Dear Tyler Sparks,

In regard to your December 5, 2014 column titled “Tuition-free SUNY is possible,” allow this reader, a former resident of Queens, to compliment you on a professionally written, extremely informative, and well-researched op-ed piece.

You never lost my interest!

I thoroughly appreciated the inclusion of information regarding the overall inequalities of school districts across the state, and wealthier districts that collect revenue from higher school/property taxes.

The only important fact missing in your piece was that our CUNY campuses used to be tuition-free as those of us who grew up in the city in the 50s and 60s so vividly remember.

Yes, it may have been a need-based system for most attendees until 1970 (i.e. low, basic course fees); but it was completely tuition-free from 1970 through 1976.

Thank you, PipeDream, for a thoughtful, one-of-a-kind op-ed column from a professional writer!

Fran Ferentinos

City of Binghamton resident