Letters

Could you use the power of the press to SHAME well-funded large corporation storefronts that refuse to clean sidewalks or busstops in front of their properties?

Maybe grade these a la restaurant grades.

Perhaps the 30-year mom and pop shops can't get the job done. But how dare the likes of CVS, Duane Reade, Bank of America, and other wealthy 'stores' skip sidewalk cleaning entirely or carve only a walk path. leaving busstops impassable with snow, slush, ice, etc.

Most use gas-powered snow removers so it isn't even hard work. It is, however, 'good neighbor' manners and those are entirely lacking!!!

Arlene Guerra,

W. 96th Street

In response to "Hoping for Pay Dirt on Super Bowl Weekend," Jan. 30

I was very surprised to see your cover article about the renting out of apartments for the Super Bowl weekend mainly emphasizing the use of AirBnB and Craigslist with absolutely no regard or mention that such activities are mostly against the law in New York.

Regulated tenants (stabilize or controlled) are not allowed to rent their apartments in this manner. Most co-ops and condos have strict rules forbidding such transient rentals for safety and usage concerns.

You irresponsibly and unabashedly gave promotion for something which is (1) against the law and (2) a lot of people really see as a threat and invasion of our community. As a resident in an apartment building, I certainly DO NOT want strangers easily gaining access to the premises, just as I would not want hookers to set up shop in my building or drug dealing in the next apartment! And it is no excuse that some residents can play little "landlord" to make a few dollars while exposing neighbors to strangers, more traffic, wear and tear, noise and putting innocent people at risk.

The desperate need for affordable housing in New York and the preservation of that dwindling stock, never mind the almost fruitless efforts to create more affordable housing for the middle and working classes, is seriously, and I mean SERIOUSLY threatened by a whole range of unscrupulous landlords, developers and parasites who will utilize services like AirBnB to oust or replace more city residents to make even more money in short term rentals than full time residents can afford. The laws that have been made target and try to stop these illegal, temporary or surreptitious housing and pop up "hotels." AirBnB undercuts this very effort to save affordable housing for residents, perhaps New York's number one problem --which is the exact reason Paris, another site hyped by AirBnB, also has far more stringent laws against such short term rentals.

I realize the article was not about housing per se, but it certainly demonstrated a callousness to life in this city.

You did a great disservice to New York residents by promoting an idea and activity that on the surface may sound cute or novel, but which has terrible unintended side effects and actually does damage by adding burdens to the most difficult problem for average New York residents: affordable housing, which you must have heard every NYC politician addressing.

Sincerely,

Edward Maloney

E. 80th St.