Readers sound off on immigration reforms, electric buses and getting rid of rats

Westfield, N.J.: I read Allan Wernick’s column on immigration issues quite often and I admire his knowledge, common sense and based-in-reality advice. However, I found his “Immigration laws in U.S. are a mess; here are ideas for reform” (Oct. 31) way below his usual standard.

Don’t misunderstand me, I agree totally that our immigration laws, regulations and policies are a total mess, but ideas for reform can not be covered in six paragraphs. He mentions that President Ronald Reagan created a legalization program for undocumented immigrants but fails to mention that it did not work. Wernick should acknowledge that Reagan’s program rewarded those who entered or stayed illegally or submitted fraudulent documents while it gave nothing to foreigners who did not enter illegally or violate their status. We are back to the same problem it was supposed to correct. The U.S. is overrun by illegal immigrants and has an immigration service that is incapable of dealing with it.

Wernick mentions that President Bill Clinton signed a major immigration law that “mostly made it harder to get a green card.” That is a misleading, maybe false, statement. I went online and reviewed the “Illegal Immigration Reform & Responsibility Act.” It focuses on border enforcement and civil penalties for attempting to cross the border illegally, new restrictions on the asylum application process and new procedures for removing individuals residing here illegally.

Wernick doesn’t say what needs to be done to make his proposed “path to citizenship” work. He is very knowledgeable about immigration. I would like to see him give the topic a worthy discussion. Colleen Passafiume

Camden, N.J.: A good friend of mine surmised, “When I was a youngster growing up in New York City, the Daily News was considered to be a conservative newspaper.” Wayne E. Williams

Wellfleet, Mass.: MAGA is an acronym for Malicious Attackers Going Amuck. Physically and verbally. How absolutely abominable. Mike Rice

White Plains, N.Y.: I find it strange that the only strategy President Biden and the Democrats use is to tell voters that a vote for the Republicans is a vote against democracy. In my opinion, this will never work because with inflation, gas and heating prices so high, and crime rates so high, voters of all incomes and parties are hurting so badly that this is the last thing they want to hear. What they want to hear is who is going to help them and how. Also, most people blame the party in power, which is the Democrats right now. Joan Cocurullo

Manhattan: Sen. Ron Johnson, Rep. Jodey Arrington, Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Rick Scott, Rep. Lloyd Smucker and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy have all recently stated on camera, some indirectly, that they want significant changes to Social Security and Medicare. These include benefit restrictions and stopping retirement and health care benefits to Americans making over a certain income. McCarthy wants to “sit down and figure out where we can eliminate waste.” When asked if he meant Medicare and Social Security, McCarthy didn’t rule them out. Why won’t he express a permanent stance on benefit cuts before our midterm elections? We all know or are related to someone receiving these benefits. Seniors and disabled citizens are among our most economically stressed groups. Many must choose between medicine and rent or food. Why do some current and potentially elected politicians want to worsen their existence? Marie King

Providence, R.I.: “Can we ever bridge these divides?” asks a Nov. 4 opinion column. Let’s face it: Sometimes, the answer is no. Beginning to “glimpse each other’s truths and speak their own” will not always bring reconciliation between opposing sides. When bigots are filled with dismay / That others are happily gay / It may be pragmatic to scrap / The effort to straddle this gap. Felicia Nimue Ackerman

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Manhattan: “51 electric school buses” (Nov. 2) out of 9,500 will barely make a dent in our city’s environmental injustice problem. Polluting fumes from buses are contributing to climate change and climate disasters, which will disproportionately affect communities already coping with higher levels of traffic pollution. We must speed up the electric transition of all city buses, and while we’re at it, close gas plants in environmental justice communities, meeting New York’s mandate of a 70% electric grid by 2030 in a way that reduces pollution burdens where they have been historically worst, first. Clean buses should be charged with clean power. A re-elected Gov. Hochul will follow through on her commitment to creating an all-electric school bus fleet statewide. Heather McBrien

Richmond Hill: To Voicer Nick Di Pasquale: Please kindly do your research before making erroneous comments. Fact check: The homicide rate in 2022 is one-fifth of what it was in 1990! Despite the recent upsurge in NYC crime, rates are down from past decades. Three decades ago, crime was out of control due to the crack cocaine epidemic. In August, the number of overall shooting incidents is down compared to 2021. Murders decreased by 54% compared to last year, with 16% more seized guns and a 4.4% increase in gun arrests, and shooting incidents decreased by 13%. Obviously, the police and Gov. Hochul’s administration are working hard to reduce crime in New York. Hochul only assumed office in August 2021. Obviously, she has made radical changes in this short term! Hochul has also pledged $28 million to combat gun violence and to strengthen public safety. Mr. Di Pasquale, do you get your facts from Fox News? Ene Kelly

Fresh Meadows: Voicer Thomas J. Barry is seemingly upset that Chief Technology Officer Matt Fraser is allowed to carry his firearm in City Hall. Barry should know that as retired law enforcement officers, we are allowed to do so unless instructed not to. But once Barry changed his driver’s license to the state of Florida, that changed things. There’s always been an unwritten law for us in the law-enforcement officers’ community no matter where you decide to live: Don’t change your driver’s license to that particular state because there’s a good chance your carry permit will be denied. Gregory Coston

Staten Island: The front-page headline of the Daily News on Thursday was “2 killers get break.” Wow! Wait until the Republican politicians see this one. It’s no wonder crime is running wild in the streets — too many soft-headed politicians passing laws with no bite. Let’s read a little further: “The felons applied for compassionate release under the criminal justice reform bill, which was signed into law by Donald Trump in 2018.” Wow, there’s the culprit! From now on he’ll be known as Mr. Softee! John Hogan

Monroe, N.Y.: I want to express my appreciation and gratitude to all the annual New York City marathon runners who, by their unselfish and physically demanding deeds, accomplish what no other elected or appointed official in NYC can: clearing NYC streets and sidewalks of rampant and roaming rats. Aden O’Donnell

Richmond Hill: If NYC wants to lower the rat population, it should do what Florida property owners do with their lizard overpopulation: Hire bounty hunters with BB guns! We could pay them by the pound or piece, then compost the bodies. Win-win! Robert Clolery

Brooklyn: Steve Nash, who was fired from his coaching job, was stabbed in the back by the Brooklyn Nets organization by letting spoiled superstars dictate how they should be coached. One high-profile player wanted him fired before the season started, and another held his own practice after the coach finished his, plus supported an anti-Semitic film, which will probably turn away many fans. They have great talent, indeed, but lack character, which is even more important. It isn’t how many points or rebounds one gets in a game, it is how one carries themselves on and off the court. Nash deserves a better opportunity elsewhere. Even if he doesn’t have a roster of superstars, he is certainly much better than the situation he was put in. I wish him better luck in life. Joseph Comperchio