The people who live here don’t want the casino
Jackson Heights: I am writing in response to Queens Borough President Donovan Richards’ op-ed in favor of a casino in Citi Field (“Queens casino will help many people,” May 19). The illusion of broad popular support is the result of Queens Future working to create manufactured consent. As a dissenting member of Queens Community Board 3, I saw the process skewed to give more space for pro-casino voices. Journalist Katie Honan observed in an episode of the FAQ podcast that she had been texted by people from the area, and when she’d ask if they were being paid in any capacity by him, they’d say, “Well, yes.” A current tactic by Queens Future is a push poll that asks people if they like the idea of a park/entertainment center but utterly fails to mention the casino.
State Sen. Jessica Ramos’ own polling showed that a majority of her constituents are against this proposal. Richards’ own December hearing had written testimony opposing this 70-3. The opposition is an active grassroots coalition of more than 17 community organizations dreaming for a better future than a casino — turning what is parkland into an actual park.
Regarding the promised benefits, there is no community benefits agreement. Casino supporters are relying on the hope that these will be in the gaming license application, which would allegedly be denied if Queens Future failed to substantially deliver on its promises.
One only has to look at the non-delivery of affordable housing at the Hudson Yards and Barclay’s projects to see the risks involved. Bill Bruno
Train savior
Boynton Beach, Fla.: Now that someone has seen the value of Andy Byford heading up the Penn Station redesign for Amtrak, maybe the president could get him involved with the East River Tunnel project. I would hope that it is not too late for his input as to whether the project should involve a three-year shutdown or nightly shutdowns. His expertise from running trains in London and New York could resolve which method has the least impact on train performance and costs. Andrew LeWinter
Worth a try
West Hempstead, L.I.: To Voicer Peter Griswold: I am not a Daily News employee. When I heard that 20,000 children would die within 48 hours, I felt compelled to write in. After explaining how most could be relocated temporarily with shelter and said anyone left in the Gaza Strip would be dealt with accordingly, I meant or hoped it would be a peace plan run by our Peace Corps or UN peacekeepers to try and convince everyone that staying would be dangerous. It would just be temporary housing until a better solution is approved. After that, we have to assume all of the hostages are dead, and let’s flood the tunnels to ruin equipment there and remove anyone still there, willingly or by force. By the way, Peter, I am a retired NYPD officer with 9/11 stage 4 terminal cancer just trying to think of ways to keep people alive. Frank Feeley
More pressure
Ottawa, Ontario: Re “Trump admits protecting Putin over Ukraine: ‘He’s playing with fire!’ ” (May 27): Given President Trump’s current attitude, Vladimir Putin is not playing with fire. He’s playing with a warm skillet while wearing oven mitts. Putin will not agree to an unconditional ceasefire unless the West, especially America, impose serious sanctions on Russia. The longer Trump waits to impose increased sanctions, the more Russian and Ukrainian lives will be lost. Trump probably has a greater concern for the lives of Russian soldiers than Putin does. If Trump is successful in pressuring Putin into a ceasefire, future generations of Russians will thank him. Bruce Couchman
Edited ignorance
North Brunswick, N.J.: On May 27, you published Trump’s Truth Social Memorial Day message (“Trump, in all-caps Memorial Day rant, slams ‘scum,’ Biden“), but it was edited to remove misspellings and poor grammar. You need to show people what they voted for. Some of his errors: He said “Happy Memorial Day.” One should never say that, as it’s a day of remembrance and honor. He wrote “21,000,000 million.” He did not say “mentally insane,” he wrote “mentao insane.” He used the word “murderers” as a verb. He said “the being criminals,” and you assumed he meant “them.” Other errors were more in line with unabashed hypocrisy and irony. Show the American public who their leader truly is and stop editing him. Louise Reeves
Projection prez
Ozone Park: I won’t mention his name. For someone who has swindled workers out of their fair pay, is a convicted felon and was the instigator of Jan. 6 to demean anyone as he did on Memorial Day is beyond belief. I would rather live with those alleged “scum” and illegal immigrants than put up with the proven scum president of the United States we have. Ray Hackinson
Pet platform
Carle Place, L.I.: Amid the deluge of executive orders by Trump, there has been none against “eating the dogs, eating the cats.” It was such a huge campaign issue for him last year. What’s changed? It may be the only topic both sides can agree on. Maybe. Rudy Rosenberg
Over the top
Huntington, L.I.: Voicer Morgan O’Rourke’s response to my letter regarding TDS misses the point. TDS is obviously not a clinical diagnosis. I do not like Trump or approve of much that he does. Many things he does and says are offensive and irrational. I do not overly concern myself with every little detail. Opponents who point out his faults in a logical, rational way without resorting to name-calling are not suffering from any type of maladjustment. There are those, however, who hate Trump, read and watch everything about him and rage with like-minded associates. It affects their mood and mental health. When Joe Biden was in office, I did not agree with many of his policies but I did not hate him. I did not concern myself with his every action or statement. My sister-in-law has stopped reading about Trump because she concluded that her anger toward him was harmful to her. Tom Saracco
Cancer strikes
Fresh Meadows: To Voicer Frank Mauceri: Regarding your letter questioning the validity of Biden’s cancer diagnosis, it seems strange to me that you would say it may be fake. Is it because Biden was an important public figure? Let me assure you, when it comes to cancer on all levels, it can present itself quickly. My husband has prostate cancer that appeared to be growing slowly, but we recently learned it is worsening and his prostate-specific antigen level has doubled. I have also had a few types of cancer and will be going to a surgical consultation tomorrow. May you and your whole family be spared from this illness in any of its forms! Lesley Lewis Paulos
Hard to believe
Levittown, L.I.: To Voicer Frank Mauceri: Thank you. I had said the same thing about Biden and the Democratic scam. Oh, look, it’s a miracle — no more cancer. Please! George O’Neill
Upstanding citizens
Astoria: To Voicer Paul Denk: Don’t lecture me about South Africa. I’m a naturalized U.S. citizen but was born and raised in South Africa for 26 years. The Dutch settlers who arrived in 1652 and the British settlers who arrived in 1820 found tribal nomads who hadn’t progressed past the Stone Age, and instituted the civilization that South Africa became. Those 8% who own 78% of the land keep the country fed via the product they farm, and are the backbone of the South African economy. Without them, South Africa becomes another economic basket case dependent on foreign aid from, ironically, majority-white Europe and the U.S. like the rest of Africa. The white South African refugees were all waving American flags. They’re here to assimilate, unlike Hispanic, Arab and African refugees who demand we acquiesce to the cultures they’re supposedly fleeing. Bradley Morris
Vital script
Brooklyn: Can someone please explain to me why schools stopped teaching cursive? You need cursive to sign documents, such as when opening accounts and when buying or selling property. How can that be if you don’t know cursive? Josie Oliveri
