Health Care Is Right
To The Editor:

In this season of giving, good will towards all humanity and caring, I applaud three very dedicated special and caring city council representatives, Ms.[Christine] Quinn, Joel Rivera, and Eric Gioia for their passage of Manny's Law. The protection, safeguarding of human life and treating everyone the same, according them the same rights as all people. No accident, injury, illness victim of any age of any race and of any gender and of any financial capability should ever be denied medical, hospital and emergency room care as well as health care. Health care is a basic human right, not a privilege. Manny, who was denied this privilege must not be forgotten and he did not die in vain, and we thank these lawmakers for their tireless advocacy.

In addition, I applaud the council for their passage of the Clean Air Law. Breathing clean air, and living in an environment is also a right, not a privilege.

We must emulate these young vibrant councilmembers who truly care for our city, our borough, our nation and for our world, not only for this generation but for the future.

In so doing, these councilmembers have displayed the Chanukah and Christmas spirit.

On another note, it is with mixed emotions that I share my following opinions with the Gazette reader.

I am truly delighted that the 10-day Access-A-Ride strike has finally ended and now the thousands of disabled and elderly New Yorkers can once again get to their destinations without stress and hardship.

The Access-A-Ride users have every right to be able to move freely throughout the five boroughs of New York. They are not pitiful, sorrowful, ill patients, but rather students, working people, elderly people and those who need to visit doctors and deserve the same treatment as those who use the busses and subways. I am glad that the drivers will finally get their settlement. Striking to cause undue stress and hardship is really sad.

I am dismayed that the transit fare and tolls and LIRR fares will rise and the very thought of placing tolls on the East River Bridges to ease congestion in New York City to me is grossly unjust. Why should budgets be balanced upon the backs of working people who use mass transit to go to work? Why are the drivers who live in the 4 boroughs of NYC discriminated against, forced to pay tolls on these bridges which have been free since 1911? Aren't times financially tight already with rising rents, tuition, food, medical care, etc? Cynthia Groopman Long Island City