Driven to despair on the B9 bus

Brooklyn: I’m writing about my awful experience riding a city bus in hopes that something can be done to ensure a similar situation never happens to me, my son or any other disabled MTA passenger in the future. On May 17 around 2 p.m., I boarded a B9 bus at 60th St. and Bay Parkway, heading toward Bay Ridge. My two-year-old son had an appointment at Maimonides Medical Center and needs a special wheelchair stroller due to his inability to walk on his own, among other health issues. This special stroller is WC19 compliant, so it’s approved for use as a seat in motor vehicles. The stroller was provided through the city’s Early Intervention Program and paid for by the state. It may look like a regular stroller, but it is in fact a wheelchair. Most drivers have no problem letting us on the bus after I explain this.

However, this particular B9 driver insisted that I fold up the stroller. I tried to explain that it’s a wheelchair provided by New York State. But he kept shouting at me that it’s not a wheelchair and he continued to belittle and insult me. He wouldn’t tell me his name or badge number, so I took a photo of him and his bus number, 402.

My son has already been through so much in his short life: three surgeries by 4 months old, a liver transplant at 6 months, several additional hospitalizations, bloodwork at least once a month and 10 therapy sessions a week. As his mother, I do all I can to make sure he gets what he needs, including travel to and from doctor’s appointments. Since we don’t own a car, we use public transit daily, and I shouldn’t have to worry that a bus driver won’t believe me when I tell him or her that my son’s stroller is a wheelchair. I’m asking that all MTA bus drivers undergo sensitivity training so they never treat anyone else the way this driver treated me and my son. Amber B. Drea

Not funny, ladies

Ledyard, Conn.: I have an idea. What if we, as adults, try to be good role models for kids? Jokes are not funny if they are made at the expense of another’s dignity. Arguments are not made more powerful or meaningful when made with loud, crude, and/or insulting language. Perhaps Roseanne Barr and Samantha Bee should learn mature behavior from the younger generation, many of whom have shown restraint and respect in these difficult times. Lisa Allen

What was her crime?

Brewster, N.Y.: Why the double standards? Roseanne Barr said things that just hurt people’s feelings. Bill Cosby physically and mentally hurt the body and soul of numerous women and was found guilty of such in a court of law. Yet he keeps his residuals from his reruns still being broadcast on cable TV. Can someone tell me why? I think it is should be offensive to everyone, especially women. Where is the knee jerk reaction to him for what he did? It’s a disgrace. Keith J. McAleer

Same, but not the same

Brooklyn: Roseanne Barr posts a crude tweet about Valerie Jarrett and she’s immediately labeled a racist. ABC’s hypocritical president, the same person who unleashed a torrent of insults on President Trump, cancels her show. Kathy Griffin posts a picture holding up the severed head of President Trump, and she gets a pass from the diehard liberals on “The View” because she is a comedian (their words, not mine) and has the freedom of expression. Samantha Bee uses one of the vilest words to describe Ivanka Trump, but TBS lets her get away with only an apology, and it was a pretty weak one at that. It’s obvious that attacks on conservatives are perfectly acceptable and defendable in our country today, with little or no consequences to be paid. Think about this: if Samantha Bee had used that word to describe one of the Obamas, what would happen to her? I’m sure TBS would have kicked her Bee-hind to the curb.

Vera Badamo

Different kinds of words

Little Neck: To all the Voicers who are comparing what Roseanne Barr said to what people say about Donald Trump: Roseanne’s remarks are purely racist. Remarks about Trump are not racist, they are people’s opinions about his politics, morals, etc. If you can’t tell the difference, you are probably racist yourselves.

JoAnn Martinez

Double-edge sword

Palisades Park, N.J.: So it’s okay for the President to use vulgar language when referring to women but when someone refers to his little princess Ivanka in that manner it’s not okay. Sorry, Mr. President, but you can’t have it both ways. If it’s okay for you to refer to women in a vulgar manner then it’s okay to use the same vulgar language when referring to the women in your life. It’s called free speech, which in case you forgot we do have in America. It’s one of the things that makes America great. Just as a side note I also think Samantha Bee’s comment was disgusting and vile and totally inexcusable. Gary DiMora

Blaming the messenger

Bronx: I find it so funny that Voicer James Ditzian found fault with the Daily News for printing a the pic of Roseanne Barr wearing a Nazi uniform but not a problem with the person who posed for the pic in the first place. So so misguided. Kenneth Joe

Watch your fingers

Brooklyn: It used to be think before you speak. Use some common sense and think before you tweet. Applies to all of us.

Mariann Tepedino

Common mix up

Manchester, N.J.: I swear, I had to rerun the DVR of Samantha Bee’s remark on “Full Frontal.” I thought she was talking about Jared! Charles Morgan

Phony words

Smithtown, L.I.: Of all people to choose, the Daily News picks Al Sharpton to write on racism, tolerance, holding people accountable and the consequences of words (“Our fight to rid media of hate,” Op-Ed, May 30). This hypocrite has been intimidating the media and politicians for years, as well as exploiting racial issues based on his own prejudice. No one is less deserving to write on this subject. Andrew Ross

Good Bramhall

Brooklyn: Re Kim Kardashian’s bottom and Trump: Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! No amount of intelligent words could comment more aptly. Shelly Eisenhart

Face of many colors

Brooklyn: Does tiny hands Donnie realize when his makeup people do him up, he looks a clown? The white makeup around his eyes, so 70s. The comb over, who does he think he is fooling? And let’s not forget the orange. I think it’s color #14, the same coloring they put in Froot Loops to enhance his lying face.

Jeffrey P. Smith

Advice from up north

Penticton, British Columbia: No-Trust Trump visits his Florida Mar-a-Lago palace and playground resort to hang out with his wealthy, powerful American and foreign oligarchs. No-Trust Trump gives regal White House status to North Korean oligarchs but displays his contempt with a paper towel tossing visit to hurricane devastated Puerto Rico, a resting place of America’s endless peasants, but still Americans. America would well be rid of No-Trust Trump before No-Trust Trump gets rid of America and everyone else. Joe Schwarz

Make it local

Bronx: Re Julie Sandorf’s June 1 Op-Ed “Really want to fix local news, mayor?”: By way of historical correction, it was the old New York Herald Tribune led by James Bellows (editor, 1961-67) that prodded the Times to start paying attention to local stories. “We couldn’t compete with the resources of the Times; so we had to establish a niche for ourselves. The answer was to rediscover New York,” Bellows recalled in his memoir “The Last Editor.” Bellows hired two kids named Jimmy Breslin and Tom Wolfe to show the Old Gray Lady how to cover New York. Gene Roman

Israel forced on defense

Manchester, N.J.: Maybe Voicer Steven Sica should join Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in accusing Israel of genocide when they are trying to prevent Palestinian deaths. Israeli premier Golda Meir put it accurately when she said we can forgive the Arabs for killing our children, but we cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children. As long as Hamas is in control of Gaza there will be no end to the deaths caused by their attempting to inflict genocide on Israel.

Alan Berman

The woes of the Mets

YOUTUBE Staten Island: It’s not that the owners of the Mets don’t have the money to spend. The problem is the team does not know who to buy/trade for or who to keep. The sad part is they thought their pitchers would be the saviors but no matter what you need some hitters. I won’t even speak about their closers. Thomas Bell