Dear Editor:

In this last week’s issue, State Senator Serf Maltese placed an advertisement touting his knighthood by the Italian government. He refers to himself as Cavakiere Senator Serphin R. Maltese and his wife as Cavaliere Constance Del Vecchio Maltese. Hmmmm. How un-American! The United States Constitution, Article I, Section 9 states:

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument,office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.

So, my question is this, Senator Maltese: has the United States Congress granted you authority to use this title bestowed upon you by a foreign government? If not, shame on you.

Sincerely,

Michael Calder

Forest Hills