Raises at the top while retirees get suckered?
Manhattan: Re “Pols push for raises” (Dec. 4): The City Council’s move to grant themselves huge salary increases spits in the face of every retired municipal worker whose pension increase amounts to a paltry 1.8%. That’s about $18 per month! New Mayor Zohran Mamdani and new Council Speaker Julie Menin should not do it. To compound this attempted thievery, the Council is sitting on Bill 1096 introduced by Councilman Chris Marte. This bill would assure city retirees that their Medicare-based health care coverage will be preserved in perpetuity.
Undoubtedly, Menin’s first order of business will be to further extend contacts and contracts to lobbyists from the insurance industry. In my mind, there’s no doubt that Menin will work closely with corrupt municipal labor leaders, such as Michael Mulgrew, Henry Garrido and Henry Nespoli, to ensure that another iteration of Medicare Advantage is foisted upon struggling city retirees. The goal, of course, is to divvy up the $600 million in so-called savings gained by watering down the health care benefits of retired city workers! A lot of this “savings” will be kicked back to labor leaders so they can give themselves raises and act like patronage mills for doling out union jobs.
One wonders when the Council will get back to its core mission of serving the public ethically and honorably — not primarily to sustain themselves in office. These proposed Council raises should outrage every taxpaying citizen of New York City. It’s sad to see that the most Democratic city in the nation is leading a campaign to privatize health care for city retirees for the gain of a group of unethical politicians and corrupt union leaders. Gerard Rosenthal
Consistent credo
Margate, Fla.: Re “Make NYC a global model of Jewish-Muslim cooperation” (op-ed, Dec. 9): Zohran Mamdani wants to show that he’s not antisemitic? On what planet? From Bowdoin College to today, Mamdani has worshiped the ground that BDS leadership walks on — leadership that demands the elimination of Israel and its Jewish population. Read his lips about BDS — since Bowdoin. Richard Sherman
Unfriendly territory
San Francisco: I partially agree with the op-ed “Bring the Winter Olympics to NYC & Lake Placid” (Dec. 4). In 1980, Lake Placid hosted the most thrilling Winter Olympics ever. Whenever I hear Leo Arnaud’s “Bugler’s Dream,” I remember Eric Heiden sweeping all five men’s speed skating gold medals and the Herb Brooks-coached U.S. Olympic ice hockey team defeating the Soviet Union and Finland to win gold as well, inspiring announcer Al Michaels to muse: “Do you believe in miracles?” However, I have serious reservations about New York City co-hosting the Olympics. When anti-Israel bigots recently besieged and terrorized synagogue congregants, New York City’s mayor-elect blamed the synagogue. The Olympics must learn from the mistakes of the 1936 Berlin and 1972 Munich games, not risk repeating them. Stephen A. Silver
Meet them where they are
Manhattan: The City Council Committee on Aging held a long-overdue oversight hearing on social isolation among older New Yorkers. At Selfhelp Community Services, we confront this growing crisis every day. Too many older adults are living alone, cut off from connections essential to healthy aging. It can lead to depression, cognitive decline and poorer physical health, and make it harder to safely remain in their homes and communities. Brick-and-mortar programs that foster connection, including Older Adult Centers and Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities, are lifelines, but we must also embrace flexible, modern approaches, particularly for homebound adults. Our Virtual Senior Center, which offers live interactive classes and events, is one example. These online programs keep people engaged when illness, mobility challenges or extreme weather prevent them from leaving home. NYC must support a hybrid model of in-person and virtual programming so every older adult can stay connected, engaged and valued. Stuart C. Kaplan
Still holds up
North Brunswick, N.J.: I loved the Voicer who took me back to classic “The Twilight Zone” times that are now eerily relevant. Remember Anthony, the little petulant kid in the “It’s a Good Life” episode who would wish you into the cornfields if you didn’t tell him he was a good boy? Ea A. Mingo
Ego boosting
Scarsdale, N.Y.: I really enjoy watching President Trump’s televised Cabinet meetings, especially when he goes around the table and has each of his secretaries humiliate themselves by trying to out-fawn one another. One suggestion: If he split the meetings in two sessions over two days, he might be able to stay awake a bit longer. John Kern
Lawless enforcers
Manhattan: To Voicer Nancy L. Brenner: ICE fled to New Jersey. New Yorkers stood their ground as the First Amendment allows. Protesters knowingly took the risk of being arrested to make a moral point. How can we allow anonymous, masked and armed individuals to sweep people up randomly and without regard for their asylum, green card or citizenship status as long as they’re Brown or Black? ICE violently arrests and detains people without legal authority — that is, without judicial warrants — and traps them in detention centers where they are not able to contact lawyers. Who’s doing the intimidation you speak of? Who’s illegally detaining people? Who’s doing the trapping? Gabrielle Shatan
Not looking good
Portsmouth, N.H.: I’m 76, and for once in my life, I’m glad I’m on my way out. I have never seen the America I loved so much be destroyed this way. The Constitution is now nothing but a piece of paper that can be put in the trash. What gets me is that this un-Supreme Court is not only allowing this stuff to take place but condoning it. I’m on my way out, but I pity the young. I kept saying it can’t get worse, but every day, something else evil is revealed. God help America and the future of our young. Elizabeth Smith
Not to be missed
Clintondale, N.Y.: What a disgrace that the only mention of Dec. 7, 1941 in your paper was by Voicer Ophelia Paolino. Not one mention anywhere else. Just a reminder that Sept. 11, 2026 will be the 25th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center. Russell Provost
Hemorrhaged talent
Rye, N.Y.: In 1977, Mets general manager M. Donald Grant broke the hearts of every Mets fan when he traded away the most beloved Met ever, Tom Seaver, in what came to be known as the Midnight Massacre. Grant continued his penny-pinching ways, continuing to dismantle what had been a successful team. Fans stayed away in droves, and it took years for the team to recover. Not to compare Brandon Nimmo to Tom Seaver, but Nimmo is the rare type of player that real Mets fans cherish. Now we have lost Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso, two more fan favorites. Grant, already known as “that SOB” in some circles, went down in history as the most reviled Mets GM ever. Mr. Stearns, Mr. Cohen, are you trying to top him? Mike Niss
Tear-jerker
Denver: While shopping with my wife recently, I spoke to the approaching store manager about how we were filling our cart with gifts for children whose parents are in prison. The manager responded softly, “Oh, that’s nice. Others shopped for my kids while I was in prison.” In that moment, my 73-year-old heart was touched, and I felt compelled to hug her. Mike Sawyer
Happier holidays
Ithaca, N.Y.: Ho, ho, hello there! Santa Claus here, writing in between wrapping sessions and sleigh tune-ups. After a few centuries of cookie overload and overheated reindeer, I’ve decided it’s time for a jolly good change. I’m going vegan this year! That’s right, I’ll be swapping butter-laden cookies for compassionate, cruelty-free treats. Vegan chocolate chip, oat-ginger snaps, anything festive and animal-friendly — leave them out and I’ll be elfishly grateful. And please pair them with plant-based milk. My doctor says dairy is “snow” good for me. As for my beloved reindeer, they’ve earned a long, happy retirement at a reputable animal sanctuary, where the only thing they’ll be pulling is fresh hay. I’ll be upgrading to an electric sleigh — zero emissions, full holiday cheer. Let’s make this the season of kindness for all beings. After all, nothing says merry like spreading compassion across the world! Warm wishes, Santa. Eric C. Lindstrom
