Road woes go well beyond cars
West Nyack, N.Y.: I appreciate the uphill battle Mayor de Blasio faces in a less and less equal New York City. But, in responding to an angry phone call from a bicycle activist on his weekly radio show on Friday, the mayor revealed an obsessive dislike of what he termed “the car culture.” When I drive into the city, the lack of public parking is frustrating. Until 7 p.m., most signs read “Commercial Vehicles Only.” Rental bicycle racks have been installed along many curbs, erasing full blocks of potential parking spots. Garage owners are reaping a nice profit. And, of course, there’s the “congestion pricing” plan that would punish drivers for an overall lack of urban planning.
I’m a pedestrian as well as a driver. If you wait at the corner for the traffic light to turn green, bicyclists run red lights and threaten your life when you cross. I know several people who have been injured by arrogant bicyclists who just don’t give a damn. One bicyclist ran over my feet on Bleecker St., riding his bike the wrong way on a one-way street, while talking on his cell phone! Plus, the bicycle lanes are often confusing and dangerous.
Pedestrians must also take some responsibility. They rarely check the light before crossing. They’ll walk in front of a car against the light.
On the radio, de Blasio said he “used to drive.” Beautiful! He doesn’t even drive now! Vision Zero is a worthy cause, but you can’t solve a problem by scapegoating one side of a multiple problem. We live in a large metropolitan area, and narrow solutions are no solution. We need a major railroad network at a price that people can afford. We also need a sense of mutual cooperation and mutual respect. Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians are all responsible for a safer city.
Steve Green
Keep commuter spirits
Manhattan: In the three decades that I have been riding the LIRR, the only thing they have consistently done right is providing bar carts on the platforms. After a long day at work, it’s nice to take the edge off with a beer or a cocktail, especially late in the workweek. Now some teetotaling dork on the board wants to take that away from us. Can’t these people leave well enough alone?
Dan Ollen
Weaponless hunting
Hartsdale, N.Y.: I applaud comments made by SNL star Michael Che and Voicer Kiley Blackman. Hunting is a cowardly sport. After all, only one of the participants has brought a weapon. Would a hunter confront an animal singlehandedly? Of course not! Then where is the fairness or challenge? On a recent trip to South Africa, I had the privilege of seeing these magnificent animals in the wild. Their beauty and majesty were truly overwhelming, and I have the photos to prove it. Hunting with a camera is a winwin. Adrienne Hernandez
No-plastic prize
Manhattan: The conflict over plastic bags — originating in our desire for grocery and trash bags but not plastic ones because these destroy the oceans and their wildlife — doesn’t have to be intractable. Its resolution boils down to our need for a tote bag that is made of biodegradable material, is strong and sturdy, and easy and cheap to produce (Production plants for these bags would also create jobs). A contest with a hefty award — like the one recently held for subway improvement ideas — could possibly attract such a winning invention, and should be launched by an environmentally responsible, civically creative and deep-pocketed individual or organization as soon as possible. Aviva Cantor
Hell of a problem
West Haven, Conn.: I heard that Jared Kushner is having trouble leasing his 666 Fifth Ave. building. Didn’t anyone tell him that it might not a be good number for it because “666” is considered the devil’s number? Maybe there are a lot of superstitious tenants out there! Good luck with that, Jared!
Marty Northam Bronx: I’m disappointed my congressman Eliot Engel and City Controller Scott Stringer have remained silent about the allegations on Harvey Weinstein. Is it because he gave so much money to Democratic Party campaigns? Have they considered demanding any of these contributions be returned for the sake of their women constituents?
Diane Shrager
Gun show scapegoating
New Rochelle, N.Y.: One of the many talking points I’ve been hearing about how to solve the current gun problem in America is to “close the gun show loophole.” I’ve looked into it, and none of these mass shootings involved a gun bought at a gun show, let alone through a gun show loophole. All the guns involved in these mass killings were purchased from a legitimate gun store after a background check was performed. There’s your problem! It’s not the shady backdoor purchases that went wrong; the system failed at the front door. Tripp Hoffmann
Parental oversight
Shirley, L.I.: I’m a 45-year-old white male from the suburbs. What I see going on with school violence turns my stomach. When I was in school, you fought with your fists, shook hands and made up. I have two sons, ages 9 and 5. If I ever catch them playing Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty, they will never see a video game until they leave this house. I’m a solid American who served eight years in the Marine Corps and in the NYPD, until retirement. I never dreamed to bring even a nail-clipper to school. And I am one of the biggest supporters of the Second Amendment. Parents, you can’t become “friends” with your children. Have them “know their role” and watch what they’re up to prevent another tragedy.
Steven Brownworth
High school headaches
Staten Island: Having just celebrated my 70th birthday, it is clear to me that the difference between the young in my generation and today’s youth is that we had the decency to wait until we were in college before becoming leftist stooges. With open borders, “refugees” with murder in their hearts, wigged-out politicians like Maxine Waters and criminals in high positions at the FBI and CIA, these smug punks may very well regret the day they called for the end of the Second Amendment.
Tortured logic
Manhattan: Regarding your editorial about torture (“Gina Haspel in the dock,” March 19): We did not “come to know better that waterboarding is torture.” It was always torture and we knew it, no matter what verbal games the Bush administration had to play to justify it. Haspel and all the others who devised and implemented our torture program should be held to account in a court of law, not get a job promotion. Eli Ganias
Turtles all the way down
Lexington, N.C.: Re “Snapping turtle euthanized after Idaho teacher allegedly fed it puppy” (March 18): Why shouldn’t we the people take the teacher to a public arena and get an alligator and feed the teacher to the alligator and listen to the teacher scream. Just a thought.
Lee Edwards
End the gross ads
Morganville, N.J.: To Voicer Jill Waunsch: I want to say “Amen” and “Thank you!” I have written THEODORE PARISIENNE the Daily News several times regarding those knee pictures to no avail! Gory is the perfect description and something I don’t need to see over breakfast. Let’s hope this is the end of it!
Debra Giordano
Blues over the blue
Bridgeport, Conn.: After reading the Daily News’ excellent series on the disciplinary practices of the NYPD, I am more convinced than ever that we are living in a police state in the United States.
Robert Birge
A Buffett of fun times
Manhattan: I would say that about 10% of theatergoers fall into one of these categories — gay-story-of-life, solo storyabout-nothing, girl-next-door drama, shows pushing some sort of a message. Whereas 90% of theatergoers, I think, want to leave the theater and say, “Wow — that was great,” singing a tune from the show or loving the dancing, movable sets with imagination, colorful customs — just a fun evening. This all happens in “Escape to Margaritaville,” now on Broadway. Critics gave the show not such good reviews, which was very unfair. Critics have really never known what the public likes; their heads are in the sand, all very scholarly people dotting every “i,” without ever being out front when the show ends and listening to what people are saying. You go to Broadway to be entertained, not receive a message.
Bob Thorne