Cuomo’s missed Belmont chance

Bayside: Re “Cuomo’s time to lead” (editorial, Dec. 20): If the transit funding millionaires’ tax proposed by Mayor de Blasio and endorsed by Sen. Michael Gianaris cannot win approval in Albany, the Legislature should simply adopt a statewide gasoline tax instead, with revenues dedicated to transportation and transit improvements across New York State, to be allocated according to a formula based upon regional transportation needs and statewide population distribution.

The so-called “fair plan” isn’t fair to drivers, who would be called upon to pay billions of dollars in congestion fees, because most of the funds raised from drivers would be used to pay for marquee projects such as the Second Ave. subway expansion, instead of for the extension of subway and bus lines into the transit deserts of the outer boroughs, where many people must rely on their cars for their basic transportation needs.

Gov. Cuomo could have demonstrated some concern for outer-borough drivers by using his influence with the Empire State Development Corp. to require the Belmont Park redevelopment plan to provide for use of Belmont’s existing train terminal and nearby parking areas as a commuter park-and-ride facility. Sadly, the winning redevelopment plan provides for a hockey arena, “retail village” and “innovation center,” but leaves harried commuters in eastern Queens and western Nassau County out in the cold. Another opportunity to actually reduce midtown congestion missed! Robert Weisenfeld

Our loss

Manhattan: Your editorial “Our unwelcome mat” (Dec. 23) describes the mistake President Trump is making by causing an exodus of tech people going to Canada. This is the same mistake he is making with the “Dreamers” — a ready-made pool of American talent being forced to leave us. Trump’s error is in thinking that America is great only because of its military power. Wrong — America is great because it is a beacon of freedom; because of its excellence in education, in scientific achievement, and other soft power. And because our influence comes through diplomacy, and joining other countries in trying to settle problems. Relying solely on military power and going it alone will make America less great, and it is already showing as we isolate ourselves from the world, with other countries, rivals, taking our place in global leadership. Paul Silverstone

Skewed view

Staten Island: All you hear from #45 (when he isn’t holding a golf club in his tweeting hand) and his cronies now that this sham of a tax bill has passed is how crooked the FBI and Robert Mueller are and how they should not be involved in the case against Trumpsky. Part of the skewed reasoning is that certain agents — who have been removed from the case — were Clinton supporters. Well: When Trump Jr. became part of this Russia investigation, Jamie Gorelick was first tapped to be his lawyer. She worked in Bill Clinton’s administration as deputy attorney general and is a supporter of Hillary Clinton. One might ask why no one got all bent out of shape that Gorelick couldn’t do a decent job of defending Trump’s son because she has Democratic leanings. It must be terribly frustrating for the Trumps to have to deal with people who may think differently than them but can actually put their prejudices aside to do the best job they can when they are called upon.

Marsha Korot

Hidden prejudice

Brooklyn: Why, oh why, do the overwhelming majority of white liberals who say President Trump’s a racist and proclaim to be Black Lives Matter-friendly predominantly live in all-white areas and send their kiddies to all-white schools? And please, Mr. Liberal, don’t tell me about the one black boy in your kid’s class or the black kid who works in the local Subway store to make it seem diversified. Jerry Butler

Get it right

Bronx: Re “City Council member Jumaane Williams rebuked by Erica Garner’s Twitter account after saying she’s dead” (Dec. 28): This is what makes Williams uniquely qualified to be City Council speaker: He’s an idiot.

Stu Holmes

Move out or shut up

Wallington, N.J.: While it is shameful to have housing contaminated with lead and generally unlivable, it seems that this housing is actually supplied by public assistance, in other words at no charge. Of course there are many people who genuinely require assistance because of disabilities and other circumstances and should be given satisfactory housing — but for those concerned about their children, why not find a job and an acceptable apartment? Guess it’s easier to live off the system and complain about it than be employed and support your family like the rest of us. Ronnie Deckert

Kennedy dis-honors

North Cambridge, Mass.: This year’s Kennedy Center honors have come and gone, and it really didn’t matter if President Trump was there or not. They would still have been far and away the worst show these awards have ever produced, tacky even by Washington’s low standards. Yes, Misty Copeland’s and Robert Fairchild’s dance honoring Carmen de Lavallade was sweet. But de Lavallade was the only one of the five honorees who even remotely deserved to receive an award that was created to honor the likes of George Balanchine, Aaron Copland, Marian Anderson and Helen Hayes. All I’ll say about Norman Lear, LL Cool J, and the rest was that they deserved the kind of salutes they got on Tuesday, and that that is not meant as a compliment. Elliott Sirkin

Chickens, roost

Woodburn, Ky.: As 2017 comes to a close, let’s look back, not just at this year, but look at what kind of stuff Hollywood and the mainstream media have been feeding us for years. Most everyone will remember 2017 for all the sex scandals; politicians, actors, directors, comedians, and singers brought down by this mess. But what is at the root of all of this? Could it be that the entertainment industry has for so many years pushed the envelope of what is acceptable to promote for the rest of us? Television, radio and movies have for years tried to convince us that it is perfectly normal for people to have sexual contact with many others, opposite sex, same sex, and even often suggesting that relations with minors are OK. People who made fortunes promoting these ideas for decades are now making themselves heroes by coming out and complaining that they were taken advantage of! What about how they have taken advantage of the public with their portrayal of all these things as normal? It is true that you reap what you sow. To call the them hypocrites would be too kind.

Edmond V. Schwab Sr.

A mother’s crisis

Norwalk, Conn.: Re “Mom of Union Square subway attack victim distraught as son fights for life” (Dec. 28): No words can express my sorrow. I would like to know what I can do for this family besides pray. With the mom having to return to her husband, can I just sit by her son’s side? Hold his hand? Let him know there are still good people in this crazy world? Does the family need money? I’m not rich, but I am compared to this family’s sudden horrific tragedies. The two men in this woman’s life are fighting to live. I will continue to MIKE STOBE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES pray, but please let me know if there is anything I can do or offer.

Barbara Calabrese

Avoidable fate

Brooklyn: Re “Taxi tragedy” (Dec. 28): This is, in a word, insane. Seeing-eye dogs do not make mistakes. The taxi driver was not doing 5 mph when turning, and the driver was not paying attention. A tragedy that could have been avoided. Jay Hirsch

He loves New York

Brooklyn: To Voicer Steven Widnick: Unlike you, I would never knock down another person’s home. However, I am quite certain that Texas is not the Shangri-La crime-free utopia that you have descibed, nor is NYC the hell hole you claim it to be. Even in McAllen, Texas (your chosen home), the crime rate is 16% higher than the national average. Like you, I was born and raised in NYC but, unlike you, I never left. Those of us who live here know that the Big Apple is much more than Manhattan and Times Square. I live in a beautiful family-friendly residential neighborhood in one of the five boroughs that make up NYC. The opportunities for education, employment and entertainment that I have enjoyed all my life would not have been available to be anywhere else in the world. To have at my fingertips the numerous amenities that can only be found in NYC and prompt millions of tourist to come here is a blessing I thank God for every day. Daniel Colón