By Clyde Williams We have now had two presidential debates, and the issue of healthcare has been front and center. In New York, nearly 40 percent of the entire state budget is spent on healthcare—and it’s rising every year. It’s clear that our economy won’t be competitive unless we figure out how to improve the 
Seniors, animals, Alzheimer’s and the mayor’s lofty plans Still hoping clergy who blessed the animals on St. Francis of Assisi’s birthday will pick up on the following little poem of mine. Set it to music; it has a lot to do with love. Why can’t a people (sic) be more like a dog or cat? 
LESSONS IN NEGATIVITY By Jeanne Martinet Let’s face it. When someone is serving up exceptionally juicy gossip—whether it’s hitherto-uncovered dirt on a person who has been mean to you, an unsavory secret about an unscrupulous business competitor or a scandal about a celebrity—joining in can be a delicious temptation. But the urge to disparage can
Violence prevention groups should address the link between alcohol and domestic violence This column is in part prompted by Yom Kippur and readers who thoughtfully responded to the unexpected death of my dear unofficial goddaughter, Janie Villiers. It’s also about the often-ignored link between alcohol and violent and other aberrant behaviors. In much the same
NEVER LET ANYTHING SEPARATE YOU FROM THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE Or, as Abraham understood God to have told him, “Heyay beracha,” which means “be a blessing”—that is why we are here. Timeless counsel for all people from Rabbi Harvey Tattelbaum’s “A Thought for the New Year” homily published in this newspaper. And no doubt, his 
Life in a Box To the Editor: The city’s recent plan that was noted in your paper (“Living Large?” Aug. 9) to make tiny 275-square-foot apartments for singles seems outrageous. Why not go even further and make street apartments for the homeless? These could consist of large refrigerator or sofa boxes with a battery-operated hot 
When proximity breeds contempt Readers may remember how often I have expounded on the social benefits of living in this crowded, vibrant, melting (and mingling) pot of a city—where the possibility of conversations with strangers is always right at the tip of your ears, and even if you are too shy to talk to strangers, 
