A champion for closing Rikers

Manhattan: The editorial “Criminal overspending” (Nov. 15) was right to call attention to what Controller Scott Stringer’s diligent work has made clear: New Yorkers are sinking more money into Rikers Island despite those jails being renowned for the continuing brutality directed at people incarcerated there. It now costs $270,000 per year to cage one person at Rikers.

What makes Stringer’s work even more impactful is his longstanding and sincere commitment to closing Rikers, a facility he referred to at our recent #CLOSErikers campaign partners meeting as a “budgetary black hole.” In 2015, Stringer became the first citywide elected official to call for closing Rikers. Since then, he has continued to produce data that empowers the work of advocates who are committed to that goal.

Reducing the use of solitary confinement is the least the Department of Correction can do to restore humanity to our brothers and sisters trapped in those jails, but as Stringer has said, closing Rikers is the only acceptable long-term solution.

Glenn E. Martin, president, JustLeadershipUSA

An officer’s view

Bronx: According to “$742 a day gets you a luxe suite...or a cell in city’s jail” (Nov. 15), the city spends an average of $28,045 in overtime for every inmate in Rikers Island and other jails. The article also stated inmate assaults on staff went up 6% in the past year. When you assault a correction officer, another officer has to replace him or her, so obviously the overtime will go up costing the city more money. Another thing that I don’t understand is why these inmates are getting pizza delivered to the jails for good behavior. You have correction officers on post who don’t even get a meal at times. As a retired New York City correction officer with more than 22 years of experience, I am shocked at what’s going on not only on Rikers Island but even at the borough facilities. It’s about time the Daily News started writing about what correction officers go through on a daily basis instead of always writing about the inmates.

Susan Watson

Stop, don’t shoot

Hicksville, L.I.: To Voicer Helen Hill Updike: As a retired NYPD officer who has worked in black communities, it is really hard taking black athletes seriously about police brutality when the community is committing genocide on each other in cities like Chicago, Baltimore and St. Louis. The sad fact that is intentionally ignored by many in the black community, the media and all those guilt- ridden white liberals is that blacks are more likely to be murdered by other blacks. Until you come to terms with that, I look at those taking a knee as a farce. John Gelormino

Trump’s liberal helpers

Woodside: The Daily News just loves to print letters from rabid liberals complaining about President Trump. The one thing that stands out is that there is no substance or any effort by the writers to present a cogent argument or even any solutions. Instead they write ridiculous letters filled with sensationalism and snarky juvenile insults directed toward our commanderin-chief. Wow, look how smart you are! Coming up with catchy nicknames and childish insults. Do you liberals actually think that will draw people to you and maybe see your side of the argument? All of these ridiculous letters the Daily News publishes just reinforce the belief that you guys would rather not contribute to help solve these problems and would much rather sit in a corner having a temper tantrum like petulant little children. Keep up the good work, liberals, all you are doing is helping Trump get reelected! James Hahn

In the bag

Ridgewood: How many millions of dollars is the Trump empire going to get from the windfall tax bill that reduces the corporate tax by almost 50%? John Sendlein

The best

Sound Beach, L.I.: To the three UCLA basketball players: I don’t know if you realize the gravity of your actions (“Trump provides the Big bail-out for Balls,” Nov. 16). The theft and the threat of imprisonment in China, yes, but perhaps worst of all is that now, for the rest of your professional careers, you will have Donald Trump at the ready to take credit for your successes. You may win the NBA championship or the MVP award, but be prepared to see a tweet from Trump stating the credit should go to him because if it were not for him you would be languishing in a Chinese prison. Well done.

Roger Lurch Yonkers: Although I believe that Jeff Sessions is obviously lying through his teeth, if he really can’t remember incidents that are that recent and that fraught with potential corruption, then he belongs not in any position of government but in a nursing home. Suzanne Hayes-Kelly

Don’t forget epilepsy

Girard, Kan.: After Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes Epilepsy Awareness Month. More than 3 million Americans have epilepsy or another seizure disorder, and these conditions kill 55,000 people a year — more than breast cancer. Yet you don’t see epilepsy being supported by the NFL by wearing purple. Delta Airlines doesn’t offer drinks that are purple. Hallmark doesn’t make a special epilepsy awareness ornament for Christmas. Ford Motor Company doesn’t raise money for epilepsy awareness. Yoplait doesn’t sell yogurt with purple tops. Just like cancer, epilepsy is a cruel disease that affects innocent people. I don’t understand why they aren’t treated equally. There is no cure and we have very little funding for research. Even though one in 10 Americans will have a seizure at some point in their life, the public is largely unaware how prevalent and serious the condition is. As someone affected by epilepsy I strongly encourage you to get educated. My life or another’s may depend on you.

Sienna Paoni

Housing for heroes

Manhattan: The Army recently lifted its ban on the mentally ill and drug abusers in order to meet its recruiting goals. Here’s another idea: extend its post-service benefits to include subsidized housing. Although New York City has made headway in reducing homelessness among veterans, nationwide the figure hovers around 20%. The cost of such subsidies is unlikely to make a significant dent in the billions of dollars budgeted for the military. It is a sensible form of compensation to mitigate the risk of homelessness for those who risked their lives. Neena M. Das

Not for anybody

Carmel, N.Y.: Is everyone missing the point on mass shootings? It’s not mental health or background checks. The Las Vegas killer could have gotten ahold of his murder weapon through a private gun seller. No background checks. Nothing. The outrage is that these assault weapons are available at all. They should be for the military and law enforcement only. Wake up! Robert Callen

Disabled and on drugs

Bethesda, Md.: Re “His S.I. OD leads right to his wife’s” (Nov. 14): I think there is a story on how many people in New York City get disability payments. I have family in NYC and Long Island, and it seems getting disability payments is a career path. This woman is taking heroin and is a stay-at-home mom collecting disability. It appears she found a way to get paid to stay at home.

Scott Brand Baldwin, L.I.: Voicer Jim Mishk wonders why basketball players don’t spit like baseball and football players do. If Mishk had ever played basketball on an indoor court, he would know that the last thing a basketball player wants on the floor is moisture to make him slip and injure himself.

Robert Nielsen

The leadership we deserve

Brooklyn: The great journalist and political philosopher H.L. Mencken must have been clairvoyant when he wrote in the first half of the 20th century: “As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”

Ed Temple

Not funny, Steven

SUSANWATTS Huntington Station, L.I.: On Steven Colbert’s Nov. 14 show he angrily berated his band, Stay Human, for not keeping up with his improvised antics. I’ve seen him do this before. On another occasion, he humiliated a young staffer on air who had accidentally left a prop at home. To paraphrase Blanche DuBois: Deliberate cruelty is unforgivable. I just can’t watch it anymore.

Ann Rita Darcy