He responded, but he’s no first responder

Staten Island: Rudy Giuliani is applying for benefits from the World Trade Center Health Program and the Victim Compensation Fund regarding his presence at the World Trade Center pursuant to the events of 9/11. Giuliani was recently diagnosed with pneumonia at 81, now 25 years after 9/11. At that time, he was at the end of his term as mayor. He was 57 then. Not once did he engage in search, rescue or cleanup efforts.

For people over 80, there are 52 cases of pneumonia per 1,000 people diagnosed. Giuliani will turn 82 this month, old enough to be in the demographic of not developing this illness from a 25-year-old exposure. His Medicare from the Office of Labor Relations, along with his city retiree and supplemental insurance, provides additional coverage to his traditional Medicare. Giuliani is a wealthy man with millions of dollars in assets, including but not limited to his $2,308 monthly SSI, the $1 million in his retirement account, $100,000 cash and $237,00 in a company account. And let’s not forget the value of his two homes, one in New York City and one in Florida, along with compensation from radio show and his podcast.

It’s unconscionable that he’s making a claim for funds that could be allocated to other people who actually assisted during and after the horrific events of that cataclysmic day. Shame on you, Rudy!

Myra B. Goodman

Bigger than a ballroom

Nutley, N.J.: A couple of days ago, a talk show host on HBO voiced his opinion about the White House ballroom, saying he didn’t care about all the hoopla over it. To me, it’s about the Orange Guy in the White House destroying the East Wing and building the ballroom without authorization. There is a process to tear down buildings in Washington, D.C., it’s called the Raze Permit and the Building Act of 1984 (look up both). Trump didn’t do either. Remember when Americans thought the White House was our house (the People’s House)? Well, when did that change? Only when King Trump made it his house (gold, inside and out). Time for a reality check. His house is in Florida, called Mar-a-Lago. He definitely thinks he’s entitled to make changes as he sees fit. I call it King Trump Syndrome.

Elaine Bucino

Messaging needed

Bayside: A number of years ago, a frequently televised public service announcement put out by the FDNY stressed that people should “close the door” when escaping a fire. That phrase was repeated throughout the PSA. It may be wise to bring it back in light of all the horrific fires that have occurred lately.

Mary Santora

What money?

Howard Beach: Gov. Hochul wants to impose a second home tax for New Yorkers. Are you kidding? We don’t have a money tree growing in our backyard. Our taxes are already the highest in the United States. Maybe Hochul should cut down some of the free benefits she gives away to buy her votes. What’s next, we give you our height and weight so you can tax us on the air we breathe!?

Nick Di Pasquale

Not the place

Nutley, N.J.: With all due respect to Voicer Richard Warren’s position on student speeches at commencements, I must politely disagree. I believe that a college commencement, while having elements of a public event, is essentially a private affair organized by the college to which graduates and their families are invited. The primary purpose is to honor those who’ve earned degrees. Speakers help to honor graduates’ accomplishment, but it isn’t the primary purpose of commencement to give selected individuals, whether college personnel or students, the opportunity to air their views to a captive audience. It seems wrong to me to permit speakers at a commencement to advocate for political, social or religious beliefs that will offend a significant portion of the audience. A commencement is a happy event, a celebration of hard work and commitment, and an honoring of the values of scholarship, artistic expression and critical thinking.

Peter Griswold

Out of order

Brooklyn: To Voicer John Francis Fox, who can’t understand why NYPD Capt. James Wilson was penalized: Wilson didn’t “question Mamdani’s abilities.” He was blatantly insulting and disrespectful. In addition to his comments about our mayor, he made disparaging remarks about Democrats. He was in uniform and on duty. NYPD employees are banned from expressing their personal views about a political party or candidate while on duty. “That uniform makes you the spokesman for the police department when you say it, and there’s the issue there,” said retired NYPD Chief of Detectives Bob Boyce. Wilson’s an embarrassment to our police department. He deserves what he got. And for Fox to compare Mamdani to Trump is blasphemy! Not even close, MAGA!

Susan Cassano

War comes home

Manhattan: I’m standing across the street from the Park Avenue Synagogue on Saturday morning. It’s Shabbat, which my Italian mother called Jewish Sunday. I can’t get over the uniformed guards positioned on the steps. I count six at the entrance on E. 87th St. clutching rifles, surrounded by a dozen police cars. They’re not puny men. More like Navy SEALS at the ready, like in a Steven Spielberg movie. I walk over and ask, “Are this many of you really that necessary? It’s like World War II.” One smirked while the others stared me down. But my bewilderment was genuine. “Is it truly that bad?,” I asked. “What do you think,” one snapped like I was an idiot. “I don’t know. I’m just shocked, when all anyone wants to do is go pray.” One shook his head humbly, mirroring how I felt. For the first time, the Israel-Hamas war wasn’t just something I read about.

Susannah Bianchi

Some, not all

Providence, R.I.: To Voicers Nick Smith and W. Twirley, who accuse the IDF of brutality: The IDF is brutal / That’s patent from the news / Of course this has no bearing / On other kinds of Jews.

Felicia Nimue Ackerman

Initiating event

Point Pleasant, N.J.: To Tarnisha Woolard (“On Mother’s Day the NYPD killed my son,” op-ed, May 10): I’m sorry for the loss of your only son. You wrote movingly about his death, the steps to punish those involved and its aftermath. But in the entire essay, while you fault those involved, you never mention why he was shot and killed. I’m sure he wasn’t just walking down the street. Something made the police shoot him, yet is it out of some guilt that you failed to tell the full story?

Gene Speroni

Fuller coverage

Rego Park: As a New York Liberty fan, I’m glad to see that the Daily News has been writing articles about the team. Now can you add their schedule to the sports calendar?

Victor Maldonado