The reason for Israel’s fence

I have to admire June Forsythe (Mailbag, Dec. 14) for her wholehearted support of the Palestinian cause. I believe, in our present terrorist climate, that if both the Israelis and the Palestinians do not achieve peace, all will be lost.

Her recent letter had some omissions such as that the reason for the checkpoints is to prevent suicide bombers from entering Israeli territory. Unfortunately, in a situation such as is present there, the innocent suffer with the guilty.

In addition, it is obvious that peace can never be obtained as long as the Palestinians keep firing rockets into Israel. Peace must occur, but it will take a lot of give and take from each of them before this can happen.

Allan Jay Silver, Albany

Who would steal that van?

When I woke up this morning to drive my daughter to Head Start, I was mortified to find my van had been stolen overnight. I am a single mother of three little girls, ages 4, 2 and 1. I do not receive housing assistance or welfare.

Everything I have, I worked for. Without my van, I can’t take my daughter to school and I can’t drive to work. If there was a medical emergency with my children, how would I get them to a doctor?

I work as a certified nurse’s aide for a staffing agency. I am required to travel to various towns to earn a living. If I can’t drive to work, how will I pay my rent and utility bills? I can’t even purchase a new vehicle until I receive my tax refund. I won’t even be getting paid for working this week because my timecard is in my van. My daughter’s car seats were in my van. Some of their favorite travel toys are in my van. I am living an absolute nightmare.

Do car thieves even realize the hardship they cause people when they steal? Do they realize that stealing is illegal? Why would any sane person risk jail time over a 1994 Plymouth Voyager with a broken radio and bad transmission? I just can’t grasp what would make a person do something so stupid. My van may not be worth much but it was all I had. To whomever has my van, you are disgusting.

I had to call the Department of Human Services today to see if there was anyway to get assistance to be able to to get to work. The woman I talked to made some calls and put me in touch with Lt. LaBelle at the Albany Fire Department. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for delivering new car seats for my children.

When the firemen pulled up in their fire truck, my children were absolutely ecstatic. They even brought the girls each a little red firefighter helmet and badge and let them sit in the fire truck. I am sure the fire department does things like that for families every day, but they brightened our day and helped our situation more than anyone else. Thank you so much.

Goldie M. Gregory, Albany

Crying kids in public places

When I read the letter to the editor from Macey France about her

crying-child experience in a restaurant, I was completely astounded that she would have the attitude that other diners should suffer through listening to her child. I totally agree with Keith Kendrick’s response to Macey that her child should be taken outside until the noise had subsided.

Many mothers of small children (who are numb to the noise their children make) are not aware how it affects the people within hearing distance. Crying and screaming children in stores and public places are annoying, too.

My child and grandchild were not allowed to offend others with their behavior when out in public.

Joyce Pearson Reno, Crabtree

Site cleanup is overdue

Well it is about time the city of Albany gets tough on Duane Wilson of RCM Homes.

I was told by the mayor and other city officials in June 2006 that by the end of July 2006 Inland Quick Freeze would be all cleaned up.

Why is this property owner getting special treatment? He should pay all cleanup with his own money.

If this was a small person, the city would be all over this and want it cleaned up now.

It is time to kick butt on the city officials and make them all get in gear and get this mess cleaned up.

By Feb. 18, this mess is to be cleaned up. Odds are it will not happen because Albany city officials will let RCM Homes off the hook and again look the other way. He will cry until the city pays to clean it up.

Al Severson, Albany