Letters to the Editor
Outdoor Dining
Thanks for publishing “Getting Village Outdoor Dining Right.” Journalism is frequently ‘criticism’ — as it should be. When ‘Getting It Right’ is exceptional, that deserves coverage, too. Of the 12 restaurants and shops cited, only one — Wogie’s — offers roadbed/in-street seating. Indeed, of the 12 restaurants and shops cited, only Wogie’s offers seating that requires pedestrians using a public sidewalk and restaurant servers and customers to ‘mix it up.’
More on that last point: if roadbed/in-street seating is separated from the curb by a bike lane, that seating not only violates NYC’s DOT rules; if alcohol is served this also violates any NY (city or state) license — which explicitly prohibits serving alcohol when that requires crossing an active traffic lane — and a bike lane is an active traffic lane.
One quibble: the article lacks a date line.
— Redbike
Yes, Trump Has Supporters in The Village
As a New Yorker, I appreciate Village View’s attention to local details as well its throwback tone to an edgier, more liberal era in our beloved neighborhood.
Mostly, I respect your commitment to local journalism and I enjoy reading perspectives on national happenings. That’s why I encourage The Village View to be more balanced and allow conservative voices to have equal time and express views which don’t necessarily align with those of the editorial staff.
For example, I see a lot of Trump-trashing. And that’s fine because it’s part of our Constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech. But I’d like to add that many New Yorkers, myself included, consider Trump to be an excellent leader.
More than any other president, he “gets” New York City. He was born and raised in Queens and attended Fordham. He rode the subway, he’s been stuck in traffic, he’s seen the homeless, the drug-addicted and the mentally ill on our streets. He hob nobs with the rich, the famous and the powerful. He’s a Yankees fan who’s also been pictured with Melania on the Mets’ Kiss Cam. He knows New York’s finest restaurants and he also knows not to put ketchup on a hot dog.
Like those of us who live in the Village, Trump knows New York but more importantly, he knows how to run a country. Some of his plans may differ from his predecessors, but isn’t that what the Village is all about? Seeing and doing things with a fresh perspective? Let our president use his fresh perspective to secure our borders, strengthen our military, get back to the “three Rs” of education, balance our budget and restore our status in the world. Let’s give Trump the time to accomplish the things he needs to do to strengthen our country.
At the same time, I ask The Village View to provide everyone equal space to express their different points of view. That’s the basis of good-old fashioned American journalism and I encourage your paper to represent the diverse opinions of our entire Village.
— Mary Miller
Building Power, Not Divisions
There’s been no shortage of post-primary punditry this week, but amid the headlines, one moment stood out: the partnership between Brad Lander and Zohran Mamdani. Their cross-borough collaboration wasn’t just strategic; it was a reminder that progressives don’t have to sacrifice principle to build coalitions. While Republicans coordinate to dismantle democracy, too often Democrats are busy dismantling each other.
Nowhere was that clearer than in the District 1 City Council race. As a keenly aware local voter, I watched the campaign unfold up close — and while the candidates’ platforms had important distinctions, many shared progressive priorities. Yet the campaign run by the incumbent was defined by hostility. As I walked into a poll site, I saw Councilmember Marte’s team shouting down volunteers for other Democrats, calling them “gentrifier,” “white supremacist,” even “Nazi.” That kind of rhetoric isn’t movement-building — it’s self-sabotage.
I leaned toward candidates who treated housing as a cornerstone issue and who paired bold ideas with clear, pragmatic plans. Mamdani’s campaign was a model of that: a values-based movement with substance, grounded in engagement, not just performance. He showed up, answered tough questions, and treated disagreement with dignity.
But the deeper issue isn’t just tone—it’s effectiveness, and the consequences of substituting empty righteousness for results. When our rhetoric outpaces our outcomes, we don’t just lose credibility—we lose the chance to lead on the local and national stage.
To the candidates across the city who fought hard and won: congratulations. This is an exciting moment for Democrats. Young people are organizing, progressives are building real momentum, and the path ahead is wide open. My hope is that we meet this moment not just with passion, but with purpose—and with politics that earn trust, builds coalitions, and delivers results.
— Amelia
