New York should learn from Montreal’s mistakes
Montreal: I’m a frequent visitor to New York City. The simple things that some residents find irritating, I find charming. But as I walk through New York today, I’m reminded of what happened to my own city during the past decade.
Our far-right political parties are further to the left than your Democratic Party. Montreal has been governed by socialist-leaning administrations for more than eight years, elected to provide more support for vulnerable populations, offer affordable housing and improve social services and public transportation efficiency. But the results were starkly different.
One in five Montrealers now relies on food banks. Homeless encampments became commonplace, even in upscale or tourist-heavy districts. Supervised drug injection sites were installed in historic neighborhoods, accelerating urban decay rather than reducing it. The city slowed and eventually halted most private residential development in favor of government-run social housing.
Because the construction of social housing was slow and insufficient, real-estate supply collapsed just as immigration surged. Basic economics took over. Housing costs doubled, rent skyrocketed and landlords stopped renovating because rent-control measures made improvements financially pointless. Private housing stock deteriorated. At the same time, taxes increased dramatically. Commercial properties emptied. Businesses closed. Jobs relocated to Toronto or the suburbs. Industry moves where the tax burden and cost of living are more stable.
Redistributive policy sounds noble. In practice, when it becomes punitive, people who have resources simply leave. They have mobility. Those most in need remain trapped with fewer jobs, higher costs and diminished public services. I hope New York’s new leadership succeeds, but I hope they learn of Montreal’s mistakes. Cities should strive to be humane and inclusive, but they must also be functional. Charles Pépin-Clément
No help then
Brooklyn: Kudos to Voicer J.R. Cummings about taxpayers paying for child care. No one helped my parents with that. They had to work two jobs just to keep up with expenses and child care. Nothing was free for them. Josie Oliveri
Black-market boon
Copiague, L.I.: If no one else is delighted by the federal spending bill passed by the Senate, organized crime should be. One little-noticed provision rewrites the 2018 Farm Act to essentially ban the growing or processing of hemp products containing more than 0.3% of the active ingredient THC (for comparison, commercial “recreational” weed contains 18-28% THC, with concentrates testing at up to 90%). In states where recreational cannabis was legalized, the drug caused few problems, but it did deprive criminal dealers of their market for cannabis and cut them off from the opportunity to move their customers to more powerful, profitable and addictive drugs like cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. In addition, legalization created more than 300,000 jobs, many of them well-paying, and produced millions of dollars in new tax revenue for states, counties and towns. All that goes away with the new federal spending bill. Mitch Kessler
Leaders in waiting
New Haven, Conn.: Sens. Chris Murphy, Chris Van Hollen, Brian Schatz, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren speak for the American people. They have taken the lead in opposing the president’s heartless, callous and vengeful acts against everyday citizens, indifferent to their suffering from lack of and high prices for food and health care. All Americans need to hear these Democratic voices loud and clear, as these now better represent them than Sen. Chuck Schumer’s. These senators are our strongest leaders who can forge ahead to build what the American people deserve. Joanna Stuart
Convenient deaths
Cincinnati: Jeffrey Epstein and Virginia Giuffre had a lot of info on Donald Trump and the others on Epstein Island, and they are both dead — both by suicide. It’s very strange how Giuffre completely exonerated Trump, making it a point to make public that Trump did nothing wrong. This is where I scratch my head. Did Trump get to her and pay her off? Or maybe he blackmailed her, saying he would reveal films and pictures of her. In the emails, it states that Trump spent hours with Giuffre. Was he being a father figure and counseling her on her path in life? I don’t think so. Maybe Trump or others involved thought she was too big of a risk. Two people who could have brought down the rich and powerful just happen to both kill themselves? I don’t think so. Mark Jessee
Well-worn response
Brooklyn: Let me clarify something about this Epstein scandal and Trump’s involvement in it. According to Trump’s twisted logic, the Epstein mess is a hoax — but only when it pertains to him and his cohorts. However, it is not a hoax when it involves prominent Democrats! This is typical Trump doublespeak that should be apparent to everyone, including his loyal supporters. Irwin Cantos
Focus on what’s felt
Manhattan: Even if there is proof of Trump’s involvement with underage girls, it will be just another negative epithet to his already long list of sins, corruption, malfeasance, etc. Put it to rest. Unless he is forthwith removed from office, the time and money wasted on the pursuit is ridiculous. People should be more concerned with the inflation running rampant because of his failed policies. It’s ironic that all of a sudden, Marjorie Taylor Greene has seen the light and is now on the Trump dump list. Could there be other Republicans who have awakened to the lies and bait-and-switch sleight of hand that are synonymous with the Trump agenda? Jack Weiss
Sounds like swine
Manhattan: He calls a woman reporter “piggy,” then walks right by an American flag lying on the ground that fell from a flagpole he had installed. He is the pig — and apologies to all pigs. Joseph Duffy
Infertile ground
Carle Place, L.I.: One of your football writers, Antwan Staley, suggests the Jets might wait until 2027 and draft the current Ohio State quarterback (“Not too soon to look at ’26 QB,” Nov. 18). The only decent QB the Buckeyes have ever produced is C.J. Stroud, and the jury is still out on him. And where did the latest Jets flop, Justin Fields, play? Oh yeah, “the” Ohio State University. Rudy Rosenberg
Reckless sentencing
Glen Ridge, N.J.: The callous, reckless and entitled driver who had racked up $11,000 in traffic and parking violations, including 21 speed camera tickets and five red light tickets, was still driving when she killed a mother and her two daughters and seriously injured her young son, yet she took a plea deal of only three to nine years (” ‘Callous & reckless,’ ” Nov. 18). But, and I quote, “it will still send a clear message that reckless driving that ends in tragedy will be met serious penalties.” Really? Tragedies have to happen to get those chronic abusive drivers off the road? What is the message here? That only death will take away their keys and lock them up. Something is seriously wrong with our judicial system. Francine Ferrara
Lethal & lucky
Staatsburg, N.Y.: So this individual who racked up nearly $11,000 in traffic and parking violations, including 21 speed camera tickets and five red light tickets, was driving with a suspended license and told cops she was “haunted inside” and had the “devil in my eyes.” Really? Was she haunted inside and had the devil in her eyes for the other 21 tickets also? Do you notice that every time incidents like this happen, the driver is either drunk or has a suspended license or none at all? Three lives were lost, and of course, the individual who caused the accident survives! She will probably serve only a little bit of time and be back on the road again. What a joke. Glenn Marowitz
No good reason
Bronx: In the Nov. 17 report on the mistaken-identity shooting murder (“He bought pal’s car — then he was killed“), the writers claim that one of the alleged perpetrators had “good reason” to seek revenge. Does the Daily News support shootings and murder when there is a “good reason”? Are you really excusing street violence and murder? Reporters should be careful with the words they choose, and editors should do a better job of clarifying the content. John F. Backe
