Donovan is bad for Staten Island

Staten Island: How on earth can The News endorse Dan Donovan (“Vote Dan Donovan,” editorial, April 14)? He only flip-flopped on the tax bill after hundreds of angry emails and phone calls. Ask him. He has sat on his hands and done nothing the whole time in office. Donovan (far left in adjacent photo) has paid lip service to the Second Amendment debate (actually believes the Second gives us all the guns we want, when it says no such thing — why can’t I have a tactical nuke?) on assault weapons and as DA saw a tremendous increase in both gang activity and opioid deaths here on the Rock.

He was useless as district attorney, is useless in Congress and is certainly not qualified to serve us. While he is a touch better than the felon Michael Grimm, he cannot touch the ethics, intelligence and forthright manner of Max Rose who is clearly more deserving of your endorsement. Has The News even spoken with Rose, or are you, yet again, making a corporate decision instead of choosing the more decent and qualified person?

How much money does Dan Donovan take from the NRA and the fossil fuel industry? C’mon already. Thomas McGuire

One city under REBNY

Manhattan: Re “Change the math that’s keeping too many NYC storefronts vacant” (Op-Ed, April 16). The rezoning policies of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) are behind “manufactured gentrification,” or the unnatural process called “hypergentrification on steroids,” which has led to the monthly disappearance of thousands of small businesses and local jobs and the bulldozing of communities, viable schools, libraries, hospitals, playgrounds, churches, parks, community gardens and historic buildings. These policies are spurring massive displacement of tenants and are the major factor behind the lack of real affordable housing, the increasing homelessness crisis and record numbers of small-business closures throughout the five boroughs. REBNY, which has been appropriately dubbed the Real Estate Bullies of New York, is able to run roughshod over New Yorkers because the mayor, City Council speaker(s), Economic Development Corp. and city Department of Planning are all shilling for the superwealthy developers, property speculators and landlords at the expense of the 99%. Ray Rogers

Errol’s a Comey symp

Conover, Md.: Errol Louis shows exactly which position he supports in the first sentence when he characterizes Jim Comey’s book as thoughtful (“The real moral in Comey’s book,” Op-Ed, April 17). Later in his writing, he praises both Comey and Bob Mueller for standing up to the Bush administration in their attempt to engage in warrantless investigations of U.S. citizens. Unfortunately, Louis misses the most obvious statements in Comey’s book, the ones in which he admits he used political considerations in making decisions about the Clinton email investigation. Liberal media professionals are unashamedly biased, and this Op-Ed is much of the same. Suggesting Comey is some type of law enforcement beacon we all should respect completely ignores the truth that he, and virtually every former FBI director, has been a political creature choosing who and when to arrest. That’s not being a top law enforcement person. It’s being a top political kingmaker. Tom Masselli

Teach subjects, not tests

Brooklyn: If teachers are allowed to teach math instead of spending wasted time trying to teach kids how to take tests, I believe more kids would pass. These tests are not always a definitive answer to whom is at or above their required level in reading and math. My son was a good reader, but the powers that be years ago decided the teacher would read the problems out loud for those who were not up to proper reading level. This hindered him because he, like me, needed to see and read it himself, leaving him with a lower score. The teacher knew he was at a higher level than what his tests revealed. Stop this travesty. Standardized is not always accurate. Dorothy Collins

Sticking it to Trump

Richmond, Va.: Many letters condemn those who dislike Trump. Well, they dislike Trump because he is, overall, a liar. Trump talks about jobs; in which foreign country are these jobs? I wonder how much money he has invested with these foreign countries? Just about everything one buys comes from a foreign country; who put these factories there? As for no sprinklers in Trump Tower, where were the building inspectors when it was being built? I still say just about everything in New York City and State is being poorly managed by people on high salaries who do nothing for the good of its people.

Marty Goodman

Lock him up!

Yonkers: Why has de Blasio not been indicted? This guy is so crooked that he makes normal crooks look straight!

Lorraine Caggiano

Sympathy for Julia

Walden, N.Y.: I couldn’t agree more with Voicer Patricia Nuzzi! How sad that they took Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ photo at a time of healing, and I’m sure not ready for the world to see, and used it for a moneymaking story! Isn’t anything sacred anymore! Has everyone lost respect? My heart goes out to her, and I wish her well! She will come back stronger than ever, and more beautiful than ever. Just wait and see!

Gail P. Ellis

Reality in black and Blue

Manhattan: My friend and I love “Blue Bloods,” watch it all day and night on Thursday, plus the new ones on Friday. We are white senior citizens in our 70s. Why do they always make blacks out to look like they never identify crooks? Don’t they hate criminals as much as everybody else? Regardless of color, a criminal is a criminal. Sherrel Cox

Destructive force

Queens: Why launch missiles into Syria? An easier and more effective option is to parachute the entire New York City Council into Syria; in a matter of days, they will destroy Assad and cause the rebels to flee and beg for mercy. Seamus O’Hara

Smoke-free sidewalks

Astoria: To Voicer Barbara Miller: As a nonsmoker, I am still trying to make sense of your “voice.” Perhaps your tobacco addiction should be addressed, but that’s another story. I have lived in Tokyo, the sister city of New York, and watched how the Tokyoites considerately carry special portable ashtrays, compliments of Japan Tobacco. To make a long story short, have you ever tried to walk on the sidewalk on a snowy day behind a smoker where the sidewalks are shoveled the width of a snow shovel, which doesn’t permit you to “get away,” as you put it, from the tobacco addicts, err smokers?

Mario J. Sacripante

Ring of a lifetime

Bronx: Two Fridays ago, I went for an MRI. I put all metal objects and personal belongings in a pouch they provided. After putting in my glasses, watch and hearing aids, I thought I might as well go all the way and added my wedding ring, though that might not have been necessary. Might as well be thorough. After 45 minutes upside down on a table, I was pretty woozy. I took my glasses and watch and put them on. I remembered to take my hearing aids. But I forgot I had put in my ring. When I got home, I realized it was not on my finger. We went back, but I was told that no ring had been turned in. I left my name and number and asked that they contact me if anyone turned it in. No one did. It was not expensive and couldn’t be of much value to anyone but me. I have been wearing it for 55 years. Could anyone be so heartless as to not return a wedding ring?

Anita Mulé

Amazin’ news

Merrick, L.I.: Enough of the scandal with President Trump, Stormy Daniels, attorney Michael Cohen and special counsel Robert Mueller. The Mets are in first place! Curtis Izen

Amazin’ loss

AP Manhattan: For all the years, since 1946, I’ve loved, played (as a teenager) and watched baseball with my sons, grandsons and great-grandsons from Ebbets Field to the Polo Grounds to Yankee Stadium, and several ballparks around the country, I have never seen a loss as ugly as the Mets’ 8-6 loss April 16 to the Washington Nationals. I hope those who share the responsibility for what happened have recurring nightmares of what they did to cause this embarrassing, unforgettable collapse.

Frank Giffone