Readers sound off on Brooklyn-Queens Day, Trump’s federal charges and senior housing

Jamaica: Re “The real holiday” (editorial, May 21): You state that Brooklyn-Queens Day is a “nonsense holiday that nobody understands or cares about.” We are writing to let you know that there are those of us who care deeply about this holiday and what it celebrates.

In the 19th century in New York, Protestants celebrated Anniversary Day to commemorate the founding of the first Sunday schools on Long Island. A few Protestant churches gathered together and paraded and had a wonderful time celebrating with each other. That few became hundreds in Brooklyn, and soon the Queens Protestant churches joined for a combined celebration in recognition of educating our young people in morals and religion in our churches. At the request of the Queens Federation of Churches, the Legislature enacted Brooklyn-Queens Day as a school holiday, and churches in Brooklyn and Queens would parade in celebration. They were led by the Brooklyn Sunday School Union and the Jamaica Sunday School Association, and we have paraded continually since.

During the pandemic, celebrations were held virtually, but always with the goal of keeping our anniversary alive. On June 8, we again took to the streets and paraded in Queens, culminating at Roy Wilkins Park. We celebrated what the church has done in our communities and in our lives. In short, we categorically reject the notion that our celebration is “dumb” or “old” and that it should be replaced. Mayor Adams and the United Federation of Teachers should take note that as many of them are products of Protestant education, to replace Brooklyn-Queens Day would be a repudiation of their own heritage and of the constituents who support them. Daisy Davis-Credle, president, and Paul Brunswick, chaplain, Jamaica Sunday School Association

Woodside: Oh, Donald. Thirty-seven counts — oh my! And he might be president again. Jail for him would be better for America. Richard Tobiassen

Woodstock, N.Y.: Does anyone else think the reason that Donald Trump has been hoarding top secret documents is simply that in his fevered little brain, he thinks if he has these documents in his possession that he’s still the president? Suzanne Hayes Kelly

Bronx: Not that he ever stopped, but Trump is playing the victim card again. He claims he is the most perfect person in the history of the world, perhaps more perfect than God. He makes the most perfect phone calls, declassified all papers taken from the White House by just thinking it, and has followers who were just sightseeing on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump is the assailant, not the victim. He has assaulted every person in the world with his lies and underhanded actions. His home state didn’t vote for him because we knew him for what he was and is. Dishonest! Narcissist! Spoiled, rotten brat! Misogynist! Racist! Cheap! God bless the grand juries that indicted him. God give our legal professionals the will and ability to serve this country and its people by proving his guilt and putting him away. Anna Maria McCorry

Staten Island: So, the right is freaking out over a Trump indictment for crimes he allegedly committed. They claim the left is launching a political attack on President Biden’s rival for the presidency, yet it’s not retribution that the right has been looking for dirt on Biden and trying to impeach him from day one. Nor was it retribution when they called for Hillary Clinton, Trump’s former political rival, to be arrested in 2016? Here’s the difference — if Biden is guilty of something, he should be impeached and put on trial. I am not flying a Biden flag and wearing Biden shirts and hats because — wait for it — I support America, not politicians! Christian Del Re

Astoria: The Democratic Party has definitively regressed into the South African ANC — cynical and corrupt oligarchs who use the cudgel of the state and, by extension, the courts to retain power and unevenly mete out justice, favoring their allies while destroying their enemies. Trump has now been indicted twice, with a third coming down the pipe in Georgia, on purely spurious charges. America no longer has the moral authority to question or criticize corrupt political machinations in Third World countries. Politically, we have become one. Brad Morris

Scarsdale, N.Y.: A funny thing about witch hunts: Sometimes, they turn up a witch. John Kern

Millburn, N.J.: Re: “Big Apple gets smoked” (June 7): Staying indoors with sadness, itchy eyes, a throbbing head and the sound of discordant birds chirping to the smoky environmental horror outside, I have written this letter in poem form: Itchy eyes / From orange skies / Raspy voices / From carbon choices / Today, birds chirp choked in tears / As annihilation nears / Locked in / We are surrounded by our sin / Cleared throats / And grounded boats / With the smoke that abounds / A sadness cloud surrounds / Crying toxic tears / As global warming appears / We hide / Inside / Afraid to emerge / To an air quality surge / Lives changed / Climate criminals are rearranged / We wear masks out not in / Where have we been / Snow days / Into smoke days / Clear the air / Not a second to spare / Yellow sun / Long run / Blue sky / Runner’s high / Bike ride / Our dear outside. Wendy Missan

Manchester, N.J.: I can’t imagine why everybody is making such a big stink about all the smoke coming from Canada. Hey man, it’s only smoke from grass and weeds. Where are all the people who were saying how dangerous cigarette smoking is for your health and are now standing in line paying big bucks to smoke pot? Chill out, think positive, step outside the box and get high — it’s another New York free-o. Edward Sere

Whitestone: Not to minimize the success of the Braves in coming back to beat the Mets in three straight games, but the Mets should consider the possibility of some form of sign-stealing. After the Mets had the lead in the last three games, it seemed like the Braves hitters were very comfortable against all the Mets’ relievers. Are the Mets relievers really that bad? It may seem unlikely that sign-stealing would be successful when the signs are given electronically, but I never saw hitters like the Braves’ so ready to jump on some of the pitches in the late innings. Dorothy Lyons

Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.: June used to mean D-Day, Father’s Day, Flag Day and the Puerto Rican Day Parade celebrations. Then Juneteenth was added. Now someone decided the whole month is known as Pride Month. Does anyone know who decided that one? Nobody asked me. Peter McKenna

Forest Hills: Seems to me your newspaper needs to editorially support our organization’s fight now that city Comptroller Brad Lander has declined to register the horrendous Medicare Advantage plan contract pending litigation. Our continued fight to stay on traditional Medicare needs to be supported everywhere it can be since Mayor Adams can override Lander’s sensible decision to stay his registration of Aetna’s Advantage plan, which may very possibly spell death for NYC’s oldest retirees. J.M. Culley

Brentwood, L.I.: I think it is totally disgusting that Suffolk County is more concerned about migrants coming here than finding affordable housing for senior citizens. We can’t live in shelters due to physical and psychiatric disabilities, plus need to live in certain areas due to travel restrictions and certain housing needs. A lot of us aren’t on social services or Section 8 but we still can’t afford these rents, which often don’t include utilities. Where is all the help when we are evicted, need a two-bedroom residence and have no place to go? Why isn’t there any help for us — some lifelong New Yorkers — instead of new residents? We have money to use and are not asking for handouts. Please, have pity on us and find housing we can afford! We are desperate! Rochelle Davidson