In the last couple of days the Dominican press, TV and radio programs, specially "El Gobierno De La Ma?ana" led by Alvaro Arvelo's strident's voice have led a frontal first page attack on this school because of the installation of metal tube barriers filled with concrete in the lateral sidewalks on Sarasota Avenue. While the reasons are not totally clear, it appears security against terrorism could be one, and to prevent parents from parking their vehicles on the sidewalk another one. Regardless of the reason, here are some facts:
1)City Mayor Roberto Salcedo sent his crews to dismantle the barriers due to the pressure, after certain permits were issued, following the irresponsible tradition of government to disrespect its desicions once they are made.
2)An anti-american campaign begins with this issue based on the misconception that Carol Morgan School is an American school. The overwhelming majority of students in this school is Dominican. Many teachers are Dominican born with U.S. education. The school board, and PTO is mostly Dominican, including almost every board president in their history.Simon Suarez, a prominent member of ASONAHORES was recently president and former student. Key decisions and policies are set by Dominicans on the board, although followed strictly by its principal and assistants, who are mostly Americans.
3)Contrary to what was wrongfully stated by Z-101's Alvaro Arvelo, the barriers do not block pedestrian traffic because the barriers are posted on the borderline of the sidewalk and not on the sidewalk itself. Arvelo sensationalized his version by saying that many pedestrians would be killed because they would have to walk on the street pavement. WRONG!! If anything the most protected pedestrians in DR, besides those walking by the U.S. embassy's barriers, would be those walking by CMS. If a car loses control, the pedestrians would be safer than any pedestrians in Santo Domingo.
4)Supposing the reason was to abolish parent parking on the sidewalk, now pedestrians cannot be accidented by parents' cars and the flow of auto traffic would be smoother with CMS's alternative parking areas. Pedestrians crossing would have safer areas to cross, since the barriers have ample space in between and do not move. You can hit them if you're blind , but they can't hit you! A blind person can use its stick to check.
5)If the reason was protection against terrorist acts, the entire citizenry would benefit, but most important our hundreds of DOMINICAN kids in that school. Yes, they are mostly the kids of the rich and the super-rich, but they are Dominicans and the future heads of many of our most important businesses and institutions. As an extra, we are protecting the children of our foreign friends which come from almost any nation in the planet.
6)This school is the most technologically advanced in the country and provides vital social services to the poor thru their social activities and participates in sister school programs in disadvantaged areas. I have personally gone to distribute children's books and do readings to neighborhood kids. I was a student here too. I am Dominican.
So Mr. Arvelo, perhaps you might wish to put your anti-Bush, anti-American feelings aside and advice Mayor Salcedo to equally take down dangerous street barriers placed by most of our other "Dominican" schools to slow down the car traffic(policias acostado), but that at night, they are crime traps and accidents waiting to happen. Mr. Salcedo could also take down illegal sidewalk car dealerships, sidewalk cafes, sidewalk tire repair and car repair shops and other illegal businesses occupying almost every sidewalk in Santo Domingo. How about "padres de familias"(street vendors taking our sidewalks? How about Mr. Salcedo...your own violation of taking all for yourself and the PLD party the sign areas in the tunnels used to "advice traffic to slow down and drive safely" for your personal political campaign ads to run for mayor again? Isn't that illegal? Check again Mr. hypocrite. Perhaps you ought to spend more time picking up my garbage for which my fee was increased by 1004%, but I hardly see a garbage truck.
Mayor Salcedo, with his easygoing manner and "cara de yo no fui" is one of our most deceptive and hypocritical politicians in DR, who uses part of his time in office to run his own TV programs thru PROGRAMARTE, Inc. He runs theater shows, tv programs, master of ceremony acts and others at our tax expense. This is the best candidate to be told" "e pa fuera que va". What with his obstruction of traffic with his "Malecon Libre", where he never consulted us residents in the area if we wanted to close our main street, so that mostly people from other vicinities under other mayors use it free, while we can't get to our homes on time? Is Malecon really free. Try parking!
TW
1)City Mayor Roberto Salcedo sent his crews to dismantle the barriers due to the pressure, after certain permits were issued, following the irresponsible tradition of government to disrespect its desicions once they are made.
2)An anti-american campaign begins with this issue based on the misconception that Carol Morgan School is an American school. The overwhelming majority of students in this school is Dominican. Many teachers are Dominican born with U.S. education. The school board, and PTO is mostly Dominican, including almost every board president in their history.Simon Suarez, a prominent member of ASONAHORES was recently president and former student. Key decisions and policies are set by Dominicans on the board, although followed strictly by its principal and assistants, who are mostly Americans.
3)Contrary to what was wrongfully stated by Z-101's Alvaro Arvelo, the barriers do not block pedestrian traffic because the barriers are posted on the borderline of the sidewalk and not on the sidewalk itself. Arvelo sensationalized his version by saying that many pedestrians would be killed because they would have to walk on the street pavement. WRONG!! If anything the most protected pedestrians in DR, besides those walking by the U.S. embassy's barriers, would be those walking by CMS. If a car loses control, the pedestrians would be safer than any pedestrians in Santo Domingo.
4)Supposing the reason was to abolish parent parking on the sidewalk, now pedestrians cannot be accidented by parents' cars and the flow of auto traffic would be smoother with CMS's alternative parking areas. Pedestrians crossing would have safer areas to cross, since the barriers have ample space in between and do not move. You can hit them if you're blind , but they can't hit you! A blind person can use its stick to check.
5)If the reason was protection against terrorist acts, the entire citizenry would benefit, but most important our hundreds of DOMINICAN kids in that school. Yes, they are mostly the kids of the rich and the super-rich, but they are Dominicans and the future heads of many of our most important businesses and institutions. As an extra, we are protecting the children of our foreign friends which come from almost any nation in the planet.
6)This school is the most technologically advanced in the country and provides vital social services to the poor thru their social activities and participates in sister school programs in disadvantaged areas. I have personally gone to distribute children's books and do readings to neighborhood kids. I was a student here too. I am Dominican.
So Mr. Arvelo, perhaps you might wish to put your anti-Bush, anti-American feelings aside and advice Mayor Salcedo to equally take down dangerous street barriers placed by most of our other "Dominican" schools to slow down the car traffic(policias acostado), but that at night, they are crime traps and accidents waiting to happen. Mr. Salcedo could also take down illegal sidewalk car dealerships, sidewalk cafes, sidewalk tire repair and car repair shops and other illegal businesses occupying almost every sidewalk in Santo Domingo. How about "padres de familias"(street vendors taking our sidewalks? How about Mr. Salcedo...your own violation of taking all for yourself and the PLD party the sign areas in the tunnels used to "advice traffic to slow down and drive safely" for your personal political campaign ads to run for mayor again? Isn't that illegal? Check again Mr. hypocrite. Perhaps you ought to spend more time picking up my garbage for which my fee was increased by 1004%, but I hardly see a garbage truck.
Mayor Salcedo, with his easygoing manner and "cara de yo no fui" is one of our most deceptive and hypocritical politicians in DR, who uses part of his time in office to run his own TV programs thru PROGRAMARTE, Inc. He runs theater shows, tv programs, master of ceremony acts and others at our tax expense. This is the best candidate to be told" "e pa fuera que va". What with his obstruction of traffic with his "Malecon Libre", where he never consulted us residents in the area if we wanted to close our main street, so that mostly people from other vicinities under other mayors use it free, while we can't get to our homes on time? Is Malecon really free. Try parking!
TW
