At long last, give Tommy James his solo credit
Hartford, Conn.: We are definitely a country in crisis with countless problems. There is crippling inflation, a war with Iran, devastating job losses due to AI, and the once-mighty U.S. Postal Service is on the brink of bankruptcy, just to name a few. Our country is reaping the results of a lot of bad karma sewn over the last 55 years.
Tommy James and the Shondells had seven top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts between 1966 and 1969, such as “Hanky Panky,” “I Think We’re Alone Now,” “Mony Mony,” “Crimson and Clover” and “Crystal Blue Persuasion.” Apart from the Shondells, Tommy James had a solo hit, “Draggin’ the Line,” which reached #4 on the charts in 1971. Since then, when DJs on oldies radio stations across the country have played “Draggin’ the Line,” they have frequently and erroneously announced the song as being by Tommy James and the Shondells rather than a James solo song.
This continual error on their part over nearly six decades has created the bad karma that is responsible for the problems in our country today. We can not blame President Trump, Joe Biden, Barack Obama or the Congress. The blame falls on the disc jockeys on oldies stations for their flagrant errors. This hanky panky on the airwaves must stop! John L. Purcell
Relevant and growing
Staten Island: Voicer Donald Ziminski seems to think that more than 8 million No Kings marchers is irrelevant. One in 50 Americans thought it important enough to give up a Saturday to participate in a march that swells in number with each organized event. The most plausible reason the wannabe dictator didn’t mention it is that it’s normal to run from what you fear, and you can smell the fear on Trump and his MAGA cohorts. Ellen Settanni
Too-late turnout
Brooklyn: Where were the 8 million No Kings Day protesters to prevent Trump from winning the 2024 presidential election? Charlie Pisano
Demonstrably false
Chicago: Trump started his address to the nation last week honoring the bravery and boldness of the four astronauts who were launched into space earlier in the day. He proceeded to display his particular brand of boldness (hubris?) in explaining to the American people all the things he has personally achieved in that senseless conflict in the Middle East. What a juxtaposition of the profound and the profane, comparing the unchallengeable success of four courageous souls being launched into the unknown and his failure to achieve the original goals of his big, beautiful war. As if we needed to be reminded that there’s been no regime change in Iran, no elimination of their nuclear material and the world economy is on the brink. Bob Ory
A fool & a ghoul
Whitestone: If I were to think of two movies that symbolize the character flaws of Trump, I’d choose “Bananas” with Woody Allen (Fielding Mellish) playing the president of the fictional republic of San Marcos to represent Trump, the narcissistic fool. To represent his evil side, I choose “Scarface,” with Al Pacino playing a ruthless killer who has no respect for human life. Trump clearly has no respect for human life, as was clearly shown in killing people in Venezuelan fishing boats, in supporting Bibi Netanyahu in killing tens of thousands in Gaza, and starting a war with Iran with no apparent justification or legitimate purpose. Michael J. Gorman
All lies
Cranford, N.J.: Trump has threatened Greenland, Canada, Mexico and our NATO allies, amongst others. He called Sen. John McCain a loser for being captured in Vietnam, said he’d end the Ukraine war in one day, promised no overseas wars, said we’d have the best affordable health care ever and lower food and energy prices immediately. He campaigned for a Nobel Peace Prize and has two fake ones. Trump is the ultimate compulsive liar. He’ll go down as the worst president of all time. Bob Hubiak
Major mitigation
Scarsdale, N.Y.: While we’re living in troubling times, New York has an amazing opportunity to pass groundbreaking legislation. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act bans 17 harmful chemicals used in packaging, reduces plastic packaging by 30% over 12 years and requires 75% of packaging to be reused or recycled. It saves tax dollars by shifting the cost from taxpayers to companies who create it, and protects environmental justice communities by reducing waste going to incinerators, landfills and transfer stations. This last detail is critical for Westchester County, which, unbeknownst to most residents, burns trash in Peekskill, creating toxic ash and air pollution for us all to breathe. Studies now prove that plastic interferes with our health in myriad ways, so eliminating toxins is critical. The best part is the bill saves $1.3 billion in the first 10 years. Jennifer Horowitz
Paid our way
Whitestone: Dear Mayor Mamdani, you should not raise taxes on us seniors, who have paid taxes all our lives. We don’t ask you to support us. I’m 95, raised nine children and have more than 50 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. You’re getting more than enough from this family. Sally DeFelice
It’s been done
Manhattan: Mamdani is asking the City Council and state to increase taxes slightly on corporations and our wealthiest New Yorkers to cover the budget deficit and support his affordability agenda. Maryland did that. Last year, it enacted a 3% sales tax on specific IT and digital services, a 2% capital gains surcharge for high-income individuals, and two new individual income tax brackets on high earners. Individual filers with income between $250,001 and $500,000 will remain subject to a tax rate of 5.75%. Individuals with taxable income of $500,001 through $1 million are subject to a new rate of 6.25%, and taxable income exceeding $1 million will be subject to a rate of 6.5%. Joint filers with income between $600,001 and $1.2 million and joint filers above $1.2 million are subject to the new 6.25% and 6.5%, respectively. Why can’t Gov. Hochul and City Council Speaker Julie Menin support something similar? Jeff Natt
Data sharing
Cincinnati: It’s weird how data centers are always built in poor to middle-class areas. I propose that a data center is built here in Cincinnati in Indian Hills (a millionaire neighborhood). I proposed this for the soccer stadium but they built it in the inner city. Ask residents of Indian Hill if they’d be OK with a data center. Mark Jessee
Dangerous distraction
Clearwater, Fla.: Besides driving under the influence, it wouldn’t surprise me if Tiger Woods was distracted by his cell phone, as he told the arresting officers. He wouldn’t be the first and he certainly won’t be the last. In the meantime, Woods may as well be the poster child for why it should be illegal for cell phones to be on while behind the wheel. A real smart car would not function unless cell phones are turned off. JoAnn Lee Frank