A murdered detective’s legacy

Morganville, N.J.: Re Voicer Bob Petrosino’s letter about his great-great-uncle, Lt. Joe Petrosino, the NYPD detective murdered by the Black Hand in 1909 in Sicily: He was also my great-great-uncle and I would like to add a significant piece of history that is often overlooked. My grandfather was Prospero Petrosino, who was 9 when his uncle was assassinated in Sicily. This event had such a profound influence on him that he went on to be a NYPD detective from 1924 to 1950 alongside his younger brother, Detective James Petrosino, from 1929 to 1955. Both were involved in famous cases of their time, which also had an influence on my generation of family members who currently are involved in law.

Anthony Petrosino, a great-great-nephew, is a leading criminologist with WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Research Center.

Paul Tepper was an undercover NYPD detective involved in gangs in the 1970s and 80s, and was given Lt. Joe Petrosino’s actual shield from my grandfather, Detective Prospero Petrosino.

Perry Perrone, a great-great-nephew, is currently the assistant district attorney and chief of the Homicide Department for the prosecutor’s office in Westchester County.

The inspiring story would be how a family was inspired by Lt. Joe Petrosino’s legacy to fight crime for over 100 years in New York City and throughout the United States. Mike Petrosino

Always in our hearts

Staten Island: As we get ready to celebrate the holidays, many families will have empty seats around their holiday tables. Let’s say a prayer for those who gave their lives — and for their families — so you and I can live the American Dream. Please show your support by placing a single electric candle in your window for the group of your choice: blue for NYPD and law enforcement, red for FDNY and EMS and yellow for our military. Now more than ever, may we all find the gift of kindness! This is written in memory of Police Officer David Willis, who died in the line of duty in 1995 while assigned to the NYPD’s 10th Precinct. Dave, we miss you always! Fidelis ad mortem. Detective John Madden Jr. NYPD Intelligence Bureau

It’s not about race

Ridgefield, Conn.: Recently, LeBron James wore one white sneaker and one black sneaker to bring attention to what he believes to be racial inequality in America. Does he not understand that if everyone were treated equally, he wouldn’t be making tens of millions of dollars a year playing basketball? It’s about your skill set, not your color.

David Ondrick

Close Rikers & open new jails

Manhattan: Your Dec. 17 editorial, “Order on the island,” describes the horrific violence at Rikers. Immediate steps must be taken to improve safety. But there is no “fixing” Rikers, as the Independent Commission that I chair has concluded. Instead, closing Rikers and transitioning to borough-based facilities is the way forward, reducing violence and improving safety for inmates and corrections officers. New facilities are the right choice not because violent offenders will no longer pose a risk, but because the poorly designed and decrepit jails on Rikers are a huge part of why the island is so dangerous. For example, the vast majority of weapons recovered by DOC staff are made with crumbling materials found inside the jails. No one would build jails like Rikers today. It’s time to think beyond punitive segregation and look to a longer-term solution — smaller, modern facilities that are designed to be safer for correctional officers and inmates alike.

Jonathan Lippman

Hell on wheels

Bronx: Although I am not a fan of Mayor de Blasio, I applaud his effort to crack down on the use of e-bikes. They move faster than the conventional bike and flout the law more often than not. It is just a matter of time before somebody gets killed by one of these machines. I feel for the people who use these motor vehicles to help them make a living, but not at the expense of the public safety. Kudos to the city and the mayor.

J.P. Vella

Off his pedestal

Manhattan: I very rarely agree with Harry Siegel and most of his articles make me angry, but I must say he was spot on with “De Blasio’s monumental retreat” (column, Dec. 17). De Blasio thinks he will one day become President, but not in this country. Instead of dealing with NYCHA’s lead paint and corruption, the flood of homeless and a deteriorating subway, he went to Iowa? This city is sicker than it has ever been in the name of “Democratic power.” Ardina Cerra

FBI is rotten to the core

East Syracuse, N.Y.: What is it going to take for politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, to wake up and do the right thing for everyone concerned and take action against the FBI and whomever else is involved? All the corruption day after day is such a total disgrace to the American people. They seem to be above the law and don’t get brought up on charges; they keep their jobs and get paid. That to me is disgusting.

Lorraine Regan

Flying low

Washington: While Christmas appears to be coming early this year for the big airlines, passengers frequently are getting nothing but a big lump of coal. The airlines are pulling in record profits and fees — $82 billion by the end of 2017 from nonticket “ancillary” revenues paid by passengers, a 264% increase from 2010. Worldwide, North American airlines with fewer than a quarter of the total flights now account for nearly half of total airline profits. The airlines are publicly lauding the benefits they will reap from the tax plan in Congress, claiming it will allow them to “share those gains of lower taxes . . . customers.” With $82 billion in new fees and record profits, it doesn’t appear that much sharing is going on. Now these same airlines are lobbying to run air traffic control so they can control taxes, fees and routes. Entrusting them with this responsibility would officially make every aspect of our traveling experience miserable, inefficient and potentially unsafe. The airlines should get their own house in order. Linda Sherry Director, National Priorities

Consumer-Action

Sheltering the needy

Manhattan: New York City’s shelter system is the largest and most comprehensive in the country, taking in more than 62,000 people from the streets every night (“U.S. population of homeless people exceeds 550,000,” Dec. 7). Alongside the city’s municipal shelters, the many shelters operated by nonprofit organizations are some of the safest places to get one’s life back on track, and they are here to be taken advantage of. More than a place to sleep, these shelters offer economic and social services that can break the cycle of homelessness for good. Is New York’s shelter system perfect? No, but it is the best in the nation.

George T. McDonald Founder and President

The Doe Fund

Err bnb

Manhattan: I live on the Upper East Side. This Airbnb problem is causing a lot of trouble for those of us who are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Please rein this in and give us tenants who are not involved in the practice and just want neighbors who live next door or upstairs again. To those who are doing this, what happened to your empathy for the rest of us? Please stop.

Darlene Dannenfelser

Reinventing the Wonder Wheel

Yonkers: Only Woody Allen could create a movie about Coney Island in the 1950s and include no Asians, no Latinos and no black people. He must have ridden the subway with his eyes shut, a clothespin on his nose and his hands over his ears.

Elliott Black

Teach the controversy

Bronx: Michael Henry Adams has a point but I think he misses the target (“Treat Columbus like Weinstein,” Op-Ed, Dec. 15). In order to right the wrongs of the past, we should keep most of the statues — and teach people about them, the good the bad and ugly.

Joseph Molloy

Last call

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Brooklyn: Since August 1986, Kasia’s Restaurant has proudly been serving Williamsburg. Though the neighborhood has greatly changed since our doors first opened, we take great pride knowing that we stayed true to our humble beginnings which was family owned and operated. A big thank you to all our customers who we now truly regard as family. We would never have made it 31 years without your support! Please stop by. Our last day will be today, Dec. 22. We would love to hear your memories or maybe even share a new one! We love you 11211! Thank you for 31 years! Catherine Wnek