NYPD protects its own before the public
Whitestone: Let me see if I have this correct. Ex-Mayor Eric “Baldy” Adams gives one of his donors a new toy, the NYPD, which billionairess Jessie Tisch again proved she is incompetent to run. After two of her thugs beat an innocent man senseless last Tuesday, she takes away their guns and badges and puts them on desk duty. While she was at it, why didn’t she take their milk and cookies away? They should’ve been immediately suspended with no pay pending the usual drawn-out NYPD investigation. Anybody remember Daniel Pantaleo?
Here’s my prediction: Tisch will keep them on payroll, allowing them to accumulate gobs of overtime, then if and when they’re found guilty, allow them to retire rather than terminate them, with a bump in grade to boost their pensions, of course. Anyone with 25% of their brain functioning could see this was police brutality and these thugs are a menace perpetrated on society.
I love how the police unions always come to the defense of their members, no matter how compelling and honestly events are depicted. Why shouldn’t Patrick Lynch, Patrick Hendry, Scott Munro and the rest of the NYPD unions defend a stone-cold guilty action by two thugs who’re supposed to protect us? I’m sure Paddy Lynch is enjoying his taxpayer-funded pension while for 20-plus years his only department accomplishment was screaming how unfairly his members were treated.
Pat DeMarco
Lost lanes
Manhattan: Two traffic lanes on W. 72nd St. are to close to traffic, being replaced by two bike lanes in the middle of the street. Big disruption to commercial traffic, probably forcing it to smaller side streets — a disaster. Janet Attwood
Extortionate
Brooklyn: I’m 89. I live on Supplemental Security Income. Con Edison billed me $177 and $308 for overcharges. The delivery charge was $163.31 — more than the energy itself. This is illegal and unfair.
Boris Gutman
Feeling seen
Brooklyn: I want to thank you for finally giving us crossword solvers a full page, which can be done without help from a magnifying glass. My enjoyment was always hampered by trying to manipulate and enlarge the grid. Thanks.
Mary Somoza
The point is made
Brooklyn: In response to Alan Dershowitz’s op-ed “Roald Dahl was a ‘Giant’ antisemite” (April 16), I agree wholeheartedly. Perhaps I should clarify. I agree with that statement, not with the opinion piece itself. Dershowitz states that the play’s audience was led to assume that because Dahl “supported what is today’s major left-wing cause — namely Palestinianism — he must have done so out of principle and commitment to human rights” and that he was not a vicious antisemite. Yes, the early part of “Giant” keeps it a little ambiguous, but it builds as the play progresses, and by the end, his true nature is abundantly clear. I can’t imagine anyone leaving the play with any other conclusion: Roald Dahl was a “Giant” antisemite.
Peter Magnotta
Uncharitable
Bronx: Compounding the blasphemy of posting an image of himself as Jesus, and the outrageous statement that Pope Leo XIV “wants Iran to have a nuclear bomb” and other appalling lies about the beliefs of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, on April 16, President Trump canceled an $11 million federal contract held by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, which houses and cares for migrant children and has provided crucial aid to unaccompanied children for more than six decades. The withdrawal of federal funds may force the charity to suspend operations within a matter of months. This action demonstrates the president’s monumental cruelty, total lack of empathy and compassion, pathological narcissism, boundless vengefulness, abysmal ignorance and glaring immaturity.
Miriam Levine Helbok
Your lips to God’s ears
Whitestone: Trump’s spiritual adviser, Pastor Paula White-Cain, said that saying no to Trump is the same thing as “saying no to God.” In that case: Hey, Paula, tell God to go to hell.
Robert LaRosa Sr.
Podium as pulpit
Staten Island: Trump reads the Bible on television? Why? Wouldn’t it be more sensible for him to read from the Constitution?
Victor R. Stanwick
Necessary vote
Holbrook, L.I.: I’ve been of the opinion that trying to impeach Trump now is a waste of time and effort. I’ve changed my mind. Since Easter, Trump has committed a number of war crimes, starting with his threatening to “end” Iranian “civilization” — a genocide! Even announcing that “plan” violates Article 52 of the Geneva Conventions. Any time a president announces his plan to commit a war crime, he must face impeachment. Whether it’s politically practical or likely to fail, Congress must be on record standing up for the rule of law. Congress must take a stand against a madman who publicly threatened to kill 93 million people. Let every member be forced to stand and be counted on whether they stand with civilization or those who look to end it.
Michael Wilson
Informed or impulse?
Brooklyn: A guilty conscience needs no accuser. Voicer Roberta Chaleff responds to my repudiation of her arguing that Kamala Harris is unqualified to be president while making no mention of Trump’s continued ignorance and ineptitude. Chaleff argues now, “I can’t answer for Trump, Harris or anyone else’s background or qualifications.” Ms. Chaleff, that begs the question: How do you cast an educated vote for someone and how can you argue that a candidate is unqualified if you “can’t answer for” a candidate’s background or qualifications? Your statement is contradictory and oxymoronic. What would motivate you to take time out from your busy schedule to unfairly malign Harris while Trump continues to bring our country to its knees?
Stanley McKie
Added analysis
Manhattan: Why did the editors of your sports department choose to intersperse “advanced analytics” in Bill Madden’s Sunday column (“Fix it, or fail?” April 19)? Every baseball fan who reads your venerable newspaper knows this great Hall of Fame baseball writer would never have deigned to explain the Mets’ disastrous spring with the aid of these equations. These are invalid measurements made up by MBAs who never played the game on a serious level. It’s one thing for your sports editors and writers to use these useless measurements, but not in Madden’s column! He told the raw truth about the stumbling Mets! Clubs can’t win consistently without team cohesion, sound fundamentals, players playing out of position and most importantly, heart and soul. Mets management did its best to make sure the team won’t make it to the playoffs, much less the World Series.
Gerard Rosenthal
Here’s hoping
Congers, N.Y.: To Voicer Eric Wollman: I couldn’t agree more. I really looked forward to the Saturday TV column by Rich Heufeld. I corresponded with him several times about TV shows (he didn’t print my letters but he always wrote back). I’m hoping he’s just on vacation.
Beth Friscino