Federal power grows, but so can states\u2019<\/p>\n
Clifton Springs, N.Y.: The July banner stunt on the Empire State Building<\/a> saw a message that sparked conversation across New York City: \u201cWhen the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.\u201d Whether one agreed with the stunt or not, the message highlighted an issue that affects every New Yorker. When too much power is concentrated in too few hands, conflict becomes inevitable.<\/p>\n NYC increasingly finds itself caught between local priorities and federal authority. From immigration and transportation to housing, public safety and energy policy, decisions made in Washington often have immediate consequences here. As administrations change, priorities change. Communities are left to adapt.<\/p>\n The problem is not that political leaders disagree. It\u2019s that Washington has accumulated so much power that each election can dramatically alter the rules governing states, cities, businesses and families. When authority becomes concentrated at the federal level, every election becomes a fight for that power. The Founders anticipated this danger and included a constitutional remedy. An Article V Convention of States allows state legislatures, including New York\u2019s in Albany, not Congress, to propose amendments that can impose fiscal restraints, limit federal power and restore balance between Washington and the states. This would reduce the stakes of national political battles and allow communities to pursue solutions that better reflect their own needs. If New Yorkers want less conflict and greater stability, limiting the concentration of power is a good place to start.<\/p>\n Jim Bond<\/p>\n Nuclear power<\/p>\n Brooklyn: As the war with Iran continues, our president seems to change his intentions from one moment to another. It is truly frightening to know that President Trump has control over the so-called nuclear football carried by an aide wherever he goes. Trump has shown over and over again that he\u2019s far too mercurial and vindictive to be allowed to hold the fate of the entire world in his hands. What can be done to put our leader in some kind of restraint? He has been acting in a frightening manner ever since his attacks on Iran haven\u2019t produced the immediate success he\u2019s always bragging about.<\/p>\n Ed Temple<\/p>\n Pleased with the 5th<\/p>\n Brooklyn: Republicans in Congress, along with Fox News and other right-wing media outlets, are denouncing Dr. Anthony Fauci for taking the Fifth Amendment 111 times<\/a> in his appearance before a McCarthyist Senate investigative panel headed by the unhinged Sen. Rand Paul. Yet, these same people were silent when Trump took the Fifth more than 440 times in August 2022 during an investigation by the New York attorney general into his shady business practices. Gee, I wonder why!<\/p>\n Dennis Middlebrooks<\/p>\n Registration is open<\/p>\n Manhattan: You editorialize in favor of nonpartisan primaries (\u201cMamdani charter panel tries to stop open primaries<\/a>,\u201d July 30) but fail to note that Mayor Mike Bloomberg pushed that in 2003 and only got 30% of voters to support the change. Open primaries benefit wealthy candidates who want to hide their affiliations. Party identification is one of the few bits of concrete information we voters have when making judgments about candidates. If you don\u2019t like the fact that in NYC, a Democratic primary win is often \u2014 but certainly not always \u2014 tantamount to election, organize your own party with more appeal.<\/p>\n Andy Humm<\/p>\n Working stiffs<\/p>\n Brooklyn: It seems that his honor the mayor has a new enemy of the people: anybody who has achieved success (\u201cMamdani defends tax hit<\/a>,\u201d July 30). You\u2019ve been forewarned that he\u2019s not only after people who have houses and second apartments; he\u2019ll be after everybody else who has a home. Not only will he destroy the home market, but he\u2019ll tax everybody to death to pay for all the freebies. The history of socialism has taught us that the real victims are average people \u2014 the working person who struggles to make ends meet. Socialism destroys. Just look what Joseph Stalin or Mao Zedong did, and what happened in Eastern Europe, where the body count was composed of average working people.<\/p>\n Lloyd Cohen<\/p>\n Tired tirade<\/p>\n Staten Island: I\u2019m sick to death of comments from Voicers like Jack Weinberg, an obvious anti-Muslim bigot wanting Gov. Hochul to have our mayor removed from office with a bogus claim of hatred of NYC Jews. You, sir, aren\u2019t even trying to veil your hatred and bigotry anymore. The most recent poll puts support for our mayor among Jewish voters at 36%. How dare you make up lies to support your ridiculous claims, providing zero proof. Zohran Mamdani received enough votes from NYC residents to become our mayor. He is greatly respected and loved by many, so stop acting like a petulant child who didn\u2019t get their way. It\u2019s getting quite tiresome with you one-trick ponies.<\/p>\n Ellen Settanni<\/p>\n Not your mayor<\/p>\n Staten Island: According to Voicer Roberta Chaleff, we lost New York. I assume you\u2019re referring to our having elected Mamdani as our mayor? I say \u201cour\u201d because we voted for him, and most of us who have lived here all our lives are quite happy with our choice, and are amazed and proud of the good he\u2019s doing for the people of the city. He\u2019s acting more Christian than any of the red MAGA hats in D.C. (or in Florida, where you\u2019re from). Please try to keep your red-state hatreds and prejudices confined within your borders, and leave the rest of us in peace. You don\u2019t live here, and you have no business poking your nose into situations that don\u2019t concern you. You are, of course, entitled to your own closed-minded opinions, ignorant as they are. But the rest of us don\u2019t want to hear them.<\/p>\n Victor R. Stanwick<\/p>\n Violence is the scourge<\/p>\n Brooklyn: Does anyone find it reprehensible that Public Advocate Jumaane Williams spoke out on the tragedy of the 17-year-old e-biker killed in a crash with an SUV<\/a>, but we heard deafening silence from him about the 12-year-old killed by a ruthless gang member<\/a> while riding his bike on a beautiful summer day!? It\u2019s disgusting that he continually supports these criminals. New York is a criminal\u2019s playground, and the loss of our youngest people killed by constant violence is truly unbelievable and unacceptable!<\/p>\n Maria Ciarametaro<\/p>\n Out of character<\/p>\n