To avoid the rush, try stretching rush hour out
Laurelton: If we can have people head out to travel in 15-minute intervals during both morning and evening rush hour, you would dramatically cut down on bumper-to-bumper traffic, gridlock and the bottleneck effect. Such intervals would also cut down on pollution, gas consumption, wear and tear on brakes, road rage and travel time getting home, providing more time for yourself and family.
There would be more productivity on the job because of less stress during travel time, and more money in your wallet because the price of gas would go down. You don’t need congestion pricing to charge people who are struggling already. This 15-minute interval would make congestion pricing obsolete. People who worked from home during COVID may return to work because they don’t have to fight traffic. Trains would not be crowded. People would have more space with less chance of getting a cold, the flu or having any confrontations.
The only way this could be implemented would be through the help and willingness of corporations and businesses. They can be notified by public service announcements, the Ad Council, ad campaigns, local radio’s news and traffic reports and DJs, cell phones and apps, and by state and government officials, including mayors and governors.
If this idea is applied in all 50 states, you would save millions of gallons of gas a year and reduce global warming without sacrificing anything, just allocating the proper time. Thousands of gallons are wasted every day in bumper-to-bumper traffic because everyone leaves at the same time and they’re going nowhere. Antoni Capozello
Tried and proven
Middle Village: I think there is an easy solution to congestion pricing. After 9/11, all river crossings were closed to single-occupancy vehicles from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. This reduced traffic going into the city and basically left people commuting into the city with no choice but to use mass transit. This will reduce traffic and congestion going into the city and increase revenue for the MTA. Donald Walter
On hold
Whitestone: Re “$16.5B in devastation to MTA’s project plans” (June 27): You correctly expose the major financial setbacks that the MTA now faces as a result of Gov. Hochul delaying congestion pricing. The MTA will now lack the necessary funds for needed infrastructure upgrades and repairs to the city’s subway system. Projects like expanding the Second Ave. subway line and electrification of the bus fleet will be in limbo as well. This is especially troubling because it compromises New York State’s ability to reach its climate goals. In the midst of a climate crisis, we need to make significant improvements to our public transportation sector and reduce carbon emissions wherever possible. By delaying congestion pricing, Hochul is delaying progress. She needs to lead New York with policies to shift us away from fossil fuels and towards a green economy. Daniel Salamon
Sex work is work
Manhattan: I disagree with Cristian Eduardo’s argument against decriminalizing sex work (“LGBTQ rights vs. human trafficking,” op-ed, June 25). In any industry, there could be exploitation and abuse. The solution is not to criminalize an entire industry, but to deal with the problems on a case-by-case basis. James Baldwin
Then fight
Forest Hills: Re “Ultra-Orthodox protest in Jerusalem vs. order to enlist in military turns violent” (July 1): If they wanted to commit violent acts, they should have joined the army in the first place. Alan Hirschberg
Do your part
Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.: Thank you for the article and graphic photo about the ultra-Orthodox protesting and fighting with the police in Jerusalem. It is clear that the religious need only the proper training and weapons. They are ready to fight, but the police are not the real enemy. Time to get off their lazy tuchuses and serve like everyone else in Israel. It is chutzpah to claim exemption to study while others make the sacrifice to defend their country and way of life. Demanding to study in the seminaries while a war is being waged is another example of their hypocrisy. Enough already! Steven Goldfinger
No excuses
Long Branch, N.J.: In Israel, ultra-Orthodox Jews are protesting as their Supreme Court has passed an order for them to begin enlisting for military service. I think it’s a great idea that should also be implemented here in America. With all the turmoil ongoing in the Middle East and elsewhere, why should they get to sit it out to study in religious seminaries while other fathers, mothers, wives, husbands, sons and daughters have to serve? In the United States, the military is voluntary and men must register for the draft. The ultra-Orthodox can register also. Lenzy Kelley
You too?
West Orange, N.J.: To Voicer Geidy Perez-Storch, who wrote about the danger of Donald Trump: Thanks for the reassurance that I’m not living in an episode of “The Twilight Zone.” Lonnie Bond
Take action
Hicksville, L.I.: In light of the Supreme Court decision regarding presidential immunity, I ask if the Democrats are finally at the point where they understand the magnitude of evil that is Trumpism. Exhortations to “get out the vote” are not the answer to defeating Trump in November. Red states are purging their voter rolls of tens of thousands of Democratic voters. It’s time to stop wringing our hands and tuning in to MSNBC for solace. My solution: President Biden must immediately appoint four liberal justices by executive order to undo the damage to our democracy done by the six corrupt Republican justices, including the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Furthermore, Biden must step aside and allow a more fit, younger person to run against Trump. My choice would be Kamala Harris. If the Supreme Court is allowed to continue unchallenged and if Trump wins in November, this democratic experiment of ours will fail. Steven Malinofsky
Free pass
Highland Falls, N.Y.: The Supreme Court says the president — any president — is immune from criminal prosecution if acting in an “official” capacity. So, King Joe the First declares officially that Trump is a “danger to the country” and slams him into a supermax penitentiary while he is being “investigated” for the next 10 years. Who says he can’t? Joe Cyr
Balancing act
Brooklyn: Congress must immediately pass, and the states ratify, a new Amendment XVIII. It shall state that (1) current presidents have immunity from all criminal prosecutions that would unduly interfere with their constitutional duties; and (2) former presidents shall have no immunity other than that granted by Congress to all former federal employees. Let’s do it! Mary Foutz
Manure machine
Rochelle Park, N.J.: Just curious — I am wondering if Donald J. Frump’s butt ever gets jealous of the amount of B.S. that flies so easily and constantly from his mouth! Curious minds want to know. B. Boyle
Ascendant
Beechhurst: To Voicers Joan and Jeff Ganeles: In your snarky and intellectually dishonest response to my letter, you didn’t even marginally address my point about the rank hypocrisy of those three MSNBC Democrat mouthpieces I mentioned. Also, you outright lied that I droned on about “Trump’s election lies.” You died-in-the-wool Dems are clearly in panic mode over Trump’s rise in the polls, especially following his faux felony convictions in that Soviet-style trial in Manhattan. Lastly, I’ll raise you one on your saccharine Stephen Colbert quote, and it comes courtesy of Sen. Chuck Schumer, who in January 2017 issued this warning to then-newly-elected President Trump: “You take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you.” My guess is that you two could care less about the deep state’s chilling encroachment on our democracy. James Hyland
Outsourced
Hubertus, Wis.: There was a sad announcement on the news that thousands of American employees will be losing their jobs at John Deere. A truly American company, J.D. makes durable products from lawnmowers to heavy farm equipment, known all over the world. Now, thanks to inflation and intrusive business practices by the Biden administration, they are pulling up 100-plus-year stakes and moving south of the border. If we had a strong administration under Trump, they would have never thought of moving, thus saving thousands of jobs. Ya got a big choice in November, America, so make the right one. Robert Lobenstein