The Tish case doesn’t hold a candle to Trump’s
Flushing: To Voicer Ralph A. Manente: No, sorry. Letitia James’s civil suit against President Trump’s New York business was entirely justified. He is simply getting even with an enemy. Sure, James was and is a partisan Democrat, but Trump’s business record is a legitimate, ripe target, becoming fair game when he went down that golden escalator to announce his candidacy. It didn’t go away just because James made use of it, and boy howdy is it an embarrassment of riches on that score.
Trump’s history of doing business in New York is one long buffet of shady and/or outright illegal practices, like inflating or diminishing property value assessments for tax purposes or loan applications, or exaggerating the square footage of said properties. Remember when he increased the total area of a building property by claiming the space of an elevator shaft? You can’t swing a cat by the tail in Trump-land without hitting something like that, or worse.
Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and a Trump loyalist, was the one who flagged James’ second home paperwork. Hmm. That happened suspiciously quickly in this new White House term. Pulte, or more likely an underling, had to scour FHA records to find this alleged fraud. The dollar amount involved is something like $19,000. Is that the best he could do? Trump is on the hook for what, millions in his various lost cases and convictions? Considering all the cash Trump’s made since taking office — the $2 billion crypto deal with the United Arab Emirates, the deals Jared Kushner, Eric Trump, Don Jr. et al. continue to pursue — I guess he’ll come out OK. Clyde Kerlew
He wants our money
Staten Island: Trump is reportedly demanding that the Department of Justice pay him $230 million for “unfair” past legal cases against him. In the meantime, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is his former personal criminal defense attorney, would be one of the people deciding if they should pay Trump out. This is taxpayer money. Every American should be outraged over Trump demanding $230 million in “compensation” for the investigations into his own wrongdoing. That’s right, the same man who was caught hoarding classified documents, who tried to overturn an election and who spent years undermining the rule of law now wants the American people to cut him a check for doing it. Michael Rosenkrantz
Pay to play?
Manhattan: Is our out-of-control president going to charge a “team tariff” every time the Toronto Blue Jays fly from Canada to Los Angeles for a World Series game? Leonard Smoke
Decorum double standard
Flushing: On Aug. 18, 2014, President Barack Obama was criticized for wearing a tan suit at a White House press briefing on military action versus ISIS in Syria. His critics said his attire was too casual for a serious discussion of national security issues. It was pointed out that other presidents, including Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, also wore tan suits at press briefings without sparking similar outcry. Fast-forward to the “No Kings” march, which I and 7 million other Americans proudly participated in because America was founded in opposition to monarchy. Asked his opinion, Trump said the demonstrations were small and ineffective, and those people were wack jobs, adding, “I am not a king!” The next day, he released an AI-generated video wearing a crown inside a plane dumping feces on protesters. When asked their opinion, Republicans dismissed it as satire. I rest my case about this hypocrisy. Al Musaffi
Clean house
Bronx: It’s so silly to hear Trump and his Republican sycophants declare that the 7 million who came out to protest last Saturday were people who “hate America.” Trump and his cronies are the ones who fit that description. They’re trying to turn our beloved America into a fascist state. Having masked men chasing women, tossing them to the ground, placing them in handcuffs and carting them off are Gestapo tactics. This is not the U.S.A. Obama was called the deporter in chief, yet you never saw this evil cruelty being done to human beings. I just hope the people who came out to the No Kings rally will show up in the voting booth and vote these Republicans out of office. That is the only way we can be sure our democracy will remain intact. Pauline Graham Binder
Marked for life
Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.: Poor George Santos, incarcerated for his criminal activity. It comes as no great surprise given who ordered this, but also a great sense of outrage that he is now free. This is the guy who declared himself “Jew-ish” to pander to voters. As someone who is Jewish, George is no longer “felon-ish.” Lying and deceitful for sure, not “ish.” He is a convicted felon wherever he goes. The best thing for society is to keep him out of the media. He craves attention. His narcissism and character flaws will require years of treatment to really change. Extended time in his confessional does nothing to make amends for his harms to society. Maybe solitary confinement was too harsh for him, but keeping him quiet in the media and solitary at home will be a great boost to society. Steven Goldfinger
Paid to not pay
Elizabeth, N.J.: While Congress members continue to get paid during the shutdown, others do not receive their paychecks. Joel M. Glazer
Replaced by retail
Cibolo, Texas: Remember when Halloween was all about costumes, candy and a good scare — and not sales? These days, it’s less trick-or-treat and more tap-or-swipe your credit card. What used to be a night for ghost stories and bobbing for apples has turned into a profit-driven ghoul fest. Walk into any store and you’ll see Christmas trees muscling out the pumpkins. Front lawns now glow with inflatable monsters and light displays that feel more retail than ritual. Halloween used to belong to the kids, a magical night for little ghosts and goblins to rule the streets. Now it’s just the opening act for the holiday shopping season. And the scariest thing about today’s Halloween? The credit card bill. We’ve come a long way from the Halloween of old — sadly, in the wrong direction. John Di Genio
Fan appreciation
Hicksville, L.I.: A few weeks ago, I wrote to four of my family’s favorite sports teams (New York Giants, Mets, Rangers and the Denver Broncos). I would like to thank the Mets for acknowledging my letter. The organization is number one in my book, going out of its way to make a fan feel appreciated. Let’s go Mets! Barbara Malinofsky
Standing for us
Bayside: So, grocery magnate John Catsimatidis thinks Curtis Sliwa should bow out and let Andrew Cuomo attempt to defeat Zohran Mamdani? As if NYC has no independents, Republicans or even Democrats with common sense who vote? Good for Sliwa (and hopefully, us) that he unequivocally refuses to quit the race. He won’t abandon us and leave our city with a choice between a disgraced party hack and another man of privileged background posing as a socialist! The polls say Sliwa can’t win. Polls haven’t been reliable in recent years. Perhaps if voter turnout exceeds 30%, headlines on Wednesday, Nov. 5, will announce that the only actual New Yorker who loves our city and even hugs the homeless outside Penn Station is our next mayor. Margaret Dabraccio
Birth of a nation
Manhattan: To Voicer Ralph Palladino, who wants to change Columbus Day to LaGuardia Day: You’re all mixed up! While Italian-Americans love to celebrate Columbus Day, it is not Italian-American Day! It’s a national holiday celebrated because Christopher Columbus “discovered” America. While the American Indians did live here already, Columbus discovered the existence of what we call our country, America (named after Americo Vespucci), and Europeans developed this hemisphere into a New World that enlightened the whole world. Whoever doesn’t understand that should go back to their country of ancestry, first surrendering all their possessions and dropping them off at the nearest American Indian reservation or casino! As for Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, he has an airport and many other things named after him. God bless LaGuardia and God bless America, the land Columbus “discovered.” Mathew J. Mari
