Massive amount of rubble still remains at Ground Zero more than a month after the destruction of the World Trade Center in a view from the Woolworth Building. (Mike Albans/New York Daily News) (Mike Albans/New York Daily News)
For all our suffering and sacrifice, only $20K
Manhattan: I am a 76-year-old Latina from Washington Heights who worked for the NYC Department of Transportation as a peace officer for 15 years. I was assigned to do 12-hour shifts at Ground Zero after 9/11 for almost 30 days, directing people to train stations, doing crowd control and patrolling the area for victims in coordination with the FDNY.
I was forced to retire early at 59 years old due to multiple physical ailments and psychological depression that I contracted from working at Ground Zero. I have been suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease and chronic sinusitis for more than 15 years and my son had to quit his job to take care of me as my full-time home attendant. I have been certified by doctors in the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund program for all of these conditions.
Advertisement
I applied to the compensation fund and was denied at first. After I appealed, they determined that for my duty, sacrifice and suffering for the city and state of New York, my compensation award should be $20,000. They gave me the bare minimum award after the House of Representatives passed a bill in September to fund payments to family members of victims of 9/11 with $2.7 billion, which the Senate will vote on next.
I’m asking interim Special Master August E. Flentje, handling the 9/11 awards, for help with my appeal. Maria Sinclair
Advertisement
Of ‘Fame’ fame
Manhattan: A fond farewell to Irene Cara. You achieved stardom and fame. You are in our hearts forever. We will always remember your name. Phoebe Celentano
Civil rights hero
Camden, N.J.: The death of the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall’s wife Cissy opened up old wounds of our country’s tainted past. Her husband took on the challenges of an era that occurred even during my early childhood years. The old proverb states: Behind every great man is a great woman. Wayne E. Williams
Clever critters
Woodside: Studies have shown that rats are smart, empathetic, affectionate, moral and sentient beings who’ve been with us for millions of years. But now, Mayor Adams thinks he has the solution to get rid of them. He’s downright giddy, saying he hates rats and is going to kill rats with chemicals. Nowhere in this unwise legislation is there anything about birth control or holding people responsible for throwing their food garbage onto the street or out of windows. You don’t have to like rats but at least respect them. It is embarrassing to have a mayor who has this kind of crass demeanor — undignified, cruel, heartless and dangerous. Giving tacit approval to kill those we don’t like is cautioned by the adage violence begets violence. Marie Richardson
Lewd act
Forest Hills: On Sunday at approximately 11:30 a.m., I was walking on Yellowstone Blvd. and a pervert was sitting in his car, exposed and masturbating with all his windows open. He was feet away from me as I passed the car. He was very brazen and continued until he saw my camera phone. Please spread the word about this pervert in the neighborhood. He is mentally unwell and a danger to the community. I stopped by the local police station and they could not be less interested. I had to beg them to take the license plate. Lois Cavalier
Unworthy of attention
The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the day’s top five stories every weekday afternoon. >
Wanamassa, N.J.: At this point, it is clear that Pat Leonard must be an assistant to the agent for Odell Beckham Jr. His name came up almost every day over the past week via Leonard’s byline on the N.Y. Giants. Some reminders: OBJ has not played this year. Has he fully recovered yet from his ACL tear 10 months ago? The Rams were so impressed with his performance last year that there has been no mention of any offer from them. He has not been a Giant since 2018 and has learned nothing — he still tries to spell team with the letter “I”. The Giants may need talent like his, but they don’t need the drama and divisive attitude in the locker room that he will bring with him. Tom Vignola
Closer to home
Manhattan: New York’s “Hometown Newspaper”? Does the copy editor in the sports department even know teams from New York? I understand space is limited for non-pro sports, but the half-page of college basketball news in Saturday’s edition was devoted to the Duke vs. Xavier men’s game and the Duke vs. UConn women’s game. Yet on Friday, the inaugural Gotham Classic Championship was played at the new UBS Arena at Belmont between two storied college basketball programs with deep NYC roots and alumni followings, Notre Dame and St. Bonaventure. I would think that is more relevant to your readers with the subway alumni, and all you had to do was run the AP wire story. P.S.: The Bonnies won. Mark Curran
On the homefront
Irvington, N.J.: To the Democratic Party: I think the American people are more concerned with our own domestic war than they are with the Russia-Ukraine situation. Solving our problems will give you a better chance of winning in 2024 than solving Ukraine’s will. Don’t let the GOP trick you into thinking you have to stand up to the Russians to prove yourselves. To solve our problem of shootings and smash-and-grabs, you have to do more than incarcerate. Les Grissette
Obstruction playbook
Manhattan: Now that the conservatives have taken over the House, we can look forward to two years of gridlock, political witch hunts, government shutdowns, attacks on public servants, Social Security, women’s rights, civil rights and voting rights, and calls for Civil War fomenting more MAGA-inspired mass shootings. Anybody who thinks I’m wrong is on some kind of mind-altering substance. Eugene Rodriguez
Advertisement
He reaps what he sowed
East Meadow, L.I.: In response to Voicer Eugene R. Dunn: The Democrats aren’t “going after Trump” out of fear but out of respect for the laws he trampled. He is totally unfit to hold any office. His yelling about a stolen election has no truth to it, he’s just repeating his lie. He’s done enough damage to the Republican Party. He only cares to cover his own backside. He’d burn this country down in a minute with no regard for anybody or anything! Mary Alice Samboy
Are you kidding?
Forest Hills: Is Voicer Raquel Hanon’s letter concerning the return of Donald Trump to the political arena pure sarcasm? I hope so, but if it’s not, I have to laugh at the ridiculousness of her argument. How could anyone still believe in this bombastic, twice-impeached, racist, misogynistic, anti-American uber-wannabe dictator as the savior of our fragile republic? Doesn’t she know that he’s being investigated for myriad crimes by the Justice Department and New York Attorney General Letitia James? He has already been publicly humiliated by the House Select Committee investigating the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, for fomenting a failed coup d’état against his own government. Has this writer been on another planet while this has been going on? What good could she possibly see in his return? The country would be far better off with his indictment for one of the many crimes he’s being investigated for, thus preventing his ever being able to run for office again. Ron Gersh
Alternatives available
Forest Hills: In your Nov. 26 editorial “A surgical intervention” regarding NYC retiree benefits, you missed a third option to gutting NYC Administrative Code 12-126: recognizing that the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees has already determined way more than $300 million in savings for the city simply by identifying individuals that shouldn’t be receiving city health benefits. Why the city itself can’t identify a similar amount of savings is beyond me. Also beyond me is why the city refuses to meet with its retirees, as well as why the city wishes to force us into a Medicare Advantage plan when its largest provider, United Healthcare, has been accused by no less than the federal government and inspector general of fraud and overbilling, respectively. The fact that 65,000-plus retirees chose to opt-out of Medicare Advantage at a cost of nearly $200 monthly when this travesty was first proposed should surely tell you something. J.M. Culley