Readers sound off on CUNY, the Trump verdict and beating fare-beating

CUNY is already a world-class public university

Manhattan: In “NYC needs a new world-class college” (op-ed, May 26), Jonathan Bowles and Winston Fisher’s argument that New York City needs a “world-class” university to attract young people and fuel New York’s economy is a solution in search of a problem. Drawing an imaginary line between “excellent” and “top-tier” that seems to correspond more closely with tuition cost than anything else, the authors conspicuously overlook the fact that the City University of New York already accomplishes much of what their imagined college would.

CUNY colleges are regularly included in lists of top educational institutions, our graduates and faculty are often recognized for their groundbreaking scholarship and we propel almost six times as many low-income students into the middle class as the Ivy League colleges combined. Most relevantly, thanks to a growing investment in private-public partnerships, CUNY colleges are powering New York City’s economy, enabling employers to tap into an educated workforce that represents 200 countries and speaks 137 languages.

I believe Bowles and Fisher have good intentions, and I share their goals and certainly their assessment that CUNY is a “vital” institution. But with schools competing for fewer students and inequality forcing young adults out of the city, their approach would drain resources from our educational institutions and spend billions to benefit a vanishingly small number of people at some point down the line.

Public institutions like CUNY attract tens of thousands of brilliant and persevering students ready to join the workforce now. These students are the key to a more resilient city and where we should focus our resources. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, chancellor, City University of New York

The verdict is in

Merced, Calif.: Donald Trump has been found guilty on 34 counts, and that’s a good thing. The best thing to have happened to our democracy is the fact that Stormy Daniels, David Pecker and Michael Cohen’s testimonies were the right thing in bringing down Trump. John Huerta

First in his class

Branford, Conn.: If Michael Cohen is MVP in the Liar’s Club, then Trump has made the All-Star team 30 years in a row. James Stonick

Non-carceral state

Mount Vernon, N.Y.: I think it’s hilarious that TV news reporters are asking sagely (hopefully?) whether, after being convicted, Trump is going to be sentenced to prison. In Alvin Bragg’s New York, murderers and rapists aren’t sentenced to prison, so why should he be? Tedd Smith

Risqué relativity

Richmond Hill: To Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who claims his office “did their job” by prosecuting Donald Trump: Let me get this straight — you are jumping for joy because finally, your office was able to prosecute one minuscule loudmouth whose main crime was paying off a porn star to keep quiet about their sexual encounter? You think this gives you reason to celebrate? Granted, it was a crime, but it doesn’t compare to the thousands of times your office failed to incarcerate dangerous criminals instead of releasing them back to the streets! We’re talking about violent and sexual predators in comparison to a man who paid off a porn star. For the record, I’m not a Trump supporter, just a New Yorker who has had enough. Francheisko Perez

Never called

Briarwood: Trump claims there were “a lot of key witnesses” that the prosecution did not call that would have “given us (Trump) the win.” Question: Why didn’t Trump’s defense team call these witnesses when they had the opportunity? Mary Elizabeth Ellis

Jury of voters

Staten Island: Donald Trump was found guilty by a jury of everyday Americans on 34 felony counts. He is finally being held accountable for one of his many illegal schemes to gain and hold onto power. His conviction is a reminder that no one — including a former president — is above the law. And it’s another reminder that Trump still poses a major threat to our democracy. The New York trial may be over, but Trump still faces three additional indictments and 54 criminal charges for a litany of crimes, including federal charges for his efforts to incite violence and overturn the will of voters. And on top of all that, he’s still running for president. Our fundamental freedoms are on the line. Don’t let a convicted fraudster hold the highest office in our land. It’s up to us to stand up and defeat Trump at the ballot box this November. Gary Turner

Split personality

Belfast, Maine: On Dec. 17, 2023, former President Trump compared himself to Al Capone. On Wednesday, he compared himself to Mother Teresa. From Al Capone to Mother Teresa in 164 days. Not bad. Lawrence Reichard

Positive outcome

Hicksville, L.I.: Regarding the verdicts in Trump’s trial, I’m reminded of what Craig Ferguson used to say to open “The Late Late Show”: It’s a good day for America. Steven Malinofsky 

Serial scammer

Bronx: There is a pattern here with the former president. He loses the election and says the election is rigged. He is found liable in the rape case and he says the judge is corrupt. He loses the tax fraud case and says the state attorney general is corrupt, along with the judge, and says he has done nothing wrong. He is convicted now for trying to prevent the story about hush money from coming out, as he never did anything with Stormy Daniels — and besides, the judge and the Manhattan district attorney are corrupt. Everyone is wrong but him. Growing up in the Bronx, we would never play ball with a cheater like him. Martin Sandok

Tried and convicted

Scarsdale, N.Y.: Well, the verdict is in, and the verdict is “witch.” John Kern

Unsavory characters

Mineola, L.I.: Re “De Niro isn’t the voice voters should hear from” (column, May 29): One need not be a devotee of Donald Trump — I am certainly not — to be repulsed by Robert De Niro’s histrionically vulgar press conference outside the Manhattan courthouse where Trump’s hush money trial was nearing its dénouement. De Niro’s display of raging bile is typical of this overrated thespian, as is his innate hypocrisy. Though all the world is indeed a stage, and one man in his time plays many parts, De Niro is but a counterfeiting actor upon whose tongue continual slanders ride. While he would never play the irredeemable Donald on the silver screen, De Niro has spent the better part of his cinematic career depicting Italians as loathsome Neanderthals and misogynistic thugs — from “The Godfather” to “Goodfellas” to “The Untouchables” to “A Bronx Tale” and beyond. Rosario A. Iaconis

Climate’s costs

Western Springs, Ill.: More intense and frequent storms and wildfires caused by increased global warming have raised home insurance payouts so much that insurers in 18 states have lost money. As this years-long trend has worsened, insurance rates have skyrocketed, coverage has been reduced and insurance companies have completely left some states. Yet, Donald Trump, if elected, would roll back President Biden’s actions against global warming. At a recent dinner with oil company executives, he sought to raise $1 billion in campaign contributions, saying they would gain much more than that from his rollbacks. Trump and congressional Republicans enjoying large oil-industry contributions ignore increasing temperatures, rising oceans, melting glaciers and the decades-long consensus of climate scientists — including Exxon’s own — that burning fossil fuels is the main cause of global warming and its disruptions. It may be more difficult for them to ignore soaring insurance costs and the actions of home insurers. Richard Barsanti

Staying power

Forest Hills: Who would have predicted that the Rangers’ season would last longer than the Mets’? Alan Hirschberg

Commuter wisdom

Jackson Heights: The New York MTA, the agency that brought us the easily hacked anti-fare-beater turnstiles and the beloved congestion pricing, proudly announced a six-month, million-dollar project that encompasses “a more holistic approach” to create and implement mechanisms to decrease fare-beating. Really? Hey, geniuses: Put your checkbook away. Just survey the riders! We know the common-sense solutions. Ask us! Glenn B. Jacobi