A school’s Black History history
South Daytona, Fla.: Re “School whitewash” (Feb. 11): I attended the school when it was known as Alexander Burger IS 139, and graduated in 1972. I vividly recall being taught black history during my years there. The bulletin boards in the hallways featured pictures of black people who had made an impact in our history. During Black History Month, we were given a homework assignment to research any black person in our history, and report why we chose that person. I chose Shirley Chisholm, who was very much in the news at that time. I wrote a letter to Rep. Chisholm, and will never forget that she replied with a handwritten letter. I proudly read the letter to our class, and the teacher and students all wanted to see it for themselves. Growing up in the South Bronx, and attending church on 125th St. in Harlem, gave me an education money can’t buy. My heroine Chisholm eventually retired and moved to Ormond Beach, Fla., until her passing.
I also retired (early) after serving the public as a NYC civil servant, and moved to her neighboring town, where taxes and affordability are more favorable for retirees than NYC. It is a privilege to have lived, worked and grown up in NYC. The diversity of cultures in the five boroughs unquestionably enriched our lives. James Peña
A better way through
Manhattan: We applaud Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez for pledging to reduce prosecution of low-level crimes, as well as our sister criminal justice organizations that began attending court proceedings this week as part of Court Watch NYC to give witness to these important innovations. While it is important to watch what DAs do inside the courtroom, it is just as important to watch what they do to avoid arrests for low-level crimes outside the courtroom. Vance’s policy to reduce unnecessary arrests for turnstile jumping, while still allowing arrests for turnstilejumpers with open warrants, weapons or drugs, is one such program. Civil or criminal tickets hold fare-beaters accountable but avert a potentially life- altering arrest and trip to jail. Vance’s policy will keep subway riders safer by allowing police more time to deal with higher-level crimes, save taxpayers money, reduce the population at Rikers Island and avoid an arrest for those least able to overcome the adverse consequences of a criminal record. Court Watch NYC and the DAs are bringing transparency and rationality to a criminal justice system that is usually neither.
Francis Greenburger founder and president Greenburger Center for Social
and Criminal Justice
Not her kind of party
Bronx: I have voted Republican in the past but changed parties when I heard conversations of white supremacy in the background. That was enough for me; this was not the party I wanted to belong to. I ask myself: Why would anyone vote for a guy who cursed while running for the presidency, acted like a confused brain, and the conservatives did not hear? I can only wonder if someone like him started the Civil War. Why else would he take millions of dollars from the NRA? Are they trying to start a civil war? Is that their aim? Good people never believe in killing. The commandment says: “Thou shalt not kill.” Supporters desecrate God’s name when they mention him. God says “Don’t hate.” They are promoting hate with their constant provocations. God help us if they continue supporting the NRA. I can’t believe our world has come to this.
Sarah Rosado
The Tin Man
Maspeth: Please tell Melania Trump that she will never lose her husband from a heart attack because he has no heart. I don’t even know the Florida victims but I cry and pray every day for their families. I pray and cry for you and your son too. Marie Viola
Getting worse
Hamden, Conn.: It was the best of times. Now it is the worst of times. Really! I miss President Obama.
Patricia Santacroce
At the scene
Queens Village: The only thing the President would have done had he been at the scene in Florida was poop in his pants.
Isabell Passaretti
A clown and his marbles
Carmel, N.Y.: President Trump stated he probably would have entered the school in Parkland, even if he had been unarmed, to engage the gunman. This coming from a person who was invited to Vietnam and was granted five deferments claiming his heel hurt. Fake courage! But more importantly, while he continues to pursue his unholy friendship with Putin, and declining to follow up on the sanctions President Obama placed on Russia after they meddled in our election, Putin claims he now has nuclear missiles with unlimited range and (according to him) current defenses are useless against them. While Putin is playing chess, our clown in the White House is playing with marbles. I want to vomit when I see our fine military personnel salute this coward. I hope he realizes they are not saluting him, but rather, the respect of the office that he just happens to hold at this time. Steve Howell
Stand with immigrants
Flushing: We are a country of immigrants, and Native Americans were the first. Why is our nation against immigrants? I suppose it comes from people who think only about themselves as the superiors, similar to the same crowd of people who support our current President, who also likes to be with only people who think as he does. Unfortunately, that is not a democracy.
Josephine Tsatsakos
Moscow’s man
Cazenovia, N.Y.: Lil Donnie Hitler will do nothing to stop Russia from interfering with the 2018 elections. Why should Russia’s fake American President and his Republican sidekicks do anything? They are reaping the benefits of Putin’s successful plan to buy the presidency. This treasonous administration is only capable of obstructing the Mueller investigation, putting party well before country. It’s up to each American to put pressure on Congress and get this wannabe dictator out of the Oval Office. Wake up, be heard, and vote Trump’s supporters out of office. Only then can we begin to mend our country. Gary Howe
Lying for the liar
Manhattan: Seeing photos of Hope Hicks reminds me of a verse from a 1930s song by Walter Donaldson: “Who wouldn’t believe those lips, who wouldn’t believe those eyes, the night that she told me those little white lies.”
Patricia Berger
Train-ing delay
Jerusalem: Re “MTA schooled on training disaster” (March 2): Nothing seems to change. I retired from the MTA some 30 year ago and the same antics were happening on a daily basis. But nothing matters. The chaos that is the MTA must continue to its ultimate conclusion. Mike Steinbach
Send in the clones
Jackson Heights: Re “There oughta be clones, says Babs” (Feb. 28): Barbra Streisand obviously missed the genetics section of her high school biology class, given the interview she gave Variety regarding the color of the eyes of her dog’s two clones. Babs, you don’t have to wait until they get older. Their eyes are the exact same color as Samantha’s!
Judith Natkins
No rest on pot arrests
Brooklyn: Re “Huge racial pot bust gap” (Feb. 27): We must understand that the arrests are primarily made in communities of color. There is evidence that predominately white communities and communities of color use marijuana at equal rates. Leaders of the NYPD have tried to say that the arrests are made where the complaints come from, but the article shows that this isn’t completely true, and that NYPD couldn’t provide documentation to show that arrests line up with complaints. Kudos to the Daily News for letting people see the disproportionate number of people of color being arrested for the same thing that white people are doing. Action should be taken to reduce this bias, and the first step is discussing the issue.
Nia Pollard
Stop smoking
HY ROTHMAN Brooklyn: Voicer Frank Teti is 100% correct. I live in a predominantly white neighborhood, but I would say 80% of the people smoking pot on the park benches by Grand Army Plaza are minorities. Smoke all the pot you want, but do it at home. I’m tired of getting the munchies after walking by. Dennis Burge
We mean it, stop smoking
Bronx: I agree with Voicer Jack Schiereck on smoking. I have some choice words for cigarette smokers: Stop, stop, stop. Yes you can, yes you can, yes you can.
Marsha Kolin