Readers sound off on retiree death benefits, the presidential debate and the MTA

Honor the deal and honor current relationships

Manhattan: This goes under “I can’t believe what I’m hearing.” My partner of 24 years worked for Verizon for many years before retiring and working at another job for several years. When he retired from Verizon, he was given a full pension (almost unheard of now) and a death benefit. At the time, he was married, so his wife was named as beneficiary. After his divorce and his moving in with me, he changed the beneficiary to me and Verizon accepted the change with no problem.

Recently, he got a letter that all of Verizon’s pensions and benefits would now be managed by Prudential, and his ex-wife’s name was listed as the beneficiary of his death benefit. Very upset, he made phone call after phone call to both Verizon and Prudential. The Prudential representative told him that we’d have to be married for me to get his death benefit. My partner asked to speak to a supervisor, and he was told the same thing until finally, one higher-up told him that many people were calling in, furious at the letters they were receiving.

This is still in its early stages, but I don’t believe Prudential will be able to cancel the deal that Verizon made with its employees. I am hoping for the kind of uproar that NYC city retirees are making at their Medicare raw deal, which is still in the courts. Prudential has quite a nerve to decide that what Verizon approved is no longer valid. I am hoping that my letter and others will bring this to the public’s attention and that Prudential will be forced to change its policy. Marcia Epstein

Depressing

Norwalk, Conn.: It was not easy to watch the presidential debate. Two old men — one lying about everything, the other hard to understand at times. Isn’t it time for both parties to rid themselves of these characters and nominate two other candidates who will be able to try to unite all citizens as it was during World War II? I’ve never missed voting in a presidential election since I became eligible back in the 1950s. I seriously considered not voting in November, but will anyway because I was born in a country that I am proud of. I’m praying they will rid us of these old men and get this country back in shape. From my mouth to God’s ears. F. Russo

Propagandized

Manhattan: Joseph Goebbels must be burning in hell with a smile on his face. His protégé was fantastic. Louis Russo

Nowhere to turn

St. James, L.I.: Remember the prescient advice given from Simon and Garfunkel to Mrs. Robinson: “Going to the candidates debate / Laugh about it, shout about it / When you’ve got to choose / Every way you look at this, you lose.” Not only is this true, but it is frightening. Not even Joe DiMaggio can save us from this turmoil. Carmine E. Esposito

Petty put-down

Mount Vernon, N.Y.: I am alarmed at the front-page story about President Biden’s “mumble and stumble” (“Welcome to nasty town: Joe & Don in debate mudfest,” June 28)! Who could speak without stumbling when pitted with a known lying, cheating, uncouth, manipulating former president!? How dare you scandalize and sully the reputation of a man because of his speaking truth to power! I will never purchase another Daily News until your newspaper publishes an apology to our sitting president! Nancy Fields

Case in point

Cincinnati: Biden’s debate debacle is Special Counsel Robert Hur’s vindication. Paul Bloustein

Sophomoric

Monroe, N.J.: As a retired educator, I have seen my share of student council candidate debates. There is always the one student who boasts and brags and makes promises that can’t be kept, like no more homework. He will lie to win over the kids and campaign on ego. There is always one student who has the best of intentions for school improvement, but loses confidence and freezes on stage. On Thursday night, I saw this play out. The major problem is that we are not in school anymore, but have a greater responsibility to the United States’ people. On one side was the Liar-in-Chief wannabe and on the other, the well-intentioned and experienced Quiet Man. This is not a time to be quiet. We have to have confidence in our leaders. Unfortunately, none on stage could inspire us. We are beyond “God bless America” and into “God help America!” Katherine A. Moloney

Exit excuse

Estero, Fla.: The Democrats must get President Biden out of the race. To allow him to gracefully voluntarily withdraw this was the plan: 1) Schedule a debate early so there is time for a new candidate to campaign and before early voting starts. 2) Give the president less of or no booster meds. 3) The president performs badly. 4) The reason for the performance is his health. 5) The president will not run for reelection but will stay in office until the election. 6) Kamala Harris therefore stays as vice president. 7) The Democratic National Committee assigns a new presidential candidate. 8) Based on the country’s reactions, either Michelle Obama or Gavin Newsom are chosen. 10) If Michelle, millions of additional Black and women voters will vote Democratic. John Piccolo

Where’s my month?

Brookfield, Conn.: Well, Pride Month is coming to an end. This year we have had Black History Month and Women’s History Month. So, I’m just wondering when Average White Guy Who Gets Up Every Morning, Goes To Work, Pays His Bills And Supports His Family Month is going to be. It must be on the calendar someplace. Inquiring minds want to know. Bob Lovell

Diverted revenue

Astoria: So, people are up in arms because Gov. Hochul’s nixing of congestion pricing has nixed work on the Second Ave. subway line, additional subway cars and improvements at stations. Help me understand this because I’m kind of lost here, but there seems to be plenty of money in the form of loaded debit cards, culturally appropriate meals, hotel accommodations, child care and health care as well as free education for the hordes of migrants flooding into our city and immediately becoming the problem of New York taxpayers. Bradley Morris

Overdue inquiry

Staten Island: Now the MTA is threatening us with a complete shutdown of everything when it comes to completing projects and the continuation of building a better transportation system just because the congestion tolls were shut down. I would like to know who is investigating the MTA for squandering millions upon millions of dollars and we’re still sitting here with overpriced tolls and a terrible commuting system. It’s time to do a complete investigation of how they squandered all those millions to leave us with nothing. Somebody is walking around with fat pockets. The MTA is corrupt beyond measure. Joseph Dohner

Stale workforce

Manhattan: No congestion pricing, no MTA money, right? Nope. No matter what urgent projects benefiting riders have to be stopped, there will always be enough funds to pay the lazy, do-nothing, unionized MTA employees who continue to get increases and outrageous retirement benefits while doing less and less. If the MTA stood up to the unions, there’d be no deficit and tons of money to fund necessary projects. Chris Lee

They can pay

Brooklyn: Voicer Arthur L. Miller is correct in saying the MTA is a failure of an agency. Congestion pricing hurts the middle class and poor and will not solve the MTA’s dysfunctional system. Instead of taxing the already overtaxed citizens, let’s go where the money is for funding. Tax the behemoth rich corporations that don’t pay taxes. Start with 10% of the profits they make in N.Y. The rich have had their taxes lowered from 52% to 21%. Let’s bump them up to 31%. I’m sure they will still be able to afford food and housing. Get off the backs of citizens who are not responsible for the congestion. NYC government is wholly responsible for the lack of improvements to mass transit in the last 75 years. Greg Ahl