Readers sound off on casino opposition, National Guard subway deployment and Pete Maravich

Coney Island can’t handle what a casino brings

Brooklyn: I am a resident of the Coney Island/Brighton Beach community. I am against the casino coming into Coney Island for many reasons, but I will concentrate my objection on one issue.

Coney Island is a peninsula — one way in, one way out. I’ve lived in both Seagate and Brighton Beach for more than 50 years. There has always been a problem with parking and increased density of vehicle traffic. It can take more than an hour for residents of Seagate to get to the Belt Parkway during the summer months. Emergency vehicles are hindered in getting to people who need life-saving services. During the July 4 weekend, it is impossible to go anywhere. If the casino is in Coney Island, it will be like July 4 year-round.

One of the proposals brought forth by Thor Equities is a parking facility inside the hotel for more than 1,200 cars, and outside, another parking facility for 1,000 cars. This is without tour buses.

During the summer months, Coney Island gets a detail of an average of 80 more cops to deal with more than 5 million visitors. There aren’t enough police resources to address the public safety issues that will incur if the casino is allowed to be built. There will be more crime, traffic problems, etc. in the communities of Coney Island and Brighton Beach. I therefore ask that the New York State Gaming Commission not grant the gambling license to Thor Equities and its partners. Jeffrey Sanoff

Says who?

Birmingham, Mich.: I recently read “Gov declares war on crime in subway” (March 7) and was curious about the source of the statistic that crime has risen 15.5% on subways and platforms in NYC. When I clicked on the link, it took me to another article documenting an instance of subway violence. This article had the same claim and linked to yet another article, which notably did not claim that subway crime had risen. What is the origin of this claim? What evidence or source does this claim come from? Nick Confer

Emergent emergency

Cornwall, N.Y.: So, our governor decides to bring the National Guard in to fix the subway. I thought the National Guard was for states of emergency. When cities were burning down recently, they didn’t use them. So why are we putting them in the prison yard now? By prison yard I mean the subway. Mayor Adams and his liberal friends in the City Council are the reason the subway is the mess it is. Let’s not forget the big guy, Alvin Bragg, who is the bigger problem. The governor should have fired Bragg, then added more cops and paid overtime. Bringing the Guard in is going to be a lot more money the city has to spend. Raymond Grosskopf

Caused by policy

Hillsdale, N.Y.: Now we have our military and state police patrolling the subways, which only pushes crime back to the streets. What’s next, a soldier or a state police officer on every corner of NYC? People need to understand that liberal policies and liberal-thinking politicians are the cause of repeat criminals repeating crimes. New Yorkers need to change their voting practices and vote not by party but by who represents their concerns and safety issues. Remember the famous expression: You get what you vote for! Phil Antico

Dysfunction

Middletown, Conn.: Thank you, Voicer Linda Carlson: You are right — where are the parents? What about the men and women who push people onto the train tracks? Where are their families? All we hear is that they have mental problems. Why care when the families know we will take care of them? All they do is go on TV and cry. How about take care of your family? No, it’s better to let someone else do it for them. Gerard Winzer

Detect and disrupt

Richmond Hill: Has anyone tried to train dogs to sniff out fentanyl? It might cut down the body count of drug users. Robert Clolery

Stretched finances

Yonkers: When Texas became inundated with migrants, Mayor Adams announced that NYC is a sanctuary city and invited the migrants to experience the American dream. Now it is being reported that the migrant crisis is projected to cost the N.Y. taxpayer $10 billion for the next fiscal year. If Adams had any common sense, he would have used this money to house the homeless, treat the mentally ill and feed the multitude of American children who go to bed hungry every night. Nicholas Maffei

Song is safe

Carle Place, L.I.: As Don Henley returns to (Hotel) California (“Prisoners of their own device,” March 7), may I suggest he “Take it Easy” and enjoy a “Tequila Sunrise.” Rudy Rosenberg

Maravich’s merits

Opelika, Ala.: Re “She’s a pistol” (March 4): Caitlin Clark’s pell-mell dashes up court, employing behind-the-back dribbles, conjure images of Pete Maravich, she splashes threes from Steph Curry range, plays with a Cheryl Miller-like fire, all mixed with Magic Johnson’s exuberance. Last season during the Final Four, Clark became the first player to compile a triple-double while scoring 40 or more points. However, as one who watched Maravich during his college career, it’s incomprehensible that you minimized his greatness because he played in the segregated Southeastern Conference. Maravich’s long-distance scoring, passing artistry and his ability to shoot on the move would have flourished in any conference, as it did in the Black player-dominated NBA. Let’s remember, Maravich averaged 44.2 points per game. In fairness, the NCAA should honor Maravich as the greatest three-season scorer, and Clark as the greatest four-scorer. Marc D. Greenwood

Fed by critics

Staten Island: As the new year goes on and we read more and more about how terrible Donald Trump is, it seems to me that the more they attack, the more followers he gains. If this doesn’t speak in volumes, I don’t know what does. The American people are tired of being lied to and duped. If you really look at history, what president hasn’t done something that was illegal, immoral or corrupt? Just about everyone is guilty. With all the pushback on Trump, it is just making his followership stronger. People believe this is a witch hunt, and it certainly seems to be to me. Keep trying to make this guy look like the worst president who ever lived and in eight months, you’ll see — Trump will be president again. Joseph Dohner

Toe to toe

Bronx: The White House press secretary was asked by a reporter if President Biden would be willing to debate Donald Trump (face to face). She refused to give a yes or no, just some double-talk as she always does when asked the hard-to-answer questions. I think it would be great for the American people to see a debate between these two. It would give the people great input to watch their answers and how both men handle themselves under stress — and truth and lies. People will be able to choose who they think would be right for the job. Jimmy Durda

Don’t stop now

Gambier, Ohio: Voicer Oren Spiegler’s heart is in the right place, but not his head. He wants to promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians and is afraid that Israel carrying on what he wrongly calls “Netanyahu’s war”( when it is Hamas’) will create bitterness and more war in the future. In fact, the only chance for peace in the future is to eliminate the Islamist death cult that is Hamas once and for all as the ruler of Gaza. A ceasefire now would allow Hamas to attack Israel again and again and force Israel to respond. Given that Hamas fights behind civilian shields in its tunnels, that would mean more dead Palestinians and Israelis and, yes, more bitterness. The main-force war is over, except for Rafah. To give Hamas a chance to revive at this point would be madness. Fred Baumann

Tastes great

Brooklyn: To Voicer Mary Caggiano: Here’s the scoop (and my scoop is usually pistachio): Ketchup on my fries, mustard on my dog, syrup on my pancakes. I’m going to blow your mind: Veggie cream cheese on an everything bagel. Life’s simple food pleasures. Mariann Tepedino