An illustrator’s iconic character still a draw
Commack, L.I.: When my brother and I were kids, my mother would walk us to Central Park West and 77th St., to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as it began its trek downtown. We lived just a few blocks away.
These days, I watch the festivities on television from the comfort of my living room couch. It’s always entertaining to see the marching bands, the floats and the balloons! And this year, as the Spider-Man balloon approached Macy’s, Hoda Kotb mentioned the name John Romita Sr., the award-winning artist who long drew Spider-Man and other comic book characters.
A 1947 graduate of my alma mater, the School of Industrial Art (now known as the High School of Art and Design), Romita initially worked for DC Comics. He then moved to Marvel Comics, where he was promoted to art director and heavily influenced the look of the publication during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2002, he was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame, and in 2020 into the Inkwell Awards Hall of Fame.
I was fortunate to have spoken with him on a number of occasions, when I was president of our alumni association, and he was always gracious and inspiring.
John Romita Sr. passed away at the age of 93 on June 12, 2023. It was fitting to see his iconic creation showcased during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Yvonne Fitzner
Fewer & farther
East Elmhurst: A few months ago, the MTA decided to remove every other bus stop in my Queens neighborhood, forcing seniors and people with disabilities to travel an entire NYC block to access their favorite form of transportation. Many use canes and walkers. Did the MTA, a state organization, get approval from a federal agency responsible for the Americans with Disabilities Act? The ADA should protect those with disabilities. The MTA needs money, it says. How about asking the able-bodied to pay their fares? Millions have been stolen from the MTA. Let’s protect our seniors. Alida Davis
Pulling strings
Kingston, N.Y.: When gas companies demand, Gov. Hochul salutes and follows orders (“100-foot rule costs all gas customers,” op-ed, Dec. 3). We can’t afford Hochul’s obedience to the gas companies that are profiting by raising our utility bills. Can you imagine how gleeful they’ll be when the All-Electric Buildings Act goes into effect and Hochul has not signed the repeal of the 100-foot rule? They’ll be building gas hook-ups for all-electric buildings and charging ratepayers the cost. Of course, Hochul has drunk the gas companies’ Kool-Aid, the constant propaganda recycling fictitious claims about the necessity of gas. There’s no scenario under which failing to repeal the 100-foot rule would be good for New Yorkers, nor delaying implementation of the All-Electric Buildings Act, which Hochul is so eager to do. Will Nixon
One and the same
Manhattan: Voicer Adnan Aslam can document religion, but he just can’t understand it. Judaism’s origin teaches us two things: God promised Abraham that his descendants would be uncountable, like the stars in the skies. God also promises that Abraham and his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan, which was described as “from the river to the sea” — the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea (funny how that works out). To take that aspect out of the tenets of Judaism is an unrealistic 21st century whitewash. Zionism is Judaism, Mr. Aslam. Live with it. Louie Russo
Stay out of it
Brooklyn: Before our new mayor is even sworn in, he is faced with strong criticism from pro-Palestinian groups and pro-Israel groups. To make matters worse, our very capable police commissioner has been put in the middle. My advice, as someone who has held senior-level managerial positions for 30 years in the federal, state and city governments, is that as mayor, he should avoid all involvement in international affairs. You are the mayor, not the president or a senator, and should impose a moratorium on your involvement in these issues while you are dealing with the numerous problems facing our city. Otherwise, these competing groups will haunt you at City Hall and Gracie Mansion, and follow you around demanding your attention and support. Robert Mascali
Watch your words
Long Island City: Wake up and smell the coffee — that’s my advice to our next mayor of the city that never sleeps, the greatest in the world. Yes, just like President Trump, I believe Zohran Mamdani has CDM — that’s chronic diarrhea of the mouth. It’s never too late to be careful what you say. Steve Chaddock
Hosting space
Lansdowne, Pa.: To Voicer Mike Caggiano: There is a list of 37 donors so far to the coming and needed ballroom. It has always looked provincial, at best, for a new president and first lady to schlep around to several D.C. hotel ballrooms for their Inauguration Day dance, accommodating everyone attending. When Nancy Reagan became first lady, she discovered that the White House didn’t have matching china, woeful at state dinners especially. Thanks to the Reagans’ friends and other donors, it does since the Reagans were in residence. The malcontents were in a fury about that too. The new ballroom will become an important venue for many events. Georgia Makiver
Springing scoundrels
Brooklyn: I was hesitating to write this letter, but I can’t hold back. Trump is not setting a good example by setting celebrities and people in our government free from jail. Who does he think he is, God? What will they do when released from prison? Will they resort to crime or try to make our country better? Trump needs to be evaluated by a White House psychiatrist immediately. He is contributing to crime and the deterioration of America. Nicholas Amato
Brace for it
Hamilton Square, N.J.: Wake up, voters. He’s wearing a 2028 hat. Should he live that long, he won’t care about our Constitution. He ignored court rulings. If we aren’t in a war, he’ll start one, declare emergency powers and suspend elections. Who will constrain him? He will have armed soldiers on our streets and declare any gathering to be illegal or a riot. He and Stephen Miller are following their 2025 playbook. Believe what’s before your eyes. Eileen Johnson
Parallel universe
Brooklyn: As a young boy growing up in the 1960s, I always looked forward to “The Twilight Zone.” The twists at the end and the moral message escaped most of us at that age. But now as a senior citizen, the morality tale resonates today more than ever. I am reminded of one I’d like to share, called “One More Pallbearer,” from the third season. A wealthy, powerful man invites three people from his past to the basement of his Manhattan skyscraper home. They are a retired colonel, his high school teacher and a minister. He accuses each of them of having defamed him. He has carried this grudge and vendetta for years. He has constructed this elaborate hoax in which their lives can be saved if they would only ask for his forgiveness. Doesn’t that sound very much like Trump’s retribution against perceived wrongdoings by his enemies? Enough of this pettiness. Let’s have some real leadership. Benjamin Bretner
Getting to that point
Brooklyn: I’m writing about our crazy president. You can’t just kill people because you disagree with them. You’d be in Russia. Vladimir Putin would do that to his enemies — poison you or kill you — or Nazi Germany. What were those MAGA people thinking giving Trump a second term after Jan. 6, 2021? He should be in jail. People should stop believing in the stupid Republicans. They try to take over the country. What are they going to do next, open concentration camps? I hope the MAGA people have changed their minds about Trump before he takes away their rights. Then they’ll be unhappy they voted for him, but it’ll be too late. David Glassner
Piracy precedent
West Sayville, L.I.: The USS Constitution attacked the Barbary pirates in the beginning of the 1800s without a declaration of war! “Old Ironsides,” our biggest and best ship, was constantly shooting at the pirates (sort of like Venezuela and the drug boats). Rand Paul and the Democrats need to keep quiet and grow up — 48,422 Americans died in 2024 from opioids, primarily fentanyl. Keep shooting and save American lives! F.F. Bodkin
