Where’s accountability for NYC officials?

Kearny, N.J.: Now that it’s finally been revealed that city officials knew about the dangers of the toxic air at Ground Zero right after 9/11 but kept that knowledge from those who engaged in recovery efforts and those who lived and worked downtown, when can we expect to see the four mayors, corporation counsels and environmental commissioners who covered that up and lied about it for 25 years criminally charged, stripped of their pensions and benefits and sent to jail?

Does Rudy Ghouliani — a guy with shoe polish dripping down his face, caught on video sticking his hands down his pants in the presence of what was presented as an underaged girl, and losing a $148 million case brought against him by two Georgia election workers he defamed — think he’s in a position to suggest it would be untoward for Mayor Mamdani to attend the remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero?

Why does it seem so much easier to fire bad cops in the “backwards” and “regressive” red states than it does in New York City? Why can they can a bad officer (and sometimes even arrest them) within days after a video comes out of blatantly unjustified use of force while it takes years to do anything in NYC? Daniel Pantaleo kept his job for five years after being caught on video using an illegal chokehold on Eric Garner.

John Woodmaska

No such disrespect

Manhattan: It’s a shame that Voicers Michael Greaney and JoAnn Lee Frank wrote without knowing the facts of the 9/11 anniversary. The picture of AOC and Mamdani was taken when they met that day, well before the ceremony actually started. If your readers would just do a little research before writing their ignorant letters, they wouldn’t write them. Michael and JoAnn, try to do the work before spewing Republican Party lies.

Richard Simon

Nothing to celebrate

Nutley, N.J.: Remembering 9/11 Friday was, as always, extremely painful. Recalling the suffering and agony of that day, and where you were at certain times when the planes hit their targets over and over again, no one forgets — except one. Vice President JD Vance made the ill-timed remark: “We’re about to… celebrate all the brave heroes… It could have been so much worse.” How insensitive to use the word “celebrate” in any form of that speech. How could he?

Elaine Bucino

Where is he?

Brooklyn: Let me get this straight: Republicans want voters to provide proof of citizenship in order to vote, but they haven’t once asked for proof of life for Mitch McConnell, the Republican senator who hasn’t been seen and hasn’t gone to work in four months? Make it make sense.

Joe Ferra

Beyond his remit

Brooklyn: It was scary watching President Trump speak at the GOP midterm convention last week. He forced people swear an oath that he’s the greatest president ever. He then advocated that people commit a crime by voting even if you’re not registered. This is clearly not part of his official job, even according to the recent Supreme Court decision limiting liability. Therefore, Trump can be arrested, if not when he’s president but the day after he leaves office. People voting illegally are also subject to prosecution.

Alan Podhaizer

When will we act?

Monroe, N.J.: When Trump last ran for office, we were promised that the Russia/Ukraine war would end in one day if he were elected. When the Iran “conflict,” not a war, was started, it was to be over in a few weeks. Promises of money, DOGE returns, tariff dividends and lower food prices haven’t materialized and won’t. Now in true dictatorship form, he bribes to obtain votes for his party, encourages them “to cheat” at the elections, and has attendees make a pledge (hands over hearts or raised in a fist) to get out his vote. We stop, listen and sometimes shake our heads in disbelief. Are we really as stupid as he sees us to not organize, fight and take back the democratic government we’re promised in the Constitution? Someone break it to Congress that most of these pre-election demands are illegal and deserving of opposition and action against them.

Katherine Moloney

Eyebrow-raising remark

Brooklyn: Trump said: “Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia… Don’t hit diesel fuel, because that’s hurting, that’s hurting the world.” He didn’t really say that, did he?

Peter Magnotta

Hard truths

San Francisco: To Voicer Rich Buttermark: I’m not sure what upsets you more, my “gibberish” or the fact that I’m from San Francisco. I see many letters from Voicers from other U.S. cities and around the world, but you don’t seem to object to them. So, it must be what I have to say. Funny, you didn’t seem to disagree with anything I said. Maybe because it’s all true. Sorry, Rich, but here in the U.S., we’re allowed to express our opinions whenever and wherever we like. You and many others have been taken in by a lowlife charlatan. Just look at all the junk he sells on his website to suckers like you. This man has no respect for anyone or anything, especially our great country. No doubt, you look forward to his stack of lies after the November election. And please, spare me the TDS bull crap.

Jimmy Layton

Autonomous chaperone

Box Hill, Australia: Recently, a Waymo autonomous car detected that its passengers had a gun, so it called the police and pulled the car over, locked the doors and waited until they arrived. Finally, AI is of benefit to the general public. There might also be a drink/drug mode where the car will simply not go anywhere and call police if the passengers don’t get out. A real safety improvement would be “dad mode,” which would include an option that wouldn’t allow a young couple to be driven to a secluded, dark location, and if the distance between them is insufficient, a “please move apart” warning would be followed by the car tuning its radio to gospel songs, blaring the horn at full volume, driving straight home and then livestreaming the video of the parents yelling at them. A few such episodes should prevent any mishaps.

Dennis Fitzgerald

Signs were there

Brooklyn: I fail to comprehend why everyone is suddenly so concerned about AI. If they had been paying attention a while ago, they would have realized that AI is going to take over all the jobs currently being done by humans.

Charlie Pisano

Early AI

Bronx: Does anyone remember HAL the computer in “2001: A Space Odyssey”?

Dorothy Krasiker

One good thing

Brooklyn: On Sunday, Pete Alonso knocked in his 100th run batted in to go along with his 35 home runs. The Mets have a three-game homestand against the Baltimore Orioles that started yesterday. Maybe they can make one of the games “Pete Alonso Day” — the only decent thing the Mets organization can do!

Lydia DiBello