Don’t sell Brooklyn’s waterfront efforts short
Manhattan: Re “We need working docks on Brooklyn’s waterfront” (op-ed, April 22): I’m always open to differences of opinion about my organization’s work, but this article gets basic facts wrong. NYC’s working waterfront isn’t being ignored, it’s being upgraded. I share the concern that we must protect and invest in our maritime industry. And that’s exactly what we’re doing. The “practically empty” NYC Ferry is actually a crowd favorite. We’ve hit a record number of riders (98% New Yorkers, by the way) and farebox highs, with the lowest per-passenger subsidy of any public passenger ferry system in the country.
Our “rarely used” Brooklyn Cruise Terminal brings 500,000 passengers to our city each year, pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into NYC’s economy.
We’ve made more progress on “blue highways” in the last three years than the three decades before, including a new hub at Downtown Skyport to handle micro-freight by water, and a new barging operation at Hunts Point, which will take 1,000 trucks off our streets every month.
And in Red Hook, we’re finalizing a plan for the long-neglected Brooklyn Marine Terminal, including an all-electric modern port with new cranes and resilient bulkheads to handle more cargo more efficiently, creating thousands of jobs alongside desperately needed affordable housing.
NYC was born and raised on the waterfront. With work underway, we’re not just honoring that legacy, we’re building on it. Andrew Kimball, president and CEO, NYC Economic Development Corp.
Proper accounting
Brooklyn: Re “Albany must prep for federal cuts” (op-ed, April 27): One thing missing from this opinion is the total mismanagement of state revenues, leading to the assertion that more taxes are the way to go: “New York’s elected leaders must start by eliminating wasteful tax cuts… and then prepare to raise revenue as necessary.” Why is the answer to raise taxes rather than determine where funds are going? We need a DOGE-type review of our programs and waste therein. As a proud taxpayer, I want to know why our elected leaders can’t control costs and maintain services with integrity. Susan Caprio
Worthier of welfare?
Edgewater, N.J.: Re David Bloomfield’s April 22 op-ed (“Yeshivas must keep teaching standards“), lost in the debate is how the male graduates find sustenance when they lack marketable job skills. So many marry young, create large families that they can’t support and turn to government aid, food stamps and Medicaid for multiple generations. Were we talking about Brown-skinned folks, Republican state Senate Leader Rob Ortt and his ilk would likely refer to them as “welfare queens,” but because Ortt’s party can reliably depend on these voters (because, given their aversion to media, these religious communities’ only political information is voting directives they hear from the pulpit), Ortt is happy to reframe this as a parental-rights issue. Freedom (to live on the dole — as long as you vote correctly). So cynical, and financially exhausting. Jay K. Egelberg
They vote for this
Port Jefferson Station, L.I.: To Voicer Rebecca Pagan-Rodriguez: Thank you for your description and listing of the faults former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has. Although accurate, please don’t expect a change from the silly Democratic voting group. They would elect a slug if he ran as a Dem. Look at the people currently in government: AOC, Hakeem Jeffries, Mayor Adams. Can you honestly say they are the brightest bulbs in the rack? No way. Let’s not forget the incomparable Bill de Blasio, another wonderful, competent leader. Not! Until the left-wing voters of NYC catch up to the smarter voters in upstate New York and Long Island, expect dumb people to get elected and do dumb things. Bob Cavaliere
Cut short
Brooklyn: I’ll admit it, TV sitcoms as we know them passed away when CBS cancelled “Poppa’s House,” which was the breakout hit with the breakout cast this season. It was a future classic. Time to ghost CBS. Even CBS might ghost soon. Enough said. Raquel Hanon
Judicial misconduct
Mililani, Hawaii: Re “FBI busts Milwaukee judge accused of helping migrant evade immigration agents” (April 26): Is this the proper way for a judge to behave? Judge Hannah Dugan was aware that ICE agents were preparing to execute an administrative warrant for the illegal immigrant’s arrest. Nonetheless, Dugan escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz through a jury door to let him escape on foot, according to the unsealed criminal complaint. My question: Does this judge routinely escort suspects through a jury door so they can evade a warrant? Michael Rohrer
Aggressive ad
Kings Park, L.I.: “If you see something, say something.” Here’s my 2 cents: I’m shocked and saddened by the vile, disgusting, mean-spirited Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s commercial that regularly airs on ABC during the news and possibly other stations. ABC should know better. What a waste of taxpayer money! We should be welcoming and helping immigrants, not this. Dennis Wheeler
More like Mussolini
Ottawa, Ontario: Re “Bill Maher: Larry David satire of Trump dinner is ‘insulting to 6M dead Jews,’ ” (April 25): It is phenomenally difficult to know when, if ever, it is acceptable to use Hitler in satire. Mel Brooks in “The Producers” is the most prominent person to tackle this issue in the post-war era. After the war, Charlie Chaplin said he had second thoughts about making “The Great Dictator” (1940). I think comedians are underusing Benito Mussolini for purposes of satire. He is less of a cultural reference point than Hitler, but using him would be less offensive. He combined territorial ambitions with being a sexually promiscuous, pompous fool. If there are any modern politicians who have any of those attributes, Il Duce would be an excellent analog. Bruce Couchman
Counterpoints
Nutley, N.J.: If only I had the unlimited faith in our peerless president that Voicer Roberta Chaleff expressed. However, I don’t. In response to the positives she cited, I offer these alternate views. Regarding Ukraine, Trump’s incredibly pro-Russian proposal involves Ukraine recognizing the legitimacy of Russia’s right to Crimea, which Russia unilaterally annexed in 2014, and Russia keeping territory in Ukraine that Russian troops occupy. Regarding illegal immigrants, yes, Trump is deporting those convicted of crimes, but his wholesale approach has also swept up some who are leading peaceful and productive lives, some whose only offense is demonstrating against administration policies, and even one the administration has admitted is here legally, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Regarding tariffs, is Trump in active talks with China? A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Guo Jiakun, stated that China is not engaged in trade talks. Peter Griswold
Not built in a day
Howard Beach: What’s wrong with Americans? Relax, calm down. Give it time to work. Americans want to see immediate results. It doesn’t work that way. If something was destroyed for years, it will take months to rebuild. We have Trump at the head of the table. Who is a better negotiator? Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut! When things start turning around, others can’t say to you, “I told you so.” Let us show the world that Americans do not panic when the tough gets going. This is a perfect example of how Americans can make America great again! Be part of it, don’t be so negative! Nick Di Pasquale
Silver lining
White Plains, N.Y.: If Pete Hegseth is removed as secretary of defense, that’s bad news for him. The good news for him is he can go back to drinking. Jeff Gold
Ideologically consistent
Valley Stream, L.I.: I found it rather amusing and ironic that Voicer William Clark criticized columnist S.E. Cupp for being woke, among other things. It made me curious if he and many others are unaware that this columnist is a lifelong conservative Republican. Before 2016, I disagreed with her respectfully on almost every issue, so I know this quite well. Her columns from the past decade no longer reflect this because she is actually a sane conservative Republican who recognizes that whatever party’s running the country right now is not Republican in the least. It is a flat-out cult and that’s what she has a problem with. She recognizes a danger to democracy that is beyond party and I respect her for that. In the end, history will be much kinder to her than all the MAGA sycophants out there. When that happens, I’ll be happily disagreeing with her on most topics again. Allan Canino
