Tom Ascher News Today

Huntington, L.I.: Never were more prophetically profound words written about our politics and our planet than in your twin editorials on April 21, “Assembly line politics” and “Our only home.”

Wilton, N.Y.: Not too many big-leaguers hail from Wyoming like the Mets’ Brandon Nimmo (photo), who the team recently re-signed to an eight-year, $162-million free-agent contract. Tom Browning, 62, pitched a perfect game while he was with the Cincinnati Reds. He’s from Caspar. Then there’s pitcher Dennis DeBarr, who, like Nimmo, is from Cheyenne.

Silver Spring, Md.: My good friend Linda Camacho is deeply concerned about her family members in Caguas, Ponce and other municipalities in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Fiona left rivers overflowing and power off. Like most Puerto Ricans, Linda has learned to weather storms. I consider her a profile in courage as I reflect upon Hispanic Heritage Month.

Jersey City: Cinco de Mayo has become an adopted holiday in many parts of the United States. Typically, on this holiday, many celebrate by drinking tequila and eating fake Mexican food. Some may even post Mexican flags on social media and inaccurately caption them, “Happy Independence Day, Mexico!”

Mineola, L.I.: In rejecting Rep. Tom Suozzi’s comprehensive COVID plan to combat the burgeoning omicron variant, Gov. Hochul revealed herself to be the empress with no clothes. Rather than confronting this crisis with clarity, conviction and a coordinated state-wide program, Hochul declared that her laissez-faire, piecemeal approach had the situation well in hand. Instead of governing during the state’s hour of need, she engaged in self-centered fundraising.

Bronx: In “What NYC’s helpers need and deserve” (op-ed, Dec. 1), incoming Mayor Eric Adams and incoming Comptroller Brad Lander wrote that when COVID struck and services were needed, New York City’s nonprofit sector didn’t ask when they would be paid, they just got to work. The same can be said of the workers who, industry-wide, suffer astonishingly low pay, unsafe work conditions and understaffing. These are the people we entrust to take care of NYC’s most vulnerable, including our ...

Bronx: Marijuana is at worst psychologically, but not physically, addictive. Alcohol is physically addictive for some people. Marijuana has medical benefits. Alcohol is medically harmful. But Errol Louis claims that marijuana is a “powerfully addictive substance” in his April 8 column.

Swarthmore, Pa.: The American Rescue Plan has been signed into law. Public support for this legislation, despite a staggering $1.9 trillion price tag, is stunningly high.

Manhattan: Jonathan Zimmerman’s commentary “The Peace Corps and White Saviorism” (March 1) is a very cynical piece. I am a returned Peace Corps volunteer (RPCV) who served in Cameroon, West Africa, in the 1990s. Zimmerman patently ignores the principal tenets of the organization.