Protesting for smarter citizens

Flushing: I find it revealing that the recent demonstrations by teachers for more school funding are in states that consistently vote Republican (Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia, Arizona). One could argue that there is a method to the Republicans’ madness. What better way to control the masses than to inhibit their ability to reason (be better educated)?

Contrast these places with coastal states such as California, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut, where many more state tax dollars are used to pay teachers and properly fund schools.

Even though there is still much work left to be done in urban schools in these states, the literacy rates are, as a whole, much higher among the masses. That gives their populations the ability to better discern who is laying out a viable and plausible plan for them and the country and not just a bunch of bull (e.g. “I alone can fix it!” and “I will give you much better health care at a fraction of the cost!”)! Robert Jong

Firing offense

Middle Village: In “Burned by the FDNY” ( May 2), you guys got it wrong. As the former chief of personnel at FDNY, I know that every candidate is explicitly notified to disclose all arrests — convicted, sealed or otherwise. Nondisclosure for a prior arrest record is disqualification because it shows a lack of character at the beginning of the hiring process. Commissioner Daniel Nigro has greatly expanded the opportunity for every New Yorker to become a firefighter. Joseph Cassano resigned in disgrace, sought counseling, reapplied and was given a second chance. He was not untruthful or deceptive.

Raymond Goldbach

Let him serve

Brooklyn: The FDNY gave Joseph Cassano a second chance, so why not Andre Laurent? As Mayor de Blasio stated, “Nobody’s perfect.” The FDNY preaches diversity. Here’s a good opportunity. Erica Delavega

Fairness first

Bronx: I think Bill Cosby is guilty as hell. However, allowing testimony from a settled civil case raises constitutional issues — specifically self-incrimination. Using such testimony is in fact putting Cosby on the stand. A California judge rightfuly put off the Stormy Daniels-Michael Cohen’s civil case because of the possible criminal proceedings involving Cohen. I don’t think that any sane Voicer would be OK with a judge allowing a settled civil case be used against them in a criminal case. Gilbert Lane

Old news

Rhinebeck, N.Y.: So now three women have come forward and said that they were harassed by Tom Brokaw 50 years ago. I do not know if these women are telling the truth or not, but where the hell were they for the past 50 years? Enough is enough, if you have been abused, then open your mouth now and not 50 years from now. Marc Savino

Ancient history

West Palm Beach, Fla.: Are we going to read next about a prom date Tom Brokaw jilted ? Did he say the N-word in 1968? Did he support gay weddings in the ’70s? Did he meet any Russians ever? Has he always recycled?

Tom Wagner

Let’s keep laughing

Hoboken: Thank you, Errol Louis (“Our ridiculous handwringing over Michelle Wolf’s performance,” column, May 1)! You are a voice of reason in a very dark media world. Anyone who felt uncomfortable with Wolf’s monologue needs to examine why. Did she speak some truths that made people feel uncomfortable? I am enjoying the debate Wolf has inspired. Debate and discuss! We can do that in America! For me that in itself is unifying. I am disappointed the White House Correspondents’ Association can’t see that. In humor there may be truth, but it’s better than a lie. Alice Stockton-Rossini

True Samaritans

Staten Island: I would like to thank Police Officer Lucca of the Staten Island K-9 unit, along with Ray from Runway Towing. They both helped handle a very scary situation on the West Shore Expressway this past Sunday. My son Mike was traveling along the West Shore when he heard a noise coming from his front wheel well. He started to move to the shoulder. No sooner did he made the lane change than his front tire came off the car, and rolled down the expressway. He called home and we arrived on the scene just before Lucca arrived. Thank God Mike was fine, and no other car was damaged. Our son doesn’t realize how lucky he was. He was in a depressed state, feeling like he had a black cloud over his head. Lucca along with Ray from Runway Towing tried to lift his spirits, and encourage him to shake off what had happened. Thanks to both of them so much for their assistance and kindness!

Lori Campanelli

Yes, call the cops

Manhattan: Darren Martin moves his furniture into a building late at night (“Black city social services worker and former Obama aide calls out cops for detaining him during his move,” May 2). No one in the building knows him. Someone calls the cops and says there is a stranger in the building trying doors and banging on doors with what might be a weapon. The cops come and while detaining him, the dispatcher confirms the 911 call. They detain Martin for all of 10 minutes. The reason for your racist rant, Mr. Martin, is what? Now that you are comfortable in your new digs, please follow your neighbor’s lead and call the cops if you think there are strangers in your hallway late at night. However, make sure to inform the dispatcher that if the cops see any people of color in the hallway, they should leave that person alone. Steven Davies

Grounds for protest

Cincinnati: Re: “Bitter bias at Starbucks” (editorial, May 2): Irony is the best way to explain banning the Anti-Defamation League, a venerable and honored leader in the long battle against prejudice in our country, from participating in creating a program for bias training at Starbucks. The program is aimed at the chain’s employees. Perhaps the executive suite should be required to attend as well.

Paul Bloustein

Integration now

Metuchen, N.J.: I was livid to read about those white parents who claim to love black kids — as long as they stay away from their kids (“Ed big rip on segregation,” April 28). Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza was correct to condemn them. These are the same parents in airports screaming because we will not let strangers into the United States. Think: If you invest into poor and help them get the same education your kids get, who wins? All of us. We’d have less crime, a better economy, etc. I know this letter, if printed, will upset some people. I have black friends. Yes, I also have a Jewish friend. It is a disgrace that in New York today, we are the same as Mississippi.

Carol Hoousendove

Pro-Palestinian? Anti-Jew

San Francisco: Thank you for “Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says Jews’ ‘social function,’ money lending caused Holocaust” (May 2). Abbas has a long history of extreme anti-Semitism. His 1983 book “The Other Side” called the Holocaust “the Zionist fantasy, the fantastic lie,” and falsely claimed that Zionists were the Nazis’ secret partners and that no Jews were murdered in Nazi gas chambers. In 2015, Abbas denounced Jews even visiting the Temple Mount and its surroundings because they are “all ours” and Jews “have no right to defile them with their filthy feet.” Last December, Abbas denied the Jewish people’s archeologically confirmed 3,000-yearold heritage in Jerusalem, sneering: “Jews are really excellent at faking and counterfeiting history.” And on Jan. 14, he asserted that Israel “has nothing to do with Judaism,” and that Zionism was invented by the British in 1653. Now he is taking his hate to its logical conclusion.

Stephen A. Silver

Dire straits

Arverne: I have been in the homeless shelter system since 2014 and I have yet to be placed in permanent housing. I have a voucher, but it is rare that you find a landlord that will accept it. I have searched, and there is no help at all. There’s a saying that when one door closes, a window opens. There are no open windows or doors. I feel as if all the walls are closing in on me.

Miriam Perez Cuenca

Here, kitty, kitty, kitty

AP Garwood, N.J.: I appreciated the news on the capture of Pepper the cat (“PURR JOY!” April 29). I am glad he is OK, and hope his sleep problems are better now. I lost my cat Eddie. He died in November. I have a new kitten. He is a ginger color and quite a handful. Only 10 weeks old. I fixed his biting my fingers problem with a spray of water. I named him Walter. Little Walter is a joy and a real purring machine. Joan Tully