Gaming the system
Bronx: Re Errol Louis’ April 5 column, “Ghettopoly is not a game”: The “Ghettopoly” game doesn’t disrespect the African-American community – because the African-American community is not the ghetto. “Ghettopoly” parodies the stereotypical ghetto. To equate the African-American community with the ghetto is disrespectful, and half of me is offended. The ghetto is home to many ethnicities. In my experience, there are a heck of a lot more Spanish people in the ghetto than there are African-Americans.Jamie Garcia
I cannot believe we’re still talking about that stupid game. And Jamie is absolutely right. In my next of the woods (the Bronx) there are infinitely more Spanish “ghettos” than Black ones.
Jet propelled
Staten Island: To the anti-stadium people: Get it straight. The city is not paying the price of the entire stadium, just for the much-needed train extension and improvements. The rest is being paid for by the Jets. Why should the Jets pay for our infrastructure? You people are the reason nothing gets built in New York. The money the city puts into this will be paid back when the Super Bowl comes here.Nicole Manzella
The anti-stadium advocates, led by Cablevision’s Charles Dolan cannot see the obvious. If Dolan’s plan is okayed, a 50,000 unit housing complex, museum and park on that ground, the traffic that would be associated with a weekend for a Jets game would become daily traffic as 150,000 people moved into this new neighborhood to live and work. Why is that not the environmental crisis Dolan seems so concerned about with a Jets Stadium? Because that plan doesn’t compete with Madison Square Garden and the two failing professional teams housed there.
Home and hearth
Jamaica: If Paul Rodriguez is New York’s Laziest Husband (“Man, is he lazy or what,” April 13), Michelle Rodriguez must be New York’s Stupidest Wife.Mohan Samlall
Referring to an article about New York’s laziest husband according to the Daily News. You would have to be stupid to be married to the guy. I’d have to agree with Mohan here.
Up in smoke
Brooklyn: The Daily News deserves a lot of credit for reporting that careless smoking habits are the leading cause of the city’s fatal fires (“Breaking down the blazes,” April 11). Clearly, nothing can be done to restrict the “smoking habits” of homeowners, but owners of rental property and condo/co-op boards should establish a strong no-smoking policy in all areas of their buildings. Otherwise, we will continue to see deaths and injuries to residents – and our brave firefighters.Gerald Rosenthal
Nice. I live there, but I can’t smoke there. I’m sure that’ll go over big. At least we’ve gone away from the mysterious second-hand-smoke debate and now we’re on to the “smoking is an actual physical danger” one. One of the last remaining okay prejudices in the world.
Yardstick
South Plainfield, N.J.: Derek Jeter is not the standard to whom all other shortstops should be compared. Once Jose Reyes starts staying out till 5 a.m. on game days and starts dating supermodels who have half his brain capacity, only then should he be compared with Jeter.Chris Belena
Oh man, that’s too damned good. 16 year olds around the city officially have their panties in a wad about that remark.
Job search
Manhattan: The Personnel Department composes the entrance exams for the police and fire departments. So why are many more minorities attracted to the NYPD than the FDNY? Inner-city youths may think the only difference between the two careers is that one shoots water and the other shoots bullets – until they find out that police officers who live in the city get a cut rate for city housing, mortgage interest rates and tuition at city colleges. Which would you choose if you wanted to remain in your community, didn’t own a car and needed college to get promoted?Michael Maloney
One shoots water and the other shoots bullets. You know what? I think Michael has a point. Inner city kids love bullets.
All you need is love
Hackensack: After reading about the incredible number of love letters Scott Peterson has been deluged with, I nearly choked – and was absolutely ashamed of being a woman. Are we as a gender this desperate and pathetic? Disgusting.Helen M. Skunca
Peterson ain’t the first and won’t be the last to receive love letters from desperate women. Sad, but true.
Tough neighborhood
Columbia, Md.: Democrats don’t want President Bush’s nominee, John Bolton, to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on grounds that he is a bully.I have no idea whether Bolton is a bully or not. If he is, I don’t understand why proponents of the UN oppose him. The UN aids, coddles and enables bullies everywhere. The UN equates free countries with murderous regimes, putting them on the same moral footing and giving them equal votes. The UN stands for world government, pretending away distinctions between countries founded on principles of civilization and individual rights, as opposed to countries founded on dictatorship, collectivism and brute force.
If Bolton is a bully, he should fit right in at the UN.
Michael J. Hurd
Actually, the Bolton nomination is something every single citizen in the US should be proud of. We are the only country trying to elect a UN Ambassador that will be nice to everyone else. While other countries are looking for an Ambassador to protect their interests at the UN, we’re looking for one to protect their interests also. I want a guy in the UN looking out for the US, not the UK.
Tune in next Monday for another exciting edition of Voice of the People!