Readers sound off on NYC’s online ticket hearings, the migrant surge and games on Sept. 11

Penalized for the city’s faulty online system

Brooklyn: I got a pickpocket (speed) camera fine for moving 1 mile per hour over the speed limit. There were mitigating circumstances, so I requested an online hearing. I filled out the forms requested and followed all instructions.

When I pressed “Submit,” the screen immediately reverted back to the home page of the city’s finance website. No acknowledgement of receipt and no follow-up email message that the request had been received. I assumed it had gone through. I waited more than a month for a promised emailed message for a hearing date or an acknowledgement, but none came. Then, I get another notice that they’ve tacked on another $25 to the original $50 fine.

I call 311 and am told that the hearing request was not received, and to request an online hearing again if that’s what I want to do. I do that again on the website. Again, the same things happened after I clicked on “Submit.” That was on a Friday. On the following Tuesday, I again called 311 and inquired. I’m told that my second online hearing request was not received.

This wore me down. I didn’t want to risk another $25 being levied, so I just paid the damn thing. I relate this to alert all who drive that I believe online hearing requests never get through by design. This adds to the city’s coffers by compounding the fine and leaving you with only one recourse. This is a scam, plain and simple. Stan Rosenson

Out of service

Cornwall, N.Y.: I would like to know who is monitoring the escalator job at the 53rd St. subway station between Third Ave. and Lexington. The signs said the escalator renovation would be done by June. Guess what: None of the escalators have been repaired. Also, the one that was supposed to be working is always broken. So today, in 100-degree weather, everybody’s cramped and pushing to get up one escalator and to one elevator that never works. This is so dangerous on a small platform. If you decide to walk the stairs in this hot weather, it’s 118 steps to get to the top of the station. All the Money Thrown Away (MTA) workers are no help. They are so rude and they only put up caution tape, which makes the platform smaller. How much does this cost taxpayers? Can we find out when it’s going to be repaired? Ray Grosskopf

Not stepping up

Manhattan: Perhaps the Daily News can put out a headline that would be an instant classic: A wanted poster of camera hog Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and long-time Rep. Jerry Nadler with the caption “WANTED BY NYC.” As Mayor Adams speaks of the death of our city and billion-dollar deficits, both of them have become camera shy. Since they obviously put their Democratic Party ahead of their country and constituents, they won’t criticize President Biden. And since they callously but accurately know they have knee-jerk voters only voting for Democrats, they view migrants as future voters — for them, so let’s not alienate them with criticism. They must be thinking: “City be damned, New Yorkers, too bad. We have our fat salaries, pensions and security details. Life is good — for us.” John Brindisi

Take action

Brooklyn: Our mayor said the influx of illegals — excuse me, asylum seekers — is going to destroy our city. Before we let that happen, we must take action to prevent it, Mr. Mayor. Repeal or amend the right to shelter consent decree. It was never intended to handle the overwhelming number of people our city is dealing with. The City of New York can’t provide people with free housing, food, medical care, education for children, etc. and not expect people from all over the world to come and take advantage of such a great deal. Why wouldn’t they? Neither the federal government nor our governor are going to bankroll this, so stop asking. Unless you repeal or amend that consent decree, our city will be overwhelmed and destroyed. T.C. Henry

Go it alone

Blauvelt, N.Y.: Since the feds won’t respond to the ever-worsening migrant crisis affecting New York and some other cities, governors like Kathy Hochul should bypass the ridiculously long wait time for work permits by issuing their own. Take a chance and ignore the feds. There are jobs waiting for migrants — income that would take them off an unsustainable public dole. Immigrants in the great European migrations of the 20th century went to work right away, building lives, cities and the nation. Ignore Washington. Art Gunther

Line in the sand

Manhattan: Our swaggering, incompetent mayor has got to stop whining and do something about the migrant situation. The numbers are overwhelming, resulting in our budget being negatively impacted, affecting important programs and institutions, especially our public schools. To the countries where the immigration problem originates, the mayor’s message must be clear and in their native language: Do not come to New York City! There are no available shelters or jobs for you. Moreover, impound the buses or return them with the migrants back to the point of departure with water and adequate provisions. Sheila Edwards

Keep it here

Brooklyn: During the last two years, the U.S.A. provided $261 million for help to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, and since 2017 has provided $2.8 billion to Venezuela. Because most of the migrants arriving in New York came from those countries, NYC is expecting to spend $12 billion to take care of them in two years. I believe the U.S.A. should stop sending money to those countries and use it to help the local situation. Most of the money sent ended up in the pockets of high-ranking military leaders and corrupt politicians. Taxpayer money must be used to deal with local problems. Francisco J. Castillo

Not a holiday

New Windsor, N.Y.: To Voicer Chet Walker: With the 22nd anniversary of Ground Zero coming up on Monday, we will never forget those 3,000 innocent souls who went about their business on that sunny Tuesday only to be gone forever. The sporting events should go on, but all should observe a moment of silence before they begin. Under no circumstances should 9/11 be observed as a holiday. It’s a day of remembrance, not for retail sales. May they all rest in peace and may God be at their and their families’ sides forever. Todd Schuster

Life goes on

Newton, N.J.: To Voicer Chet Walker: The NFL, not the teams, sets the schedule. So it wasn’t the Jets who chose 9/11 for their season opener. Second, numerous sporting events have taken place on that date since 2001, including NFL games, MLB games, college football and the U.S. Open tennis finals. We remember what happened on that horrible day, but we do not stop living. I don’t think the victims would have wanted that. Michael Schnackenberg

Pump the brakes

North Bergen, N.J.: While I agree with Republican candidates that inflation is bad, I find it hard to accept their attempt to blame it on President Biden. Consider the causes. High interest rates and higher mortgage rates mean greater profits for lenders and increasing difficulty for borrowers. Similarly, higher prices at the pump mean greater profits for oil companies. Clearly, there is no real competition and no incentive for them to be more reasonable in their pricing. The answer to inflation lies in regulations the Republicans won’t accept and the Democrats can’t seem to understand. Imagine you’re in a car going down a steep hill with several sharp curves. Do you step on the gas or do you apply the brakes? It’s time to apply the brakes in our economy. We need to rein in those greedy corporate elements that show no concern for the people being harmed by their quest for ever-increasing profits. Irving A. Gelb

Clear choice

Fort Worth, Texas: I’m voting for President Biden for reelection in spite of his age because I want a president who’s honest, not a pathological liar; who is kind, not cruel; who is a statesman, not a conman; who’s empathic, not narcissistic; and who will treat women and the disabled with respect, not ridicule them. I don’t understand why any American would even consider voting for that democracy-hating, dictator-loving Donald Trump, whose only goal appears to be crowning himself president for life. Sharon Austry