Big Apple, sliced

I lived for 12 years in and around New York, including a couple of years driving a taxi at night, and have lived in Southern California (mostly L.A.) for 25 years. Since Shawn Hubler has raised this “world’s oldest riff ... too stale ... too low class ... “ [“New Yorkers: How to Get a Life out Here,” May 1], I have to say that one of the most annoying elements of this silly question is that when ex-New Yorkers talk about “New York” they aren’t talking about New York, they’re talking about parts of Manhattan.

Do you think that people in Queens or the Bronx don’t know about putting oil in a car? Instead of saying New York when making their comparisons, they should say Woodyallenland.

I could go on, but I won’t, except to say: Is a lack of N.Y. delis really a problem, especially since the pastrami at Langer’s is better than any in New York?

Richard Harris

Los Angeles