Help landlords fix rent-stabilized units

Staten Island: The op-ed by David Jones (“Put bad NYC buildings into better hands,” Sept. 2) is not the answer for the serious deterioration of rent-stabilized properties in NYC. Tenant advocates’ and extremist local politicians’ passage of extreme rent regulations caused the destruction of rent-stabilized buildings.

When I visited the South Bronx in the early 2010s, I was amazed at how clean it was. It was becoming gentrified, and some local merchants wanted to change the name of a local section to the “Piano District.” In 2016, Mayor Bill de Blasio started with the rent freeze, and with the 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA), the South Bronx started to fall apart. Today, the Bronx is becoming a slum again, and with the current rent freeze, the slums are spreading across the city.

Once buildings are taken away from private owners, it seems that the city is willing to provide grants, low-interest loans and technical support to bring them up to code. The Rent Guidelines Board has stated that 9.2% of buildings are in distress. Why can’t the city work with owners of the distressed properties and bring them back to life now? Politicians are forcing 92,000 tenants to live in decrepit conditions. The state is paying $917,000 to build one affordable unit. Give us a few dollars to provide affordable housing, maintain it and survive.

Vincent Ragosta

Less-lethal options

Long Branch, L.I.: Once again, we have a fatal police shooting (“Carnage in Midtown,” Sept. 1). Yes, the shooting victim had two knives and had stabbed two people, killing one. However, she was said to be mentally ill and emotionally disturbed. The police did not have to shoot to kill. They could have just as easily shot her in the arm or leg, then gang-tackled her to disarm her. If the three police officers near her were unable to disarm her without the use of deadly force, maybe they need to go back to the Police Academy and take some remedial hand-to-hand combat courses.

Lenzy Kelley

Show some respect

Manhattan: I was here on Sept. 11, 2001. I’ve already made my annual pilgrimage to the 9/11 Memorial to pay my respects. It’s still painful. I’m always troubled watching tourists look like they’re at Epcot — not on such hallowed ground. I want to scream, “Don’t you know what happened here where you’re sitting, eating lunch, taking in the view? People fell out of windows, jumped out of desperation. Firefighters and police who came to help lost their lives.” Did you have to be here to truly understand the events of that day? And those who then were only babies not wanting the mayor at the ceremony because he’s Muslim is just plain wrong. He’ll attend the service regardless. It’s the right thing to do. It’s not about him or me or you. It’s about them. The innocent. It was random. All they did was go to work that day.

Susannah Bianchi

Track your laps

Brooklyn: I recommend putting eight pieces of duct tape on your shirt when going for a walk. You remove a piece of tape after doing a lap around the block. Each lap is four-tenths of a mile. By doing eight laps, you’ll walk three miles, which will drastically improve your health and happiness. You’ll know that you walked three miles when there are no pieces of tape left. That’s an easy way to help you get more exercise and track how much you’ve walked.

Shlomo Klein

Ode to an icon

Manhattan: Re “Activist and icon” (Sept. 4): A pioneer of feminism / A dedicated activist / Who fought for justice, tolerance, human rights / A powerful acclaimed journalist / Gloria Steinem passed away / A fierce crusader for women’s rights, equality, pro-choice / A celebrated icon and legend / She was fearless and became the voice / Of a generation / Steinem was a champion for fairness / Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her never-ending fight / To influence social equity and awareness / Started a feminist magazine / The groundbreaking Ms. / To focus attention on women’s issues / A dramatic shift to “her” from “his” / Strong and smart and beautiful and determined / She continued her relentless fight / She never gave up her beliefs / Gloria always did what was right / Today we sadly say farewell / And honor your memory / Your accomplishments were numerous / Your life was treasured and forever legendary.

Phoebe Celentano

Build a wall?

Scranton, Pa.: We’re not at war with Mexico. However, we are now at war with Canada. It seems to me that we now need a wall along our northern border to keep out illegal Canadians, especially ones who could be angry with President Trump’s trade war and seeking retaliation. Trump should insist that Canada pay for the wall, although the likely response would be to go suck a hockey puck.

Vin Morabito

Unhappy medium

Staten Island: Perhaps we can all put aside our differences in a compromise and just call it Lake Epstein?

Victor R. Stanwick

It’s a process

Rockaway, N.J.: To Voicer David Tulanian: Yes, the new pancreatic cancer drug costing about $480,000 a year is crazy expensive. However, in a socialist country, there are no new drugs because there’s no incentive to do research and development. How much money do drug companies spend on research and development on failed drugs? The successful ones have to cover the cost of the failures. Many drugs come way down in price after the initial period. Also, the hated Trump has worked with pharmaceutical companies to lower the price of many drugs, but he gets no thanks from you.

Michael Ilardi

Sniveling snub

Jacksonville, Fla.: The most narcissistic president we’ve ever had, along with his part-combover, part-wig hair, decided not to pay his respects to the almost 3,000 people killed in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks by skipping the 25th anniversary in Manhattan! And why? Because he was told that no politicians would speak at this revered event. Instead, he’ll be at his safe place, the Pentagon, where this commander in lies will be permitted to give a speech full of slander, mistruths, conspiracy theories and rigged election lies!

Carl J.C. Hafner

Demolition man

San Francisco: The Supreme Court has made mistakes and overturned many cases, such as Plessy vs. Ferguson and Dred Scott vs. Sandford. Recently, top court gave immunity to Donald J. Plump through Trump vs. United States. This was obviously a mistake that needs to be overturned ASAP given that he’s a person without any sense of ethics or morality. Emboldened with this power, he has been on an endless campaign of destruction. He already leveled the East Wing, one-third of the White House. Now the moron in thief and petulant man-child has also destroyed the iconic abstract sculpture “Blue” on the grounds of our beloved Kennedy Center, which he is likely to tear down shortly. This madness has to end.

Jimmy Layton