New York should learn from Montreal’s mistakes

Montreal: As a frequent visitor to New York City, I find charm in the everyday aspects that some locals might find bothersome. Walking through New York today, the experience brings back memories of the changes my own city has faced over the past ten years.

Montreal’s political landscape leans further left than the Democratic Party in the U.S. For over eight years, the city has been under the leadership of socialist-leaning governments, elected with promises to support vulnerable groups, provide affordable housing, and enhance social services and public transportation. However, the outcomes have been quite different from what was anticipated.

Currently, 20% of Montreal’s population depends on food banks. Homeless encampments have become a regular sight, even in high-end or tourist-focused areas. Supervised drug injection sites have been established in historical neighborhoods, which has contributed to urban decline rather than its prevention. The city has slowed and eventually ceased most private residential developments, prioritizing government-managed social housing instead.

Due to the sluggish and inadequate progress in social housing construction, the real estate supply dwindled just as immigration increased. Basic economic principles took effect: housing prices doubled, rents soared, and landlords ceased renovations as rent-control policies rendered improvements financially unfeasible. Consequently, private housing quality deteriorated. Meanwhile, taxes rose sharply, leading to vacant commercial properties, business closures, and job relocations to Toronto or the suburbs, where the tax environment and living costs are more predictable.

While redistributive policies have a noble appeal, when they become too punitive, those with resources simply relocate. They have the means to move, leaving those in need to face fewer job opportunities, higher living costs, and reduced public services. I hope New York’s leadership finds success, but I also hope they learn from Montreal’s errors. Cities should aim to be compassionate and inclusive, yet they must remain effective and sustainable. Charles Pépin-Clément

No help then

Brooklyn: Hats off to Voicer J.R. Cummings for highlighting the issue of taxpayers funding child care. My parents received no such aid and had to juggle two jobs to manage expenses and child care. Nothing came for free for them. Josie Oliveri

Black-market boon

Copiague, L.I.: If no one else is delighted by the federal spending bill passed by the Senate, organized crime should be. One little-noticed provision rewrites the 2018 Farm Act to essentially ban the growing or processing of hemp products containing more than 0.3% of the active ingredient THC (for comparison, commercial “recreational” weed contains 18-28% THC, with concentrates testing at up to 90%). In states where recreational cannabis was legalized, the drug caused few problems, but it did deprive criminal dealers of their market for cannabis and cut them off from the opportunity to move their customers to more powerful, profitable and addictive drugs like cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. In addition, legalization created more than 300,000 jobs, many of them well-paying, and produced millions of dollars in new tax revenue for states, counties and towns. All that goes away with the new federal spending bill. Mitch Kessler

Leaders in waiting

New Haven, Conn.: Sens. Chris Murphy, Chris Van Hollen, Brian Schatz, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren speak for the American people. They have taken the lead in opposing the president’s heartless, callous and vengeful acts against everyday citizens, indifferent to their suffering from lack of and high prices for food and health care. All Americans need to hear these Democratic voices loud and clear, as these now better represent them than Sen. Chuck Schumer’s. These senators are our strongest leaders who can forge ahead to build what the American people deserve. Joanna Stuart

Convenient deaths

Cincinnati: Jeffrey Epstein and Virginia Giuffre had a lot of info on Donald Trump and the others on Epstein Island, and they are both dead — both by suicide. It’s very strange how Giuffre completely exonerated Trump, making it a point to make public that Trump did nothing wrong. This is where I scratch my head. Did Trump get to her and pay her off? Or maybe he blackmailed her, saying he would reveal films and pictures of her. In the emails, it states that Trump spent hours with Giuffre. Was he being a father figure and counseling her on her path in life? I don’t think so. Maybe Trump or others involved thought she was too big of a risk. Two people who could have brought down the rich and powerful just happen to both kill themselves? I don’t think so. Mark Jessee

Well-worn response

Brooklyn: Let me clarify something about this Epstein scandal and Trump’s involvement in it. According to Trump’s twisted logic, the Epstein mess is a hoax — but only when it pertains to him and his cohorts. However, it is not a hoax when it involves prominent Democrats! This is typical Trump doublespeak that should be apparent to everyone, including his loyal supporters. Irwin Cantos

Focus on what’s felt

Manhattan: Even if there is proof of Trump’s involvement with underage girls, it will be just another negative epithet to his already long list of sins, corruption, malfeasance, etc. Put it to rest. Unless he is forthwith removed from office, the time and money wasted on the pursuit is ridiculous. People should be more concerned with the inflation running rampant because of his failed policies. It’s ironic that all of a sudden, Marjorie Taylor Greene has seen the light and is now on the Trump dump list. Could there be other Republicans who have awakened to the lies and bait-and-switch sleight of hand that are synonymous with the Trump agenda? Jack Weiss

Sounds like swine

Manhattan: He calls a woman reporter “piggy,” then walks right by an American flag lying on the ground that fell from a flagpole he had installed. He is the pig — and apologies to all pigs. Joseph Duffy

Infertile ground

Carle Place, L.I.: One of your football writers, Antwan Staley, suggests the Jets might wait until 2027 and draft the current Ohio State quarterback (“Not too soon to look at ’26 QB,” Nov. 18). The only decent QB the Buckeyes have ever produced is C.J. Stroud, and the jury is still out on him. And where did the latest Jets flop, Justin Fields, play? Oh yeah, “the” Ohio State University. Rudy Rosenberg

Reckless sentencing

Glen Ridge, N.J.: The callous, reckless and entitled driver who had racked up $11,000 in traffic and parking violations, including 21 speed camera tickets and five red light tickets, was still driving when she killed a mother and her two daughters and seriously injured her young son, yet she took a plea deal of only three to nine years (” ‘Callous & reckless,’ ” Nov. 18). But, and I quote, “it will still send a clear message that reckless driving that ends in tragedy will be met serious penalties.” Really? Tragedies have to happen to get those chronic abusive drivers off the road? What is the message here? That only death will take away their keys and lock them up. Something is seriously wrong with our judicial system. Francine Ferrara

Lethal & lucky

Staatsburg, N.Y.: So this individual who racked up nearly $11,000 in traffic and parking violations, including 21 speed camera tickets and five red light tickets, was driving with a suspended license and told cops she was “haunted inside” and had the “devil in my eyes.” Really? Was she haunted inside and had the devil in her eyes for the other 21 tickets also? Do you notice that every time incidents like this happen, the driver is either drunk or has a suspended license or none at all? Three lives were lost, and of course, the individual who caused the accident survives! She will probably serve only a little bit of time and be back on the road again. What a joke. Glenn Marowitz

No good reason

Bronx: In the Nov. 17 report on the mistaken-identity shooting murder (“He bought pal’s car — then he was killed“), the writers claim that one of the alleged perpetrators had “good reason” to seek revenge. Does the Daily News support shootings and murder when there is a “good reason”? Are you really excusing street violence and murder? Reporters should be careful with the words they choose, and editors should do a better job of clarifying the content. John F. Backe