Readers sound off on dumpsters, March Madness commentary and anti-Israel protests

These huge new dumpsters are a new NYC eyesore

Manhattan: I am writing to express my anguish in regard to NYC’s dumpster pilot program. A resident of 148th St. for 23 years, I have been blessed with six European-style dumpsters. They fill the entire sightlines of my ground-floor studio apartment. My shades have been pulled since their arrival, my quality of life shattered. And still, I am seeing rats daily.

At a Community Board 9 meeting on March 21, Deputy Commissioner of Sanitation Josh Goodman acknowledged that the shared bins mid-block are not working. He stated that the bins would be removed but not until the spring of 2025. Sanitation should remove the bins now! Empty or overflowing, these bins are ugly and soulless. They absolutely thwart any sense of pride of place, any impulse of the imagination or desire to plant a flower.

There is a merry band of five young rats next door who are totally indifferent to the dumpsters. They appear to be quite healthy. I have reported sightings multiple times to the Department of Sanitation but since the initial report in January, all subsequent reports have been closed automatically, the next day, never to be seen by human eyes and most likely not included in the tally of sightings.

There is a difference between knowing the truth, telling the truth and experiencing the truth. There have been many media blitzes that sing the glory of this very basic, utilitarian program, a program lacking rigor or science. More voices need to be heard. Kristine Berube

Overflow parking

Manhattan: I was happy to read that the city’s Department of Investigation is finally proposing a crackdown on parking placard abuse. What I observe in my lower Manhattan neighborhood must be the same throughout the other boroughs. Police headquarters, which was built for a staff of 2,200 and now holds 4,700, with an underground parking garage for 1,000 cars, has taken over whole streets to park staff cars. Park Row, a major north/south roadway, closed for “security” since 9/11, has long since been a parking lot for NYPD vehicles. When will it ever end? John Ost

Sudden darkness

Princeton Junction, N.J.: To Voicer Shirley Watts: I also remember the eclipse on Saturday, July 20, 1963. I had just returned from a week’s vacation to my home in northern New Jersey and had not heard that an eclipse would take place. To my surprise, the sky darkened in late afternoon. It then dawned on me what was happening. So, thank you, Shirley, for a happy memory. Judith L. Cabral

Haves over have-nots

Brooklyn: Re Voicer Laure Travers’ excellent letter concerning the affordable housing listings that are downright laughable: The current lottery includes a studio going for $2,700 for one person making $92,572-$128,570. And get this — another starts at $3,069 for a studio for one person making $105,223-$128,570. Isn’t it beneficent on the part of those superrich who are destroying real NYC buildings one by one and putting up edifices of avarice and contempt, to make allowance for the impoverished less-rich!? Let us bow our heads and give thanks to those of the “voracious tornado” ilk, “the mart of nations” (Isaiah 23:3), for tossing a few gold coins to the haves — they who are bent on making NYC their playground and squeezing the truly poor have-nots out of the picture. Jesus overturned the tables of the money-changers. Jesus is coming back. Joy E. Goldberg

Federal matter

Belvidere, N.J.: Voicer Robert Stiloski hits the nail on the head when he passes the blame higher for illegal immigration, from Mayor Adams to President Biden. Adams has a lot of nerve to invite Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to NYC to see the illegal immigration crisis that Hizzoner blames on the Texas governor. Instead, Abbott is simply spreading the wealth of illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities (i.e. in defiance of federal immigration laws). Before Operation Lone Star began, Adams was proud of NYC being a sanctuary city. So now, he should put his money where his mouth is. And finally, Mayor Adams, be careful what you wish for. That is, be careful what you proclaim. Dan Arthur Pryor

Ban-happy

Providence, R.I.: In reference to the letter from Voicer Louise Perrotta, which says, “Eliminate this law now!” (legalized marijuana): Pot’s unhealthy; let’s deplore it / Ban it now and don’t restore it / Do the same with booze and sweets / Grant us no unhealthy treats / Change our lifestyle to another / Under guidance of Big Brother. Felicia Nimue Ackerman

Nugatory nattering

New Hyde Park, L.I.: Generally, I have enjoyed the CBS coverage of March Madness basketball. The announcers Mike Breen, Bill Raftery, etc. are all articulate, personable and knowledgeable. Nevertheless, there is such a thing as over-announcing. Often, it appears they are trying to talk over each other. At times, I have almost pushed the mute button on my remote to just visually watch the flow of the game. Am I a voice in the wilderness or is this a common observation? There are plenty of fans who watch basketball at sports bars when the sound is off. They appear to enjoy the experience. Something to consider. John C. Macklin

Thinly veiled

Rosedale: To Voicer Peter Sulzicki: You obviously have issues (not racial, right?) with Angel Reese. First of all, she did the hand signs in response to Caitlin Clark doing them first, which Caitlin openly admitted. And prior to them winning the NCAA championship, and having the back-and-forth with Clark, she was probably not on a lot of people’s radar. It’s extremely unfortunate that people would respond so negatively and hatefully to her, but that is what usually happens after someone’s success, not before. Your reference to the LSU team as “pugs, thugs and mugs,” aimed at a group of women who aren’t even full adults yet, was ugly. And for the record, I don’t believe for one minute that you would use that language about a team that had a different racial makeup. Shirley Jordan

Juris-diction

Manhattan: To Todd Blanche, a mouthpiece for Donald Trump (“Ya gotta be kiddin’, Don,” April 4): As to whether your client can get a fair trial here is debatable. The following distinction is not: Manhattan is a borough of the city of New York and is a county of the great sovereign State of New York. You may wish to amend your legal briefs accordingly. Aydin Torun

Singular critique

Flushing: So, “60 Minutes” has a segment on deadly landmines strewn over parts of Ukraine by the Russians. Where are the university students marching at the Russian embassy? Oh yes, I forgot, this can’t be blamed on the Jews, so let’s continue partying at our fraternities. Also, this newspaper has a two-page spread on the actual — not “on the verge of” — starvation in Africa. Where are the university students marching at the UN? Oh yes, I forgot: This can’t be blamed on the Jews either, so party on! Bottom line: Antisemitism is alive and well on our campuses, and the future looks dire. Charles Tal

Not funny

Clifton Park, N.Y.: This is the third week in a row that my Sunday Daily News did not contain a comics section. I know that I am not the only one missing the comics, because I remember someone else mentioning this same issue in Voice of the People a few weeks ago. I would like to know what is going on, and how this oversight can be corrected. Joyce McAlister

Official responsibility

Whitestone: First, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the Diller family. Secondly, and rather harshly, I would like to express my opinion of where the responsibility for his preventable death lies. His blood that was spilt that day is all over the hands of the so-called “three in the room” in Albany: Our disgraced former governor, Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. These three, with their asinine, moronic and out-of-touch decisions on bail reform laws, have cost officers’ lives as well as put the entire city in a massive state of chaos and fear over violent recidivism. Patrick DeMarco