MANHATTAN: The Daily News got all wrong with the city’s Medicare Advantage Plan (“New Roadmap,” editorial, April 1). You draw attention to the claimed fact that Aetna so far “requires pre-approval only for about one-fifth of its normal procedures.” That’s a huge reduction in services compared to traditional Medicare, which Medicare can do very little and add on. Pre-approval leads to denial and delay of care, which is fatal for retirees.
The mayor’s office reports unilaterally without confirming the “facts”. For example, the city reports that “his 88% of providers treating retirees participate in his Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan network.” This dangerously misleading figure only means that his 88% of the retiree’s current GHI/EBCBS doctors are on her Aetna network, and how many doctors there are in America. It does not specify whether or not Creative accounting omits that retirees need more care and therefore more doctors.
Vulnerable retirees living in continuing care retiree communities who refuse to accept a Medicare Advantage Plan, and retirees receiving home health care through Medicaid’s long-term care programs, will lose care. Retirees will have to move out of their homes, and those with Medicaid will be stuck in bureaucracy.
I think there are too many negative consequences. City Council can fix this. Adopt a simple law whereby the city provides retirees with at least one Medigap plan, offering benefits equivalent to those they have received for decades.
A Promise is a Promise: Retirees were promised traditional Medicare, but are instead tricked into an inferior healthcare plan. NYC Public Service Retiree Organization and FDNY EMS Retired Chairman Marianne Pizzitra
MANHATTAN: City Councilmen Sean Abreu and Kevin Riley (“Poor Lawyers Must Be Paid” op-ed, 6 April) put political pressure on the serious issue of lawyers’ rights in housing courts. It’s a shame that we’re dealing with political rhetoric rather than political rhetoric. As elected officials, real solutions they have the power to enact. Abreu and Riley should immediately introduce legislation to amend existing law to allow housing courts to assign private attorneys to tenant cases when legal aid attorneys are unavailable. Existing law already allows the city to pay private attorneys an hourly rate to provide legal representation in criminal and family court cases when public defense is unavailable. This greatly expands the pool of residential court attorneys, helping to reduce backlogs, resolve tenant owner issues, and keep renters in their homes. Joseph Strasburg, President, Rent Stability Association
Yonkers: Congratulations to New York’s Finest for swiftly tracking down and arresting Devin Spraggins for trying to kill one of their members (Bust in cop shot on April 8). Unfortunately, this scum didn’t get a few bullets in his tail as he fled the crime scene. The coward ran, but he could not hide or disguise himself by changing clothes or cutting his hair. Frank Brady
Freeport, LI.: Reading your editorial, “Blue Walls, Green Dollars” (April 7), I can’t help but question the intentions of the Daily News editorial board. Vague and accusatory headlines aside, I have to ask: What is the basis for objection when the Daily News complains on its pages about the quality of police on the streets of New York? Given that New York City police officers already earn less than those in surrounding areas, does the Daily News want second-rate police? Want a recruit to take on? The rest of New York knows all too well that you have to pay for quality, and it seems like they escaped the Daily News’ editorial board. The fact that News publishes daily stories of stabbings, murders and kidnappings, while highlighting the lack of a bike lane violation as a major issue in New York right now, is a testament to its members aged 19 and over. I wonder if there is in body and mind. Mike Duff
Bronx: What are these baseball players with long chains and earrings? Do they go to ball games and discos? It’s a game shame. Ralph Canzone Sr.
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Every weekday afternoon, catch up on the top 5 stories of the day.
Yorktown Heights, NY: How thrilling and exciting it was to watch both the women’s and men’s NCAA basketball seasons and tournaments! I was happy to be able to We’ve found friends who appreciate women’s basketball as much as we do over the years. After talking with her daughter, a former Division 1 basketball All-Star player, we agreed that she didn’t like the animosity she showed in the previous game. But as LSU All-Star Angel his Reese explained, many of us don’t understand the background of a talented player. Kim Mulvey of LSU Her coach hoped her outfit would draw more people into her circle of women’s basketball. Our women (college and professional) need better benefits. Rivals and a wider audience will help you do this. Mary Courtney
BROOKLYN: The Tennessee legislature needed to focus on investigating the Nashville school shooting. No one was killed by that school shooter anymore. Legislators should have stood up to demand accountability issues instead of asking for 15 minutes of fame. As adult elected leaders, they showed the youth of this country how to behave. Unfortunately, they were chosen for a trusted position. I didn’t understand the reason for that chaotic display. Sharon Cesario
Kew Gardens: The Tennessee legislature has expelled two legislators for disrespect. Yet the U.S. House of Representatives will not oust George Santos, who has done much worse. His dishonest presence in the House of Commons is itself a disrespect. Glen Hayes
East Meadow, Lee: If you’ve ever wanted to know how Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power, just look at what Republicans are doing in Tennessee and Florida. Richard Skibbins
Hopewell Junction, NY: If you’re an adult and want to change your gender, please do so. I’m fine and no problem. go and live your life If a biological man wants to dress like a woman and pretend to be a woman, that’s his job. If he wants me to pretend he’s a woman — well, that’s my job is. Freddie Sacco
Arlington, Virginia: On “Paying Employees Wages, Not Tips” (Editorial, April 5): Saru Jayaraman says by eliminating tipping credits in New York, it’s actually giving restaurant workers a tip. ignoring the effects of In fact, thousands of employees, including many in New York, have opposed Jayaraman’s advocacy for years. will change the job of Tipped restaurant workers in New York already report making up to $25 an hour. But economists at Cornell University and the U.S. Census Bureau found that when chip credits were cut, so did the percentage of chips. It’s taking money directly out of the pockets of restaurant employees. Not to mention the other consequences of unemployment and closed restaurants. Tipping New York Celebrity Her One Fair Wage track record of her campaign to abolish her credit has failed time and time again as restaurant employees take the lead in trying to save tips. This time should be no different. Michael Saltzman, Executive Director, Employment Policies Institute
Brooklyn: Contrary to what we’ve heard so many times, there seems to be a group of people who are above the law: the United States Supreme Court. June Law
