We can’t ignore New York City’s homeless youth
Garden City, L.I.: The recent report published by the nonprofit Advocates for Children of New York revealed that more than 146,000 New York City students experienced homelessness during the 2023-2024 school year, a record that reflects a troubling trend. For the ninth year in a row, more than 100,000 children and youth were left to grapple with the instability and uncertainty of homelessness.
Homeless youth are not just a statistic. They are resilient individuals navigating unimaginable challenges, often without the safety nets many of us take for granted. At SCO Family of Services, we see the faces behind the numbers every day. These are young people with dreams, talents and untapped potential, yet they face overwhelming barriers to success. Across Brooklyn and Queens, SCO’s Independence Inns provide a safe haven for young people aged 16-20 who are navigating homelessness or have run away from home, with some of our programs dedicated to young mothers and their children. At our Brooklyn Youth Center, we provide crucial services to youth ages 15-25, offering them a safe space, meals, clothing and crisis support.
Homeless youth face an uphill battle, with chronic absenteeism and high dropout rates often standing in the way of their futures. According to Advocates for Children, the demand for shelter beds far outstrips supply. Human services organizations like SCO provide more than temporary relief; we offer long-term solutions. Our programs deliver life skills training, mentorship and academic support to help young people break the cycle of homelessness. By supporting SCO and organizations like us, you can help create a world where every young person has hope, a safe place to call home and the resources to thrive. Suzette Gordon, president and CEO, SCO Family of Services
Good eatin’
Brooklyn: Voicer Larry Penner is right, diners are good. We used to go to a fancy restaurant before a Broadway play. We often wound up late to the play. The Westway Diner is fast and the food is good. It has regular bathrooms. You can walk to most plays or catch a cab on Ninth Ave. Marlene and John Blank
Just an observation
Manhattan: To Voicer Mariann Tepedino, who responded to my letter about attending “The Outsiders” and “The Book of Mormon” and my surprise at the nearly total absence of non-Caucasians attending each show: You bring up helping people. How can you connect my seeing two Broadway shows to helping and kindness? I give money to beggars when I see them. When I feel reluctant, I prod myself with that old adage: “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” Second, I did not set out to count non-white audience members. It just happened to catch my attention. If one went to the theater or other events in New York that draw large crowds and noticed that there were almost no non-whites there, wouldn’t one be surprised? Another Voicer offered the theory that the answer is money. Yes, very few seats are available for less than $100. Charles Adrian O’Connor
Suspicious
Oriental, N.C.: I agree wholeheartedly with Voicer Michael Rosenkrantz that for Donald Trump to win the popular vote, all the battleground states, the House and the Senate sure smells of a rigged election! I hope that people are looking into Elon Musk and his Starlink! God help the U.S.A. for the next four years! Beth Larsen
Profile in corruption
Bronx: Trump said to drink bleach when COVID came. He filed for bankruptcy six times. His casinos went bankrupt. His football team collapsed. His airline failed. His magazine, steaks and vodka failed. Trump University went out of business due to fraud. This man has 34 conviction counts against him. And with Project 2025, he is cutting a lot of benefits. Marlene Francis
Undue honor
Kearny, N.J.: Trump was the 2016 “Person of the Year” in Time Magazine. What a farce! Joseph F. Catrambone
Cabinet of thieves
Brooklyn: Is Mayor Adams looking for a spot in Trump’s presidential cabinet? Best-case scenario: They both go to prison and share the same cell. Christina C. Anderson
Not the same
Rochdale Village: Voicer Martin Sandok seriously compared President Biden hypothetically picking AOC to the orange guy’s picking Matt Gaetz for attorney general? An accused sex trafficker, admitted drug user in sexual all-nighters, and sex with an underaged teen, then waiting for her to become 18? And paying for the sex? The nominee for AG, no less?! He is in no way shape or form comparable to the congresswoman — a beautiful young woman living an exemplary life, about to start her fourth term, and who works hard for her constituents and all of us! Saul Rothenberg
Immigration law
Hammonton, N.J.: I completely agree with Voicer Andrea Allen when she writes that she would like officials and newscasters to stop saying nobody is above the law. It’s nonsense. There are millions of illegal aliens laughing at our laws as they collect free housing and food. William Cook
Try it
Hartsdale, N.Y.: I recently heard that new “Border Czar” Tom Homan threatened anyone who got in the way of his efforts to uproot legal immigrants and deport them. He also disclosed that a way to deport immigrants without separating families was to deport the whole family. Speaking as a New Yorker, I say this to him: Bring it on, punk. Norman E. Gaines Jr.
Statue of Bigotry
Rome, Italy: Keep your tiresome, your sordid poor / Your huddled mobs of rampage rapists / Yearning for a piece of our pie / The dark-tainted garbage of your squalid shore / Send me your white, your rich, and revel while / I shine my searchlight and slam the golden door. Jeff Davidson
Make it make sense
Richmond Hill: I own a two-family home. Only two people reside in the house. A single tenant on the second floor and one person, myself, on the first floor. I’m sure you can see we don’t have much trash to dispose of. Do I have to buy four 35-gallon bins at $47.26 each, one for “regular” trash, one for bottles and cans and hard plastic, one for paper and cardboard and one for “organic” waste? Can anyone tell me? I am an 81-year-old senior. Now I must go outside in the dark after 8 p.m., in the cold of winter and in the heat of summer. Also, what is considered regular trash? If cans, bottles and hard plastic are separated and if paper and cardboard are separated, and if “organic” waste is separated, then what is left to be called regular trash? Please, does anyone have any answers for me? Joseph Napoleone
Horrible host
Jacksonville, Fla.: Does anyone join me in the sentiment that Ryan Seacrest doesn’t make the grade as the new host of “Wheel of Fortune”? He is just plain awful. Boring, overzealous and way over-rehearsed! While the decades-long, legendary host Pat Sajak always held little cue-cards with the contestants’ names and puzzle answers, Seacrest is too important to hold cue cards! Instead, he pretends to know the contestants’ names from memory, whereas in fact, there’s a small monitor out of camera view that scrawny Ryan reads off of as he’s introducing them! Hey Ry-Ry, you’re not kidding anyone! And another thing: It’s sickening how he always gravitates to the handsome men, finding excuses to hold their necks and even hug them at times! Gee, I wonder why. “Wheel of Fortune” made a huge mistake picking this guy! He sullies the decades-long legacy of the game show! Carl J.C. Hafner
Be proud
Brooklyn: Emily Calandrelli, a TV science host and aerospace engineer, recently became the 100th woman in space. While experiencing this great moment, she became very emotional, as depicted in her video. Almost immediately, thousands of hateful netizens posted offensive comments targeting her, even including her looks. Don’t ever apologize or feel weird about your reaction. The trait you got from your dad about experiencing life is something you will keep forever. Believe me, there are a lot of out-of-shape jerks out there in their moms’ basements eating cupcakes, glued to their devices. By the way, you are a brilliant and lovely young lady. Louie Scarcella
