A Letterman letter man’s view

Manhattan: In a recent letter concerning David Letterman, Voicer Paul Johnston — “audio director” — unleashed an interesting stream of invective. Among his charges: “The majority of” the show’s writers “were incapable of writing their own obits let alone nightly comedy skits.” As one of those writers, I will let others judge my “skit” skills, but I insist I am capable of writing my own obit:

“Comedy writer Stephen Winer has died at the age of 107 after a brief and remarkably painless illness. He was one of the original writers for ‘Late Night With David Letterman.’ In that job, he was lucky to work under the guidance of the extraordinary Letterman and Merrill Markoe.

“He was fortunate, as well, to share his job with a staff of some of the most brilliant and hilarious writers he would meet in his career. Among those writers was the great Steve O’Donnell, who would go on to become head writer during some of the show’s most successful years. In 2017, O’Donnell would receive the Writers Guild of America’s Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence. Mr. Winer had no memory whatsoever of ‘audio director Paul Johnston’ but was sure he was good at whatever the hell he did for a living.” Stephen Winer

No forced voting

Brooklyn: Voicer (and Assembly member) Deborah Glick’s explanation of her call for a $10 fine for New Yorkers who don’t vote is nothing but gobbledegook. She says she is “not seeking to be punitive.” This is typical tripe from a politician who should mind her own business. It certainly is punitive to us “average” Americans who don’t make the sum of money she does. I didn’t vote in the November 2016 election because I didn’t find any candidate appealing, and not one came close to representing my views on major issues. Let Glick show me where in the Constitution Americans are required to vote. My not voting was a vote of “no confidence” in all of the candidates. Yet I reserve my right to complain about the incompetent blowhard Americans voted into the White House. Glick also states: “I’m envious of voter turnout in other nations, including Australia.” If she is indeed envious of Australia, maybe it’s because that country ran viable candidates as opposed to the perennial losers we nominate to run for office. And if she’s envious of Australia, then let her move there or kindly keep her pie hole shut. Dennis Pascale

No charging me

Brooklyn: The day the state government forces me to vote is the day I stop voting. And good luck trying to collect a fine from me, Assemblywoman Glick!

Bruce Zeichner

Better message, please

Brooklyn: Voicer (and Assemblywoman) Deborah Glick defends her legislation to fine those who don’t vote as “encouraging all citizens to embrace their responsibility . . . to vote.” Has it occurred to the Honorable Ms. Glick that citizens might be encouraged to vote if there were candidates with a message on the ballot, not just more party hacks? Glick thinks punishing citizens for not voting is the cure for voter suppression. What I think is that “voter suppression” has been invented to camouflage low voter turnout due to high voter turnoff at the polls.

Schellie Hagan

No publicity for racists

Flushing: As a white male, I’m appalled with the attention (racist) James Jackson’s killing of Timothy Caughman is receiving. This kind of news coverage of him only breeds copycats. Let readers know of his punishment, and nothing more. Marty Polsky

Little drummer boy

Yonkers: To Voicer Michael C. Kaplan: You remind me of the little boy marching out of step with 500 other boys but his mother insists that it’s the other boys who are out of step. With all of the other networks reporting basically the same thing, you choose Fox because it agrees with your point of view and not the truth. All one has to do is replay Donald Trump’s own words to hear the lies, while his puppet Sean Spicer treats the press like impudent children. This is a White House of nepotism, conflicts of interest, lies and cabinet choices who would like nothing better than to revamp the agencies they are heading to agree with their personal points of view. Georgeann Mavrovitis South Ozone Park: To Voicer Harvey Stoneburner: Ah, yes! Another far-fetched hypothesis from the “Loony Left”: Trump will sell our nuclear codes. Maybe you should spend a little less time obsessing over a Trump presidency and educate yourself on Hillary Clinton’s involvement with the sale of uranium to the Russians. But then again why would you do that? After all, most naive idiots believe she is the model of truthfulness, honesty and integrity.

Kenneth Kuncinskas

News’ NYCHA double-talk

Island Park: Such hypocrisy! According to its front page (“Felons welcome,” March 29), the Daily News is upset about NYCHA not being able to keep out evicted tenants who have committed serious crimes. But you have no problem with the country not keeping out convicted felon illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes. Ridiculous! Your paper has truly become a hypocritical rag.

Bill Joyce

Clean it up

Brooklyn: To add to what Voicer Ethel R. Brown wrote: I take the G train every day to work. I notice the cleaning crew at Court Square that is supposed to be cleaning just goes in the train and sits until the train is ready to leave. Meanwhile, the train is all dirty. Ema Perez

Wonderful bus experience

Manhattan: Last Sunday, I waited for the No. 9 bus to go toward Battery Park City from Chinatown; it was very cold. In time, a bus arrived with a woman driver who asked me to wait while she helped get two women with walkers off the front of the bus. She treated them very kindly and respectfully, and after pulling up the ramp apologized to me in case I needed it. (I am not used to such treatment!) I laughed that I “ached a lot” but didn’t need a ramp — so far. I sat toward the back of the bus, but during the trip, I noticed the driver welcoming and helping other people get on and off the bus and thought the line lucky to have a driver like her! For all the times I complain about buses — waiting, crowding etc. — this was a real treat. This driver and others like her should be celebrated. Mary Pat Kane

Pull our leggings

Mastic, L.I.: Is this world going crazy or what (“United bans girls from domestic flight for wearing leggings,” March 26)? These people wearing leggings were not regular passengers. They were flying free on buddy passes. They knew there is a dress code when flying free. You are considered representing the airline and must dress as the code requires. You want to wear leggings? Then pay for your flight and wear what you want. If you want to fly free courtesy of the airline, then follow the rules. These passengers were wrong and United was correct.

Gene Lindsay

Keep ’em under wraps

Brooklyn: I am a freedom lover, but I’m so glad that finally someone is addressing the leggings/tights issue. When they emerged from the dance world to become part of a woman’s everyday wardrobe, tights were to simply peek out from under other clothing (skirts, tunics, long tops, etc.). They were actually underwear

Unable to work Awful bus experiences

AP but, oh my, what happened? All sorts and shapes of women wear tights with no cover clothing, resulting in horrendously offensive sights (thunder thighs, rolls of fat, provocative ample tushes). I’m amazed at what I see. It takes every ounce of my self-control to not approach these women and say, “Pardon me Madam, but do you have mirrors at home?”

Ruth Biller Brooklyn: To Voicer Daliya Robson: You want all disabled people to work for their benefits. Um, most people are disabled for a reason, and are unable to do something. I mean, some are blind or deaf, some are in wheelchairs. So you mean to tell me someone like that would have to do what you want? The frauds, absolutely. But if they’re legitimately disabled, they should not have to work. Remember, no one asked to be disabled. I know I didn’t.

Amy Marino Woodhaven: I agree with Voicer Ray Corden about snowed-in bus stops. However, it’s the Department of Transportation, not the MTA, that is responsible for clearing the bus stops. Despite this fact, the DOT is going forward with its plans to put bus stops on the middle traffic islands along Woodhaven Blvd. SBS will stand for “Snowed-in Bus Stops.” The riders will have the opportunity to dash across two lanes of traffic and then stand on a pile of snow. Safety first! Neil C. Giannelli