Obviously, renewable energy is the future

Beacon, N.Y.: Re “The price of waiting on pipes and wires” (op-ed, Aug. 26): I was surprised that there wasn’t a single mention of renewable energy — that is, until I reached the end and saw the authors’ bios. Amy Andryszak, president and CEO of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, and Todd Snitchler, president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association, which is heavily connected to major oil companies.

This not-so-thinly-veiled piece of propaganda presents a world where oil and gas are the only options, and reforming permitting for more pipelines is the only way New York’s power grid will get any relief. As the rest of us who live in reality know, renewable solar and wind are now the cheapest ways to make energy. Oil and gas have become steadily more expensive and unreliable, not to mention having devastating effects on the planet.

More power is clearly needed, and Gov. Hochul must fast-track prioritizing wind and solar. These projects can come online much quicker than permitting pipelines or addressing aging gas infrastructure. Hochul must also support the wind farms planned upstate and the ones soon coming online. Most of us live in a reality where wind and solar are readily available, if only our elected officials would stop kowtowing to the gas and oil lobbyists and move us into the affordable future we deserve.

Christine Arroyo

Irresponsible adult

Hillsdale, N.Y.: That 10-year-old girl losing several fingers and possible vision loss to one eye by lighting an M-80 firework in a Staten Island park in August is so sad and heartbreaking. Some people say she should’ve known better than to light the firework, but the Parks Department employee who gave her the lighter (to make her happy) is the one who should know better, not the child. Why didn’t he take the firework away and throw it down the toilet instead of giving the girl a lighter? She may not be happy, but she’d have 10 fingers and her eyesight in both eyes.

Phil Antico

Pushed to our limits

Manhattan: Re ” ‘The city isn’t doing anything,’ ” (Aug. 30): Lydia Zuniga, 65 years old (on her way to work on a Saturday afternoon in the summer) is pushed off a subway platform, shattering her leg. Her assailant, citing mental health issues, checks himself into a mental health clinic. So now we know his defense. From her hospital bed, Zuniga speaks truth to power on many issues facing New Yorkers. Mayor Mamdani is more apt to visit the shover than Zuniga, who faces a long rehab stint — sadly, much longer than the shover will be locked up. I hope someone starts a GoFundMe collection for her to ease the next several months, though I fear the shover’s family will set one up faster to help him get a place of his own.

Robert J. Katz

Defund ICE

Manhattan: ICE has shown itself to be a brutal and unaccountable force in our communities, grabbing our neighbors and pepper-spraying citizens. The last thing we need is to arm them with gloves that deliver a painful electric shock (“Shocking expense,” Aug. 28). Attorney General Letitia James and Gov. Hochul have demonstrated leadership by warning ICE agents that they will face criminal and civil consequences if they abuse this highly dangerous paraphernalia in New York. But why are we pouring public money into this weaponry in the first place? Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Chuck Schumer have called to “reform” ICE, but the real solution is to shut off public funding for a lawless agency that makes no one safer.

Kellye Rowland

Lamenting the law

Long Beach, L.I.: Bruce Blakeman stated that complying with state law by ending Nassau County’s collaboration with ICE is “the saddest day of my life as county executive.” I would think it might be when Santos Edilberto Banegas Reyes died in a Nassau jail under Blakeman’s leadership. Reyes’s only crime was trying to work in this country to help support his family. Less than 5% of Nassau ICE detainees are violent offenders, but Blakeman only has tears for himself because he has to obey the law.

Ann Rita D’Arcy

Fear of Bronx cheers

Forest Hills: Re “Trump to skip 9/11 anniversary” (Aug. 29): I can only give a one-word response: despicable! Here we have an 80-year-old man-child masquerading as president who was told he couldn’t give his usual meandering, incoherent speech primarily idolizing himself instead of remaining on topic to honor the memory of more than 2,900 patriots who died that fateful day! I believe the reason he decided to skip this sobering event is that he didn’t want to incur the wrath of New Yorkers who would definitely boo him as they did during that Knicks game he attended. I’m sure the memory of that ignominious reception at Madison Square Garden still rankles him, so he chose to send his lackey, Vice President JD “Mascara” Vance, instead. The country should immediately condemn his cowardly decision and vote to neuter him accordingly in the November midterms.

Ron Gersh

Profound disrespect

Delray Beach, Fla.: President Trump refuses to attend the 25th anniversary ceremony for 9/11 in NYC because he won’t be allowed to speak. This is a total lack of regard for all the families who lost loved ones on that fateful day. This is a profoundly historic day in NYC, actually in his hometown, and yet he refuses to be there. All he does is believe in himself and could not care less about you and me. I remember that day, having worked there the whole year with Verizon, and it’s something I will never forget. You forgot us, and by this inaction, NYC and America will never forgive you.

Manny Agostini

Sudden spat

Woodside: What happened? I always thought Canada was a great neighbor. Did someone there make fun of Donald’s hair? Is there a sanity test for Donald? If not, there should be. A shame!

Richard Tobiassen

Temporary statehood

Brooklyn: Dear Canada, please become our 51st state so Mark Carney can run for president in 2028 and undo all of Trump’s follies. After Carney’s tenure, you may secede.

E. Hughes

Misused demonym

Millville, N.J.: To Voicer Jim Dube: The birds that you referred to as “Canadian geese” are actually Canada geese. The birds have no citizenship.

William Cook

Left hanging

West Orange, N.J.: I was reading the article by Mike Lupica in Sunday’s paper (“Time for Aaron Glenn, Jets to give the fans a team they can respect,” column, Aug. 30). Can someone please tell me what the missing words were of the last sentence? I would like to know the complete thought of the article.

Lonnie Bond

Stamp her legacy

Brooklyn: Let’s get started on a Dolly Parton USPS stamp. We have enough great photos to choose from. She not only entertained us, she reminded us to be kind and to help others. She will be missed.

Carmen Feliciano