Letters to the Editor — Dec. 25, 2022

Shelter chaos
The City Council must not approve the expansion of the women’s shelter on E. 45th Street (“Slay roomie sought,” Dec. 18). The history of crime and the recent murder show those who run this shelter are not competent.

Under these circumstances, enlarging a poorly run, crime-ridden facility is not sane. Everyone I know in the neighborhood is against expansion.

There are already 800 homeless men housed at Bellevue, and it too has been the site of continual violence. Large shelters become unmanageable and frightening. We do not need larger shelters, but rather better services to help people be housed.

Kate Gill
Turtle Bay

RIP to FDNY hero
Veteran firefighter William P. Moon did not survive a training accident (“Fireman’s final ‘gift of life,’ ” Dec. 17).

It was most sad to read about Moon, who served the city for 21 years as a volunteer firefighter.

Mayor Adams said Moon has served the city twice, once as a member of the FDNY and again donating his organs, which will save a number of lives. Moon leaves a wife and two children who will miss him dearly.

I’m a grand knight of St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus Council #5911 in Douglaston, where many of our members have been and still are firefighters, police officers and EMT workers. They will be offering their prayers this Christmas for a dedicated firefighter.

My heartfelt prayers go out to his family. He did much good by saving lives. May he rest in peace after a job well done.

Frederick Bedell
Bellerose

Painful ‘beauty’
How ironic that young women today are undergoing expensive procedures to remove fat from their cheeks to look more chiseled (or whatever look they’re trying to accomplish) while we ladies “of a certain age” are spending just as much, if not more, to do the reverse (“The cheek of it,” Dec. 19).

Maybe plastic surgeons should schedule side-by-side procedures and just do a transplant.

Sally Davis
Charleston, SC

No free rides
In ancient Rome, government attempted to curry favor with the masses by offering free bread and circuses (“Gianaris’ Free-Bus Foolishness,” Editorial, Dec. 17).

Now, we have a call for free NYC Transit bus rides by State Sen. Michael Gianaris and Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani. They would have residents ride buses for free for four years. How would the MTA make up $500 to $600 million in annual lost revenue?

The MTA currently faces a multibillion-dollar, multi-year financial deficit. New York City already offers a “Fair Fares” program to help New Yorkers with low incomes manage transportation costs. Eligible residents receive a 50% discount on subway and bus fares.

There is no such thing as a free lunch — or in this case, a free ride for everyone who uses mass transit.

Larry Penner
Great Neck

Woke royal-haters
The woke media took aim at the royal family and will constantly hammer their narrative (“NYT war against Britain,” Piers Morgan, Dec. 21).

Piers is right to defend his country and its royals, but I’m afraid he is only now speaking to those of us who remain with any common sense.

Welcome to the club, Piers: You’re defending something the woke mob doesn’t like, and unfortunately it’s going to let Harry and Megan have the biggest soapbox to stand on. This is America in 2022. George Orwell would be shocked.

James Schwartz
Summit, NJ

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