The Feast of San Gennaro is a terrific celebration of the great history of the Italian people, and to consider scaling down its length because of the whining of a few hoity-toity business people is outrageous.

“ ‘Boot’ for Italy Fest” (Feb. 20) cites certain shop owners who claim that feast-goers enter their shops with “greasy hands” and “stain leather handbags and other expensive merchandise.”

Here’s a novel idea for shop owners: Rather than curtail the fun of others and scale down the feast by three blocks, shut your doors for two weeks and go on vacation!

For 85 years, the San Gennaro feast has attracted thousands to Little Italy, at a huge economic benefit to the city.

Pass me some zeppoli (without a napkin, of course).

Hon. Alfonse M. D’Amato, Manhattan