Building regulations without teeth fall short
Woodside: It is nothing short of a holiday miracle for what could have been a gut-wrenching tragedy in the partial collapse of a Bronx building. Luckily, no one was seriously injured. This miracle is in the midst of grim news of politicized hate-mongering and spiking violence spreading across the nation is indeed very special as many people were inside when the northeast corner of the 47-unit, seven-story building built in 1927 crumbled.
However, now comes the most important question: Why wasn’t this potentially dangerous building weakness reported by the inspecting city engineers, considering the building is a 96-year old structure?
Importantly, this is not the only residential building in New York City that dates back to the 1920s, so it is critical that the city preempts such potential building collapses by doing a thorough structural evaluation by certified city engineers regularly.
Any structural violation should be more than a piece of paper or a monetary fine. In fact, corrective action needs to be enforced by the city and addressed immediately by the landlord and building management company, where punishment for noncompliance should be a deterrent and not just a slap on the wrist in the form of citations for continued violations with impunity.
Above all, “safety first” should always be the paramount mantra where human life and wellbeing is concerned. Atul M. Karnik
Illusion of action
Union, N.J.: From Friday’s Daily News about passing more regulations on housing and more regs on juvenile jail space: More regs and more laws while cutting enforcement, education and all the other corrective solutions! We are drowning in regulations that nobody enforces, laws that nobody (from the very top down) obeys, but we keep churning out placebos that make the politicians feel good about doing something!
Lou Alt
Up to date
White Plains, N.Y.: I don’t celebrate Christmas, but thank you for an early holiday gift. I’ve often thought your On Broadway section should be retitled Maybe On Broadway. Saturday, however, Broadway shows that have closed were not listed. Perhaps there really is a Santa Clause.
Randi Bernstein Feigenbaum
Merited
Manhattan: To Voicer Bob Smith: Re “Mutts” should be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize — yesh! I second the motion. Patrick McDonnell is a brilliant writer and cartoonist and he brings smiles and love to us in some of the darkest days of our lives.
Susan P. Siskind
Dubious claims
Scarsdale, N.Y.: I read the letter from Voicer Fred Schoeneborn and feel compelled to respond. I await the “other” sources he refers to concerning President Biden’s involvement in bribery, etc., along with the proof. I would hope that it makes more sense than his statement that “Trump doesn’t control the Republican Party.” To paraphrase an old expression: If not him, then who? Herb Katz
Questions of law
Bayonne: Re Jim Walden’s article “A legal strategy for the migrant flow” (op-ed, Dec. 23): It’s not a political stunt. What do you expect Gov. Greg Abbot to do? House all 6 million migrants in Texas? These sanctuary states and cities welcome migrants, remember? You mention Abbot and Ron DeSantis shipping migrants out of their states, but what about President Biden? He’s shipping them all over the country in the middle of the night secretly. We have homeless Americans living out on the streets. States have a legitimate interest in getting vital information on who these migrants are. Well, the federal government doesn’t even know who they are. It’s a federal crime to transport illegal noncitizens within the U.S.A., but Biden is doing this and violating his oath of office. Jim Walden, you’re a lawyer, so I think you better go back to law school for a refresher course. Mike Armstrong
Unfinished business
Snohomish, Wash.: Congress went home without doing the work of protecting world democracy with Ukrainian aid or solving the nation’s immigration crisis (“Congress leaves Ukraine hanging,” editorial, Dec. 22). Sadly, there is more: Millions of America’s children are hungry and homeless without the expanded Child Tax Credit being renewed. Evictions and homelessness are at record levels without a renter tax credit. Tuberculosis, the world’s deadliest disease, needs the End TB Now Act to help control it. The world’s children need the READ Act renewed to help them have an opportunity for education. So call your representatives, (202) 224-3121, in the House and Senate and ask them to get back to the work of creating a better world by passing these initiatives of hope.
Willie Dickerson
Wrong standard
Newton, N.J.: To Voicer Greg Topliff: Why do Republicans, and especially Southerners like yourself, rely on the Constitution except when it doesn’t suit your Trumpian needs? Felony Donnie may not have been convicted — yet — but the 14th Amendment says nothing about requiring a conviction to be disqualified from the ballot for engaging in an insurrection. And only bleachdrinking Trump disciples believe Jan. 6 wasn’t one.
Michael Schnackenberg
Reich-like
Chicago: “Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it.” Sound familiar? Here’s a clue: It’s not found on page one of Trump’s 2024 playbook. It’s a direct quote from none other than Adolf Hitler, though it’s as timely as the next scheduled MAGA rally in a town near you. And while it took the German people 10 years to conclude they had voted for a tyrant, we have their misery as a harbinger of what’s to come should we choose to embrace the leading contender in the Republican Party. So, as loyal citizens of a once-proud democracy, we are duty-bound to pay close attention to the words of the disgraced ex-president, for there’s little doubt his threats would become reality if he’s ever allowed back in office. Bob Ory
Ripe for a challenger
Pasadena, Calif.: Donald Trump is in panic mode. Listen to his moaning and groaning and, of course, his childish attacks! When is Trump going to get the message that the people are on to him? A 77-year-old racist, misogynist bigot who has been found liable for rape, who incited a deadly, violent insurrection aimed at overturning a democratic election, who has committed mass fraud and faces 91 counts. Why would anyone with a brain waste their vote on a loser? Richard A. French
New gal pal
Redondo Beach, Calif.: Alina Habba for first lady.
John Chevedden
Original intent
Manhattan: Voicer Theresa Williams: The Daily News inadvertently spelled the name the way it was supposed to be. Oprah Winfrey’s name was supposed to be spelled “Orpah” after a Bible character in the Book of Ruth. Oprah herself told the story about the misspelling.
Vanessa Enger
Old testament testimony
Old Bridge, N.J.: When Oprah first reached recognition as a celebrity, she said she was supposed to be named Orpah after a woman mentioned in the Book of Ruth. Someone misspelled it on her birth certificate. Maybe spell check was governed by the Book of Ruth. Janet Cecin
Inanimate object
Brooklyn: To Voicer Theresa Polese: I only chose Barbie due to the fact that she’s not real (much like Ivanka). I hope you meant steam from your ears and not between them! So, no offense toward the beloved Barbie doll.
Mary Doherty
Budget shortfall
Huntington, L.I.: Mathematics does not seem to be Voicer Dan Arthur Pryor’s forte. He advocates redirecting the hundreds of millions of dollars per year that Planned Parenthood receives to pro-life causes. He states: “And not just the nine months of pregnancy. That kind of yearly money can supply for post-birth life situations, such as housing, material needs, foster care, adoption and more.” In July, NYCHA stated that it needs $78 billion to rehabilitate its apartments. This is just one example of the amount needed to support the poor in this country. Add up the cost of programs for the poor, such as Medicaid, food stamps, housing, direct cash payments, WIC, EITC, child tax credits, child nutrition, etc. and the total exceeded $1 trillion in fiscal year 2022. Planned Parenthood’s annual budget would not provide the funds needed by the poor created by redirecting its budget. It is also not good policy to expand poverty. Thomas Saracco