Gone two decades, but still here
Mooresville, N.C.: I can’t believe 20 years have gone by and it’s time to remember Hoboken’s hometown son Frank Sinatra, who passed away on May 14, 1998. His legacy is, first and foremost, his music. From “All or Nothing at All” to “New York, New York” and “My Way,” he compiled an unequaled résumé of pop standard songs and he is very much a part of the Great American Songbook.
People around the world, young and old, should pause and give thanks to Frank and those associated with his success for the treasure trove of great music and songs they left for us to enjoy. Among those honoring Sinatra are Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Peggy King and the All-Star Jazz Trio, singer/actress Jane Powell, author Will Friedwald, musician/conductor George Roumanis, talent promoter/musician Billy Jon Coogan, archivist Anthony DiFlorio, WYYR program director Chris Valenti and DJ Ronnie Allen.
We should never forget the musical legacy Ole Blue Eyes left us to enjoy forever and I believe it was his way of saying thanks to us for supporting him through good times and bad. It is also remarkable that Sinatra, the name and music remain as part of American culture and continues to grow in popularity year after year. Thank you, Francis Albert Sinatra. Herb Stark
McCain, take 1
Bronx: Sen. John McCain opposes Gina Haspel as CIA director. White House aide Kelly Sadler said in a meeting that, “It doesn’t matter. He’s dying anyway.” This is demonstrative of the entire Trump administration: Unfeeling, ignorant and disgusting.
Anna Maria McCorry
McCain, take 2
Little Egg Harbor, N.J.: I want to thank Sen. John McCain for working so hard to fix the VA. Never mind, he did nothing. He is a war hero to the media, not to myself or my fellow combat veterans. He will be remembered as another do-nothing politician with the same praise Ted Kennedy received upon his death. Sad how all the “never served” media praise him. William Cook
Back and forth
Houston: To Voicer Rocco Perna: Let’s make a deal. Show me your evidence of John Giuca’s guilt. In case I didn’t make myself clear, I believe Giuca is innocent, and I am not the only one. I believe Giuca is not guilty. I believe Giuca had nothing to do with the murder of Mark Fisher. So, in response to your statement, you should head to the bank, Mr. Perna, to gain the right to sell the Brooklyn Bridge. Amy Flowers
Fossil fools
Manhattan: Last week, our governor proposed leading a Dunkirk-like mass flotilla to block federal drilling on the Atlantic Coast. It made for good copy and plenty of headlines, but why doesn’t Gov. Cuomo propose something more effective? Food and Water Watch continues to push for a massive move to renewables as proposed in the New York Off Fossil Fuels Act (NY OFF Act, A. 5105/S. 5908) to switch to 100% renewable energy in New York by 2030. When our state is still only receiving only 19% of our power from hydroelectric power, 3% from wind, and a laughable 1% from solar, proposing action designed only for a media splash is simply irresponsible. Defeating the federal attempt to hijack New York’s barriers to offshore drilling for fossil fuels will be difficult, but must be accomplished. The solution, however, is to permanently replace those fuels with renewables. Governor, it’s time to produce actions, not soundbites.
Ann H. Logan Food and Water Watch
Too cocky
Sumner, Wash.: The May 10 article “Romance writer ignites copyright war after securing ownership of the word ‘cocky’ ” couldn’t be more wrong. First, it’s a trademark issue. Faleena Hopkins attempted to have Amazon remove books that had “cocky” in the title long before she started writing. She only changed the series title to include “cocky” when she registered for the trademark. The problem is she was not the first romance writer to use the word in a series, or a book title, and she admitted on a video she put up, and since removed, that she was trying to clear out all of the books with “cocky” in the title. She doesn’t even realize how trademarks work. She can’t go after books with “cocky” in the title. But this sets a precedent for people taking commonly used words and forcing authors to stop using them in titles or series. It would have been fine if she trademarked the series name, but that’s not what she did. She tried one common word in titles that has been in use long before she’s been around. Brandy L. Rivers Bonita Springs, Fla.: Re “Romance writer ignites copyright war after securing ownership of the word ‘cocky’ ” (May 10): This dispute is not just about author Faleena Hopkins behaving badly by copyrighting a word that’s been around since the 16th century, but about her bullying tactics toward other members of the romance community. It wasn’t her lawyer who sent cease-and-desist notices to indie authors who happened to have the word “cocky” in their titles, it was Hopkins herself. She threatened these authors with lawsuits unless they removed the word from their titles. If, as Hopkins states, she did this to protect her readers from buying the wrong books, it doesn’t say very much for them. Do they just buy a book without bothering to check if it’s by the author they’re so devoted to? Fran Anderson
Downtown switching
Manhattan: Is it possible to change the old IRT South Ferry loop subway station, rerouting the tracks to the former Bowling Green shuttle for the Lexington Ave. lines and under the BMT Broad St. station on the Nassau St. line at the lower levels since the No. 1 serves the new South Ferry station? The tracks need to be rerouted from Rector St. to the Bowling Green lower-level station and continue to the Broad St. station. I’d like to see it happen if the old side-platform station can be saved. Vincent David
Fixing The News
Smithtown, L.I.: Enough with the Lupita Nyong’o pictures. She is lovely, but why so much? Who pays who to get publicity in my newspaper? If I never see news about minor actresses, actors and singers, it will be too soon. How about hiring some reporters that don’t favor low-grade Hollywood agents? Perhaps there could be some important news in my newspaper. Hey, how are all you newspaper folks doing now that we have a new administration? I think most of us are doing better. We, the American people, elected Trump and I think more of the press should stop the negative reporting and we should all enjoy what we have under our duly elected administration.
Alan Franks
Free parking
Brooklyn: In the era of mechanical parking meters you could forgive the system for making the customer pay for time and not refund time unused. Technology was limited. With those, if you left before your time expired, the next lucky parker got your remaining meter time for “free.” In this scenario, the spot could never double-charge drivers. Then the dash ticket machines came out. Drivers still had to pay for time, but if you left early, the city could charge full price for the spot to someone else. This practice of effectively double-charging the public for the spot must have generated millions, but offered nothing to the public. With new parking app technology, ParkNYC, could certainly refund you for the time you don’t use. It’s just as easy to “check out” of a spot as it is to “check in.” By checking out, you can effectively stop the meter and be refunded for time not parked. It doesn’t let you do that. The city can infinitely charge overlapping time on spots and the public pays and pays. Is parking a business for profit, or a service for the public? Because it’s not a fair business or service practice any longer. This is totally unacceptable for New York and the City Council should take action on this matter.
Collin Douma
Rent roulette
REDFERNS/GETTY Manhattan: In August, landlords will have to convert cluster units that they set aside for the homeless to become rent-stabilized and rent-regulated apartments. Meanwhile, Ben Carson from HUD and President Trump want to charge so-called disabled and seniors in HUD and Section 8 housing from 30% to 35% of their income in rent. That is just not fair to those who worked and paid into the system. Enough is enough; now something has to give. Helen Murphy