Left vulnerable and left to fend for themselves
Forked River, N.J.: The images from Texas are heartbreaking. A flash flood saw the river rise more than 25 feet in just 45 minutes, washing away 120 people, many of whom were kids in a campground. There was little to no warning of this tragedy because President Trump and Elon Musk gutted the National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the scientists who tell us when hurricanes and other extreme weather events are coming.
It will take years to rebuild that area, and thanks to the Trump tariffs, it will be expensive. As far as FEMA coming to the rescue, Trump said he wants the agency eliminated and states can each handle their own tragedies. So, just a day after celebrating the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that cut health insurance for millions of Americans, and gleefully talking about feeding Brown people to alligators in some concentration camp in Florida, Trump was playing golf again. Not even neighbors in Texas trying to find children clinging to trees above a raging river can interrupt his game.
If you pull some change out of your pocket and look closely at the coins, there are the words “E Pluribus Unum,” which means “out of many, one.” We are the United States, which means that if our neighbors in another state suffer an environmental disaster with loss of life and people still missing, people from every state come to help our fellow Americans. It’s a disgrace that as people are still searching for family members, that’s still not enough to get Trump to leave the golf course. Jim Hughes
Tariff tricks
Brooklyn: Trump on Tuesday insisted there would be “no extensions” on tariffs set to go into effect on dozens of countries on Aug. 1, despite saying a day earlier that the deadline was “not 100% firm.” This after the original April date and then the 90-day extension into July. Is it brinkmanship? The “art of the deal”? The act of an indecisive fool? Your guess is as good as mine, or as good as Trump’s. Peter Magnotta
Manufactured emergency
Staten Island: I would like to go on record with a prediction: In the weeks leading up to the 2026 midterm elections, the president will involve the United States in some sort of military action. He will then declare a state of emergency and suspend all elections until further notice. Mark my words. Victor R. Stanwick
War by another name
Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: To Voicer John Esche: I was there, twice wounded along with 130,000 others in Korea at the time it was called a police action. We were there either living or making history. I came home at 19 and had a hard time with the VA taking care of me, and wound up in a private hospital. We could not join any of the veterans’ groups, such as the VFW, because it was not a war. So no, Trump was not the first president to ignore or notify Congress about the bombing in Iran to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. President Truman did the same thing when it came to Congress. Whether they said no or did not vote, he sent the troops to stop the spread of communism. John, why don’t you take a look at today’s history and see how vibrant South Korea is. God bless America. Randy Jurgensen
Armed indeed
Manhattan: To Voicer Thomas Murawski: You may not know of arms being used in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, but the authorities do. People came in with firearms and left them stashed nearby. One truck was found loaded with an assault rifle, ammo, Molotov cocktails and a crossbow. Arms don’t have to be guns, but anything that can be used as a weapon, including bats, crutches, flagpoles, skateboards, fire extinguishers and chemical sprays, all of which were put to use. Others had brass knuckles, pocket knives, stun guns and stinger whips. We’ll never know just how many weapons were present because most people escaped arrest for days and weeks afterward. However, we do know that five people died, more than 140 Capitol Police were injured and $1.5 million worth of damage was done. Laurie Aron
Lost in translation
Largo, Fla.: Re “Congestion pricing countdown” (editorial, July 8): It should be noted that the athletes of the former Soviet Union did not wear “CPPP” on their uniforms. In Cyrillic, the abbreviation appeared as “CCCP,” which in Russian stood for “Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik,” translated as “Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.” Michael W. Howell
Official abdication
Queens Village: Regarding your front page (“Canine horror house off-limits,” June 30) that I showed at the Animal Care Centers board meeting at the Queens shelter last week, along with other animal rescue groups, I pointed out to them that after years of 311 calls answered by the NYPD, no one took the next step, like the Department of Health, to investigate the premises because of smells emanating from the house. Isn’t this a health problem involving people and animals? How long was this supposed to go on? If PETA got wind of this, it would have ended a long time ago. Between 311, the police and the Health Department, someone dropped the ball. Shameful that no one spoke for the voiceless animals, let alone the two sisters who were in need of a wellness check. The neighbors did the right thing. Too bad we had uncaring departments that didn’t do otherwise. Joan Silaco
Donor doubts
West Caldwell, N.J.: Can anyone explain why Curtis Sliwa has not received one iota of support from the NYC business community despite his having secured the Republican ticket for the upcoming general election, and therefore inherently anticipatory of their financial assistance? I understand that some may feel he will not win based on his loss in the prior mayoral election (this is obviously the opinion of billionaire John Catsimatidis, as he is casting his support for Mayor Adams while publicly pleading for Sliwa to drop out of the race), but does the entire business community — and its money that could bankroll a formidable campaign on behalf of him — collectively feel this way? I would be enlightened and appreciative if the Daily News could report on this for the benefit of us readers! Charlie Peters
Popular opposition
New Rochelle, N.Y.: Voicer Lisa Kaul, a Planned Parenthood Board Member, needs a reality check. She says that efforts to stop taxpayer-funded abortion are “playing politics.” In reality, tens of millions of Americans have moral objections to abortion, euthanasia and capital punishment. And more than 150 million — a clear national majority — oppose using any public money for abortion. That’s not playing politics, Lisa. That’s the majority telling you they don’t like what you do. Maybe get your resumé ready. Tripp Hoffmann
Mischaracterized movement
Bayside: To Voicer Nick Smith: I just read your letter and my blood is still boiling. Firstly, a definition of Zionism for you: It is a movement to establish a Jewish state. That’s all. It’s not militant, nor is it violent. Secondly, Israeli people were minding their own business when mercilessly attacked on Oct. 7 by Hamas. Women were killed and teens were manhandled and taken hostage for daring to enjoy a concert, and for being Jewish. The wounded and dead were paraded through the streets like trophies. Thirdly, you are ignorant as to the history. Palestinians were offered their own state at least three times and refused, opting for war. Nobody is more saddened than I for the loss of so many innocent lives on both sides, but the Israelis did not start this war. You, sir, are an antisemite. Dale L. Herman
What peace?
Monroe, N.J.: So, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, something Trump craves. I guess I missed the headlines declaring peace in the Middle East, including no more bombings or drone attacks, food and supplies flowing through Gaza, and an end to the killing of thousands in the war on all sides. What was the deal cut with Israel for the nomination? More firepower? A suite in the new Middle East Trump Tower? One more time Trump boosts his own ego with “deals,” also called bribery. Katherine A. Moloney
