Transplant tragedy
No one should be barred from receiving a transplant entirely based on their inoculation status (“No vax? No transplant,” Jan. 26).
The COVID vaccine has become equivalent to medical VIP status and the prerequisite to medical care. What’s next? Will medical care be denied to children without the chicken pox vaccine or cancer patients who refused the HPV vaccine?
Organ transplants are risky with or without the vaccine. DJ Ferguson suffers from a bad heart and has received heartless news based on policy.
This strong-armed approach to medical care will invite medical prejudice, create distrust between citizens and the medical system and severely affect people in desperate need of care. Ferguson’s vaccination status should not have caused him to be removed from the organ transplant list.
G. Joi Bailey
Macomb, Mich.
Protecting tenants
The suggestion that Blackstone does not care about its residents is inaccurate and uninformed (“Gov Stands Tall on Evictions,” Editorial, Jan. 22).
For nearly two years, Blackstone has had a national policy to not evict anyone for non-payment during the pandemic, even in states with no moratorium.
In New York City, we were one of the first owners to allow residents to use their security deposits toward rent, and we also allowed voluntary lease breaks. These were in addition to setting up a food pantry with City Harvest that delivered more than one million pounds of groceries to those in need.
Blackstone of course also played a key role in securing the continued affordability of 5,000 apartments in StuyTown after the previous owner defaulted. New York benefited, and we set a standard for the role property owners can play during a nationwide housing crisis.
Most recently, Blackstone’s Home Partners of America announced a $1 billion affordable-housing program to help low-to-moderate-income Americans rent homes at a discount so they can save money before potentially buying these homes. As housing prices soar, we are helping make home ownership dreams a reality.
We’re extremely proud of our housing record and will continue to do everything we can to help our residents.
Nadeem Maghji
Head of Real Estate Americas, Blackstone
Manhattan
Silver’s legacy
It was fitting and well-deserved that Sheldon Silver died in jail (“Silver dies in jail,” Jan. 25).
Silver took an oath to represent the citizens who paid his salary and he betrayed that oath and he betrayed us.
For those who say who should remember Silver for the good things he did — anything good he did went out the window when he chose to disregard his responsibilities and just look for personal gain.
Corruption in politics is a never-ending situation, which is why corrupt politicians must be held accountable.
I make money the old-fashioned way: I earn it.
Kreg Ramone
Manhattan
Shoplift scourge
I’ve lived at One Irving Place since 1989, during which we enjoyed an A & P Food Emporium in our building (“Hey, help your-shelf,” Jan. 27).
Prices and food selection were excellent, and the convenience was superb. But during the de Blasio administration, crimes of shoplifting were simply ignored. It came to a point where the owners could no longer make a profit. The store closed.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, take note: Business and people will leave our city because of your reckless disregard of the law.
Michael O’Brien
Manhattan
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