“Food costs deprive us of spiritual nourishment
Manhattan: As food prices continue to surge, many are wondering how they will afford the culturally relevant food items they need to celebrate the sacred holidays of Ramadan and Passover.
Though everyone deserves access to foods that honor their identities, the truth is that these items can be prohibitively expensive for those who need them most, which is why Food Bank for New York City is proud to partner with groups like Islamic Relief USA to make it easier for people to access these invaluable resources.
n fact, halal and kosher resources are regularly 10-20% more expensive than other food items. This poses a serious problem throughout the year, but especially in this moment. During Ramadan and Passover, food plays a crucial role in how individuals connect with their spirituality and their loved ones. If someone is unable to secure halal meat or dried fruits like dates for an iftar meal or the bitter herbs, matzo and parsley needed for Passover seders, they can’t observe these moments with the traditions they’re looking to uphold. It’s vital that hunger-relief organizations and our elected leaders provide the produce, proteins and other food items needed to celebrate holidays and special observances, particularly now as inflation and supply chain challenges are making these items even more difficult for people to come by. These food items not only nourish the body but the mind and soul.
In a city as diverse and vibrant as ours, we must work together to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the foods that affirm who they are and where they come from. Leslie Gordon, president and CEO, FBFNYC, and Sharif Aly, CEO, Islamic Relief USA
Crimes against humanity
Worcester, Mass.: As a Black female, I am glad and proud that Black history is taught in schools — that the truth is finally out. What I would like to know is when the Native Americans’ stories will be told; how the white man slaughtered thousands just to take their land. They deserve two months, not only one like Black history has. Just wondering when those white men’s descendants will admit they were wrong. Janelle Hines
Drop the photo op
Park Ridge, N.J.: It would have been nice if New York’s governor had let the experts report what they knew about the subway shooting incident before she pushed her way to the front to trot out the same tired indignation that all the politicians show every time there’s a shooting in NYC. Then, when things quiet down, they go back to business as usual. Maybe they could get off their collective asses and actually do something to stop all the shootings so the people living and working in the city can have something resembling a life. Steve Ostlund
Brooklyn: The great Bramhall made a mistake in his recent cartoon by showing people waiting at the edge of the platform with all the violence of people getting pushed onto the tracks. Bring back gun control and stop this nonsensical Second Amendment right. Only the police and the military need guns. Don Adler
Oak Ridge, N.J.: First, we had to deal with the COVID pandemic in the city; now, a gun pandemic. People will never return to the five boroughs. Very sad about the shooting in the Brooklyn subway. It seems like Mayor Adams has a handle on crime. He and his boys monitored the event and we were told to stay safe (is that code for stay the hell home?). I just checked the FanDuel odds board: The shooter has two-to-one odds to be out on bail while waiting two years for a court appearance and four-to-five odds to shoot another person while waiting. James Heimbuch
Manhattan: Though I have little quarrel with the job the new mayor is doing, maybe — just maybe — New York is too complicated, convoluted, complex, congested, confusing and crowded to be headed by one mayor. Is it possible we need two or three heads for New York City? James A. Fragale
Howard Beach: Being a Biden supporter, it was very disappointing that he chose to visit Poland instead of Ukraine. Boris Johnson of the U.K. had the courage to go. A visit from an American president would have meant a lot to Ukraine, and especially to democracy, rather than empty speeches and platitudes. Ernest Kienzle
Yonkers: Whether it’s terror on a Brooklyn train, rampant corruption from the lieutenant governor’s office or a hundred other diurnal incidents, there are constant reminders that New York City and state are indeed on the road to perdition because of the policies and failures of lunatic-left Democrats. The formula is simple: If one is happy with untrammeled crime, runaway inflation, nocent and uncontrolled illegal immigration and countless other breakdowns, then by all means continue to vote for far-left Democrats. On the other hand, if one is disgusted with sanguinary criminals going unpunished, record costs of living and deterioration and destruction accompanying so many aspects of daily life, then it is time to vote for change. It is long past time to end the casuistry, the double-dealing and the hypocrisy of the Jacobin Democrats. From the swamp of Washington to the cesspool of Albany, it is time to vote them out. James McCaffrey
Can-do attitude
Manhattan: The newspapers and TV news programs are questioning daily what we can do about
the violence that is occurring almost every minute. The answer is simple: Come November, vote out every politician who won’t change the law. People, this is a democracy. Our only other challenge is to not get shot until the election. Remember, we got rid of Trump. Michael Malewich
Glen Head, L.I.: Voicer Gary Chasen says the news reporting on the OAN network will “amuse and provide a good laugh.” If that’s true, he must be rolling on the floor laughing hysterically when he watches CNN (Collusion News Network) and MSNBC (Morons Spouting Nothing But Crap)! Is Chasen aware that CNN’s and MSNBC’s ratings are down 49% and 59% from one year ago? I guess people no longer want to see “real” news reporting! Robert Kralick
Deep pockets
Amityville, L.I.: The city’s new Medicare Advantage plan touts saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars every year. The abolishing of qualified immunity would also save hundreds of millions of dollars. Or how about half of police abuse settlement money comes out of the police retirement fund? This way, the rogue police officers will be partially responsible for their actions. Barbara Reynolds
Bronx: If we could hear all the cell phone calls between Putin and President 45 since this atrocity started on a pay-per-view basis, would they be labeled a horror, sci-fi or a preview of hell? Mark Benveniste
Internal threat
the violence that is occurring almost every minute. The answer is simple: Come November, vote out every politician who won’t change the law. People, this is a democracy. Our only other challenge is to not get shot until the election. Remember, we got rid of Trump. Michael Malewich
The funnies
Glen Head, L.I.: Voicer Gary Chasen says the news reporting on the OAN network will “amuse and provide a good laugh.” If that’s true, he must be rolling on the floor laughing hysterically when he watches CNN (Collusion News Network) and MSNBC (Morons Spouting Nothing But Crap)! Is Chasen aware that CNN’s and MSNBC’s ratings are down 49% and 59% from one year ago? I guess people no longer want to see “real” news reporting! Robert Kralick
Amityville, L.I.: The city’s new Medicare Advantage plan touts saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars every year. The abolishing of qualified immunity would also save hundreds of millions of dollars. Or how about half of police abuse settlement money comes out of the police retirement fund? This way, the rogue police officers will be partially responsible for their actions. Barbara Reynolds
Bronx: If we could hear all the cell phone calls between Putin and President 45 since this atrocity started on a pay-per-view basis, would they be labeled a horror, sci-fi or a preview of hell? Mark Benveniste
Internal threat
Whitestone: The difference between Ukraine and the U.S. is that the Ukrainian people value democracy and will fight to the death to preserve it while people in the U.S. are trying to destroy it. Americans who support the Republican Party and Donald Trump, our version of Vladimir Putin, are choosing fascism and dictatorship over democracy. Republicans have overturned laws that have been in place for decades regarding civil rights, reproductive rights, campaign financing, etc. They want to prevent people from voting, tell blatant and outrageous lies, interfere in elections and incite domestic terrorism. To maintain the power of their minority they have taken control of many state legislatures and the Supreme Court. We need to acknowledge that we are engaged in an ongoing struggle to save our own democracy. Linda Imhauser
Un-fare
Brooklyn: The MTA wants to spend more than $100 million to put safety barriers on the platforms in three train stations. They are spending more than $100 million to get rid of the MetroCard so you have to use the tap-and-go on trains and buses. Don’t they realize that not all people have a smartphone or even a cell phone, especially seniors? If they want to raise money, they should make sure that bus drivers make all passengers pay their fare. I was on the bus the other day and five school kids talking on their expensive smartphones just walked on without paying. Martin Schumer”
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