E-bikes are motor vehicles, not bicycles

Staten Island: I want to thank you for your coverage of e-bikes. In my younger days, I got around our city using my bicycle. I lived two miles from my NYC teaching job in Marine Park and used my bike to get there, even in freezing winter. I’m happy to say that I’ve rode all over our city. When I retired, I went from Brooklyn to hilly Staten Island where, at my advanced age, bicycling is more difficult.

I decided to buy an e-bike, which I thought would help me continue to get around independently without being hazardous. Sadly, I forgot that no one really understands or respects the importance of electric transportation to our environment. I bought my e-bike last year when I was 75 and haven’t yet used it. E-bikes are considered bicycles, but they should be considered electric motor vehicles. Every e-bike should be required to have a license plate. E-bikes going at least 15 miles an hour should be allowed to use the right lane in traffic. Motorcycle helmets, not the usual bike helmets, must be required. An e-bike driver’s test should also be required. Children under 16 shouldn’t be allowed to ride or own them.

We must stop the Wild West era of these serious and important vehicles. They have electric motors and are thus motor vehicles, pedals or no, and must be treated as such.

Gary Perl

Tax rate or tax break?

Glendale: New York City elites are showing their true money-grubbing colors by suing the city over a property tax roll of properties it posted online, and for being obliged to prove they’re full-time residents who aren’t subject to the surcharge. All this to thwart the pied-à-terre rollout as a threat to their massive annual discounts in the tens of thousands thanks to the city’s highly regressive and racist property tax system. Those 17,000 homeowners who received letters pay property tax at a rate ¼ to one-tenth what middle-class homeowners pay, full-time resident or not. The pied-à-terre surcharge would basically bring them up to par with property tax rates endured in less wealthy, less white neighborhoods. To be unwilling to attest that you live in your place full-time, without lawyering up, is quite fishy. Time to lower the boom on these leeches. We need pied-à-terre as well as general property tax reform now.

Edwin Eppich

Good one

Staten Island: To Voicer Diane Dobermann: Thank you so much for your letter regarding drag queens. You just made my day, week, month and year!

Lynn Holly Fodor

Cultish devotion

Whitestone: President Trump said that many Americans are angry at the Republican Party but are not angry with him. He’s correct if he’s talking about his MAGA base. A number of Republican voters who have been interviewed told reporters that they don’t like the way many things are going in our nation under Republican control, but they still like or respect Trump. Of course they do, because the Trump base is a cult, and it’s very difficult for members of the cult to leave or reject it. Cults take over one’s mind, soul and personality, and they are often a more motivating and controlling agent than a highly addictive drug.

Michael J. Gorman

Prosecutorial misconduct

Huntington, L.I.: Voicer Peter Janoff states: “The government’s power to prosecute is among its greatest responsibilities and, when misused, one of its greatest dangers. Despite political pressure, prosecutors must demonstrate unquestioned integrity to maintain public confidence in law enforcement.” Does Janoff recognize that the prosecution of Trump by state Attorney General Leticia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg were misuses of that power? James charged Trump with inflating the value of his assets. Do you believe that Trump is the only businessperson she could find who engages in this behavior? Do you believe that Trump would have been charged by Bragg with 34 felony counts if Trump were a liberal Democrat? Andrew Cuomo said this: “If his name was not Donald Trump and if he wasn’t running for president… I’m the former AG of New York, and I’m telling you that case would’ve never been brought.”

Tom Saracco

Contradictory traits

Charlotte, N.C.: I was pleased to read that Will Scharf is such a strong candidate for his new position as White House counsel. Our leader reported on Truth Social that “Will is Tough, Strong, and Smart! He also loves our Country, and respects the Law.” So sad that Trump himself is and does none of those.

Barbara Haynes

Unwelcome intrusion

Dublin, Ireland: An annual golf tournament, the Irish Open, will be played next month, Sept. 10-13. Regrettably for the people of Ireland, the tournament will be played at the Trump International Golf Links course in Doonbeg, a stone’s throw away from Dublin. That being said, we love Americans coming to visit Ireland and our great city of Dublin. However, we sincerely request that America spare us another visit from your president during this great tournament. In summary: Americans are welcome, Trump is not.

Sean Thornton

Too close to call?

Melville, L.I.: Has Trump cheated more times at golf or more times on his wives? That’s a tough question to answer.

Larry Leiner

Undignified ride

Redondo Beach, Calif.: Iran forced Trump to travel by catering truck.

John Chevedden

Already rejected

Syracuse: Re “Israel rejects Trump’s Gaza Plan” (Aug. 10): An absolutely key first step was Hamas’ full disarmament. Yet, Hamas official Ghazi Hamad has defiantly asserted: “We didn’t say disarmament, handing over weapons, or agree on Israeli involvement.” With such adamant rejection, there’s no real deal for Israel to reject.

Richard D. Wilkins

Unsettling issue

Dover, Del.: Voicer Richard Sherman mentions the indigenous land of the Jews. I guess that means he and his family will be leaving his home in Florida, along with every other individual who is not a Native American, to return to Europe or any other country his ancestors are from while giving this entire nation back to the original inhabitants of America. Apparently, hypocrites are making efforts to take Palestine back from the Palestinians.

Chalky White

Give or take

Maspeth: I started the Maspeth/Ridgewood Mutual Aid Table after I started putting stuff outside that my family didn’t want anymore and we couldn’t sell on Facebook Marketplace. The items would disappear and my neighbors would bring items to replace them. My friend who helps shut-ins in Glendale brings over whatever food she has left and leaves that on the table for people to take. On Aug. 6, I received six deliveries of donations (clothes, food, toys, housewares, books, DVDs). By Aug. 8, the table was empty. Items that are in high demand: food for people or pets, clothes, toiletries, school supplies, diapers for babies and adults, toys, backpacks, lunch boxes and pocketbooks.

Charlene Stubbs