The Issue: Gov. Cuomo’s plans to reform public-employee pensions and the teacher-evaluation system.
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Conservatives and liberals should unite behind Gov. Cuomo as he tries to cut down on public workers’ retirement benefits and set up a new evaluation system for teachers (“NY Voters Believe State Is Heading in Right Direction,” Jan. 26).
The unions and their lapdogs in the Legislature will try to stop Cuomo, so he needs all the support we can offer.
Lenny Rodin
Forest Hills
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If Cuomo’s father or Gov. Pataki had New York switch to 401(k)s, we would not have a budget mess.
Go, Cuomo!
Joe McNiesh
Staten Island
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Cuomo has switched his economic philosophy to fiscal austerity on the backs of middle-class workers.
When Cuomo was HUD secretary, he heralded a plan to increase home ownership. Experts believe that fervently implemented idea helped cause the sub-prime-mortgage meltdown.
Cuomo’s pushing unrealistic housing goals was hardly sound fiscal policy. Now he’s attacking the working person’s pension and benefits.
His past will continue to characterize him as unsure of whether he’s a tax-and-spend liberal or a fiscal conservative.
Robert Sica
Brooklyn
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Some government-sector union leaders may be accusing Cuomo of turning into the next Scott Walker, the pro-reform Republican governor of Wisconsin. If only.
But there is no doubt that if Cuomo were a Republican, these professional advocates of legalized extortion would be screaming bloody murder. It’s typical leftist hypocrisy and cowardice.
Mark Kalinowski
Clifton, NJ
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Under Cuomo’s proposal, firefighters will have to work until they are 65 years old. Meanwhile, Mayor Bloomberg has already closed firehouses and cut staffing.
If their goal is to make firefighting the grayest job in the city, they might as well consolidate the plans, close the firehouses — and use senior centers instead.
Chris Riordan
Merrick
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Let’s get real: Cuomo is doing a great job for New York. He has shown real leadership.
His latest plan to revamp the pension system is gutsy and essential.
He is taking on the powerful forces in the state and challenging many of the sacred cows for the purpose of trying to put the state’s fiscal house in order.
The Legislature needs to work with the governor, not stonewall him. As for the unions, they need to be realistic and cooperate for the good of the state.
The governor is on his way to higher office.
Mark Meirowitz
Manhattan
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I wonder if Cuomo is still welcome in his father’s house after digging in his heels over teacher evaluations and pension reform. He’s acting too Republican.
If they aren’t torpedoed by Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver and his Albany gang, Cuomo’s reforms look promising.
Not only should the governor set pension policy for state workers, but he should also extend it to include all elected personnel and legislate by example.
C. Michaels
Morganville, NJ
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If Cuomo can eliminate a $10 billion deficit by freezing spending, perhaps he can do it again and start paying off New York’s debt and reduce taxes.
Imagine if they did this in Washington. They could have a surplus in two years. How novel.
Paul Sheridan
Hicksville
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I am tired of people’s complaining about the benefits given to retirees. While I worked for less pay, my friends and relatives languished in higher-paying jobs and 401(k) matches.
As a single parent, I struggled and continued to accrue years of service without additions to my home or lavish vacations. I finally retired after working many years for my pension.
How dare you sit in your overpaid chairs and decide that workers can afford to pay an increase for benefits? How dare you encourage anyone to chip away at our pensions?
Josephine Carrion
Brooklyn