King wanted to feed the world
Cincinnati: One of Martin Luther King Jr.’s dreams was a world free from hunger, which is vital for achieving equality among all peoples. We can celebrate Martin Luther King Day by joining his quest to end hunger at home and abroad. As Dr. King proclaimed in his Nobel Peace Prize speech, “I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies.”
He realized that we have the power to end hunger, but we just need the collective will. If we are giving the wealthy a helping hand with tax cuts, why not also do more to aid the hungry? With enough will from the government, along with public support, we could ensure all needy children in America have access to three meals a day, 365 days a year.
As Dr. King recognized, peace in the world would be better served with food for all nations. We should expand our international Food for Peace and McGovern-Dole global school lunch programs to feed more hungry people.
As Martin Luther King Day arrives let’s all remember what this great human rights advocate stood for, including “three meals a day” for every person. No one should ever live in hunger. William Lambers
The actual birthday
Camden, N.J.: Today our country marks the federal observance of the great American civil rights leader: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. What makes this federal observance correct is how this Monday is the third Monday in the month of January making it the actual date of authenticity of when Dr. King was born on Jan. 15, 1929. This April upcoming, America will commemorate the 50th anniversary of his slaying that took place in Memphis. Dr. King led marches for social change for African America during his era: which was the 1950s and 1960s. Nearly 50 years later, Colin Kaepernick kneels for almost the same cause. Much to my surprise, Kaepernick has received great support. Wayne E. Williams
A history of injustice
Duxbury, Mass.: As we celebrate, Martin Luther King’s birthday, let’s take a moment to review race relations. Beginning with the Declaration of Independence, our country has come to grips with a Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th Amendment, Jim Crow laws, King’s quest for equality and most recently the Black Lives Matter movement, NFL protests and removal of Confederate imagery. In 1776, our forefathers declared that all men are created equal except African-American slaves, who were considered property. This belief was upheld in the egregious Supreme Court Dred Scott decision stating that slaves were property under the Constitution. Most Americans do not realize that the Emancipation Proclamation did not free the slaves in the Union, but only in the Southern states in rebellion. Slavery only ended when the 13th Amendment was ratified. Jim Crow laws attempted to usurp the 13th Amendment and did so until King rose up to defeat this wrong that lasted too long. We celebrate King because he is a beacon of courage and justice that paved the way for African-Americans to achieve the American Dream. There is a great deal of work to be done so all of us are equal regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation and physical challenges. Paul Mellen
Big Oil’s slick ways
Berkeley, Calif.: I disagree with your Jan. 11 editorial “Fossil fuels and fossil fools” on the city’s lawsuit against fossil fuel companies. Burning carbon is causing the climate crisis, and coastal cities like New York face billions in costs. These corporations knew decades ago that climate change was real, that it was caused by carbon emissions, and that the effects would be catastrophic. When the world woke up to this reality, the corporations ran a multimillion-dollar campaign to sow doubt about climate change, and slow regulations that would wean us off carbon — all to protect profits. So while we work to break this addiction to fossil fuels by transitioning to clean, renewable energy, we still must contend with the devastating effects of it. If successful, this lawsuit will ensure the coming costs of climate change are distributed fairly, rather than solely on taxpaying New Yorkers’ backs.
Annie M. Leonard Executive director, Greenpeace
Let him pay his taxes
Brentwood, L.I.: Gov. Cuomo, Why can’t I get my 2017 NY personal tax forms now? I went online and ordered my 2017 federal forms in minutes. When I tried to do the same with my 2017 NY tax forms, I couldn’t even find the personal tax form IT-201 on the list of forms available. I called the NY tax help number of (518) 457-5431 and before I could ask a question, a recording came on and advised me that the state personal tax forms would not be available until February. Governor, if the IRS can have the forms ready the first week in January, why can’t New York do the same? W. J. Van Sickle
News gets it wrong I
Calgary, Alberta: Your reporter Brian Lisi needs a drug education. In “Over 700 pounds of cocaine found hidden in furniture from Puerto Rico” (Jan. 9), he called a huge seizure of cocaine from Puerto Rico “horse.” That slang term is used to describe heroin, not cocaine. Jim Legg
News gets it wrong II
Jamesburg, N.J.: The Jan. 11 Confidential column misidentifies where Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi were from. Springsteen was a Freehold native, Bon Jovi a Sayreville native. Long Branch and Perth Amboy were just the hospitals where they were born. John Yancsek
News gets it very right
Aurora, Colo.: To Arthur Browne: As a Colorado native who had lived in Jersey from 2001 through 2015, I read the Daily News every day and I would like to let you know what great, inspiring stories you wrote — “His gift of life reborn” about Felipe Rodriguez, and “A serial killer comes to the cross” about Arthur Shawcross. I was riveted on both stories, and they brought tears to my eyes. Bravo! Bravo! Very moving pieces — I won’t forget about those for a very long time! All the photos that were included in the stories were excellent. You are absolutely gifted in writing.
Laura Merrick
Protect our shores
Manhattan: The Trump administration’s newly released offshore drilling plan would open up New York’s coast to drilling by oil and gas companies. This goes against the values we New Yorkers hold dear. That’s why I am grateful to Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer, who have stood up in opposition to the President’s proposed drilling plan. Oil and gas drilling have always been dirty and dangerous. Case in point is the damage done to coastal communities and marine life by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf. At a time when we need to be moving away from fossil fuels, it makes no sense to be opening our coasts to drilling. Heather Leibowitz, director
Environment New York
Coogan’s is saved
Manhattan: The threatened closing of Coogan’s restaurant due to climbing rent would have been a devastating blow to the Washington Heights community. Coogan’s is our version of “Cheers” — one of the few places where everyone feels welcome and where you can see people from different racial and ethnic groups eating and drinking side by side. Its owners have involved themselves in a wide variety of community activities, supporting and even joining the boards of local senior centers, schools, Little Leagues, youth groups, the Armory Track, etc. They organized the popular 5K run through the neighborhood for years, helping to improve the image of Washington Heights. And on top of everything else, it is a quality restaurant. Coogan’s proves the axiom that good community relations is good for business. The staff, patients and visitors to New York-Presbyterian Hospital, its landlord, benefit from having this restaurant next door. The hospital did the right thing and negotiated a reasonable lease renewal that allowed this linchpin of the community to survive.
Steve Simon
Eero Saarinen’s masterpiece
AP Mountain View, Calif.: Thank you for posting a picture of my old TWA International A terminal as she lies in a ghostlike snow. I cherish all those years she welcomed all her employees who loved her. Mary Carr
Don’t take him to the cleaners
Brooklyn: Eminent domain has been an established federal and state practice for decades to invigorate blighted areas. However, for the city not to offer market value to Damon Bae, the East Harlem dryer cleaner, is completely egregious and unfair.
William Thurlow