Demeaning the Kennedy Center with Trump’s name
Bronx: Everything connected with the changing of the name of the Kennedy Center to the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts reeks of monumental disrespect to a genuine American hero who worked strenuously to promote the arts and the fact that the center is a memorial to him — Trump even placed his name first! — and the stench of outrageous mendacity — i.e., the announcement that the vote of the center’s board in taking this action was unanimous, which it was not, as we know from a congresswoman (Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat) who was prevented from voicing her opposition during the Zoom meeting in which the name change was put to a vote.
It reeks of the monumental narcissism, complete ignorance of history, and trashing of the rule of law by our current president. Topping off this utterly despicable action are these lines from the message on X issued by Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt: “Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future!” Does Leavitt really expect us to believe that our martyred President Kennedy will rise from his grave to lend a hand to Trump in running the Kennedy Center? This is truly the Age of Insanity. Miriam Levine Helbok
The best places
Brooklyn: Voicer Joe Salerno got it right. People from the Nordic countries want no part of the U.S.A. Those countries are the happiest countries in the world and the safest. Denmark is the coziest country in the world and Sweden the happiest. Louie Scarcella
Null set
Brooklyn: Voicer Vince Sgroi writes that Donald Trump has no policies — only thoughts and concepts. Even that is giving Trump too much credit. The last concept he had died from loneliness. Dennis Burge
A real contender
Manhattan: There’s a well-clad fella who sits on a small chair on my street corner most days and blathers nonsense about people passing by. We, neighbors, pass by and politely nod g’day to him. He’s just another troubled human with idle time. If he had a bullhorn, he’d be quite like the president of the United States. Frankie Turchiano
Season’s greetings
Manhattan: Happy holidays and Merry Christmas! I’m grateful for you guys. Think positive. Miracles do happen when you least expect them. Eva Julietta Tortora
Goodwill to all
West Babylon, L.I.: We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We love you dearly. Randy and Gayle Brown
Too many Ubers
Manhattan: I applaud Lou Riccio for highlighting that the true root of city traffic congestion are the For Hire Vehicles (FHVs) (“Free buses won’t help, but more subway lines will,” op-ed, Dec. 23). One only needs to count the number of license plates starting with the letter “T” at any intersection in the congestion zone. I noticed this coming down the West Side Highway, pre-congestion pricing, after trips upstate and on any given day waiting at the light to cross streets. This still holds after enactment of congestion pricing, as evidenced in Chelsea during business hours. FHVs are even being used to take children to/from school or after-school programs rather than taking a little walk. The city should revisit this issue using street cameras to identify the number of FHVs in comparison to regular passenger vehicles and address the true culprit of congestion. Donay Queenan
Pitfalls of driverless buses
New Rochelle, N.Y.: Far be it from me to dispute the transportation expertise of Lou Riccio. However, his belief that the MTA should begin studying the use of electric, driverless buses is a subject more fitting of a stand-up act than a serious discussion of mass transit. First off, who calls for assistance when a problem arises onboard a vehicle with no authority figure? Just as importantly, a recent San Francisco power failure created a very dangerous situation when an entire fleet of driverless taxis went rogue and stopped operating. Consider those issues when you think about removing bus operators from behind the wheel. Charles Seaton
Phony championship
Tarrytown, N.Y.: Voicer Adam Silbert likes the NBA Cup and compares it to European soccer clubs. So are we now going to put mayonnaise on our french fries, as the Europeans do? Kudos to the Knicks for refusing to hang the Emirates In-Season Tournament banner at Madison Square Garden, famously known as the world’s most famous arena and home to some of the savviest basketball fans on the planet. Saw a huge uproar from these fans over the idea of hanging this fugazy sponsored in season banner. This decision by our hometown team made me incredibly proud to be an American and a Knicks fan. The two previous winners, the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, chose to hang theirs. Even though we do not have the countless banners as the Lakers do. We have decided to hang only the banners that truly represent an NBA season accomplishment. My suggestion would be to hang it at the practice facility instead. It would serve as a yearly reminder that this is the first measured hurdle of the season. Stephen Talenti
Targeting a small minority
Manhattan: Now that gender-affirming care is available for them, the small number of young people stuck in a gender that’s simply wrong can get help. President Trump wants to make the lives of trans young people miserable by denying necessary care, and trans adults are rightly worried that restrictions on care will extend to them. Trump wants to block Medicare and Medicaid funding from hospitals, with the full support of HHS chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr., that help trans kids, who go through an exhaustive process of evaluation before medication is prescribed. This proposed rule would mean the end of Mount Sinai and NYU Hospitals, the primary providers of gender-affirming care and vital to millions of New Yorkers for every other kind of healthcare from heart disease to kidney failure. New York Attorney General Leticia James is working to beat back this regressive rule that violates state law against discrimination. When are Gov. Hochul, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer going to stand up to revile Trump’s action and support James? Diana Christopher
Not funny at all
Saint Albans: Halfway through dinner on Sunday it suddenly dawned on me that I had yet to read the Daily News, nor had I perused the color comics pages, which is something that I enjoy doing long before the evening meal arrives. (Spent most of the morning wrapping presents, but don’t tell me mum, ha ha). I began reading the comics insert while finishing my meal but, when I turned to the third page and read the “WuMo” strip, I nearly choked on my mashed potatoes on a strip showing Santa cooking and eating his reindeer. Did the creators of the strip or the editors at The News willfully forget that the comics page could and probably will be seen and read by children, irrevocably shattering the magic and mystery of the season? This strip is yet another in a number of them over the months which should never have seen the light of day, much less been conceived, and should be yet another entry in the “WuMo” “What Were You Thinking” file! Anthony Vasser
Ditto
Rego Park: I was in shock after reading the Dec. 14 “Mutts” comic strip. Patrick McDonnell, who also writes “Shelter Stories” with compassionate pleas to adopt a shelter pet, has one of his characters say that he bought his wife a cashmere wool scarf for Christmas. The abject cruelty involved in the wool industry, as in all industries involving animal exploitation is hellish. The “Mutts” comic strip which makes it seem desirable to own a cashmere wool scarf (a brutal product of animal torture) promotes the use of animals as mere objects, not as sentient beings. All animals, not just those who share our homes, deserve an existence free from cruelty and abuse at the hands of humans. The only way for this animal holocaust to end is for us to stop objectifying animals. They are here with us, not for us. Sharon Feder
