A heap of uses for plastic bags

Brooklyn: Re “Make the plastic carryout bag extinct” (Op-Ed, April 21): State Sen. Liz Krueger wants to ban plastic bags from the supermarket. But contrary to what Krueger thinks, these are not one-use bags. I always have a couple of them in my car for unexpected purchases, as well as one tucked into my pocketbook. They can carry things other than groceries. Krueger seems to forget that some people live in apartment buildings that had incinerators. The incinerators are gone but the chutes remain, so the garbage goes into a compactor. If we have to buy the large plastic garbage bags with the tie tops, we will have to cut half the bag away because full bags won’t fit down the chute. That wastes plastic and money. A lot of us have waste baskets that are the perfect size for supermarket bags. When they get full, we take them out, tie the handles in a couple of knots and send them right down the chute.

We know about the reusable bags. If you spill something in them, they have to be washed, so you are using more soap and water. Even if you don’t spill anything in them they have to be washed periodically. And if they are filled to the top they may be too heavy to lift easily.

What about the plastic bags that are used for leaves and lawn clippings? What happens to those bags? Do they go to a landfill? The leaves and clippings can disintegrate but the bags don’t. And what about the plastic bags that apartment houses use to put all the garbage in? What happens to those bags? Finally, please stop comparing us to La—La Land out west.

Rowena Lachant

Deserving and undeserving

East Brunswick, N.J.: I’d like to have government increase food stamps to disabled people. I get what amounts to $6.20 a day to survive. I have to share an apartment that is so small I have to sleep in a chair. The government should not, however, help poor people with child care. If you can’t afford children, don’t have them. They had a choice. I have no choice in getting sick and disabled. If you’re poor, don’t have kids. Thomas Savitski

The real perps

Brooklyn: To Voicer John Francis Mulligan: Instead of falsely accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing, you should be speaking out against the brutal ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar. There are 1.7 million Arab citizens in Israel with the same rights as Jewish citizens. In Gaza, homosexuals are executed and political opponents are imprisoned. The charter of Hamas calls for the destruction of Israel and the killing of all Jews. Hamas has started these wars against Israel. The Palestinian Authority issues monthly payments against terrorists who murder Jews and erects statues and names streets and shopping malls in their honor. Hopefully you now understand who the perpetrators of hatred are in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Lawrence Freedland

Mutts incredible

Bronx: Retro ’60s a-go-go “Mutts” is groovy, far out and cool. Earth Day “Mutts” made me smile. Patrick McDonnell, your comic strip is wonderful! Marsha Kolin

A cup of common sense

Woodhaven: Let’s see, what am I missing? Two people come into Starbucks and ask to use the bathroom. The manager asks if you’re going to buy something. You say no, then he or she says no, then you occupy a table, depriving a paying customer of the table you’re sitting at in a crowded cafe. You won’t even buy a small cup of coffee. Is this a coffee shop or a dumping ground? Frank Gallo

Reagan faithful

Philadelphia: To Voicer Wallington Simpson: I feel compelled to set right the account of Ronald Reagan’s character and confirm his religious beliefs. After a 51-year correspondence, a friendship, that included three visits to the Oval Office, here is my knowledge in the place of Simpson’s faulty associations: Reagan’s religious beliefs were deep and consistent from the time of his baptism. He even taught Sunday school as a young man. He just never wore his beliefs on his sleeve. He only discontinued church attendance after the 1981 assassination attempt on him, to protect the congregation from the possibility of further attempts. He enjoyed resuming attendance when he returned to Los Angeles after serving his country. Further, all honest and clear-thinking folks knew that Iran-Contra was committed by staff and not our well-meaning President — yet he accepted responsibility. Reagan saved the world from the dangers of the Cold War. His brilliance, negotiating skills and humor restored national pride.

Lorraine M. Wagner

Transit wars

Astoria: I want the Citi Bike person who had the nerve to alter a bus shelter on the southeast corner of 30th Ave. to get his bike rack the hell out of there. Bring back the bench and protective wall much needed by weary bus riders. Euclid Carras

Ryan’s hope

Red Bank, N.J.: Someone tell Voicer David DiBello that if House Speaker Paul Ryan had become vice-president he would have been living with his family in D.C. He would not have to fly back to Wisconsin on weekends to be with them. Jim O’Grady

Cancer care

Brooklyn: As a second-time survivor of breast cancer, I was horrified to see the photo of Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Julia enjoys a gray day,” April 13). Just try to go through chemotherapy while trying to maintain a normal lifestyle. Long after you have finished your treatments, you not only feel exhausted by your treatments but also have to deal with the realization of what you have gone through and the word “cancer.” It’s a frightening experience. It should be an extremely private time, not a photo op.

Arlene Mulrane

We can’t hear you

Brooklyn: In the midst of the Stormy Daniels scandals, the silence from evangelicals and the Christian right is deafening.

Nancy D. Bennett

Don’t be fooled

Lynbrook, L.I.: To Voicer Jeanette La Rocca: Many years ago, I thought Donald Trump was a wonderful man. Then he became President and showed his true colors. He is a cheater and has no respect for women. He cheated when Melania was pregnant and also after their baby was born. He fooled all the wives until they married him. His son Don Jr. is following in his father’s footsteps. Apples don’t fall far from the tree. Everything that Trump said on TV. Unless you are deaf, dumb and blind, you are a disgrace to all women and Italians. Terri Tucci

Just stay away

Howard Beach: Girls, ladies, women: If a guy invites you to his hotel room for a spot of tea, suggest going to a diner. Use a little common sense, if you have any. Jean Novak

Get down

Manchester, N.J.: The April 12 Daily News included a photo of Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez almost two feet off the ground celebrating Sanchez’s home runs. Doesn’t anyone on the Yankees know you can twist or break an ankle on the way down? What a way to get on the injured list. Please, Yankee players, cut down on that kind of celebration. Keep your feet on the ground.

John S. Giacchi

What Boone?

Brooklyn: Joe Girardi was a true boon to the Yankees for years. New manager Aaron Boone, nice a guy as he is, still hasn’t gotten a strong attachment to the scrillionaires yet. They’re playing minorleague ball at major-league prices and the sucker fans are paying for it. By the way, is a hot dog still only $7 or is it a little more if you want mustard and sauerkraut on it? Bill Glassman

Boo to boos

Brooklyn: Yankee fans have no class, booing Giancarlo Stanton. Brooklyn Dodger fans cheered and encouraged first baseman Gil Hodges when he was in a dreadful slump. I’m a Mets fan rooting for Stanton. Thomas J. Rizzo

Mets no match

Staten Island: I am a loyal Mets fan, but I say to other Met fans: Keep your heads. The team is held together by spit, tar and stitches, especially in pitching. September is a long way off. However, I’m lovin’ it, baby! Andy La Barca

Artificial intelligence

AP Elmont, L.I.: Although I am a devout dinosaur who still has trouble operating a toaster — just kidding, my phone — I occasionally go on a computer and Google something all by myself. I can look up the time, too. Seems to me we will have truly made progress when Siri can peel me a grape or get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom for me.

Gail Ratigan