Speaking out for Pelosi power

Huntington, L.I.: If it wasn’t for Nancy Pelosi, I don’t know if I’d have health insurance or even be here right now. Yes, the Affordable Care Act is called Obamacare, but there were times when Speaker Pelosi pushed that bill even more forcefully than President Obama did. My firm (Dewey & LeBoeuf) went bankrupt in 2012, and I had a life-threatening medical emergency in 2013. Had I not been able to buy an affordable ACA plan for surgery in 2014, I might not be writing this. With the Senate GOP health bill — really a $700 billion tax cut for the rich at the expense of the middle class and the poor, disguised as health legislation — on the table, this is a time to appreciate Pelosi, not call for her head.

In Linda Stasi’s Sunday column, Rep. Kathleen Rice says it’s time for Pelosi to step aside . . . for no reason. Rice just seems to be buying into GOP criticism of the House leader. I’m sure Republicans would rather see a new, less experienced minority leader, but Democrats would be wise not to fall for that trick! In the recent House vote for Democratic leader, Pelosi handily beat her challenger, Tim Ryan. She has support.

What does Rice stand for? She offers nothing here. And I saw no mention at all on her website about health care, which is the most important domestic issue in our country right now.

The Democratic Party needs ideas for economic reform and improving health policy to counter this current GOP disaster proposed for our country. This is a time for Democrats in Congress to stick together and support one another to help the American people. Rice’s ideas on policy would be more productive than her baseless, divisive attack on a proven leader of her own party. Jane Rupert Rockaway Park: I am a center-left thinking progressive, not to be confused with Republicans who want to make Nancy Pelosi or other older Democratic representatives the “bogeyman.” However, maybe now is the time for change in the leadership of the party. I retired after 30 years in my profession simply because it was time to go and allow younger people the opportunity to take charge. It might be time for Maxine Waters, John Conyers, Nancy Pelosi and other older members of Congress who have been in their jobs for decades to step down and allow younger people with fresh ideas a chance to lead. If need be, they could continue to use their valuable experience and knowledge as mentors to those who follow. If the Democrats want to win again, it’s time to take a new direction — with new faces that would energize the base. Remember the large numbers of people who failed to vote in the last election because they were uninspired. Manhattan: On Saturday, June 10, when I was coming home from a job (as a children’s entertainer), there was a signal malfunction: I was stuck on the A train between 145th and 168th Sts. for an hour. The week before that was the F train experience where the passengers had to pry the doors open. Now, the A train derailed. People were injured. (Thankfully, no one is dead.) I have a contract with my clients. We agree on a time for me to do my job. I always leave approximately an hour over the recommended time to get to my gigs, and I have been late 50% of the time. This is unacceptable. It’s a breach of contract. The MTA takes our money with an understanding that we will have reliable, timely and safe transportation. Six million people rely on this transportation every day! The last six times I rode the subway, five of those rides were delayed because of signal problems. Do we have to wait until someone gets killed? One can only assume that nonworking signals are a deathtrap waiting to happen. Many New Yorkers, like myself, gave up cars to support an environmentally sound alternative in public transportation. What are you going to do to help us? Flushing: I am writing in regard to the deceptive wheelchair-accessible icon on the facade of the newly installed elevator at the Briarwood station. This elevator is only mezzanine-bound, so the passenger in a wheelchair is deceived to board the elevator, then traverse a long tunnel, only to discover that the train platform is only accessible via stairs, a dead end for the passenger! Although there are structural feasibility grounds that apparently preclude the construction of a platform-bound elevator at this station, exempting the MTA from the requirement of full accessibility of newly constructed entrances for wheelchair-using people, as per the Americans With Disabilities Act, the icon must be immediately removed and a sign must be posted at the elevator: “Wheelchair Dead End Ahead!” Presently, unaware disabled passengers are on a page out of Kafka novels. Edison, N.J.: The GOP Senate health care bill — 13 men, no women, working behind closed doors — and they are going to decide the fate of millions. These men, like every other representative in Washington, and their families have the best of the best health insurance. Their co-contribution is next to nothing. We, the American taxpayer, are paying the major portion of their health insurance. Their allegiance is to almighty lobbyists for insurance companies and pharmaceuticals. This is an absolute disgrace. An absolute disgrace. Staten Island: I’ve been watching a program called “Street Soldiers” on Channel 5. They are highlighting vocational training for inmates at Rikers Island. Don’t they realize if they offered these programs in public schools that some of these individuals would not even wind up at Rikers? Why do you have to hit bottom before you get taught a useful skill? Los Angeles: This is outrageous (“Rikers Island guard admits to sexually assaulting female inmate, avoids jail time,” June 8)! No jail time? He should get double the time for being in a position of authority and abusing it. How can this stand? Why would prosecutors allow such a lenient sentence? “Zero tolerance for abuse,” but if you sexually assault a woman, you can get away without jail? Come on! Wonder why women who get raped don’t want to report it? This is shocking to the core! Newport News, Va.: How is it fair to the victim of a sexual assault to have their name, age and the time and date of the assault publicly announced for the whole world to see? If someone close to you was in that position, for example a daughter or son, would you put their name in the spotlight? Whitestone: Linda Stasi is right to compare President Donald Trump to a Mafia don (“It’s Mob rule in Trump nation,” June 11). The main difference between Trump and Carlo Gambino and Joseph Bonano is that the Mafia bosses knew the truth and used truth and lies selectively and strategically. Trump lies all the time, even when it damages his own credibility. We have a President who is a pathological liar — a very dangerous situation for the United States. Manhattan: Voicer Ken Ritucci depicts the Democrats as a party whose only agenda is to “work overtime to try to bring Trump down.” Was he just as outraged at J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE/AP the Republicans who, when Obama was President, spent those eight years solely trying to undermine him? Or, is he as outraged now, post-Obama, with Republicans running every branch of government, that their sole agenda seems to be overturning everything Obama did while in office? Rockaway Beach: I wish governors of New York and New Jersey would get off their butts and take a ride on the George Washington Bridge upper level both ways and look at the dirt and filth of this bridge. Manhattan: Mom, today is a day you probably could not begin to imagine when you started your first job. You have accomplished so much during your career and impacted so many lives — particularly mine. I hope you know that I truly appreciate the hard work and time you have put into your career and the wonderful, privileged life it has afforded me. While you have been a teacher at school, you have also been a teacher at home. You taught me kindness and compassion, selflessness and generosity, responsibility and leadership, and most importantly, the importance of being me. You are beautiful, smart, strong, caring, funny and both my role model and best friend. Thank you for being you. So enjoy your retirement; you’ve earned it! I will be right here to spend it with you. With great pride, A Momma’s Boy.