Where are the congestion pricing improvements?
Manhattan: Chris Schuyler writes in a Dec. 20 op-ed, “Congestion pricing = accessible transit” that congestion pricing has helped disabled people in the city get around, while also improving the air quality. As someone who lives in the congestion pricing zone, I can only say that congestion pricing has made getting around the city worse. Yes, the MTA may have fixed a few more elevators in the subway stations, but the trains themselves are almost always packed, no matter what time of day I choose to travel. Buses are also far less frequent than they used to be, even at midday or rush hour. When they do come, they’re often just a couple minutes apart and then another 15 or 30 minute wait. They are also usually packed. You’d think with more riders they’d add more buses, but it is just the opposite.
Fewer cars means more bicycles, including the dangerous e-bikes. The cyclists, often ride on the sidewalks, go the wrong way on streets and don’t stop at red lights, even when pedestrians are crossing. As a pedestrian, I feel less safe with all these cyclists. As for less congestion, that’s a joke at least on the East Side. From Third Ave. to the FDR Drive, the traffic is worse than ever. I think of the fumes I’m inhaling when I’m stuck just trying to maneuver my way past idling cars in jammed interactions.
I wish the Daily News would publish an article about the many downsides of congestion pricing for many of the people who live or work in the congestion zone, but I won’t hold my breathe. Miriam Applebaum
Prescription for cruelty
Springfield, Ore.: For the ideological sake of denying care for the tiny number of young people who require treatment to support their true genders, President Trump and his minion HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are ready to tank Mount Sinai and NYU Langone Hospitals and many others around the country. They want to stop all Medicare and Medicaid dollars to these medical institutions, critical to New Yorkers and centers of excellence for gender-affirming care. Again, cruelty is the point. RFK Jr. is out to make America sick again. New York Attorney General Letitia James is once again out for justice. James has vowed to fight this proposal with every tool she has. America is not and cannot be a white, Christian, heterosexual nation no matter the twisted fantasies of Trump and the decreasing number of his cult followers. Lisa Dryman-Rice
Bad medicine
Manhattan: House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries woke the ACA premium tax credit, an entire three-year extension, back from the dead, giving Americans a sliver of hope that there would be health care under the Christmas tree this year (for those who could afford a tree). Four vulnerable GOP congressional representatives defied President Trump to vote with the Democrats. MAGA House Speaker Mike Johnson could have scheduled a vote, but instead took his well-worn path of giving representatives an early vacation, letting unaffordable insurance rates start to hit 20 million Americans. When and if Johnson brings the House back into session in January, the clean ACA extension is unlikely to pass, but Republicans looking toward the 2026 election, really ought to agree to some compromise. Better than nothing until full benefits are restored. The GOP just doesn’t care about you and me. Sarabeth Harrelson
Missing money
San Francisco: President Plump has bragged about the “trillions and trillions“ of dollars generated by the tariffs, for months now. But where exactly is this money going? There is currently a health care crisis on the horizon for millions, so why not use some of this money to subsidize the ACA, at least temporarily? Or, how about reinstating the USAID, that has literally saved millions from starvation and disease? Maybe, instead of firing 35,000 additional medical personnel at the VA we can use some of these trillions so that our veterans can get proper medical care? Jimmy Layton
Ingrate
Kew Gardens: It only took less than 48 hours for President Trump to endorse Bruce Blakeman in his announced run for governor of New York. Meanwhile, Elise Stefanik announced her run for governor on Nov. 7. Yet, Trump remained silent as it regards a public endorsement for her. So much for being a team player. She gave up her ambassadorship to the United Nations and remained in the Congress to maintain the Republican majority. He owed her that support. Loyalty is a two-way street. But in the case of Trump, this is another example of his mercurial mind in action. While the congresswoman provided a reason for leaving to spend more time with her son, I don’t believe it was the primary reason. Stabbed in the back is more like it. Phil Serpico
Happy at home
Bronx: Last week, Trump asked why citizens from Norway, Sweden or Denmark don’t move here in greater numbers. He seems to want more blonde, white, “beautiful” people here. However, there’s no good reason for people to want to come here from those countries. They have stronger gun control laws, so their kids are safer. And they have affordable health care. One doesn’t immigrate to seek worse conditions. Joe Salerno
Looking up from Down Under
Melbourne, Australia: Christmas is a “season of peace and goodwill” for many around the world but what is the reality? It’s time we all tried to make the world a better place, especially our leaders and politicians. Santa would be happier. Anyway best wishes for 2026. Dennis Fitzgerald
Naming wrongs
Bronx: This man has truly lost his mind. Placing his name on the Kennedy Center is an absolute disgrace. How long are we going to put up with this absurdity? He wants to change the names of buildings, put his name wherever there’s a blank wall, etc. he hasn’t earned the right to slap his name on buildings. He’s like a graffiti fool. We could not have elected a worse president than Trump. His idiotic hall of presidents should be the first thing removed when we elect his successor. But first we must remove the stench from the Oval Office with air fresheners. David Gonzalez
Grade school level
Plainview, L.I.: Donald Trump’s repeated false claims that he has “slashed” drug prices by mathematically impossible percents of 200%, 400%, 500%, 600%, 800%, 1,000%, 1,200% and even 1,500% show him to be a mathematical “moron” (a word he has called former President Joe Biden). Therefore, considering that Trump’s former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis once said that Trump “has the understanding of a fifth or sixth grader”, this retired third grade teacher hereby proposes this post-presidency position for Donald Trump: Co-starring with “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?” host Jeff Foxworthy in the possibly highest rated TV quiz show in history: “Is Donald Trump Smarter than a 3rd Grader?” Richard Siegelman
A good batch
Bronx: A rarity occurred Saturday. All the letters in the Voice of the People were at least good. Consider that over the last number of months, space has been wasted on lengthy letters supporting President Trump that are nothing more than rhetoric and/or misinformation. Then there was one letter claiming that women wearing short shorts cause erectile dysfunction and another claiming that most men don’t get turned on by women’s thighs. Another letter claimed that those who have a problem with affordability don’t work hard, as if EMS employees don’t work hard enough. Just the day before, Voicer Scott Thompson had the lead letter making the questionable claim that many express outrage at others not out of morality, but because they get joy from bashing those with opposing viewpoints. He took three paragraphs to say this. How about if every day you do what you did on Saturday and only print letters from people who have something rational to say? Richard Warren
Just say no
Copiague, L.I.: As the old TV ads used to say “It’s enough to make you sick. Isn’t it enough to make you stop?” Then it was about littering public highways. Today it’s the outrageous antics of President Trump. The president’s quirks and vices may be off putting, but the policies and failures they cover for, are far worse. We all read the same newspaper and view much of the same media. So what can we do? In the coming midterm election vote the straight Democratic ticket on all lines, regardless of the merits or failings of the individual candidates. Send a message to the Republicans. Mitch Kessler
