Dropping the ball as a public-private partnership
Jenkintown, Pa.: I’m a fan of gender reveal parties and Manhattan’s annual New Year’s Eve celebrations, and I’ve noticed a growing trend: More people are choosing to hold their gender reveal parties in Times Square. These events typically include a countdown before popping a balloon or shooting off confetti or gunpowder cannons, just like our beloved New Year’s tradition.
Imagine building suspense not just with a countdown, but with the descent of the famous ball, culminating in an explosion of pink or blue light (and rice paper confetti) as it reaches the bottom of the pole. This would further cement Times Square as a hub for memorable occasions and add an extra layer of excitement to such celebrations.
It would also be a great way to prevent these festivities from getting out of hand. I’ve heard stories about gender reveal parties causing fires. But in Times Square, with professional event coordinators, there would be no chance of such a tragedy. According to NYC Tourism + Conventions, the official marketing organization for New York City, more than 50 million people visit Times Square each year. By making the Times Square Ball available for gender reveal, we could potentially attract even more visitors and create unforgettable experiences for expectant families.
It is time to take this step forward and make the city even more inclusive by adapting one of the most famous traditions to modern celebrations, such as gender reveal. Let’s bring joyful personal moments to the public space, where they can be shared with everyone. Dante Medori
Angry
Brooklyn: There are a few residents at 34 Plaza St. who let their dogs pee right in front of their building. They are too lazy to walk to the corner and restrain their dogs. Since it is warm now, you can smell the stench as you walk by. This probably doesn’t help the situation, as these people are usually not aware of it or have any right to it, but I am sure other people in the building would like to see this letter. Dennis Burge
No team in self-esteem
Davie, Fla.: Regarding the recent concerns of the Yankees and their fans about the decline of Luis Gilhis problems started when Gerrit Cole back from the injured list. With Cole on the list, Gil became, in his mind, the #1 pitcher. With Cole returning to the lineup, Gil’s confidence began to wane. The problem with Gil is not his pitching arm or his speed, his problem is between his ears! Alan Abriss
Unity of minorities
Great Neck, LI: Today marks 77 years since Larry Doby his first Major League Baseball game for the Cleveland Indians in 1947. It was a milestone for the integration of the American League, along with Jackie Robinson playing his first MLB game for the Brooklyn Dodgers, integrating the National League. It was a time when most baseball fans could afford bleacher, general admission, reserve or box seats. Hot dogs, beer, other refreshments and souvenirs were reasonably priced. Just as Robinson and Doby fought racism in the 1950s, Detroit Tigers Hank Greenberg had to do the same with anti-Semitism in his day. Doby, Robinson and Greenberg all document the enduring relationship between African American and Jewish sports fans who stood together for decades to support each other. Larry Penner
Age discrimination
Forest Hills: Whether or not you like President Biden politically as far as the debate goes, I am disgusted by the comments about his age. So many of them are just plain disgusting and mean. Is that really necessary? Most of you sound like teenagers. I just hope that when you get to a certain age, you are all treated in the same disrespectful, dismissive, and undignified manner! How dare you. That would be good karma. Besides, Ronald Reagan had Alzheimer’s. Stew Frimer
Leadership crisis
Cortlandt Manor, NY: We can now safely say that the June 27 debate posed a greater threat to our national security than January 6, 2021 ever was. Michael P. Devine
On thin ice
Swarthmore, Pa.: Biden and his aides and allies are trying to send two messages to the public: that he is fit to serve and to run, and that he is not ignoring concerns about his age and health. I would add a third important message, and that is to make it clear to the public that he still has a realistic chance of winning the election and Donald Trumpdespite recent setbacks. In the coming days, Biden will attempt to convince the public of his fitness and ability, despite being in his 80s, to be a competent and effective president and commander in chief for the next four years. He will give a television interview on Friday and hold campaign events in Wisconsin and Philadelphia. It doesn’t feel like an exaggeration to say that one more devastating performance, like he did in the debates, and his bid for re-election will, for all practical purposes, be over. Ken Derow
Early warning
Whitestone: On September 8, 2023, I wrote the following to the Voice of the People: “Yo Biden! Do the right thing, swallow your pride and walk away. You are handing this country to the Republi-cons on a silver platter. Man up!” Robin Mazzia
Plan B
Fairview, NJ: A Vice President Barack Obama would be a source of knowledge and experience if, God forbid, something were to affect Biden’s ability to serve. Kamala Harris would serve in a cabinet position and learn from both. She would still be the leading contender in 2028. The country must do everything in its power to avoid Trump and all he can do to harm our country! Alex Accomando
It’s all a sham
Hoboken: To voice actor Peter Giunta: You said the orange blob plans to secure the border, cut taxes, and boost American manufacturing, and more. Let’s see, secure the border — where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, 2015. Build a wall that Mexico will pay for. They built a few miles of wall and Mexico sure as hell didn’t pay for it. Cut taxes. Yeah, he’ll do that — for the rich and the corporations. Leaving the average working class stiff-necked once again. It’s page 1 of the GOP playbook. Boost American manufacturing. You mean Harley Davidson? An iconic American company that he tried to kill, like so many others under his administration? Please stop using page 2 of the GOP playbook by lying and making up stories. Your idiot base is too intellectually incompetent to understand the difference. Joe Ewansky
Bad example
Kew Gardens: To voice actor Robert Lobenstein: John Deere has decided to move some of the operations of one of its Iowa plants to Mexico by the end of 2026. The layoffs themselves (about 600, not “thousands”) are a result of reduced demand for products from those factories. Meanwhile, they recently purchased 234 acres in northwest Indiana with plans to build a 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse and distribution center on the property, creating hundreds of jobs. Under Trump, GM, which received $6.9 billion in Trump’s 2017 tax law, closed its massive auto plant in Lordstown, Ohio in 2018, laying off 4,500 workers — and that’s just one of the many disastrous consequences of the Trump administration. He didn’t give a damn what working people or the companies that employed them did. Anne Cox
Above the law
Sebastian, Fla.: How can Diaper Don and his inner circle of devils, henchmen and lackeys claim immunity (now granted by a corrupt Supreme Court) and indicate they will pursue action/charges against President Biden for his actions at the border which are within his official duties? How can they also say they will charge him for weaponizing the Justice Department when Trump, when elected, will end all investigations into himself? Doesn’t the current legally elected President have the same immunity as a convicted (and repeatedly indicted) felon? Harold Lichtman
Official syndicate
Mount Laurel, NJ: I think DJT could pardon El Chapo based on the premise that they can go halfway and protect the operation from federal oversight. What do you think? Jeff Schaeffer
