There’s nowhere like NYC, especially not Alaska
Olivebridge, N.Y.: Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy urged New Yorkers to move to his state if Zohran Mamdani is elected mayor (“Upset by Mamdani? Come North to Alaska,” op-ed, July 14). He assailed the evils of socialism and Marxism (merging the two) and said Alaska is a bulwark of capitalism, saying it offers incentives to people who want to start businesses. He writes: “Bring your dreams, your hustle, and your vision to Alaska. We’ll welcome you with open arms and the wide-open spaces of the Last Frontier.”
The governor adds, “where the sun shines 24 hours a day.” He neglected to mention that there are times when the sun doesn’t shine for days and maybe weeks. To paraphrase Peter Drucker: “What’s most important are the things that are not being said.”
Nevertheless, Dunleavy has a point: There is enormous opportunity in Alaska for all New Yorkers. I’m certain that Yankees and Mets players could play for Alaska’s major league team. The Jets and Giants could play to sellout crowds. The Islanders and Rangers might fare even better, playing on frozen lakes eight months of the year. And Broadway — its world-class playwrights, directors and actors — will thrive in Alaska’s theater culture. Alaska could energize New York’s fashion industry. Wall Street — maybe not too many bulls in Alaska, but certainly enough bears. Barrow, Alaska, the new financial center of the world, welcoming New York’s financial institutions as they flee alleged socialism.
“You have a choice; Alaska is ready to be your new home,” Dunleavy wrote. Yeah, sure. How about this, governor? Stick your ideas where the sun doesn’t shine! Warren Davis
Not so bad
Stormville, N.Y.: My friends who are Republicans talk about NYC crime and filthy conditions, but I took my family visiting from Ireland to Manhattan and we were all pleasantly surprised at how clean the streets were and how many police there were! I say don’t believe what you hear. Go visit and see for yourself! Cornelius McCrory
Listen to locals
Manhattan: As a resident within earshot of the Lincoln Tunnel entry and exit, Roger Cost’s congestion pricing op-ed (“Congestion pricing made us stay in NYC,” July 19) resonated with me. My wife and I (despite running a brick-and-mortar business in the city, and me being a local lawyer) continuously face a similar calculation of whether to stay given the extreme pressures and various dysfunctions. Traffic and its attendant noise, delays and mortal risk are a big one. Happily, we’ve seen things get better since congestion pricing — only to be threatened by the Trump administration purely as a political football. I would love to connect with Roger and compare notes (I’m also a “fledgling” birder). Relatedly, it has occurred to me that collecting testimonials on the benefits of congestion pricing and posting them in a central repository would potentially be helpful in countering the national-level political interference in the program (as well as local reluctance). Aaron Krowne
Dirty work
Brooklyn: I don’t understand why ICE agents are allowed to wear face masks. What are they afraid of? Cowards, all. Barbara Giuliano
Declining empire
Jefferson, Tenn.: We’re witnessing the fall of our once-great nation. We have politicians kowtowing to a would-be dictator, afraid to disagree with him lest they face a MAGA opponent in their next primary. Universities and corporations are bending a knee to a bully because he doesn’t like people who are smarter than him, or over the possibility that he blocks some merger. Supreme Court justices have forgotten that they’re supposed to follow the Constitution, not Project 2025. President Trump wants to make the country dumber, so he’s defunding PBS and NPR. We have Gestapo-like ICE and CBP agents waiting outside to arrest people appearing in court to plead their cases for asylum. Instead, they’re placed in cramped, overcrowded holding cells for days before being whisked away to jails hundreds or thousands of miles away. Future generations will read about us in the same way we read about the ancient Romans. Sean Talty
Mass waste
Staten Island: I remember when I was a kid, my parents would shame us with “There are kids starving in Africa” if we threw away any uneaten food. How does the Trump administration justify crippling USAID efforts to feed the hungry, and now having to destroy 500 tons of emergency food? Michael Rosenkrantz
Gone wacko
Lakewood, N.J.: As it is the 50th anniversary of the release of the film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” it brings to mind a classic line provided to us by R.J. McMurphy. It can easily be applied to our “stable genius” of a president: “gone-down-the-road, wacko.” Frank Mongiello
Executive action
Bronx: Re “This is a democracy not an autocracy” (op-ed, July 20) and “A half year of devastation” (editorial, July 20). Where were Norman Siegel and The News when Barack Obama illegally attacked Libya in 2011? Libya posed no threat to the U.S. Obama claimed his authority came from the UN, therefore he didn’t need to comply with the law. How was that not a threat to American democracy? The war devastated Libya, creating death, destruction and international disorder. On his last day in office, Obama ordered the same B-2 bombers that Trump attacked Iran with to bomb Libya one last time. He had no plan for post-war Libya and eventually admitted the war was his greatest mistake, but he codified a precedent that Trump and other presidents can argue they’re simply following. Siegel did nothing to oppose that war and the Daily News published columns supporting it. It’s difficult to take them seriously now. Charles T. Compton
Going down with the show
Edgewater, N.J.: Two-hundred highly skilled middle-class workers will lose their jobs as CBS terminates “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” The president absolutely loves this and hopes even more people will lose their jobs. Jay K. Egelberg
Tapped out
Jamaica: CBS and ABC shouldn’t have paid those lawsuits when they were being sued by Donald Trump. They should have went to court. The Stephen Colbert show should not be canceled considering it was CBS that put its tail between its legs. They were scared instead of fighting. Charlene Black
TV tyrant
Brooklyn: Is the new policy that Trump has to approve any TV show being put on the air? What ever happened to free speech? Charlie Pisano
Too disruptive
Far Rockaway: Voicer Sherri Rosen thinks that taking cell phones away from students is dangerous. I think not. Allowing students to bring cell phones into the classroom disrupts the learning process. Obviously, Sherri, you have never stood in front of a classroom as I have for 33 years. Public schools have phones and security. Students will have their phones returned to them at the end of the day. Ora Reed
Hat tip
Brooklyn: To Voicer Randy Jurgensen: I sat next to you some years ago at an NYPD Honor Legion dinner. I had no idea you were in Korea. Thank you for your service. By the way, your book was great. Louie Scarcella
On the market
Yorktown Heights, N.Y.: It looks like Coldplay just released two new singles. Anthony Vegliante
Forced starvation
Manhattan: Two children in Gaza have starved to death this week due to the genocidal regime of Benjamin Netanyahu not allowing food into Gaza. How come the Daily News doesn’t publish any photos of starving kids? No articles on little children starving? Instead, articles devoted to Jeffrey Epstein. Sickening. Robert Maritz
Forged in fire
Rye Brook, N.Y.: To Voicer Michele P. Brown: Israel did implement UN General Assembly Resolution 181 by declaring independence on May 14, 1948, the final day of the British Palestine mandate. Quoting David Ben-Gurion: “We offer peace and amity to all neighboring states and their peoples and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all.” The Arabs violated the resolution and international law by invading Israel on May 15, 1948 in a failed effort to drive the Jews into the sea. Egypt and Jordan took control of the area designated by the resolution for the new Arab state. Demes Poulos
