My bank initially said it could take six to nine weeks before I
could recover my money. But, because I chose to do a lot of phone
calls to get the information the bank and the police needed, funds
from the bank’s provisional account were moved to my checking account
nine days after I had discovered my losses.
The Glendale Police advised me to shred all receipts with my
account numbers on them before placing them in the trash so as to
prevent this from happening again.
ALBERT J. PRYOR
Glendale