What Ed Kranepool really wants

Manhasset, L.I.: I am Ed Kranepool’s nephrologist (kidney specialist). I saw him Wednesday at my office and spoke to him about the recent articles appearing in the news. He confirmed to me that he will not be selling his World Series ring for any reason related to his medical condition. At present time, it is considered unethical by UNOS (the United Network for Organ Sharing) for someone to trade valuable items for a kidney, or to pay money for a kidney. It is a very controversial issue, and certainly there are some countries that condone this practice. But not the United States.

Mr. Kranepool is financially sound, and would not need to raise money to assist in any medically related endeavor. But even if he were not financially sound, he would not need to raise money to fund a kidney transplant. The costs would be covered by his insurance.

I am not certain of how the topic of selling his ring was brought up to him, but it is important that we clear up any confusion here. He is, however, looking for an altruistic kidney donor. What can the donor expect in return? Mr. Kranepool’s sincerest gratitude.

Jeffrey T. Cohen, M.D., North Shore Nephrology

Children of a lesser God?

Campbell River, British Columbia: I just read “Pray for Bayonne” (editorial, March 9) and listened to the WNYC segment about the refusal of the local zoning board to grant permission for a mosque to be built on the site of a old warehouse. What a sad state of affairs — zoning matters turned into far-right political fuel. President Obama’s Justice Department was very aware of local governments practicing this form of Islamophobia and took action to correct these decisions. Muslims have been in America since colonial times, thanks in part to the slave trade. At least 10% of African slaves were Muslims. These enslaved Muslim Africans were well educated and struggled (secretly) to maintain their religious practices as they were forced to adopt Christian beliefs.

Ruth MacLaurin

Hang up the saddle

Floral Park: Wendy Neu and NYCLASS just won’t give up (“De Blasio’s unstable legacy on horses,” Op-Ed, March 10). She writes about the “inhuman lives these animals lead forced to trudge through the rain and cold, suffer through the heat and humidity, walking concrete streets, threatened by speeding vehicles.” Has Neu ever stood on a Manhattan street corner on those same wintry or summer days and watched the poor humans trudging on concrete streets and threatened by the same speeding vehicles? Apparently, she thinks animals deserve more sympathy and concern than us humans. She and NYCLASS just won’t concede defeat. It’s about time they saddled a horse and rode off in the sunset.

Irv Leshkowitz

Free the horses

Manhattan: I live across from Central Park and witness the plight and overworked hours of the poor horses. I support all efforts to ban the carriages. This business is inhumane and a terrible reflection of what New York is all about. We believe in animal rights here. From my window in the early-morning hours, I see the same horses looking exhausted, still working in the park while the police drive right by. We’ve suffered accidents, fallen, exhausted horses and ripoff rides. When will it stop? Rachel Roth

Jumping through hoops

Buffalo: Voicer and Ringling Bros. ringmaster Jonathan Lee Iverson offered not a scintilla of evidence to defend the circus’ failed business model. Compassionate people everywhere condemn hauling animals around the country, beating them into submission and forcing them to perform stupid tricks. Keeping animals in cages and chains is indefensible. Dianne O’Connor

Inconvenient truth

Morrison, Ill.: There is no evidence that broken windows policing reduces crime overall (“Broken windows works,” editorial, March 6). The Daily News discredits itself by asserting that it does. This is immature and irresponsible editorializing.

Gregory Kruse

Blessed are the lifesavers

Brooklyn: Congratulations to the FDNY and Commissioner Dan Nigro on the quicker response of ambulances. Lives have been saved because of their hard work. It is too bad all we read about is their alleged hazing problem. Whoever runs their press office should be fired. Mellisa Conry Manhattan: In March, when we celebrate Women’s History Month, and also Irish heritage on Saint Patrick’s Day, let us remember an American woman of Irish heritage who conceived, carried nine months, birthed, nursed and raised a male child who became the first “black” President of the United States of America. I’m talking about Ann Dunham Obama. Dolores Grier

Girl, you’ll be a woman soon

San Diego: Respectfully, I disagree with Ginger Adams Otis’ perspective on the statue of a girl, who is also a young woman (“My two cents on Wall Street’s ‘Fearless Girl’ statue,” column, March 9). If more young women felt powerful enough and strong enough and good enough to be anything they want to be and to fight for their rights, maybe there would be more strong, defiant older women out there. Believing in ourselves starts when we are girls. That’s why I think the statue is brilliant. Patricia Zlaket

The unkindest cut

Crystal Lake, Ill.: In your coverage of metzitzah b’peh, the circumcision ritual, please change the phrase “cleaning the circumcision wound with oral suction” to something more accurate. For example: “sucking the freshly cut penis of a newborn” or “tearing the flesh from a newborns genitals and sucking them as he screams for mercy.” This ritual is mutilation and molestation. Circumcision should be illegal. There is no other sacrificial blood ritual that is legal to perform on minors in America. I do not see why circumcision of boys is considered an exception. And the practice has no place in medicine, either. Erin McArdle

What Carson got right

Westminster, Md.: Will someone please tell the whole story of the slaves? (“Ben Carson’s a disgrace for calling slaves immigrants,” column, March 6.) They were sold by tribal leaders after they were captured during their own inside fighting to establish leadership. Yes, slavery is wrong, but where is the outrage regarding slavery today? The slaves were “immigrants” from another land, sold into slavery and purchased by wealthy landowners in America. Since our country was established by immigrants, does anyone remember that indentured servants were among those who came to America, to work for at least seven years for their freedom? And other ethnic groups were treated poorly many years ago, including the Chinese, the Irish, the Italians, the Poles and many others. Let’s get off the racist train and realize every nation in the world has treated others wrong. Leave Dr. Carson alone. This hateful rhetoric must stop. Paula Rayner

This means war

Great Neck, L.I.: Ecuador has effectively declared cyberwar against the United States by continuing to give sanctuary to Julian Assange in its London embassy. Until this accused rapist and cybercriminal is expelled from their embassy, the administration should cut all diplomatic and economic ties to Ecuador. Assange has done more damage to the United States than any other living terrorist. Ecuador should be held accountable.

Klaus Bornemann

House of ill repute

Bronx: I lived in NYCHA apartments starting when I was 5 years old. The hallways were clean as well as the stairwells. Thirty-five years later, they became garbagestrewn cesspools where you do not dare walk barefooted outside your apartment. It is high time the city get out of the housing business and let the market take care of the housing projects. The city should only be concerned about Section 8 housing enforcement and rent restrictions based on state income. Luis E. Claudio

Donkey kong

David Pokress Manville, N.J.: Congratulations to Shaun King on a well-written column! (“The Democratic Party doesn’t get why it’s so unpopular,” March 9.) It takes guts to focus on why the Democrats are failing, because they are a very spiteful group. King writes, “When good people who are frustrated with the Democratic Party express their genuine concerns, I see them being told to shut up and unify.” That is the crux of the issue. Instead of growing, the party of the left has a cancer that is killing the body. The denial that they are even sick prevents treatment. To attack even those who present constructive criticism shows just how demented the left has become.

Thomas Sobol