Empty Promises and Support for War Crimes
Los Altos, Calif.: While many Republicans claim to be pro-life, most lawmakers, alongside the Biden-Harris administration, have approved $20 billion in new arms sales to Israel, including fighter jets, fueling its ongoing assault on Gaza’s civilian population.
Official reports indicate nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza, though the actual number is likely much higher, with thousands still unaccounted for. In addition to the devastation in Gaza, Israeli forces have conducted raids across the occupied West Bank, with settlers under military protection repeatedly storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in recent days. The bombardment of Gaza continues, recently claiming the lives of newborn twins — a boy and a girl just four days old — along with their mother and grandmother. Since October, 115 newborns have been killed in Gaza, and among the nearly 17,000 Palestinian children killed in Gaza over the past 10 months, approximately 2,100 were babies under the age of 2.
In the West Bank town of Tammun, Israeli forces seized the bodies of four Palestinians killed in a drone strike, marking an increase in aerial strikes in the territory, a practice largely unseen since the Second Intifada ended in 2005. In the South Hebron Hills, Israeli forces demolished six homes in the Bedouin community of Masafer Yatta.
Rev. Munther Isaac expressed his outrage on social media, stating, “The U.S. is funding the genocide. Faith leaders must speak up. Words of ‘concern’ and empty calls for peace are not enough. Speak truth to power. Silence is complicity.”
Out of Place
Bronx: What’s the deal with dogs being allowed in places of business? I’ve seen dogs in malls, department stores, restaurants, and more. Since when is it okay to bring your dog into a restaurant? I once saw a lady in a supermarket with a huge pit bull. Am I the only one who finds this ridiculous? I love animals, but there’s a time and place for them. Did they pass a new law allowing animals full access to places of business? I’m not talking about service animals — they’re always welcome. But personal pets should stay at home or in the car.
— David Gonzalez
Need vs. NIMBY
Manhattan: Opponents of affordable housing on Elizabeth St. have managed to enlist celebrities in this NIMBY cause (“Stars join fight to save downtown green space,” Aug. 23). I’m sure that Patti Smith, Martin Scorsese, and Robert De Niro are not living in homeless shelters like some of the 123 future residents of Haven Green housing. City Councilman Chris Marte, who has never supported housing here, knows there are no nearby alternative sites for housing, and that other, more distant sites are being considered for additional housing, not alternative housing. The article also mentions that even with housing, there will still be 14,000 square feet of open green space.
— Alec Pruchnicki
Slow to Slow
Seaford, L.I.: To Voicer Robert Damato: While I completely agree with you about the criminals blatantly breaking all speeding laws, and they should be taken off the road, I respectfully disagree with your assumption that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman “cares about protecting us, especially senior citizens.” Maybe that’s all he’s interested in protecting because he couldn’t care less about the criminals who use residential streets as their own personal-time trial track! Specifically, in Seaford, L.I., where I moved three years ago from Queens, where I was proudly born and raised. If he cares so much, why won’t Blakeman or the legislators of this county allow speed bumps or any speed restrictions that will curtail or discourage this behavior? Maybe if Blakeman actually cared about issues like this and not just free concerts in the park, I’d agree with you.
— Dennis Palazzola
Below the Threshold
Staten Island: Please let Voicer Robert Damato know that the 25-mile-per-hour speed cameras don’t trigger unless you are going 11 or more miles over the speed limit. Better check your speedometer or your eyes if you think you triggered it going 7 mph over the speed limit.
— Ellen Settanni
Disrespected Heroism
Palisades Park, N.J.: During World War II, there was an unsuccessful invasion of Sicily. Everyone was either slaughtered or taken prisoner by the Nazis. These men were then paraded through the streets of Sicily, where garbage was thrown at them. They ended up in a POW camp in Poland, where they remained for 19 months until the war ended. One of these men was a private first class, and he was my father. In my eyes, he was a hero, unlike Donald Trump, who supposedly had heel spurs that kept him from active duty. He recently said these men and all POWs were losers and suckers. The only loser and sucker I see is you, Donald Trump.
— Gary DiMora
Proper Terminology
Brooklyn: To Voicer John Procida: I know the Daily News sometimes prints Voicers’ letters for levity or to stir debate, but your letter is asinine and ridiculous. I’m a proud woke leftist, so I’ll bite! First off, “baby” refers to a child from birth to around toddler age. It is also often used for a not-yet-conceived child in the womb, though technically not accurate. “Fetus” refers to the stage of prenatal development that follows the embryo stage. I have never heard a baby, fetus, or embryo referred to as a “thing.” Your attempt at humor fell flat. I’m embarrassed for you and your lack of intelligence. But as your dictator demon-spawn Donny says about his faithful suckers, he loves “the uneducated!”
— Susan Cassano
Last Straw?
Valley Stream, L.I.: Now our former president, who is a convicted felon, wants to “celebrate” the Jan. 6 felons with a gala on Sept. 5. This should be the final nail in Trump’s political career. He tried every trick in the book to overturn the 2020 election without success. From slates of fake electors to Rudy Giuliani saying to judges, “Your honor, we don’t have any evidence of election fraud, but we have theories,” Trump and his minions incited an insurrection. It goes to show you how sick Trump is. Celebrate the mob that beat police officers and stormed the Capitol. It is time to move on from the felon Trump. Stop looking back. Move forward. The future of the country depends on it.
— Vince Sgroi
Business Decision
Briarwood: Some people are horrified that Trump’s New Jersey golf course plans to host the J6 Awards Gala to “honor and celebrate” some of the Jan. 6 defendants. An alternative perspective is that business is business, and if you are open to the public, you serve all customers regardless of gender, sexual orientation, religion, political position, etc. This implies that a right-wing ultra-conservative bakery must produce a wedding cake for a gay couple. If Stand in the Gap, the organization supporting the J6 Awards Gala, has the funds to pay for the event, is it acceptable for Trump’s N.J. golf course, or any business, to refuse?
— Mary Elizabeth Ellis
Leftward Slide
Malverne, L.I.: To Voicer George Garcia: Sir, you could not be more right! As a young boy in the 1980s, I used to deliver The News every morning to my neighbors as a paperboy. I always got an extra paper or two each day, and I loved taking one to the kitchen table and reading it cover to cover while eating breakfast. Back then, the paper was full of great articles and was more moderate and middle-of-the-road. It was strong on news and light on opinion, which was kept in the op-eds for the likes of Juan Gonzalez and other opinion writers. Today, I can say the opposite is true. I only receive the electronic version of the paper, and only because I am foolishly hoping the paper I loved as a boy moves back towards the middle of the political spectrum, which I fear is less likely to happen.
— David Kalin
Price Jumps
Clark, N.J.: So, my Daily News subscription on March 15, 2021, was $56.25. On July 18, 2021, it was $69.25. On Jan. 25, 2022, it was $70.45. On Feb. 8, 2023, it was $92.50. On Feb. 20, 2024, it was $106.51. On March 17, 2024, it was $110. And now, I received a postcard showing it is $152. Ridiculous. I am done! Buh-bye!
— Kevin Mallardi
