Smokers & walkers can co-exist
Kew Gardens: It is totally unbelievable that they want to come up with a bill to stop people from smoking while they are walking (“Takin’ a walk? Off your butt!” March 21). Councilman Peter Koo is quoted as saying, “I’m walking behind someone who’s smoking, and I’m suffering for about five or 10 minutes.” My question to him is, why didn’t you just get away from the person and go on your way without suffering? That situation is your own fault. When you are too close to someone smoking, I can see the smoke getting in your face. Maybe you were in a very crowded area and it might not have been easy to get away.
When a person exhales, the smoke gets dissipated in the air. Suppose a person is walking and smoking, but there is no one around them. Would they still get a fine? What about people who smoke pot while they are walking. Are they going to get a fine also?
Why don’t people complain more about exhaust coming from vehicles? Buses and trucks are the worst. Which is more harmful, exhaust or cigarettes? Barbara Miller
PATH to panic
Hoboken, N.J.: I was among the commuters on that train (“Umbrella on tracks at 9th St. PATH Station causes third rail outage,” April 2). When we got to Ninth St., before the doors opened, passengers from the train car behind mine were pouring into the car I was on through the middle doors that link the train together. I heard “RUN!” and the doors opened and I fled. Everyone was in a panic, and I tripped and fell in the stampede of passengers running out of the train to safety at Ninth St. Knee is all cut up, leggings torn. That was so terrifying, but glad it was just electrical. I saw many belongings left behind. The exits have to be more accessible. Who is collecting belongings left behind? I lost my headphones in the mix.
Alexa Schuck
Check the warmongers
Bronx: I am among millions of people who fear that with Donald Trump in the White House, Mike Pompeo as the secretary of state and John Bolton as national security adviser, the U.S. will take preemptive military action in North Korea, Iran or elsewhere. The consequences of such attacks cannot lead to anything but countless fatalities or worse. The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. It does not give the executive branch the power to declare war. Yet Congress has been completely derelict in its duties with regard to military actions since World War II — and also more or less ignored the requirements spelled out in the War Powers Act of 1973. The Founding Fathers never intended the United States to conduct wars solely on the whims of any President and one or two of his advisers. We must demand that Congress refuse to let this happen again. Miriam Levine Helbok
Democracy at the brink
Seaford, L.I.: Donald Trump is what happens when democracy takes a holiday. Americans were fed up with dysfunction in Congress, so they voted for change (Trump). The alternative was a woman (Clinton) who would have run into the same roadblocks (GOP obstructionism) as Obama. How do we return to a fully functioning government? We need a new generation to get out and vote, and vote, and vote. My generation (I’m 57) was apathetic when it came to political activism. We need an electorate plugged into the political system, not an army of well-paid lobbyists. If not, we’ll have more Trump, and there is only so much of that this democracy can take before it careens into the black hole of irrelevance. Bob Bascelli
Donald the disrespecter
Ossining, N.Y.: People often complain how the Daily News disrespects the President with its front pages and columns. No one can disrespect this President more than he has disrespected himself. How can one be accused of disrespecting a man who has disrespected the Oval Office, women, veterans, POWs, the disabled, Muslims, Latinos, transgender people, Mexicans, African nations, Puerto Rico, Haitians, his mistresses, his wives, his daughter, the free press, science, teachers, the environment, members of his staff and cabinet, foreign leaders, Europeans, books, investors, customers, professional athletes, immigrants and the United States of America? Robert Rundbaken
Don’t blame the women
New Hartford, N.Y.: Reading Voicer Catherine Lo Curto in Sunday’s paper made me almost choke on my coffee! Cathy, do you really think that these women in Third World countries are trying to have children? Have you not read about the #MeToo movement? Men, especially in the poor countries of which you write, have all the rights and women are their property. Don’t be finger-wagging at the women! It takes two to tango, and we all know in dance, men take the lead. The real sin is that the women in these countries have no control over their bodies and must submit to the demands of man. Shame on you! Put blame where it should be . . . the little man in the middle, if you catch my drift. Irene Scalise
Righteous wrath
Kew Gardens: In keeping with the season, when Jesus expelled the individuals conducting business in the temple of God, He reminded them that they were in a house of worship, but they had made it a den of thieves. Maybe now is the time to strongly remind members of Congress that they are there to serve the people and not the lobbyists, such as the NRA. Ironically, the first group to sing praises to Jesus after the expulsion of the moneygrubbers were the children, despite the displeasure of those in authority. From whence we get, “Out of the mouth of babes.” Glenn Hayes
Praising the Legend
Seminole, Fla.: Sunday’s TV broadcast was the best production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” I’ve seen. The minimal set was perfect, and the singers and dancers so energetic. John Legend and the cast were perfect. I loved every minute.
Roberta Ashkenase
So much for experience
Brooklyn: To Voicer Gary DiMora: I might be quick to agree with you that Cynthia Nixon is not qualified to be governor. But would you mind telling us who is? Part of the whole democratic system that has been so corrupted is that anyone should be allowed to run for an office. It’s up to that person, or Nixon in this case, to prove her point. Career politicians are criminals, to say the least, and perhaps they had redeeming qualities once, but they have given them all to the lobbies they support. Perhaps we need leaders with experience in being an American first and a politician last. She may not be the answer, but I would love to see more “nonexperienced people” throw their hats in and let the people decide instead of the corporate lobby. Dan Lugo
Cops can do no wrong
Woodside: In response to Voicer Claude Young, who says cops kill more blacks and Mexicans than whites: Do your research before you make yourself like the fool you are. More whites are killed by cops than blacks and Mexicans, but you don’t see us burning down our own neighborhood or protesting. We respect law enforcement. Maybe that perp did something in order to get shot, like putting his hands in his pocket when told not to or pointing a gun at an officer. Obey police commands and nothing bad will happen. It’s that simple.
Thomas Lehnert
Managerial errors Pinstripe chemistry
GETTY Old Bridge, N.J.: Wonder what ex-Yankee manager Joe Girardi was feeling when he heard about Aaron Boone’s rookie manager mistake that resulted in a grand slam? Maybe that GM Brian Cashman and the Yankee brain trust should have put a little more scouting/evaluating into the managerial replacement discussions! Janet Cecin Bronx: I have been a Yankees fan since 1969, when Ralph Houk was managing and Horace Clarke was leading off. I admired their late ’70s team and loved their ’96 one. But 2001 was a heartbreaker and I had no choice but to give big props to Boston in ’04. I adored the Yankees’ chemistry last year: the clubhouse leadership of Todd Frazier, solid 2B Starlin Castro, and the potential of Greg Bird and Clint Frazier, whom the Yankees might use as a trading chip. Yeah, sure, Giancarlo Stanton is a big bopper, but there might be an overwhelming tip of the scale of HRs and not enough keeping a rally going with teammates running around bases scoring. But what do I know? I’m a Knicks fan. Eric Cummings Jr.