Rules for raising rent favor landlords’ profits
Manhattan: Your article “NYC voters approve ballot questions aimed at boosting housing, limiting Council control” (Nov. 6), as with most coverage of this subject, doesn’t mention that landlords bear much responsibility for the housing crisis. Legislators also do. The Consumer Price Index, which includes food, recreation, cars, furniture, etc., is included in the calculation for allowable annual rent increases of up to 10%. Unless your landlord pays for your groceries and you buy a new car and couch every year, the CPI is irrelevant to rent increases.
Another big flaw in governance is that after tenants have been forced out by increases they couldn’t afford, landlords can reduce the rent to where it was, or lower, to lure a new family into the apartment without their understanding that annual increases are lying in wait. Legislators provide no actual supervision over landlords taking rent-regulated apartments market rate, or any inspection process as landlords pass along alleged major capital improvement expenses to tenants, or landlords discarding stoves and refrigerators less than 25 years old to enable additional rent increases on vacancy. Equally important, new affordable-housing buildings are frequently proposed for sites that require the destruction of historical buildings not yet assigned that designation, or invasion of parklands. Yes, impoverished people and individuals forced to sleep on sidewalks should be accommodated, but when they’re moved into safe neighborhoods as proposed, crime rates will go up.
Landlords can offer one-year leases, enabling them to raise rents every year. I’m a Boomer. When I was young, my parents could sign 10-year leases. To start fixing this mess, force landlords to offer at least three-year leases. Four would be better. Julia Eisen
No stopping
Middle Village: Has anyone noticed how many cars have been racing through red lights these days? Robert Chirieleison
Plea deal
Howard Beach: So, a rapper gets 14 years for funneling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to President Barack Obama’s campaign in 2012, and the wig woman gets only three to nine years for killing two children and their mother. Nothing but a disgrace. It only goes to show that you can kill somebody with a car, cry at the sentencing and have the liberal, do-nothing, useless Judge Danny Chun show compassion for the wig lady. I’m sure that if this happened to a judge’s family, it would not be three to nine years. Manny Agostini
Bargain harder
Toronto: Doesn’t everyone who is affected by President Trump understand that his bully tactics include putting the most outrageous demands as his go-to bargaining position, only to back off to a position that severely advantages his position at the expense of his adversary (Canada as the 51st state, Greenland and Panama are three of many examples)? Unfortunately, some of these appalling offers are often accepted. Transactional Trump only believes in win-lose transactions. The only way he wins big, in his mind, is if the other party visibly loses, and badly. We all need to stand up to all bullies until win-win outcomes are both voiced and agreed to. I encourage all who negotiate with him to keep saying no until the proper win-win solution is proposed, or simply walk away. Russia, China, North Korea and even Canada have all figured the Orange One out. Why can’t Americans? Peter Earle
Grievous giveaway
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.: I find it unfathomable that any moderately intelligent person would actually expect Ukraine to accept the one-sided ceasefire conditions as proposed by our ignorant, megalomaniac president. In 1938, England and France tried to appease Hitler by acceding to his territorial demands. History tells us how well that went. I can’t imagine any Ukrainians willing to accept this so-called ceasefire after the thousands of deaths suffered in defending their homes against aggression. Why? Just so our transactional president can claim the Nobel Peace Prize? I am nauseated by what is going on. Hasn’t Ukraine been the victim here? Reasonable people need to speak up. Michael Stella
Turn your backs
Brick, N.J.: One time-honored method to stop a spoiled child from behaving disrespectfully is for adults to ignore the child completely! One feasible method to stop a spoiled man-child who is president of the nation from his blatant abuse of an otherwise respected journalist is for the press corps as a whole to boycott him until he sincerely apologizes and promises to treat them with due respect! Let his fascistic propagandists at Fox News, Newsmax et alia continue to bend their knees to him and extoll him as their leader! Genuine journalists should shun him entirely for his disgraceful, infantile behavior! Not much of any value will be missed. He is mentally, morally and biologically incapable of telling the truth! Nicholas S. Molinari
Permanent damage
Patchogue, L.I.: I could not believe my eyes when I saw the East Wing of the White House being demolished so that President Dump could build his tacky ballroom. He had no right to order this demolition. He does not own the White House, it belongs to the people of the United States, and he is only a temporary resident in this building. He should be ashamed of destroying part of our nation’s history. It’s time for Congress and the Supreme Court to exercise their check-and-balance powers to rein him in. Come on, people, do your jobs before there is nothing left to save. Lynda Welsh
Reclaim & restore
Los Angeles: The Democrat who promises to undo all the damage Trump has done to the White House will receive my vote during the Democratic primaries in 2028. The promise has to be specific, i.e. bulldoze the cement patio Rose Garden Club for American oligarchs and restore the area to the dignified Rose Garden designed by former First Lady Jackie Kennedy. Remove the grotesque Marie Antionette-style gold-festooned ornaments from the Oval Office. Return the dignity of that office to the state in which the presidents who represented the values of the American people worked. The gaudy façade additions the former TV reality show host made must go. Last but not least, redo the Trump Cinderella ballroom to reflect the values of the American people instead of an 18th-century version of a royal palace playroom for the rich and famous. A national library or museum would be appropriate. Gilbert Favor
Theatrics
Bronx: The question the people of NYC should be asking after the Trump-Mamdani meeting in Washington is: “Who is B.S.-ing who?” This is all political B.S. Jimmy Durda
Undue dissatisfaction
Brooklyn: Out of all the first ladies in my lifetime, I’m not sure why Michelle Obama is so unhappy. So many great opportunities. Why such a Debbie Downer? Michelle, here is some advice: The glass is full, you have your health and your family is thriving. Need I say more? Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Please be thankful. Mariann Tepedino
Bad decision-makers
Brooklyn: How can you leave Anthony Volpe in the lineup when it’s do or die — he struck out 12 times — and take out a Gold Glove who hit a home run, a well-needed third baseman who dove into the stands to catch a foul ball last month? I think it’s time for many changes for next year, starting with new management. Maybe bring back Buck Showalter or a Billy Martin-type manager. Billy Somma
Let’s do it
Holtsville, L.I.: To Voicer Matt Lulley: I love the idea of the Dec. 21 game being celebrated as “O.J. Anderson Hall of Fame Awareness Day.” I can easily envision the 1990 season Super Bowl champions reuniting for what could possibly be the final swan song for many great champions of the past. Imagine if the three Super Bowl-winning coaches who were part of that golden era — Bill Parcells, Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick — were in attendance saying in one unified voice that they’re publicly putting their combined 10 Super Bowl championships behind Anderson’s Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy. That would be a statement for the ages that would send shock waves through the inner circle of the PFHOF to sit up and finally take notice. To conclude the halftime ceremony, Lawrence Taylor could make a closing statement to the Selection Committee to close the deal. Jack Louro
