Readers sound off on a better WTC housing plan, Dead and Company and eating healthy

Manhattan: Re your June 20 editorial, “Say yes to new, affordable homes”: Yes, it’s good that the current plan for 5 World Trade Center allocates 30% of the 1,200 apartments to moderate- and middle-income families. But 100% affordability that includes low-income tenants is more than three times as good.

The Coalition for 100% Affordable Site 5 is advocating a plan to create a mixed-income development for tenants whose incomes range from very low to middle-income levels. Most important, the coalition’s plan would include preferences for 9/11 victims and first responders. The coalition is composed of long-time residents of lower Manhattan. I was invited to join because of my career as former executive director of a successful nonprofit housing organization.

All our elected representatives support more affordability. We believe that there are sources of funds that can help us achieve this important goal. Community Board 1 supports 100% affordability, as well as many other organizations.

In addition, the coalition retained Pratt Institute Prof. Jerrod Delaine, a developer, who prepared a feasibility study that outlined a number of ways to finance a plan for 100% affordability at site 5. In my own 50-year career in affordable housing, so often was I told that my proposal would “never happen.” Luckily, I persisted, and the developments are alive and well today, many decades later.

Certainly affordable housing at this iconic site in a high-income neighborhood is a serious goal, a goal that the Editorial Board dismisses as “nice” but impossible to achieve. The community has indicated strong support for 100% affordability. How special is that? If we don’t even try, we would lose out on a rare opportunity to send a message to the world about social justice and inclusivity. We are asking for a delay by the state Public Authorities Control Board while we continue our efforts to find a pragmatic solution for our goal. Carol Lamberg, former executive director of the Settlement Housing Fund and co-founder of the New York Housing Conference

Brooklyn: It will be the end of an era when Dead and Company finish their final concert tour within the next few weeks. The Grateful Dead and their spinoff groups (including the Other Ones, Furthur and Dead and Company) have been a major force in rock ‘n roll since 1965. Love them or not, their influence has been immense. I’m attending both their shows at Citi Field and it will be a bittersweet finale. By the way, one of their drummers, Mickey Hart, was born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island. Ellen Levitt

Little Neck: To Voicer Mike Franza Sr.: Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown on June 9, 1973. He did so while running a distance of one and a half miles in a record time of 2:24 minutes. That’s a record that will likely never be broken, but it’s much longer than two minutes so it wouldn’t qualify for the most exciting two minutes in sports. John P. Quinn

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Garwood, N.J.: I have a small tip from an old-time Yankees fan to Hal Steinbrenner and Aaron Boone: Perhaps if your pinstripe prima donnas spent more time in the batting cage and less time doing commercials and worrying about the color and style of their shoes, they might score more than two runs per game. Also, quit using Aaron Judge on the injured list as an excuse. Admit it, the rest of this team is just average. Can anyone else remember the last parade we had in 2009? John Deichmeister

Miami: I am one of the four models for the “Gay Liberation” sculpture in Christopher Park. Your article (“City LGBTQ history given voice in Village statues,” June 19) was greatly appreciated but your photo representation in the print edition was irresponsible and insulting. George Segal created a work of art and you only represented half of it! Why you only chose the men to represent this national treasure is beyond me! Beth Suskin

Howard Beach: New York City is robbing us blind. I went to my son’s house on Long Island for Father’s Day. When he told me how much he is paying for property taxes, I couldn’t believe it. His taxes increase a small amount annually but this year, no increase at all. One year, they reduced his taxes. Long Island property taxes were always much higher than NYC’s until recently. At the rate NYC is increasing property taxes, they will surpass Long Island’s. All we see are more red-light and speed cameras being installed. Soon the government will have one on each block. The answer is not to get out but to petition the government to change the laws. The city government has been stealing from us long enough, it’s time for a change! Nick Di Pasquale

Hicksville, L.I.: It was disappointing when Secretary of State Antony Blinken refused to recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation. What a coward. President Biden has been in bed with China since he was a senator and has amassed great wealth for himself and his family. For seven years, all I heard from the left and their mouthpieces in the corrupt media was Donald Trump was a Russian puppet. Although Trump’s adulation of Putin is disturbing, his benefit from Russia pales in comparison to Biden’s connections to China and Ukraine. He and his family are so blatantly corrupt. The FBI knows it. The Department of Justice knows it. And the corrupt media knows it. But most importantly, the American people now see the Bidens for who they are, grifters. John Gelormino

Forked River, N.J.: Most people try to start their day peacefully with a cup of coffee and the hope for a good day ahead. Many others, such as myself, start our day with that cup of coffee while reading the Daily News. It was a beautiful, sunny morning on Monday when I came across Voicer Frank J. Perry’s hate-filled letter about Rod Stewart and Donald Trump. Apparently, Stewart’s wife had an issue with her bottle blonde husband hanging out with a bottle blonde ex-president. Perry used this critically important non-relationship to vent his anger against all liberals. He then claims that Stewart’s wife is proof that all lefty libs are “two-faced, phony, hypocritical and holier than thou.” Switch to the decaf coffee and have a nice day like the rest of us were trying to have before we read his letter. Jim Hughes

Whiting, N.J.: Voicer Brad Morris is running out the old “what about” reasoning regarding Trump and his documents case. Let’s say it one more time for you: President Biden immediately cooperated regarding the few docs he had (that he shouldn’t have had). Your boy returned a few, then ignored subpoenas, had his valet attempt to hide them and failed to cooperate in returning them. Trump has gotten away with so much in his rich and storied history that he believes he is the second coming of the Teflon Don. But just like the first, karma (and the rule of law) has finally caught up to him. And as far as the Hillary whatabouts go, wasn’t it enough for Jim Comey to announce his reopening of the investigation into her days before we went to the polls, probably costing her the election? Bill McConnell

Merrick, L.I.: I would like to express my gratitude to Mayor Adams for taking the initiative in helping NYC provide healthier menus for our public schools (“Eric’s veggie challenge,” June 7). When children experience cultivating produce and food preparation and they learn the impact their choices have on their growing bodies, they are inclined to make better choices that will remain with them as they develop. Offering plant-based options in schools and an educational program is a great way to teach students to enjoy the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. They get the opportunity to be mindful of their nutritional needs, to listen to their bodies and be kind with themselves, while also being compassionate in what they leave off their plates. Students that have well-balanced, healthy meals are better learners. Aida Mercado