Oyster Bay Town housing settlement, Trump and the pope

Town housing case brings closure

Coverage of the Town of Oyster Bay’s housing settlement misses critical context and leans on sensationalism and biased interviews rather than facts [“Oyster Bay to settle housing discrimination lawsuits,” News, April 15].

First and foremost, this case was settled with no admission or finding of wrongdoing. That matters. After more than a decade of litigation that began under a previous administration, there was no evidence the town discriminated against or was ever in violation of the Fair Housing Act or state law.

Second, the Golden Age Housing Program was designed with a clear purpose: to allow taxpaying seniors to remain in the communities they helped build — close to family, houses of worship, doctors, and support systems. That goal is even more relevant today. With day care costs soaring, many young families rely on grandparents to help raise their children. Keeping seniors nearby strengthens families and stabilizes communities. Don’t young families on Long Island deserve affordability, too?

What’s missing from Newsday’s report is just as important as what’s included. There were no interviews with residents who benefit from these programs and no real effort to present the other side.

The facts are simple: After years of scrutiny, there was no evidence of wrongdoing. This settlement brings closure while preserving a program that supports seniors and families alike. That’s not controversy — it’s common sense.

— Frank Scalera, Oyster Bay

The writer is Oyster Bay Town attorney.

More views about Trump and the pope

On Palm Sunday, Pope Leo XIV said: “Jesus, King of Peace . . . who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war, who does not listen to the prayer of those who wage war . . .”

President Donald Trump and his administration were apparently a target of those remarks. In typical fashion, Trump fired back [“Pope doubles down on peace and dialogue,” News, April 16]. While his overreaction and disrespect are valid criticisms of the president, it seems the pope sought to be confrontational, and to claim a knowing of how prayers are viewed by Jesus is questionable. One must also wonder if the pope feels that war can never be justified.

All too often, humans justify using destructive methods to solve problems when a life-affirming alternative is available. I believe the pope’s intent was to emphasize that nonviolent approaches to resolve differences must be exhausted and efforts to rationalize armed conflict are usually lacking merit and at odds with God’s plan for us.

The pope’s comments could have aligned with the Catholic catechism that allows for war as lawful self-defense; and instead of becoming enraged, Trump should have, in a statesmanlike manner, made an argument for how his actions comport with just war principles.

— James Dolan Jr., North Massapequa

Yes, Donald Trump’s choice of words and actions do invite criticism, especially with a leader of faith such as the pope. He was downright disrespectful and sophomoric in his comments.

But . . . I don’t recall seeing or hearing as much criticism from Pope Leo XIV about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s totally inappropriate actions in Ukraine. Did I miss something? Or did the pope just not want any conflict with a truly corrupt individual? One must wonder about Leo’s true feelings concerning just and unjust conflicts.

Trump is taking on Iran, which has demonstrated it is a threat to freedom everywhere. So, Leo, pick your battles carefully.

— Maureen Baglio, North Bellmore

If the outrageous post from Donald Trump depicting himself as Jesus Christ isn’t proof to his supporters in Congress and elsewhere of mental illness, then our country is in worse trouble than I had imagined.

— Davida Kiernan, Syosset

The assertion that Donald Trump is in cognitive decline attempts to rationalize his behavior. What we’re seeing is a clearer display of his underlying nature. The more pressure he faces, the more volatile and reactive he becomes, lashing out in frenzied, unfiltered, stream-of-consciousness posts laden with paranoia, falsehoods, and crudeness — so extreme that it can lead some to assume cognitive impairment. It isn’t.

— Martin Geller, Manhasset

Possibly, did we misinterpret Donald Trump’s picture of himself as a god? Maybe he was pretending to be Julius Caesar, not Jesus. Caesar wanted to become emperor and have divine attributes. Congress and the Supreme Court have essentially anointed Trump as emperor. Maybe Trump feels omnipotent.

— John Boughal, Bayport

Thanks to Donald Trump, I now realize that I’ve been duped by charlatans, often dressed in white jackets and accessorized with a stethoscope. Not once have I been treated by someone dressed in a robe with healing light emanating from his hand, which I now realize is what a real doctor looks like.

— Greg Stoeber, Farmingdale