The Knicks gave us all something to cheer for
Stamford, Conn.: As the New York Knicks head into the offseason, it’s only fitting to congratulate them on an outstanding season that brought pride and excitement to their exceptional fan base.
In a time marked by division, uncertainty and political turmoil, professional sports take on greater significance. They offer a welcome reprieve from the noise of a fractured society and serve as a powerful reminder that competition doesn’t have to breed tribalism. Watching displays of sportsmanship, dignity and professionalism reminds us that people can disagree while maintaining mutual respect.
The NBA Eastern Conference Championship series filled me with pride and admiration for our hometown team. I was moved not just by the Knicks’ performance, but by the sheer beauty of elite athleticism. We witnessed an inspiring display of teamwork with talented individuals uniting in pursuit of a shared goal. Win or lose, the Knicks can hold their heads high for a season that showcased heart and skill. They brought together fans from across the political and social spectrum and, for a brief moment, reminded us that mutual respect and kindness are still possible, even in disagreement.
For those uninterested in sports, understand that it’s not just about the three-point shot, the elegant pass or the final score. It’s about the community coming together to blow off steam, cheer for something bigger than ourselves and shake hands when the game is over. This series brought out the best in us and should serve as a model for how we approach challenges both on and off the hardwood. Peter Janoff
Recipe for bankruptcy
Woodland Park, N.J.: President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill will leave millions of people uninsured and will add trillions to our already hefty national debt. It looks like Trump will soon add the United States to the list of his other six bankruptcies. John Dent
Loose with the purse
Manhattan: Once this bill passes and the debt goes up, it’s on House Republicans, the Senate GOP and the president. I always believed that Republicans thought of themselves as the debt-conscious party. This proves that House Republicans and the Senate GOP are financially inept. Edward Drossman
Totalitarian takeover
Smithfield, Pa.: Haven’t we all wondered what we would have done in Germany under the Nazis? Well, here we are. Families ripped apart, people consigned to prisons where life itself is uncertain without hope of release, all without due process of law, much of this against people who are documented or even citizens. Now I see why the Germans closed their eyes as the Holocaust picked up speed. Do we close ours and pursue our normal daily lives, hoping that something will happen to fix things and that we are not the next to go? This administration hates women and people of color and despises anyone not wealthy. This madman and his posse are the true foreigners — foreign to any sense of decency, any sense of what we are as a nation. Take action, speak out and don’t be silent, as silence is the death of us. Mary Terry
The damage is done
Huntington, L.I.: Elon Musk is like the farmer who closes the barn door after all the animals have escaped. Leonard Stevenson
Washed-up Chuck
Yonkers: I look forward to reading your articles and at times your editorials regarding Chuck “The Liar” Schumer. Each and every time I do, I laugh harder and harder — not so much at his erroneous “facts,” but more so his daily endeavors to derail Trump. This man should be voted so far out of office that it would take NASA to bring him back. He’s done nothing since his law school graduation but incite malice via erroneous information that best suits him and his trove of gullible supporters. Give us a break, Chuckie. Retire and become an author of fairy tales and fiction. Ralph A. Manente
Blatant grift
Philadelphia: It’s always great to hear from regular Voice of the People contributors like right-wing MAGA Voicer Bob Cavaliere griping about Dems and free stuff for taxpayers. How about letting everyone know how you feel about spending several million taxpayer dollars every weekend for Trump and his billionaire pals to play golf at the nearest Trump golf properties? An aside to everyone else: Have you ever heard as much whining and crying about anything and everything as you do now from the white male MAGA crowd? Talk about snowflakes. Duane Doberman
Same name
Manhattan: To Voicer Lauren Shapiro: Are you any relation to the fellow, also with the last name Shapiro, mentioned in Mary Trump’s book about her uncle, who took Donald’s SATs to allow him to get into an Ivy League school? W.T. Bredin
Escalating attacks
San Francisco: Since Oct. 7, 2023, antisemitism in America has escalated exponentially. It began with Palestinian supporters coldly tearing down posters of Israelis — including children — kidnapped by Hamas during its murderous terrorist attack. It progressed as activists on college campuses intimidated Jewish and pro-Israel students. Finally, it turned violent: In April, Pennsylvania’s Jewish Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were targeted in an arson attack during Passover. In May, Israeli embassy staff members Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were murdered at a Jewish cultural event in Washington by a man who shouted “Free, free Palestine!” And in June, a man who reportedly wanted to “kill all Zionists” firebombed people in Boulder, Colo., marching peacefully to raise awareness of the 58 Israelis still held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. What if worse is still to come? Never again is now! Stephen A. Silver
Political comeback
Yonkers: Re “Shootings and killings in May haven’t been so low in 30 yrs.” (June 4): In New York City, shootings and crime may be down, but look who’s lurking in the shadows ready to pounce: none other than God’s gift to New York, Andrew Cuomo, who thrashed cash bail, blessed New York with the Raise the Age law, and even gave Gov. Hochul to all of New York. The other problem is the New York voter who continues to get robbed, raped and murdered and keeps coming back for more. Nicholas Maffei
False promises
Bayside: I watched the mayoral debate. Waste of time. The moderators were very inexperienced. Why did Cuomo get most of the airtime? All of the candidates want to provide the impossible — more housing, police, counseling for mental health, and the greatest promise: guaranteed income. As a senior citizen who worked his whole life, please be advised that the only guarantees are death and taxes. No ideas for who is going to pay for all these promises? My conclusion: All the candidates hate Trump, which doesn’t do me any good as a citizen of New York City. Timothy Collins
Choose wisely
Whitestone: New York City is most certainly in trouble. Look at this panel of Democratic mayoral candidates. One is more pathetic than the next. I hope come Election Day in November, New Yorkers use common sense and vote for the right candidate. Please don’t vote for the party line, but for the right person. That’s the only way we’re gonna get New York City back. Gene O’Brien
Industry pushback
North Babylon, L.I.: There are key environmental bills stuck in the Assembly that Speaker Carl Heastie must act on. The Senate has already seen the light. We need the NY HEAT Act to lower our gas bills and clean our air and to stop spreading toxic sludge on farmlands that poisons our food supply and waterways. It’s critical that we limit plastic packaging that contains toxic chemicals, doesn’t break down and can’t be recycled. Instead, tiny particles of plastics are building up in our bodies and brains. These bills all sound like no-brainers, but industry is against them. Why should large companies be in charge of our budgets and health? One specious argument of the food industry is that the cost of new packaging will make food more expensive for Black and Brown communities. Yet, these communities bear the brunt of plastics pollution and are least able to manage its ill effects. Alexa Marinos