Voting rights are in every American’s interest
Manhattan: A century ago, Eastern European Jewish immigrants came to the United States fleeing persecution and seeking the rights and protections of a democracy. My great-grandparents were among them.
At the same time, harsh Jim Crow laws, brutal white supremacist violence, exploitative working conditions and a U.S. Congress that refused to act were taking their toll in Black lives and livelihoods.
Yet, from factory floors to lunch counters to the Edmund Pettus Bridge, courageous Black Americans reached out to newer Jewish immigrants and to Americans of all backgrounds who believed in our fundamental equality enshrined in the Constitution. Our collective power and the sacrifice of countless people ultimately forced the federal government to live up to its obligation to end Jim Crow and ensure voting rights for all. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was one of the most impactful achievements of that struggle.
For 50 years, the Voting Rights Act was supported by a bipartisan majority in Congress. But in 2013, extremist Supreme Court justices cut the heart out of the law, allowing states to pass laws that restrict the vote and target voters of color.
We can not accept this new Jim Crow in America. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will restore the Voting Rights Act’s protections. Congress can act now to ensure that every American can cast their vote freely and fairly, no matter their color or zip code. Ann Toback, CEO, The Workers Circle
Hidden gem
Hartsdale, N.Y.: The News’ coverage of the Academy Awards skipped the biggest upset of the night. Takashi Yamazaki’s win for Best Visual Effects for the film “Godzilla Minus One” not only beat out three other films whose lunch services were probably larger than the whole Godzilla film’s budget ($15 million), but celebrated the fact that Yamazaki was the film’s director, supervised its special effects and was the screenwriter. Oh, and by the way: It was a better movie than “Oppenheimer” or “Barbie.” Skeptics, take a look at the movie and see for yourself. Norman E. Gaines Jr.
Not interested
Bronx: The next time Donald Trump feels the need to offer his take on a TV show host, may I suggest he email it to “nobody-gives-a-crap-about-your-opinion@loser.com.” Maybe he should concentrate more on his 91 indictments than the Oscars. Mary Ann Guarneri
Rescinded restrictions
Patterson, N.Y.: Selective amnesia is a problem for left-leaning liberals! You’ve forgotten what happened in the first two weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency! He cut most of Trump’s actions — rode like Washington Irving’s headless horseman, swinging his sword and slashing away! I don’t remember him asking the Senate for permission to do this. Now he blames the Republicans for not giving him a bill so he can correct the border problem created by #45! Wake up and see the truth! Kevin-Michael Treco
Strange bird
Tappan, N.Y.: Last week, all the major news channels ran with a story about the rare yellow-billed migrating juvenile loon that forced the shutdown of the Bellagio Fountain in Las Vegas. But no one mentioned the orange-haired loon of Mar-a-Lago who shut down a vote about the Senate resolution that would have improved border security by advising Speaker Mike Johnson that it would not be in the best interests of the party — despite the best interests of the American people who, unfortunately, he (at one time) was elected to represent. Ray Hayes
Save lives
Washington: I have heard reports that NYC is planning to kill even more innocent animals. This is horrendous and must be stopped. More efforts must be made to rehome pets who enter your shelters. You are not offering shelter. Instead, you are offering extinction. That is simply cruel and has to stop. Renée Weitzner
Worked to death
Long Beach, Calif.: I was sickened to read about the most recent deaths of dogs — Bog on Saturday and George on Sunday — during Alaska’s annual agonyfest known as the Iditarod. Reportedly, CPR was administered to Bog for 20 minutes in an effort to keep him alive. That might seem noble and caring to some readers who have companion dogs, imagining how they would desperately scramble to save their own dog if they collapsed. But having seen videos of how these mushers scream at and drag their dogs around, lifting them nearly off the ground by their collars, it’s unlikely that Bog was being consoled by a heartbroken human. Rather, I imagine the frightened, dying dog spent his last minutes on Earth being hollered at by an enraged musher whose only worry was that he was going to get booted from the race. Karina Bennett
Weak pass
Brooklyn: The Giants sign a quarterback who is destined for mediocrity instead of signing a terrific back who they drafted second overall in a QB heavy draft. The team has a history of making dumbfounding decisions. They didn’t want to pay Lawrence Taylor (yes, L.T.) either. Their problem then was that the upstart United States Football League’s New Jersey Generals (owned by Donald Trump — yes, that Donald Trump) offered L.T. a contract. The Giants, to not lose face, were forced to sign L.T. In the NFL, loyalty is a one-way street. Herman Kolender
Pass it up
Saddle Brook, N.J.: I suspect that when Aaron Rodgers is asked to run for vice president, he will say, “I’ll pass.” Joseph M. Savoia
Spelling tweak
Brooklyn: Congratulations to Dodgers great Steve Garvey for winning his primary. In his victory speech, Steve thanked his wife Candy. I recall that he was once married to Cyndy Garvey, a TV host. At their wedding, Steve and his new bride exchanged vowels. Mike Fallo
Name recognition
Brooklyn: I usually scroll past letters about celebrities, but I’m compelled to respond to Voicer Sarah Alboher. Firstly, Cher and Sonny were divorced long before he died. She in fact married Greg Allman, albeit a short union. So, why does Alboher think that Cher should use Sonny’s surname? Secondly, women are no longer obliged to take the surname of their spouse. We have our own and prefer to honor our family legacy. Cher is iconic and earned her own fame and status, and is known worldwide simply by “Cher.” Lastly, just a reminder, Ms. Alboher: This is 2024, not 1954. Susan Cassano
House arrest
Merion Station, Pa.: Sixty days in Rikers Island would be too lenient a punishment for Daniel Ohebshalom after he’s extradited to New York (“Warrant for slumlord,” March 12). Manhattan Housing Court Judge Jack Stoller should impose an unlimited sentence to be served inside Ohebshalom’s own buildings until repairs are made. Creative sentencing will remind other slumlords that owning rental property requires more from them than collecting rent. Paul L. Newman
Sunk costs
Scarborough, N.Y.: Former MTA Board Member Lucius Riccio gives us a laundry list of new ways to rob taxpayers to fund the MTA (“How to save congestion pricing,” op-ed, March 12). I can give you 16 billion reasons not to give the MTA one more dollar. $16 billion is the combined cost of the East Side Access (LIRR) and the Second Ave. subway, both MTA boondoggles that were totally unnecessary. And let’s not forget that both projects were completed decades late and massively over budget. The MTA has zero management skills and is $41 billion in debt. It is untrustworthy and should be abolished. Is it any wonder that New York taxpayers who can afford to are voting with their feet? Thomas F. Comiskey
Health risk
Walden, N.Y.: I am writing to express my grave concerns regarding the ongoing contract negotiations between NewYork-Presbyterian and Aetna. As a member of Aetna’s D-SNP Plan who sees an excellent team of physicians at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley, I am deeply troubled that I may lose access to these top-notch doctors if the two parties fail to reach an agreement by March 31. When I contacted Aetna’s corporate office, the representative at the firm’s analyst executive resolutions department seemed indifferent, simply stating that I could switch plans. If the contract is not approved, 3,000 NewYork-Presbyterian doctors will no longer accept Aetna insurance, severely impacting patient care. I urge Aetna to prioritize patients over profits and immediately approve a fair contract with NewYork-Presbyterian before the March 31 deadline. James Sullivan
