Urgent care worked for me
To The Editor:
I have lived in the West Village and Chelsea for many years. Loved St. Vincent’s. Their emergency room and hospital were the best, with caring doctors and nurses.
Well, yesterday, April 19, I cut my hand open. Realizing a band-aid would not work (too deep), I took the ad I saw in your newspaper for the new North Shore-L.I.J. Medical Group Urgent-Care Center on 20th St. I ran over and was greeted at the front desk by a lovely lady, who, when she saw my hand, called the medical staff downstairs that I was coming.
They only took my name and address, saying, “Let’s get you taken care of before the paperwork.” Well, within two minutes Dr. Reiffe and his assistant Rachel were working on my lacerated hand. With Rachel holding my other hand, I was nervous. Dr. Reiffe put in five or six stitches; I stopped counting when he reached four.
When the doctor finished, I spoke to the young lady at the desk who had papers for me. She had me sit and take my time and offered me water and asked if I was feeling O.K. to go home.
Everyone at the medical group was outstanding, especially Dr. Reiffe and Rachel.
I will miss St. Vincent’s very much. But until we get another full-service hospital, North Shore-L.I.J. will be my place to go. They have experience and caring.
Terry Quidone
Cyclists must act like drivers
To The Editor:
Re “V.I.D. rolls out panel on bike lanes to find common ground” (news article, April 21):
Bicycles belong in New York City. However, we cyclists have to abide by the same principles as any moving vehicle. I call it “Riding by the law.” It’s simply bicycling as if you were in a car. Only by bicycling this way will we be respected by pedestrians and vehicles.
Additionally, we can influence others by behaving with restraint when someone is blocking our path or not following the rules. Shouting doesn’t solve any problems.
Regarding bike lanes, perhaps the city should have phased them in or notified businesses of the changes. I would argue that there are more upsides than down to bike lanes, and like any long-term investment, their benefits will be realized in time.
This city has been re-engineered drastically to accommodate cars. Maybe it hurts if you drive, but bikes do have their place. If we can all just give a little, the city will be better for it.
John C. Tripp
NYCdog is canines’ conduit
To The Editor:
Re “Wash. Sq. small dog run will be done soon” (news article, April 21):
This article states that, “The New York Council of Dog Owner Groups will be funding maintenance of the facility from now on.” That is a well-meaning misunderstanding. NYCdog does not directly fund anything. We are a conduit for our member groups, including the small dog owners at Washington Square Park. This allows the small dog owner group at Washington Square to accept tax deductible donations that they will subsequently use to assist the Parks Department in maintaining and improving the dog park.
We are a 501(c)3 organization. As part of our mission to support responsible dog ownership and dog-friendly environments within New York City parks, we help small and new dog owner groups get started by serving as their umbrella organization with regard to fundraising. As groups grow, they apply for their own 501(c)3 status, and deposit all their funds with the New York City Parks Foundation or a few other alternatives designed to secure donations and to permit them to be tax deductible. Each group determines its own course.
NYCdog is an entirely volunteer organization composed of representatives of dog owner groups from New York City parks; including FIDO (Prospect Park), FLORAL (Riverside Park), Paws (Central Park), FirstRun (Tompkins Park) and the large and small dog owner groups at Washington Square Park. Collectively, through our member groups, we represent more than 50,000 New York City dog owners.
Responsible dog owners annually contribute tens of thousands of dollars to local parks, devote thousands of hours of volunteer hours to help maintain dog parks and off-leash areas, and work to promote responsible dog ownership throughout the city, not just in parks.
City officials have recognized dog owners as the largest use-specific visitors to city parks. Twenty-one years ago the first city dog park opened at Tompkins Square. Today there are more than 50 dog runs in New York City parks, with more planned or under construction. Increasingly, when parks are built or renovated, the needs of dog owners are included.
NYCdog led the battle to formalize and legalize limited off-leash times and locations in New York City. Today there are 89 parks where off-leash is permitted.
Bob Marino
Marino is president, NYCdog
Review gas pipeline risks
To The Editor:
Re “We’re facing an even bigger problem than fracking” (talking point, by Jennifer Davis, April 21):
The causes of past gas pipeline failures and the risks of other possible causes of failure ought to be reviewed and evaluated, together with the likely consequences of failure, and this information and review process made public.
Financial security to guarantee payment for the damages that might happen should be required. If no insurance group wishes to underwrite the risk, the public ought not listen and also decline.
Alternatives that would lessen the risk or minimize the consequences should also be reviewed — like conservation and alternative energy sources — to eliminate the need for the additional gas.
Charles Brainard
E-mail letters, not longer than 250 words in length, to news@thevillager.com or fax to 212-229-2790 or mail to The Villager, Letters to the Editor, 145 Sixth Ave., ground floor, NY, NY 10013. Please include phone number for confirmation purposes. The Villager reserves the right to edit letters for space, grammar, clarity and libel. The Villager does not publish anonymous letters.
