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Come 2014, Voicers won’t have Mike Bloomberg to kick around anymore.
From the upset win of Bill de Blasio to the train wreck of Obamacare, 2013 gave Daily News readers plenty of cause for sounding off. And sound off you did, each and every day, in the Voice of the People.
Herewith — drawn from the more than 5,000 letters published over the past 12 months — a sampling of the sharpest, wittiest, least inhibited and most heartfelt commentary.
As the year began, angry readers hailed The News for printing the names of Washington pols who voted against aid for Sandy victims. “I got busy dialing each ‘patriotic’ leader who denied funds to my ravaged area,” said Lois Baruch of Stony Point, N.Y. “What a wonderful way to let out my anger on these scoundrels.”
Gun control became a hot topic when Congress defeated proposals inspired by the massacre at Newtown. “Members of Congress who groveled before gun nuts: You didn’t pull the trigger at Sandy Hook — you just helped buy the gun and ammo,” wrote Mary Beth Nelsen of Oxford, Conn.
Closer to home, federal Judge Shira Scheindlin stirred debate when she ruled that the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk practices were unconstitutional.
“Both my sons have been victims of this ineffective policy,” wrote Lisa Bryan of Brooklyn. “All it does is cause further fear and division.”
The passing of former Mayor Ed Koch in February inspired Tim Higgins of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., to write: “All New York mourns his death. A true New Yorker and a wonderful, down-to-earth man. God rest his wonderful soul.”
After the Boston Marathon bombing, Red Sox fan Maureen Reardon of Hanover, Mass., was touched by the playing of “Sweet Caroline” at Yankee Stadium. “Your kindness during the saddest of weeks here in Beantown will always be fondly remembered.”
Also mindful of terrorism was Jessica Glass of Kew Gardens, who alerted police about a “weird male” wandering in a movie theater. “The officer responded, ‘Define weird. This is New York.’ ”
When Daily News-sponsored Arvind Mahankali of Queens won the Scripps National Spelling Bee on the word “knaidel,” there was much kvelling. “His parents should learn the Yiddish phrase shep nachas , which is to take pride in the accomplishments of our children,” wrote Pam Singer of Malverne, L.I.
Other Voicers strayed from the news of the day to start conversations of their own.
Dominick Battaglia of Hicksville, L.I., drew many responses by asking what the phrase “another pezzonovante ” meant in “The Godfather.” The most definitive answer came from Francis Ford Coppola himself, via cousin Frank Pennino of Farmingdale, L.I.: “ Pezzonovante literally means ‘piece of ninety,’ which is a large shotgun ammo. Or better understood: ‘big shot.’ ”
Diana Werner of Paramus, N.J., kicked up some dirt when she bemoaned women in fashion and entertainment who choose to appear “as tramps, vamps, whores and women of the night — fallen, deflowered and seductive, not innocent but all-knowing. My generation wanted just the opposite.”
Some used the Voice of the People as a public forum to express gratitude. Jennifer Guttenplan of Brooklyn thanked the good Samaritan who chased down a robber to retrieve her stolen iPhone. Jonathan Gaska of Far Rockaway thanked the volunteers who helped his neighborhood recover from Sandy.
And cabbie Steve Chaddock of Long Island City “thanked” the pregnant woman who warned him to avoid potholes, then threw up in his taxi. “I did clean up your slop. Next time, take the train.”
The seven-way Democratic primary for mayor gave Voicers a lot to chew on — especially when one of them owned up to more sexting with young women who were not his wife.
“Dear Anthony Weiner,” advised Vince Lijoi of Franklin Park, N.J.: “Please contact a physician if your election lasts more than six hours.”
While many cheered de Blasio’s come-from-behind victory, others forecasted doom. “Now that Comrade de Blasio has been elected mayor, our city could soon be known as West Moscow,” commented Glenn J. Mc Manus of Sunnyside.
Others were infuriated by the glitchy rollout of Obama’s Healthcare.gov.
“And these incompetent clowns want to control health care for the entire United States?” asked Robert Kralick of Glen Head, L.I.: “God help us all.”
And there were parting shots for a mayor reaching the end of his eventful 12-year run.
“If anyone doubts that Mayor Bloomberg has been one of the best mayors this city has ever had, just ask him . . .” wrote Jung He-Keun of Bayside.
“Dear Virginia,” wrote Jonathan Kiddrane of Glendale as the year drew to a close, “After carefully weighing all the changes in the modern world, I need to tell you: Your friends may be right about Santa Claus after all.”
As always, keep ’em coming.
http://newyork.greatlocalnews.info/?p=19740
via Great Local News: New York http://newyork.greatlocalnews.info
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