NYC’s independent immigrants

Brooklyn: I am a native-born resident of New York City who in my 60 years has explored most of the neighborhoods in this city. It is a city where about a third of the residents are foreignborn. Brooklyn and Queens have the most immigrants; in fact, Queens has the most of any county in the United States. I take exception to Voicer Maureen McGuigan’s remarks about immigrants getting welfare. She would have a very hard time finding any immigrant family on any type of government assistance. They shun it because they would be embarrassed. They will work any job to support themselves. Many immigrants support the Democratic Party because it is the party that notes the incredible contributions of immigrants to this country — the types of contributions I am sure McGuigan’s family made when they came here. Diana Mehlman

Making America great

Long Island City: What country am I living in? Does anyone care how the President of the United States is vilified by the media? He is being crucified every day for wanting a strong military to keep the United States safe. What’s wrong with that? it’s not too late to wake up and smell the coffee. President Trump is doing a great job! Steve Chaddock

Trump vs. consumers

Clifton, N.J.: Dictator Trump has appointed Mick Mulvaney to oversee the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He in turn hired a number of political appointees and provided four with $259,000 a year, and one with $239,595 a year. How do these salaries help protect consumers?

Alice J. Dymek

How low can you go?

Valley Stream, L.I.: There was a time I enjoyed reading your paper because it informed me about the goings on in the city and the world. When did the Daily News and its writers start giving their opinions? When did you start telling me how I should think about current events? When did objectivity get lost in your writings? I’m sorry to say The News is now comical, and it seems you write articles to bash people, not inform them. We are in sad times. People wonder why things seem so bad. It’s really because of what you print. John Costa

Sinful Pope

Hardwick, N.J.: Pope Francis’ comment that there is no hell is a very serious and dangerous lie. There is a hell and there is a lake of fire, as written in Scripture. Has the Pope ever read Scripture? The fact that a leader of 1.2 billion Catholics can declare such a thing is sinful. Wake up. Jean Hayes

A big Bronx thanks

Bronx: I wanted to thank the Daily News for mailing me two tickets to see the Yankees play the Tampa Bay Rays ballgame on April 4. My husband and my son had a wonderful time and the sets were perfect. I was so surprised when I opened the envelope. It sure made my day and my husband’s and son’s days, too.

Carmela Cillo

Unzipping the truth on Blaz

Manhattan: In response to Voicer Dante Gianbalvo’s letter: Why did Bill de Blasio ever get elected? Twenty-seven people interviewed all agreed he’s a horse’s ass. He doesn’t even know his own ethnicity. The reason he won the election is simple: Anthony Weiner. The man was a shoo-in: Democrat, smart, well-liked, lots of money, good family. If he had kept his zipper closed, we wouldn’t have wound up stuck with de Blasio. I’m gonna go pee in the street now because it’s legal. Bobby Gallea

Smith and lesson

Bronx: Why is Geno Smith being kicked to the curb? The New York Giants are my team. They can’t win with Eli Manning. They can win with Geno; he has proved himself time after time. What’s the problem? Is it because he is what he is — black and good?

William Kent

The rifle and the damage done

Queens Village: To Voicer Maryann Siero: Your statement that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people” is total garbage! Last October, a man used guns to kill 58 innocent people and wound hundreds more at a concert in Las Vegas. He couldn’t have done all that with a knife. Harry Aydinian

Phantom fears

Ossining, N.Y.: Does anyone remember the harsh governmentbacked militarized police state that came into power after the Ronald Reagan-supported Brady assault weapons ban went into effect? Me neither. I’m still a gun owner. Fell asleep waiting for Obama and the liberals to take my guns after I lost my little friend Daniel at Newtown. I quit the NRA at the exact same time and for the exact same reason George H.W. Bush did. Eddie Denise

Fear of a black planet

Bronx: Why is it always white people who are so concerned about having guns in their possession? Are they afraid of the bogeyman (people of color)? When the Founding Fathers framed the Second Amendment, it was to protect people from the uprising of slaves — not to protect oneself during war. Now it has evolved into a profit machine, as well as a form of population control. Fear is a form of racism.

James Pettus

A second opinion

Manhattan: The Founding Fathers never intended for individual private citizens to build armories of military-style guns. They intended to prevent the federal government from becoming dictatorial, to have the states retain power with militias.

Michael Gottlieb Oakland Gardens: Voicer Carol Yost says it’s time to let cop-killer Herman Bell out of jail. Although I believe in giving people second chances in life, and think only God can give life and take it away, I think Yost’s concern about and sympathy for Bell is sadly misplaced. Bell took the lives of three police officers. This was premeditated murder, an affront to every citizen. Police officers represent us in their daily duty to protect and defend society. Years ago, such a person was given the death penalty — no parole, no debate. Today, they are given life with the possibility of parole. This is not only unequivocally wrong but sends a strong message that human life is not sacred, and all you have to do to get freedom is have a change of heart and become an exemplary inmate while in prison. Where is Gov. Cuomo on this, since he is the one who appoints the Parole Board?

Constance Dowd

Suiting up

Brooklyn: My brother George and I served in the military at the same time during the Vietnam War, and we support the right of transgender troops to serve. Unlike that draft-dodger coward Donald Trump, they don’t complain about bone spurs.

Charles Clouden

Unadulterated hate

Manhattan: Voicer Karen Grennan should be ashamed of her comments. As much as President Trump has offended the American people and others, how dare she be worried about karma? She thinks people should be shot for not standing for the American flag? Why is that? The flag does not represent democracy in the least; it is merely an illusion of hope. She further says Muslims don’t love Christians. I guess it’s fair then to say that Christians don’t love anybody. Most if not all white supremacist groups are “good, loving” Christians.

Rabbi Yashafat Drake ANTHONY DELMUNDO/DAILY NEWS

Fair weather fan

Brooklyn: I would like to know why all these weather people on the news channels stand in front of the screen when they put up the week’s forecast. Plus they take it off the screen too fast for you to write it down. These weather people are in the wrong jobs. Give them brooms to sweep the streets.

James Fitzpatrick

They call him Super Tibbs

Bronx: To be accurate, 1993’s “The Meteor Man,” starring Robert Townsend, was the first superhero movie of AfricanAmerican heritage. And speaking of superheroes with a different heritage, almost all of Sidney Poitier’s movies qualify, as they encourage young men, white or black, to be dignified and honorable, if not otherworldly.

Bob Harnden

A big nyet-nyet

Howard Beach: They are laughing their rear ends off in Moscow, Mr. Trump. And you are the patsy! Steven Schwartz

The sky is falling

Long Island City: Sometimes while walking, New Yorkers are forced to dodge falling objects, construction debris, droppings of rude pigeons and even an occasional suicidal jumper. Now Uber foresees flying taxis. Imagine what would happen if one of these cabs conks out at 2,000 feet. Enough with the Jetsons obsession. William Lindauer